Arsenal - (A) - Post Match

[kingfunk]

We weren't outclassed.

Yes we were, the football the played was classier than ours.. Nidge.

[Shaggy]

It came from Cissokho's side and what's Flannagan's fault there? Lucas was supposed to be tracking Cazorla.

Wing back is a tough job but you'd have liked Flanagan more alert to the danger and getting back in to help Kolo.

[Charly]

The 5-3-2 formation relys on the fullbacks getting forward, and ours were poor today.

Sissoko looks like he has a great engine, not sure he can either defend or cross (which is essential for a wing back).

We lost away to the league leaders. The only concern I gave is with the centre of midfield, the same concern I have had the whole season, but we are still top despite that.

We can qualify for the CL without a perfect side. The concern is there are a lot of teams just below us with the same aspirations.

[Chazza]

For me this game was 95% hope and 5% expectation, so cannot really say I am surprised. We were out played and out classed by a better team. The team selection could have been better but neither here nor there. It's extremely disappointing, but we as fans are the architects of our own disappointment, at the start of the season the majority of us would have taken this position but because we have had such a good start we are all disappointed.
We are still on track, don't lose the hope, or kick toys out the pram, stick behind your club, manager and players. We will get there.

We weren't great today and the wingbacks in particular are an issue but given we are 10 games in and are sitting this high up the table overall its pretty positive.

File this one under a bad day at the office and don't get to upset about it as most other teams will get turned over at the Emirates.

Don't let it ruin the weekend you mad *******s

[Bernardicus]

Can't wait for Fulham at home so we can scrap this 3 at the back ****e.

[Assassin]

Wing back is a tough job but you'd have liked Flanagan more alert to the danger and getting back in to help Kolo.

Flanagan had a passive match. When you get the chance, you should seize it

[Shaggy]

So we spent around about £33m on defenders and a goalkeeper this summer, and have gone on our longest run without a clean sheet in 8 years.

[Mattshark]

It came from Cissokho's side and what's Flannagan's fault there? Lucas was supposed to be tracking Cazorla.

Was he? Cazorla was on the other side of the pitch, Flannagan can see the play and he could have put more effort in.

[destinydude]

I don't think Henderson is the problem per se. The midfield three of Gerrard, Henderson and Lucas is the problem. Also, a (relatively flat) midfield three in front of three centre backs (especially one that doesn't include Agger) is wrong.

While his work rate is good, end product is far from good enough. We need him to add that.
Gerrard I would like to see further forward, but he seems stay deep more often than not and he very rarely shoots anymore I think that has take so much from his game.

Yes, every game. And he doesn't do enough for me to warrant a place in the first 11.

To me, Johnson, Coutinho, Henderson, Suarez are the only sure shot starters. Everyone else can be sacrificed based on the opposition and the tactics employed for each game and yes even Sturridge is included in the 'can be sacrificed' list.

Henderson is not a world beater but he makes the team run. Gerrard and Lucas cannot cover back and forth quickly but Henderson does that and covers more ground.

Gerrard has been really sub par this season and today he was downright terrible.

IDK why we need to play a 3-5-2 when we have the personnel for a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2.

[JohnDoe]

I think Moses has something to offer, we can't have top class players on the bench, we're not really in the position to at the minute.

I agree though we are very 'plain' in midfield, nobody looks like they can do anything apart from the odd 50 yard Gerrard pass. Nothing is expected of Lucas which is fair enough but as you say Henderson has a great engine and nice short passing but not a great deal more. He does a job but for me he has to either add more to his game over the next year or his place might become under threat again at the club.

I think if Henderson could tackle, he'd be my DM of choice and Lucas would be completely redundant. Henderson can do everything he does better except for tackling. Lucas is the only midfielder in the squad who can properly tackle and that's making him nearly irreplaceable, which is something that we must rectify. Problem is, unlike the very top defensive midfielders in the world, Lucas is slow, unathletic and not physically dominating. Sides just run through our middle without breaking a sweat.

[destinydude]

Wing back is a tough job but you'd have liked Flanagan more alert to the danger and getting back in to help Kolo.

Yes. But Cazorla's run came from the right side of the pitch and Lucas was closer and ahead of Cazorla when Cazorla started the run. I can't really fault Flanno for the goal.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

It came from Cissokho's side and what's Flannagan's fault there? Lucas was supposed to be tracking Cazorla.

He's looking across the pitch and can clearly see there is danger at the back post, even after Cazorla hits the post he's not even in the camera shot. Casually trotting back.

[Shaggy]

It looks to me at this stage as though Lucas is perfectly fine against 'the rest' but maybe isn't up to it against the best teams. He's not the player he was before the injury.

[badpiggy]

I think if Henderson could tackle, he'd be my DM of choice and Lucas would be completely redundant. Henderson can do everything he does better except for tackling. Lucas is the only midfielder in the squad who can properly tackle and that's making him nearly irreplaceable, which is something that we must rectify. Problem is, unlike the very top defensive midfielders in the world, Lucas is slow, unathletic and not physically dominating. Sides just run through our middle without breaking a sweat.

I think generally you're way over the top in your criticism of us JD but in this case I think you've nailed the Lucas issue. There's no doubt he can get back and tackle but after that...? I just cannot see what others are seeing.

[Mattshark]

I think if Henderson could tackle, he'd be my DM of choice and Lucas would be completely redundant. Henderson can do everything he does better except for tackling. Lucas is the only midfielder in the squad who can properly tackle and that's making him nearly irreplaceable, which is something that we must rectify. Problem is, unlike the very top defensive midfielders in the world, Lucas is slow, unathletic and not physically dominating.

Henderson is no better than Lucas at passing (and Lucas is a good passer) and Lucas' positioning defensively is far better than Henderson's (when Lucas is out we let teams in behind us far more than when he does play).

Destiny Dude, sorry but Henderson is not a sure starter purely for running a lot when he can't do enough with it our provide cover for the defence.