Arsenal Post Match Fred

[BigChief]

Our build up in terms of attacking is much better. The defence is still shambolic.

At least there are positive signs which can be taken away. Performing like that attacking wise (need to put these chances away) consistently for three games (two of which were against big sides) is a big step in the right direction.

Utd and Arsenal fans are under the impression they did "ok" against us when they quite clearly were clueless about Rodgers' tactics. Both times masked by our own defending and lack of finishing.

We are no longer a threat to the top 4, so basically we're back to the exact same position we were in at this point last season in terms of expectations. Rodgers does underdog quite well.

[baitman]

the return of our pressing game was good to see. makes you wonder why it has been away, though...

coutinho, markovic and lallana were excellent in the first half.
although cout is wasteful [apart from the odd fluke] his snappy tackling and chasing were spot on.

it would be good to see markovic and sterling on either wing.

gerrard was often wasteful.

borini, great to see some passion, but what a tit head.

[fidget]

Would like to see Can start instead of Gerrard

[danperkins]

Would like to see Can start instead of Gerrard

[DannyMan2006]

Would Ashley Williams be an improvement on what we've spent/got in terms of centre halves. An organiser and leader to be fair - Can't be any worse at defending than Lovren/Skrtel or Toure ?

He would. But we could sign a lot of players that'd better than what we'd have, doesn't make them good enough.

[Le Chef]

He would. But we could sign a lot of players that'd better than what we'd have, doesn't make them good enough.

I don't know - Very few top notch defenders available, AW would have cost a third of Lovren , and he'd have given the leadership we need at the back

[danperkins]

It's easy to say now than Lovren has been a disaster. Ashley Williams is a bang average CB and the pressure of leading Swansea is a lot different than Leading Liverpool. Loven probably made alot of these mistakes with Southampton but they have never not been highlighted as much. We need someone alot better than him... but yeah very hard to find good CB these days.

[Vermilion]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGRYf8Uc_bk"]Craig Bellamy says Liverpool are now a threat after late equaliser against Arsenal - YouTube[/ame]

[Le Chef]

It's easy to say now than Lovren has been a disaster. Ashley Williams is a bang average CB and the pressure of leading Swansea is a lot different than Leading Liverpool. Loven probably made alot of these mistakes with Southampton but they have never not been highlighted as much. We need someone alot better than him... but yeah very hard to find good CB these days.

He probably is and I'm not advocating him, but if reports are true he's been Brendons first choice since the start. During which time we've spent £43m on two centre halves who are both bang average

[G]

Just got back from this.

Sakho was decent, so much better than Lovren.

I was reading with surprise alarms that people thought Jones was good - he wasn't. He was bizarre. I think it must have been Ozzies saying he was ok.

Coutinho was a clear MOTM for me, his running on the ball and his ability to carry it forward is vital for the team. He was doing the snappy tackling a few times as well.

Lallana frustrated the hell out of me, he seemed to get caught out needing an age on the ball - he's so far away from being worth £25m.

Borini shouted something at Rodgers as he went off - did anyone see this? Any press / TV about it?

The crowd around me today were the worst I have known. Most of them were tourists getting their piccies taken with match scarves and tickets in hand. 3 guys around me spent more time looking at their phones than watching the game.

One dickhead spent the whole game screaming at Markovic, calling him a cunt and how **** he is.

One fella tried to jump on the pitch to fight Podolski when he was warming up - he was screaming at him to move so he could see, Podolski sort of gestured a "shut up" and the guy went nuts - steward had to stop him!

Frustrating game, but they do look a bit better. Arsenal weren't even in it in the first half

9 shots at Jones so far, 5 have gone in!

As for Borini. I saw him shout something, it was mentioned on Twitter that he shouted at Rodgers but the fourth official was in that area too so I assumed it was him he was having a pop at.

[Vermilion]

[danperkins]

He probably is and I'm not advocating him, but if reports are true he's been Brendons first choice since the start. During which time we've spent £43m on two centre halves who are both bang average

Yeah it seems alot of people are championing Sahko now & I suppose we've been so desperate at the back.. that it's a case of let try anything else.

I personally haven't been convinced by him, but I certainly don't think we'll see the best of him in a 3. He looks slow and cumbersome when pulled out wide, same as Toure. Not their fault though as not their natural game. Was saying earlier that I think that all of the back 3 would be much happier and better suited playing in a CB pairing. The system does allow for very progressive football, which is great. But we are always going to be vulnerable, especially the personnel we have in our back 3. Skrtel as a lone CB and a leader i don't have confidence in. But sure we can only use the players we have at the moment in this new system.

It's not natural to them & none of our CB are really comfortable in possession like say... Agger was. Maybe they'll improve when they get used to the new system but IMO the only fix is new blood. If Rodgers is going to play that system which we have looked better in to be fair to him, i would like to see Moreno at left fullback and Markovic at right full back.

I'd love if we had someone like Lichtsteiner in at RCB, perfect player for that role.

[SB]

Kudos to Brendan for trying out the 3-4-3 system. As many posters have pointed out get a striker and good goalkeeper and the second half of the season will be more fun. The last two performances have started to remind us of the Liverpool of last season.

As for our lack of defensive solidity, I think Brendan is more comfortable coaching the team to play a high intensity attack by sacrificing defensive solidarity. Get a striker to put the ball into the net, improve the shooting of Sterling, Coutinho and we should see a return to last season's style where we blew teams away in the first 30 minutes.

Couldn't agree more.

[SB]

Just got back from this.

Sakho was decent, so much better than Lovren.

I was reading with surprise alarms that people thought Jones was good - he wasn't. He was bizarre. I think it must have been Ozzies saying he was ok.

Coutinho was a clear MOTM for me, his running on the ball and his ability to carry it forward is vital for the team. He was doing the snappy tackling a few times as well.

Lallana frustrated the hell out of me, he seemed to get caught out needing an age on the ball - he's so far away from being worth £25m. Can't agree with that bit. Thought he did very well again today & is improving all the time

Borini shouted something at Rodgers as he went off - did anyone see this? Any press / TV about it?

The crowd around me today were the worst I have known. Most of them were tourists getting their piccies taken with match scarves and tickets in hand. 3 guys around me spent more time looking at their phones than watching the game.

One dickhead spent the whole game screaming at Markovic, calling him a **** and how **** he is. So Kenneth was at the match !

One fella tried to jump on the pitch to fight Podolski when he was warming up - he was screaming at him to move so he could see, Podolski sort of gestured a "shut up" and the guy went nuts - steward had to stop him! So either Craig or Nicey was at the game too!

Frustrating game, but they do look a bit better. Arsenal weren't even in it in the first half

[SB]

I wasn't there.

You know, I did wonder - but then I remembered you're from Sheffield.

so he would have been one of the tourists playing with his phone too. Sounds like you spent a lot of your time worrying about what the ppl around you were doing Daniel.