Mikel Arteta | Lego Pep watch

How are we the only team to have taken points off them this season

They are a very good side (who don't have much depth in the midfield) and missed Partey that day.

I think any prolonged absence for Partey and they will have major issues.

They just don't look the same without him.
 
They are a very good side (who don't have much depth in the midfield) and missed Partey that day.

I think any prolonged absence for Partey and they will have major issues.

They just don't look the same without him.

Tbh, this is it.

We are short at DM and another forward. Apart from that, I think we can cover well.

Sambi just is nowhere near Partey, especially positionally. And when you face a counter attacking side, you need a top DM to break play and intercept, which we didn't have.

It's our own fault as we didn't sign anyone, but it is what it is.

I'm hoping we sign a DM in January tbh, and ESR will come back. Then in the summer a winger.
 
Fair play, he's managed to get me excited about an Arsenal team after a very very long time. Love watching us and long may it continue (please stop shipping cheap goals though thanks).
 
They look great at the moment but it's also nine games into the season. We've seen Arse have promising patches before it all crumbling. Let's see how he gets on when the fixtures and pressure really starts building up.
 
Tbh, this is it.

We are short at DM and another forward. Apart from that, I think we can cover well.

Sambi just is nowhere near Partey, especially positionally. And when you face a counter attacking side, you need a top DM to break play and intercept, which we didn't have.

It's our own fault as we didn't sign anyone, but it is what it is.

I'm hoping we sign a DM in January tbh, and ESR will come back. Then in the summer a winger.


In the current system the DM position is very critical. Its one place where we cant afford to have projects. I have a feeling Sambi will most likely be sold in Jan or next year.

The issue is who do you bring, Its almost impossible to find a like for like replacement for Partey. My choice was Bruno Guimarães but that ship has sailed.
Also we need a winger aswell in Jan. Cant trust ESR (injury prone) / Nelson.
 
I was more in shock Liverpool scored 2 against them.

Prob exposed the failing in Arsenal defending but they playing well at the moment.
 
I was more in shock Liverpool scored 2 against them.

Prob exposed the failing in Arsenal defending but they playing well at the moment.

Liverpool have scored 20 goals this season - only we and City have scored more (Tottenham have also scored 20). For comparison, United has scored 13 (and you have both played a game less than us, City and Tottenham). Scoring is not Liverpool's problem, they have too much attacking talent not to create chances. It's their defence and midfield this season that has not been performing well.

I regret not waking up for this - seemed like a cracking game. I found it interesting that Arteta started Tomi at RB ahead of Tierney (Zinchenko is injured). Not sure if that was a tactical decision or just protecting Tierney who played mid-week? Perhaps a bit of both.
I came into it expecting to drop points because Liverpool's had our number for years now. Haven't watched the game yet but from what I hear we did well to control the game for the most part. What a great start to the week. :D
 
I was more in shock Liverpool scored 2 against them.

Prob exposed the failing in Arsenal defending but they playing well at the moment.

Gabriel was rubbish again and Saliba caught napping by Firminho. Will be interesting to see how they get on against City and Haaland.
 
No we weren't we were kicked off the pitch with Jesus getting knocked out with zero consequences. Not even a yellow. Plenty of other inceidents too, Liverpool are scum

Very iffy penalty, and Liverpool should have had a penalty. Need to see it again but the Martinelli on Trent looked a bit dodgy too.
 
Liverpool have scored 20 goals this season - only we and City have scored more (Tottenham have also scored 20). For comparison, United has scored 13 (and you have both played a game less than us, City and Tottenham). Scoring is not Liverpool's problem, they have too much attacking talent not to create chances. It's their defence and midfield this season that has not been performing well.

I regret not waking up for this - seemed like a cracking game. I found it interesting that Arteta started Tomi at RB ahead of Tierney (Zinchenko is injured). Not sure if that was a tactical decision or just protecting Tierney who played mid-week? Perhaps a bit of both.
I came into it expecting to drop points because Liverpool's had our number for years now. Haven't watched the game yet but from what I hear we did well to control the game for the most part. What a great start to the week. :D

Tomiyasu started ahead of Tierney because he's right footed and that would force Salah wider as he would usually cut in onto the left back's right foot. It was a master move by Arteta as that small change basically nullified Liverpool's left sided attack. We also need to remember that Tomiyasu can use both feet very well and he's also a central defender.
 
Liverpool have scored 20 goals this season - only we and City have scored more (Tottenham have also scored 20). For comparison, United has scored 13 (and you have both played a game less than us, City and Tottenham). Scoring is not Liverpool's problem, they have too much attacking talent not to create chances. It's their defence and midfield this season that has not been performing well.

I regret not waking up for this - seemed like a cracking game. I found it interesting that Arteta started Tomi at RB ahead of Tierney (Zinchenko is injured). Not sure if that was a tactical decision or just protecting Tierney who played mid-week? Perhaps a bit of both.
I came into it expecting to drop points because Liverpool's had our number for years now. Haven't watched the game yet but from what I hear we did well to control the game for the most part. What a great start to the week. :D
I would argue that 9 of those Liverpool's 20 came against a trash team.

Spurs also scored 10 against a bottom 3 Leicester and Southampton.
 
They look great at the moment but it's also nine games into the season. We've seen Arse have promising patches before it all crumbling. Let's see how he gets on when the fixtures and pressure really starts building up.
They don't look like a side that would fall off
 
Tomiyasu started ahead of Tierney because he's right footed and that would force Salah wider as he would usually cut in onto the left back's right foot. It was a master move by Arteta as that small change basically nullified Liverpool's left sided attack. We also need to remember that Tomiyasu can use both feet very well and he's also a central defender.
The 4CB backline combo worked pretty well apart from the weekly Gabriel mistake...
 
I would argue that 9 of those Liverpool's 20 came against a trash team.

Spurs also scored 10 against a bottom 3 Leicester and Southampton.

Does it matter who it was scored against? Should we also minimize City's crazy 33 goals because they've only played United out of the traditional top 6? Apart from United, only Bournemouth and Newcastle are the clubs City's faced in the top half of the table.

Liverpool have more than enough about them to score goals, that's a given. Their defensive frailties this season is why they're 12 points behind top, albeit with a game in hand. The solidity and toughness they've had for many years seems to have drastically disappeared.


Tomiyasu started ahead of Tierney because he's right footed and that would force Salah wider as he would usually cut in onto the left back's right foot. It was a master move by Arteta as that small change basically nullified Liverpool's left sided attack. We also need to remember that Tomiyasu can use both feet very well and he's also a central defender.

Ah, so it was a tactical change. I hadn't had a chance to read up on anything before the match so was surprised as I don't remember Tomiyasu ever playing LB before for us, though I know he plays CB for Japan too.
Our back line really looks pretty good now doesn't it, such a change from having the likes of Mustafi in there. And White, Tomi, Zinchenko are all very versatile. I wonder if this means Tierney maybe isn't the best fit for Arteta's evolving style anymore.
 
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Does it matter who it was scored against? Should we also minimize City's crazy 33 goals because they've only played United out of the traditional top 6? Apart from United, only Bournemouth and Newcastle are the clubs City's faced in the top half of the table.

Liverpool have more than enough about them to score goals, that's a given. Their defensive frailties this season is why they're 12 points behind top, albeit with a game in hand. The solidity and toughness they've had for many years seems to have drastically disappeared.
Yes it does. You are looking at skewed stats and making judgments. Scoring 9 in one game against the worst in the league doesn't tell the whole story.

I don't disagree with their goalscoring prowess but its more like drawing conclusions based on heavily skewed stats. Spurs have been average at best this season but you would point to the goals scored, where again, majority of them came in 2 games.
 
Fair play, he's managed to get me excited about an Arsenal team after a very very long time. Love watching us and long may it continue (please stop shipping cheap goals though thanks).

It's a fairly young side as well. You're only bound to get better over time. Happy to see Arsenal playing this type of football again. Amazing job by Arteta in how he's gone about putting the building blocks together.
 
Yes it does. You are looking at skewed stats and making judgments. Scoring 9 in one game against the worst in the league doesn't tell the whole story.

I don't disagree with their goalscoring prowess but its more like drawing conclusions based on heavily skewed stats. Spurs have been average at best this season but you would point to the goals scored, where again, majority of them came in 2 games.

Yes context is always important. But my point was Liverpool will always create chances, as you agree. The only judgement I made was that Liverpool are still offensively strong and have dangerous players. The problem is midfield/defence hasn't been up to par.
And it's really no surprise they scored 2 against us, isn't this historically the fixture with the most goals in PL history?

Spurs have been inconsistent and don't play the most attractive football ATM but they are sitting 3rd and only 4 points behind top. Not sure that's "average". Unless the league as a whole isn't very strong.


It's a fairly young side as well. You're only bound to get better over time. Happy to see Arsenal playing this type of football again. Amazing job by Arteta in how he's gone about putting the building blocks together.
I think we've got the 2nd or 3rd youngest squad in the league (average age). In our starting X1, only our two CMs are in late their 20s/early 30s. Everyone else is 25 or under.
 
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Very iffy penalty, and Liverpool should have had a penalty. Need to see it again but the Martinelli on Trent looked a bit dodgy too.

They have been lucky so far in that their City game has been postponed. They get demolished then their fragile confidence may start to crack.
The next time they are scheduled to play City will be in April 2023.
 
It's a fairly young side as well. You're only bound to get better over time. Happy to see Arsenal playing this type of football again. Amazing job by Arteta in how he's gone about putting the building blocks together.

It would be interesting to see if City offers the job to him when Pep eventually leaves. And would he take it?
Would City be a bigger job than that of the Arsenal job then?
 
It would be interesting to see if City offers the job to him when Pep eventually leaves. And would he take it?
Would City be a bigger job than that of the Arsenal job then?

He'll take that offer without blinking an eye and he'll also take Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli with him.
 
You think so? Arsenal's got a deeper history than City. I still think Arsenal's a bigger club than City despite its recent league wins
Edu said Arteta's project is for another 3 to 4 years if I remember correctly. So yes he probably will if he is offered the job at the end of his arsenal contract.
 
You think so? Arsenal's got a deeper history than City. I still think Arsenal's a bigger club than City despite its recent league wins

No manager with ambition is going to say no to take over this City team that Pep will leave behind. It guarantees them multiple trophies and a place in history books.
 
Very iffy penalty, and Liverpool should have had a penalty. Need to see it again but the Martinelli on Trent looked a bit dodgy too.

Booting an ankle with full force is an iffy penalty. While a defender trying to keep his hand low should of been a pen? I don't think so. That aside they got away with murder
 
Is it possible to get knocked out without suffering a concussion?

If not (I'm unsure if it is or not) was Jesus faking a serious head injury or are the Arsenal medical team inept?

I thought Jesus should of been taken off. It wasn't faked. Just go back and watch the video of it
 
Gabriel was rubbish again and Saliba caught napping by Firminho. Will be interesting to see how they get on against City and Haaland.


From watching Gabriel etc this season halland will bully them.


He defo their weakest link in defence at the moment
 
He's quite simply benefited from his connections, getting first dibs on City's cast offs.

I still see them dropping off at the end of the season.
 
They look like very good drilled team, they should finish in top 4 easily going by their form and others'.
 
From watching Gabriel etc this season halland will bully them.


He defo their weakest link in defence at the moment

He's defo going through a bit of a shaky patch the last few games. Just needs to get back to basics and try and defend with a bit of intelligence.

Unfortunately, with how we set up in midfield, we are always going to concede chances. We are trying to play like Man City lite just now. We are relying on dominating possession and pressing high to limit the actual defending we need to do, but we aren't as good at it as Man City. I was watching carefully first half especially when Liverpool were dominating and we were struggling to play out, at times Partey was at the base of the midfield and he was surrounded by Liverpool players because the likes of Jota was playing off him but Things and Henderson were actually ahead of Xhaka and Odegaard so we lacked confidence in possession and Liverpool kept turning the ball over.

That was addressed at half time, we grew more confident in our game and our possession, and played a lot better 2nd half. That limited the defending we had to do but Liverpool still managed to catch us out for Frimino's goal. They have very good attackers so regardless of form they are capable of doing that to anyone.
 
He'll take that offer without blinking an eye and he'll also take Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli with him.

No he wouldnt. Arteta would back himself at Arsenal before giving up a potential legacy at Arsenal.

he has a burning ambition to carve out his own name and reputation.

if he was so mentally soft that he would chase the easy gig at City, then he wouldn't be able to do what he is currently doing at Arsenal in changing the culture from top to bottom.

If City offered him the job as Pep's replacement City would get a very kind no thank you
 
He's quite simply benefited from his connections, getting first dibs on City's cast offs.

I still see them dropping off at the end of the season.

I think the main risk of dropping off will come down to injuries. There bench looks a lot healthier than it did when he first came in, but losing Jesus or Partey for any significant amount of time will be a real challenge for them. Despite Jesus' great start it's a testament to how important Partey is that I think he'd be the one they'd struggle more to do without.
 
Think Saka and Partey are the two which would cause issues atm.
 
Watching Arteta feels like you're watching an actor playing Pep. It really makes him unlikeable in my eyes, along with the kicking the ball away from opponents, OTT whinging on the sideline...

He's got them playing some real good stuff though in fairness, looking forward to when they meet City.