[Steve 007]

So far I’m impressed with Amorim. We’ve been so poor this season that under Ten Hag we’d have got beaten by 5. Hrs doing really well with a squad that needs a bit of help.

 

[julianfr]

I was actually impressed with our first half display. We kept the ball well and limited them from open play. Yes offensively we could have been better but the signs are there for me at least.

More of the same but with better offensive play in our next game.

 

[ForFuchsSake]

This was always a free hit for Amorim and an expected loss. The team acquitted themselves well, retained the ball pretty well in the first half and generally looked solid, albeit toothless going forward.

Of course, it’s only natural we lost via set pieces.

 

[DJ_21]

We lost to the best team at set pieces. They couldn’t score past us in open play. Let’s take the positives. Nothing to be ashamed of losing 2-0 to them. We’re not ready to match them yet. We can now actually see patterns and a style under Amorim.

 

[Trex]

Amorim has the right ideas, some players can't execute it though. Swap Odegaard and Saka for Garnacho and Mount in that first half and we'll cause them all kinds of problems.
We need better players on the ball in forward areas, better technique and decision making. Hojlund, Rashford, Garnacho are just all runners not natural footballers, we need some of those in this team.

 

[Buster15]

Some very sensible posts, which is highly encouraging.
Last night confirmed what we already know.
We just don't have enough real quality.
We don't create enough chances.
And our attack is nothing like good enough.

Arsenal scored from 2 corners and for most of the game, we did compete reasonably ok.

Amorim will now have to focus on how to get us scoring more either with our current forwards or recruiting.

But on balance, there were a few signs of improvement.

 

[CallyRed]

We are as potent up front as I am after a couple of pints.

 

[quadrant]

Disappointed to lose, but saw nothing that made me worry about the new manager. On the contrary, our composure in possession under pressure was noticeably improved, and it was only down to their admittedly impressive set pieces that we conceded. They had spells of pressure as you'd expect away from home, but in open play we were never really run ragged.

We looked noticeably more comfortable in the shape this match, and that suggests we're getting used to it.

Up front we were non existent, but I'm minded to put that down to personnel. Hojland, Garnacho, Zirkzee and Rashford were all poor. Amad made a difference when he came on, but it takes more than one decent wingback to trouble a team like Arsenal.

I do think that Amorim might have picked Amad and Zirkzee from the start. Hojland was always going to struggle against someone more athletic like Saliba. At least Zirkzee drops deep and pulls centre backs out of position. But given that Zirkzee was poor when he came on, it's hard to argue this was a game changing decision. More just a tweak he might have tried.

Overall, irritating but not worrying.

 

[SonOfFergie]

Strangely solid game for the most part that confirmed some things we already knew. Onana this year is solid performer. DeLight, Mazraui all solid and still learning the league. Maguire solid. Dalot invisible, seems to have dropped a level. Yoro looked promising (understandably a bit off pace). It was also clear where we lack and that is in the engine room and in attack. Ugarte with a solid performance. Bruno is not a CM he needs to play higher up the pitch but he was needed in the engine room today. Hojlund cannot hold up the ball and is poor at interplay. Needs chances put on a platter. Rashford is done. And how stupid can you be to give away corner so cheaply as he did today to a team that is most effective at corners in the league? Directly responsible for the second goal with that move. Garnacho woeful. He thinks he is better than he really is. Ronaldo without the workrate. Wasteful with the ball. Almost cost us a goal when not tracking Saka at one point and was then responsible for counter with a poor pass which resulted in a corner from which Arsenal scored. It's details like this that make the difference in tight games against good opponents. Zirkzee is useless for his size. Cant't contest headers, can't hold of players. I know non-pro players half his size that can hold of opponents twice their size and weight. He just isn't good enough for top level. Amad again brightened the right wing with his directness and will be a feature in Amorim side for years to come.

The positives were that under Amorim we were able to get out off high press without much issues in the first half and has a few half dangerous situations so Arsenal stopped pressing so high which is encouraging. We held our own in the first half away to a title chasing team. So with only a few days of training the new coach already got this players in some sort of order for half or 2/3 of the game true he needs to shout and instruct them constantly but needed at this point. Lets give him time to drill the squad and bring in a few players that will fit the system even more. I hope one of those will be Gyokeres in the summer so we will have an actual striker in attack.

And for the love of god don't give Arsenal 13 chances from corners.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

You wonder if our referees will eventually look at Arsenal's corner and what is going on at times. It is alright saying defenders should be wrestling with them, but you can bet if they did a penalty will be given.

 

[Alemar]

To be fair, Dalot should have got his shot on target at least, De Ligt ‘s header was a good effort, only a few inches from going in and Antony should have done a lot better with the free kick routine. So we could have had 3.

In fairness those 3 chances were probably worth of 1 goal in total - so we should have scored 1 of them.

 

[hellhunter]

You wonder if our referees will eventually look at Arsenal's corner and what is going on at times. It is alright saying defenders should be wrestling with them, but you can bet if they did a penalty will be given.

Been thinking about that, imagine them trying this routine with psychopaths like Kahn. It would be broken ribs on every corner

 

[A-man]

We lost to the best team at set pieces. They couldn’t score past us in open play. Let’s take the positives. Nothing to be ashamed of losing 2-0 to them. We’re not ready to match them yet. We can now actually see patterns and a style under Amorim.

They had 13 corners and to be fair they were close to score at every second corner. All those corners came from open play because we were outplayed and sat back to clear the box.

 

[Escobar]

Too passive and lacked courage in the first half but kept the ball much better and had them under control. Second half we went back to old long ball and lost shape. We need more time obviously

 

[Slevs]

We face a good well coordinated side and the players know how to keep the ball but have no idea how to move it forward after central midfield. At least we didn't get hammered 4-0 then proceed to say we were unlucky.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Been thinking about that, imagine them trying this routine with psychopaths like Kahn. It would be broken ribs on every corner

 

[BaguetteBoy]

Was Hojlund being weak there or was this a push ?

 

[Matt007a]

Kind of expected this result. We are not at Arsenals level. You have to give them credit for their set piece record. A lot is made above how the runners get into position but the delivery is perfect almost every time. It’s very rare to find a player who can put a corner into the exact right spot every time and they’ve got 2!

 

[Stig]

Corner turned

Is that a pun ?

 

[Pughnichi]

I'd form a chain of players from the post to the edge of the 6 yard box. As soon as they feel contact go down.
Soon stop them bum rushing the area. Of course, if VAR lets them foul then it won't work.

I agree. Just make a wall…like at a free kick. Dont let anyone through. Could be deemed blocking but Arsenal have been blocking on these set pieces for a couple of seasons now. If it isn’t Ben White obstructing the gk, it’s any other Arsenal player obstructing a defender off the ball to create space elsewhere.

You’ve got to appreciate the delivery though. Who’d have thought corners could be so dangerous. Bang on the money every time. Meanwhile we have Bruno ‘first man’ Fernandes

 

[daveskimufc]

We did well and stopped a good arsenal team from playing.
The concern is the position and the role of the 2 players supporting the striker when we have the ball. The 2 last night were just lost. Didn't show for the ball, when they had it they didn't do much with it. Offensively we just weren't there

 

[G-manc]

No real surprises was there.

We had a good shape first half and frustrated Arsenal but were completely toothless in attack.

The main positive for me is that we’re keeping possession much better than under ETH and there are fewer loose passes. hopefully with a couple of better attackers/midfielders and some more training with system, we can become more incisive as we looked scared to even try and cross the ball or run a full back until Amad came on.

You can see why Amorim favours the hard working wingers over full backs in his system and I suspect that will be key to being more of a threat. Malacia and Dalot offered nothing really.

 

[big_jeffstar]

it was nice to hear the commentators growing increasingly frustrated that Arsenal weren't just carving through our new formation at will.. no shame in losing to those spammy Stoke corners when the second one should have been ruled out anyway.
Overall i don't think anyone would really have expected us to beat arsenal away from home when we're this early into the project, so onwards and upwards!

 

[Von Mistelroum]

I've seen a few people, including Shearer right after the game saying that we need a new striker. Shearer mentioned Gyokeres and I have to wonder what exactly people expect he'd have done out there tonight? Creating and finishing his own hat-trick? We need to have creative players who can actually pass the ball, press a bit, and do the things that make it possible for a striker to do their job. Amad is the only one we have who can do this and it's easy enough to shut down our one and only threat.

 

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

Rich man's Stoke vs rich man's WHU.

 

[Slevs]

I've seen a few people, including Shearer right after the game saying that we need a new striker. Shearer mentioned Gyokeres and I have to wonder what exactly people expect he'd have done out there tonight? Creating and finishing his own hat-trick? We need to have creative players who can actually pass the ball, press a bit, and do the things that make it possible for a striker to do their job. Amad is the only one we have who can do this and it's easy enough to shut down our one and only threat.

Agreed.

New left wing back + attacking players who can receive in tight spaces and turn/make space for themselves. Put Hojlund up top or make him strictly do control + pass directly when receiving instead of controlling and trying to turn.

Many many times last night the defense and Onana got the ball to Bruno/Ugarte who then had to pass back because none of the other forwards or wingbacks were open enough to receive the ball safely.

Dalot, Hojlund, Garnacho, Mount, Malacia are all gonna lose the ball if there is a defender already on them, so logical choice is to pass back and recycle. They do not have the technical skill to receive the ball, shield it properly, AND beat the defender on them to create space all in one.

Its why Amad coming on was a good plus as we finally had someone who can actually control the ball he receives even with a man on him and turn/do something.

 

[JediSith]

I think it has been drummed into this team to play in a very conservative way. I saw it today when we had the ball in their half. Rather than playing the quick ball into a tight space, our players would rather turn back and take the easy option back to a defender.

It that them being not good enough or have they been discouraged from taking risks in possession.

They’ve been told that they lose possession too easily. Not speculation, it’s something Amorim has said about United.

But at the same time constantly turning back and passing it backwards is a sign of not belly good enough.

 

[mitchmouse]

Have seen nothing of the game except their second goal which seemed a bit lucky, bit annoyed we allowed them to score at the near post from a corner when we can barely get a corner past the first man...

but what were we like: reports say we didn't threaten much which is disappointing even though no sane person could think we'd get something out of the game (I predicted 2-0)?

Does this mean we'll probably pick up points against mid-table and struggling teams but not yet anywhere near ready for the usual top six?

 

[afrocentricity]

Were people expecting points yesterday? Looking through the performance threads every hater has come out for every player with a few joining in for the lols.... This place can be terrible reading after a loss but bringing it back, what were we expecting?

No surprise to see a resumption of the Zirkzee and Garnacho criticism and Rashford/Dalot.... par for the course. This fanbase does love it's scape goats that's for sure.

Arsenal were the overwhelming favourites, I saw good things in that match. I'm fully AmorIN.... Perspective.

 

[SteveCoppellFan]

A bit disappointed overall with the performance from a attacking point of view.

I think we kept our shape pretty well so that is a positive, the players seem to have adapted pretty well to the new system.

Its going to take a couple of transfer windows to see real improvement i think, some of these players are just not at the level required.

 

[Egalitard]

United were as good as they could have been in the first half really, but fell away in the second and the substitutions did not help you. I have seen people complain about us scoring from set pieces but even if we weren't really good at them, if a team sustains pressure enough to have 13 corners to your 0 then chances are they're going to find a breakthrough.

Shame for us that we're going to be going to Old Trafford later in the season when you'll be much improved, and Liverpool got to play you there under Ten Hag.

 

[Vault Dweller]

It was getting tiresome seeing Arsenal behave with reckless abandon at corners, and the one time we actually tried to get close and stop them the ref warned the players, basically meaning any contact would result in a penalty. It's boring AF.

 

[Berbasbullet]

United were as good as they could have been in the first half really, but fell away in the second and the substitutions did not help you. I have seen people complain about us scoring from set pieces but even if we weren't really good at them, if a team sustains pressure enough to have 13 corners to your 0 then chances are they're going to find a breakthrough.

Shame for us that we're going to be going to Old Trafford later in the season when you'll be much improved, and Liverpool got to play you there under Ten Hag.

Don’t worry, you will have corners there too.

 

[afrocentricity]

Don’t worry, you will have corners there too.

Is anyone else copying their corner routine.... It does seem hard to deal with.

 

[Mart1974]

Amorim's first lesson as a new coach to the league. It is all well beating Everton at home, but can you do it at Stoke on a cold wet Wednesday night.

 

[Berbasbullet]

Is anyone else copying their corner routine.... It does seem hard to deal with.

I don’t understand how they get away with all of the pushing and shoving. I’d be happy to steal it.

 

[JoseM4]

We face a good well coordinated side and the players know how to keep the ball but have no idea how to move it forward after central midfield. At least we didn't get hammered 4-0 then proceed to say we were unlucky.

Need to beat teams with a winning record or we’ll be stuck in the mid-table.

 

[trevor newnham]

Seems a bit strange for Arsenal to be so pragmatic as to fashion their goal scoring from corners, bit like a Stoke sort of thing. But they are fantastic routines and we just couldn't cope. We do really need someone to fashion chances for the forwards. Igrabimov in a couple of years? I still think Hojlund can be good up front given better service, I mean how many has Haaland scored lately? All in all, definite signs of improvement

 

[JoseM4]

Did Arse actually create a chance from open play? Not seen anything like that in ages.

Arsenal only had 14 shots with 6 on goal.

 

[Schmeichels pinky]

I do think that Amorim might have picked Amad and Zirkzee from the start. Hojland was always going to struggle against someone more athletic like Saliba. At least Zirkzee drops deep and pulls centre backs out of position. But given that Zirkzee was poor when he came on, it's hard to argue this was a game changing decision. More just a tweak he might have tried.

That’s exactly what Hojlund has been doing under ETH and got so much stick for - “he should be in the box!”. Can’t have it both ways.

Given time I think the three of them together on the pitch will be interesting