re: Arsenal 2015/2016 Season Long Thread

Walcott got two assists per WhoScored.


I forgot how fun football can be. That was a blast.

This was such a fun game to watch, Ramsey could've and should've added another brilliant goal as well. It was nice to keep the clean sheet too, a lot of times in the past the other team would have slipped one past at the end.

If Arsenal can match this performance against Bayern at the Emirates, they can maybe steal the 3 points they will desperately need. As for the league, no reason this team can't win it.

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I read something saying Walcott has really hit the training grounds hard, working on the timing of his runs and his hold up play. I'd say it is really paying off.

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He worked his arse off hounding United's back line today. Really thrilled to see where he's gone this year. 5 goals, 4 assists in 8 starts for us this season in all comps.

Still fired up about Arsenal's performance yesterday. It was pretty close to being 100% complete performance.

Theo, Alexis and Ozil are forming quite the attacking trio. It is really remarkable the type of soccer we are capable of playing. There are times when we look unplayable for the opposition. The first 30 minutes yesterday was one of those rare times.

Van Gaal helped with his terrible squad selection, but Arsenal were on the front foot from the get go. Enjoy this victory everyone, it is one of those rare performances against a real nemesis. One of the few times I am going to enjoy an international break. Well, unless there are any significant injuries..

Theo just scares the shite out of every opponent and he is playing brilliantly. Martial should watch Theo's tape from yesterday and learn how to create space for others and how to be unselfish.

Just look at this effort from Theo. Incredible. This is what we need.

LINK

also, I really wish Ramsey would've buried his chance. His all around game gets better and better every match. His two balls to set up the first and third goals were perfect. He's tracking defensively and making tackles, taking better care of the ball, and doing a fantastic job. All that's missing is his goals, which I'm not worried about given our form up top.

Is there a stat that measures the pass before the assist/chance created anywhere? I'd think Ramsey, Ozil, and Cazorla would all be very high on that list.

I like the way we are playing but I'm not convinced by this team. Not only are we Jekyll and Hyde, we are almost naive defending at times. Mertesacker annoys me when he flops inside the box at the first sign of contact, which is exactly what created the Martial chance.

This match was the most tactically active I've seen Wenger this season. Changing to a midfield three was the correct move, and the moments when we pressed and when we stayed in the low block were appropriate. What I hope this shows is ultimate commitment to the low block and an attempt to play more counter-attacking, which suits the styles of basically everyone on this team. The high-energy, high-press, requires organizational ability that we don't have. Even when we pressed, it was inconsistent. When we press, there are times during games where the pressing player looks behind him hoping a partner is with him. Given that, the intention appears to be a press, but there is little communication about it. I'm not even sure we false press all that well.

One thing we did really well this game was our defensive spacing. Always compact and rather organized despite the fact we were going forward at a high speed. Hopefully that will be a feature of the rest of our season, because the performances in the CL have been extremely embarrassing.

And his substitutions were great. Giroud up top for an outlet when the game is won, ox to keep that pace, moving Ramsey up into ozils position and bringing Gibbs on for defensive support.

Those passes are measured as "key passes", maybe surprisingly Harry Kane has quite a few this season as well.

From your friendly neighborhood Spurs fan.

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This match was the most tactically active I've seen Wenger this season. Changing to a midfield three was the correct move, and the moments when we pressed and when we stayed in the low block were appropriate. What I hope this shows is ultimate commitment to the low block and an attempt to play more counter-attacking, which suits the styles of basically everyone on this team. The high-energy, high-press, requires organizational ability that we don't have. Even when we pressed, it was inconsistent. When we press, there are times during games where the pressing player looks behind him hoping a partner is with him. Given that, the intention appears to be a press, but there is little communication about it. I'm not even sure we false press all that well.

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If we are going to be successful, we're going to have to press, to invite teams to create chances, so as to open up space behind them.

I really loved what we did tactically. Going forward, the tilted diamond, almost box midfield with Cazorla and Coq deep and Ramsey and Ozil ahead of them, Alexis and Theo on the back line, really seemed to give United fits.

I especially like what we're doing with Cazorla and Coq. Santi sits deep as the connector, with Coquelin moving laterally in front of him either as a decoy to open up passing lanes, or as a midway point between Santi and the attack. Coq did wonderfully on the first goal to take it from Per under pressure and play it into Bellerin to initiate the transition forward. He's been just superb, adding subtle offensive contributions to his defensive dynamism.


There seems to be a chemistry developing. City are the favorites, no doubt, but I think we're a cut above United and the rest of the top four contenders. I'm also well aware we can slip at any moment and pull an Olympiakos. And Per is maybe our fourth best CB at the moment.