re: Arsenal 2016/2017 Season Long Thread: 13 time FA Cup Champs

Anyone else think we collect 0 points thru 2 matches?

Yeah.

Article by Tim Stillman of arseblog on our defensive philosophy. LINK

Stillman is spot on. Sometimes I wish we could mix Wenger's man-management with a coach with some idea of pragmatism. For all of Wenger's failings in the transfer market coming as a result of this weird utilitarian pragmatism, the product he puts on the field is idealistic. In that world, players wouldn't go to the same side of the field or let runners goalside while the ball is in transition. We've made that latter mistake for as long as I remember. I wish Wenger would adopt a pragmatism now. Liverpool certainly were direct, but they didn't do anything super special. They weren't Pep's Barca or 2012 Bayern. They did things that the team should have snuffed out, but the problem is and always has been our spacing. I'm almost getting tired of saying it. We often have a defensive plan, shadow marking, running off specific players, the false press, denying the first station pass, but that seems to go wayward when our intricate passing game doesn't work. Instead of admiring what could have been, I wish our players would just go back into position and fricking play for once.

Problem is we could have dropped a lot of points by then.

With Conte, Klopp, Mourinho, Guardiola all in the Prem, I'm very concerned about top 4 this year.

It is the first time I have been worried about the top 4. It is way past the time that atleast one more purchase should have been made.

It is maddening.

If we get a reliable CB and someone (ST or Winger) who can add goals we will be good enough to challenge for the title. That's if we don't blow it by dropping points waiting for these signings.

Every team in contention is making strides to win. We are simply trying to stay afloat. It's a matter of time (this year) before things hit rock bottom.

dont worry, aresen will do just enough to keep his job by going all in the FA cup and winning it.