AggieRob93 said:

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Ag Since 83 said:

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That's the amazing thing about Arteta. As bad as this style of play looks sometime, you look at the chances Eddie and Auba miss there and you say "what else do you expect the manager to do?"

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No doubt the players -- looking at Auba mainly -- spurn their chances and bear some responsibility for the failure. Bigger problem is it seems this team really struggles to create those chances, which has been consistent under Arteta.

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Agreed but as it stands right now we are a really young team, just spent $150m in the past window and we look like a team that need a minimum 3 starters (2 CM & ST) and some depth (W, ST, CB, RB) just to be competitive. I understand that Arteta didn't buy those players but he pushed for Partey (who has been injury prone and awful all season), he pushed to resign Xhaka (slow and poor defender) and he can't seem to get those guys motivated to play worth a damn.

Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:

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wangus12 said:

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I also don't understand why every ****ing time we get a 1-nil lead, we decide to simply stop playing. We just sit back, invite pressure and pray to hold on

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I don't think that is how Arteta wants them to play either. They talked about that on Arseblog and how he was trying to push the guys forward and they just sat back anyways.

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That's on Arteta then. If they can't follow instructions, bench them until someone does. Better to play lesser players that do what you ask then to play the guys that make you look bad when they can't follow your instructions.

Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:

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wangus12 said:

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I also don't understand why every ****ing time we get a 1-nil lead, we decide to simply stop playing. We just sit back, invite pressure and pray to hold on

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I don't think that is how Arteta wants them to play either. They talked about that on Arseblog and how he was trying to push the guys forward and they just sat back anyways.

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I agree with that. I posted about it here. But it doesn't change the fact that the players continue to do it

Few rumors I have seen in the last several days...

- TeamTalk claiming that Arsenal brass have given the greenlight to a Jan move for Renato Sanches. I like the what I saw from him in the Euros and think he could be an awesome option for us. Concerned about his injury history and not sure he would be the ideal partner for Partey. Though I'm not convinced we should give a **** about who can partner with Partey and maybe just cut our losses there.

- We have supposedly inquired about Lille's Jonathan David but were told that they do not want to consider a transfer until the summer. I'm not 100% convinced that he would be the ideal lone ST but I am thoroughly convinced that he would be a stud in a 2 ST setup. Think we should push to buy him in Jan and loan him back for the rest of the year just to make sure that a) the price doesn't go up on us and b) no one else takes him out from under us.

- Seeing some links to 20yo Brazilian FW Yuri Alberto. Originally linked to him in the summer. Brazilian league season is wrapping up so a Jan move could be more realistic. 6' strong and good in the air. Also a good dribbler with a solid finishing touch. Primarily a ST but also plays SS and both wings.

- Lots of smoke about Dominic Calvert-Lewin the last several weeks but that move will be expensive and highly likely to be in the summer only. Could see him being a goo ST option for us in either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-2-2.

- Still a good bit of smoke RE Kulusevski. Supposedly it is us and Spurs kicking the tires. Current Spurs DOF was DOF at Juventus when Kulusevski was brought in. Supposedly Kulusevski grew up an Arsenal fan though. Juventus are looking for 35m + add-ons. Supposedly both Arsenal & Spurs are looking at 30m max. We supposedly tried to offer Pepe in a swap deal but were rejected. I've also heard both clubs trying a loan with an option.

- Flamengo what Pablo Mari back and he is considering the move. Biggest obstacle will be salary.

- We are being linked to Gabriel Barbosa (Gabigol) whom has been tearing up the Brazilian league the last 2-3 years. Watching his video, doesn't seem to be the right kind of fit. I doubt the validity of this link.

Seeing some claims this morning that Edu is flying to Italy to secure a deal for Kulusevski.

I still kinda don't understand that desire. Why bring in another 21 y/o winger when thats the one position that actually isn't really a need

As a Sweden fan I've watched a lot of Kulusewski. Dude is unreal when he's on. Completely bossed the game against Spain a couple months ago. He is very good and could truly be one of the world's best in a few years.

Arteta on Nketiah contract:

"We are having some discussions with him and his agent. I would like him to stay at the club. He's our player and someone that we rate. He has the Arsenal DNA in his blood. His reason [of rejecting] is that he wants to play more football." #AFC

— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) December 10, 2021

Likely explains why he has been getting more minutes all of a sudden.

🚨🚨🚨[ @gerardromero🥇] | Marc Andre Ter-Stegen, Frenkie De Jong and Sergiño Dest will all be placed on the transfer market in the upcoming window. #FCBlive pic.twitter.com/UhWzeBGFPr

— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) December 9, 2021

Dest & ter Stegen don't fit our current needs but de Jong would be a dream. Problem is A) not sure he would join us over a team with regular CL and B) not sure we would be willing to pay the price Barca puts on his head.

chjoak said:

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Arteta on Nketiah contract:

"We are having some discussions with him and his agent. I would like him to stay at the club. He's our player and someone that we rate. He has the Arsenal DNA in his blood. His reason [of rejecting] is that he wants to play more football." #AFC

— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) December 10, 2021

Likely explains why he has been getting more minutes all of a sudden.

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****ing stupid to basically let an average 22 year old hold the club hostage for minutes. Let him walk or sell him in January

Nketiah is completely worthless.

That is very concerning if true.

Also looks like no Auba so that's a plus right. Why are we terrible

Same lineup as against Everton. It absolutely baffles me that Sambi put in a MOTM performance and then gets benched for the next 3 games while Partey gets to be continously terrible and suffer no repercussions.

Did he think we played well against Everton?

I don't have an issue with the basic lineup but would have had AMN & Sambi (I picked them against Everton too) at CM.

I found this tweet pretty interesting. In the particular instance shown, not sure if you'd blame Martinelli for not playing a ball for Odegaard to run to or Odegaard for not making a run first, but the general idea of the tweet rings true to me.

The illustrative case I see far too often is a corner kick, gets cleared but we get the ball back in the attacking third, and in an effort to space the defense out we play the ball all the way to the keeper to start another attack

Like @gunnerblog mentioned in his piece, under Arteta emphasis has been laid on our build-up play but what follows after we cross the halfway line is a combination of vague and disjointed decision making.

A good example of the same from the Everton match.pic.twitter.com/F2Um6gvqOs

— Arsenalog (@TheArsenalog) December 8, 2021

So more Auba discipline issues again, I don't even care if it's legit or Arteta being too strict, I don't see how you can keep him as captain now

Ag Since 83 said:

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So more Auba discipline issues again, I don't even care if it's legit or Arteta being too strict, I don't see how you can keep him as captain now

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Supposedly skipped training Fri. Watts tweeted that out yesterday before there was any mention of any disciplinary action.

My god we look awful and cannot connect 2 passes

Turnovers and more turnovers. Living dangerously.

Laca! Wonderful team goal!!

When playing out the back goes splendidly well

Sweet! Odegaard!! 2 nil!

Tierney to Odegaard again!

Odegaard isn't racking up the assists but he's on fire scoring at the moment

Wooo!

Nice breakaway opportunity there. Unfortunately Laca has no speed these days

Oh Saka, make him work harder than that!

Cannot give Ward-Prowse opportunities...

Ramsdale nearly with a wonder assist

Dude Ramsdale can really nail a pass

Great first half, two goals and could have had more with some better shot selections

I guess that's technically offside

Gabriel!!! Nice header!! 3 nil!!

Gabriel gets his goal!