Arsenal Discussion 2024/25

Arsenals tactics seem to be based mainly on the set piece.
When we went down to 10 men, they didn't adapt, their constant falling over at the slightest touch, taking ages over deciding which set piece to play actually played into our hands, it gave us time to re-group, organise defensively and keep them out.
They were literally facing a wall of defenders, and a keeper playing a blinder.
Tactically they had no answer, Sterling proved just how ineffective his is, Havaertz being played in a role he's not suited to, and Rice ending up in Ugarte's pocket.
Is Arteta a fraud? one covid trophy, millions spent, and nothing, any other club (including United) would have sacked him by now.
 
Not sure this deserves its own thread as there is an Arsenal discussion thread.

Last season I think they set a club record for points and goals in a 38 game season.

In another era they’d have likely won a league title but they’ve come up against a seriously good City side.

I wouldn’t rule Arsenal out of winning the champions league this season.

They’re a very good side when everyone is fit but injuries and suspensions have probably done them in this season.

They have been to reliant on the set pieces and probably regret not spending money on a striker and a winger in the summer.
 
Not sure this deserves its own thread as there is an Arsenal discussion thread.
You are probably right.
Today I got the impression that their whole game plan was centred around set plays, almost like American football, and it went tits up for them.
 
I may have been Merson that said it. But they're Mourinho FC. Look to use the dark arts and be bullies.

Unfortunately for them they don't have the depth to do it. There is a fantastic photo of Ugarte and Garnacho fronting them up. The rest are watching on.

Those South Americans want it.
 
You are probably right.
Today I got the impression that their whole game plan was centred around set plays, almost like American football, and it went tits up for them.

I think at the moment they've certainly fallen into that trap a bit because the open play stuff isn't working.

Without Saka their front 3 really lacks quality and they become very reliant on Odegaard who also hasn't been at his best this season with a few injuries maybe being a factor.

It is hilarious that their set piece coach has a chant that the fans sing and also a mural somewhere near the ground.

The big difference on the set pieces between yesterday and the league game was the quality of the delivery in that league game Saka and especially Rice where dropping the ball right on the sweet spot time and time again. Yesterday the delivery was nowhere near the same standard.

Just looks to me like they've run out of puff a bit after 2 hard seasons pushing City so close and not getting over the line they're having a bit of a dip.
 
if you've only got one tactic, you get found out.

You can see yesterday we didn't let them surround/block the keeper so easily and our defenders were a lot more disruptive at set pieces.
 
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I don't think they've only got 1 tactic they created quite a few chances in normal play they just aren't taking them.

Jesus being out for the rest of the season is a big blow as he'd just started to find some form.

Surely they'll have to do something in January now.
 
Arsenal score more than any other club in Europe from set pieces.

They have very limited ideas in open play
 
Set pieces are huge part of their game but they`ve become more reliant on it this season that thing where they line up at the back and rush forward as the corner kick is taken is wearing thin now as long as teams are prepared for it.
 
People talk about that like it's a bad thing though. What a weapon to have in your Arsenal... pardon the pun.

Their open play football has been poor this season.
 
it's only a weapon until you get found out.

Then you need something else.
 
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Thing with set pieces is if you can get the delivery right then there's not a lot teams can do. This is where Arsenal have been nailing it the quality of delivery is so good that you almost can't defend some of it. It's why Utd are absolutely useless at set pieces as none of our players put a quality ball in.

Refs aren't being tough on the dirty tactics on set pieces which Arsenal take well beyond the limit.

They have players who push defenders back to play others onside on set pieces.
They use blockers to stop your players/keepers moving on corners.

Unless VAR is going to start getting really tough and out the goals they score they'll keep doing it and everyone should be following suit.

It should never be your main source of goals though you have to have the open play football that goes with it and currently Arsenal can't get that to click. Saka's injury for them is huge as he's the man that makes things happen especially when they have him and Odegaard working together.
 
They relied on set pieces against us and it cost them, what is also apparent is that like us they need a striker with a cool head.

What really gets me annoyed is that when all the pushing and shoving happens the Ref goes over and speaks to them, then lets it happen again, when training as a Ref I was always told that you only warn a player once, after that it's dissent and in the book.
Then again we were also told that the top flight has different rules for dissent and the like.
 
Zubimendi is a fantastic signing if they've managed to jump to the front of the queue for him.

Always thought he'd end up at one of the big boys in Spain.

Should be a really good partner for Rice.
 
Zubimendi is a fantastic signing if they've managed to jump to the front of the queue for him.

Always thought he'd end up at one of the big boys in Spain.

Should be a really good partner for Rice.

Neither are great going forward though you want an 8 in that midfield instead they are going to have two world class 6's. Think it's another defensively minded signing that.

The refs have been instructed not to warn players from corners and to blow up once the ball is in play. They just aren't following instructions.
 
Neither are great going forward though you want an 8 in that midfield instead they are going to have two world class 6's. Think it's another defensively minded signing that.

The refs have been instructed not to warn players from corners and to blow up once the ball is in play. They just aren't following instructions.

I think you can keep the two things separate this signing doesn't fix their goal scoring issues but he's a great replacement for Partey who's contract expires this summer. I think this signing will allow them to push Rice on to be a bit more box to box which should get more from him I think he's more than just a holding player.

Guess they've totally abandoned the Havertz as an 8 plan which is what he was signed for.

To me that attack needs a bit of a refresh. Jesus and Martinelli were good players for them for the previous 2 seasons but this season they've dropped off and they need to improve their options. In the summer I think they've got to spend big on a centre forward and a quality winger to play off the left.

On the set pieces there's so much going on it's hard for the ref to spot things and with the way they're using VAR unless you do something really blatant they're just going to stick with the refs on field decision.
 
Another set piece goal

The delivery from Rice really is exceptional
 
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Both their CF options out for the season.

Hard to see them catching Liverpool now.
 
Yeah and with Martinelli and Saka also out it looks tough for them.

Probably be Trossard up top with Sterling and Nwaneri on the wings. Sterling has been underwhelming and Nwaneri looks so talented but a lot to ask for a 17 year old to be a main source of goals.
 

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