FPL Bor

We still need to improve on our open play though, Havertz miss could easily have haunted us.

Get someone in, keep this squad tgt, contract renewal with Partey, with Zubi and Partey, we can play around any team in the world.

Adrenaline rushing.

Deadline day prediction: striker/winger coming in 😌

Particularly enjoyed the possession play in our own half during 2-1, so measured, so calm, then unlocking the line breaking pass from partey and MLS.

The technique and the courage required to pull that off, that’s the happiest set of play for me tonight. We have become mentality monsters!

Game analysis:

Best game Partey had this season, even by his top standard. Interception, unpressible, vision and spatial awareness, world class performance.

Raya, MLS, Gabriel and trossard in first half were also brilliant. Can’t fault anyone for the goal

MC gave up at 3-1, which was hard to see…

Ars match ratings (GW24 vs Man City)

Raya 9
Timber 9
Saliba 9
Gabriel 9.5
Myles Lewis-Skelly 9.5
Partey 10 (MOTM)
Rice 9.5
Odegaard 9.5
Trossard 9.5
Havertz 9
Martinelli 9

Sub:
Merino 7
Nwaneri 8.5
Calafiori N/A
Sterling N/A

No one deserved less than a 9 today. Brilliant effort!

#COYG

the red card probably not affecting the result, but how the goalposts are shifted for Kamara not to get a red from same ref, highlighted a problem of consistency

Different teams and fans should work tgt and not laugh at each other, improving the standard of refs is a must for the best league

What’s the agenda behind fabricating Arteta’s post match comments on ref favouring United to get every football fan (including Arsenal ones) to turn on Arteta.. even worse than misinterpretating the ball comment last week 😅

Just gonna say glad that I moved to Bluesky, X is so unbearable nowadays. Arsenal fans fighting each other, fake fans wanting us to lose to sack Arteta, fans wishing rival players career ending injuries. Never any quality football discussion, and when I see one, comments are negative and insulting

Negative:
- Martinelli: lost all duels after coming on, spineless performance, can’t even dribble to the byline and cross
- A half-fit Ode: can’t play make, can’t even control or shield the ball, retrospect view of playing MLS / Zinchenko might even be better there
- ref

Positives:
- Merino: a differing opinion but I think he had a good game, good vision and technique for the assist. Dictate tempo well and composed. Professional foul to stop attack 2nd half
- Nwaneri also had his bright moment, but lost possession far too often.
- Calafiori attacking impact down LHS

Game analysis:
Good and compact first half, lost control second half when Ode came on, Rice knackered late on and got run through in the middle.

Ref incidents:
Pen: never a pen, can accept pen if Saliba didn’t touch the ball, but the fact that he touched, meaning ball not under J Pedro’s possession

Ars match ratings (GW20 vs bha)

Raya 7
Partey 6.5
Saliba 6.5
Gabriel 6.5
Calafiori 6.5
Jorginho 5
Merino 7
Rice 5
Trossard 5.5
Jesus 6
Nwaneri 7

Sub:
Martinelli 3
Odegaard 3.5

3. Predicted Ipswich line up

Raya
Timber
Gabriel
Saliba
Partey
Jorginho
Rice
Ode
Jesus
Havertz
Martinelli

W/o Saka, we need Partey and Jorgy to control and look for line-breaking to Ode from deep, with Timber as a ball carrying player & more mature def to protect our LHS. Rice crucial for delivery

2. Ars may maintain attacking number

Less control approach meaning a more chaotic type, transition-based football, it is equally hard to defend without the predicality. Øde will be orchestrating attack, and Jesus will benefit from his unorthodox dribbling.

Predict: Ars xG >2.5, Jesus returns again

Several bold predictions - How will Saka injury affect Arsenal?

1. Weaker defensive team

Martinelli likely taking RW, his tracking back and defensive ability is not comparable. Ars will also exert less control towards the game and susceptible to counters.

Predict: Ipswich xG >1, no Ars CS

How to fix open play without dipping into transfer market?

Partey as 6 would solve the problem of ball progression. Would be able to find Øde through the lines, closer to middle of park instead of Øde hugging touchline to receive the ball as no one can make line breaking pass.

But game was killed with the Jorginho substitution. Dragged the tempo. Too control with no risk taken in possession. Last 10 mins was hard to watch with Gabriel, Saliba, Jorginho recycling possession, then to Trossard for one on one which was not his strength. N53 hiding whole game was disappointing

Game analysis:
xG 1.42 vs 0.17

Though xG doesn’t reflect the game, we were in control but not dominant.

Gabriel played well, scintillating block on Doucoure. Ode 3 poor games in a row, missing another sitter. Actually thought Rice was alright this game, recovered well with duels.

Ars match ratings (GW16 vs EVE)

Raya 7
Timber 7
Saliba 7
Gabriel 8 (MOTM)
Lewis-Skelly 7.5
Rice 7
Merino 6.5
Odegaard 6
Martinelli 6
Havertz 6
Saka 7

Sub:
Jorginho 5.5
Nwaneri 6
Partey 6.5
Jesus 6
Trossard 7

Arteta 6

#COYG

Had to praise Jesus for his work rate, and didn’t ball hog as often this game

Not trying to be mean to Nelli, he did try hard, but could have given a red for the pull back end of 1st half, that was reckless.

Ode had faster feet pre-injury, slowly regaining full fitness, missed 2-3 chances too

Game analysis:
xG: 2.29 vs 0.38

Another easy dominating performance. MLS impressive, good half turn, good ball carrying and close control, vision to pick out Jesus for the assist. Not tested defensively though.

Rice better, more forward thinking then previous games, sometimes lose control though

Ars match ratings (MD6 vs Monaco)

Raya 7
Partey 7
Saliba 7.5
Kiwior 7
Lewis-Skelly 8
Rice 7.5
Merino 7
Odegaard 6.5
Martinelli 5.5
Jesus 8
Saka 9 (MOTM)

Sub:
Jorginho 6.5
Trossard 6.5
Timber 6.5
Havertz 8
Nwaneri 6.5

Arteta 8

#COYG

Good:
- another corner G, 2 other big chances from corner
- one of Saliba better games, bossing Raul whole game, so calm in possession, fair to say he is world class

Bad:
- open play
- Ø ball control, slow and wrong decision, very unlike him
- kiwior not built for possession play, we miss Gab/Cala

Game analysis:

FUL stayed compact and let ARS go to the wings in possession. Both LHS and RHS dynamics failed due to lack of 1 v 1 quality and Ode Saka miscontrol respectively

This game screams a strong direct left winger for 1 v 1 play, both nelli and trossard were ineffective in respective ways

Ars match ratings (GW15 vs ful)

Raya 7
Timber 7
Kiwior 6
Saliba 8.5
Partey 7
Jorginho 6.5
Ode 6
Rice 6
Trossard 5
Havertz 6.5
Saka 6.5

Sub:
Martinelli 4.5
Merino 6
Jesus 6
Nwaneri 5.5

Arteta 6
Nico Jover 10

#COYG

Rice: strong performance, much better in the first phase, beautiful delivery as always, still felt pass selection can be more aggressive

Rare Saka dud: lack of physicality, failed to control the ball on half turn, lost duels to Malacia was surprising. Did not make run behind. May not be fully fit?

Key performance:

Saliba: Commanding MOTM performance as usual, occasional ball carrying run to break MU def shape. Kiwior more calm with his presence.

Kiwior: Did much better than expected, did not lose duel, can improve on pass choice

Special mentions to Saka and Rice’s corner delivery..

Game analysis:

MU played a surprisingly compact game, would expect a more transition-based game than a possession-based one.

We were patient attacking-wise, perhaps lacking the cutting edge in open play, due to saka rare poor game.

Defensively we didn’t give leave room behind for MU to exploit

Ars match ratings: (GW14 vs Man Utd)

Raya 9
Timber 9
Saliba 9 (MOTM)
Kiwior 8.5
Zinchenko 7.5
Partey 8
Odegaard 8
Rice 8.5
Martinelli 6.5
Havertz 7.5
Saka 6.5

Subs:
Trossard 7
Merino 7.5
Jorginho N/A

Manager:
Arteta 8.5
Nico Jover 10

Would you mind sharing the 3 games which they were underdogs, and the results? Thanks

Proves Gyokeres potentially world class but not there yet, and both Saliba and Gabriel are of world class level pairing now

Hjulmand watch ⭐️ :
- star player despite heavy defeat
- calm on ball with presence despite pressed hard
- a potential Partey replacement in the future 🐙

#COYG