Ok perhaps I should follow @mckane's lead and drop my Arsenal rant about 10hours after he dropped his Manchester United's. Or is it good to bring in negative vibes on new year's eve?🙂
Fresh from that painful loss against West Ham, we are served with this one today. Towards the end of his(@fa-him ) post on West Ham he said– "After thousands of attempts, Arsenal couldn't get the goal. The Gunners had to leave the field with a loss despite keeping 75 balls at their feet."
I spotted "thousands" there.🙂 I spotted it in singular form in another blog on that Westham match by my man @typebox– "Watching that guy[Zinchenko] defend should be added to one thousand ways to diiee. He's shocking defence wise.."
This part of his blog(HANDS ON THE FACE FEELING) he was discussing about players being fatigued, where he also mentioned Martinelli and Trossard. You are welcome to view his blog. It really was a frustrating match for so many Arsenal faithfuls.
Even so, that match was better than this one today, in terms of effort. Today virtually every player seemed jaded, Saliba received his very first yellow card of this EPL season. You score a goal and you drop off, as if you've lost your ambition. What's the problem?
This little blog will attempt to offer some solution.
Now a lot of Arsenal fans are crying out for a proper goal poacher in January, especially after that "thousands" of attempts against West Ham yielding no goal and after this 2–1 loss to Fulham today, making three straight games, no victory. But briefly I want to delve a little deeper, afterall this is "ogeewitty's deep dives".😉
3 things:
1》 Arteta will have to learn to rule over his emotions in player selection. All these "valiant" efforts of trying to prove that every one of his signings is perfect, is unnecessary and is costing my dear club. It is being too emotional.
2》 Number 1 above, is probably why he didn't touch Nketiah today eventhough Nketiah was abysmal. Part of the issue was his dear Harvetz(who wasn't even impressive). Ok, why not sub off Nketiah and push Harvetz up top to keep the defenders busy, then introduce a midfielder. But no, he wants to prove to everyone that he is right– that Harvetz can do it in midfield. Substitutions can't be subject to sentiments.
Most importantly
3》 Truth is Timber's injury and even Partey's injury affected the original game plan this season. What we have now is a team and system that everyone seems prepared for. As someone puts it, "we've been found out".
What do you do?
The answer is simple: USE YOUR SQUAD– meaning–
a) Surprise the opposition.
b) Keep players fresh.
For example, Rice has been doing well as a DM, you can surprise the opposition by starting Elneny as a DM for that West Ham game and Rice further forward– the Xhaka role. You can start a Kiwior for Gabriel at times(Kiwior is also a good DM). This will surprise and unsettle the opposition and make the player match fit too.
Martinelli, Saka, White,etc, have not been at their best for at least 3 matches now. You can start with a Nelson for Martinelli. With an injured Tomiyasu, Saliba and White can switch places. White is still a great CB, he can start there at times, when he is shaky out wide. Salìba is so talented that he can do the job out wide.
Mental and physical fatigue is real, Arteta often underrates this. Being monotonous can weary a human, no matter how hard he tries.
The point is, this is such a great squad of hybrid players, ARTETA PLEASE USE YOUR SQUAD!
I keep saying everywhere I can, Mr. Carlo Ancelloti of Real Madrid is famed for never changing his starting 11, but what do you have today? Modern football has taught him a lesson, he now regularly makes changes to he starting 11 for no obvious reason. It is called keeping players fresh, not just physically but mentally.
Infact in today's game a player doesn't need a dip in form before you rest him. Zinedine Zidane excelled in this. You also see it with Pep, it's not strange to see Pep subbing off a player that is doing well on the pitch.
CONCLUSION
Get a striker, get a striker, is easy to say, but it goes beyond this.
I was one of those who voiced out that Arsenal should buy Diaby in the summer to keep Saka fresh. Well Arsenal were not interested and the winger went to Aston Villa instead.
The good part is that Arteta was far worse than this in squad rotation 2 or 3 years back.
I have seen him learning things fast and I am convinced that he is a fast learner. I wish him well.
Well Bukayo Saka gives some renewed hope and best wishes—
snapshot from my screen
I congratulate you all as you enter a new year. "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD."
HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE DEAR PEOPLE
Keep it, Cheerfully...