Match Threads Arsenal vs Spurs - Match Day 6

[fruitbat7]

First half very much what we expected let’s be honest. The team who’ve been together longer, developed their structure and playing at home were the better side and made us look quite fragile. BUT!! The reaction to it has been encouraging. Udogie looked rattled and on a yellow after 20 minutes and yet still got up and kept playing his game and didn’t let the occasion get the better of him. Watching him shrug off Rice, turn and immediately run at them was a treat. Regardless of the result of todays game, it’s that sort of thing we need to look at. They’re the things that Ange has spoken about all week and what he’s trying to build. Fucking loved it if I’m honest. Proper derby again.

 

[djhotspur]

How good is Van de Ven btw. Looks totally assured whilst players around him were at times looking frayed. He’s going to be a colossal defender. Ceiling is sky high.

Yeah he’s been brilliant

 

[Oh Teddy Teddy]

This playing out from the back shit is not working here today. I hope Ange tells them to stop

nah keep doing it otherwise ball just coming straight back

 

[Nerine]

Mixed thoughts about that half.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

This. Bringing the game up to them and suffocate them is the way to puncture them.

Agree but not easily done. Unfortunately they’re a top side and we are away in a NLD, that being said they usually start fast under Arteta then can fade a bit in the middle part of games and both of our teams score late goals so 2nd half could go either way, we have to stop Saka though and be a bit braver playing through them.

 

[mpickard2087]

Don't actually think it's been a great game so far. Arsenal are not really playing that well, whilst we haven't settled down really at all.

Big difference is in the off the ball stuff, we have individual sporadic moments of great pressure but on the whole there has been a massive difference in the pressing traps and ability to put the squeeze on which has left us often stuck unable to get out.

Eventually we got about 5 mins at the end of the half where we did get a bit of respite, and nicked an equaliser. How about it.

We must settle down though, this is a test being able to play under pressure and at the moment we're not really enjoying being given the hurry up. Maddison and particularly Bissouma have got to find their A games and settle down. But we've got a foothold back despite a shaky half and the team have got an opportunity here.

 

[MiakSarawak]

Whatever the score will be at the end, we sure are playing more exciting football than under Conte. That alone is a plus point for me.

 

[Gassin's finest]

I think we've been great so far. Some naivety in our play at times, and some jittery touches in possession... Sarr, Bissouma and Maddison all culpable. Their goal was a jammy own goal, but it came from Johnson cutting straight between Saka and Udogie, which gave the former enough space to shape for the shot. However we didn't panic or drop our heads, we stayed tough and carried on playing the way we intended. Which in my view is to retain possession in our own half, keep nice and calm, and draw Arsenal in that way. When we have attacked we've looked dangerous, and just lacked a tiny bit on the final ball/shot. Had Johnson but more on the shot and pulled it more into the corner, he would have scored a beautiful goal.

What I like most about it so far is how we are unafraid. We are getting stuck in, we are not letting them settle into a rhythm, and we are going for it. I genuinely think the game changed when Jesus ballooned that gift of a chance, and our goal rocked them. And this Arsenal team are notorious for wobbling.

Classic NLD, and however this finishes, we're doing ourselves proud.

But we're going to win. Clearly.

 

[werty]

Yea I wonder if it’s nerves or a tactical ask because Romero and VDV taking an absolute age on the ball, also probably because of Arsenals pressing and shape giving few passing options not easy to be fair but they grew into it.

I’ve been so impressed with VDV, what a signing. He’s like a faster super Jan.

Part of the problem is when the full backs both invert they have to no-one to play the ball wide to, but there have been more than a few occasions when Romero had someone free on the right and he takes to long to give it to him, or just ignores him. I think he's too often looking for the "best" pass rather than the quick one.

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

Concerning now we have 2 CMs and a RB on a yellow

have you not watched Ange interviews? This is his style, he said there will be pain along the way but he doesn’t change how his team plays.

 

[hughy]

Definitely something in this for us. Whoever scores more goals in the second half wins I reckon.

 

[Impspur1]

We’ve caused our own problems that half. Some shocking passing decisions.

Johnson off. Hoping he’s just nervous but he’s been a passenger.

Thought he looked dangerous and could have had a couple of goals

 

[TonyS]

Gary Neville’s voice goes through me. It’s like scratching your nails on a blackboard

 

[hooty]

I didn't think Udogie deserved a booking first half, Saka dangled a leg and let him run into it. Very harsh, it put him in two minds every time after that. Ref couldn't wait to book Sarr (deserved) and Bissouma but let's go a stamp from White and Vieria tumbling every 3 minutes to eat up time.

Jesus should have put them two up but I fancied us to get a goal still. We only attacked a few times and score. For all their ball poession, bar them Jesus shots, they haven't tested Vicario much at all

Been impressed with Johnson so far.

Didn't like how we kept playing football in our 18 yard box for 35 minutes because I always fancy us to get a goal against these, but patience is key.

Udogie had checked Saka multiple times by that point. After a certain point, the ref is always going to give a 'cumulative' card, whether the foul that ultimately leads to the yellow warrants it or not.

White should have gotten a yellow for his foul but otherwise I actually think the ref has done an OK job, especially with the context.

Also not sure what the comments about Saka's celebrations are about, unless I missed something. The bit I saw was an incredibly innocuous celebration.

Rather than focusing on these random little niggles (not directed at you specifically), most of which I personally don't even feel are particularly justified, I'm just genuinely excited and happy with how an incredibly young and new team have played so far, at a team that is very good and spent long periods last season looking like they might be league winners.

Of course want the points here but am genuinely happy with how the performance has gone so far. So so so much better than meekly surrendering and putting 10 men behind the ball and hoping Kane/Son do something. Awful stuff.

 

[shoggy33]

Bissouma has been really poor, very casual on the ball. Udogie looked shell shocked for the first 30 but grew into it. Other than that I think we've been ok, they were always going to be onto for large portions of the game, other than the chances we've gifted them they've not created that much. Big second half coming up!

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

Possibly fair as I think he gave Odegard a yellow for dissent early on?

He got a yellow for asking for a yellow.

 

[Impspur1]

Definitely something in this for us. Whoever scores more goals in the second half wins I reckon.

 

[worcestersauce]

Mixed thoughts about that half.

It was a mixed half.

 

[only1waddle]

You've missed the whole idea then. He's never gonna compromise on the philosophy. Today's game isn't to be rated by a win or loss and mistakes, but by whether or not the boys stick to the ideas and keep trying to do what they're told. I'd you revert to pragmatism at the first sight of adversity, we'll never progress.

What we needed was a few more video's of him explaining this when he was appointed............

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

We had a lot more success playing the ball in behind their full backs than we have trying to play through the middle.