Three Things We Learned from Arsenal v Stoke City
For the first time since November, Arsenal managed to win back to back league matches. Additionally, they managed it with two back-to-back 3-0 wins. Still, there was a lot of frustration and it bares just a little look back 3 things we could possibly learn from this match.
Could this be the worst technical side Arsenal have had under Wenger?
Many of you may not know this about me but I am a youth coach. I work with kids aged 8 to 16 in teaching the beautiful game. As such I spend 2/3 of my time frustrated because I need to keep working 3 core elements of the game – passing, touch and movement off the ball.
Yesterday for 70 minutes it felt like I was watching a youth side, with poor touches, blind passing and static movement off the ball. We looked like we couldn’t even be bothered to do the simple things right. And as such we made what should’ve been a rather easy affair look labored.
We have to consider ourselves lucky that Stoke simply can’t score goals. The amount of gifted opportunities we gave them because we didn’t know how to pass out of the press was infuriating. We invited pressure and for a while there it looked like – our own demise.
Movement off of the ball is probably one of the more frustrating things about watching that match yesterday. Frankly it’s been one of the more frustrating things about this whole season. The myth goes that we play lovely, attractive football. Yeah, we haven’t done that in over 3 plus years maybe.
There is nothing attractive about seeing players stand around with the ball at their feet look up and not see any options moving into space ahead of the ball. This results in a negative pass back to the CBs or worse – a defender to come and snatch the ball and create a counter-attacking moments.
As for passing it was poor all over the place and Jack Wilshire displayed one of the most stupid moments of them all. Down around the 18, his back to goal. Ramsey to his left (screen right) with a defender in front of him off his shoulder. Jack’s head is down. He can’t see a thing so what does he do, put a weak pass into Ramsey which the defender easily intercepts and the pressure breaks down.
It was one moment but emblematic of other moments. And even if we did manage to make that first pass in transition, the touch by the player receiving the ball was either hard or so bad we should’ve just picked up the ball and handed it to Stoke.
It’s frustrating to see professional players so poor at the basics and it is one of the key factors in our abysmal season.
Bellerin is where all good attacking plays go to die
I like Hector. I do but man he can just grate on my nerves. For a player blessed with solid ball control skills and speed to see him kill an attack just pains me.
There was a moment late in the game when Mkhitaryan, dummied on the ball and let it roll through to Hector. Hector had the momentum going forward and it would’ve should’ve allowed him to put pressure on Stoke and carry the ball forward to attack the box.
Well, that didn’t happen. Instead, Hector slows down looks inside and allows Stoke to get organized in front of them. He then makes a poor pass attempt to Mkhi and well, as can be expected Stoke intercept the ball and begin the counter the other – a chance absolutely wasted.
Bellerin is a wonderfully talented footballer and at his age, he hasn’t reached his full potential yet. As an attacking fullback, if you are blessed with blistering speed and excellent ball control skills why not use them to really put pressure on them.
But Hector doesn’t – well not with any consistency. And when he does, the crosses or his shots – well the less said about his shooting the better.
The point is we should expect more from Bellerin and Wenger should demand more from him. Attacking moments shouldn’t die at his feet.
What’s the Point of Having Strikers if We don’t Use Them Right
Man, I love Aubameyang. I wish we had gotten him earlier than we did. He is a joy to watch. I also know Lacazette is much maligned but I do believe he is an effective striker.
That being said, what’s the bloody point of using these two players if we don’t use them effectively. Neither are terrific headers of the ball so playing lofted balls over the top or crosses into the box don’t really play to their strengths.
Their best attributes (besides shooting) is their movement and ability to run between the gaps of the back 4. However, none of that was happening yesterday and it’s not just that match where it is happening. It happens quite frequently.
I don’t want to see my striker coming back so deep he replaces the DM in the midfield. But at one point yesterday that is exactly what I saw from Aubameyang. He came deep because he wasn’t getting any service.
Now part of that is due to the problems we outlined earlier – the movement in front of the ball and behind the striker is poor. Additionally, the passing is just as abysmal so even the few attempts to try something usually goes astray.
Both PEA and Lacazette are players that need either balls to run onto or getting it into their feet. If we’re not going to do that, what’s the point of having these types of strikers in the squad? Of course if we had the big physical strikers like a certain Frenchman now playing at Chelsea, we’d of course forget about crosses and lobbed balls to win out of the air and try and play into his feet.
Why because Arsenal, that’s why.
Extra Time
If yesterday’s win means we played a part in sending Stoke to the Championship, that is an event worth celebrating. No team and fanbase deserves relegation more and if it happens we should be pleased to see the back side of the orcs. Hopefully for an eternity.
MOTD Highlights (Courtesy Arsenalist.com)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6h73g2
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