This is not a game to evaluate players. We played basically a League 1 team. Let's just jog on and talk about the next PL or CL games. It seems Havertz is still not fit enough to start the next couple of games but is a better sub than Jesus.
Our midfield wasn't in sync first half but eventually found their footing.
Nwaneri and Merino were good. Good on Martinelli for getting a hattrick. He needs to keep contributing in the cups.
Eze wasn't very good till Odegaard came on. Just shows the difference of these players. Eze is a final third X factor player. Odegaard is more of a CM. I still think the way to fit them in is to play Eze off the left.
Noni was okay in patches. The pen was shit. And I don't think he should have finished that game with Nwaneri playing well.
Kai was very good and it is great he is back. I think he is the best fit for the way we approach games. And he will start over Gyokeres once he is up to speed. And I am okay with that because both have their part to play. We won't have to break one like we did last season again.
Gyokeres cost £50 million +, is nearer to 28 than 27 and is on £200K a week and what I saw today from Jesus and and Havertz in a cameo I just haven't seen from him and none of those were scoring chances .He might improve but will be difficult to shift if it comes to it.
We need Madueke and Eze to both up their game if they want to be regular starters.
Not just for the sake of Vik-- but am happy to see both Jesus and Kai back-- for the sake of depth in this team. We are almost healthy, across the board-- at the right time.
Just need Calafiori back, I love MLS and I think Hincapie will be massive for us, but we need Riccardo for the run in, he’s been so so good and so so important this year
Im not trying to slander Gyokeres, I want to be as fair as possible to him - adjusting to a new country, being at a massive club, living in a hotel, higher expectations and scrutiny.
That being said, Havertz in a cameo had more high end movement, link up play and positioning than I've seen all season. It's actually mad.
I think like the rest of last summers business we wanted to deepen the squad and have options - had Kai not got injured on the opening day I reckon he’d have been starting most games and Gyok could have been eased in.
Has been difficult for him and not clicking yet, but I’ll give him credit that it’s not due to a lack of effort or a poor attitude, so not his fault at all. Let’s hope with Kai back that they can share the burden and Vik can try find form with less pressure on him
I don’t disagree, but if it turns out he’s not good enough that’s not his fault, that’s a recruitment error on our part. I hope it doesn’t come down to it, but at least he’s not being a dick and/or lazy
Why (and it’s not just you) does supporting one player always have to involve putting another down. It is possible to like and support both Kai and Vik, they both do play for us
And if Kai is the saviour like Raptora and Richie Rich, why was everyone on here and I mean everyone , yelling for a new striker this summer. Get Isak , get Sesko etc etc. why did they want to replace Kai if he’s soooooo fucking good
You’ll have to ask Rap that. I’ve loved Kai since the beginning, was gutted when Chelsea got him from Leverkusen. I also wanted more firepower this summer. It’s not either/or it’s both/and
Absence makes the heart grow fonder - I still remember everyone denigrating Gilberto til he got injured and we saw how important The Invisible Wall was.
We’ve got a chance to win FOUR trophies, let’s get behind all our players and hope they bring it home, it has been a long fucking time coming!
The highest amount of goals scored and the 2nd highest points in the history of Arsenal with him leading the line for half a season when we looked like a super team and had something like 55 goals for and 8 against.
A few players didn’t play great, I won’t bother to name names as it didn’t bother me
We fielded almost a completely changed 11, we got through, aside from the goal there was no drama, no injuries, no stress. Plenty of players played well. The urgency from everyone was there. The hunger was there. Our best players Gabriel aside were rested. Martinelli is now on 8 goals from 8 cup comp matches - a wonderful stat - he probably has a couple of assists as well! Havertz got something of a run out. SALMON getting a solid chunk of minutes and putting in a wicked physical sliding tackle.
All in - that’s exactly what the doctor ordered. I’ve always loved all the comp competitions and I’m more than happy with that.
Lol welbeck made it 2 ... manure 2 down
Welbz smashing in a goal at Old trafford and celebrating. Brings back good memories. 😂😂😂
Hopefully we get a lower league opposition for the 4th round
This is not a game to evaluate players. We played basically a League 1 team. Let's just jog on and talk about the next PL or CL games. It seems Havertz is still not fit enough to start the next couple of games but is a better sub than Jesus.
Championship team
Mikel Arteta
In the last few minutes I was just watching the way he (Havertz) moves. His awareness, when he moves, where he needs to move - we miss him big time.
His movement was 9/10 against a shit team but still
Even compared to Jesus, it's night and day. Probably what Arteta meant.
One of the very few who can play as both a targetman and a false 9.
COYGs
That was a good, job done type of game.
Our midfield wasn't in sync first half but eventually found their footing.
Nwaneri and Merino were good. Good on Martinelli for getting a hattrick. He needs to keep contributing in the cups.
Eze wasn't very good till Odegaard came on. Just shows the difference of these players. Eze is a final third X factor player. Odegaard is more of a CM. I still think the way to fit them in is to play Eze off the left.
Noni was okay in patches. The pen was shit. And I don't think he should have finished that game with Nwaneri playing well.
Kai was very good and it is great he is back. I think he is the best fit for the way we approach games. And he will start over Gyokeres once he is up to speed. And I am okay with that because both have their part to play. We won't have to break one like we did last season again.
Yeah I noticed Eze quite dramatic improvement when odegaard came on he started getting involved way more.
Gyokeres cost £50 million +, is nearer to 28 than 27 and is on £200K a week and what I saw today from Jesus and and Havertz in a cameo I just haven't seen from him and none of those were scoring chances .He might improve but will be difficult to shift if it comes to it.
We need Madueke and Eze to both up their game if they want to be regular starters.
Not just for the sake of Vik-- but am happy to see both Jesus and Kai back-- for the sake of depth in this team. We are almost healthy, across the board-- at the right time.
Not who we need. But what we need.
💯
Team first.
Just need Calafiori back, I love MLS and I think Hincapie will be massive for us, but we need Riccardo for the run in, he’s been so so good and so so important this year
MLS in the middle of the pitch is way more agreeable.
The last time I felt as emotionally invested in a young Arsenal defender getting minutes as I do now with Salmon was when we had the Hoyte brothers!!
Ah good memories. I loved those lads. Shame neither made the cut
The Hoyte brothers 😂..Justin nd Gavin 👍🏻
Im not trying to slander Gyokeres, I want to be as fair as possible to him - adjusting to a new country, being at a massive club, living in a hotel, higher expectations and scrutiny.
That being said, Havertz in a cameo had more high end movement, link up play and positioning than I've seen all season. It's actually mad.
I was hoping Gyok would come and be a trossard type. Not glamorous or the perfect fit but an eye for goals.
But let’s be honest if we were going for a number 9 to take Kai’s shirt, we’d of thrown our hat in the ring for Isak
Isak was never an option
Many reasons. Injuries being one. Way over priced being two, and the third, he's an arsehole as clearly seen by the way he treated Newcastle.
He's not a team man, and MA spent his first years at AFC getting rid of exactly his type of character.
Every single Arsenal supporter I know wanted us to get a striker last summer, but none of us could agree on who that should be.
There were simply no outstanding available candidates.
We need the next Lewandowski or Kane.
Ideas on a postcard, please!
This may just be us for a while. Kai may become a 15 goal prem striker 25 in all comps for 2/3 seasons and the rest will be alternatives or backups
Maybe we will nab a Van Persie Type that peaks after years of bad luck and we get him for 2 seasons.
We aren’t the only club to struggle
You're right. Every team is struggling to find a striker bar Bayern, City, Madrid and Maidstone :-)
I think like the rest of last summers business we wanted to deepen the squad and have options - had Kai not got injured on the opening day I reckon he’d have been starting most games and Gyok could have been eased in.
Has been difficult for him and not clicking yet, but I’ll give him credit that it’s not due to a lack of effort or a poor attitude, so not his fault at all. Let’s hope with Kai back that they can share the burden and Vik can try find form with less pressure on him
"I’ll give him credit that it’s not due to a lack of effort or a poor attitude, so not his fault at all."
Plenty of top pros in the lower leagues. It needs to be way more than just that.
I don’t disagree, but if it turns out he’s not good enough that’s not his fault, that’s a recruitment error on our part. I hope it doesn’t come down to it, but at least he’s not being a dick and/or lazy
"that’s a recruitment error on our part"
That's the bottom of it, really.
Nice.
We had 2.89 xG.
The same xG Man City scored 10 goals from yesterday!
Kai and Ode have on field relationships that stretches back two seasons plus
Same as Mertinelli and Jesus for Arsenal and Brazil
There’s been an endless carousel of injuries in the attack since the Swede came on board
Relationships are still being forged, so can’t blame Odegaard for not finding him.
People bang on about the likes of Saka and Ode not "finding" the Swede like it's their fault.
The traffic cone spends his time hiding behind defenders. Just never makes the run. I just don't believe he has a footballing brain.
no no Gyok is a flop just accept it
can only play with a lone striker in a match
just accept it
Everyone talking like Kai is the return of R9 to our lineup.
Just a reminder.
We have done 0 for 8 in trophies in the 2 seasons that Kai has been with us.
Zero.
Such a simple way of looking at life. Black or white !!!
Perspective and Nuances are for losers! :D
Absolutely no-one is saying Kai is R9'ish.
What we all know is that he is better in every way than Victor.
Why (and it’s not just you) does supporting one player always have to involve putting another down. It is possible to like and support both Kai and Vik, they both do play for us
And if Kai is the saviour like Raptora and Richie Rich, why was everyone on here and I mean everyone , yelling for a new striker this summer. Get Isak , get Sesko etc etc. why did they want to replace Kai if he’s soooooo fucking good
I've said multiple times he's not the savior, he's going to make the games 11 v 11 because he can
-win headers
-win duels
-move intelligently
-pass the ball
It might seem like these things make him the savior to you, but it's just basic stuff you expect from a footballer at this level.
You’ll have to ask Rap that. I’ve loved Kai since the beginning, was gutted when Chelsea got him from Leverkusen. I also wanted more firepower this summer. It’s not either/or it’s both/and
I do support Kai but I’m also not
Going to forget that 99% of the people blowing him now wanted him sold after his first 10 matches.
The hypocrisy is real.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder - I still remember everyone denigrating Gilberto til he got injured and we saw how important The Invisible Wall was.
We’ve got a chance to win FOUR trophies, let’s get behind all our players and hope they bring it home, it has been a long fucking time coming!
True about The Invisible Wall. Another who took so much unjustified shit was Granit.
The highest amount of goals scored and the 2nd highest points in the history of Arsenal with him leading the line for half a season when we looked like a super team and had something like 55 goals for and 8 against.
The highest amount of goals scored and the 2nd highest points in the history of Arsenal Trophy.
That’ll keep our rival fans quiet
What did Kai do v Newcastle last season in the League Cup semi?
Did we win a trophy?
Fuck me, that’s a cheery take. Personally I thought he looked great after being out for 5 months.
A little bit of a reality check.
A miserable reality that’s for sure!
we won more with Auba btw
Loved that match
A few players didn’t play great, I won’t bother to name names as it didn’t bother me
We fielded almost a completely changed 11, we got through, aside from the goal there was no drama, no injuries, no stress. Plenty of players played well. The urgency from everyone was there. The hunger was there. Our best players Gabriel aside were rested. Martinelli is now on 8 goals from 8 cup comp matches - a wonderful stat - he probably has a couple of assists as well! Havertz got something of a run out. SALMON getting a solid chunk of minutes and putting in a wicked physical sliding tackle.
All in - that’s exactly what the doctor ordered. I’ve always loved all the comp competitions and I’m more than happy with that.
Onto the next game
and ends just nicely for your bedtime
It’s does indeed!
Watching salmon wipe a player out clean put me in the best of moods. Gonna sleep well tonight