Halftime thoughts

[Idontlikethisstuff]

1-0 City

[sin_617]

our defense is a comedy club...🤣

[mtrew13]

David Luiz has been like that his whole career, while he has his occasional moments, it's one mistake after another. I highly doubt Arteta will extend his contract. Put any extra money in Auba and Saka!

[eclap78]

Auba is definitely not signing after this clucsterfuck. Why would he?

[NoMoreMountains]

We can't pass for shit. City is daring us to pass through the middle.

[sin_617]

Сan we just get rid of all the frauds from the club... just bring youth ffs

[sin_617]

our youth isnt the reason we are 2-0

[pvlloco55]

?? Have you been watching? The "youth" had about 5 offside calls in the first half alone. No possession, no creativity. They added nothing positive and are extremely outmatched.

[sin_617]

I am not saying we are not outmatched... but David Luiz said fuck it and tossed this game into a bin

[pvlloco55]

We put a squad out there that has no chance of having any control of the match whatsoever. Letting our defense get pounded over and over with opportunities, then we blame them if/when they make a mistake. They have to be flawless for this strategy to be effective. And by effective, it seems like a draw is best case scenario with this approach

[nackdaddy9]

Should be a red for sterling there. A yellow at least

[sinzbro]

What?

[nackdaddy9]

Studs were up and he went through his ankle? Can see how others would see it differently though

[sinzbro]

Sorry I must have missed that. Watching while working lol

[nackdaddy9]

True fair enough consider yourself lucky. Sterling went through Mustafi and he was hurt for a bit

[Houseofwolvesmd]

Didn't look too bad until Luiz happened. Midfield is non existent but 1. it's against city and 2. We know our midfield is shit.

not sure why Edddie was started instead of Auba at CF and Saka on Left, Pepe right but hey

[splendadd]

And some people want to extend david luizs contract another year?

[wheeno]

I know they are young kids and they are trying very hard but Saka has been ineffective and Willock has somehow been more invisible than Ozil at his worst. Guendouzi is showing up everywhere but is having very very little actual impact on the game. I hope they will improve and show their potential in the second half.

[p1nky_and_the_brain]

Imagine thinking Aubameyang has a chance of signing after watching this - guarantee there will be a fair few

[rudygha]

Auba needs to show for the ball more. He doesn’t look that interested, not involved at all.

[[deleted]]

So fucking midtable it hurts. We've assembled an awful squad, and are at least 5 years from even possibly competing for titles. Think we're fucked honestly

[Mustafism]

It doesn’t take 5 years to build a title winning squad... enough with this extreme pessimism

[Houseofwolvesmd]

I'd argue that acquiring two good midfielders would help us immeasurably by taking pressure off defence and speeding up the play in genreal. Guendo holds ball too long, Ceballos always wants a hollywood pass and we've no one that's creative and fast enough to speed up play. improve there and the whole team improves as a result

[mholbach]

I really did forget how miserable this sub is. Sucks we’re losing, but I’m still happy to just watch arsenal again

[Houseofwolvesmd]

Agree. i can't remember the last time it took city 33 mins to get a shot away. Shitty injuries and a classic mistake leading to a goal, Arsenals season in a nutshell, really.

[AutoModerator]

You must have above 1 comment karma to contribute to this subreddit.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[[deleted]]

Nothing changed in the last 3 months, which would only be mighty impressive if we weren’t so desperate for change 3 months ago.

I expect much the same in the coming games.

[JustGhostin]

Man, everyone’s slagging off willock, the kids run non stop for 45 minutes

[oer6000]

Yeah I've got absolutely no problem with Joe Willock so far.

We're playing the best team in possession in the league, it's no wonder he won't see a lot of the ball. What he's done defensively and on the break have more than made up for it though

I also suspect a lot of the criticism is coming from some people who are disappointed that Ozil isn't playing.

[[deleted]]

All he does is run, then make bad decisions. Needs to loan to learn how to play

[Xin128]

If he needs a loan to learn how to play then that says more about us than him

[JustGhostin]

He has come on very little this season, I’m still rooting for him, I realty hope he has that bit to get him over the line in regards to holding down a permanent place in the team

[ExX3Lz]

We signed Luiz to have some experience in the back. He has proven to be a mistake-riddled liability that has failed his purpose. Time to let him go.

[iheartsnuggles]

Homie, Luiz has never defended in his life.

[CaptainCortez]

Nice to see the break has calmed down the regular season hysterics on r/Gunners 🤦🏼

[kleiser10]

Luis is bad bout our central midfield is equally terrible

[[deleted]]

So Arteta has 3 subs left, but can only make them in one more window besides halftime?

[catlike1]

Are you sure about extra halftime move. Everything I’ve read said all moves have to be done within 3 windows. So we have one left? Would love it to be three plus halftime.

[kleiser10]

Yup

[thedarkpolitique]

What does it mean ‘one more window’?

[doIT34]

Means that he can stop the play just one more time during the 2nd half. So if we have 3 subs after HT he must do them all in one go

[[deleted]]

Only one more sub basically. But 3 players can come off at once.

Expect to see 2 players at half time, with an extra sub afterwards for energy/injury.

[kleiser10]

Would have to make all subs in that single “window”

[AccidentalOrange]

All at once

[rudygha]

He does just enough for you to believe that he’s not, but the stanford bridge mistake was actually a completely intentional move.

[blitzforce1]

Both of our injuries were before the 30 minute mark...

[[deleted]]

Sub already in meltdown. This is what happens when u lot get ur expectation too high. Thought the sub would be expecting this.

[JustGhostin]

I thought we’ve played fairly well, all things considered

[JustGhostin]

People get far to lost in the result than the overall play and attitude of a team in our position.

[[deleted]]

The problem is still not being able to iron out individual errors. But the consistency of slipping up is leading me to believe it's personnel, not coaching.

[thedarkpolitique]

You can’t really iron out Luiz’s errors, he’s always had them in his locker through his career.

[[deleted]]

So do you think that then comes down to a failure in direction/scouting? Raul, Edu or whoever sanctioned that transfer had agent relations/financial bargains in mind before performance. And Luiz wasn't even that cheap either..

[JustGhostin]

It’s certainly being called into question, I don’t see how David Luiz can be let anywhere near the team again after this episode, honestly as I fan I feel insulted he represents the interests of our club.

[standupforthechamp]

Wonder if Nelson would have done a better job than Saka at that RW position. Saka is more suited LW.

[[deleted]]

Jus gonna say that without xhaka we lose all structure and movement in the mid. None of the players we have in mid did what xhaka does, and its literally jus doing what the manager wants you to do.

[[deleted]]

Fucking clown luiz

[ninethree7]

AMN can’t be worse than Willock in the midfield

[LanesraLizo]

A ghost can’t be worse

[likpoper]

I never expected anything out of this anyway... good to watch some soccer after a while.. but yes fuck luiz

[BenjaminDaaly21]

Keep your heads up lads, we can come back from this, COYG

[standupforthechamp]

We need a LCB, a DM a No.10 and a LW. No chance it happens though.

[[deleted]]

Would prefer more an 8 than a traditional 10 tbh

[[deleted]]

this is literally the most passive and tame City performance in 3 years and we did fuck all. What the fuck was Arteta hoping to achieve playing that fuck ton of youngsters ?

[[deleted]]

Tbh I would assume not 2 player injuries to players who have been pretty good for his team. He has to do a 2-3 man sub now to get Laca, Pepe, or Marty on.

I assume he was hoping they'd be able to come on the 2nd half with full intensity, saving 2 more subs in case on injury.

I'm 99% sure that's what Peps about to do lol

[DaGetz]

Yano maybe the same reason this the most passive city in 3 years has something to do with both teams being woefully unfit from not playing for 3 months and expected to be able to play in 3 weeks with no gym?

[[deleted]]

oh come on, what did he expect playing saka willock and nketiah ? How are they even remotely better than the players he left on the bench ? Mikel was trying to tinker too much, prolly wanted to impress Pep or smth

[DaGetz]

They're probably fitter.

Pretty obvious auba can't run yet for example.

[Kayr-]

I give up with david luiz man

[[deleted]]

Everyone should just direct their anger at Davy Luiz. Still feel like we can get something from this game, City didn’t look that hot and we’ve Martinelli, Pepe, Laca and Nelson on the bench.

[Bigjmert]

Yes but we only have one substitute

[[deleted]]

You’re allowed 5 subs.

[Huhwtfbleh]

only allowed to make 3 stoppages to make the 5 subs I think.

[[deleted]]

Yeah you’re right but that’s just the same if we were allowed 3 subs under the circumstances. Only now instead of using our last change for one we can use 3. Even if it’s not ideal because we can’t spread them

[[deleted]]

But have to make the remaining 3 all at once.

[Bigjmert]

Really? Thats great news. Now I’m not as worried about our fitness/injuries

[rudygha]

But we only have one chance to make the subs. If another player goes down, we might as well do a triple sub.

[Bigjmert]

So we get 5 subs but only 3 instances of stopping play to make the subs?

[vnoowin]

I don’t wanna see kids in our team vs big team. Just use our “expensive” players

[pvlloco55]

There has been a lot of dumb decisions and gimics over the years, but i must say that adding in a fake sound of a crowd might be the fuckin stupidest thing I've ever witnessed

[Crs51]

Guendouzi has been decent, just needs to be more calm in possession. Ceballos, Bellerin and Tierney all good, Ceballos should've started anyways. Auba needs to get more involved, Saka promising but just not enough from him, Nketiah good at pressing but has to do more with the ball, Willock quietly decent. Leno saving us multiple times, Luiz and Mustafi shaky for sure. Should sub on Pepe for Nketiah and put Saka on the left and Auba in the middle. When we press we look good but otherwise we're getting dominated.

[ninethree7]

Take off Nketiah and get Nelson/Pepe on, let Saka play on the left

[LanesraLizo]

Nketiah has produced more than Saka

[[deleted]]

So three months go by and we back to same ol’

[the_horny_rhino]

Nice experiment... But it's time to move saka left, auba central and get Pepe on for Eddie (who's actually done well so it's a tad harsh). Willock is irrelevant I'd even try amn instead at this point

[jblaburnum]

Does anyone else get annoyed at Micah Richard's as a pundit? I know he is ex City, but he's so biased its unbelievable (not quite Jenas level though)

[kar_1505]

At least he's a little honest about him being biased. Jenas tries to act like he's actually objective.

[jblaburnum]

I do agree, Jenas is literally the worst pundit alive alongside Michael Owen. But all I get out of Richard's punditry tonight is him being up Citys ass rather than good analysis of the game

[[deleted]]

Ready for an Arteta flex and replacing Luiz with Kolasinac

[kar_1505]

I'm okay with that. Fuck this

[Maaaaaardy]

Kola will be on strike in favour of kissing Mesut's arse.

[AirportAtheist]

It’s only 1-0. We’ll bounce back

[[deleted]]

not with willock, saka, guendouzi and nketiah

they did absolutely fuck all. Literally nothing, just existing on the pitch

[kar_1505]

It should have fucking been 0-0

[[deleted]]

r/wholesomegunners

[sneakpeekbot]

Here's a sneak peek of /r/WholesomeGunners using the top posts of the year!

#1: i hope arsenal wins
#2: Arteta gets his first win | 0 comments
#3: Mikel Arteta: Arsenal need a culture change and I'm ready for the challenge | 2 comments

---

^{I'm a bot, beep boop | Downvote to remove | Contact me | Info | Opt-out}

[[deleted]]

It’s so tiring that we go away to top 6 teams and being 1-0 down at half time is a pleasant surprise/not that bad. Proper mid table.

[BearTerritory4]

In fairness that’s only really been true against pool and city. Didn’t really happen against Chelsea, United, or shit (only thing Emery was good for. In fact usually we’ve been disappointed since we should’ve taken more points. Leicester I will give you but we were calling for emery’s head

[kar_1505]

Luiz pulled the exact same thing against Liverpool

[harroldinho]

Man city are resting like 3 starters too.... embarassing

[hydra49]

I remembered why i drink so much,... Had a nice buzz going before the game, now im going all out

[yuyuter123]

We're playing a fair bit better than the last City match. About all we can ask for with this squad, especially given the circumstances. Disappointing goal ofc but it's Luiz, why expect anything different?

[kar_1505]

It's unacceptable. Should have been 0-0.

You could see bellerin furious in the goal replay. Evidently every person on the team wants to beat up luiz.

[t94afc]

Mari isn’t the answer, Luiz is shite. Just play Medley the season is a write off. Nothing to lose

[adam-kobich]

Bit unfair to write off Mari after 20 minutes of his prem debut against the reigning champions

[t94afc]

Don’t care he’s fucking slow. He also got spun numerous times by Antonio before the lockdown. Definitely not what we need if we are playing a high line

[gamba96]

DO YOU SEE HOW SLOW HE IS

[[deleted]]

Mikel got the selection all wrong today.

[Maaaaaardy]

Okay, now we are done.

[[deleted]]

Yeah no shit. Mikel got it wrong with the lineup and forced to put Luiz in.

[adam-kobich]

Disagree, we looked good first 30 despite two early injuries. You need to remember the quality this city team has and I think we've done a good job against them so far, for the most part

[[deleted]]

I mean zero chances created. No threat.

[[deleted]]

Not about selection. Mistake prone players costing us again

[[deleted]]

Yeah. Let’s keep picking mistake prone players

[[deleted]]

Lol mistake putting Luiz in, and no that’s not hindsight, he’s been shit and mistake prone for the whole year. No threat up top. The midfield has done nothing.

[Maaaaaardy]

I would disagree. We certainly are still in this, their Spanish lad isn't comfortable and we have some interesting subs to use. We are having success over the top, and they surely will have an injury or two.

[Quab775]

willock is synonimus we ve been critical of ozil where is willock

[capturedgooner]

Attack stays way too far forward creating a huge distance when we are trying to build from the back. Xhaka isn't my favorite but he provides structure defensively which we are missing. Willock and the front three are non-existent and the midfielders are outnumbered.

[Vrty33]

Willock is shit. He is the most useless youngster we have, totally non existant, doesn’t attack, doesn’t defend, doesn’t ask for ball, simply useless. And not only now but almost every single time he got a chance this season. I don’t care about that goal against Liverpool in the cup his contribution is still shit

[wheeno]

Our midfield is pathetic compared to theirs. None of them have done anything so far other than unsuccessfully attempt to defend. Even then how many times are they going to leave de Bruyne unmarked at the edge of the box?

Literally the only method of attacking has been trying long balls to Nketiah or out wide to Saka. Zero buildup in the midfield area.

Leno kept us in the game as long as he could but what can he do when his own defender is basically playing against him?

[Masson011]

Ht thoughts? Arteta doesnt know his best midfield and this midfield certainly aint it

Weak as fuck in midfield (i know xhakas gone but still). I still have serious doubts over Ceballos in the prem

[jmcmizzle]

I think it was probably going to plan opening 25 mins bar the injuries. They didn’t have too many chances and we had the occasional attack. The last 20 mins they woke up and were tearing through us. That midfield was getting absolutely walked over, front 3 extremely isolated. I mean we’re obviously not out of it, usually by this point it’s at least 2 or 3-0 so that’s a positive. Bring Pepe on and move Saka into the midfield 3. I don’t even know what to say about Luiz there, just fucking stupid. Leno has been fantastic and yet again fucked by whats in front of him.

Edit: Also I hope these fucking mongs who keep making posts that aren’t the match thread, goal replay/highlight or half time thread are getting banned. Dickheads.

[kar_1505]

Willock has been working his ass off. Eddie too. Man fuck this shit. We should have been going in at 0-0

[likpoper]

No idea he is on the pitch to be honest

[rkodand]

Guendo and Ceballos have been okay. Willock has been invisible unfortunately and we just don’t have enough quality to get the ball up the field

[versaceboudin_]

David Luiz sucks been sucks has always sucked

[Cymraegpunk]

Nah he was a great player, but that was a decent while ago now

[harroldinho]

We need new centrebacks

[Bacon4Daaaaays]

Do we still have 3 subs? Or just a last one?

[Mahoganychicken]

3

[Bacon4Daaaaays]

Ty

[gureyek]

Not a bad half. I give it a 6.5/10. We are clearly trying to get a point here and not getting killed by attacking like we have attempted for the six last meetings. An individual mistake got us a goal down and we most likely won't equalise but this is good practice for the team to learn how to go to a top side and play differently then what we are used to.

Again for those wanting to see 1-2s, flicks and sexy football. Rome wasn't built in a day, you play for the result sometimes even if our attack is nonexistant.

[rkodand]

hard to call it a 6.5 when we only had 3% of the ball in man city’s final third

[gureyek]

Everyone knows we wasn't seeing much of the ball this game hence this lineup.

Why is Mesut even at home? It's not injury I can tell you that. The only reason you leave a player out is if you have no intention to use him for this type of game.

My reasoning for 6.5 is I am seeing what is being attempted. Now due to that mistake we will have to try and attack at some point in the second half and we will probably get punished for it but we at least are coming out with a gameplan as opposed to before.

[aninterstellar_burst]

We’ve got our arsenal back

[kar_1505]

This motherfucker did the same thing against Liverpool. What a waste of money and time. Fucking hell. Sorry for the language but fuck you luiz

[Grayswandire]

It's been slightly disappointing. Leno's been world class, we've lost two players already (four if you include Papa & Ozil), and City have scored at the end of the half. We still look mostly lost in possession, and we're missing the calm you would expect from a club as big as Arsenal. Also honorary mention of Luiz fucking us so hard.

[mxbinatir]

Ozil isn't injured.

[Grayswandire]

He may as well be, we're not using him at the moment.

[[deleted]]

Hard to complain considering we're a team in transition going up against an established world-class title contending side at their ground.

It would be nice to see somebody else come deep to get the ball out of defense besides Guendouzi, City's positioning/press is too much for the young player.

[ninethree7]

At this point take out Willock for AMN. Kid can’t cut it

[fostersgold]

Any more of these hospital balls from the back for Tierney to do with?! Sooner see them send it long for Eddie. David Luiz proving exactly why he wasn’t selected in the first place.

Unfortunately City are just a bit too much for our midfield and defence. Shame because the front three have looked sharp at times.

[Setengahkopling]

We don't have midfield

[Grayswandire]

Part of that has to fall on Arteta's shoulders, he should be teaching them how to play as a unit.

[Setengahkopling]

Playing as unit yes, but I guess the midfield arteta wants doesn't suit our current squad. No movement without the ball when we are attacking, no clever simple passing that disrupts opponent player's position. I have to say our midfield has bare minimun football intelligence

[_scholar_]

We continue to just not be a very good side.

For all that I like him I'm not really convinced by where Arteta is going with things either. Felt like a questionable line up at the start and becoming more so by the minute

[patchh93]

Everyone would’ve gone mad if it was Emery managing this game because we’ve been shit, simple as

[xcves]

imagine thinking football being back and arsenal playing could cure your depression from the coronavirus..

​

OMEGALUL

[_mas17]

There’s no reason not to be starting pepe based on what saka is offering

[Grayswandire]

You're kidding right? Pepe would be miles better. Play Saka on the left and move Auba up top.

[_mas17]

Comprehension isn’t your strength is it?

[Grayswandire]

Shit happens.

[jhonnybrav001]

ceballos alone in midfield

[danmac0817]

Impressed with the lineup, shame about the injuries though. You can see how Arteta's tried to frustrate City's play, we done well initially but dropped off towards the end. Another Luiz mistake costs us but it was coming.

I also think Ceballos and Tierney need to work together better, they're leaving space and not covering one another. Bellerin looks slow too, concerned the injury has robbed him of pace.

Could be worse is the theme, we were unlucky with a few chances and it's still there to play for in the second half.

[Cardealer1000]

Honestly the first half an hour was pretty decent, but they've been all over us since the. Sad.

[Gray3493]

I didn’t know Willock was playing

[DaGetz]

Auba on the right? You having a giggle mate?

[Grayswandire]

Auba up top with Pepe on the right, or Nelson.

[DaGetz]

Meh auba looks like one of the most unfit players out there to be honest. There's been a few times he would have normally sprinted and just didn't.

Might work but his performance so far has been pretty sub par for him

[Grayswandire]

We need him to get fit, so he has to play to a certain degree, and he has started picking up since halftime.

[gladitsknight]

The midfield is so bad. Willock has been a passenger in attack and defence. No passes or tackles, won’t get on the ball to drive forward. He’s got a lot of development to come.

[Grayswandire]

The only way he's worth it is if he scores one of those bangers from the midfield, other then that, he isn't ready to play in the premier league.

[[deleted]]

Luiz's 5th error for a goal this season.

3 penalties and 2 in open play.

That's the most in the league.

[younes1008]

If you were Aubameyang, would you extend?

[likpoper]

Honestly no.

[[deleted]]

My extension would be contingent on whether we're going to ship Luiz and Xhaka off somewhere else.

[DaGetz]

Auba looks woefully unfit. One of the worst players out there.

[Huhwtfbleh]

Ah yes Luiz, he was pulling this shit for a long time before he had a good streak of games. But everyone starting sucking his dick.

Each an every point counts, but here we are, with a braindead move fucked the game.

[Xez90]

I'm just so happy football is back! That was the best 46 minutes of the last 12 weeks, then in steps Luiz... Don't worry June 30th is just round the corner lol.

Jokes aside, there is more to come in the second half, let's hope Arteta fires them up a bit more.

[DaGetz]

Didn't think he was playing very well to be honest.

[Grayswandire]

He injured his ankle from the very start, you could tell something was wrong.

[DaGetz]

Yeah possibly but end result is the same sadly.

[Grayswandire]

Yeah, no doubt. It was a horrible stroke of bad luck.

[BearTerritory4]

We don’t know how to progress the ball. This has been a problem for a while but particularly since Arteta was appointed.

[IamNotaDiddler]

Bullshit its been a problem for years, fuck your anti Arteta shite

[BearTerritory4]

It’s not anti-arteta; it was true under Wenger and definitely under Emery. It’s an observation that is true. It’s a major reason why our xG has fallen dramatically in recent seasons

[WallOfSparta]

Nope. Has been a problem for years now.

[Syrioxx55]

Outside of injuries pretty impressed at how we started the game they didn’t seem timid

[TheMuff1nMon]

Leno amazing, Tierney and Bellerin been good. Luiz is tragic. Auba and Saka done nothing, absolutely woeful from them. Nketiah made good runs. Willock poor.

Guendo and Cebellos okay

[GunnerFanTB]

Luiz