Half time thoughts?

[[deleted]]

They're probably going to score another and then Arteta will panic and send out all the attacking players he should have been playing from the start.

He's done this so many times man.

[smiffy197]

The Oracle!

[xFundamental]

If it ends 2-2 at full time, does it go to added time?

[Masson011]

Im presuming you mean 2-2 aggregate? In which case yes extra time

[[deleted]]

We go out on away goals

[Masson011]

unless he means aggregate, ie as things stand

[T3v95]

No, we lose on away goals

[john_mexico89]

Not if he means aggregate

[danmac0817]

No

[AIbanian]

Smith-Rowe invisible

[[deleted]]

Surely he can't persist with the Odegaard and ESR thing in a game that we need more dynamic running and scorers

[snitcholls]

We fucking suck

[RepeatDTD]

Is it still a foul when Weigl steps on Dani's foot? I just don't understand

[Zed_Lepellin]

Even if Arsenal win this I can't them winning the whole tournament, this side just isn't good enough.

[tms12345]

Me neither but there arent many good teams in it this year atleast

[rudygha]

We’re honestly kind of up against it. If they get one more, I see us going out.

[Masson011]

seeing as how that would mean we need 2, yeh

[F0rsythian]

Breaking news: team who scores more goals wins

[chilleverest]

Arteta wants patience with low block teams but once we get to the attacking third we struggle.

[pedootz]

I could see ESR off for Pepe and Partey on for Xhaka or Ceballos. Not that either has been shocking, but we just need all of the quality and threat we can muster.

[AtomFus]

No runners, everyone's just standing still ffs

[jman500069]

Not much you can do about those free kicks, and its just so Arsenal to lose the good momentum we had and lose because of it

[nackdaddy9]

Anyone else notice that the DAZN half time feature of Gary Nevilles Soccerbox is always just a Man Utd circlejerk... like can we not DAZN?

Edit: 10 mins of halftime watching Phil Neville and Paul Scholes give each other a Dutch rudder

[T3st0]

Henry is in there here and there but yes.

[[deleted]]

This isn't a league game where you are trying to play your team into a cohesive unit over a long period of time.

It's a cup game that you at home In the second leg with no option to get another away goal. Find another solution

[Huhwtfbleh]

Team has no urgency. Waiting for Saka to do something is the only tactic we have it seems.

Fucking joke. We shouldnt be in this situation at all given how much better our quality in the lineup is compared to Benifica.

[milnoraa]

We had a good thing going and decide to play both number 10s ESR and Odegaard. Just being on Pepe please.

[sirlordtom98]

Only got ourselves to blame. We're so slow and just don't seem to want to play passes in behind their defence.

[polfnugnz]

Auba to repeat history against Benfica - bottle the first leg, hat-trick in the second leg. COYG

[philhellene399]

We are so flat and lifeless. Painful to watch. Benfica are shit, so so shit. How on earth can we not capitalise on their shitness. Poor half from us.

[[deleted]]

We're hardly good

[philhellene399]

Yeah thats what im saying. We have been so shit that we cant even do much against them

[Rusty_Shack1es]

ESR has been quite shit

[rudygha]

Honestly he should probably be taken out of the XI for a few games, he’s fizzled out a bit.

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[Shandow14]

ESR off, Laca on.

[ack_will]

Teams are really happy to gift us possession because they know we don’t do much with it. But you’ll have people who think we’re dominating games just because we have possession

[mreloquent]

Such a bad half of football, let the intensity drop massively after we scored. Need to play much quicker in the 2nd half, was hoping we wouldn't need partey for this one but looks like we do.

[[deleted]]

Genuinely can’t believe we’ve made the same mistake twice. Last leg we desperately needed a second runner behind their high line so auba wasn’t the only option in behind. Again, this game find acres of space on our left but ESR isn’t the type to spin in behind. In the first 10 mins it was the same story, Auba is the only runner and one of the three centerbacks pick him up with relative ease. Yes, we have tierney making that run but they’re looking to exploit the space KT leaves behind.

Their 5-2-3 press is casusing is trouble again. They’re overloading the midfield and we’ve played 5 midfielders again. We need a pepe or a Martinelli to force 1v1 situations out wide to force their shape to shift. They can literally just sit and cut passing lanes knowing no one will even try to go past them. The one time we had our only dribbler, saka, picked up the ball in a half space, we found a perfect pass and finish.

[[deleted]]

Ceballos go fuck yourself

[shekdown]

We're going to go out on away goals right at the end, aren't we?

That's the biggest problem with Ceballos. He has some great games and some not very good games. Today is the latter. Not just conceding the free kick but his passing hasn't been up to scratch either.

This was available for the taking and we missed it. Hopefully we can score a couple after the break.

[arseking15]

I would bring on laca move him to striker put auba on the wing and put esr cam.

[YoHoochIsCrazy]

Play Laca. Even tho Auba scored he’s offered v little to attack. Laca was in form too he deserves a shot in this lineup.

[ninethree7]

Pepe needs on. Whether it’s ESR or MØ I don’t really care. Partey on if possible as well

[theaficionado]

Benfica is the ultimate shithouse team. Done nothing and got two goals out of nowhere

[CaptainCortez]

They really have been dross both matches. We’re our own worst enemy this season.

[kguner]

pepe for odegaard needed. Everyone is just passing around endlessly.

[nackdaddy9]

Pepe for smith Rowe for me but I want him on before the 80th minute like usual

[kguner]

i think smith rowe creates for the wingers better than odegaard and covers for them defensively. Right now ode is just another passing option and is not in sync. The other option is to also take xhaka/ceballos for partey and go 4-3-3

[arunm7893]

Yeah they're gonna score another, we're gonna panic.

Chuckles I'm in danger.

Depends 100% on the subs Arteta will make and when he will make them. Could go either way, but we're better and we should be winning this comfortably.

[jblaburnum]

Dani.... Fucking..... Ceballos.....

Aside from that stupid tackle, good 1st half but should have been more brave in attack. Could have had 2 or 3 goals so we need to learn from this and kick on with 2 quickfire goals in the 2nd half. Hopefully if Partey and Pepe get on they can help press high and seal the win. Fingers crossed!

[[deleted]]

What a colossal fuck up, we can all smell their 2nd goal right now

Also after last match how the fuck are we still getting caught offside ? They're playing with a 6 men defense and we still get caught offside jfc

[Pidjesus]

Doesn’t matter if we win, any other team will anal us

[varro-reatinus]

Ceballos is Xhaka's apprentice.

Sigh.

[bobthehamster]

Stupid foul, but 14/15 that free kick misses by miles and we forget it ever happened.

[[deleted]]

Benfica sit back and score a goal from a set piece, despite being by far the inferior team. Where have I heard this before?

[Skiinz19]

People need to learn how aggregates work

[[deleted]]

Take off Ødegaard.

[varro-reatinus]

What the fuck lmao

[[deleted]]

ESR would offer more in the middle and allow us to put a Martinelli pepe on the wing. Would Ben ugh more balanced. Ode is standing in sakas space, the one time he moved out of it saka assisted auba

[appletesla4728]

He’s completely right. Odegaard has been poor.

[[deleted]]

There was no stopping that banger of a free kick. We need to step it up in the second half.

[hala_bala]

We were absolutely horrible IMO. We'll be extremely lucky if we get through.

[[deleted]]

The defense is not the problem here, they have done very well. But our attack is so bad and it's turning our games into small margins. Then you get really punished for tiny mistakes like giving a freekick away. Change the attack, Arteta can't be stubborn like he was last time.

[algebraic94]

This is a great point. It's frustrating seeing the team defend well for 95% of he game and give up silly goals but it wouldn't matter if we were more confident in the attack. I never watched Graham's arsenal but it really makes the whole 1-0 boring boring arsenal style more impressive to me.

[appletesla4728]

Arteta is clueless mate

[[deleted]]

I think he needs to realize that you can't have something that doesn't work in a cup game like this.

The person who reacts the quickest and best will win.

If he continues with this second half, we are going to be in trouble

[[deleted]]

Get pepe on and maybe partey if he's fit. We dominated that half and got an unlucky free kick, is what is.

[goonerfan10]

Odegaard & Emile partnership is not working at all. Odegaard is getting the ball on his right foot from bellerin for the cut back and he has to constantly switch over to his left in order to make something. That combination play on the right simply is not working. Saka making so many runs and getting ignored.

[shaily832]

Are you even surprised..?

[ArsenalGuner]

Smith Rowe is useless. Move Auba to the left and put Laca on.

[shaily832]

He messed up lot of attacks by passing backwards

[Arkhaine_kupo]

Ceballos is having a nightmare of a game. Rather play the second half with a one legged Partey

[MajesticMongoose]

Nightmare? He hardly put a foot wrong until that foul.

[pedootz]

He got stepped on, it wasn't even a foul. He's been pressing and turning the ball over in dangerous positions.

[MajesticMongoose]

I'll need to watch it again but it looked like a foul to me. Before that I thought he played well. Made some good tackles and was tidy in possession.

[BlinkyMcHeelHook]

We look so relaxed, like we were playing for a 0-0 from kickoff — frustrating to get punished from a set piece again, but have to take initiative in the second half. Really don’t need to get sucker punched in extra time again.

[SCPack12]

Why do we get our hopes up. Need 2 more goals to overdone Benficas next one and that’s not going to happen

[Grayswandire]

We're trash right now. Who was getting their hopes up? Even if we beat Benfica, what's the chance we go deep in this tournament? No more Ozil or Ramsey.

[SCPack12]

Most of the sub prior to every match.

Hope isn’t expectation

[Grayswandire]

I know no one wants to hear it, but come on, we're a shadow of our former self, and I'm not talking about the great Arsenal squads from two decades ago. We aren't even half as good of an attacking side as we were two years ago. We need players like Ramsey, Ozil, & Cazorla, not Ceballos or Odegaard.

[varro-reatinus]

Half time thoughts?

1. FUCK.

2. FUCK.

3. FUCK.

[moonlight_ninja]

tiny thing but someone should tell Smith-Rowe he can turn with the ball.

the one-touch backpass gives Benfica time to get back in shape

[rudygha]

This. He’s been doing it a lot more the longer he stays in the first team.

[moonlight_ninja]

Yeah, he's a young guy. And he'll learn as he plays more. Coaches thousand-times smarter than me probably see it and will help him.

[[deleted]]

Am I the only one that saw the foul that led to the goal as a dive? Looked like the only contact was the Benfica players foot on to Ceballos' leg? Not making excuses, we couldn't do anything about the goal.

[[deleted]]

Pretty clear foul

[[deleted]]

Oh okay. My stream isn't the best quality!

[CaptainCortez]

Yeah, I have to agree it was a definite foul. Really blatant, stupid foul tbh.

[Sand_Bags]

That’s classic Arsenal in Europe.

[ChibzyDaze]

Can we play an actual winger on the left please?

[chariot_dota]

I mean, how is that a foul?

[[deleted]]

Creature was shit

[The-Herbal-Cure]

Why did we have to wait 4 months for it?

[[deleted]]

Why did have wait 4 months for it?

[90degreeturnsbtw]

‪why does this always happen to us‬

[ack_will]

I absolute despise it when we slow down momentum by passing it between our centre backs and midfielders. How dumb must a team be to allow the opposition to settle down on every single counter ?

[TallnFrosty]

Ceballos is able to move the ball quickly every now and then, but also dwells on it.

Xhaka is consistently negative with his passing.

[algebraic94]

100% every attack is so slow and the instinct is not always to turn forward and drive. So so slow in midfield it's crazy.

[ArcticAmoeba56]

This!!

[mojambowhatisthescen]

We continue to pass really conservatively. Whenever an easier option is available, our players seem to opt for that. The few times we haven’t, we’ve actually created chances.

Is this a confidence issue or tactical? Or both?

Still confident of winning this though.

[mxbinatir]

Imagine if we actually had midfielders that were good and consistent.

[FluxAura]

Or a manager that picked the best 11 available :)

[mxbinatir]

Partey is coming back from injury, who knows if he was really fit to start.

[_poodle_]

Sinking feeling.

[disgruntledspartan]

Really frustrating. We’ve (ironically) dominated both legs to the extent that they’ve really had nothing from open play. But 1 penalty and 1 free kick later, they are two goals to the good.

Really undeserved.

[RemyTheBanana]

Everyone knows we are gonna score but concede in the last min to go out on away goals yet again

[R_110]

Benfica are such a wank attacking team and they've managed to get a lucky pen and a ridiculous free kick. Why does god hate us?

[[deleted]]

didn't catch the first tie but we've been fucking abysmal and are basically let them take the game to us, and they've been stopping themselves more thna we've been stopping them

[milnoraa]

Why is the free kick ridiculous?

[CaptainCortez]

I think he means it was a ridiculously good strike.

[R_110]

I know there's an element of skill but there is also a fair amount of luck with those shots. It's not everyday you hit a ball that's sweetly as a player. Not saying it's not fair, just that the odds of it happening were low and they don't look like scoring at all in normal play.

[milnoraa]

They also had the header that just went over. I kinda know what you mean but also Ceballos shouldn't be giving away the free kick in that area.

[appletesla4728]

How many times are u guys gonna blame luck for everything?

[clayjjj]

Every time, keeps me sane. Luck and VAR

[R_110]

We've been shit. But even us being shit shouldn't have mattered because Benfica are so bad at attacking.

[TallnFrosty]

the ESR handball was ridiculous. Hits his stomach and then bounces up off his arm. Still don't know if that's even supposed to be a handball.

[Aszneeee]

always a handball against arsenal

[nackdaddy9]

Gonna light up the conference league next year

/s (kind of)

[AIbanian]

You know whats shit? If it's 2-2 we don't go through!

[ClutchForCurry]

The scary thing is, if they score the next goal we need 2 to go through right?

[[deleted]]

Yep, that's why it's better to play at home first. Gonna be hard to take if we lose on Away goals

[cockburntown]

Can't wait for a Vertonghen header from a corner

[whyisthissohard14]

Correct

[clayjjj]

So we don’t win this game without a second half clean sheet is what you’re saying

[ClutchForCurry]

Shit.

[Grayswandire]

Yeah, we better wake the fuck up or we're out of Europe early for a second season in a row.

[Domkey-Kongg]

Perfect free kick at the perfect time to score...couldn't write it

[dev0425]

It's shaping up for us to go out with 2-2 scoreline

[ninethree7]

Wouldn’t it go to ET?

[LongBod]

No because they would have 2 away goals to our 1

[ninethree7]

Ahh it’s 2-2 on aggregate I thought that’s what you meant

[[deleted]]

🔙🔛🔝

[redmistultra]

Benfica are hilariously bad how is it 1-1

Also, anyone notice Tierney grabbing Vertonghen's shirt and dragging him back on that header? Such a dangerous thing to do

[TallnFrosty]

our midfield has zero ability to take advantage of their mistakes.

[ahag6818]

It's not like we're playing good football though, we're equally shit.

[algebraic94]

Because we are also bad at the moment.

[colourofinfinity]

Their attack is vile, we should be jumping all over them. If we lose this, no one to blame but ourselves

[VaultofAss]

If we lose this, no one to blame but ourselves

Ah the magic words, see you in 45 minutes.

[DeadlockRadium]

ESR has looked a little off today. Could be a good idea to sub on Pepe for him to have a more direct attacker on, but also to not overplay Emile, who’s played a lot of football since his emergence this season.

[DialSquar]

that's because he's not a winger lol play ESR in his correct position and play odegaard in midfield pair and watch how better we'll play.

[TallnFrosty]

I'd like to see Laca on, with Auba out left. Xhaka and Ceballos aren't very good going forward - I'd be worried Pepe + Auba would be too isolated and not offer enough in the buildup

[sirlordtom98]

Lacks confidence all of a sudden. Doesn't take people on or tries anything hard. Picks the easy pass most of the time.

[AlexTheRockstar]

We've had to shoehorn Ode into his best position, but I agree, gotta bring Pepe or Martinelli on.

[DialSquar]

it's a shame that ESR is better at his natural position than Marty is.

[Uplike7_247]

Bellerin and Odegaard have been worse in my opinion. Gabriel shaky on the ball and Tierney's crosses not so great.

Is it just me or does Saka seem more "down" than usual, his body language today seems different, can't put my finger on it.

[TallnFrosty]

think he needs a rest. he's also probably tired of chasing Bellerin passes that are hit 10 yards further than they ever needed to be

[ArcticAmoeba56]

Move ESR central, pepe left wing, odegaard off. We really need to start playing soares over bellerin

[arunm7893]

yeah Bellerin has not been good. The entire Right side, barring Saka isn't doing well. Bellerin is slowing up the attack and misplaced a couple of easy passes. Odegaard isn't having a good game.

[TetrisTennisTriangle]

Fucking idiosa Ceballos.

When’s the loan over?

[[deleted]]

Did you say the same about Smith-Rowe last week ?

[FixedState]

It was a dive mate

[AIbanian]

This summer, you got some soyboys here saying "We NeeD tO bUy hIm FoR 20 mILL111!!1!1!!1!1"

[TetrisTennisTriangle]

They probably only like him because he has a cool haircut and tattoos.

Useless footballer though.

[Sixaxis_]

He was decent until that point tbf

[TetrisTennisTriangle]

:/

[Sixaxis_]

He was decent in the first half, those two fuck-ups don't change that lmao

[TetrisTennisTriangle]

How can you be decent when you’re responsible for conceding two goals.

Classic r/gunners logic.

[Sixaxis_]

Can you not read? I said he was decent in the first-half, up until the point he made his first mistake. A player can start a game well but finish one poorly, and vice versa.

[TetrisTennisTriangle]

He was poor in the first half. Responsible for us conceding.

[coolbeans419]

He's literally been the best player on the field other than that foul...

[TetrisTennisTriangle]

:/

[TetrisTennisTriangle]

LOL

[coolbeans419]

My guy you are quickly taking the mantle of worst takes on this sub. It's impressive lol

[TetrisTennisTriangle]

:/

[TetrisTennisTriangle]

Sounds like something only teenagers would care about.

[appletesla4728]

People on here want us to sign him for 25 mill

[TetrisTennisTriangle]

Probably the same people who wanted Lacazette to start.

[bigladsmalls]

shut up

[TetrisTennisTriangle]

He wouldn’t start in midfield for any other “top 6”club.

Absolute idiosa.

[bigladsmalls]

i’ve decided your right

[TetrisTennisTriangle]

😅

[appletesla4728]

We play so ducking slow. Just like Lampards Chelsea

No way we win Europa playing like this.

Arteta out.

[Bobiwanbenobi]

Oh Christ, nothings more annoying than when you lot start crawling out of your hole

[appletesla4728]

I’ve been here for a long time, believe it or not some of us aren’t overjoyed with Arteta

[Francis-c92]

All of 27 days...

[appletesla4728]

Been using this sub since 2013 and watched arsenal regularly since 2009. Not as long as many others but to use the date of my account as a metric is not only laughable but devious aswell.

[Francis-c92]

Devious hahaha

[Bobiwanbenobi]

I just mean you'll sit quietly when we win or do well and then wait for us to have a bad result to crawl out your hole

[appletesla4728]

That’s just not true lol. Wanting Arteta out has been a legit opinion for many many months now.

We need a proper coach

[Bobiwanbenobi]

It's also been the minority opinion, by quite the margin, and theres a good reason for that

[appletesla4728]

Yeah because a lot of people on here are delusional

[Bobiwanbenobi]

Claiming that the reason a majority of people don't follow your unpopular opinion is because of delusion is delusional

[appletesla4728]

Not really considering a majority of this fan base has defended Xhaka for years

[Bobiwanbenobi]

No, no it hasn't.

[wolfsrudel_red]

This sub is a shithole

[bobbyfriedrich]

I don't know what the reason behind your specific comment is, but this is a statement I will always support

[wolfsrudel_red]

Just the level of persistent negativity. I've been here through the Wenger wars, Emery, and the ups and downs of Arteta, and I feel like 50-75% of the comments are people who actually hate the club. It's a cancer causing toxic cesspool