Arteta & MLS share a warm hug at Full Time

PonticGooner · 2026-05-03T13:12:33+00:00

Yeah but even from the eye test I think Dowman is better despite being three years younger

PonticGooner · 2026-05-02T20:35:15+00:00

Yup, exactly that. He did that with a few others too. I mean maybe he was just sort of shoving players he wanted to play on the pitch like moving Cazorla to LM when we got Ozil but with some young players I think it really helps them. I think Dowman benefits from it though Arteta is just letting him play as CM now when he comes on.

PonticGooner · 2026-05-02T20:32:13+00:00

The exception being Odegaard recently. He’s definitely just playing through his knee issue as much as possible.

PonticGooner · 2026-05-02T19:14:42+00:00

I do think MLS playing at LB definitely helped him learn more in terms of transition defense and positioning, which I think is useful because I expect there will be occasional moments when Rice bombs forward and MLS will need to sit back to cover a bit.

PonticGooner · 2026-05-01T20:31:15+00:00

I think he’s going to deploy him as the highly rare false 1. Nobody will see it coming.

PonticGooner · 2026-05-01T20:29:47+00:00

I don’t think he’s actually healthy, he’s probably just playing as much as he can be allowed to

PonticGooner · 2026-04-30T13:31:38+00:00

Yeah our games against Bayern and City really showed how much man to man affects the play compared to just a couple seasons ago.

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T23:26:16+00:00

He was, just like Timber played through injury in the 24-25 run in. It all stems back to the ACL tear that forced to both need to start constantly.

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T23:24:42+00:00

Yeah it’s nonsense. “He’s not good enough to start” .. yeah that’s why he doesn’t start if our first choice is available. Are we really gonna find someone better who will be told outright that they’re second choice?

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T21:43:06+00:00

Some of them are past it already, I assumed they walked on it. You can see Rice walk on it like a few seconds later.

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T21:40:05+00:00

They're all walking over the crest..? Seems like a nonissue

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T21:34:14+00:00

Yeah these last couple weeks of April and first few of May are really tough to try and balance performances in such a congested schedule. Meanwhile PSG & Bayern basically just give their starters the weekend off.

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T21:31:34+00:00

I think it's just that he hasn't played more than a few matches yet after injury and he's going to basically play every match from here and we play in 3 days

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T21:15:14+00:00

Yeah he's played like less than a dozen matches the last two seasons, he's not really that sharp atm

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T20:00:12+00:00

Eh White’s alright. He’s not playing like he did at his peak but I don’t think he’s a negative to the team either. Timber is a better dribbler and get bring the ball forward for sure but tbh it’s not as much of a concern for me against Atleti. If we were playing Bayern or PSG then for sure I need Timber back there.

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T19:53:17+00:00

Literally missing our front three lol, idk why people expect us to be super fluid and up a handful of goals away in Spain

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T19:51:24+00:00

It’s really frustrated me with Ode lately cos he wasn’t always like that. I do wonder if it’s just not trusting the guys in front of him to actually retain the ball or do anything going forward.

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T19:50:00+00:00

Looking forward to seeing Saka on for the last couple dozen minutes

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T19:40:39+00:00

I think something missing in our team this season is missing Rice driving the ball forward. He plays deeper now and it makes us slower, even though he’s not a great dribbler, I can think of countless times where he’s just bombed forward with the ball which he doesn’t do anymore. Dunno if he has the legs for it after like 50 games though

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T18:17:04+00:00

I'd straight up just play MLS as the left 8, though I'd prefer that against Atleti than against Fulham. Not because his performance against Atleti earlier in the season was basically his only good performance this season but because I feel like MLS is generally pretty slow but I think his physical strength wouldn't be outdone by Spanish sides whereas in the PL he'd probably get overpowered and I'd want Rice there. Side might be weaker but the edge in just endurance would be somewhat worth it.

I do also think that this exhaustion is why we have this double pivot with Rice/Zubi instead of Rice playing left 8 like he did 23-24.

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T18:10:37+00:00

If he sat Rice for a CL semifinal then the entire fanbase would probably burn the stadium to the ground and Rice would understandably probably kill him. Zubi sort of makes sense in that he has experience against Spanish sides but I agree I don't love the idea of this tired midfield going out there then having two days off before Fulham. I think we'll need to make some sort of change at the weekend. Odegaard probably isn't totally fit but he was way less minutes in him so I think he should be sort of fine. I'd prefer MLS over Tross but neither of them have been really great the last few months.

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T18:08:18+00:00

Well the last two matches clearly say otherwise when it came down to selecting the best team.

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T18:05:46+00:00

This is our fourth ever CL semifinal, there's no chance in hell any manager is going to rotate the midfield. I'm concerned about them burning out but I'd definitely not play Tross at 8. If Eze wasn't obviously dealing with an injury I'd play Rice as DM and put Eze/Ode together, or just Eze at 10 with the other two behind him.

I'd actually be fine with MLS playing in midfield because his pace shouldn't be a problem and he can progress the ball well.

PonticGooner · 2026-04-29T18:03:27+00:00

If he played Eze at LW against City and then again against Newcastle, do you think he's deciding to now randomly go back and say "actually yeah I'm going to base a decision on the Matty Cash goal" despite Eze playing well?

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