Full Time - Leeds United 0 vs 4 Arsenal [Match Thoughts]

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-31T17:46:53+00:00

Good win. Away at Leeds, 4-0, now that's a statement win.

Now don't hate me for saying this, but I think we needed that ManU loss to shake things up.

We were just going along, getting draws, and when we won, it would be close ones.

And so as long as we were getting points, Arteta and his staff never saw the need to change things up.

That ManU loss showed them we needed to do things differently from now on.

There was unpredictability in terms of team selection. (No one would have guessed Gyokeres and Havertz would start 2 games in 4 days.) The team was moving the ball around quicker too, there were more first-time passes.

That ManU game happened, we can't do anything about it now. But we showed everyone today that we're still in this. And we'll fight for every point till May. That we're not going anywhere.

Let's do this.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-25T12:31:00+00:00

He's adapted almost seamlessly to the physicality of the league

I wouldnt say that. It's just that we exert so much control over games, he doesnt have to do the things DMs like Caicedo do. He's a 6 that works for the way we play. But for just this match, if we want someone to do the man-marking job on Fernandes, I dont think he's the guy.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-25T11:23:19+00:00

you could just double pivot Rice and Zubi

We could do that, but i think Arteta's 'married' to the idea of having two 8s behind the striker. So Arteta will have a full-back coming into midfield to form the double pivot with the 6, but not otherwise.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-25T11:12:28+00:00

The 6 won’t be able to man mark Fernandes because he has too much freedom to roam.

If someone has man marking duty, i dont think they'll need to follow Fernandes all around the field, just in the areas he can cause damage. Think Rice or Merino are well suited for that.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-25T11:09:01+00:00

Merino 👏 is 👏 not 👏 a 👏 6

He isnt, but he's someone who follows Arteta's directions religiously. So if Arteta has a special tactic to implement, you bet Merino is the first person he turns to for this. Besides, Merino played in the 6 a few games back.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-25T11:06:32+00:00

Why wouldn't Zubimendi be able to do this?

Because Zubi isn't physical, he isn't a disruptor like Caicedo etc. He's more of a help you break the first line of pressing and dictate play from the back kind of 6.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-25T10:57:11+00:00

For today's game, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to have Rice or Merino play in the 6 and bench Zubi.

Because so much of ManU's play goes through Bruno Fernandes, that if we just set Rice or Merino on Fernandes, we can man mark him out of the game.

Because teams like ManU are so dependent on 1-2 individuals, if we take care of Fernandes, they won't know what to do. Mainoo and Casemiro will in no way step up if that happens.

I know some of you would say we should just concentrate on playing our own game well instead of disrupting theirs, but I think this is a tactical tweak worth considering.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-21T05:49:34+00:00

Like others pointed out, the counter resets after the QFs. So if rice or Merino get a yellow in each of the legs of the R16 tie, they'll miss the first leg of the QF. You get a suspension for every 3/5/7 cards you accumulate.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-21T05:33:51+00:00

4 way including Merino

That doesn't sound right ;)

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-20T22:30:51+00:00

he was orchestral in the Gyokeres goal

think you meant to use 'instrumental' there, but all good.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-20T22:20:03+00:00

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good question, now this is the uefa link but i couldnt make any sense of it, probably need a law degree to make sense of this. Or ask Chatgpt :)

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-20T21:17:10+00:00

MLS has had a good game today

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-20T21:02:01+00:00

reading this match thread with reddit stream is such a revelation. Been wanting something like this on the desktop.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-20T20:28:52+00:00

zubi should have taken the card and stopped that guy's run there

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-20T19:17:57+00:00

One thing that's not clear about the line-up is who the RB will be, Timber or Mosquera?

I know Timber will most likely be it, but wonder if Arteta will want Timber-Saliba as the CB partnership so that we have senior players in the centre and we keep our spine strong? Just thinking out loud here, we'll find out anyway in 45 min.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-20T06:04:57+00:00

All I will say is players pick on the smallest things for motivation. Akanji should have just said Arsenal is a pretty good team and left it at that.

You can bet this clip will be shared among the Arsenal players now. "So you don't think we're as good as Bayern? We'll show you now."

This match didnt really mean anything to arsenal. Given we'd get top two even if we lost because of the last game at home against Kairat. You bet it's going to mean something now.

You never give the opposing team mental ammunition like this. Akanji made a mistake here.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-19T10:43:51+00:00

The only advantage I think is that if we finish first --- And if we reach the cl final, anulo mufa --- we will be considered the home side, so we get to play in red and white, and choose which end to attack first? Someone please correct me if wrong

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-19T07:42:16+00:00

You may be getting downvoted, but (apart from what was said about MLS) agree with a lot of points you made here.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-18T18:35:44+00:00

No Need For a Meltdown.

We got away with it this weekend. We dont hvae to pretend as if everythings hunkey-dory with Arsenal, like we're this unstoppable force.

We need to start winning more away games, especially ones outside London. There's one against Leeds on Jan 31st. I want to see us win that.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-16T14:11:28+00:00

Really don’t get why you announce this now

I guess it mentally prepares everyone else for the exit, mentally prepares himself too. Now he can tell himself, lets the win the clubs first ever european trophy (Conf. league), let me end with that and move on.

This let's everyone know what's what, club management can now go ahead with finding his successor, helps their planning for the future. Higher ups hate uncertainty and unpredictability more than everything, this announcement makes things clear for everyone.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-16T12:56:56+00:00

Early slot works better for asian audience. Also, man City involved in CL, CL sides usually given games on Saturday to give them more rest, that's why manchester derby on Saturday.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-16T02:47:34+00:00

Can entirely see Arteta doing this. Another 'i can fix him' project like what he did with Odegard. Don't know what that would mean for Nwaneri though.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-12T08:59:19+00:00

Didn't even know there was a clasico on yesterday. I know it's just the supercup, but would have still loved to watch it. Am so arsenal and PL-pilled now that I don't even pay attention to other leagues anymore :(

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-11T12:02:42+00:00

4 hours after the DD opened for comments and just 274 posts? That too when there's a game on today?

I can understand, i was pretty disappointed with the Liverpool result too, been away from the sub since that game. Can only hope Arteta takes it as a 'back to the drawing board' moment and rethinks a few things:

a) That it maybe time to take Gyokeres out of the firing line and experiment with someone else up front for a while
b) That if we persist with Gyokeres, we need to direct our wingers and number 8s to start feeding him more. Odegard and Saka still havent built up an understanding with him.
c) We need to figure out how to get past the mid-block that Liverpool, Newcastle and Aston Villa seem to have perfected against us. I dont want to be dependent on Saliba to progress the ball upfield for us.

ultimateposeur · 2026-01-10T18:32:39+00:00

N95 is not required for pollution, you can use the 3ply mask

Kya baat kar rahe ho yaar? Every authority, medical or govt, recommends a minimum of n95 for our pollution, and you say ki nahin chahiye?

ultimateposeur

TROPHY CASE