Hi everyone,
It's been a while I have written anything in Hive. Hope this meets you all well.
Just after Arsenal’s Champions league match versus Athletic Bilbao, I wrote the following somewhere:
"Physicality, physicality is what Arteta will say. I started that midfield 3 bcos I wanted to withstand the physicality of the opposition, then find a way to stretch the opposition at the latter stages.
Questions:
Same midfield was used against Liverpool. Ok we saw their physicality, but how well was it holistically?
If Odegaard was fit wouldn't u have started him?
Zubi plays well with Merino in Spain, but is Declan, Pedri?
If nmba 2 is true and u say Nwaneri can't shield the ball like Odegaard. Well let me not argue with u. And u say Dowman, u are not sure of his physicality. Let me not argue with u, coach, sir.
But certainly, u can't question the physicality of the EPL tested Eze. Plug him into that middle and play Trossard or Martinelli on the left and bench Merino, or maybe u may bench Rice.
Something is lacking in the attacking/creative phase with these 3 guys u started against Liverpool and yesterday."
END.
After the City match, I said this somewhere:
"It was a problem again with Merino starting in midfield against Man City. Frantically, Arteta made a half-time sub, to save the day.
That was a match that Arsenal disgraced Man City in terms of possession at least, like never before in Pep's whole coaching career. Every match is important."
END.
After the Newcastle match, I said somewhere:
"Has he[Arteta] not been forced to repent? Eze started today! That's why I said in one of my notes here–
"Look, let's not behave as if we don't know Arteta. He starts very cautiously, that's why there's that note on Skelly&Nwaneri, then with time he embraces change So I'm upbeat about him on this."
I said I am upbeat, we know this gaffer. I'm already seeing that a Zubi, Eze, Odg midfield 3 will be great too. Well let's leave that.
Today was a refreshing line up, Arsenal would have been one up, but the ref strangely, to me, denied Gyokeres a pen in the first half."
END.
Well today, there you have it; so quickly, Arteta changes it up! Zubi, Eze, Odg– ofcourse you know my focus is Eze and Odegaard playing together. Whichever of Zubimendi or Rice no problems whatsoever.
This was fast!
A pity Odegaard went off injured early, but again there are tools all over.
It's a team that excelled in the summer window and as such doesn't lack the requisite tools to do the job. I'm glad Arteta is unleashing his arsenal more freely now. It also helps to keep players fresh and promote healthycompetition for places, when you use your squad better.
THIS IS ARSENAL