Saka MotM Player Ratings as Arsenal Respond Well
By Matt Sadler
September 19 2019
Excellent response to Sunday's disaster. Really enjoyable, open game. No idea how the Gunners kept a clean sheet but not complaining. future could well be bright. Very happy for Martinez as well, who has had to wait a while for his chance, but didn't put a foot, or hand, wrong.
One concern is the midfield, though. Particularly in the first half at times we found Xhaka on his own against two or three, with Torreira not exactly being used how I'm sure many of us would use him.
Ratings:
Martinez - 8. Faultless handling all night and he kicked it long. Despite all the shots never felt like he was going to concede.
Chambers - 6. Had it tough at times against Kostic particularly in the first half, but did well overall.
Mustafi - 7. Surprisingly solid and prevented a goal with an excellent block.
Luiz - 7. Did okay. Passed well.
Kolasinac - 6. Okay but as per looked more comfortable going forward.
Torreira - 6. Didn't like how we were using him earlier on as he appeared to have licence to push on and get forward.
Xhaka - 6. Not a bad performance overall but was left 3v1 in midfield so many times, especially in the first half.
Wilock - 7. Not the best start but grew into the game showing great energy and forward runs. Missed a good chance but scored later via a deflection. Can become a big player for us.
Smith Rowe - 6. Caught in possession a few times and missed a good chance, but made good runs with the ball. First senior appearance after a long injury lay-off.
Aubameyang - 7. Worked hard up front on his own. Missed a sitter but finished well right at the end.
Saka - 9. One goal, two assists, carried the ball excellently and showed strength. A star is born. Needs to stay with the first team now.
Subs:
Pepe - 5. Gave the defence something to think about.
Ceballos 5. Okay but took an awful free kick.
Maitland-Niles - N/A. Not on long.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:09:22:16:07:55 by Padre Pio.
Frankfurt has 24 shots at goal.
Something not right with shots raining like confetti at our goal, and all fingers are pointing at Emery now.
"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.โ Saint Thomas Aquinas
"๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐. ๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด."
Quote:Yep exactly. Pepe needs a goal so that he can relax. I still see that he is trying things which his team mates don't instance and makes sudden bursts for a give and go which never comes.younghansolo
As great as it is to see auba keep scoring. I wish he had passed to Pepe. He needs a goal and it would have been a tap in.
Ceballos is better as a 8. To me he is no pirlo, when it comes to the final ball and actually creating a chance, he seems to either shy away from it by taking the easy pass or completely miss it. Currently we only have ozil that will be able to create chances for the forwards otherwise we have just rely on counter attacks
So positive about the youngsters though. Saka doesn't look out of place amongst "adults" at all. We really lacked that sort of skill and direct ball carrying last season and the left wing spot is right there for the taking.
Willock is looking like he can become such a completely box-to-box midfielder for us. That move where he drove from one box to the other with Frankfurt players just bouncing off him before playing Aubameyang in was so, so good.
They won't get it right all the time but it's so worth giving these talents every opportunity.
This 433 doesn't work, it leaves us way too open in midfield. Partly that's because our wingers are so lazy in defending. Thats probably the most worrying thing about pepe for me at this point. The goals will come if he keeps trying things but the lack of effort from him going the other way is unacceptable.
And because they aren't defending it leaves the outside midfielders with too much ground to cover and that leaves the centre of the pitch exposed and Xhaka and the centre backs aren't good enough to cope with it, all they do is back off until the opposition is in our box without putting any pressure on the player with the ball.
We did well but I would still like to see at least one of Ceballos or Ozil on the pitch to give us more composure/control. We've got some decent midfield options but somehow can't get it set up to control possession or protect the defence. Willock is like Ramsey in that he leaves space and loses the ball, increasing our vulnerability. Last night we got away with it a bit but to blame the defenders for shots allowed isn't fair.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:09:21:17:18:48 by CazOnARola.
Quote:Merlion96
Watford has 31 shots at goal.
Frankfurt has 24 shots at goal.
Something not right with shots raining like confetti at our goal, and all fingers are pointing at Emery now.
That is my concern as well. If we allow a more clinical team that much shots on goal, it will turn into a basket ball game.
Can We Now Trust The Process ๐ค๐คท๐ฟโโ๏ธ or Should We Still Remain Cautious ๐๐ฟโโ๏ธ