And not that it matters but

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Originally Posted by Rich

No - I won't accept it's the coach. Gyokeres, Martinelli, Trossard, Jesus would not start (and wouldn't make the bench in some cases) of City, Liverpool or Chelsea.

We have a fantastic defence and midfield. We have built those foundations over the past 3 years. The cherry on top is the forward line which is barely top 8 standard - let alone title challenging.

That's precisely why we have to share goals around - we simply do not have the raw talent in forward areas. If you add an Julian Alvarez and a Morgan Rogers / Bradley Barcola - all of a sudden we have flair in that final third. Players to be feared.

There is no team in the PL that's scared of facing Gyokeres and co.

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*******s, Martinelli would walk into the Chelsea side and quite probably Liverpool as well.

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Originally Posted by Peter

A month ago the problem was apparently that everyone uses a low block against us and against nobody else. Now nobody is scared of us.

I can name someone who is terrified of our players. Arteta :-(

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The point is they play low blocks against us because they know our players have very little technical ability and it gives them the best possible chance of winning the game. Give Martinelli space and he'll destroy you. Make it tight and he will give the ball away a lot.

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Originally Posted by PSRB

*******s, Martinelli would walk into the Chelsea side and quite probably Liverpool as well.

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You think Martinelli gets in ahead of Salah, Isak or Ektitike? Even Gakpo is a better footballer (not sprinter) than him.

He's also not getting in a side with Estevao, Joao Pedro, Neto, Palmer (and others) either.

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Originally Posted by Rich

The point is they play low blocks against us because they know our players have very little technical ability and it gives them the best possible chance of winning the game. Give Martinelli space and he'll destroy you. Make it tight and he will give the ball away a lot.

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So, funnily enough, the likes of Martinelli would be great if they played for anyone else, as they wouldn't have to face the low blocks?

Is that why we sit back and constantly give the ball away? Is it a cunning plan to pull the opposition out of shape?

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Originally Posted by Rich

You think Martinelli gets in ahead of Salah, Isak or Ektitike? Even Gakpo is a better footballer (not sprinter) than him.

He's also not getting in a side with Estevao, Joao Pedro, Neto, Palmer (and others) either.

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Salah wouldn't even get minutes off the bench for us.

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Originally Posted by Peter

So, funnily enough, the likes of Martinelli would be great if they played for anyone else, as they wouldn't have to face the low blocks?

Is that why we sit back and constantly give the ball away? Is it a cunning plan to pull the opposition out of shape?

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Yes, and it's also why everyone who joins us becomes rubbish.

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Originally Posted by Peter

Salah wouldn't even get minutes off the bench for us.

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I agree with you on that but that's because he doesn't really fit with what Arteta is trying to achieve. You cannot doubt his talent, though. Coming up on 200 Premier League goals... it would take any of our forward players between 18 and 35 seasons to get that many.

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Originally Posted by Peter

So, funnily enough, the likes of Martinelli would be great if they played for anyone else, as they wouldn't have to face the low blocks?

Is that why we sit back and constantly give the ball away? Is it a cunning plan to pull the opposition out of shape?

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He'd be better for other sides, yes. Put him in AFC Bournemouth's side and he would score 15+ PL goals a season.

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Originally Posted by Rich

He'd be better for other sides, yes. Put him in AFC Bournemouth's side and he would score 15+ PL goals a season.

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As he did for us, until Arteta decided that scoring goals was costing us the title.....

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Originally Posted by Rich

I agree with you on that but that's because he doesn't really fit with what Arteta is trying to achieve. You cannot doubt his talent, though. Coming up on 200 Premier League goals... it would take any of our forward players between 18 and 35 seasons to get that many.

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I dont doubt his talent. But he is lazy, selfish and doesn't do his defensive work. Arteta wouldn't stand for that. Even if he scored 35 goals a season. If anything, that would make it worse :-(