And can someone explain why Beauregard Odygard is captain? The real captain is

[Herbert Augustus Chapman]

clearly Rice

[Peter]

clearly Rice

And before that it was Xhaka, in all but name.

[Pat Vegas]

clearly Rice

Not sure why he?s even playing. Goes missing a lot. Tries the occasional flick here and there that leads to nothing. Rather than running into space hides between players. No shot power though usually Never shoots. I want to like him but he?s been awful for months.

[WES]

Not sure why he?s even playing. Goes missing a lot. Tries the occasional flick here and there that leads to nothing. Rather than running into space hides between players. No shot power though usually Never shoots. I want to like him but he?s been awful for months.

He's not been awful, Pat, but he has been far too quiet far too often. He's good at keeping it, which should not be under-estimated, but he's stopped creating in the final third the way you would like him to.

Mind you, we dominated Madrid with him being 'quiet' over the two legs

[7sisters]

He's not been awful, Pat, but he has been far too quiet far too often. He's good at keeping it, which should not be under-estimated, but he's stopped creating in the final third the way you would like him to.

Mind you, we dominated Madrid with him being 'quiet' over the two legs

Arteta should have hooked him much earlier. Perhaps the Captain tag affords him privilege. Stripping the armband may cause further damage to his already fragile confidence. Either way, there?s a dilemma coming up next season with Nwaneri now targeting his shirt. There?s no way he?s usurping Saka, and with the arrival of Zubimendi for Partey, which seems on the cards, plus a new CF and Bambi on Ice, looking to get back in, our young, talented Nog really needs to up his game.

[pjlincs]

Arteta should have hooked him much earlier. Perhaps the Captain tag affords him privilege. Stripping the armband may cause further damage to his already fragile confidence. Either way, there?s a dilemma coming up next season with Nwaneri now targeting his shirt. There?s no way he?s usurping Saka, and with the arrival of Zubimendi for Partey, which seems on the cards, plus a new CF and Bambi on Ice, looking to get back in, our young, talented Nog really needs to up his game.

Couldn't agree more. Early in the second half was screaming out for Arteta to make the change. Stunned into silence when he didn't at least take the opportunity to do at the same time as the enforced Timber/White change. Bringing Nwaneri on in the 85th minute was ludicrous to expect him to have much influence on the game at that point.

One bright spot yesterday was MLS (again!). Especially when he drifted into midfield positions.

[Peter]

He's not been awful, Pat, but he has been far too quiet far too often. He's good at keeping it, which should not be under-estimated, but he's stopped creating in the final third the way you would like him to.

Mind you, we dominated Madrid with him being 'quiet' over the two legs

He is very good without the ball and is crucial to the press. Unfortunately, with the ball, he has been a passenger for a while now. He was awful again last night. His confidence seems to be on the floor as well.

Just have to hope he rediscovers the player that he is next season.

We dominated Madrid but that was a team ready to implode. They now have, it seems. Last night we came up against a very good side and we couldn't get our best players in the game.

A look at our bench tells a story. Two keepers and three lads who don't have a senior appearance between them.

[Peter]

Couldn't agree more. Early in the second half was screaming out for Arteta to make the change. Stunned into silence when he didn't at least take the opportunity to do at the same time as the enforced Timber/White change. Bringing Nwaneri on in the 85th minute was ludicrous to expect him to have much influence on the game at that point.

One bright spot yesterday was MLS (again!). Especially when he drifted into midfield positions.

Agree, re MLS. He showed again last night that his future is in midfield. At the moment we can't afford to move him from left back but there will come a point where we can't afford to not play him in midfield. The pass for Martinelli's chance was superb.

[WES]

He is very good without the ball and is crucial to the press. Unfortunately, with the ball, he has been a passenger for a while now. He was awful again last night. His confidence seems to be on the floor as well.

Just have to hope he rediscovers the player that he is next season.

We dominated Madrid but that was a team ready to implode. They now have, it seems. Last night we came up against a very good side and we couldn't get our best players in the game.

A look at our bench tells a story. Two keepers and three lads who don't have a senior appearance between them.

It's a good point re his pressing, finding creative players who are willing to press like that is not always easy. I think he's also hurt by our lack of a striker. Every time he gets it in the final third he either tries to play combinations with Saka or he switches it wide to the other side. It's very predictible but would be less predictible if he had a central option more often.

None of which, of course, completely excuses his performances. He's in a rut, and Arteta needs to figure out how to get him out of it.

[Peter]

It's a good point re his pressing, finding creative players who are willing to press like that is not always easy. I think he's also hurt by our lack of a striker. Every time he gets it in the final third he either tries to play combinations with Saka or he switches it wide to the other side. It's very predictible but would be less predictible if he had a central option more often.

None of which, of course, completely excuses his performances. He's in a rut, and Arteta needs to figure out how to get him out of it.

The pressing is why arteta waited so long to bring on nwaneri. I think he was worried it would give 20 minutes for psg to find as second. He seemed to move nwaneri out to the right when he came on.

We have to trust he'll find his form again. You don't just suddenly become a bad player....