Arsenal 1-1 Wolves verdict thread

[Sniffer]

Go.

25 shots on goal. Haven't got the broadband strength to see pictures so what was the performance like?

 

[The Bion]

Really encouraging for the most part. Defending was a bit slipshod at times (to be expected considering the personnel) but generally Arsenal didn't trouble us too much aside from towards the very end when legs were obviously tired and runners were getting free.

Didn't carve them open too much but applied a lot of pressure and had some good chances...Doc maybe might've done better but it was on his weak side and he got a good connection so can't ask for a lot more than that. Neves with some decent efforts, looked a lot more like his old self. Jota looked like himself again as well, albeit thought he was too selfish more than once - in fact the front 3 in general just didn't combine with each other as well as you'd hope, but having said that this is a new combination so there'll be some kinks to work out.

Fingers crossed Doc is alright and it was just a precautionary thing - looked like he jarred the same knee he had trouble with in preseason.

Moutinho though, what a gem.

 

[Boozad]

We started off really well and we were 6 attempts for 0 at one point but their goal knocked our composure. Rest of the first half Arsenal were on top. Started well again in the second half and really deserved the equaliser, to be honest the game could have gone either way in the latter stages, it was proper end to end stuff. The draw was probably a fair result, just a shame we couldn't nick it. Their midfield and defence is really poor and I reckon if we'd had Boly fit and Doherty properly fit we'd have won that.

Jota MOTM for me, he never stopped causing them problems and could have nicked a winner late on with a driving run into the box but just took it a touch too far and got crowded out. Dendoncker looked good at the back and Neves looked loads better actually playing in midfield

 

[YoungWolf]

That was really hard not to celebrate being in the arsenal end when we scored. :icon_lol:

Deserved the point at minimum, with better decision making or finishing from Doc could have easily won.

343 we a) look much more fluid with the ball b) look less vulnerable to the counter attack

Dendoncker I think had a good game at centre back. Even long term he could be the best option for us there in all honesty.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Add that to the pile of could have and possibly should have won.

Can’t really complain when we were a goal down until relatively late on but we got in very good positions today and either took on a shot when should have passed, shot straight at the keeper or missed completely. Considering we had 25 shots Leno hasn’t had anything to do beyond routine.

Neves and Moutinho great. Amazing what happens when we don’t have him holding Coadys hand. Also allowed Coady to find those switches as there’s more players for the opposition to cover. We were ok at the back other than the goal, couple of nervy moments but generally solid, Rui hasn’t really had much to do. Jota was good, Traore always a threat but didn’t come off for him today. Raul was good at hold up and link up but annoyed be the way he kept being a bit too selfish. Got his goal though.

Hopefully Doc isn’t serious but Vinagre can play the next 2 and then he’s got 2 weeks off anyway.
Jonny looked better on the right. I think the left seriously hinders his attacking play.

Take the point, opens the gap to the bottom (not that we will get relegated). But allows us to be comfortable playing in the EL and attentive to singings in Jan.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Donk was fine after a little nervy positional issues early doors . How many yellows has Saiss got now? Close to a ban?

All in all this was a game that got away. Arsenal could have few complaints if we had won. I just wished we played like that against other teams especially those struggling.

Forgot to add we need to stop conceding first. 8 times this season in the league.

 

[sycophantia]

Shows how far we've come when we match Arsenal away, get a deserved point and I'm feeling a bit disappointed (thats more to do with me having a shit day though)

 

[YoungWolf]

xG was 1-1.8 in our favour which feels about right considering how many shots we had

 

[Boozad]

Arsenal certainly couldn't have complained if we'd won.

 

[Johnny75]

I enjoyed the game and like this far more positive approach. We have the players to do it effectively and Arsenal are no mugs they're a top 6 team for a reason. And we made them look ordinary today.

Thought Jota was superb, shame for Doc as I thought he had a good game. Neves and Moutinho were very good in midfield, some of Neves passing was magnificent even the short stuff around the edges of play when he controlled tempo.

Thought that was the worst Traore had played recently and I'd have hooked him for Neto as nothing was coming off for him against the excellent Tierney.

 

[Dire Wolf]

Best attacking performance of the season. We set out like we wanted to win, makes a massive difference over some of the negative starts we've made.

 

[Paul]

Phil Thompson saying Jota could play for any of the top six sides

 

[Monstrum]

Played really well, I thought we were the better team and it wasnt that close.
Really silly goal to concede... one of the most prolific box predators completely unmarked in the box... very childish defending, even as schoolboys we did better than that. Apart from that, no real negatives, we could have scored a lot more, 20+ shots and we score on what seemed like the most difficult chance

 

[James]

Good performance, shame about the goal we conceded but a lot of positives out of this onwards to Slovan at home

 

[Parkins left foot]

We were the better side there last year & sounds as if we were this time as well despite both being 1 - 1 draws.

Whatever our position in the league this is a step up for us in the upward progression of the club.

As James says - on to Slovan. A win in that (& the other home game v Besiktas) & we can guarantee ourselves a Europa knock out round.

 

[Aikiwolf]

Played pretty well today, 343 feels like it should be our preferred formation at the moment. It forces Neves to be further forward there he can dictate play more.

We had enough chances to win, especially the Jota chance when he beat 3 men, but ultimately its a decent away point.

I was impressed by Dendoncker in the CB role, thought he made a few decent defensive headers. Toss up between him and Neves for Motm.

 

[Nando]

Ruben was outstanding today. I'd be happy with Donck at RCB moving forward. He's got everything you'd want to play in that position.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Ruben was outstanding today. I'd be happy with Donck at RCB moving forward. He's got everything you'd want to play in that position.

You have to ask yourself was he as good as Bennett and the answer was yes. He will take time to gel back there. Coady seemed to want to try and cover both him and Saiss today. A back three of donk Coady Boly is good! Shame it won’t happen this year. I enjoyed the game and it’s our first repeat result from last season

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

You have to ask yourself was he as good as Bennett and the answer was yes. He will take time to gel back there. Coady seemed to want to try and cover both him and Saiss today. A back three of donk Coady Boly is good! Shame it won’t happen this year. I enjoyed the game and it’s our first repeat result from last season

Bit early to say if he was as good as Bennett, especially as he was at fault for the goal. But the signs are promising.

 

[Tony Towner]

https://twitter.com/NathanJudah/status/1190695366519394304?s=19

I didn't see the game, but some of Rosie's comments re Jota and Kilman are a little strange - one over plays, the other offers more balance