Arsenal (H) - verdict

[Premier Quality]

Poor. We don’t create much in 3-5-2, and the arsenal defence were right up Raul and Traores backsides all game so we had to play on the turn.

I thought Neves played well, but Moutinho, Doc and Raul weren’t able to create anything at all today, and obviously Donk doesn’t give us much creatively. We were brighter when we went to 3-4-3 but being a goal down arsenal were always going to sit in, kill time and play on the break.

Disappointing, but hopefully we will be a lot better on Wednesday.

 

[YoungWolf]

Poor. We don’t create much in 3-5-2, and the arsenal defence were right up Raul and Traores backsides all game so we had to play on the turn.

I thought Neves played well, but Moutinho, Doc and Raul weren’t able to create anything at all today. We were brighter when we went to 3-4-3 but being a goal down arsenal were always going to sit in, kill time and play on the break.

Disappointing, but hopefully we will be a lot better on Wednesday.

Yeah, Ruben was easily our best player today.

 

[Alan]

Piss poor all round including team selection. We seem to set up to play for a 0-0 at half time and start the match second half. Gave a slightly freak goal away and started second half with more intensity but collectively the team were very poor (for once). Adama should really have scored and then we may have gone on and won the match. Nuno needs a long think before next match as too many seemed un-interested.

I'm with Youngie in that I find this kind of accusation totally ridiculous.

We're sat in 6th place in the Premier League and we're accusing the players of being disinterested?? Shocking.

 

[Tredman]

That’s even worse. He said we don’t fear anyone basically, nor should we. The way he said it seemed pretty typical of him as a person. I wouldn’t change him one bit

Nah, laughing at another team is not a good look whatever.

Anyway, in answer to your other point I think it’s not integrity whatsoever, it’s more subconscious - but people definitely adjust their effort according to expectations.

 

[YoungWolf]

He laughed at the idea of signing for them. Just shows how committed he is to us, and recognises it would be silly to leave for them.

 

[Aikiwolf]

I think our tactics were rank today. Nuno seemed desperate to play 352 and play Adama, so we did and we saw the benefit of neither. Shortly after we shifted to 343 we then make a sub and remove Adama from the game.

Add in a range of awful set pieces and a few flat performances and there we go.

Opportunity missed today and some life given to arsenal and their hunt for Europe next season.

 

[Derby Wolf]

5/10's all round including Nuno.

Our best spell came with the formation change to 3-4-3 and then taking Doc off killed that.

Not going to be too reactionary about it, get ourselves straight for Sheff Utd and get a result there.

 

[Langers]

I’ll say it again, such fine margins. A deflected cross lands perfectly for their forward. Traore misses a sitter when we were really opening them up.

They had an off day, it’s a shame with such a good opportunity but you definitely aren’t going to see me question the integrity of this team. Absolutely laughable.

I thought we panicked a bit after that when we didn’t need to do. Think Traore to wing back (though understandable) disrupted our shape more than anticipated.

Big two games coming up to give us a chance for the final three.

Agree. Thought Arsenal did a good job on us, but we should have been a bit more composed when we were on top at the start of the 2nd half.

I didn't think we were that bad, though not at the same high standards we've set ourselves lately.

Like you, I'm really disappointed to read some people saying we weren't up for it. That's just disrespectful.

On to Bramhall Lane.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Yeah, Ruben was easily our best player today.

tallest dwarf competition that it was.

It is unusual for us to be so poor against one of the bigger sides. The last time we were collectively that shit was Chelsea back in September.

 

[Alan]

He laughed at the idea of signing for them. Just shows how committed he is to us, and recognises it would be silly to leave for them.

He was right, too. "Why would I sign for a team below me in the table" is hardly illogical.

Arteta beat us with tactics today and we weren't able to adjust to what he had Arsenal doing. It strikes me as not dissimilar to the 0-2 loss against Watford last season. Just came up against a decent opponent who nailed their tactics and preparation. Nought to do with application at all, IMO.

 

[Dennisons Wrong Foot]

Got to admit that was good coaching from Arteta. They pressed us excellently, won all the individual match-ups, and generally seemed to have 12 players on the pitch. Plus we just made too many little errors especially in defence.

It looked on one replay as though Martinez may have just got the slightest of touches on Adama's effort.

 

[slink]

Nuno got it wrong today and i think he will know he did both in terms of formation and approach. It allowed Arsenal to settle in to the game and some of our players had real off days, Boly, Joao and Moutinho in particular were really off it. We came in to the game when we went 343 and should have equalised but Jota made the wrong decision and Adama should have been more clinical. Once the drinks break came and Neto replaced Doc the game was gone.

 

[Norman Deeley]

Someone made the point a couple of games ago – why do we pass sideways or back and end up starting attacks against 11 instead of 5 or 6 if we’d moved the ball quicker?
I thought we were dreadful tonight and if we are serious top 4 contenders then Doherty and Saiss definitely need upgrading. And I know it’s heresy to say it on here but Moutinho was poor tonight and isn’t going to get any younger.
A week to prepare and we got it horribly wrong tonight. And whoever gave Nuno 5 gave him 4 too many

 

[Deano]

Thought Doherty was really poor

 

[MARKakaJIM]

You'd never guess Wolves were the team who'd had twice as long to prepare for that game, looked slow of mind and body throughout.

Don't think it was so much a tactical thing, Wolves just played poorly almost to a man, movement off the ball didn't seem as sharp as usual and no one individual seemed as though they had the bit between their teeth to step up and force the issue alone in the absence of that cohesion. Too many times people were caught on the ball, took the wrong option or were smothered by the lack of options.

I don't think it's evidence of a wider failing, just a widespread bad day at the office, different substitutions or tactical tweaks may have made an impact but I don't think there was scope on the bench to completely rectify it, have to just move on and hope everyone sorts themselves out for next time.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

Someone made the point a couple of games ago – why do we pass sideways or back and end up starting attacks against 11 instead of 5 or 6 if we’d moved the ball quicker?
I thought we were dreadful tonight and if we are serious top 4 contenders then Doherty and Saiss definitely need upgrading. And I know it’s heresy to say it on here but Moutinho was poor tonight and isn’t going to get any younger.
A week to prepare and we got it horribly wrong tonight. And whoever gave Nuno 5 gave him 4 too many

I am not querying Nunos tactics of keeping the ball if we need to it works and it has worked.

Today was disappointing but we go again

 

[Charlie Wolf]

Think that everyone has summed up today’s performance
Collective mare

If we didn’t know what was needed to play at the top table we do now. Sheffield game is massive and they’ll be up for that, we have to improve 100% on today otherwise we are gonna be chasing 8th or 7th at best

But one game doesn’t make a season and there’s still a load of twists and turns left in this season

 

[Andre]

Very dissappointing. But finishing 6th would be an improvment on last year and 5th isn't out of the question. AND we still have the EL, which I'm looking forward to.

When I saw the line up I thought it would be better to have Jota alongside Jimenez. Whether that would have made any difference who can say.

Ah well. Still plently of games to win!

 

[jd1981]

Huge reality check today and a pretty damaging one in terms of any hopes of CL football. Aim really should be to secure EUROPA League that's a more realistic target. Set up wrong first half and were far to narrow allowed both Arsenal WB to have a fairly easy game. Applied pressure in first part of the second half and should have equalised but we pretty much died a slow death after the drinks break.
Playing it tight first half then applying pressure second half is ok against sides near the bottom who at times won't mind doing the same and taking a point, against better opposition you need to apply pressure very early on.
Arsenal played the perfect away performance really and were clinical in front of goal. Our set pieces were very poor and caused Arsenal next to no problems. People will say its any opportunity missed personally I still don't think we'd have made the CL even if we have won today.
As I said our battle is more to get in the EUROPA LEAGUE NOT CL unless we the Europa.

 

[Langers]

Saiss has been one of our best performers all season, in a side with one of the best defences in the league. If we upgrade him, we'd be getting a very special player - he's class.