Arsenal - Nottingham Forest

[audiosmee]

After the last 20mins- it’s enough for me to want Awoniyi with Johnson and Elanga wide with MGW behind and then Danilo and Mangala behind. Much as I love Yates I think the above would be a decent mix of work, pace and strength

[DeesideRed]

Yates amd Mangala do need to up it, mind. Yates in particular was fine defensively but some very poor moments on the ball

[Floridared]

On another positive note our goal difference didn't take a battering.!

[DR Forest]

Elanga done more in 5 minutes than Johnson all match...

Exactly why I’d snap someone’s hand off at £50m as long as it’s reinvested correctly.
He’s one of our own but there’s better out there.

Awoniyi is vital to this system. If that's case we need a backup if it's not going to be wood. Playing johnson there was plain wrong

Which is why we need another strong striker.
And a quick CB if you watched the game.

We need Spurs to hurry up and offer the money.
One step back to go two forward imho.

[DeesideRed]

I'm starting to think Taiwo is really good, the difference in quality between when he plays and without is amazing.

+1

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Yates amd Mangala do need to up it, mind. Yates in particular was fine defensively but some very poor moments on the ball

Agreed. I love Ryan but thought centre mid was lacking badly. They were up against exceptional players though.

[DR Forest]

After the last 20mins- it’s enough for me to want Awoniyi with Johnson and Elanga wide with MGW behind and then Danilo and Mangala behind. Much as I love Yates I think the above would be a decent mix of work, pace and strength

Danilo was really poor today and I’d usually have Yates in the team.
For me, generally, yates and Danilo are ahead of mangala who is too slow.
But we could do with adding a CM who’s better than all three tbh

[Username]

Before someone says it you cannot start the game the way we played last 10 mins because Arsenal pick you off for certain and you get hammered.

I was waiting for someone to post exactly that

[Salvatore Matrecano]

On another positive note our goal difference didn't take a battering.!

Yep which is why you still need the low block to keep us in the game. Use some pace to hit on the break and then be more open near the end. The tactic very nearly worked.
We cant risk another season with a -30 difference, hopefully much better this.

[Username]

Yates amd Mangala do need to up it, mind. Yates in particular was fine defensively but some very poor moments on the ball

He’s barely played pre-season and was up against Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli and Saka

[DR Forest]

I'm starting to think Taiwo is really good, the difference in quality between when he plays and without is amazing.

+1

He’s definitely improved massively since he joined, and I was a non-believer.
Is it the cooper factor or that really good recruitment team we sacked?!  :fishing:

[Shawoddyred]

Think we need to have a proper look at our goal in training. We try to break all game but for me the big part of the play was when Taiwo got the ball in our own box, he didn't just lump it like we did every other time. He looked up, didn't see the pass and instead powered forward 15 yards with the ball, before laying it off to Elanga and then getting himself in the position to score. 

If we had a cm who could get the ball deep and carry it forward powerfully, it allows our other players to get into a worthwhile position, giving us options to pass. 

So yeah, agree with most other posters....a new cdm with power, preferably able to pass a bit would make a gigantic difference!