Match Day Thread Southampton v Arsenal Thursday 25th June 18:00

Right then we need a volunteer for the next thread to bury this one quickly and to move on.
No pressure @thereisonlyoneno7

 

Oh go smoke a joint.

 

Hands down the most constructive thing you've said in last 2 hours.

 

Hard to take many positives from the game, but I thought Walker-Peters looked assured on the ball and good going forward?
Jack Stephens lack of pace go him sent off today.

 

No, PEHs piss poor backpass got him sent off today.

 

McCarthy cost us the first goal, PEH cost us the second.

Shame that we'll now have to play Watford with Vestergaard.

The difference between Valery and KWP was quite something. Pleased that Ralph saw the issue there, and hopefully that's now the start of a run in team for KWP. How is he meant to try and prove himself otherwise?

Weird how we still lose at home, and still look to pass backwards at all times, even without a home crowd. It's almost as if what happens on the pitch is the driver...

 

No way they can blame our negativity, its on the pitch where the problem manifests.

 

Stephens 100% blameless for that. Totally down to Højbjerg’s appalling back pass.

 

I blame Guly.

 

At least Bellerin got to plant a tree.

 

We were poor but how must the Arsenal fans feel?
Yes they got the points but only courtesy of our generosity.
As I said earlier in the thread, we weren’t playing as units, when on the ball.
At Norwich we regularly had 3/4 players around the ball, giving us options to give and go, moving around defenders.
Today we were playing too far apart, and didn’t have the same opportunity to play quick one-two passes, which slowed everything down with the player on the ball being too easily closed down and resulted in too many backward and sideways passes.
Blaming the heat for the lack of our press, which led to all the above issues as it’s winning the ball with a group press, that creates the 3/4 player units that we do so well with.
Onwards and upwards.

 

Sofiane says he got a slight thigh problem on Monday and so was rested from today's game. Thanks fans for their messages.

 

TBH, I don`t think that PEH or any of the defenders did McCarthy any favours with the first goal - they could have made better angles or options for him. BTW, I`d still have him before Gunn or Forster!

 

Me too.

 

Nope, sorry couldn't disagree more.

Forster on form is the much better keeper, and long term Gunn will be too. Hes just a little raw, but bar one poor game we shant mention, has made far less mistakes than McCarthy this season.

 

Completely disagree, Gunn made mistake after mistake before you know what, that just finished him off. However I would replace McCarthy for the first assist. Unforgivable
KWP is a hundred times better than Valery

 

Each to their own, I guess. The only mistake I can think of from Gunn was the Huddersfield home game last season.

Agree, I thought KWP was an improvement but I still think Valery is with persevering with.

 

Gunn let in 9 goals in one game, allegedly.

 

Actually PEH was involved in back passes for both goals but I don't think finger pointing really helps. It's funny how our keeper is gash when the forward blocks a clearance but when Long does it - it's pure genius.

Like you I was impressed with KWP. I'm sure that's his best game in red and white. But Valery isn't that bad. It's why we have subs. Occasionally you will find games that people just don't get into. Plus, he's the youngest so Arsenal through a lot of play down that side. Less so after KWP came on

 

Dont remember that one

 

We set up to play much differently home and away, and teams set up much differently playing us at home and away. That’s why our home form is so ****, we are expected to control the game and carve teams open, whereas away from home we can high press and counter attack.

Need to work our new tactics for home games because we do not have the quality to do what we currently try, and it shows.