Manchester United (h) - Instant Reaction

https://mobile.twitter.com/MarkTaylor0/status/1355797321141907457

Look at how much Lacazette pops off here. Carrying the teak for xG

Felt a lot of the fear from our fans going in was unwarranted if you watch United this season you’ll know they’re not even that good a side, we’ve got to be more worried against Villa and Leeds coming up.

Fair point T, well said.

No need to argue about Ozil anymore thankfully.

Sorry Chip, I don't think you were actually reading the material. I think you saw the word "Ozil" and wigged out a tad bit. I'm an Arsenal fan and want then to win EVERY game. My competitive nature hates losing. I can't have a dialog with someone who doesn't read the material and want to understand what the content is. My post was an analysis of the need for a 10 type of player, Ozil just happened to be who Arsenal had and replaced with Willian, a non 10 type player. You saw the difference in play? 10, no 10, 10 again? Ozil pre COVID, Willian post, ESR now? Good, shit, good again? Enjoy the day Chip.

There are some people who seem like they’d rather Arsenal lose than win without Ozil. Enough already - who cares about a player who thought/thinks he’s bigger than the club?!

This is actually depressing in a way. I mean if we were just average ie win one lose one during that wretched run we’d be right in contention for the title. Loved Luiz in the after-match interview. We fight for first until it’s gone. That attitude is spot on . Ultimately we may not be good enough but every player should think that way. Belief is your first step towards success

Ozil is gone and yet his fanboys can't stop yapping. Whatever happened to him and the club, no one player is bigger than Arsenal FC. I'm sure there are ways he can back down and get back into contention to play if he so chose. But he chose to play PR games on his Twitter feed. So be it. He is gone now and can rot in Turkey for all I care.

ozil just wasn’t committed. From a football side of things. Let’s see how he goes in turkey. It’s all about levels of application and not only talent. We see that with Willian

6. Renewal

5. High performance

4. Small improvement driven by the collective

3. Fight and struggle

2. Find out who is committed

1. Goals / Dream

On Ozil - for me it was only partly football. It was more behaviour. Training levels were shocking to such a degree that it was a challenge to the manager. Plus I do think the way the pay decrease was rejected is key. Again the group rules were challenged openly to a point where he mocked his teammates for taking the cut. It’s obvious he was not on board with the project. Now if your highest paid and most senior player is not on board with your change project then you have to act. Classic change stages

❤️ thanks Jake

You've definitely made my life easier during dry Janurary. Love you Yankee Clive Tim and Paul

jake painter

I need to answer Scott... All you have to do is watch Ozil pre-COVID, and then look at how the STYLE of Arsenal play has changed from post-COVID to just a month ago. Arteta went into the Summer and sat down to devise a system of play, and it did not involve an actual 10, because he learned from Pep and agreed that this was the way football was headed. Well, we all know how shit Arsenal were (with a few solid exceptions) with that system. Fast forward to the present and you see how a 10, playing between the lines can draw open a ton of midfield space, open up the passing lanes, and allow a more concerted attack. It also allows the fullbacks more freedom to drive 'underneath' the outside forward when the 10 goes central. I'm not projecting, Ozil has more play left in him that Willian and you would be hard to find anyone say that putting Ozil out to pasture just so Willian can 'do his thang' was a good idea. I don't watch games as a fan would (I wish I could). I've been a youth club football coach for 22 years and I can't watch any match without subconsciously studying the tactics. And, in devising tactics and style for my own teams, I read and study and apply what I can to the players I have.

Thanks. Good 'cast today.

Honestly you’re probably right. There’s zero argument that he would’ve provided what we lacked.

I want to go back to mid-Fall games and listen to the "the game has bypassed the need for a 10" and "Ozil's style of play is no longer needed and that is why he is sitting" podcasts and fan comments. I watch ESR and if I squint, it looks just like Ozil is playing. Not taking anything from ESR, and I know that Ozil has moved on and it is a good thing, but the hypocrisy is amazing: "now that Arsenal are playing with a 10 and having success..." I'll say it, had Ozil played all season and NOT Willian, Arsenal would be sitting with 6, 7, 8 more points today.