Was Arsenal’s approach to going down to 10 men versus Bournemouth after the William Saliba red card all wrong?
In red card situations, one can understand the importance of defending when you have a lead or are playing against a large team like Manchester City to avoid an embarrassing scoreline.
However, it appeared that we chose to play defensively against a team we had the quality to defeat. Why did we look defensive when we could have still tried to apply pressure on the Cherries?
With Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel, and Ben White, Arsenal could have formed a formidable back three that excelled in one-on-one situations, posing a threat to the misfiring Bournemouth attack, which had missed 13 big chances before that game.
With Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, and Thomas Partey all defensive-minded, there was certainly no need to introduce Jakub Kiwior. The defensive strength of Arsenal was sufficient to handle the challenges posed by the Cherries.
Leandro Trossard’s red card forced Arsenal to play 10 men in the second half of the 2-2 draw against Manchester City. In that game, Arsenal had no choice but to sit back and defend with a low block, as failing to do so would have given City an opportunity to embarrass them.
How I wish Arteta had taken the criticism of sitting deep and defending against the Cityzens to heart, and he had said to his boys versus Bournemouth, “Just attack.”
If Arsenal had concentrated on attacking and lost through counterattacks rather than a corner and a penalty, it would have been understandable.
I don’t know about you, but I didn’t like what I saw before Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri came on. In fact, when they came on, their desire to attack Bournemouth gave us hope that we could salvage something from that match. Unfortunately, we lost 2-0.
Was Arteta right to try and play for just a point?
Daniel O
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The gaffer is naturally a defensive coach as opposed to an attacking one, and he has gotten it right in most cases
That was my comment on the previous post. Arteta has in him some panics in critical moments of the game. You will notice this when we have a lead of one goal with 10 min to go. Mikel will make a substitution of a forward with a defender. In case of a red card, instruction is to defend with all heart no matter which team we play against, be Bournemouth or any other mid-table team. Such a mentality instilled in players limit their ability to win matches in difficult conditions.
Yep, as I’ve said elsewhere, Arteta will do anything to “save the game” rather than win it, and TBH we were playing poorly prior to the red card, hoofing the ball forward much of the time, so he probably didn’t see the attacking options that we all did, although I don’t know what advice he was receiving from Albert & Carlos.
Why? to calm things then attack them later. By the writers way of thinking we would have been absolutely hammered, Bournemouth are no mugs, high press and get at you when you’re on the ball.
Its the way we play. Safety first.
Tosin just made the exact same challenge on Jota that Saliba made yesterday and it has been given as a yellow. Now tell me there is no conspiracy against Arsenal.
It was initiated in his own half and the ball was travelling towards the side line, not goal. The only conspiracy are the conspiracy theorists, who don’t understand the rules of football.
What on earth are you talking about? The ball was headed straight to the center and Jota was clean through and it was going to be a one-on-one had he not been brought down.
Wrong, the ball went off at an angle towards the side and the foul started in the Liverpool half. The fact it was started in the Liverpool half alone makes it a foul only and yellow card.
@Quantic Dream, exactly, I was expecting a red card in that same situation but to my surprise all I saw was yellow. I think I am made to join the league of those that there is a certain conspiracy against arsenal.
No, who don’t understand the rules.
There could have been numerous reasons, why a yellow was given. Although it may have looked similar, it wasn’t. Tackled initially in the Liverpool half, covering defender and ball veering away to the sideline. Saliba, fouled in our half ball going towards goal, no covering defender.
Now ‘started in Liverpool’s own half ….so yellow only’ is that the letter of the law again!?
People should stop defending arsenal players here. We have picked up three red cards in Just eight games. How do you expect us to win the league with players not using their heads to prevent such scenarios. Man. City could have red card with bournemouth and can still win them. This is because city are used to attacking opponents but that’s the difference with arteta. I’m saying it here that Arteta can never win the premier league cup because of his negative mentality. Don’t be carried away with what you’re seeing and also what he’s saying. He’s a stubborn guy.
It is Arteta’s philosophy where he stays solid defensively and plays “not to lose” rather than playing to win.
How many times have we gotten a lead and then complained about dropping off afterwards? How many times have we sat back, stayed compact, and defended rather than keeping up the pressure and finishing off opponents?
We have opponents down and we aren’t ruthless enough to finish them off. City and Pool have that, we don’t.
I was thinking the same .. we do have great defending players and we didn’t need to pull Sterling out as long as we could defend. MA played Partey as a RB, and we all know that White initially played as CB. So what was the point of keeping 4 defenders?
I think it should’ve been a yellow card, as there was no way it was a goal scoring opportunity. It was a long way out and both Saliba and Ben White could’ve caught him. Silly of Saliba to give, let’s face it, VAR not the ref the excuse, and what was Howard Web up to in the stands. And MC get away with yet another dodgy goal at the end. There was a similar situation in the Villa Fulham game and only a yellow card was given. What happened to the ref decision stands, unless it is a clear and obvious error? That was very debatable.
The whole thing is ridiculous, so you can, let’s face it simulate falling down to get a player a red card, yet you can hack someone down in the penalty area, and only forfeit a penalty. I think a red card is far worse than a penalty., and plus it destroys the game.
We looked so much better when Nwaneri came on, he is the proper replacement for Odergaard, I don’t understand why he wasn’t on sooner. Merino is not an attacking midfielder.