Jase

Unless the Premier League change the sub rule and increase the bench options, some players are gonna get left out altogether from matches when everyone is fit. We still have Gilmour to come back, although I suppose he might well replace Jorginho/Kovacic on the bench, depending on who is playing.

It's hard to play through the middle if the opposing team defend as narrowly as Spurs did yesterday and hell bent on not vacating spaces. If we try to play through the middle, then we need a striker who is strong and capable of holding up the play - Abraham isn't that and Giroud is mixed at best, IMO. Otherwise, we just risk possession cheaply because players would get crowded out and have no space to work with. Playing crosses may seem like a bog standard tactic but it isn't. Last season for example, 3 teams produced more crosses than us (862) in the Premier League and 2 of those teams were Man City (914) and Liverpool (896). Liverpool have also played more crosses than us so far this season - 192 to 182. No one has said anything about them being boring or predictable and it's a big reason why Robertson and TAA have been high on the assists list in recent seasons. The one major difference between them and us is that they have clinical finishers while we don't. If anything, we need to vary our crosses more. A lot of our crosses have been high into the box, which is understandable given we play Abraham or Giroud upfront but it's predictable. We need to go high, go low, cross it to the near post, cross it the far post, whip into space if possible etc and not just a player's head to head in. There needs to be more variation to keep opposing teams guessing.

It's 2020. Does he really think people are stupid and gonna fall for his usual tricks? He came and parked the bus and ultimately got what he wanted. Typical of him to say otherwise and control the narrative. 🙄

Doubt it. Think he was just left out due to squad depth "issue" yesterday.

The ironic thing about this is you lot would be criticizing Lampard for this and that had social media been as prominent back then as it is now. Easy to sit here and say what you said when no doubt Lampard had imperfection in his game at 22 years old.

The Krasnodar game is definitely one.

TBF, there was also structural issue. We have looked far more solid in this 4-3-3 and aren't involved in basketball-esque games anymore!

One of the reported reasons why Werner chose to join us is because Lampard told him that there won't be a fixed position for him. In other words, Werner's happy to play across different positions in the side as opposed to stick with one when Lampard told him that. I suspect Werner will play upfront next weekend when Leeds come to the Bridge.

Pre-Kepa this season? You mean pre-Mendy?

Just noticed we have more clean sheets in the Premier League than anyone else so far this season - FIVE! We kept only 9 in the league last season and only got to 5 clean sheets in the 22nd game. Already got 5 clean sheets in just 10 games this season.

+ Our defensive numbers in the league this season: Shots Conceded in Box - 51 (18th) Shots Conceded outside Box - 44 (9th) xG Conceded - 7.93 (20th) Goals Conceded - 10 (18th) Clean Sheet - 5 (1st)

Some of our attacking numbers in the league this season and where we rank compared to others... Shots - 132 (4th) Shots on Target - 54 (2nd) xG - 14.29 (7th) Goals Scored - 22 (1st) League Position - 3rd

Arsenal floundering in 14th under Arteta in the Premier League while Emery has Villarreal sitting 3rd in La Liga.

Just noticed these Leicester stats in this season's Premier League: Shots - 86 (18th) Shots on Target - 42 (10th) xG - 15.19 (5th) Goals Scored - 18 (7th) League Position - 4th

Arsenal have made only 95 shots in 10 PL games this season. Only WBA, Sheffield United, Palace, Leicester(!?!?!?), Newcastle and Burnley have produced fewer shots. Arsenal also have had only 32 shots on target in 10 PL games this season. Only Sheffield United, WBA, Newcastle and Burnley have produced few shots on target.

Arsenal's last 7 league games' xG is rather "interesting"... vs Sheffield Utd - 0.56 vs Man City - 0.9 vs Leicester - 0.72 vs Man Utd - 1.04 (1 = Penalty) vs Villa - 1.47 vs Leeds - 0.86 vs Wolves - 1.21 They have an xG of only 11.1 after 10 league games this season. Only Newcastle, Palace, Wolves, Southampton, Burnley and WBA have a lower xG than them.

Don't think so. Liverpool's performance level has fluctuated ever since they won the league title last season and it's also worth noting that they have won only 1 of their PL away games so far this season (vs 10 men!). They still have the firepower but their injuries may catch up with them.

Yesterday's game disagrees but anyway, if it's not us, it better be Liverpool or City! Gonna fucking lose it if Spurs win the damn thing!

He was in the job a bit longer than Arteta has, IIRC. Arteta also has some credit in the bank after winning the FA Cup and Community Shield. Plus, there are hardly any stories of his job being on the line. He'll win the Europa League games and against Burnley to stay in the job between now and our fixture on Boxing Day.

They won't sack him.

Mana is really gonna lose his shit if it happens again.

We have beaten a lot of the lesser teams recently, which is good, but here's the real test. Next 6 Premier League games before 2021... Leeds (h) Everton (a) Wolves (a) West Ham (h) Arsenal (a) Aston Villa (h)