Here are a few questions that come to mind after stumbling to a draw at home against Tottenham:
- Why didn’t we do more to target Udogie, a 20 year old clearly out of his depth against Saka, after he was booked in the 15th minute?
- Why take Vieira off despite his looking lively?
- Why send Havertz, who must be low on confidence, into the cauldron of a North London Derby?
- Why leave Nketiah on despite his having a mare?
- Why sub Jesus off when we want a goal?
We’ll have to explore the ramifications of this one in more depth later. For now, get to the poll to rate the lads and choose a MOTM…
Arsenal we’re lucky, they took goals from an own goal and a penalty whereas Tottenham scored two excellent goals through gritty open play.
I’d quibble against luck for the own goal. I don’t think the keeper would have made the save had the shot not been deflected. I feel you’re right though – the penalty was a bit generous, and Tottenham created those goals. It’s not often that Jorginho gets caught out like that, but their press was effective. Fair result that probably feels like progress to them and a setback to us.
There was passion but no real class on show. Occasional glimpses but not consistent enough. Spurs looked up for the challenge and a draw was about right.
well-said. we were wasteful with the chances we had and gave them too many openings. Credit Postecoglou for both declaring and sticking to an aggressive game plan.
Other than the first 30 minutes which I thought we dominated, Spurs were the better side and we were lucky not to lose this, especially with that glaring Richarlison miss in the final minute.
You can always count on Richarlison. I agree that we were the better side for most of the first half, but we were far too wasteful. Jesus was erratic and spurned several chances, and Nketiah…well, the less said, the better. I am genuinely surprised why we didn’t attack Ndogie. He had a second yellow coming or at least an error leading to a chance if not a goal. Saka was eviscerating him…but then we stopped attacking through him.
you just can’t have so many high-priced players being continually deployed in central positions who can’t clinically finish…at least Jesus has other skills in his toolbox, whereas Havertz and Eddie are basically bodies with a poacher’s chance of impacting a match…when you’re basically gifted two goals, you simply must get all 3 points, especially at home
I feel for ESR, in that if he gets overlooked in a match where his directness would have been much better suited on the counter than having Vieira and both Eddie and Jesus on the pitch, then his prospects look rather bleak so long as our resident MIT is in charge
Typical NLD. The underdogs whichever side that might be usually rises to the occasion. Definitely an opportunity lost for us for as well as dropping two points we gave a morale boost to Spurs. Worrying about the injuries though. Certainly more of a problem than dropping those two points.
At one point the commentator pointed out that the side that scores first in the NLD hasn’t won the last six time or something along those lines. Well, here we are. I really hope that whatever caused Rice to depart wasn’t anything more serious than a cramp.
With City looking as imperious as ever, every dropped point is going to count. Liverpool look like they’re back to something close to their best, and we’ve looked out of sorts so far. I really hope Arteta gets things sorted quickly.
Underwhelming display after a bright start. The bad miss by Jesus was the turning point and they were much the better side in the second half. Nketiah simply isn’t good enough and Havertz doesn’t seem to fit into our system. We need to buy a 20 goal a season striker in January
I don’t think we can afford such a striker, at least not in the January window when the fees get inflated – and many of the best players are cup-tied for Champions League play and unlikely to leave. I agree that Nketiah isn’t good enough, though. It would be great to have more of a traditional striker/centre-forward with some size & physicality who can offer something different to what we already have.
As for Havertz, I think he’ll prove his critics wrong. He’s doing good work; he just isn’t scoring yet. Once he breaks his duck, I think he’ll leave behind the low confidence and mental pressure he’s endured the last 3-4 years.