Saints 1-3 Arsenal - Match Thread

[Sheaf Saint]

2 minutes ago, nta786 said:

Lacazette did throw himself at the ground should be a yellow

I've often wondered, if VAR refs can tell the on-field ref to award a penalty, then surely they should also be able to instruct refs to book players for diving as well.

[BotleySaint]

Hopefully we can keep it at 2-1 before half time. Arsenal look like scoring with every attack at the moment. 

[Wiggles31]

Both full backs have been woeful. Not tucking in and getting done too many times.  
 

 

[aintforever]

1 minute ago, OttawaSaint said:

KWP yes, but Vokins has been good.

Both been shit IMO.

[DT]

Get Brandon in quick

[S-Clarke]

It's been a very hectic game, end to end. They look like cutting us open on most attack.

Stephens dreadful, Valery positionally shocking, Vokins not quite switched on either, McCarthy with a brain fart.

We keep giving the ball away in the middle of the park as well.

We've hit the situation we all knew we would. A very stretched squad due to injuries and on top of that some key players a long way from a decent level of form.

Our squad depth was always going to even our league position out sadly.

Edited 26 January, 2021 by S-Clarke

[adrian lord]

If we don’t sort something out at half-time we risk full time with 4 or even 5-1 scoreline

[trousers]

Arsenal playing towards the top of their game in this match and yet we weren't a million miles away from going in all square at half time. Pretty sure we had a similar number of chances, just missing the clinicality that Arsenal have shown. If we can play the second half like we played in the middle part of the first half then we ought to get something out of the game. 

[Ohio Saint]

I've only got two posts left today. I'll be buggared if I'm gonna waste it by posting by mista

[StrangelyBrown]

For once we need a 2nd half performance. Too many poor performances - I can forgive Valery and vokins - they simply aren't good enough at the moment, the apathy from Ings speaks volumes and surely Walcott can do a lot better.

Time for some nuns???

[The Cat]

Created plenty, let down by basic mistakes at the back and some poor final balls. Valery really isn't competent enough for this type of opposition. 

Vokins doing ok but this is a whole different game if we have our normal full backs on the pitch.

[Baird of the land]

Well as feared the drop in quality at fullback is very noticeable. Disappointed in Vokins performance, was hoping he might step up.

Some bright attacking play but maybe a game too far with injuries and short turnaround.

[Whitey Grandad]

Just now, S-Clarke said:

It's been a very hectic game, end to end. They look like cutting us open on most attack.

Stephens dreadful, Valery positionally shocking, McCarthy with a brain fart.

We keep giving the ball away in the middle of the park as well.

We've hit the situation we all knew we would. A very stretched squad due to injuries and on top of that some key players a long way from a decent level of form.

Our squad depth was always going to even our league position out sadly.

Too many games coming at us too quickly.

[Ohio Saint]

I've only got two posts left today. I'll be buggared if I'm gonna waste it by posting by mista

 

ke

Edited 26 January, 2021 by Ohio Saint

[LaptopSaint]

On the bright side - Stuey's been on fire

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, adrian lord said:

If we don’t sort something out at half-time we risk full time with 4 or even 5-1 scoreline

Any fix needs to include replacing Valery, who is one of the reasons we are being cut open down that side. Vokins not much better though.

No one on the bench to replace either, herein lies our issue! Let's just see what happens.

[Nordic Saint]

At times Bednarek looks like a one man defence tonight but Arsenal are missing several of their best players too and we wouldn't be losing if Forster were in goal. 

[Lighthouse]

4 minutes ago, DT said:

Nor me. Unless free. Okay as a sub

Not even free (which it obviously would be) it would be a big slab of wage for relatively little in return. We’ve spent two years trying to shift players off the wage bill, let’s not undo it all now. Especially the way our finances look.

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Too many games coming at us too quickly.

Certainly not helping, but every team has a similar schedule. They have squad depth though.

Our core squad (first 11/12) is Top 8 quality, the depth is bottom 3 level.

[adrian lord]

1 minute ago, Nordic Saint said:

At times Bednarek looks like a one man defence tonight but Arsenal are missing several of their best players too and we wouldn't be losing if Forster were in goal. 

Indeed, Forster would’ve been 35 yards back on his goal line...

[Kingsland Codger]

Can Arsenal keep up the high-tempo, high-pressing game in the second-half? I would be surprised if they can. We have looked dangerous in attack and I see us creating more chances as the game progresses. We should target Bellerin as he is on a yellow-card. 

[ecuk268]

1 minute ago, LaptopSaint said:

On the bright side - Stuey's been on fire

Don't you dare come on here with your positivity!

[aintforever]

Lack of strength in depth is glaring. Both full backs not good enough and half the team look like they need a rest but there is not a lot on the bench.

[obelisk]

Theo having a bit of a 'mare. Defence playing like it's patched up. JWP very deep again.

Arsenal looking more likely to score. Even Cedric'll probably find the net with a mishit cross.

[The Cat]

Just now, S-Clarke said:

Any fix needs to include replacing Valery, who is one of the reasons we are being cut open down that side. Vokins not much better though.

No one on the bench to replace either, herein lies our issue! Let's just see what happens.

The only plausible way I think we can do it is JWP to RB, Armstrong in midfield and Redmond replacing him. 

Not sure Diallo to RB and JWP/Armstrong in the middle would work. 

[trousers]

4 minutes ago, trousers said:

Arsenal playing towards the top of their game in this match and yet we weren't a million miles away from going in all square at half time. Pretty sure we had a similar number of chances, just missing the clinicality that Arsenal have shown. If we can play the second half like we played in the middle part of the first half then we ought to get something out of the game. 

P.s. can we have the old effervescent Ings back please? 

Edited 26 January, 2021 by trousers

[Jimmy_D]

Arsenal aren't used to playing the pressing game, certainly not that high up the pitch.

Might just tell towards the end of the game.

[DT]

Just now, trousers said:

P.s. please can we have the old  effervescent Ings back please? 

Instead of the ‘avoiding injury’ one?

[Katalinic]

Just now, Jimmy_D said:

Arsenal aren't used to playing the pressing game, certainly not that high up the pitch.

Might just tell towards the end of the game.

They will be 4-1 up by then with this defence.

[igsey]

Just now, trousers said:

P.s. please can we have the old  effervescent Ings back please? 

I'd be pretty frustrated too if I were playing with Walcott who's failed to set me up at least twice with two easy balls.

[Hodgey]

That Valery and Walcott right side is going to give me nightmares tonight

[Jeremy Corbyn]

I know there a lot of 4-2-2-2 evangelists on here, but wouldn't there be some sense in finding a way to go to 5 at the back just to give V-squared the chance to have a decent half?  Maybe drop Diallo back in to a 3.

[S-Clarke]

Just now, The Cat said:

The only plausible way I think we can do it is JWP to RB, Armstrong in midfield and Redmond replacing him. 

Not sure Diallo to RB and JWP/Armstrong in the middle would work. 

Yeah, JWP is certainly a better option than Valery. The prob is you lose that midfield join, he's really key in that pivot.

I wonder if we'll get that backup full back before the end of the window which we've clearly been looking for!

[Viking Saint]

9 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Game is crying out for Shane Long.

It's crying out for him to stay on the fucking bench. If Ralf brings him on, it's a sign we've given up. 

[badgerx16]

1 minute ago, Jimmy_D said:

Arsenal aren't used to playing the pressing game, certainly not that high up the pitch.

Might just tell towards the end of the game.

As long as we are still in the game at that point.

[davefizzy14]

Armstrong has been quality tonight

[adrian lord]

Am I sensing that we are approaching the tipping point whereby Ings becomes a full-on scapegoat hate figure?

[saint lard]

Ings doesn’t even look particularly interested tonight. 
Lots of shrugging of shoulders and not much more. 
he’s lost that spring in his step and that appetite it seems. 
hope he proves me wrong but the body language says more about a player who’s not ‘ in the game’ 

[S-Clarke]

Just now, davefizzy14 said:

Armstrong has been quality tonight

Agreed, best player on the pitch for us. His running with the ball has been very impressive. 

[Jimmy_D]

1 minute ago, badgerx16 said:

As long as we are still in the game at that point.

It's not like we haven't been in the game ourselves. We've been creating chances too, just that Arsenal have been slightly more clinical with theirs.

[woodsaint1]

Arteta is hardly a genius by realising that we're playing our B team defence. Press us high and we'll make mistakes - exactly whats happened. Can see us scoring, but really cant see us not conceding again ☹

[sydney_saint]

Arsenal are playing well, but it is annoying because with a bit more brains on the pitch we could still be leading. Bednarek got caught out bringing it out and got away with it. Stephens then had no fucking excuse to do the exact same thing. Utterly appalling, as the warning was already there. Walcott's decision making and often technique are just too poor. That pass is going to haunt me for a long time, I would expect a semi pro to get it in the right area. Ings seems to be trying too hard to score now to get his numbers up and just needs to focus on playing well. Some good performers in the side which is keeping us in this. But the laggards need to up their game and most importantly switch on. 

[S-Clarke]

Just now, adrian lord said:

Am I sensing that we are approaching the tipping point whereby Ings becomes a full-on scapegoat hate figure?

Wouldn't surprise me, I've already seen some 'he's shit anyway' type posts in recent days. Shocking really, but that's modern football fans for you.

[wessex saint]

Can someone please tell Stephens he’s not beckenbauer. He keeps getting caught in possession and pings 40 yard passes straight to Arsenal. 
And the dream move for Walcott is slowly losing momentum. He has been anonymous the last few games and today. 
and Ralph has been Ralph’d. Arsenal came at us the first 15 and we had no answer. 
Need a plan b 

[Saint_clark]

Just now, saint lard said:

Ings doesn’t even look particularly interested tonight. 
Lots of shrugging of shoulders and not much more. 
he’s lost that spring in his step and that appetite it seems. 
hope he proves me wrong but the body language says more about a player who’s not ‘ in the game’ 

Ever since the first rumblings about his contract started - not coincidentally around the time of his first injury this season - he's played with no smile on his face, moaning more at his teammates than applauding their effort or encouraging like he used to. Sick of seeing it to be honest, his mind is obviously made up about leaving.

[whelk]

Player doesn’t play well in one game and every punter knows the reason. Lol

[sad saints fan]

Good game .Thoroughly enjoying it . Dont care about result particularly

[beatlesaint]

If the Bertrand contract signing delay is that he wants 3 yrs and the club only want to give him 2 then his position is being strengthened tonight !

[nta786]

We are without 3 of our first choice defenders, missing our starting CM*, don’t have a fully fit Redmond and also without Djenepo/Tella.

Any team will suffer with an injury list like that and our players are knackered from Saturday unlike Arsenal who have made 5 changes and started with a £45m mid + £54m striker etc etc

So not too many complaints given we are somewhat in it- but it does feel like we are getting sliced open. 

 

*not that Diallo has been terrible- he’s been our 2nd best player aft Stu tonight I’d say

[S-Clarke]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

Ever since the first rumblings about his contract started - not coincidentally around the time of his first injury this season - he's played with no smile on his face, moaning more at his teammates than applauding their effort or encouraging like he used to. Sick of seeing it to be honest, his mind is obviously made up about leaving.

I think it's more a case that we are 'aware' of the contract stuff, and some fans are now reading way, way too much into every single move, pass, smile, or facial expression he gives.