Had a feeling this will be a game where we drop points. Very unlike us to concede 2 but it happens. We were never going to carry on without conceding. And there are always games like this in a season. Even the City and Liverpool have had such games in their title winning seasons.
Am just glad that we didn’t drop points because we collectively shat the bed. Instead, after the shock of conceding, we showed great fight to come back and almost win it in the end.
We move on.
Calafiori also got away without a booking.
its good to get a humbling and not lose still.
Its only October and we havent won anything. Hope everyone is back on it after this
Not sure this was a humbling cause Sunderland were on the backfoot for most of the second half but I know what you mean. A result like this keeps us on our toes and is a reminder of the small margins in these games. We just have to keep at it.
This was also definitely a squad depth issue. If we were lining up Odegaard, Havertz and Martinelli to come on for the last 15mins the amount of pressing and quality they add Sunderland wouldnt have had anywhere near the territory we gave them.
Think we had enough quality to come away with 3 points. Offensively in the 2nd half we were top. Defensively, we had no key player missing and it’s in that department we were let down.
Bringing on Mosquera was sensible but I would have liked us to bring on Skelly as well, especially in midfield. I think it’s unfair that’s he’s not had a start in PL yet but understandable given how solid our defence has been.
Sunderland had the benefit of changing their entire front three late in the game. We didn’t have that benefit which I think played a part in the result.
Being so imperious defensively this season, it feels strange, if not coincidental, that we lose a lead from poor errors in a situation that is otherwise routinely dealt with.
It’s a shitter to end like this on the break, especially with the other game later today but what can you do.
Hoping a lot of our squad can fake some injuries during this international break and have a much needed rest, ready for the restart.
Biggest positives from yesterday - Zubimendi really looks some player, Trossard was creating clear cut chances, we had the right mentality after going a goal down.
We needed to not lose yesterday and didn’t. 3 points would have been amazing, 1 point is not terrible.
I hope the defence is as fuming as the fans are about the 2nd one we conceded. Channel that shit.
I think the talk of him not being a progressive player is going to die out pretty quickly. Lots of bright moments for him and that headed pass almost came off too.
Genuinely where’s this been a topic? Because it’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard.
I thought that was typically said of Merino or Rice.
I mean Zubi is supposed to be the main guy recycling possession but anyone who’s watched him for us so far wouldn’t say he’s not progressive surely.
Feel like I’m falling into a bavin trap but just not seeing this one.
He also got into some great goal scoring positions. Must be a nightmare trying to track him as an opposition player.
also if his brilliant shot goes in off the bar instead of bouncing off it we win.
Yes, we did have a lot of players missing, but you can still question Arteta’s decision to make only one sub, and even that sub - was it the right one?
What’s the point of Norgaard btw? Shouldn’t he be the perfect guy close down games in moments like this? I’m sure Jorginho would be on the pitch in a situation like this. I always said Norgaard is a downgrade, a pretty obvious one.
Also had guys like Hincapie, Skelly to maybe rest Cala… Skelly in the middle.. Maybe he should have been on the pitch in stead of Eze?
Nwaneri…
Just for the record, I’m fine with the result now. It happens, a tough away game. Many big teams will lose points there, credit to Sunderland too.
But you should always analyse a game and find ways to improve, even with a great performance and result, let alone a bad one.
I don’t think Arteta manged the final phase of this game well. Similar stuff like happened to him many many times, where he either didn’t make some changes or went too defensive.
Completely agree
I think the critical thing was that Arteta didn’t have enough confidence in Nwaneri and Dowman to bring them on. That’s not a shot at the players, especially Max who is only 15, it’s just the reality of the situation. We badly needed subs in the forward line and for Eze and Arteta didn’t have anybody he was willing to use. Maybe he thought the game and environment was too intense or he didn’t trust them not to give away a cheap free kick, but we bunkered because our front three and midfield were completely exhausted.
IMO, it would have been a big ask for Max to put him in that environment but his ability to carry the ball and almost draw fouls at will would have been very useful as a way to relieve pressure.
Bringing Dowman on would have been lunacy. Norgaard, Nwaneri, Hincapie and MLS are all players who could have came off the bench.
I think max was exactly the answer, young fresh and not scared of anything. He would’ve picked up the ball and run at their back line tearing their fatigue as well.
Worst can he would be a bit too keen and give the ball away to put us under pressure - probably what Mikel was concerned about. IMO the risk was worth it, Saka outside of his goal wasn’t great anyway and we needed energy.
Norgaard should’ve also come on if he is supposed to be a serious transfer.