Premier League Gameweek 2 fixtures (18th - 20th August 2018)

SquishyMcSquish

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That's because he's not a fullback. He made his name is Serie A playing as a LM/LW mostly for Fiorentina and Conte bought him specifically to play as a wing back with 3 CBs. At which he excels. He's the best in the league in that role.
Even for a wing back last season he was defensively awful. He might be a good LM, but he's not good in the role he's currently playing in, and would be crucified by Mourinho.
 

Nick7

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I'm not talking about their defence, they're both all over the place. I mean passing the ball out and getting the ball out to your forwards properly. It has nothing to do with defensive ability
I don't think that's really benefited Arsenal, that's what I'm saying. In a defensive or offensive sense. playing out from the back generally needs a team to play a high defensive line which actively hurt Arsenal in the first half.
 

SquishyMcSquish

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It seems Arsenal will have a lot worse season than ours under Moyes.
Harsh. They were pretty good at times here, especially going forward... could easily have scored 5 first half. They've played City and Chelsea away in their first two league games, can't really be judged at this point.
 

el3mel

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Arsenal has crap defending but their finishing is ridiculously bad. For a team that can't defend, they should at least take their chances up front.
 

Bobski

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Guenstefani looks like a wet poodle there
Decent player though, impressive for a 19 yo, steady throughout the game, good composure with the ball, light on his feet, can turn away from pressure and has a good range of pass. Looks a good pick up for Arsenal, will be interesting to watch him develop, Xhaka is not the man for the PL.
 

KirkDuyt

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Feck I actually liked Alonso until I read the above. Just goes to show prison is only for poor people in our enlightend free world.

Also how does it take 5 years to sentence him.
 

Raw

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I see Arsenal still can't get points against the top teams, though in fairness it's quite a rough start for a new manager. Interested to see how they do against the smaller teams now.
 

Canagel

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Some of you seriously comparing shaw and alonso? Come on, alonso is level above
Our fullbacks are miles behind the other teams. It's not even up for debate. Shaw is good compared the other guys in our team but it's frightening how other teams use their fullbacks to devastating effect. It's so important they can dribble, cross, and make the difference at the other end.
 

PvsNP

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Decent player though, impressive for a 19 yo, steady throughout the game, good composure with the ball, light on his feet, can turn away from pressure and has a good range of pass. Looks a good pick up for Arsenal, will be interesting to watch him develop, Xhaka is not the man for the PL.
Agreed. Excellent find for them. Cost them only £7m I think.
 

SquishyMcSquish

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Some of you seriously comparing shaw and alonso? Come on, alonso is level above
Not as a fullback he isn't. Alonso is very good in the attacking third, but look at him defensively today, and to be honest throughout his Chelsea career. He just can't play that role without leaving you incredibly vulnerable down that side.
 

Nick7

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Decent player though, impressive for a 19 yo, steady throughout the game, good composure with the ball, light on his feet, can turn away from pressure and has a good range of pass. Looks a good pick up for Arsenal, will be interesting to watch him develop, Xhaka is not the man for the PL.
He's looked like the best Arsenal midfielder, but not great. Just shows the level of the other Arsenal midfielders when he can come in and look a level above them.
 

Mb194dc

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Much better second half, midfielders and forwards actually helped defensively. Other big difference is we had Hazard and Kovacic on the bench. They're starting every game if fit.

Barkley improved, Kovacic looking great, Arrizabalaga settling slowly. Most importantly Morata got a goal. We were lucky to win after the first half though. Arsenal could easily have been 4 2 up. Game of two halves..
 

Nick7

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Not as a fullback he isn't. Alonso is very good in the attacking third, but look at him defensively today, and to be honest throughout his Chelsea career. He just can't play that role without leaving you incredibly vulnerable down that side.
There's no point debating full backs with United fans on here.
 

Member 90887

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Feck I actually liked Alonso until I read the above. Just goes to show prison is only for poor people in our enlightend free world.

Also how does it take 5 years to sentence him.
Yeah it's really sad. He makes the 60.000 euros in a week. That's the price of killing someone. A week's salary.
 

Jim Beam

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Yeah I am not judging a play maker by his defensive work. There are dozens of midfielders who can put in a shift, but only very few have the talent he has.
Yeah, fair enough, although he plays quite deep, so usually when a playmaker does that he needs to have an excellent positioning or a DM alongside him. I actually pull back what I said about a need to have DM alongside him, though, and think it's more about the system and adding one more player who is very good in the defensive phase.
Once this system becomes more common to them, Kante and Kovacic with him could be more than enough.
 

Ramshock

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Decent player though, impressive for a 19 yo, steady throughout the game, good composure with the ball, light on his feet, can turn away from pressure and has a good range of pass. Looks a good pick up for Arsenal, will be interesting to watch him develop, Xhaka is not the man for the PL.
He does actually look like a good prospect.
 

Orc

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How did Kova do?
Instantly made us better when he came on and he's barely trained with the team. Great understanding between he, Hazard, and Jorginho.

Will be a hugely important player for us this season.
 

Bobski

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Wow. What a cnut. How do you avoid jail after doing that...
Having the best legal team money can provide.

He's looked like the best Arsenal midfielder, but not great. Just shows the level of the other Arsenal midfielders when he can come in and look a level above them.
True, but then the competition is Xhaka, slower than erosion, squad players like Elneny and Torreira is a dog, proper workhorse but not much quality. Add in Aaron Ramsay being one of the most overrated players in the league and you have a weak group.

EL the best that Arsenal can hope for this season, unless Spurs suddenly implode and one of Liverpool/Utd and Chelsea flop.
 

Reddy Rederson

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Wow. What a cnut. How do you avoid jail after doing that...
Supposedly he paid a lot to the girls family, and his trial was so delayed it made more sense to the judge to fine him and ban him from driving. Of course the case had taken so long that his driving ban had already expired by the time the case was finished so he could legally drive away from court.

No matter what the story actually is, the bottom line is money. Money is how you get a four year prison sentence changed to a fine and a driving ban.
 

fellaini's barber

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I don't think that's really benefited Arsenal, that's what I'm saying. In a defensive or offensive sense. playing out from the back generally needs a team to play a high defensive line which actively hurt Arsenal in the first half.
My point is, passing out from the back is something basic every other team does quite routinely, we are not just good at it. Its why our forwards get to rely on hoofs all the time. And why any team can put us under pressure as once we get the ball we just hoof it back. Its pretty basic
 

ZolaWasMagic

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I can't wait for Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic to get a settled partnership going.
 
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RedorDead21

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My point is, passing out from the back is something basic every other team does quite routinely, we are not just good at it. Its why our forwards get to rely on hoofs all the time. And why any team can put us under pressure as once we get the ball we just hoof it back. Its pretty basic
Why would we want to copy teams involved in a 3-2 as if their passing out from the back was a successful strategy? They can’t defend for shit.