Will we win the Premier League

[Garyth]

We wwill have to adapt but so will our opponents. We're getting a reputation for these goals now, and that's going to mean teams start trying to occupy those spaces, which creates space elsewhere. We just need to have the players be composed and confident enough to adapt their play to the game and start exploiting the new gaps that open up. I think that's exactly what we're training them to do because we can score the simpler goals when we see a less crowded box as we've done a couple of times.

I think this is the key. Even the worst teams in the PL have top analysts able to identify strengths of opposition. We've seen a lot of stodgy games over the last year as teams defend deep and crowd the middle of the pitch to deny our passing lanes.

It makes sense to take advantage of that, and I'm sure that Emery will have a plan for when teams inevitably set 2 or 3 players to rush at players just outside the box.

[Baldy]

We wwill have to adapt but so will our opponents. We're getting a reputation for these goals now, and that's going to mean teams start trying to occupy those spaces, which creates space elsewhere. We just need to have the players be composed and confident enough to adapt their play to the game and start exploiting the new gaps that open up. I think that's exactly what we're training them to do because we can score the simpler goals when we see a less crowded box as we've done a couple of times.

I think this is the key. Even the worst teams in the PL have top analysts able to identify strengths of opposition. We've seen a lot of stodgy games over the last year as teams defend deep and crowd the middle of the pitch to deny our passing lanes.

It makes sense to take advantage of that, and I'm sure that Emery will have a plan for when teams inevitably set 2 or 3 players to rush at players just outside the box.

It could equally be argued that Arsenal depend too much on corners. Last weekend, when down to 10 men, Chelsea left 3 forwards up by the halfway line when the Arses had a corner. The Arses had to keep 4 players back and the Chelsea goalie caught the ball unimpeded.

That problem was solved easily. But stopping players shooting from outside the box in open play is not so easy.

[Dave]

It could equally be argued that Arsenal depend too much on corners. Last weekend, when down to 10 men, Chelsea left 3 forwards up by the halfway line when the Arses had a corner. The Arses had to keep 4 players back and the Chelsea goalie caught the ball unimpeded.

Someone has explained this to me before and I recall it making sense, but I still don't understand why teams don't just do this as standard. Leave your two nippiest players in the centre circle, and any sort of decent clearance or goalkeeper claiming the ball and you're away, unless the opponent sacrifice players who they'd want to otherwise be attacking the corner.

At the very least, it's going to mess up whatever clever, pre-prepared corner routine they had in mind.

[Monty]

I mean, I would rather like us to start scoring a few more normal goals, or indeed just goals in general (Unai's commented on this too). Goal of the season will be fun though.

[paul_e]

I mean, I would rather like us to start scoring a few more normal goals, or indeed just goals in general (Unai's commented on this too). Goal of the season will be fun though.

no one will complain about more goals but since the spell at the start where we couldn't score our goalscoring record has been fine.

[PeterWithe]

It could equally be argued that Arsenal depend too much on corners. Last weekend, when down to 10 men, Chelsea left 3 forwards up by the halfway line when the Arses had a corner. The Arses had to keep 4 players back and the Chelsea goalie caught the ball unimpeded.

Someone has explained this to me before and I recall it making sense, but I still don't understand why teams don't just do this as standard. Leave your two nippiest players in the centre circle, and any sort of decent clearance or goalkeeper claiming the ball and you're away, unless the opponent sacrifice players who they'd want to otherwise be attacking the corner.

At the very least, it's going to mess up whatever clever, pre-prepared corner routine they had in mind.

Yes, that rings a bell with me as well, wasn’t it (something like) if you left, say, 4 players up when defending a corner then, theoretically, you wouldn’t necessarily need four defenders to mark them as they would all be facing the clearance and a lesser number of defenders who can attack the ball whilst it’s in the air to reach them, again theoretically, should be able to deal with it. So you can commit more forward to your attacking corner.

[Monty]

I mean, I would rather like us to start scoring a few more normal goals, or indeed just goals in general (Unai's commented on this too). Goal of the season will be fun though.

no one will complain about more goals but since the spell at the start where we couldn't score our goalscoring record has been fine.

Sure, but let's be real here - we're really going to go the whole of the rest of the season, competitive, with over half of our goals being awesome long shots? I just don't see it. We need to start getting back to opening teams a up a bit more somehow.

[LeeB]

Clough used to leave a couple up, the theory being the box was less cluttered so it was easier for Shilton to come and take the ball, and it should work for us as Martinez is easily the best around at coming out to catch the ball.

[PaulTheVillan]

Whilst I don't think we'll win the league, if we got some consistency in our front 3 then I think we could make top 6 without a problem.

[LeeB]

Whilst I don't think we'll win the league, if we got some consistency in our front 3 then I think we could make top 6 without a problem.

We're better than we were last season before we had the January injection. Repeat it again an we should get into the Champions League with room to spare.

[danno]

I mean, I would rather like us to start scoring a few more normal goals, or indeed just goals in general (Unai's commented on this too). Goal of the season will be fun though.

no one will complain about more goals but since the spell at the start where we couldn't score our goalscoring record has been fine.

Sure, but let's be real here - we're really going to go the whole of the rest of the season, competitive, with over half of our goals being awesome long shots? I just don't see it. We need to start getting back to opening teams a up a bit more somehow.

We’re going to start scoring penalties.

[paul_e]

I mean, I would rather like us to start scoring a few more normal goals, or indeed just goals in general (Unai's commented on this too). Goal of the season will be fun though.

no one will complain about more goals but since the spell at the start where we couldn't score our goalscoring record has been fine.

Sure, but let's be real here - we're really going to go the whole of the rest of the season, competitive, with over half of our goals being awesome long shots? I just don't see it. We need to start getting back to opening teams a up a bit more somehow.

To repeat though, the goals we've scored aren't hit and hope, they're placed efforts from the edge of the box in the main. That, for me, is a lot more sustainable than people are suggesting but also it means that analyst teams from the rest of the league will be trying to work out how to nullify us and whatever they do it's going to leave space elsewhere.

Take sunday for example:



That's 9 defenders in their box with 7 of them effectively marking 3 players, with one keeping an eye on Digne. You can get pictures like that for a few other goals we've scored as well because teams seem to have decided that the way to stop us is this really low block defence. Shooting from the edge f the box is our response to that change and means there's going to have to be a bit of a rethink.

[VILLA MOLE]

I don't have a dodgy stick.

errr me neither officer

[Dave]

That's 9 defenders in their box with 7 of them effectively marking 3 players, with one keeping an eye on Digne. You can get pictures like that for a few other goals we've scored as well because teams seem to have decided that the way to stop us is this really low block defence. Shooting from the edge f the box is our response to that change and means there's going to have to be a bit of a rethink.

Would be worth getting Youri in space at the edge of the box as much as possible - not only is he probably the one you'd want trying to ping it from 25 yards, he's also the one that you'd fancy to have the awareness to slip it through to Malen / Rogers / Watkins if they try to deal with the hit-it-early strategy by charging out to block the shot.

[brontebilly]

Whilst I don't think we'll win the league, if we got some consistency in our front 3 then I think we could make top 6 without a problem.

Agreed, Emery had done an excellent job of turning the ship around. There's an experienced group of solid pros there who have delivered three seasons of European football and are odds on to do it again. McGinn has been outstanding, Cash and Konsa very solid. That's with Tielemans mostly injured, Ollie horribly out of form and a disastrous summer transfer window behind us.

Other factors
- PL quality seems a lot weaker this season, the promoted teams all have a good chance of staying up. At the top end, likes of Liverpool and Man City are miles off where they were.
- if Arsenal do cruise the title, I expect a lot of players to start minding themselves well ahead ahead of the WC next summer
- can we get a player or two in January?