From Martin:
Morning Myles,
The knee-jerk reactions and media sensationalism has started already.
Despite the Arsenal fan base understanding pretty well that it will take second year to be competitive, and a third year to think to challenge.
And that’s if all goes well.
But there is already criticism, condemnation even, from journalists and ex-players with the only reference point being one game.
In Pep’s first season he tried to get the goalkeeper and defenders to play from the back, and it was hands over the eyes at the time for City fans, as more often than not a player was caught in possession.
But Pep was not going to change, the players changed, the repetition improved, the whole team had to learn to contribute to make it work, and here we are 3 years later with a team than builds confidently from the back.
So Arsenal tried to do similar at the weekend and pressed high themselves.
But City are at such a level that even strong presses are dissected, and as confidence dropped, so did the Arsenal team and, despite some good effort, it was men vs boys on the skill front .
OK, it may not have been the right way to play that game.
But this is not about one game, it’s about setting the style for the season and further, and no harm in my eyes to have the harsh reality of the gap that needs closing right there in front of you on game #1.
It’s better to learn, and show a desire to learn, than maybe beating a lesser team 3-0 and having the media sensationalise the other way and create some false dawn.
A tough opening game is a good thing for me, as it will show the players who are serious about developing, who have the talent, and expose those who will need to be moved – and there are a few.
Not all teams will be City, and Arsenal will be able to impose that style and earlier press on other teams less able to cope, and win more than enough games in the process.
Torreira is the key to this season.
He seems like a player that will just play his game wherever, whenever, and I expect to see the benefit of that quite quickly, Will go on record as stating that I liked the style with more passing out of the back, the CM dropping into make a back three and the attempted high and quick press, as against teams below top 3 (City, Liverpool, Spurs) it will bring benefits.
Note I did not include United! Mourinho them against us might have worked at other clubs where various players had points to prove and bought into it, it really not washing with this United group, its like teenagers being berated by their fathers and they carry on in exact same way,
But no surprises at the Man City game. The new style, and the media reaction, were all predictable.
The fans who all said Arsenal is 3-year turnaround must stay patient and supportive. Don’t get sucked into the negative hype the media already want to create.
Little side note on Spurs, and not with any agenda. It’s going to be interesting to see how the stadium delays and costs are going to affect Spurs next season, as think they be up there again this, no beat missed, but next, the season after? You can see a drip, drip of talent drifting off and not being replaced.
Myles says:
Like you, I can’t wait to see Lucas Torreira play his first ten games.
Sampdoria, like Uruguay, use tactics designed to give little away.
That’s why Torreira will be Unai Emery’s key influence. He can help Guendouzi, a very talented teenager, to settle into a challenging new league.
On Tottenham, I heard two months ago that the club was being sold to a US corporation for £1.3 billion.
Joe Lewis was in town. Then it all went very quiet. Daniel Levy would stay as chairman. That was part of the deal.
http://arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/wp/arsenal-is-a-three-year-turnaround-crocked-de-bruyne-will-be-missed/