Arsenal surrendered the title race at Nottingham, running on empty they couldnt find a way to score even thought they enjoyed over 80% possession at times.
One consolation is that it ensures that Chelsea must genuflect to the Arabians. Just a reminder of how far they have to climb back.
Ratings follow:
Ramsdale 6 - A little unlucky with the goal. Not super busy Partey 4 - Poor passing, never a RB White 4 - A difficult afternoon Gabriel 4 - I thought he should’ve been tighter for the goal Kiwior 4 - Didn’t see much of the ball on the left Jorginho MOTM 6 - The best of a bad bunch Ødegaard 4 - Poor concession for the goal Xhaka 4 - Ineffective Saka 5 - Saw a reasonable amount of thr ball but looks cooked Jesus 4 - Too many histrionics today. Just play Trossard 4 - Not his day, ineffective
SUBS Tierney 5 - Extra mark for the cross Nketiah 4 - Offered little Vierira 4 - My heart sank when he came on instead of ESR
Arteta 1 - Not sure why he played so many out of position
The team are done this season. They’ve been great though but have run out of gas.
#1 - None of Arsenal players were allowed to turn when the received the ball. They were superbly marked out of the game and invariably lost the ball when they turned.
#2 - Forest players anticipated all thru' balls and easily intercepted due to their slow pace and from a distance. Our short-passing game never got going.
#3 - We always passed the ball between players to a "free" player who was always tightly marked; hence our passing game never had a chance to get going.
In summary, Steve Cooper read Arteta like a book and devised the correct tactics to nullify his passing game. Kudos to Steve Cooper and Forest for a job well done.
Partey 3 - Terrible. Has downed tools.
White 4 - Slow and laboured on the ball.
Gabriel 4 - Could have done better for their goal.
Kiwior 4 - Forgot he was playing isn't good enough to play the Ake role.
Xhaka 4 - Head was elsewhere. Hardly saw the ball.
Jorginho 5- Slow passing but didn't have much movement ahead of him
Odegaard 3 - Shocking performance from the captain. Had plenty of the ball but done nothing of note and cost us the goal.
Saka 4 - Tried but he has heavy legs and can't get away from anyone.
Jesus 3- Headless chicken. Doesn't realise when the team needs a focal point.
Trossard 3 - legs have gone and didn't look interested. Brighton have done us over.
The title was probably over in their heads but to turn out performances like they have been doing is unacceptable.
You worry about next season with most of these players.
Saka needs total rest in the summer.
Tippy-tappy football all the time just doesn't work.
We need a plan B.
We need a proper frontman, but I doubt that won't fit Arteta's crazy plan just like not having a defensive fullback.
We can thank our lucky stars we managed to qualify for Europe without any other teams around us or else it could have been disastrous.
So much work to be done over the Summer with players leaving and coming in.
With the League and C/League coming up it's not looking great at this time.
I doubt we will have the amount of money available for the number of players we really need.
Thank ferk Spurs are as bad or they would be giving it large to us in bucket loads.
Arteta impressed with Partey display
โWe had a lot of issues during the week with players that havenโt been able to train, that they only trained half an hour yesterday, we couldโve done it, I think that Thomas [Partey] played a really good game in that position,โ Arteta said.
Merlion96 In summary, Steve Cooper read Arteta like a book and devised the correct tactics to nullify his passing game. Kudos to Steve Cooper and Forest for a job well done.
We've been far too predictable over the last 6-8 weeks, so not surprised to read this. Predictable, and now physically and mentally drained.
Thankfully there aren't any international tournaments this summer.
Captain fantastic didn't hide today i'll give him that but the the fact that he wants to pass back at the position that led to the goal says it all. Xhaka and Odegaard shouldn't be playing hot potatoes that high up the field they should be comfortable on the ball, especially for CL football.
Theodore roosevelt - In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Dermot Gallagher believes Arsenal should have had a penalty when Gabriel Jesus went down inside the box at the City Ground.
Instead Arsenalโs number nine was given a yellow card.
Boston Gooner Dermot Gallagher believes Arsenal should have had a penalty when Gabriel Jesus went down inside the box at the City Ground.
Instead Arsenalโs number nine was given a yellow card.
I thought it was a penalty but he goes down so much it looks like a cry wolf.
Theodore roosevelt - In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
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