Arsenal Vs Dinamo Zagreb [Champions League]

Supremely impressed with Campbell tonight. Maybe he does have what it takes to make it here after all. Showed tremendous vision to find Alexis for the third goal, well executed and it was no fluke as he was dangerous from anywhere he could angle a pass with his left foot from.

Özil and Alexis have formed the understanding we all dreamed they would, really FIFAesque at times.

Could have been 7-0 tonight.

Chambers was horrendous in his DM cameo.

Monreal and Santi were immense too - really loved their performances.

I can totally see a 1 goal win in Greece incoming now Would be what we have been doing all these years - being 1 goal away from the next round in the last few minutes of the round and not getting it


In the off chance that we do make it out, we'll face one of the table toppers : Real Madrid (/PSG), (Eindhoven), Benfica (/Atletico), (Juve), Barcelona, (Porto), Zenit.

If any of the other English clubs top their groups, that takes the likes of Eindhoven/Porto/Juve out, leaving us with some opponents who can really give us a royal hiding

Let's not forget Zagreb are terrible.

Oh my god you just know we're going to get Barcelona if we make it.

May the gods be with us. The old and the new.

Great game from the Arsenal.

We played with such clever movement and speed. I wish Alexis would play with more often with freedom like tonight, Monreal's higher positiom on the pitch allowed him to move more off the ball which is key for him - we need to put him in front of goal as much as we can. Özil/Ramsey/Cazorla can otherwise worry about moving the ball around the box and be creative and leave Alexis/Giroud the goals.

No player loses the ball more than Alexis does though.
It's becoming sooooooo obvious what he will do when he gets the ball, I'm suprised that more opposing players just don't stay on his right side and leave the line completely open. Sanchez will still cut back inside

El Gunner wrote:No player loses the ball more than Alexis does though.
It's becoming sooooooo obvious what he will do when he gets the ball, I'm suprised that more opposing players just don't stay on his right side and leave the line completely open. Sanchez will still cut back inside

Does it really matter if he loses the ball more often than other players?

Hazard basically never loses the ball but I'd have Sanchez over him anyday.

Alexis' contribution goes way beyond dribbling skills and close control.

I'm just saying that can be avoided if he tries to run the line more often. You know, it wouldn't kill him if he tries it a few times a game.

In fact, it gives him more options and puts doubts in the opposing players' mind

El Gunner wrote:I'm just saying that can be avoided if he tries to run the line more often. You know, it wouldn't kill him if he tries it a few times a game.

In fact, it gives him more options and puts doubts in the opposing players' mind

Or he could continue playing as he is and we give more options by moving Monreal higher up the pitch and have a more mobile CF?

Robben has the same cut in move everytime but it's unpredictable because he has other players around moving and giving him options.

Of course he does become predictable when Monreal doesn't overlap, Giroud remains static and Ramsey doesn't make a run.

This is evident when Gibbs plays because he is always bombing forward or when Walcott starts as the CF.

I'm talking about his game though. Adding some mixture to his game.
The team can also benefit if he switches things up a bit. Like you said, Gibbs and Walcott is not always playing.

Although Monreal makes enough forward runs imo

He doesn't really if you compare with other top fullbacks or even Bellerin.

Now I'm not suggesting Monreal go nuts and stay out of position half the time but he should take risks more often. Especially in away games, he hides too much.

Each game I'm getting more concerned with Alexis and the inevitable period where he will burn out.

Him not coming off was the only negative today and hopefully with a fairly easy schedule coming up, he gets some games off.

Hapless_Hans wrote:Let's not forget Zagreb are terrible.

Still managed to lose to them. We can arguably be worse #fact

I was actually more afraid of Mesut being booked - him missing the game in Greece would pretty much mean it was over.

Dinamo Zagreb have managed to triple the points they have won in the last 15 years in the UCL with their current campaign... with the 3 points they won against Arsenal

We're such a caring and helpful club