Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace match thread

[Palacesince64]

Glasner was in mischievous mood when interviewed post match.
He was asked what Palace needed to improve and he replied 'spend £300 million and not save £20 million.'

Obviously we're never going to spend that kind of money, but the side has been made weaker in at least the near term with the sale of Eze, and Glasner has a point about the club saving money rather than spending.
We lack options in the number 10/ attacking positions.

Glasner doesn't trust Esse or Uche at this stage and Sarr if off to Afcon next month.
Towards the end of the window Glasner was expecting two attacking additions.
He got one in Uche, and even then it seems to be some sort of loan/purchase deal contingent on him starting games.

Of course spending money doesn't guarantee players will succeed but there's value to be had out there - look at Bournemouth, Brentford and Sunderland.

Overall we've done very well in recent seasons with our transfer business.
However, summer looks poor - particularly taking into account the heavy schedule.

I hope and believe that was a reference to the fact Arsenal spent £300 million rather than a suggestion we should have. I don’t see it as mischievous, more a statement of fact.

 

[sprites]

I too thought Kamada was good, great positioning and vital interceptions to set up play, Wharton was up to his usual high standard, Pino got outmuscled many times but 'awful' is very unfair, nobody stands out as playing badly, our interplay in midfield was excellent, but we WERE crap in the final third generally, nobody in particular to point at, it was general.

I’m sorry, but that’s just an inaccurate assessment. In my opinion. We had some nice moments playing through the press, admittedly. But to say our midfield was excellent is just wrong. Wharton nowhere near his form from earlier this season. To say no one stands out as playing badly? Really? I’d say only Max and Mitchell come out with any real credit.

Anyway, the beauty of a fan forum I suppose.

 

[doombear]

I’m just sitting here trying to think which Palace player had a good game??

Mitchell won his battle with Saka such that Arteta took the winger off.
Wharton had a half-decent game
Henderson made a couple of decent saves.
Guehi was pretty solid and made one excellent intervention that stopped an otherwise certain goal.

Unfortunately, both Sarr and Pino were very poor which meant Mateta had little support and when he did win the ball and laid it off to them they managed to lose it. In other words we were pretty toothless.

The most frustrating thing for me was that on those occasions we got forward (especially in the first half) we kept misplacing passes when in good positions.

Arsenal weren't at their best but a lot of that was down to us not allowing them to be.

 

[PalazioVecchio]

both Sarr and Pino were very poor

agreed. But Glasner can get them performing better......i would expect. He seems to get the best out of players.

We gave Arsenal a fright in the first half. And they were very respectful of us.....ceasing to attack after the first goal.

 

[Willo]

Mitchell won his battle with Saka such that Arteta took the winger off.
Wharton had a half-decent game
Henderson made a couple of decent saves.
Guehi was pretty solid and made one excellent intervention that stopped an otherwise certain goal.

Unfortunately, both Sarr and Pino were very poor which meant Mateta had little support and when he did win the ball and laid it off to them they managed to lose it. In other words we were pretty toothless.

The most frustrating thing for me was that on those occasions we got forward (especially in the first half) we kept misplacing passes when in good positions.

Arsenal weren't at their best but a lot of that was down to us not allowing them to be.

You have made a fair and insightful point.

 

[Team of the (20)80s]

Just a thought in passing - how long ago would we have been pleased with only a 0-1 loss against the most in-form team and league leaders after playing the way we did in the first half (and a good bit of the second too)?

Says something about how far we have come in the last 2 seasons - almost 'entitled' some could say.....

Spot on, I don’t agree with the entitlement… but I do kind of understand it.

Honestly the Everton and Larnaka results were the most any defeats have affected me in years.i’ve been used to losing regularly for a long time, but had recently got used to winning.

I get the sentiment, but I don’t see the point of criticising the same players who got us where we are.

 

[adelaar]

I’m sorry, but that’s just an inaccurate assessment. In my opinion. We had some nice moments playing through the press, admittedly. But to say our midfield was excellent is just wrong. Wharton nowhere near his form from earlier this season. To say no one stands out as playing badly? Really? I’d say only Max and Mitchell come out with any real credit.

Anyway, the beauty of a fan forum I suppose.

To me this encapsulates Mitchell. He has developed into a good defender and today we saw that.
However when he ventures forward I just have zero faith in him. Today he had opportunities to whip a ball in but no, he checks back and plays a safe ball. I can't believe this would be Oli's message to him, so there is something wrong there with his ability to attack. It is the reason he doesn't get selected for England, surely he knows this and is working on it? It seems he gets altitude sickness in the final third.
Funnily when he does whip one in he's pretty good at it, and it just feels to me a weapon lost if we can never get in crosses down the left flank.

 

[Willo]

It would appear that Glasner is not best pleased about the transfer activity in the summer.
Defending Pino today about the needless foul,he referred to the player only arriving on 'Deadline Day' and in the past has expressed a desire for players to be purchased somewhat earlier in the window.
Glasner also made reference to "Saving £20 Million".
I will be extremely surprised if he is at our club next season.

 

[Palacesince64]

It would appear that Glasner is not best pleased about the transfer activity in the summer.
Defending Pino today about the needless foul,he referred to the player only arriving on 'Deadline Day' and in the past has expressed a desire for players to be purchased somewhat earlier in the window.
Glasner also made reference to "Saving £20 Million".
I will be extremely surprised if he is at our club next season.

He’s the best coach we’ve had since Coppell but if he wants to go then so be it. He’s has fostered a great team spirit among those who play every game, and has made them better players. He’s also made a team that knows how to play a certain way and does it well, added to which he has exceptional tactical nouse in terms of countering opponents.
However, he’s not infallible. He hasn’t trusted the rest of his squad so some have no Pl experience and aren’t match fit. He’s reluctant to bring them on when it’s clear things aren’t going well. We were slow to recruit in the summer but he’s not blame free. If he’s unhappy with the direction of the club then let him go in the summer and we move on. Meanwhile let’s enjoy the season.

 

[Willo]

He’s the best coach we’ve had since Coppell but if he wants to go then so be it. He’s has fostered a great team spirit among those who play every game, and has made them better players. He’s also made a team that knows how to play a certain way and does it well, added to which he has exceptional tactical nouse in terms of countering opponents.
However, he’s not infallible. He hasn’t trusted the rest of his squad so some have no Pl experience and aren’t match fit. He’s reluctant to bring them on when it’s clear things aren’t going well. We were slow to recruit in the summer but he’s not blame free. If he’s unhappy with the direction of the club then let him go in the summer and we move on. Meanwhile let’s enjoy the season.

Maybe this is a reflection of his judgement of the capabilities of the fringe players.

 

[Hrolf The Ganger]

We were nullified up front and looked tired after Thursday. We kept Arsenal at bay, and it was a typical Eze goal that did us.

We have had a tough run of games. Given how the league is shaping up, I'd say the only game we should have done better was Forest, but we were missing two key players. Everton was just unlucky.

As I thought at the start of the season, we need more up front. Mateta has lean spells and Nketiah is average. I can't see Pino being the answer either. Too light weight. A squad player at best.

A nice easy game at Anfield next.

 

[Willo]

We were nullified up front and looked tired after Thursday. We kept Arsenal at bay, and it was a typical Eze goal that did us.

We have had a tough run of games. Given how the league is shaping up, I'd say the only game we should have done better was Forest, but we were missing two key players. Everton was just unlucky.

As I thought at the start of the season, we need more up front. Mateta has lean spells and Nketiah is average. I can't see Pino being the answer either. Too light weight. A squad player at best.

A nice easy game at Anfield next.

Our previous game was on Thursday, Arsenal's was on Tuesday.