you have cracking analysis, just what this fanbase needs

I think the phenomenon of lost trust in 3, 4 players isn't really a fault of Arteta's (a consequence of his brilliance ironically). It's largely down to the increased pressure we find ourselves in year on year thanks to our consistent progress. Fighting for the top 4, Nketiah looked a really good player. Fighting for the league, he looked an okay substitute option. Fighting for the CL and PL simultaneously he is basically a wasted squad spot. The players who rise to the increased levels demanded are trusted and have nothing to worry about. We are just moving past players at a ridiculous pace. I've never seen this before in my life.

I dont criticize saka for taking it quickly because if it had come off and Ben white got in behind and scored or set someone up for the equaliser then we'd be praising Saka for his quick thinking and awareness. The safest option in that moment from Saka would've been to let the free kick to be taken. He used his initiative and some courage to take the quick free kick because he felt that it was on. WE NEED AN ALEXIS SANCHEZ!!

Invincibles won the league with 90 points. Liverpool came in second with 96 and 92 points to Pep’s City. It’s not the same league it was 20 years ago. We have a juggernaut to compete against.

I think we need to talk about our wingers. They rarely beat their men anymore. In a 1v1 now I feel like Saka is always looking for the pass/runs that never arrive

It is refreshing to see an intelligent, balanced, rational take on Arsenal online. Arteta has taken this club in just 4 seasons from mid table toxic mediocrity to back to back title pushes and almost a CL semi. A lot of football fans (not just Arsenal) have gotten serious entitlement issues. The West Ham fans are pushing Moyes out, for example. I dont get them. Either Arteta has to win everything, or he has to go. Personally, I think this season has shown us that we are still a few signings from being elite. Arteta is relying too heavily on his first 11. And he doesn't seem to trust his bench. This summer is very important if we want to step up. But I believe we are not quite there yet, but so close.

I really want to see Odegaard rotating across the front behind Martinelli and Saka! It’s grinding watching Saka getting constant usage and no and limited usage behind Martinelli! I reckon the through balls to Martinelli would be awesome

6:07 Don't forget Thomas Partey. Losing control of the midfield vs Bayern in 2nd half, Arteta takes off Jorginho and brings on.... Gabriel Jesus. With a fully fit Partey on the bench. I am convinced he's going to be sold in the summer.

Terrific analysis yet again, thanks Alex!

Brilliant video, thank you for being the voice of reason in the Arsenal fanbase

4-0 against SHU at half time, 5-0 against Lens at half time All resulted to zero subs of any Hale End player. I wonder how Arsenal could have progress with Saka and ESR if Arteta was the manager before Emery. Arteta don't trust our youth or sub players . This must be fixed next season.

This is long sorry. This is a simple explanation: -Arteta plays Saka where he’s not at 100% Question: why doesn’t he rest him Answer: cause he’s a key player Question: why doesn’t he rest him when he can e.g. Lens 2-1 Answer: cause he doesn’t particularly trust Reiss or/and his bench Question: why doesn’t he trust his bench Answer: they may or may not have trained the tactical setup for the game but overall he might think they’re not good enough Question: if he might think they’re not good enough, why did he instruct the recruitment team to buy them and why were some given new contracts Answer: they were players that helped at that particular point in time and some were signed into new contracts to prevent them from leaving for free and getting money from & to meet up to homegrown registration Question: why didn’t the recruitment team find better players who can show that they can grow with the team and not become surplus to requirement only 1-2yrs into their contract as well as sell fringe players to certain club at the right time e.g. when they sold E.Martinez and Willock Answer: 🤷‍♂️ -whose to blame for the poor recruitment? The recruitment team -whose responsibility is it to finalize deals and make sure the right people are hired and fired as well as the right players e.g. getting a striker after Aubameyamg and Lacazette left and getting G.Jesus and still stating we don’t have a 30-40 goal striker in the press conference? Edu, R.Garlick and Arteta -whose responsibility is it to tell the certain type of player they want to the recruitment team so that the ‘right’ players are signed or the players that the manager wants are signed e.g. (Kai Havertz), Raya, and D.Rice? Arteta Question: should the club had focused on improving squad depth getting players that were coming to the end of their time at Arsenal out & fringe players out this upcoming summer window or last? Answer: last summer window Question: why is that the case? Answer: so that when March, April, May comes around key players would have enough energy to play 90-100% for the rest of the season instead of 70-80% + so we can focus on getting the star players only Question: should we have signed a striker last summer? Answer: not necessarily Question: why’s that the case? Answer: cause there are more options for strikers now than there were last but there were some strikers (if we weren’t on FFP/PAS rules watch) that we could’ve signed that could’ve helped up along the way such as Luciano Gondou, Guirassey, Vlahovic(Juve we’re willing to sell of €40-50M) Marcos Leonardo, Artem Dovbyk(€30M release clause)etc. Question: what should’ve we been focusing on this summer instead of what we’re doing Answer: should’ve been focusing on getting players on the verge of world class but are focusing on quality squad depth+getting on the verge of world class players with a bench clear out due to FFP/PAS rule watch Hard question: Overall, has the manager done a great job overall in terms of management of players and having the responsibility of recruiting the right players or the players he would’ve wanted that would’ve helped the team? Answer: not particularly could’ve done a lot better better Question: is this hate speech or constructive criticism? Answer: comments let me know Question: is this factual information? Answer: yes Question: can you name examples of teams that are on a similar level to Arsenal with similar funds but have done it better Answer: Liverpool, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Leverkusen (Currently), Napoli(CONTEXT:prior to Spaletti they were already in a good position to progress) The league is not the only competition to win that’s not the only form of success. Didn’t say you didn’t say that but just want to clarify. I agree with almost all of what you said but just wanted to show this perspective. I appreciate everything Arteta has done with rebuilding a good squad (not team cause that includes the bench players too) and I think he’s a good coach just as a reminder before anyone says I’m an Arteta hater but I don’t love him. To each their own I guess

Yours is the only Arsenal-related channel I watch when results go against us.

Your right with that ending part, us fans and players need to keep away from all the media cause they ripping us apart because they hate to see us win. So like he said don't worry about the hate and toxicity. Follow your club no matter what and there will be reward.

So agree with your commentary on lack of minutes for Viera, Nelson, Nketiah and ESR. I'm desperate to see them play more, even when the games dead but have come not to expect it. Perhaps 1 of them will start against Wolves, I'm not convinced tho

This is actually the first analysis I think you're missing the mark. Its not "every season Arteta only trusts the same players." Arteta's deployment of the same starting 11 is a bit of a recent phenomena. Last year, at a total of 49 games, only 1 player logged over 4k minutes: Gabriel Magalhaes. At 45 games the year before (21/22), not a single player would get over 4k minutes if they played a full 90 for 4 extra games. At 58 games (20/21), only one player logged over 4k minutes: Leno. This is the first year that Arteta has relied so heavily on the same players where I fully expect Saliba, Gabi and Rice to all log over 4k by the end of the season. Ben White might do it too. Now, I think Timber being out, Tomi being in and out of fitness + AFC Cup, and Zinny being unreliable has made rotation in the back difficult for him. It was a weird season. Regarding the forward players, Saka is 300 minutes behind where he was last season, Martinelli is logging less minutes, same with Jesus (who has been hurt). The rotation has been there, but I think the fatigue we saw is the quick turnaround time for midweek games. I think we're 1 or 2 players away from winning the league. A Rice backup and a CF who can play on the right to rest Saka. Zubimendi and Gyökeres please.

The positivity in your videos gives me a sense of joy anytime Arsenal are in a rough patch.

Arsenal fan since 2001 here, these two defeats against Villa and Bayern hurt very, very badly, even more than the Europa League final or the 2011 robbery at the Camp Nou, we went from dream to nightmare in 180 minutes because i really believed that it was our season in the Premier League and that we would finally be able to pass this psychological barrier of the Champions League, i didn't expect us to win it, but I wanted to see Arsenal go as far as possible to gain experience in front of the greatest in Europe. I am not losing hope because I survived the period between 2016 and 2022 and I am convinced that with 3 or 4 signings this summer, something fantastic would happen.

I don't think it's just injuries. The squad develops and improves through out the season. You do see when ESR or Nelson comes on, that individually they are great players, but they affect the balance of the team. They sometimes still struggle with the rhythm mainly because they have not grown into the squad. Then the management is faced with a question: sacrifice the balance? Or rely on the people that have made it? There is no easy answer to that question.

I'm in so much pain. Just Happy you said the coach will fix it, that's all I need right now. Thanks Alex

Great video, as always! I certainly agree that there is simply too little rotation. The key players need more rest, and the subs need more match practice. IMO, substitutions often come too late, especially in matches where we have a comportable lead. I also believe Arteta's rigidity on this matter might deter new players from joining the club.

absolutely love your content. Very refreshing - perfect balance of intelligence and wit. Love all the way from Botswana.

You have a great understanding and a good knowledge of football.

It's criminal how out of those four, only Eddie has 1000+ minutes and the others are nowhere near

I remember the first game, after the winter/dubai break. saka looked so fresh and energetic.

Totally agree. I love your channel, keep up the good work

Very good balanced mature intelligent analysis. Getting bored of the childish fans out here who don't have a clue how difficult it is to win PL or CL, especially the Standards FC crowd

Brilliant analysis as usual...logical and fact based...but 1 simple simple weakness i see ...we need players who can shoot from 20 yards...it will provide a different threat and create more unpredictability

Well said in your conclusion Alex!

Really good analysis overall 💯🔥👊🏾

This really is what almost no one talks about. Excellent analysis!

Spot on analysis, love your channel

The thing that makes it so frustrating is that some of these players have actually turned up when asked. Especially Reiss and Emile. I dunno what they haven’t proved on the pitch or training that has limited their minutes. I especially feel for ESR in these recent weeks because getting dropped after a MOTM performance is particularly cruel. As you said, it’s something Arsenal have to improve upon, before we even start talking about buying anyone, because we have by my count about 5 players who we need to find minutes for (ESR, Nelson, Vieira, Patino, Nwaneri) or we ned to seriously consider selling.

As a person who has never followed Tennis, I would genuinely become a Tennis follower/fan if The Different Forehand became a channel.

Saka need to step up his game to create something out of nothing. He showed this potential sometimes but it needs more consistency. I think we need at least 4 people like this, Rice is there already. We need 3 more from Saka, Odegaard, and a guy from LW or St.

I think vs bayern i noticed how musiala was hands down the best player on the pitch. We need 1or2 world class players in mid/att that can just take over a game.

It's always refreshing to watch your videos. You're balanced in your analysis.

Arteta is emotional. Just like the players, he showed his inexperience by continuously relying on individual talent instead of trying to improve his tactics and give his bench players minutes. Us challenging the title doesnt automatically end our rebuilding process..

Alex love the content Your opener could also have been what Artetas was at his press conference “If we win we go top” - true and positive. Eliminate pressure on our players and staff at every opportunity

Nice one Alex

I think we have overachieved in comparison to what fans now expect success in,in terms of our squad depth and reliability, thats why the legs are an issue.maybe we should have priotised the league instead of ucl as much and we would have still been able to give bayern a game and good go but first time back in ucl for years and to go out to them in the quarters would still be great and if we did that maybe we would have beaten villa and be in a much better position now.now we are where we are and still able to do it in the league, but city also dont have ucl,liverpool now out in europa too our legs will be needed more than ever after two defeats in a row and exhausting ones too. It is not over but it is going to be very difficult and we'd had a better chance and more confident as a team if we had beaten villa. We need to sell some and buy some too we can generate good funds from the inevitable sale of ramsdale along with maybe lokonga tavares and tierney then probs patino and maybe even nketia now. with usual funds and better funds due to ucl prize money we can invest well again.we have timber for utility but i think mainly the lb role so maybe that can wait but we need saka cover and an osimhen or gyokres (even isak in swap with newcaste for ramsdale plus cash as they want alot for him)toney is good too aswell as vlahovic but a more out n out goalscorer with play ability too but xfactor guy is needed. still need a CB right side as utility players we have keep getting injured meaning domino effect when one is out. we may even see elneny jorginho and party leave also or at least 1 or 2 of them.we could do with a few new faces but mainly cb,rb,st,gk2 then beef up cm positions as havertz isnt best there viera not quite there party injury prone esr not playing for some reason we need to have good cover reliable cover with timber back maybe zinny in there? We are nearly there arteta done well lets keep going COYG ❤

Envy of the football world. Well said.

Why do I enjoy the intros more than the video itself 😭

We lack so much creative edge, the players we have are so timid no one is is grabbing the bulls by the horns man. Its not just the type of players we need in our squad but our ball philosophy needs to change too, the football we play it so predictable

Something recently reminded me of what Arteta said earlier in the season about relationships. He was talking about 50+ games together before those relationships are truly cemented. You mentioned that ESR and Vieira only missed 10 and 18 matches respectively, but I wonder how much of that time was when those relationships would have been developed. You might say, yeah, but they could have worked on those relationships in game during our run before the international break, but I wonder if Arteta might have wanted more time with what he saw has more impactful partnerships to prepare for this run in. Ultimately, my point is that while ESR and Vieira did not miss huge chunks of the season, it seems as though the timing of their injuries was just unfortunate. I hope to see them have relation-building time once this season is decided, whether starting in summer or before.

Nice one

There’s a lot of analysis, but my opinion comes down to an old familiar. You were right about “special moments” earlier. The main issue is special moments players Saka, Odegaard, and Martinelli still did not have their minutes managed adequately. Martinelli only in and out over last few weeks coming back from injury. Saka out of the last international break and looks weary, and in my opinion Odegaard has been overplayed also. Not enough from Reiss, ESR, Vieira. Whoever Arteta does not trust has to be sold ruthlessly and replaced. It is a familiar for the last two decades with lack of depth. We were better this season, but still not quite there with it.

I suspect Arteta knows this. He has been in recent weeks reluctant to say that we are have reached level 4 of his plan, even when we were top of the league. I am sure he realises he has many of the parts of a team he wants but not the squad he wants. Part of the journey to level 4 is to build that squad out.

Superb analysis.

The best arsenal yt channel

The rate at which this football club… plays with our heart is too much

Alex says Arteta had played these players, we may not be in the title race or we'd have finished the race by now. Giving them new contracts is good for the club even if they have to be moved on. I'm with the club. Reaching stage 3 of the process is easy and quick but reaching stage 4-5 in the process is much harder and needs alot more time then the previous stages.

I think the consequences of the injuries of the players is that this season the most that they can be is utility players. The rest of the squad develops, is gelled toghether and when a player misses rhythm, they'll struggle to make an impact. It obviously isn't their season, because the rest of the team has an extremely high demand to sustain, competing for what we're competing for. These players cannot be expected to keep up with that rhythm and expectation of this stage of the season. When Timber is back, he might make some minutes, but he also might not. They boys are on a mission.

Our strength comes from our pressing which we cannot do 90 mins. We can't seem to press well coached side same story as Villa. Also the CB sideways passing is frustrating to watch we can't build different kind of attack.

Nailed it

I hope Arsenal win the league If they don’t you can’t be too upset with the season. Arsenal are heading in the right direction. If they don’t win the league this season they will next season, I can feel it.

Ffs…please put Saka out Left for ONE game, Arteta! One game…he’s a natural lefty and could open up more over there…it’s too late now because he is just licked lately but there is a large tactical and not just physical mismanagement of Saka

1. Get Jurrien Timber back in the starting team. 2. Play Partey in midfield too! We need Partey with his incisive passing through the midfield. 3. Buy one or two wingers with better vision and spatial awareness. As good as Martinelli and Saka are, I think they are limited in that department.

This is why players like Fabregas, Nasri, Wilshere, and Ramsey, when they were young, will be grateful to Wenger for believing in them and giving them time to flourish. Something Arteta severly lacks at the moment.

We're tired ofc i hope mikel rotates next season..we move COYG

In the case of a moments player like KDB etc- it has to become Odegaard and Saka for us in the next few years. In the 94’ minute vs Bayern I was in utter shock that Saka took that kick so quickly. The ball was perfectly placed for Odegaard or Saka to take a free kick on net but neither has the confidence yet to take that ball in a CL knockout.

If I may add to the great analysis you did. As a culmination of assessment on “progress or not” this is the first year back in the CL and Arteta managed to better latter years Wenger I think once Wenger did it toward the end of the tenure I can’t be sure. But what all the assessment tells us if you look at the stages of evolution for the teams growth and mentality, the Bayern Away leg we was almost certainly going out because the two goal errors in the first leg and it could have been worse Tuchels calls for Gabriel and Saka did not Dive. He tried to jump out the way Neuer is knee high in the challenge (the contact was knee high) 😂 🤦‍♂️ so we need to lesson this into the future two points to make again we need to stop looking to late equalisers and hope the ref gives us the calls we have to presume we won’t get even regular calls to go our way the less we care the more we get on with it and this is kinda what I am seeing here. The 10-2 was a long long time ago and we are facing a different Bayern yes but I feel the result is fair to our level of improvement we gotta play big guns to learn to out play them this is how young turns to better and the finished article is always a chase. But the Bayern game was simply learn from this. Zubimemdi and Gyokores please and we good I Toney is only a don on fifa I’m not sorry. Bottled it only counts when you lack the ability to play at all cos ya scared so please go ask ya fathers ppl stop using the word bottle wrong 😂 (not you creator they know who they are)

Great vid Alex, my view is Arsenal play with too much _intensity_ for the full 90+ - It's not yards run or minutes played. There must be a strategy that involves high pressing but includes periods of less intensity so they dont burn out towards the end of the season.

Weightlifter here and there's something called systemic fatigue.... where physical activity affects one's psychological ability. I've gone too hard at times and got to the point where I literally walked into the gym, setup my first working set, and I just said "NOPE!" Couldn't do it and needed a week off to reset. Wasn't hurt, wanted to progress, my head just wasn't there. When you see the way our players are playing - especially the regular starters - I wonder if systemic fatigue is affecting their play. What you say about Arteta not using those other players enough to give our core starters a break, has some merit.

I looked at those other quarterfinals, and what about Dortmund and Atletico Madrid? Who's the Big Player in Dortmund? Is Dortmund has anyone bigger than Griezmann? Many people laugh at the limping Saka, but he plays, unlike the “big” KDB and Haaland, who asked for a replacement in such an important match. Yes, Mbappe is Mbappe, but it was not he who made the game against Barcelona, but Dembele. Some will say that this is also a “big player”, but last season he did not help Barcelona. At the same time, Barcelona acquired “big” Robert, who, although he became the best scorer in the league last season, is completely different this season. Arsenal certainly have room for growth, both with current players and through potential transfers. The same Saka should probably receive more rotation. Sorry, I love TDK, but... it's not that it's complicated, it basically doesn't work that way.

Shift out the last of the deadwood (Elneny and Cedric). Get some money back for some of the assets still on the books (Tierney, Nketiah, Nelson) and reinvest into the squad. I'd be willing to give Viera another year to see if he'll come good. Same with ESR, and even give Partey another year as a squad player before moving him on (same with Jorginho). Invest in a quality centre forward, with Jesus as potential cover for CF, and Saka at LW. Ramsdale should be sent out on Loan, think he's too good to be sitting on the bench but not good enough to displace Raya. After a year, depending on what transpire he could be moved on as well.

That effect your talking about is kinda a coincedence cuz yes we signed 4 players.... 1 of them is a keeper and another one is injured (Timber) So thats basically 2 new players we added this season who played the whole season Partey being injured, he missed basically the whole season. ESR, Viera, Tomi were also missed for majority of the season So imagine if we had last years Partey, while having Jorginho and Rice as options for DM Imagine having Timber for our Left hand and Right hand side. While also having Tomi + Zinchenko + Kiwior We need a backup to Saka, I mean we knew that. But thats pretty much it, we have full squad depth

I know you don't have the numbers (subscriptions and views) some of your fellow competitors are hitting, but your content is five fire flame emojis. I hope that (lack thereof) doesn't deter from doing what you do. As much as I hold different views from what you say sometimes (1 out a 100 times), you always provoke analytical thinking. Please post this comment when WE reach 100k subscribers, and fly me 🇿🇦 to the UK on our 1 million mark 😅. Anyway keep up the good work good sir.

The few extra minutes you're asking These guys to be tested for would honestly not change much... And they are our most important players... And their alternatives are currently not up to snuff... That simply means the bench players need to do more... Or we need to replace them... It's not Artetas fault per se that we don't have an alternative for Odegaard at the moment...

1:26 noted...

I like your analysis and insights and always enjoy your videos. I'm just disappointed cuz I thought with most our players declared fit we wouldn't lose momentum like we did last year. However hopefully we get back on track vs Wolves and try to take city all the way. COYG!

It's easy to say this when competing against teams Like City that have very good options, competing at that level requires quality players which clearly these guys on our bench aren't except for Trossard, Tomi and Kiwior

Lads, we ain’t the only ones tired - de bruyne and Haaland ASKED to come off in their champ league game due to burnout - I don’t think they’ll win all their games - we are still in this title race

I’ll be excited to see the Arsenal starting 11 against Chelsea

It's a point, freekick on edge of the box, who could score from it in our team

One issue that you already eluded to is the lack of individuality. The question is, are we lacking those types of players, or has Arteta coached it out of the players we have? I'm torn between whether it's either, as at times we've seen the individual brilliance from the likes of Jesus, Saka and Odegaard, but nowhere near on a consistent enough basis. sometimes it seems we would rather pass the ball into the back of the net than take a chance from 25 yards, and that is definitely from Artetas coaching

I love Arteta too

Pep finds a way to give players a game of rest every now and then, especially when the hardest months are rolling in. Like Foden in the game after he banged the hat trick.City adapts their style to how their team is composed and to their opponents. Arsenal nearly always plays the exact same style of game, which becomes a real problem when you are trying to rest players without a proper replacement. Something will have to give.

You know who can play every single game, covering the most ground of all and never gets tired cause he does everything to prepare and regenerate? Granit Xhaka!

I disagree with the reasoning for taking the quick free kick. Let's remember it was Divock Origi who helped Liverpool in their crucial UCL campaign. Not some world beater

my broski

that free kick taken quickly was the most annoying thing ever. And the corner that followed. Saka is NOT the man to handle all that pressure. Give it to Ø or something.

❤❤❤❤love uuu

Bro, if there is no drastic result of 17/18 squad and with instincs type players. We will lose Saliba, Gabriel 6, saka, and ødegaard. The Worse part of losing them, is that they will proceed to win trophies. Also tbh ødegaard is not that instinct type player, Im a Norwegian and What gareth bales done for Wales is something both him and Haaland cant do.

It's absurd how much focus has gone into saka's FK and corner. It's a slither of 180 mins of football! (I enjoy your analysis TDK, but we need to take a step back and assess it all)

With the things that managers said about how we play. It's obvious the players were knackered. the mistake Arteta keeps making is building only a team of 11 and not 22. trust other players and introduce them into the system with more playing time. You need someone who could produce individual magic? I've got a name for you FABIO VIERA. just like KDB, he can take long shots, give killer passes, take set pieces, be very direct. but Arteta doesn't trust him. the whole news about players not fit enough is crap and Arteta is very use to that. He just gotta have more faith in his bench players

4:40 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

We need another Dubai trip

that's exactly the point. I don't get why we didn't use ESR, Tomi, Kiwior and Partey more

Arteta needed to trust Rowe, Nelson, Nketiah they should’ve come in around 60 min something different Nelson just like Madrid with Vazquez, Nacho, Lunin, Brahim

I’m sure Arteta knows that he needs to give more players chances to impress and improve but he won’t just do it and I wonder why. Ramsdale is a perfect example that was missed in your analysis

Thanks for killing my buzz man

Ive been saying this for weeks why isn’t Arteta giving these guys a break. Another season lost because he doesn’t want to use our second team in games where they are completely capable.

Arsenal all the way, in good times and bad. COYG ❤❤❤

Arsenal must buy 2 forwards this summer. A striker and a winger

Question is: Who's that player. I hear names like Toney and I struggle to see how he changes the Bayern game

we went 49 undefeated. a whole season without a single loss. how can you play at arsenal and not use that as your benchmark?

Honestly, Arteta needs a substitues coach

Rice is also cooked! Look how slow he moves and low numbers of intercepts

Christ I started saying this with my guys yesterday 😂