Smal

0-0 at HT

The top teams have become even more boring since Pep started making playing 4 CBs a thing. Everything is about keeping the ball and stopping counter attacks. It's probably the most negative/defensive style out there and Arteta has been doing it on steroids this season.

it's weighted 70% to xG and 30% to actual goals, so things like the Liverpool 1-2 where those goals were pretty much their only efforts (they only registered 0.67xg in that game ) won't register as much as the might have if it were just weighted on actual goals. Outlier games like Sheff Utd away where we generated 4.75xg and Liverpool away where they generated 6.14xG will exaggerate things too.

he's awful and always seems to be on Arsenal games too.

Some interesting #data here: We are absolutely fantastic when we are ahead. Literally better than Man City. We are down there with the relegation teams when we are behind.

I think we need a pure DM but they don't necessarily have to be a starter. It would just be nice to have the option and flexibility to play one in games where we think it's appropriate, or to bring one on as a sub. When you look at how easily we've been cut open in transition this season - even at home against poor opposition - it would make sense to have one available.

I think Rodri has been mostly poor for a few weeks now.

perhaps but if anything I’d say that’s another reason to play Akanji in the backline - City are getting muttered in behind and Akanji has the athleticism to get back over an unfit Stones.

I don’t really get why Akanji is playing the more advanced role out of him and Stones. He isn’t good enough on the ball in the final third and is killing attacks. He did the same against Madrid too - good in terms of making himself available and movement but just not got the quality in the final third like Stones does.

absolutely mental rule that yellow cards reset for the penalty shootout . Why???

taking Haaland and De Bruyne off seems absolutely fucking mental in hindsight

it’s PSG’s to lose imo, which is a bit sickening

woah, proper lost his nerve there

that crazy first leg effectively meaning nowt because away goals don’t matter anymore is a bit shit

he’s playing for the other team tho

why are man city playing hey jude

have spoken about Murillo before but he’s the absolute ideal profile for our LB/CB hybrid role imo. Great on the ball and rapid once up to speed too.

feel like Lewandowski should retire

Our game was on TNT so sky can only show one minute of coverage from it iirc

On Ferguson if his stock is low this summer it might be a good time to go and get him. Not sure what's happened since that hat trick but I already like him a lot before that. Gives me Shearer vibes.

It was a good pass but I think Barnes should've shot there . Seems pretty much guaranteed a goal when he shoots from that position.

not checked the validity of this but absolutely wild if true

I mean it's extremely debatable that he's top 3, like. Kane, Mbappe and Haaland are the top 3 imo.

When I think about what our weaknesses are it's definitely not scoring goals... it's probably controlling games against lesser sides who've constantly managed to create chances against us on the counter this season. I think we need an athletic DM for those games who can cover a lot of ground on transitions and also some pace in CB.

he really did not want to give that