Handbrake Off: The Athletic FC's Arsenal show cover image

Handbrake Off: The Athletic FC's Arsenal show

Windy woes in the West as Arsenal rue fine margins

Dec 9, 2024
The podcast dives into Arsenal's frustrating draw at Fulham, emphasizing their struggle to convert possession into goals. The hosts debate the need for more attacking creativity and discuss tactical adjustments. Controversial VAR decisions add tension to the conversation, while injuries loom large over the squad's depth. They look ahead to Monaco in the Champions League, hoping to regain momentum. Light-hearted banter about weather and nostalgia for past triumphs adds flavor, making for an engaging analysis of the team's journey.
49:00

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Arsenal's disappointing draw at Fulham highlighted their struggle to convert possession into effective chances, particularly in open play.
  • Injuries and tactical issues have resulted in defensive inconsistencies for Arsenal, necessitating a more adaptable attacking strategy moving forward.

Deep dives

Frustrations with Goal Creation

Arsenal struggled to create clear goal-scoring opportunities during their match against Fulham, finishing with a significantly low expected goals (xG) from open play. Despite dominating possession and being in control for most of the game, they only managed an xG of 0.296 from open play, highlighting their inability to convert possession into effective chances. Both analysts noted the team's reliance on set pieces for scoring, emphasizing the need for improvement in open play creation. The lack of effective attacking options off the bench further compounded these frustrations, as key players were unavailable for selection.

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