The Arse have looked like kryptonite for us but that game model is beating a lot of teams. Remove set pieces and we’d have taken points in every game against them.
Obviously you can’t remove set pieces and they are part of the game but they never beat us because of flaws in our system. They beat us from set pieces and on a fair few of them, understanding how to bend the laws of the game to score from set pieces.
Yep. Remove goals from the footballing ground and you don't concede either. Perfect plan mate.
Ok, pardon my irony here, could not resist. But in all seriousness this is the most untrue claim I have ever seen in this forum. It is not just lightyears away from truth, it is whole different galaxy.
P.S - regarding that claim - in last season we scored our 2nd from penalty. So that should also be removed, as it is also technically set-piece
They 100% have beaten us 3 out of 3 because our approach is not even one-dimensional. It is half-dimensional at best. There is one exact way we play and unless all 10 outfield players do not make slightest mistake (something that no real footballing side is able to do on EPL level of intensity) we are still vulnerable in defending phase due to our midfield and fullbacks positioning.
Counter to that is very simple - drop deeper. Overcrowd central areas, specially your own box. Let us control the ball with all the fullbacks and other midfielders apart from holding #6 get high upfield. Win the ball. Play it directly to either right or left from center of the field to midfielder capable of executing accurate pass. Have wingers or fullbacks making angled runs. Or score from well-drilled set piece.
And that is it. You do not need more than kindergarden level tactics. By 2nd game Arteta had it figured out.
And since then there has been not even slightest of chances for us getting anything from NLD. None at all. Gap is so extravagant that if we'd play 100 games, Woolwich would win more than 90 from them. Just because of how easily adapting manager equipped even with half decent players (remember - this season both times they have played without some key players vs us too!) can rip our approach to shreds. We can win against brilliant managers that choose not to adapt (looking at you Pep!), but not against likes of Arteta.
Also they have had game management in place. I honestly feel that to you one-goal-margin victories look like flukes. They are exact opposite. When they take the lead, they will become even more defensive, as they are prepared for absolutely everything that we have to offer. They just know how to beat this setup. And they constantly do. It is as simple as that.