Part One: Balance imperfections An early morning read for you! ☕️📕 Two-part series on Arsenal's issues, with this piece focusing on the macro and how Arteta hasn't consistently cracked the balance across the frontline. The piece is linked 👇 rohanjivanafc.substack.com/p/part-one-b...

Eze no output but thought he had more than a decent game. Would start him vs Leeds at RCM

8/8 in the CL is one hell of an effort man, whilst scoring the most and conceding the fewest, with big wins against the likes of Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Inter. Boys and the coaching staff deserve a lot of credit.

Really like Noni as a talent and have made that explicitly clear. But he must produce more with his final action, if we are being objective. Output is currency and his numbers are not good. So far, it’s very clear that this is still the Noni we’ve known from Chelsea.

Norgaard has deserved more minutes. Yes we’ve played against a pub team tonight, but he’s shown enough to give Zubimendi a breather. This is a PL midfielder with vast experience, let’s not forget that. That was the whole purpose of the signing, to be a body that can manage the workload of others.

One of those games where you feel shameless celebrating any goal lol. Nice kick about for a few of the lads.

Big Gabriel’s passing since coming back from injury has dropped off significantly. Frequently playing loose underhit or overhit passes. Need him to step up here as he’s so much better than what’s been displayed in recent weeks, on the ball.

Substack readers ❤️ Got two pieces I’m working on, focusing on our issues: 1) Balance imperfections 2) How teams are finding ways to play through us 3) Consistent technical drop off during prolonged spells Subscribe to receive every post👇🏾 rohanjivanafc.substack.com/subscribe?si...

0-0 vs Liverpool 0-0 vs Forest ? vs Man United The three game cluster of no wins is something that’s caused significant damage under Mikel in previous seasons. Let’s get that W today and prevent this from occurring.

Morning thoughts We’ve got to slap these lot up today. Three points on the board if we are serious.

Afternoon thoughts I’d go Gabby Jesus from the get go tomorrow. Think with the setup I envisage United to use will be best circumvented by a player like Jesus, with Gyokeres as an option from the bench. The latter I reckon will be more effective against tired legs.

Latest piece from me guys!! The focus? David Raya and the long ball Any shares are much appreciated:) 🔴 rohanjivanafc.substack.com/p/the-raya-l...

Latest piece from me guys!! The focus? David Raya and the long ball Any shares are much appreciated:) 🔴 rohanjivanafc.substack.com/p/the-raya-l...

New article to be out later today on my Substack! 🔴 Subscribe below if you want to receive every post directly to your mailbox 👇 rohanjivanafc.substack.com/subscribe?si...

There’s just so much to like about Mosquera man. Loved rewatching the Valencia tapes. Diamond in the rough. Things to work, but just look at the talent. Up and down the pitch without breaking a sweat. Speed demon.

Myles really grew into the game. Started really poor but ended it brilliantly. My bias is to always have at least one leftie out of your LW/LCM/LB. Just helps the flow.

Gyokeres looked much better after coming on. Really do think for the time being, we can get a better tune out of him against tired legs, especially when considering the spaces are going to be more open.

Gabriel Jesus rolling back the years tonight.

7/7 in the CL, having played the likes of Bayern, Atletico Madrid and now Inter, scoring the joint most goals (20) and conceding the fewest (2) is one hell of an effort man. The boys, Mikel and the entire coaching setup deserve huge praise. Seven changes made today as well.

Lots more nuance to consider, but two things that are important imo - Odegaard shouldn’t start in every vital game when available. Greater balance between continuity and opposition specific needs to be struck - Gyokeres should come out of the XI. He’s not getting a consistent tune out of defenders

I’ve always felt that Mikel Arteta’s biggest weakness tactically is balancing the frontline. He’s elite in so many areas, but this is something he’s not consistently got right.

- Dinked ball for Timber vs Newcastle - Ball over the top for Martinelli in the build up to Gyokeres’ first goal vs Atletico Madrid - Cross to the back post for Madueke’s 2nd vs Club Brugge - Finish vs Chelsea last night These are just highlights from Zubi with his WEAKER left foot.

Merino draws my attention a lot on rewatches because he’s so smart. The majority of the time he knows what to do, but his body doesn’t allow him to always do those things. But he will still attempt to do those things and when it comes of, it looks great. When it doesn’t, frustration creeps in.

Benjamin White has a brilliant feel for the final third man. Always has done since he moved to RB in 22/23. The movement to go in and out, the timing of his runs, how he connects with others is so good and he does it with a noteworthy degree of nonchalance.

Think my frustration comes down to the fact that we could have made significant changes with confidence in the return leg if we had a two goal buffer, which would have benefited us given the schedule. It was there to be finished today. Players and manager will know that.

Merino was fantastic after coming on. Including tonight, his last three performances have been of the highest order. Bournemouth (A) he was integral to the control established to manage that ending and he was brilliant against Portsmouth.

Saliba immense An absolute freak of a CB

Big to get the lead as it puts us in the driving seat, but I’m a frustrated that we didn’t kill the tie. Don’t think we played great, but we did more than enough to finish it completely. Always take a lead when starting on the road, but I feel that was an opportunity missed.

On Madueke Will need to confirm on the rewatch, but it felt like another game where his application without the ball wasn’t always there, which is totally fine as he’s new. And when I say application, it’s not about the desire and want, since that’s certainly there imo…

Early morning thoughts Remaining in all four competitions with a chance of winning is so important for this squad. So far, the squad has given us the benefit of mitigating injuries. But with the squad now in better overall health, we’ve got to keep players warm. That’s the challenge for Mikel.

1k Substack subscribers ✅ Thank you so much for the support given. Two months into writing on my own platform and the growth has been superb, which genuinely means a lot to me. Let’s keep building 🔴

Mikel Merino 2nd to Martinelli today for MOTM. Was breaking lines for fun in the first half. His value to the team is massive. Looking more and more like a Trossard esque signing, value for money wise.

Nwaneri looked razor sharp. Outside of Slavia Prague and Brighton in the cup (despite his goal), he’s performed really well when given an opportunity. Some of our best sequences came with him very much involved and his defensive contributions were top too

Very happy for Martinelli, especially after the nonsense which transpired post Liverpool. He’s had an underrated campaign. Has impacted PL games on numerous occasions and his performances in the cups have been top. Movement at the back post has always been super sharp.

Into the next round Rule of thumb. FA Cup third round away at a Championship/League One/League Two side = boisterous fans = lots of rough and tumble. Managed it well when considering 10 changes made. Lots of positives to take

Definitely going to be more active on here guys :)

Latest piece from me guys, assessing the threat of the false 9 :) rohanjivanafc.substack.com/p/the-false-...

Declan Rice post Bournemouth: "In the 1st half, we were doing the things Bournemouth wanted. We kept playing the ball to our left side, and they kept trapping us.” To read more, check out the full piece by clicking on the link below! rohanjivanafc.substack.com/p/the-import...

Declan Rice post Bournemouth: "In the 1st half, we were doing the things Bournemouth wanted. We kept playing the ball to our left side, and they kept trapping us.” To read more, check out the full piece by clicking on the link below! rohanjivanafc.substack.com/p/the-import...

Happy New Year, everyone!!! Here is your first piece of the year from me, stressing the importance of timing in the high press against Aston Villa and how Saka's low touch game was taken advantage of immediately after the interval. Enjoy! 🔴 open.substack.com/pub/rohanjiv...

Happy New Year, everyone!!! Here is your first piece of the year from me, stressing the importance of timing in the high press against Aston Villa and how Saka's low touch game was taken advantage of immediately after the interval. Enjoy! 🔴 open.substack.com/pub/rohanjiv...

Attacking midfield pressure and lessons learnt from Brighton that we can take on board for Aston Villa. Enjoy! The piece is linked 👇 Subscribe to receive every article directly to your mailbox open.substack.com/pub/rohanjiv...

Attacking midfield pressure and lessons learnt from Brighton that we can take on board for Aston Villa. Enjoy! The piece is linked 👇 Subscribe to receive every article directly to your mailbox open.substack.com/pub/rohanjiv...

7000 words on key tactical concepts of Arsenal's game model 🔴 Enjoy! open.substack.com/pub/rohanjiv...

7000 words on key tactical concepts of Arsenal's game model 🔴 Enjoy! open.substack.com/pub/rohanjiv...

A dream NLD for Eberechi Eze and how Arsenal exploited a specific weakness of Thomas Frank's set-up. open.substack.com/pub/rohanjiv...

A dream NLD for Eberechi Eze and how Arsenal exploited a specific weakness of Thomas Frank's set-up. open.substack.com/pub/rohanjiv...

4000 words on the Rice and Zubimendi ripple effect. Enjoy! open.substack.com/pub/rohanjiv...

4000 words on the Rice and Zubimendi ripple effect. Enjoy! open.substack.com/pub/rohanjiv...

Yesterday's sucker punch shouldn't dampen our spirits. In my latest piece, I examine our top second-half response, the improvements made on the left-hand side and the dynamic change we made in the second half. open.substack.com/pub/rohanjiv...