Twice a week, I’ve been working on my golf game. Golf seems like a non-sport because so many of us are out of shape older men but just like every sport, what you’re doing is learning to do something consistently. In the case of golf, that “something” is hitting a ball with various clubs, each with its own idiosyncrasies.
I’ve spent the last few months practicing a simplified version of chipping. When I used to play golf 20 years ago, I had this odd way to chip where I would put the ball back in my stance, close my hands down, and chip the ball low with a ton of roll. Now, I just chip like I putt. And I know that’s the simplest way to chip, and maybe one day I’ll go back to practicing hooded chip shots, but right now, I’m pretty consistent with this shot. In fact, I chipped in a birdie from 20 yards, over a bunker, last Sunday. So I think I’m going to stick with it.
During my rounds of golf I collect data: how many drives in the fairway, how far I hit shots with each club (full strength), how many greens in regulation, how many chips, and how many putts. I then use this information to decide what I need to work on during the practice sessions. This week it was putting. I three-putt far too many holes and especially the first 6 holes.
So I went out to the practice range and worked on my putz.
I also noticed in my non-data information that I have an inconsistency in my swing tempo. I have one club that I love, it’s an old Taylor Made “Firesole” 3-wood. I hit this club sweetly about 90% of the time. And it’s not the club. Everything about it is kind of wrong: very low profile, small head, older club. But the key is that I feel confident with the club in hand and even more importantly, I have developed a consistent swing tempo with this club.
So, in addition to working on my putz (ok, that’s the last time I’ll make this joke!) I hit a bucket of balls where I took the same 3-wood swing tempo and applied it to the rest of the clubs in my bag. Viola.. I was hitting the ball straighter and truer. Not further, mind you, but much more consistent.
Obviously my swing isn’t perfect now all the sudden. I’m still hitting the ball off center more than 50% of the time, but it’s an improvement and it’s something I can work on which will get better the more I work on it.
Watching Arsenal lately is a bit like watching someone working on their golf swing. In Arsenal’s case, however, it’s about 90% of the way there and it’s that last 10% which is frustrating.
Yesterday against Olympiakos, Ødegaard was at the heart of everything for the first 45 minutes. He was unparalleled in finding spaces, cutting up the Olympiakos defense into little grids so he could drop in somewhere, collect the ball, twinkle around the defenders, cut a pass back, pick a pass forward, and eventually he found a nice pocket of space and uncorked a shot that left their keeper flapping.
But he also played a poor pass to Gabriel in the 20th minute which went straight to an Olympiakos man. Gabriel was stranded, alone with two guys, they should have scored.
And it wouldn’t be the only time we sliced one into the woods. David Luiz made a mistake in an even more dangerous position and was lucky when the attacker shot just wide. But it was moments after being subbed on that Ceballos was closed down on and coughed up the ball that they finally put one away on us.
It was frustrating from a fan standpoint because Olympiakos didn’t look great. Their high pressures were disorganized, just one or two players closing us down. In the end, they only applied high pressure 19 times. Against Burnley, Arsenal suffered 81 pressures in our final third and only gave up two chances, one which probably should have been a goal. But against Olympiakos, Arsenal were pressed just 19 times and gave up the same number (or more) chances and also gave up a goal.
After the match, Arteta suggested that we just aren’t quite sharp enough.
“No, it is just when we have to play it. You know you have to play the ball to this player, but when is the difference… is it now, a second later or a second earlier? That gives the opponent a chance to press or intercept a pass or not and that is where the difference is. To discriminate the decision making and when it has to be done is what dictates in the next action whether you are successful or not. But it is not about stopping or discouraging the team not to play, we just have to understand when to do it and that’s crucial. If not you create insecurity in a game that is totally under control and it brings the team into an insecurity mode because you gift to the opponent how much we have in the game, the chances that we missed and it is unnecessary. “
On Arseblog News they picked up these quotes, which are similar:
“It’s not concentration. It’s about when you play the ball. It’s not about the structure or the decision-making, it’s about when you play the ball, it makes all the difference. It’s not about stopping the way we play, because this is us. And we get a lot of rewards from it. It’s about identifying when we can do it and how we have to do it.”
“It’s reading the situations, training it when we have more time, which we don’t have because we play every three days, and keep consistent. The worst thing we can do is get the structure to play and then not be willing to play. That’s a big mistake. You do that and then it’s better to play long.”
There are a lot of complicated quotes from him on this topic being reported in a variety of ways but I think what he’s saying is:
- You have to know when to hold ’em
- Know when to fold ’em
- Know when to walk away
- And when to run
- You don’t count your money
- When you’re sitting at the table
- There’ll be time enough for counting
- When the dealing’s done
In all seriousness, the chorus of the Gambler is right: it’s mostly about timing. Some of that is on Martin, who needed to play a better ball. Some of that is on Leno, he needs to be more judicious passing the ball and maybe he needs to pass the ball more quickly. Some of that is on David Luiz, maybe sometimes he just needs to hoof the ball away. But one place I disagree with Arteta is that it’s not about the structure. His basic philosophy is right: play the ball out, maintain possession, get to the final third and attack like hell. But structurally, there are places where playing out from the back are more dangerous than others. And I saw several passes in areas which are high percentage danger areas and low percentage attack areas.
When I played golf on Sunday I had a hole in which I scored an 11. It’s a tough hole no matter what day it is but then I tried a few things that I hadn’t practiced and that got me into more and more trouble as the hole went on. One big issue was that I tried to hit some slower tempo shots and shots with clubs that I shouldn’t and I got myself in jail at one point with a chip behind a giant tree which blocked my path to the green. That was only my 4th shot on a par 5. I should have gotten away with an 8 but I lost concentration and hit some really terrible chips and putts.
That showed me that not only do I need to work on my tempo but also my course management and concentration. All of which are things that Arsenal still need to work on.
However, the good news is that we rescued the game. Three outstanding and somewhat unlikely goals have put us in the driver’s seat to advance. In a sense, we chipped in for birdie. Which feels great when you do it, but shouldn’t be what you rely on for a great round.
Yes, too much poor decision making and loss of concentration. If you’re way up, being a little casual is OK. Or if you’re way down, taking a few more risks is OK. And you can’t entirely avoid individual mistakes.
But Arteta needs to reinforce the decision making, particularly among the senior players. They need to recognize that playing dicey pass at 1-0 is a really bad decision. The one last week was 70% Xhaka-30% Leno. The one this week was the reverse. 70-80% Leno’s fault. Ceballos had people right on his heels. Even if he controls it perfectly, he can’t really safely do much besides pass it right back to Leno. If that’s the situation, Leno might as well just boot it in the first place.
Beyond that, I was pretty happy with the match. I’d still rather see Pepe than Willian, but even Willian is a little better these days.
Playing out from the back is one of those things you have to be really good at before you make it your default approach. Because if you’re shaky with it, the other team is just going to pile on the pressure, and when a team like Burnley (no disrespect) is pressuring you 80+ times in a game, they clearly smell blood. Insisting on playing out from the back was a big reason for Emery’s departure; we were terrible at it, and it clearly resulted in the players losing faith in what he was trying to do. We’re better at it now, and I don’t clench my sphincter like I used to when Leno rolls the ball out to Hector, but as SLC_G suggests, I do think Leno could be more discerning and just hoof it when the opponents commit four or five players to the press. His teammates would appreciate it even if Arteta gets a bit agitated. He’s always agitated anyway.
semantically, i hate the term “boot” or “hoof” the ball away. when in possession, you should always look for the right pass…preferably before you get the ball. i just always like players thinking positive. it’s possible to play a ball, while under duress, that a team mate could possibly get on the end of. there are moments when you need to “clear” the ball but, for me, that primarily applies when you’re NOT in possession. that’s also me being anal but it’s a pet peeve of mine.
i believe goal keepers should be forced to play in the field during training as often as possible. it gives them a greater appreciation for how fast the game is and helps them to develop passing empathy. there’s no other way for players to develop that tactical nous of a good passer except for repetition, especially for a goal keeper who often doesn’t get those reps.
Good points. I agree that whenever possible a goalkeeper should try to put the ball where a teammate has a chance to win or keep possession. I retract the term “hoof” and replace it with “kick it long”. But bear in mind, there will be times, like it or not, when a goalkeepers best option is to hoof it out of danger, preferably into touch.
“But bear in mind, there will be times, like it or not, when a goalkeepers best option is to hoof it out of danger, preferably into touch.”
Yes. The opposition can sometimes execute a press that forces this. I don’t think anyone here is saying “stop playing the ball out the back and hoof it” but you have to know when the only option is booting the ball.
Even the top 7 keepers in terms of fewest balls launched by percent of total passes played (i.e the keepers least likely to play it long which are Meret, Szcz, Leno, Alisson, ter Stegen, Sportiello, and Ederson) still launch the ball at least 6-10 times a game!
i prefaced the comment by saying i don’t like the term semantically so i don’t use it. with that, i understand that sometimes players miss things. under those circumstances, i understand playing the ball out of harm’s way….to err on the side of safety.
what i try to encourage is players to have good situational awareness or field vision that enables them to quickly make, not only an accurate pass, but the correct pass even under duress. for teams playing out from the back, keepers are not exempt. i made a similar argument recently about elneny’s seeming approach to play passes more laterally than vertically. for me, he’s doing what he believes is the best pass based on the situation. besides, we saw with his goal on thursday that he knows how to go forward.
i’m a bit of a dramatic snob when it comes to vision or field awareness; i think it may be the cure for cancer, lol. in nearly every training session, i do what i call a 6-9 exercise. essentially, i make a grid based on the number of players available and play a small-sided game with 6 minutes of 2-touch max immediately followed by 9 minutes of 1-touch max. this is the best exercise i know to improve player vision. i make my keepers do this exercise as field players…and i do it nearly every day. i think it helps…and they still have time later in the sessions to be keepers.
Joshua, you seem knowledgeable about coaching and have said that you’re a coach, what level are you coaching? I’m sure folks would like to know.
i coach youth premier league level (state or national depending on the team i inherit). u19 boys; the club i currently coach at doesn’t allow me around small children.
That’s awesome! Though this sounds a little ominous “the club i currently coach at doesn’t allow me around small children.” I’m sure you meant it tongue in cheek or some other way.
Probably not ominous, even if it sounded like it. Most authorities in the UK are very strict as to who can coach young kids. There are all sorts of police checks needed.You’re basically guilty until proved innocent. I imagine it is similar in the US. Maybe even more so, because of the level of litigation.
I remember taking my camera along to an Arsenal youth game once and being told in no uncertain fashion that that was not allowed. Apparently, photos of underage kids appear on the dark web. It didn’t occur to me.
There has been a lot of publicity concerning child abuse at football clubs, as I’m sure you’re aware. The policy now, quite correctly, is safety first.
I imagine Josh would have to jump through quite a few hoops to work with youngsters. It also puts you, as a coach, in a very vulnerable position, where all sorts of allegations could be thrown at you for no reason. A minefield.
I didn’t think about the laws in the UK because I believe Joshua is an American. I could be wrong.
In the USA, I believe they do a background check. I’ve coached little kids and that’s what they did for me. Even for U19, I’m guessing they did a background check on Joshua. That’s why I thought he was just being silly, maybe something like.. he’s too hot headed, impatient or demanding to be coaching the little ones. I honestly didn’t mean it any way other than that. It just sounded funny.
I probably shouldn’t have teased or said anything. Apologies to Joshua for my joking around. That wasn’t great on my part.
no apologies, tim. you’re right, it was tongue in cheek. 19-year olds tend to have a bit of a potty mouth and i don’t really discourage that. in fact, i have a potty mouth too.
the sessions i have are not only intense but there tends to be some choice words unsuitable for 9-year old girls.
likewise, we do have background checks. also, in the wake of the jerry sandusky drama, i have rules concerning how i interact with players, clearly to protect the players and myself. at u19, there’s not so much interaction with parents but i clearly let players know what those rules are and why.
Joshuad is right on the money. I was a GK for 11 years and one of my first coaches and best had me play as CB in practice and dead rubber matches. I was a good shot stopper, decent reflexes, good vision but I was terrible with my feet (I once tripped trying to clear the ball. It went off my shin and curled in and over for an OG!) I learned how to be a sweeper, lie deep, be the center of a low block and start attacking moves…with my feet. It helped me immensely in net.
Was a GK for 4 years (the extent of my footie career) in HS and college. Near the end of practices in HS when the #3-4 keepers got time in goal– we, the #1-2 played the field. We’d both play up front– me on the wing, my backup at CF. Not so much an education– but helped me understand a game I’d not played at all until I was almost 17. Soccer was what I did after football season ended. Being a converted American footballer, I wasn’t very good at all with my feet (a CB would take goal kicks). But as a football quarterback– was blessed with a cannon of a left arm. We played a counter attacking style (though we didn’t have a clue about what countering was– much less a claim to style). But in good weather I could throw a ball 40-50 yards on a line accurately. A bit unique for late-70s soccer in the US. Usually a surprise to our opponents. A different way to play that made playing GK more exciting. But a good exciting. Not the usual long stretches of boredom with moments of sheer terror exciting.
The day you find a way to incorporate lyrics from “The Devil Came Down to Georgia” in your proffer is the day I crown you King of the football blogosphere.
Right now, you’re Crown Prince for weaving in “The Gambler.”
Well played. Now, roll on the derby. FOYS.
https://arseblog.news/2017/01/bournemouth-3-3-arsenal-by-the-numbers/
that lamela goal…saucy!
Agree, it’s terrible, considering who it is, and that we have dominated. But as painful as it is to say, that was really well-taken.
Nothing wrong in saying that Lamela goal is going to be a classic NLD goal. He got his just desserts for that with the sending off!
Look, S&$rs were terrible. The-soon-to-be-sacked-one’s negative football on full, dull display. Yes, we contained Kane and Bale for much of the game because they weren’t arsed to do anything. Still, winning the NLD in an inconsistent, transformational season is huge lift, at least to me. I hope it resonates with the players and carries them to better performances in the run in.
COY-you-effing-G!!!
I liked how executed our high press. MOTM for is an easy pick. ESR. Just love that kid and what brings, not just with talent, but with humility, attitude and work ethic. Saka too obviously. Great kids, lucky to have them in the side and lucky that Mertesacker is running the academy.
If he stays healthy, ESR has legend potential. Imagine if we were to keep him AND Saka?
Not sure how on earth MOTD landed on the idea that the penalty to Laca was a bad call. Never a question it was a penalty.
I am, however, really sick of Kane getting away with murder every game. Between the backing into players who are heading the ball to the absurd smashing of Gabriel, he is going to seriously injure someone badly very soon. They have to stop allowing this!
So joyful to watch Lamela get sent off and his goal be for naught. Still something to play for in the league. I think 4th is out, but 6th is very real.
on the thread from last week about tv shows, i forgot to mention that i watch pennyworth. it’s about alfred pennyworth, batman’s butler, soon after he left the army and when he met thomas and martha wayne. there was a show on fox called gotham that covered commissioner gordon’s younger years. both shows are written by the same guy.
It’s always easy to overreact to the last result, but after that match my faith in the process went up another notch. I was impressed with the way we dominated and stayed calm for 80-odd minutes. Some decent quality there in the team too, but with the example of Odegaard (who I am beginning to love) slotting in and excelling, you can start to see how more and more quality can be added and incorporated into the solid platform and structure that Arteta’s building.