Benteke and Edouard play as a pair, Benteke is now getting the service and is getting back to his best. Every striker misses chances, but what appears to be missed by most, he is getting in position to get chances.

A couple of points I'd like to pick up on.

Firstly - Benteke. We're finally, after 3 years, playing to his strengths. He's scored more headed goals since his debut in the premier league than anyone else. Not only do we need to cross the ball but also have people in and around him in the box to help free up space or have him one on one with a defender. Under Hodgson we were too passive, being reluctant to cross the ball and not having enough support in the box to allow Benteke to find space or isolate a defender.

I'd even go as far as to say Zaha is holding us back here. If you look at the chances Benteke had (the goal and the times he hit the woodwork) they all came from quick crosses. For the goal Olise didn't hesitate when he received the pass from Gallagher, he immediately shifted the ball onto his left foot and whipped in the cross. I doubt Zaha would have done this. He would have most likely driven the defender into the box and then tried to either cut back or make a shooting chance for himself. This is not playing to Benteke's strengths.

Secondly - it's been said we have less points at this stage in the season than we did last year. Yes this is true. But it's also true we have had a harder start than we did last season. The average position of the teams played this season based on where those teams finished last year is 9th (counting Brentford as 20th as they came up via the playoffs). Last season the average position was 11th (counting Fulham as 20th as they came up via the playoffs and Leeds as 18th as they came up as champions). So far this season we've played 4 of last year's top 6 (3 of which were away from home). At this stage last season we'd played 2 of the top 6 (both away from home).

Finally - We all need to step back and take a deep breath. Yes the results haven't been what our general play has deserved. But did anyone seriously think Vieira would have been able to change our play style so quickly and completely in such a short period of time? I believed it would take time and the start to the season would be hard, given the fixtures we had and the changes to the team. We still need to sort out defending corners, but in open play we look solid at the back and exciting going forward. I believe the results will come. No need to panic, we just need to be patient.

A couple of points I'd like to pick up on.

Firstly - Benteke. We're finally, after 3 years, playing to his strengths. He's scored more headed goals since his debut in the premier league than anyone else. Not only do we need to cross the ball but also have people in and around him in the box to help free up space or have him one on one with a defender. Under Hodgson we were too passive, being reluctant to cross the ball and not having enough support in the box to allow Benteke to find space or isolate a defender.

I'd even go as far as to say Zaha is holding us back here. If you look at the chances Benteke had (the goal and the times he hit the woodwork) they all came from quick crosses. For the goal Olise didn't hesitate when he received the pass from Gallagher, he immediately shifted the ball onto his left foot and whipped in the cross. I doubt Zaha would have done this. He would have most likely driven the defender into the box and then tried to either cut back or make a shooting chance for himself. This is not playing to Benteke's strengths.

EDIT: I realise it was Mitchell that crossed for the goal. The Olise cross resulted in Benteke hitting the post. But I believe the point still stands. Both were crosses Benteke could attack.

Secondly - it's been said we have less points at this stage in the season than we did last year. Yes this is true. But it's also true we have had a harder start than we did last season. The average position of the teams played this season based on where those teams finished last year is 9th (counting Brentford as 20th as they came up via the playoffs). Last season the average position was 11th (counting Fulham as 20th as they came up via the playoffs and Leeds as 18th as they came up as champions). So far this season we've played 4 of last year's top 6 (3 of which were away from home). At this stage last season we'd played 2 of the top 6 (both away from home).

Finally - We all need to step back and take a deep breath. Yes the results haven't been what our general play has deserved. But did anyone seriously think Vieira would have been able to change our play style so quickly and completely in such a short period of time? I believed it would take time and the start to the season would be hard, given the fixtures we had and the changes to the team. We still need to sort out defending corners, but in open play we look solid at the back and exciting going forward. I believe the results will come. No need to panic, we just need to be patient.

Edited by Skinnii (24 Oct 2021 12.52pm)

Fair point but Benteke scored 1 of 3 clear opportunities (excluding the disallowed goal). You’ve got to be clinical in this league. Wilson had half a chance and scored the same number.

In particular the 1-on-1 opportunity. If Edouard was playing as the central striker and he was through, I think we’d have won.

I've just replayed both Arsenal Goals, and the Newcastle goal. While I like Joel Ward, and think he's playing well on the whole, all 3 goals were scored from the left as you look at the goal - where you'd expect him to be - have a look at the goals and see where he is......