14 Feb 2021 19:05:27
A far better second half than could have been predicted. Costa very bad then very good. Goals cancelling themselves out. Roberts good and bad but better than usual. It could have been 4-4; 4-3; or 6-2 Arsenal had there chances. The game was lost in the first half by poor team selection and poor goal keeping. You have to feel sorry for the lad. He is twenty; a very good prospect and has done very well considering but he lacks experience. We have Casilla. I wouldn't play him at at all. With all the controversy he has completely lost confidence and perhaps interest. Messlier has been pushed forward and he is going to have days like this particularly as we play from the back the way we do. Mind you it was a bit different in the second half. Unfortunate defeat but it could have been a lot worse.

1.) 14 Feb 2021
14 Feb 2021 19:33:48
Too true Hess. I have seen much older, much more experienced goalkeepers make just as bad mistakes (more than once) . The main thing with mistakes is - learn from them - then move on. Do not carry it into the next game.

2.) 14 Feb 2021
14 Feb 2021 19:38:52
Hess, for me this has been coming for a whike with Meslier, he seems to take too many touches and then gets harassed into kicking long, it always seems to be that an opposition player is nearly on him then he releases it.

3.) 14 Feb 2021
14 Feb 2021 19:46:54
It’s been coming a while because we give him the ball too much. If we want to play that way we need to play Phillips in goal

Call me old fashioned but a keeper needs to save the ball not start the play off.

4.) 14 Feb 2021
14 Feb 2021 20:15:44
Simple to fix. Defenders get free, get wide. He must be drilled, if any attacker near you, two touches max (if in doubt launch it) . It's all about giving the lad options and I dare anyone to tell me they have never seen a goalie embarrased/ robbed in similar positions.

5.) 14 Feb 2021
14 Feb 2021 20:36:23
Too much emphasis on starting the play out from our keeper. The amount of times we end up passing the ball back to our keeper does my head in. Why meslier can't once in awhile kick the ball down field rather than trying to pass it sideways to our defence baffles me. Look how man city's keeper has an assist yesterday with a long punt up field. Today Arsenal worked out that they should press the keeper and caused him to panic leading to several goals. Young keeper, but gets caught out too often at his near post, if we are serious about trying to push on in this league we need an experience keeper. Meslier shows promise but has cost us plenty of goals this season.

6.) 14 Feb 2021
14 Feb 2021 20:42:01
exactly leodis keepers spend there whole lives saving the ball not working on passing. it is stupid we insist on making our poor keeper play like Pirlo even phillips gets caught on the ball and misplaces passes what chance does a 20 year old keeper have?

7.) 14 Feb 2021
14 Feb 2021 21:19:19
Keeper can play the ball but should also be OK to launch it when needed.
Meslier is better than most with his feet but will mess up. Its OK to fire it long if under pressure.

8.) 14 Feb 2021
14 Feb 2021 22:16:51
he is better than some with feet but he is no Kevin de byne

playing back nearly cost us at West Brom but we didn't learn, it cost us against spurs and now arsenal. no wonder London is a curse if we keep shooting ourselves in the foot when in the capital.

9.) 14 Feb 2021
14 Feb 2021 22:18:03
I know a few wobbled their heads when I said this about 12 months ago but why now, is there a total emphasis on playing out from back?

Fundamentally a keeper HAS TO BE PIVIOTAL to this but Illan always looks suspect with the ball on his toes, should he be drilled to 2 touches at MAX?

10.) 14 Feb 2021
14 Feb 2021 22:46:35
Said this a few weeks back. His ball at foot is very poor. Young or not this is basic football skills.

11.) 15 Feb 2021
15 Feb 2021 02:32:45
If you recall Mesliers Leeds debut the Arsenal vs Leeds FACup game his distribution kicking and throwing was exceptional.

Therefore suggests to me he has it in him, but possibly he has lost a bit of confidence in his distribution skills.