indeed, both those chances are in the 'and Smith must score' category.
He's been unfortunate, that those misses have been 'perceived' as costing points, ignoring the general 'malaise of the previous 90 mins, but it's also a frustration in that he hasn't perhaps 'kicked on, although 12 goals is nothing to be sniffed at....
Martinelli, like most of our players is just in a finishing slump, i don't think it helps that he had presentable chances to win the games late on vs Forest & Brentford, which, if taken, would've seen us win the league by now. Sadly though, we always seem to need a 'boo boy' to pick on, even in the good times, and no matter how self defeating it is......
It's a credit to him that he's getting into good spots to effect games, it is often in matches where others have not that he is in the spotlight for the chance he was able to get to. It also seems to distort how easy the chances are, the Forest one is a 1/4 type, the Brentford was 1/13 type chance. Like this one, they are good scoring opportunities but not exactly can't miss shots.
I do not take Arteta's comments on Martinelli to be criticism. I think that he is just pointing out that it was a big (or at least a "good") chance to score and that if we take that chance then it changes to game positively for us.
If anything I think of it more as half-praise for Martinelli, pointing out that he is getting into these goal scoring positions, more so than it is a criticism of him for not finishing the chance.
In these games when we have so few chances in total and even fewer "good" chances, the ones that are missed really stand out. I suppose it is a matter of perspective whether you see it as a huge negative that a player missed our one big chance or if you see it as a positive for that player that he at least got into a position to have the chance when so many other players did not even manage a shot!
indeed, both those chances are in the 'and Smith must score' category.
He's been unfortunate, that those misses have been 'perceived' as costing points, ignoring the general 'malaise of the previous 90 mins, but it's also a frustration in that he hasn't perhaps 'kicked on, although 12 goals is nothing to be sniffed at....
Martinelli, like most of our players is just in a finishing slump, i don't think it helps that he had presentable chances to win the games late on vs Forest & Brentford, which, if taken, would've seen us win the league by now. Sadly though, we always seem to need a 'boo boy' to pick on, even in the good times, and no matter how self defeating it is......
It's a credit to him that he's getting into good spots to effect games, it is often in matches where others have not that he is in the spotlight for the chance he was able to get to. It also seems to distort how easy the chances are, the Forest one is a 1/4 type, the Brentford was 1/13 type chance. Like this one, they are good scoring opportunities but not exactly can't miss shots.
I do not take Arteta's comments on Martinelli to be criticism. I think that he is just pointing out that it was a big (or at least a "good") chance to score and that if we take that chance then it changes to game positively for us.
If anything I think of it more as half-praise for Martinelli, pointing out that he is getting into these goal scoring positions, more so than it is a criticism of him for not finishing the chance.
In these games when we have so few chances in total and even fewer "good" chances, the ones that are missed really stand out. I suppose it is a matter of perspective whether you see it as a huge negative that a player missed our one big chance or if you see it as a positive for that player that he at least got into a position to have the chance when so many other players did not even manage a shot!