Morning all.
We won and that’s about it really. Arsenal against a defensive setup is seldom easy on the eye and last night was no exception. Lots of possession but thankfully, we got the goal needed to win the game. The goal itself was brilliant in my opinion, not because it was flash etc but because of Kai Havertz who indicated where he wanted the ball before drifting away from the goal line, taking his man with him. The cross from Leandro Trossard was perfectly placed into the space Havertz had previously indicated and the big German tucked the ball home.
We created a few more opportunities to extend the lead with Gabriel missing a golden opportunity to score from another corner, Martin Odegaard showed a great piece of skill to run through the Ipswich defence before seeing his shot stopped and Gabriel Jesus was an offside flag away from scoring and Havertz missed a really good chance to double his tally too.
Mikel Arteta on whether the team should have scored more:
More, more. And today we had some big openings as well in the second half when we were a little bit more stretched, they were a little bit more aggressive. The big header of Gabi as well, one yard. So we should have scored more, but, it’s the consistency. The team conceded nothing, again. Their defensive behaviour was, again, outstanding. So that’s something that’s always going to give us always the chance to win games.
Mikel Arteta said after the game that he was happy with the victory as well as the clean sheet. Of course he’d be happy as I’m sure every Arsenal fan is. Yes the match made for tough viewing but Ipswich closed their defensive doors and we couldn’t break them open. The second half was more open as Ipswich went in search of an equaliser but I’m pretty sure I didn’t see David Raya make one save. A couple of very good catches yes, but that’s about it. The important thing yesterday, as it is in every game, is getting three points. Do you think Liverpool are top of the table by winning their games in style? No, sometimes it’s more about grit and determination to win whether it be pretty or ugly.
Of course we missed Bukayo Saka but the team will have to get used to that as our tricky winger has undergone surgery so he’s going to be out for a long time.
Next up for Arsenal is Brentford away on New Year’s Day with a 5.30pm kick off.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
Three points more important than the performance.
I was particularly pleased at the way Lewis-Skelly refused to be bullied by the Ipswich players and stood up for himself, that’s precisely what we want to see in a young player.
Ipswich look like a racing certainty in the relegation stakes. They may yet be the reason Manchester United survive for another season in the Premiership.
Good morning Cicero.
MLS is so mature for his age in every sense but especially his temperament. You’re right..
Frustrating game to watch but….
Christmas time and an Arsenal one nil nervy win…I’ll take it. We often slip up at this time.
When we signed Havertz, like most fans I thought “what?” but man, he is proving to be a shrewd acquisition.
Me too re Havertz. He’s been through a bit of a lull imo, but then he’s not the only one.
Good call Cicero on MLS. High hopes for this lad.
Good post Rico, I’m not sure that Myles’ final role will see him end up in the floating left-back position, as with Saka who started as a left-back I reckon that Myles will gain experience before moving into a more central role as a 6 or an 8?
Thanks Kev, I’m not convinced either of our two youngsters will end up playing where they are now. Arteta has already hinted at Nwaneri being a striker and I can see MLS replacing Trossard eventually.
Myles seems to be predominantly right footed and I’m not sure that works on the left of midfield Rico, it sees him rarely go on the outside as he seems to play the pass inside or back towards Gabriel etc. We need someone who can stretch the play.
Looking at our squad as it stands we have four spaces available to fill if nobody leaves, two in the foreign 17 and 2 in the home based – that might change if Arteta decides to hold onto Marquinhos until the summer or Kiwior brings in a realistic offer? I can’t see anyone else leaving as we’re already short or unless we get a crazy offer?
Looking at where our players are deployed Kev, I don’t think it makes a difference to Arteta what foot is stronger.
We can still make a loan signing or two though.
As you say Rico, Ethan and Myles are likely to end up playing various positions before settling in somewhere, even then multi-positional seems the way to go in the Arteta system.
We have a few more youngsters on the cusp, the question remains do they have the mentality and character to go with their undoubted technical ability.
Salah Eddine looked very promising in pre-season but hasn’t progressed which is a shame. Kacurri, Kabia, Nichols and Heaven all earned their senior debuts but haven’t pushed on, maybe 25/26 will be their year although the rumours of Heaven doing an Obi Martin are growing.
How do the younger guys really push on though Kev? This is a kind of limbo time in their careers, they’re not quite ready for the first team perhaps but had minutes in the Cup. Drawing Utd in the FA Cup means Arteta is unlikely to use them we could really do with beating Utd before drawing a much lower league club in the next round.
That’s true Rico, how can you experiment in the Premier League with every game being life or death? Ethan and Myles are very special young players, Max Dowman is the only other youngster I’d put in that catagory and there’s no guarantee that he’ll make it at Arsenal.
The FACup might be ‘the’ game where Arteta takes a chance but it’s a huge match, say if he started Kacurri and rested Saliba and we go out, the Tik Tok people will go ape-shit! Talk Sport will be inundated with Arteta Out nut jobs, it’s almost comical…
I’m sure we can loan overseas players Kev, I read it the other day.
Agreed Kev, Arteta is stuck either way. Utd aren’t in Europe are they so no chance Amorim will rest players.
As you say Rico, get past United and then hope for a bit of luck in the 4th Round?
Premier League clubs may not register more than two players on loan at any one time. The maximum number of loans registrable in the same season is four, and, under no circumstances, shall more than one be from the same club at any one time.
We have Stirling and Neto
Testing
You’re in Rick. 😂
The two player loan rule relates to PL to PL club Kev.
Loans between Premier League clubs and other English counterparts are officially called temporary transfers.
Under the rules in the Premier League Handbook 2024/25 (Download PDF, size: 18.2MB), there are restrictions on how many players Premier League clubs can loan from other Premier League/English clubs.
They are:
– Premier League clubs may not register more than two players on loan at any one time.
– The maximum number of loans registrable in the same season is four, and, under no circumstances, shall more than one be from the same club at any one time.
– Premier League clubs cannot loan to another Premier League club a player they have acquired in the same transfer window.
– A Premier League club may loan not more than one of its goalkeepers to another Premier League club.
Ipswich came with a typical lower division attitude , physical ,defensive and played to minimise embarrassment and go down to the lowest score they could . It was pick on the kid from the start but they also tried it on Saliba and Gabriel to no avail however it made for a boring encounter that only had one outcome.
Martinelli has proved that he is more effective on the right than the left and our goal came from many of his centres which had we had forwards that attacked the ball might have put the game to bed in the first twenty minutes.
Now we are off to Brentford , never an easy trip but there is no room for a slip up we and need the points even if we are boring in the way we get them.
Amen to that Potter..
Question for JM .
What,s happening with Vieira at Porto ? any truth in the rumour that his loan is being cut short and he is coming back .
Might as well get Nelson back..
He’s injured too
Hamstring same time out as Saka
Didn’t realise his was a serious one Potter.
New post up
Just repeating what I said yesterday.
Mixed feeling about Saka injury, on one hand we will miss him but on the other hand he is getting the rest he needs.
The hospital photo of Saka shows that he is in pretty good spirit.
Sterling has denied wanting to cut short his loan and return to Chelsea due to his lack of playing time. He has not started a league game since October 19th.
Please Mikel, no more City has beens.
That’s a shame Cicero.
Good morning to you, all.