Morning all.
A trip to Old Trafford is seldom something to look forward to, certainly not recently. For the sports writers and pundits though, it was another chance to tell the footballing world just how long it’s been since Arsenal beat a top six side away from home. Little things please little minds, as my parents always used to tell me.
Mikel Arteta dumped Ceballos, Pepe and Xhaka on to the bench for this game, instead opting for Willian, Elneny and Saka. Holding returned to partner Gabriel in central defence which was a huge boost.
Arsenal started the game well. We pressed, we harried, we passed the ball around like we were the home team and Man Utd had no answer. Elneny and Partey dictated everything in midfield, Gabriel and Holding mopped up anything which came near them with the greatest of ease. Arsenal were good, really good. All that was missing though was finding a way past de Gea. Aubameyang very nearly opened the scoring but couldn’t quite get to a super cross from Bellerin, Lacazette had the ball nicked off his toes just before he was set to pull the trigger and Willian saw his effort hit the woodwork.
Rashford was kept quiet, although he did play a super ball through to Greenwood but Leno blocked his shot with his legs. The critics will say that Utd were dreadful in the first half and they were, but because we were too good. When Mike Dean blew his whistle for halftime, we could so easily have been 3-0 up.
Utd upped their game a fraction after the break but I think we dropped off a bit too. Understandable really but it didn’t last for long. Further chances came our way. Saka probably had the best but couldn’t keep his header down. Aubameyang could have killed the game off when Lacazette put him through but his trademark finish let him down. This time.
But of course, there was that bizarre moment. The first of three in the game. Mike Dean awarding Arsenal a penalty at Old Trafford when Pobga got the wrong side of Bellerin in the box and tripped him over. The second was Dean not awarding Utd one when Maguire went down pathetically after backing into Tierney and lastly, sparing Gabriel from a second booking. Credit where it’s due eh, Dean had a good game.
As far as the performance goes, I reckon that was one of the best yet away from home under Mikel Arteta in the League. The midfield pairing of Elneny and Partey worked really well with the sideways and backwards passes rare. The back four were solid and assured, so much so, Leno could have popped off and made himself a cuppa and we’d still not have conceded. The front three worked hard but finishing chances off remains a cause for concern.
Whilst Roy Keane and anyone for that matter choose to focus on how poor Man Utd were, I think Arsenal fans would be wise to focus on how good we were. OGS’s Diamonds or pearls, Mikel Arteta had a plan to negate it and the players carried out that plan rather well. Once our forward men start taking the chances we’re creating, a few teams might just find themselves on the end of a pasting.
See you in the comments guys.
Good Morning All. Good Post, right to the point. Just imagine if Dean didn’t try to decide games most of the time.
I watched Elneny at Basel bossed the midfield against a Liverpool team in a champions league game to the point that even Gerrard didn’t want the ball. I have also watched him several times with Egypt and he does well there also. Rob Holding at Bolton was such an incredible player for a young defender, strong and no sense. Before he came to Arsenal, I wondered why he wasn’t in the EPL. Fast forward they come to Arsenal and all the sudden we are to believe that they have forgotten how to play football. It is obvious but not too obvious for some, many times is it not the player but coaching and the quality and abilities of other players on the team. Now that Arsenal have quality players, their qualities will show more often.
I had no doubt that Arsenal will win the game yesterday when I saw the line up. When Partey came on board, I told my Man U neighbour that Arsenal have one of the best midfield tandem in EPL, Elneny and Partey, if Arteta plays them. Yesterday is just the beginning, they have a work rate, that will not be matched in the EPL. Nothing against Xhaka and Ceballos, who can’t run or tackle, but do we win that game yesterday with them in the middle? This idea of a midfielder has to be attacking or holding is ridiculous to me. A proper midfielder must do everything, i.e, Partey, Elneny, Decoure, Fernandino, Casemiro, Kante…
Morning Rico. I agree with all of that. What impressed me was the shape and structure of the side plus the midfield mobility. We won the ball and moved it forward to threaten the United defence every time we could with the wide option more available than I’ve seen for ages. Without the increasingly ponderous Xhaka and the excruciatingly negative Kolasinac stubbornly refusing to move the ball forward, we looked like a much more lightweight fighting machine. Don’t confuse the term ‘lightweight’ negatively though because Gabriel and Rob were anything but. Both really got stuck into the tax-dodger at every opportunity and he was reduced to petulant dives and wailing, snivelling appeals to the referee.
Partey and Elneny were great. Both were solid and liquid in their movement and were never guilty of taking too many touches or dwelling too long on the ball. Even those that didn’t immediately catch the eye, like Auba and Laca, put in a lot of work as the entire team moved through the game like a well oiled machine.
As Jamie Redknapp said, Partey was the best player on the pitch. And as Tim Cahill said to the curious dinosaur sitting to his right, we’ve lost games but Mikel knows why. That made sense to me and the points dropped to Man City and Leicester came to mind.
I like the fact that Arteta is creating a real meritocracy at the club and the rise of Elneny and Rob Holding prove that his oft-quoted mantra is working. I never imagined that Mo Elneny who has understandably been seen as a journeyman midfielder, could produce the confident displays that we are seeing and enormous credit must go to Mikel for that.
As an aside, it seems to me that Kane and Salah are going to get away with penalty box murder this season with their habitual cheating. Will no journalist focus on it?
Morning all.
One thing is standing out for me atm.
Arteta has got the best out of players that we all thought simply weren’t as good as they are.
That is the world of a proper manager.
Thanks Obi. I thought we could win if.. and there were a few ifs, the biggest being Dean
Morning Adam. What a vast difference it makes when a midfield pairing clicks and I think Partey and Elneny have done just that. They work in tandem, slotting in for each other and most importantly, look to recycle the ball quickly and forwards.
So many positives to take from yesterday both individually and as a team.
I’m with Obi though, I’ve always believed Elneny was a good player but he just needed the right guy to manage him. Credit indeed to Arteta but credit to the player too because he could so easily have told Arsenal to stick it.
Same with Holding, to push himself to ensure he was fit for the game probably paid a big part in our performance. Mustafi instead of him and who knows.
Enjoyable report rico, sure it was writing it as well! One little thing that struck me was a change in our passing at the back. So many times the player, and especially Leno, trapped the ball, foot on top, then passed. Usually it’s a quick one touch, which obviously gets ball away quicker, but prone to the mis-directed kicks that can happen. Felt a bit safer watching it.
Thanks Andrew. I was surprised how little Utd really put Leno and the defence under pressure. But yes, I didn’t notice my blood pressure rising as much yesterday when we were playing out from the back.
Perhaps much of that was down to the space our guys were creating ahead of Leno. Dunno but we looked so much better.
Having seen that performance by Partey and Elneny and given that they’re of a similar age, I can see that pair being around for the next few years and being the axis of our team. Partnerships are so important in football especially going through the spine of the team.
If Willock can reproduce his performance of last Thursday and continue to do it on a regular basis then we’ll have another piece of the midfield cog, a player who can rotate with our first choices alongside Xhaka who can also play a part but may find he is less important than before.
Ceballos who I like, is still a good player but he isn’t worth the kind of fee Real Madrid would want, so I can see him returning to Spain.
Rob Holding must have been sitting in the dressing room before yesterday’s game and remembering that day when he last visited Old Trafford, Arsenal were on an unbeaten run, the team was doing well and Rob was flying with an England call up not out of the question.
Then maybe his thoughts went to his knee operation, the weeks he was in traction and then the slow grinding rehab, the weeks of rehab, the good times and the knock backs, all that frustrating rehab, watching the team get to Baku and get thrashed all while he was in rehab…
The long drawn out year plus he spent getting fit and returning under Arteta and wondering if he could ever recapture that old form he was in? He must have had doubts over the past few weeks, but here he was back at the scene of the start of his nightmare.
Was he thinking of all that as he came out onto the pitch and when the players warmed up, when he took the knee and especially when he saw the man who evades paying his tax but has become, in these stifling days of wokeness, held up as some kind of saint?
I think those thoughts and many more crossed his mind because he put everything into every challenge that he made and a bit more on Saint Marcus and I’ve a feeling that Saint Marcus knew it as he just took it and kept it zipped. That was an aspect from yesterday that pleased me the most I think. What goes around.
Kev, I liked that re Rob Holding, nearly as much as I liked watching him yesterday. In some ways I hope England don’t call him up any time soon. We need him fit and available for Arsenal rather than mixing with the England lot.
I wish Saka and AMN hadn’t been called up too.
Kev, great thoughts!
Last week I said that Rashford was about to be beatified but now that he is fully sanctified I await all the scandal that can be thrown at him to come as soon as this winter is over.
Sportsmen that dabble in politics run a dangerous course . Lineker has seen public opinion go against him and Lewis Hamilton’s BLM stance is alienating many Formula 1 fans and our own beloved Mesut is finding his Chinese condemnation has split many Arsenal forums down the middle and compounded by his now much publicised generosity , apart from his sychphants most supporters wish that he would just up sticks and go.
BLM is another matter that is going to split opinion and eventually cause trouble football and sport in general where there is a high percentage of mixed race participation will do well to keep out of it . They purport that it is to bring things together where in reality they run the risk of creating a greater divide.
Anyway rant over .
Back to football .
I said last night that the performance was refreshing so now up next comes Molde from the Norwegian elitesieren they are currently 2nd in the league and have won their last 4 games scored 57 goals and have let in 28 in 23 games and according to the Norwegian Arsenal supporters club are no mugs and not to be taken too lightly.
We need the players that were not with us at Salfords mega drome to stnd up and be counted so if our youngsters want their places in Arteta’s first eleven , then this is the game to show it.
Nice one, Rico 👍
What a game that was – superb!! Gary Lineker said it was a “dreadfully dull game”… specsavers?? I reckon so..
To put our hoodoo to bed like that was fantastic. Everyone put a shift in..
Gabriel and Partey are getting better and better each week – loving watching them both. So glad Auba ended his drought!
And Mike Dean, well what can I say?!!
This hasn’t happened in 14 years, so I’m going to enjoy every moment and remind every Manc I know of it for the foreseeable 😂
Best defence in the league 😉 And my motm goes to Elneny… it was close and there were a fair few to choose from, but mine goes to the King of Egypt…. been so impressed with him, which I’m glad about as I had my doubts when he returned from Besiktas..
Yes Rico, I think that Rob and Gabriel are developing a nice understanding, dare I say another partnership but we mustn’t forget Tierney, he plays such a vital role in that fluid job he plays between centre back and left back, it allows Saka to burst forward and almost have a free role, Tierney and Saka are so intelligent and have a great feel for the game I love watching them rip up that left flank – just someone, sort out the throw ins….
Cheers Andrew.
Yeah, Molde will be tough, I’m not sure if Arsenal have ever taken 6 points from a european group stage double header and Scandinavian teams can be a handful as we found out a couple of years ago when Graham Potter was still managing in Sweden.
Great comments allezkev 12:45.
I also saw the determination from Holding when he tackled Rashford. I’m sure thoughts came flooding back, of the last time he played at the Old Toilet when Rashford assaulted him.
I love it when I see our players show some Cahonas.
Not getting carried away but that was some performance from our boys away to the Mancs.
Well said Potter. Footballers should stick to playing football. They’ll have plenty of time to put their name to good causes later on. Perhaps putting their hands in their pockets would do more good right now.
Thanks Sue. How Linekar can think that was boring beggars belief. Just because there weren’t a hatful of goals I guess.. Idiot.
Bellerin too Kev, he looks at his peak again which is great. Some of his crosses deserve a goal at the end of them. They will come I’m sure.
Who is Lineker????!
Pffft, wanker.
Unlike you to be so reserved wit( your view Scott. Lol
Kev @ 12:33, 100% on point.
Yes Rico, we all kinda forget tha5 Hector was our only right back at the time and Emery played him in almost every game without a break, but Hector just got on with it and probably played when he should have had a rest and in the end his exhausted body just broke.
He did that for our club and I’m delighted that he’s back and playing so well.
Thanks VCC and Obi.
I reckon so too Kev, then of course we ended up with Mustafi and Sokratis being played there. AMN too and we struggled.
Rico @4:37. I couldn’t disagree with you more. Footballers are part of society. They are no different from nurses, teachers, politicians or drivers, one occupation doesn’t disqualify him/ her from society. We all have responsibility to make things better. If they should wait as you said, what happens when a footballer or an NBA player refuse to acknowledge another or pass the ball because he or she is gay? I travel all around the world fixing problems. The world is not around by politicians but the likes of Messi, LeBron, Brady, Hamilton, Virat, Ronaldo. When was the last time you saw a 100,000 people go to see a politician speaks. But every weekend millions watch this dudes and gals. So they have an obligation to society.
That’s fine Obi, I just think politics and football don’t go together. My comment was based on Rashford and our very own Ozil.
Not sure that a player’s sexuality comes into the equation really. Or colour for that matter.
Leicester looking good.
Evening Rico and All
My big take on the game was how
assured Gabrial was for such a young
man he made the big one on ones with
a passion a real winner love watching
this geezer,just getting better.
Micky has still more to learn about
some of our squad hence our 3 defeats,
lets hope he will build from this result.
I hope he gives Chambers a chance,and
keeps him in the squad,
After a great start,for Villa Martinez has
just conceded 7 in two games,is now
time we support Lino and think of him
more than just a door-mat.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the first Arsenal player to score a penalty at Old Trafford in the Premier League, with neither of the previous two attempts being converted (Robin Van Persie in 2011 and Gilberto Silva in 2006). Confidence.
Ok Rico I hear you. On a football note, as good as Gabriel has been, Saliba is a beast, IMHO, better. In a few season the defense will move from Luis, Sokratis, Mustafi and sometimes playing Xhaka at the back to Saliba, Holding, Gabriel, Chambers and Mavropanos and this doesn’t account for any new arrivals. Not bad.
Hi Fred, I missed you.
Morning Obi, Sue and all.
Penalties at OT are rare. The Athletic have covered ‘cheating’ to earn a penalty in an article of theirs. As it’s a subscription only paper, I’ve copied the article for today’s post as I found it quite interesting.
It’s up now.
Obi, not sure about Mavropanos…