Morning all.
I thought Mikel Arteta was brave yesterday. Very brave. His starting 11 was so very different to what I expected to see that’s for sure. No Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz or Gabriel Martinelli although all four were on the bench. Instead, in came Jorginho, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard, the latter back on the left where he plays best in my opinion.
Nottingham Forest arrived at The Emirates having not lost an away game so far this season. They’d beaten Liverpool at Anfield, taken a point off Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and have been on the receiving end of a lot of praise for the way they’ve been playing football under Nuno Espírito Santo. So I for one, won’t be under playing Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over them.
Mikel Arteta:
A really happy day. I think I sensed a great energy in the last 48 hours. The way everybody came back, I sensed a great togetherness and desire to change the situation and what has been a different period for us with all the situations that we had to come across.
And then the fact that it was a total effort of the team. Because all the players have to come in and I have to take Jorgi out because of the yellow card. Thomas comes in and straight away scores the goal, Raz comes in and gets the assist, Ethan comes in and scores a goal, Alex gives us a different kind of dominance there, Jakub comes in to get some minutes in the legs.
We certainly started like we meant business and never really let up. A tight offside call from VAR denied Jurrien Timber from giving us the lead but we didn’t have to wait too long before Bukayo Saka rifled home our opener. Jorginho and Martin Odegaard were involved in the buildup but it was Saka who bypassed three Forest players before hitting a stunner.
Just how we didn’t at least double our lead before the break I don’t know but Sels had a lot to do with it.
Thomas Partey appeared as Arsenal came out for the second half in place of Jorginho and six minutes later, he was on the scoresheet. Saka to Partey, one touch and bang. Take that, 2-0. Brilliant. Eight minutes before the end of ordinary time, Ethan Nwaneri replaced the Arsenal captain. Having seen a wonderful strike go just wide of the post, Nwaneri scored our third. Raheem Sterling had got down the right before cutting his pass back for Nwaneri to strike. A perfect way to end the game.
Mikel Arteta’s team totally dominated the game in every department. 66.2% possession, 19 shots with 7 on target, 7 off target and five blocked and our passing accuracy stood at 91%. David Raya didn’t have to make a save because Nottingham Forest didn’t have a single shot on target.
After weeks of disappointing results and a a few less than convincing performances, Arsenal re-found their mojo.
It’s just one game and one victory though but even so, it’s just what the doctor ordered. With a convincing victory, and that was a convincing victory against a very good Forest team, comes belief. Almost everything Arsenal did, they did well. Plus, Jorginho, Jesus, Sterling had minutes on the pitch which they needed. Young Nwaneri too and ended the game with a lovely goal.
Arteta on Ethan not starting more games:
I am always tempted. I think he’s the second-youngest player for the club to score in the Premier League. It’s giving us all the reason and today is another reason to put him there but that’s when I play him and not somebody else. It’s step-by-step, I would say. I am responsible for him, and you have to do that brick by brick. Today he put in another brick, now we have to put the cement, make sure that it doesn’t get dry, so that he can put in another one and another one and that one is going to stick. Then we put one more layer, we want to put five in a row. Believe me, it won’t work and we have to manage that with his expectations and his load as well, which is really important.
I’m pretty sure that had we just gone through a run of games in which we were leading with the win looked safe, Nwaneri would have played more minutes than he has but we haven’t.
Next up, Sporting Lisbon away in what is our only venture outside of London this year…
Catch up in the comments.
I hear Timer was upset with his team mates after the game, for gutting a forest down😜
Good morning Rico.
I’ve just watched Sky’s game of the day and was delighted with the all round performance performance, the best so far this season.
Odegaard was the catalyst for everything good about Arsenal, how much did we miss him during is injury and rehab?
Three spectacular goals, the best by Saka, great twenty yard strike by Partey and a sweet finish by Nwaneri who could have had two.
It’s looking good at the moment, let’s hope it continues.
Morning Geoff, Cicero.
I’ve just done the same Cicero. Thought we looked good. Possibly the best this season.
Even Jesus made a nuisance of himself. lol
Morning Rico and all.
Totaly agree it was a good all round performance, and we lucky to escape any injuries, Saka and Jesus yellow cards were a harsh, considering some of Forest tackles.
Agreed, sensible of Arteta to remove Jorginho at halftime, Hooper would have ended up sending him off I reckon. His officiating in general was pretty drab.
Rather than “pretty drab” Rico, I prefer an oxymoron, “pretty ugly”. 😉
Ha ha Cicero..
Personaly I believe that Forest tactics was to get us as many yellow cards early in the hope that it would prevent us from laying tackle on their players especialy in the box and get us a red card or two.
I’m hoping Southampton can do us a favour today.
Just gone 1-0 down Limey..
1-1
Southampton 2 – 1 up!!!!
Hmm 2 – 2, stupid goal to give away. Southampton went all gung ho and forgot to defend.
Liverpool penalty Salah makes it 2 – 3.
Jammy! The kind of luck we seldom get..
Steve Cooper sacked..
Another one bites the dust!
I’m watching the England+Japan rugby game which is being shown on TNT, Discovery+ or whatever they call themselves now, I earlier watched the Liverpool /Southampton game on Sky. While the commentators on both have the capacity to driver potty, I prefer to watch sport on Sky as the other lot put far to any graphics on the screen while play is going on. The graphics are often irrelevant, to mind, statistics as well as ads for future programs.
I’m sure there will be a few more before the season ends. Slot hopefully 😜😜
There were so many positive things to enjoy about the teams’ performance last Saturday but with so much riding on the game I found it difficult to relax even at 3-0.
We so needed that clean sheet to re-boot a defence that had stuttered somewhat over the previous last few weeks. Keeping a fit and focused defence is vital, just as Liverpool have shown so far, let’s see how they go if Van Dyke misses a few games?
Midfield was secure and drove forward thanks to the trio of Uncle Jorginho, Merino and Odegaard whilst a surprising attack did a great job on the Forest low block.
Arteta rotated the starting XI sensibly and he used his substitutions thoughtfully with possibly Lisbon and two games a week for probably the next 4 months in mind. Nobody else in europe has the intense competition that the top English teams have to contend with, it’s relentless and unforgiving.
Sporting thrashed Man City 4-1 recently so nobody at Arsenal will be underestimating them.
Porto showed last season that facing Portuguese teams is not a simple case of football alone. You have to be prepared for the ‘dark arts’ but at a level rarely encountered in English football.
Sporting have shown that they can overcome the Barca style of City and will approach Arsenal the same way given the style similarities but at least Arteta will know what’s coming, he’s a fast learner is Mikel.
Arsenal probably need the win to have any chance of top eight but a draw wouldn’t be a disaster with the rest of our CL game’s eminently winnable.
Keeping everyone fit, maybe doing some inventive business in January and working hard to bring our long-term injured back is the key to the rest of this campaign.
The odd VAR decision going our way would certainly help and a winning run in early 2025 and being as consistent as we were in early 2024 might help us finally to the silverware we need to satisfy our top players and encourage them to extend their contracts?
Also Marquinhos is available and back at Arsenal on January 1st…
Excellent Kev.
Marquinhos, I thought he’d long gone..
His loan runs until December 31st Rico and I can’t see anyone being interested in taking him permanently in January?
I guess another loan is possible Rico, maybe in England to see if he’s developed?
Kieran Tierney training with the 1st team again today.
Good Afternoon Rico and all
First of all, I really like nay, love the new look of Highbury House. From your comments, Rico, its not your doing, however, I really love it. Very Christmassy I might add. Just a few decorations here and there and voila…..one of the best sites.
Great match report boss. I saw the game, not on TV or laptop, but on smartphone so couldnt communicate properly.
We had a great match. We tore them apart. We are 9 points behind, but from here I can assure you that by January we will be just 1 or 2 pts behind first place. Dippers still have to play Tottenham, City and the rest. So will surely slip up.
The line up felt strange seeing Jesus up front instead of Havertz. However it worked out well and if we had won 6-0 no one could and would have said anything. we were that good.
As you pointed out, the substitutions were spot on and thoughtful. And the defence, with Timber and Calafiori manning the flanks was quite solid. The midfield was rotated well with Arteta making use of all options available except Rice. And tbh he wasnt needed. So another rest and good time to heal his toe.
With regards City’s loss, I feel that the players and management already know something we dont. City are in a free fall and one could see how demotivated they were against spurs. Its not just one result…its five consecutive games. I am not holding my breath when they play liverpool. If Spurs can put 4 past them then Liverpool will show no mercy either.
Hopefully they will continue to slide into oblivion. And at the same time we stop getting bad luck, injuries and bogus red cards.
Yes Devil, I have to agree, I think that Liverpool will tear City apart and unfortunately for us gain a lot of confidence from that.
For us a draw would be best, but to me and considering it’s at Anfield City just look very fragile plus very old and those lucky scousers are flying. If Salah and Van Dyke picked up long term injuries I’d be more optimistic…
I forgot he went to Brazil Kev.
I guess the silence relating to him suggests his loan hasn’t been overly successful.
Afternoon Devil, thanks.
I’m hoping Liverpool struggle through this period with tougher fixtures. Gee, they struggled to beat Southampton yesterday.
Rico, City are playing worse than Southampton I assure you. Yes, each match has a different story but the way it is going City will go down faster than a rock in water. AS I said before, the city players and management already know something we dont. And they are just collecting their wages.
And from all the teams we have played so far, the only team which was the best level was Chelsea. No not even Liverpool were at their level. Liverpool have had the rub of the green so far, while as I pointed out we had injuries, bogus red cards, bogus refs, plus our own ability to shoot ourselves in the foot (vs Newcastle and Bournemouth we were inept not they were better.)
Am I worried that we are 9 points behind?? No. I am not. not at this stage. Its better we are so behind at this moment in time because it would have been horrible to let a lead slip once again. The win against Forest came at the best moment. I dont care about the CL, but another win against WHU will be awesome.
That’s quite an assumption re City Devil. They could just be going through a dip, a bit like we’ve just been through. Not having Rodri fit has hurt them, just as not having Odegaard has caused us problems.
I’m pretty sure they will soon pick up.
Kev, I don’t think Liverpool will tear City apart. I can see a draw…
Liverpool don’t have to lose they just need to draw a few, three draws and they drop six points as long as we win. Close the gap and it’s squeaky bum time in the city with no hub caps.
That’s the hard bit, ‘as long as we win’…
I dont think its a dip Rico. Their results are quite different then when someone has a dip.
Time will tell I guess Devil but I hope it’s the start of a collapse. Weird that Guardiola has agreed to stay though if your theory about the club is right.
City have a point to prove, that they are not finished or easy beats, I reckon City will bounce back and beat Liverpool,
As for Tierney back in training, rule (1) don’t let any one tackle, (2) wrap him up in bubble wrap until January then sell him.
Morning Rico and all.
I believe Pep resigned for three reasons.
(1) Is to bluff the premier league into thinking their case is not as strong as the premier league believes it is.
(2) At the same time, it’s a way of stopping the top players from wanting to leave.
(3) if Haaland is offered a bumper new contract, they will need Pep to help keep the other players happy.
Interesting to hear Arteta talking up the return to fitness of Kieran Tierney and his return to the squad.
Does that mean less exposure will be available to Lewis Skelly if KT proves his fitness and remains fit?
Who gets the nod in the next round of the League Cup if both are available and can Mikel play both in the same team?
Personally I think he can as MLS could move into midfield and it would be interesting to see them combine in a heavily rotated team.
Morning Geoff, Kev and all.
I’m glad Tierney is fit again and hope Arteta is prepared to play him. Calafiori’s fitness seems unreliable at the moment and Timber is in and out which is understandable. If it’s a toss up between Zinchenko and Tierney, the latter gets my vote purely because he’s a much better defender.
I think MLS is in a similar place to Nwaneri, he needs to be patient and next season we’ll see so much more of both. Zinchenko, Tierney and Kiwior are likely to be gone then.
New post up.