Morning all.
When the team was announced and both Thomas Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko were named in it, I’m sure every Arsenal fan breathed a sigh of relief. I bet Mikel Arteta did too when he knew both would be available because the NLD is a game which neither manager wants to lose. Unlike Conte, the Spaniard was able to field what is probably, his strongest first eleven. If every single one of that eleven could stay fit until the end of the May, I’m confident we’ll be back in the Champions League next season but the likelihood of things falling that way for us is in my opinion, slim to none.
Arsenal started on the front foot, Totts looked happy to soak up the pressure, no doubt hoping to steal possession and hit us on the break. That’s Conte for you, especially away from home. Arsenal were pretty much in full control from, all that was missing was a goal. Twenty minutes in, Thomas Partey changed that. Finally, one of his strikes from distance found the target. A wonderful shot which even from 25 yards out, Lloris could do nothing about.
Half an hour in and Arsenal shot themselves in the foot. A bit of a mix up between Granit Xhaka and Gabriel at the back and as Richarlison looked to take advantage, a stray Brazilian foot caught him. Over he went and Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot. Kane scored. 1-1.
After the break, Arsenal started as they did the first half, on the front foot. A shot from Bukayo Saka, a save from Lloris, a mix up between him and a Totts defender saw the ball go under the Frenchman’s body and there was Jesus to tuck the loose ball home. 2-1 against 11 then became 2-1 against 10. Martinelli was heading towards his own goal with the ball at his feet when Royal, no doubt utterly cheesed off with having rings run round him by the Brazilian all game, committed a studs up challenge into Martinelli’s leg. The Arsenal fans didn’t like it, the Arsenal players didn’t like it, Anthony Taylor didn’t like it either and Royal was off for an early bath. Totts players complained but there was no going back. There was no coming back for the not so noisy neighbours either, not after Granit Xhaka fired home our third. Another great finish it was too.
At 3-1, Conte waved the white flag by making all of his substitutions. He clearly wanted to make sure 3-1 didn’t become 5 or 6-1 as defensive players came off the bench.
The only time Totts looked like they might cause us a problem was after their penalty through to half-time but Aaron Ramsdale was on the ball when he was required. I thought he had a good game and his kicking was good. The save at 0-0, excellent, the ball out to Martinelli in the first half was brilliant. Arsenal, at times, were brilliant.
Well done to Mikel Arteta and his players…
VAR is back in the headlines today with a report in The Mail suggesting it should be scrapped after two controversial red cards yesterday. The first being Emerson Royal, the second, Nathaniel Chalobah at Fulham. Well, Anthony Taylor made his own mind up so VAR was irrelevant in the decision but at Fulham, Mike Dean on VAR advised the referee to check the pitch side monitor after he’d booked Nathaniel Chalobah. Having seen the challenge, I think Dean got it right. Just because a bad tackle has gone unpunished in games before, when the officials get it right, they deserve a bit of credit. Yes, we’ve all seen worse challenges on our players result in just a booking or in some cases, nothing, but that doesn’t mean the two yesterday were wrong. Totally the opposite in my opinion.
We’ve started what is a difficult week in perfect fashion. Now we have a Europa League match at home against FC Bodo/Glimt on Thursday, followed by a Sunday fixture against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon and for the first time in a few years, Klopp’s team look shaky. Play like we did yesterday and we can win.
See you in the comments.
Morning Rico and all.
Well put Rico, one thing I would add is how much Richarlison tried his best to get under our players skin to get them carded and like his team they both failed to beat us.
It’s interesting how delving into things bring up anomalies. Following the Harry Kane love in and the TV ‘s attempt to find a positive for our neighbours , I have done a bit of cursory checking .It seems that he has scored 9 penalty goals in London derbies . 1 each against West Ham and Chelsea and 7 against us.
Is there a pattern here that we should be concerned with and should this be trumpeted loud and clear. As much as they may claim that we are clumsy tacklers it seems too coincidental that referees seem almost obliged to help them out.
Having said that I thought it was a penalty yesterday but like the Giggs goal years ago it could have been stopped in midfield but that would probably meant that we would have been the ones that played with ten men.
As it happened Martinelli was running riot and Emerson took the gamble that as he was not running into a dangerous area , he could get away with leaving one on him . Strangely Taylor bought out a red when I thought that a yellow was more likely.
Still it’s three points and bragging rites for a bit . Not a bad weekend so far.
Just as a by comment . My mate that runs bar in Sitges and does a matchday special :- A bottle of Estrella for 2 euros , a pint 2.50. He tells me that just before kick off 19 white shirts arrived bought a bottle each and sat on them until about when Xhaka scored when one by one they drifted out . Never to be seen again.
Just watched first half man c vs Man U, 4 nil half time Man U fans leaving already and sir Alex with the biggest sour look, and us winning yesterday what a great weekend.
Afternoon Geoff, Potter.
That’s funny re the bar Potter.
Pretty good weekend all round really but it does make me wonder how on earth we lost against Utd.
Must admit, not for one minute did I expect Taylor to produce a red card and even after he had, I expected Gillet to advise him to change it to a yellow.
In real time red card looked soft, but from reverse angle when we saw replay and how ref would have seen, it looked much worse, no attempt at ball. Liked they had mentioned Xhaka as a possible red during game, sorry they were disappointed! Just a shame Chelsea didn’t see red, then come back to win.
Ps, evening rico and all
Evening Andrew, definitely a red, we’re just not used to getting them. You’re right, had that been Xhaka, the headlines would be very different today.
Here’s another thought , if Lloris hadn’t spilled the ball for Jesus’ goal would the ref have called a back pass. ?
I doubt it.
New post up now