Where to start?
Well let’s be frank, it wasn’t a classic, in fact it was quite a poor cup tie. Blackpool will come away from it feeling as if they gave us a game and in truth they did, but only because Arsenal were well below par.
Unai Emery had picked a strong side too, the only raw youngsters in the starting eleven being Smith-Rowe and Pleguezuelo, the latter making his senior debut for the home side. Nketiah and Willock were on the bench, no doubt in anticipation of coming into the fray when the seniors had made the game safe.
They remained on the bench..!
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has a fair bit of experience behind him and teenager Guendouzi has many first team minutes in the tank this season and has in general, made a very positive impression. The rest of the team was made up with vastly experienced players like Mustafi, Lichtsteiner, Cech, Ramsey, Mkhitarayan and Jenkinson, so it looked a strong enough unit to comfortably do the job.
Thanks to the traffic and a job to Sloane Square, I missed the opening fifteen minutes, but fortunately a friend was relaying those opening exchanges to me on the phone. Blackpool almost scored as I walked to the stadium so I had misgivings about the game as I made my way to the North Bank, wondering if our lads were really as up for this game as we hoped.
The first forty five minutes, or thirty as it was in my case, was disjointed. Arsenal lacked their usual flow and in general, were a bit sloppy, Blackpool were defending with two banks of four, sometimes two banks of five, but they broke quickly and stretched our defence on several occasions, Jenkinson was manfully trying to play left back, but he wasn’t comfortable and rarely got forward. Lichtsteiner also tried to get forward as often as possible and it was he that poked us into the lead following a well placed and intelligent pass from Guendouzi. Overall though, we seemed to be struggling with Blackpool’s physicality and high balls into our box. The lack on inches in our defence obviously didn’t help.
In midfield, Mkhitaryan was mostly on the periphery of things and Ramsey looked disinterested. Guendouzi was having an average game for him and Maitland Niles, just back from injury, wasn’t really at the races.
Fortunately Blackpool were poor where it mattered the most, allowing Mustafi and Pleguezuelo to have a unblemished first half, I liked Pleguezuelo, he looks skilful and confident on the ball, but for a centre half he is on the short side, shorter than Mustafi who is hardly a giant himself and Blackpool definitely saw that as our major weakness during the game.
Up front Welbeck toiled but it wasn’t his day and Smith Rowe whilst showing glimpses of his talent, was being outmuscled.
The second half saw Arsenal come out more motivated and I expected us to step it up and put the game to bed. Following one of our early attacks, the massed ranks of the Seasiders was breached as Smith-Rowe fired home our second goal following a cross from Jenkinson and good work by Welbeck. A two goal cushion looked to be enough and we sat back quite content, waiting for more goals to flow.
Instead though, Guendouzi picked up a second booking and soon after he left the pitch, panic stations set in. Blackpool sensed an upset and their confidence increased. From a corner, their aerial dominance paid off and they pulled a goal back. They had already hit the angle of the crossbar and post earlier in the game.
Arsenal were looking shaky. We certainly didn’t want extra time and penalties with Liverpool on the horizon. We also didn’t want to risk our marquee players either but Emery needed to put this game to bed so on came Torrieira, Aubameyang and Iwobi. Off went Maitland-Niles, Smith-Rowe and Welbeck. Welbeck had fed on scraps for most of the game and was unlucky to be taken off, but Aubameyang stretched the game and stopped Blackpool compressing the pitch. The plan worked and we managed to see out the remainder of the game. A straight red card for Blackpool’s O’Connor after a scissor tackle on Aubameyang saw both sides down to ten men in what was an easily forgettable game.
But not before Petr Cech almost gifted Blackpool an equaliser as he attempted to dribble around an opponent, lost control, fell over and only the linesman’s flag saved him from a hugely embarrassing moment.
It was that type of game…
Next up for us in this competition is another home tie during the week commencing 17th December. This one being against The Totts so there’ll be a lot more at stake than a place in the semi-final.
By AllezKev.
Peseiro saking from Sporting
Morning Kev and all.
White Rabbits.
Thanks Kev for the post, sounds like it was an awful match to watch, must have hard to write about it too. Your post is a good one.
There’s suggestion Guendouzi was unlucky to receive a second booking so I wonder if the club will appeal. We’ll miss him for the Liverpool game. Fingers crossed Monreal or Kolasinac are declared fit as I think we’ll need Xhaka in midfield.
I think Mkhitaryan might want to join Ramsey on the departure list because he should be bossing games like last night.
and totts next
allez: our best player yesterday was Mustafi
Morning all and thanks Adonis Kev.
Main thing is we won and are in the next round in our quest for The Quintuple.
However I have no confidence what so ever for our next game, we will get shafted !……………………if we have no proper LB and let Dippers have the chances that have been given to the likes of WHam, Everton, Watford, Leicester recently then Dippers have the players not to miss such opportunities !…………………….I wont be hiding behind the sofa, no, I will be at DFS hiding behind a warehouse full of them !……………………..I`d settle for a point now !…………………………..although If we dont win I will be pissed off ! 😆
(Corn)wall to (Corn)wall sunshine here, some more stone masonry to be done !……………………….enjoy the day and dont forget to take the Halloween masks off !
Morning Rico and all. Good write up Kev. I watched the game on a fairly decent feed and it was very bitty I thought. Guendouzi was unlucky to get a second yellow for a rather innocuous foul while their sending-off was richly deserved. That tackle was dangerous. It was a shame because Guendouzi was busy pulling the strings but, as ever, our game just looked stretched and unbalanced. Mikhi looks out of place as you say Rico. He failed to stamp his quality on the game and Ramsey looks done and half-way out the door already. If they can get money for him, he should leave in January as keeping him is a waste of time now. Lichtsteiner was decent though and his goal was good from a promising but difficult ball from Guendouzi. He is a bastard to play against.
Morning Adam.
I didn’t see much of the game, my link kept crashing so I gave up. Did see the first goal though, really smart finish from a difficult chance.
Agree re Ramsey Adam, he has to go in January and if his commitment has gone, don’t play him.
It was Rico. I guess that every game brings its own realisations for Unai and urges him closer to the decisions he will need to make as the transfer window approaches.
I agree re Ramsey. He looks completely disinterested and keeping him after January seems pointless to me though he might want to stay until the end of the season himself.
Hi Kev, good post
I’ve just watched the game on the Arsenal Player and I think you summed it up perfectly.
Mustafi made his usual mistake, running away from their best header and giving him a clear chance. Chec didn’t do anything to get his place back, but Jenks and M-N had much needed minutes under their belt. Jenks was out of position on the left, but to his credit he kept using his left when others in the same position would have checked back on their right. If he stays fit he will be an asset to the squad.
I liked the way Unai brought on an attacker, Aubamayang, when Arsene and most other managers would have brought on another defensive player and invited even more pressure. Having the extra pace as an outlet took the sting out of Blackpool.
Ramsey just got in Mikatarian’s way, the same way he gets in Ozil’s when they play together. He’s simply out of place in this squad.
Brian
Morning Gooners.
Morning Rico, that was a great post 😄
Hi Adam, yes I agree, I think Guendouzi was harshly treated, they used VAR last night, quite odd but I’m in favour of it.
Sounds like a good night not to have travelled even at the reduced prices. Didnt see anything but just wondered if the ref was overwhelmed by the place and a bit jumpy with the csrds.
I reckon so too Adam, but that’s just what many of us thought this season would be about. Emery can wad, wat h our games etc prior to joining but hands on is the only way to see what they’re really about…
Scott, with all due respect, I cannot recall anyone on here criticising Wenger for not paying high enough wages, that just isn’t so.
But I do recall plenty of gripes about Wenger refusing to pay transfer fees to get the players we needed.
I still maintain that the problem has come from the strangely all of a sudden very silent agent of Ramsey, I think that Raul has drawn a line in the sand and Ramsey is the unwitting first victim.
In the long run it’ll be beneficial to the club and that to me is the priority.
It’s a shame for Ramsey, but maybe it’s a lesson for players to maybe take a more hands on approach to their contracts instead of leaving it to a guy who is looking after himself?
I actually don’t think it’ll be that difficult to replace Aaron…
JM, yes Mustafi did ok, but Lichtsteiner was the best player for me.
Thanks Brian, Blackpool were a team of giants and we were quite small by comparison, agree totally that Cech seemed edgy, but I felt sorry for him, he ain’t ever going to be a sweeper keeper so to continually put him under pressure is daft to me.
😂😂 Kev.
You’re right Kev about the wages Wenger paid. He didn’t have a problem rewarding players by their salary. Transfer prices though, total different story.
Hiya Kev.
The usual thoughts on wages was we don’t pay our best players enough, and pay our lesser players too much, so I half agree with you but stand by comment.
On Ramsey, as you say, he is being held up as an example by the club and though I agree with them for taking this stance, the fact they haven’t even explained to the man why the offer was pulled is pathetic, imo.
I have always said all that player agents are the biggest scumbags in the game as they’re in it for themselves, and the player and club are secondary in their thoughts.
Then, players do use them as well to suit their own interests and sometimes it backfires.
Ramsey may not be hard to replace-very few players are-but it won’t be cheap.
Sell in January as letting this drag on does the club no favours, and the player has no chance of being at his best and nobody could blame him for that.
Who would be capable of giving everything for a club that is treating him poorly and doesn’t want him?
Players are only human.
I think replacing Ramsey will be easy and cheap. Torreira earns less than him, Guendouzi too so there’s just two examples. Also, we have Smith-Rowe and AMN who will only get better.
In all honesty Scott, I don’t see how the club are treating him poorly..
Good morning, oops just checked the time, good afternoon all.
Thanks for the write up Kev, “Thanks to the traffic and a job to Sloane Square” sounds like a cabbie’s excuse to me.. but well done for getting their anyway.
I haven’t seen the match, the goals or the cards so I can’t comment on them. With nine changes to the starting line-up including a rusty Jenkinson, a debut appearance by Pleguezuelo (Pleggy from now on) two returnees from the treatment room, Cech and Maitland-Niles, plus a disinterested Ramsey, what could anyone expect but a disjointed performance? Football is a team game and a cobbled together side is not a team.
I’m happy that we won and did not suffer any serious injuries. Guendouzi, however, will be unavailable for the Liverpool game after a rule change.
The Football Association confirmed in August that yellow cards will no longer be carried across competitions and are now specific to each tournament. For example, a yellow card in the Carabao Cup will not count towards a player’s tally in the Premier League. But, crucially, the FA confirmed that red cards remain unaffected, which means Guendouzi will miss the match against Arsenal. The updated regulations by the FA read: ‘Cautions received in these competitions will therefore not count in the caution tally for the 5/10/15 sanction process. ‘It should be noted this regulation is for cautions only and dismissals remain unaffected.
The Mirror is claiming that Arsenal gave Ramsey a “brutal” reason for the withdrawal of a contract offer. Arsenal told Aaron Ramsey, personally, they had withdrawn their contract offer to the midfielder because he no longer fits their vision of the club’s future.
Similar to Wilshere then Cicero, and I get why.
Cicero, similar reason as given to Wilshere then?
…..great minds….. haha
Indeed Andrew… 😆
Raul, when asked about the withdrawal of a contract offer for Ramsey, said it was in the best interests of the club. Factor in the costs involved for the duration of the contract and surely Ramsey can work it out.
A more dishonest approach would be to sign him up to maximise the fee and then sell him. I would say that the club have been quite straightforward with him myself.
As would I. I think there are players out there who would offer the team more than Ramsey does. A great goal every now and again doesn’t mean he’s irreplaceable.
Rico, Smith-Rowe is a ready made Ramsey replacement. All ready on the books and not expecting an immediate stratospheric pay rise.
I DO like the healthy debate on HH – afternoon all.
I tend to watch video highlights of the Gunners matches (if they’re not on the box) so when I saw the lead up to the Blackpool goal I froze the frame of the couple of seconds before O’Connor headed in a clean (NOT contended) goal.
It’s MUSTAFI yet again not marking O’Connor behind him because he jumps with the other guy running in (they both miss the ball) giving o’Connor a free header.
In front of Mustafi, at one o’clock, is another Arsenal player doing nothing positive about that situation AND, 3 Arsenal players directly in front of Mustafi surrounding ONE Blackpool player.
Hey guys, this is deeply troubling, amateur stuff.
If I had done my job as badly as some of these guys are doing theirs, I would have been sacked.
I’ve got no beef with Ramsey, I’m delighted that he’s a father of twins, I wish him and his family all the best, he seems a genuinely nice guy but please don’t expect me to feel sorry for a millionaire footballer, to be brutally honest they’re all replaceable, it’s the nature of the game.
I actually feel sorry for the fans, many of us priced out of the game by spiralling costs, it’s why I don’t subscribe to Sky or BT Sports, it costs me enough and if Aaron thinks I should contribute even more so he can have £300k pw well he can go and whistle in the valleys.
Cicero, I was hoping for an East Finchley or a Hampstead Heath, but Sloane Square was a good fare and I couldn’t refuse as I’m a professional… 😉
That may have been the case a few years ago Scott, but I really don’t think that that has been the case for quite awhile now regarding our top earners.
Where I agree is that we’ve paid our squad players too much
Cicero, have to agree re Smith-Rowe.
Kev, cabbing is an honourable occupation. My late father-in-law started in the 1920s and went on until the 80s with a break for his service in WW2. I believe he held a gold badge which allowed him to pick up fares in any part of London.
Guys, I’ve not once suggested Ramsey has done the right thing, quite the contrary.
However, the club agreed with him on a deal, albeit verbally, yet suddenly pulled it without explaination and that’s straight from ramseys mouth so he has been treated poorly, but only in that regard.
I’m glad the club told him and his agent to stick their 200k request, but suddenly he doesn’t fit their future squad requirements?
That change divernight????
Please!!
There’s no defending that guys.
Let him go but in January, because he’s clearly not anywhere near his best so why drag it out and please, stop downplaying his achievements because it cheapens the impact a loyal and long term player has had.
Scored the odd great goal?
Rico, come on, he’s done a hell of a lot more than that in his time and nobody has ever suggested he’s irreplaceable.
The set against the man remains.
What he’s ever done wrong by fans is beyond me, to be honest.
Breaks a leg representing the club and shows more grit and courage to get back to PL level where others have tried and failed and he’s constantly criticised.
Rant over 🙂 🙂
Kev, I know the criticism of Wenger paying large wages was In the past, but to now admire Spuds for doing what he did for years was the point I was debating.
As much as I love watching Ozil, 300k is bloody ridiculous but then, we were backed into a corner because of poor management of the squad and yep, that was on Arsene.
Scott, I was being kind of ironic. When push came to shove, he’s put money before the club.
Agree re Ozil though but not on salaries as I think we’ve always paid our players handsomely. Wasn’t that half the problem with Jay Emmanuel Thomas?
I do admire the way Totts manage to keep their players on lower wages. How they do it though I don’t know..
Fair enough, Rico.
As I said, he’s hidden behind “letting my agent handle things” as most do and I hate them for it.
If he wanted to stay he’s have taken a pay rise of reasonable size and it’s wouldve been sorted a year ago.
I’m not criticising the club for anything but pulling an agreed upon contract.
Everything else is how we should be handling these Prima donnas.
Well played, I say.
Should have been done years ago 🙂
Fair enough, Rico.
As I said, he’s hidden behind “letting my agent handle things” as most do and I hate them for it.
If he wanted to stay he’s have taken a pay rise of reasonable size and it’s wouldve been sorted a year ago.
I’m not criticising the club for anything but pulling an agreed upon contract.
Everything else is how we should be handling these Prima donnas.
Well played, I say.
Should have been done years ago 🙂
Arsene is shortening to be next Real manager.
He’s either be perfect or bloody terrible for them right now, and I can’t decide which.
If he man manages them and runs their egos,it might work a treat but if it’s organisation and discipline required, it’ll fall down badly.
Arsene Wenger at Real Madrid, we’ll that’ll be interesting.
I wonder if he’ll have to work under a Director of Football..?
I wonder if he’ll have any say on the signings or just have to deal with what he’s given, which being Real, won’t be too shabby?
I wonder if he’ll tell Marca that top four is a trophy?
Kev, and I wonder how long the fans would be behind him… 😆
Morning all
Real Madrid is a poisoned chalice for any prospective manager at the moment. Only the sale of, possibly, their greatest ever player allowed them to avoid making a loss in their last accounting period. The redevelopment of the Bernabeu is years behind schedule and massively over budget and the squad are in a sorry state after a devastating start to the season.
Any manager walking into that maelstrom will be putting his entire reputation on the line.
Wenger has nothing to lose though Cicero. Nice big payday before retiring for good. 😝
New post up now.