Morning all.
I’ve started this piece three times already and all three have ended up being deleted. This is when I wish I was writing with a pen onto a piece of paper, or using a typewriter even as there’s something about screwing up paper and throwing it into the bin. Or ripping the paper from the typewriter in annoyance and then throwing it. Pressing the little beige bin on an iPad is not quite the same..
Fourth time lucky.
We didn’t win, our run is over, Arsenal are in a crisis! Except we’re not! Three mistakes cost us two points and one of those was questionable as I’m still not convinced Xhaka was guilty for their second penalty. Just what Lacazette was thinking though prior to then, I don’t know. Hindsight eh. I bet he wishes he’d done something other than what he did though, especially so late in the game. Xhaka said he caught Zaha’s knee but that doesn’t necessarily mean he fouled him, certainly not enough to send the Palace man over like he did. No such doubt with their first though as Mustafi definitely made contact with the Palace player.
Our equaliser soon after halftime was a beauty. Not fifteen passes before it was scored or anything fancy either, just precision, pace and whip. Superb from Granit Xhaka. We missed his corners yesterday as the ones we did get were awful. 1-1 soon became 2-1. Atkinson failed to spot a handball in the box by Lacazette, the ball fell to Aubameyang via a Palace players head and goal line technology came into play. The man from Gabon just can’t stop scoring.
2-2 it ended. Maybe we were lucky to come away with a point, maybe Palace were fortunate to keep all eleven players on the pitch. A booking for Ayew followed by a self made foul in the box could so easily have seen him off for an early shower.
Overall though I think Palace edged in on clear cut opportunities, the best fell to Townsend in the first half. We too had chances but whereas Lady Luck has so often been on our side, she’d upped and left Selhurst Park right after Lacazette raised him arm and hand to the ball. Mind you, we might not have needed her had Atkinson spotted Lacazette being tugged around before he handled the ball. Or maybe he realised his error and allowed us to continue. No, he’s not that good eh.
Ok, we didn’t win, but we didn’t lose either. Yes the winning run is over and losing is hard to take but let’s be honest, we’re far from being a finished article. We knew that whilst we were on our good run so little has changed in my opinion. We’re still the same group of players learning from a new coach whilst trying to improve week by week.
We dropped points because of individual errors and as Unai Emery said after the game, that’s life and mistakes are made. Learn from them and don’t repeat them.
What disappointed me more was the level of our performance as a team and a number of individuals. Ozil was dreadfully disappointing, Iwobi had an off day and our usual attacking unit simply wasn’t clicking. Our passing was poor too. A bad day all round I’d say although our two midfielders and Holding continued to do well. Xhaka too in apostion alien to him. The substitutions made little difference which just about summed the day up.
I doubt we’ll hear any of the cliches we’re used to hearing/reading like ‘it’s a wake up call’ or ‘we’ll come back stronger’ etc etc as what’s more likely to be said is very little. Certainly by the players. Unai Emery has already had his say which is on the official site if you want to read it. Now I suspect he’ll work his players even harder. He’ll go over the mistakes, not criticise as he’s already said he won’t but he’ll work on them not being repeated. Just as he’ll work on everything else which wasn’t working properly yesterday.
Some of the players looked done in around the hour mark which is a concern but with Blackpool up next on Wednesday night, hopefully most of them will be watching on from the comfort of their own living room, or from the dugout as they get a much needed rest. And hopefully Bellerin will recover in time for Saturday. Mane v Lichtensteiner wouldn’t be a good thing in my opinion.
Anyway, don’t be too down about the draw, don’t get angry either because we knew there’d be up and downs this season. If we’re honest with ourselves, I doubt anyone expected us to be sitting fourth in the table at this stage of the season. I doubt anyone would have believed we’d have won eleven fixtures on the trot either. The world of Arsenal has not come to an end just because we dropped two points. Or earned one.
Enough from me, have a good Monday guys…
Good morning Rico, a thoughtful post which strikes exactly the right notes……and in the right order. 😉
Tiredness and injuries have become a factor even before we get to November, perhaps a hangover from the training and conditioning regime of our previous manager has caught up with us in, what has become, a hectic few months.
There will be no let either, Carabao Cup ties, Europa League matches and another bloody inconvenient International break all loom on the horizon……and games against Liverpool, Spurs and Man U too.
Time to gird up our loins for the battles ahead.
Anyone who needs advise on loin girdling should contact Le Coq, Cornwall’s expert from what I’ve heard. 😉
Morning Cicero 😆
Yep, thick and fast fixtures now until Christmas. The last thing the league needs is another international break. Although if Emery is smart, a few of our players might pick up ‘little injuries’ so they stay at home.. other clubs do it, we should too.
Morning all. I for one am not fussed about the result. The performance was a bit worrying but we’ve never been that good when playing them away from home. My biggest worry is the fact that we are just too slow to get in to gear.. Do we always need to get a goal behind before we wake up? The players can rest until saturday as the game in midweek is utterly worthless and I hope Emery will field a second string team. I’m hoping for a draw against Liverpool. I simply cannot see us winning the game, as they are so well balanced and strong. I would love to be proven wrong though.
Same here Adk, although I don’t think we really got going at all yesterday. Thought Palace were smart in that they broke up our play and by any means. Our passing let us down too.
One competition has to give I’d have thought so it’s the league cup for me too. Saying that, I would expect a second string team to beat Blackpool.
Morning all from Sunwall and thanks Rico.
Agree with game against Blackpool Illuminations………………U23`s……….U21`s…………….U18`s………..they will be too good for them !
Doing some landscaping and it`s cheap !………….my wages a bit like Kroenke`s investment in the team…….£0……………Walling stone £25 a ton……………………..building sand £10 a ton !…………….
Arsenal Women are building their own winning streak in the WSL a four nil away win at Bristol City makes it six in a row and reinforces their position at the top of the league. I wonder if they have a left back who could bolster the men’s team.
Morning all.
When Zaha plays, penalties are bound to follow so our boys should’ve expected his theatrics, but so be it.
The unbeaten run continues and we have a brilliant opportunity to prove we can take the top sides on pretty shortly.
Our boys must lift, and surely they well.
Dry stone walling is even cheaper, no £10 a ton sand needed Le Coq.
I cement it from behind, Cicero, so it looks dry !……………………it`s for a raised patio, so needs some structual integrity otherwise it would bow out !
As I`ve said many a time recently, the games we won were games I expected us to win and Palace was one of those, but we all know some games dont go to plan and I just hope Dippers game plan against us does not go to plan as I reckon we will get stuffed !……………….we have a great home record so far this season ( apart from ManC), but we have been very fortunate against WHam, Everton, Leicester and Watford !………………….we better raise our game or hope that Dippers have an off day !
Okay I’ll bow out with my advice about wall building. 😀
Have we been fortunate or just taken advantage of teams to have players who can’t score goals?
Football is about scoring gals and not conceding them. We’ve been doing both which imo doesn’t mean we’re fortunate. Just better.
G’day Rico, and all.
I wish I was as optimistic as you guys but it’s troubling when we lose the game in extra time through a lack of focus and ineptitude.
Yes he scored a superb goal (excellent even), but Xhaka’s response to Zaha’s teasing impression of dribbling IN THE PENALTY AREA, was pure stupidity. Mustafi was no better either – a very late lunge with desperation written all over it in bold. Apart from the occasional headed goal I for one won’t be sorry when he gets replaced.
A German International team player no less (could have fooled me) just like Per Mertesacker both of whom were, and, are past their sell by date.
Sorry for the moan and negativity wafting your way but, what IS IT with Özil? Can we afford to pay his wages and get a “brilliant peformance” every 5 or 6 games?
He doesn’t radiate health and fitness either so IS there a serious health issue with him (?) because I’d rather have Ramsey.
We ARE riding our luck, as Palace could have had the game wrapped up by half time but, it’s about time we had some luck.
I heartily agree ADK/Rico – if we were seriously adept at soaking up pressure without a hint of nervousness, and then counter-attacking I’d be confident of a positive outcome, but several of our “part-time defenders” aren’t up to the task and their display in extra time , after Palace had equalised, lacked positivity and the ball went either went backwards or across the field when we should have been looking for a winner.
I’m exhausted…………
Hi Andorra, I’m staying positive lol
Apart from the Ozil comment I agree with Andorra. 🙂
Lets hope then Rico that we defend well and score plenty against The Dippers and hope their strikers are as bad as WHams, Evertons, Watfords and Leicesters, because if they aint as bad as them, then we`re in trouble……………….unless our great defense carries on with not conceding !……………………….Palace doesn`t count as they were penalties and not scoring from open play !
🙂
Now as one of the greatest (in my own mind 😆 ) defenders of non- league football having never conceded a goal coming down my side of the pitch ever I think ………………If only professionals were to take my advise !………………………and that is, I hardly ever actually tackled !…………..I would always “jockey” players !………………I would never attempt in my life to try and dive in against a player as tricky as Zaha, just jockey him untill he either goes down a dead alley or has to pass back !……………………probably the reason why I never ever conceded a penalty !………………………………..it brings me to a conclusion of………..do some players have no common sense ?
Hardly ever saw Rio Ferdinand go to ground or make rash challenges………………….Bobby Moore and Beckenbaur, they read the game !…………………………………..note to Dick (not mine)……………buy intelligent players !
Had we had Zaha instead of Iwobi we would have won. Harsh but true i think. He’s the type of trickery we need to complete offensive duties.
Mustafi and Xhaka defended well overall, but clumsily gave away the goals. Once Xhakas leg came out it was always going to be a pen. I just don’t get Mustafi, could be good but always a rash decision around the corner.
They called it retreating defence coqy. Try to show the player away from danger and don’t dive in.
I am hoping that Mavrpanos and Holding become the partners to Sokratis and that Mustafi is eased out but it is likely to be the end of the season before the decision iis made.
Emery has probably done a little bit better in his start but that there would be bumps in the road was a given .Palace was a bump but really not a big one.
Spuds lose so we stay 4th…………………………I feel radiant ! 😀
The big difference yesterday was in the physical condition.
To play away for European competitions with games in a row is not the same as playing at home. Example: Chelsea recovered in 72 hours; Arsenal did not.
In a game of great physical exigency against C. Palace we failed. Sporting was not so physically demanding.
Which leads me to conclude for example that Ozil should have played in Lisbon and not against C. Palace; against C. Palace we had to have a very strong midfield and we did not have; we had to have combative players because the pitch was heavy and we did not.
There was in my opinion, the wrong rotation of players. And it was not a matter of the game a) be more important than the game b) or vice versa. It is a matter of certain players being more productive playing against a) than against b).
Morning Gooners
You made some good points there JM, I also think that 3 games in 7 days had an effect.
I heard it mentioned on the radio that Arsenal looked fatigued.
Despite their poor start to the season, Palace are not a bad side and Selhurst Park is a raucously difficult place to visit.
Mustafi is a poor defender and he started the rot, despite some passable performances by him this season, we never miss him when he’s absent and that says it all to me.
Moving him on next summer and replacing him with a more reliable centre half should be a priority for Emery and Mislintat.
Checkatrade Trophy tonight, our U23’s vs Cheltenham
I am with Joaquim on the issue of wrong substitutions. Like we did against Chelsea we sat back after Ozil’s substitution and we conceded a goal, if we had played a different formation or even started with Welbeck we might have been able to play better. Secondly we lacked the width afforded by our foremost fullbacks and this reduced our attacking potency to an extent.
Next up Blackpool with the memories of Matthews , Mortenson etc. Nowadays we should win at a canter but I doubt that is Emery’s mindset . I expect to see a few youngsters out coupled with any first teamer that is coming back from injury to bolster things up.
Correction, Potter, next up Cheltenham away tonight in The Checkatrade Trophy !…………………and a correction for Kev`……………….it`s our U21`s…………………………………..it`s all part of The Quintuple !
If a few youngsters are to be played against Blackpool in our “2nd” next up game then ESR, Eddie, Willock etc` will not play tonight !
Evening all !
New Twitter account for the youngsters…………………………………..
https://twitter.com/ArsenalAcademy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1057027317942378507&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fdailycannon.com%2F2018%2F10%2Farsenal-twitter%2F
Evening Rico and the House.
Tonights U 23 Team
Ilieve , Sheaf, Ballard, Medley, Bola, Gilmour, Olayinka, Coyle, Burton, Saka, John Jules.
No Willock, Plegie, Nkekta, Smith Rowe, Niles, Jenkinson
Looksw like they are ion the squad for Blackpool
I-0 down already and Burton sent off !……………………….lets hope the U23`s are doing better !
😆
Bad Start.
Burton Red Card 7mins.
! down 8 mins.
Losing 4-1 now, it’s an education of sorts I suppose.
4-2, Gilmour from the penalty spot
That’s it for the comeback, 5-2
Blimey, 6-2, this isn’t a learning curve, it’s a thrashing….
Even considering the fact that we’re down to 10 men, conceding 6 goals isn’t great.
Getting a hiding but 10 men from 8minutes half a team missing against a full strength professional team . It’s not surprising.
New post up now