Morning all.
This group of Arsenal players really do confuse me. One minute they go all soft and shaky, losing against average teams like Everton and Man Utd and then they go and put in a performance like they did last night against what is a very good West Ham team.
If the performance level of last night was a result of not having a passenger occupying a forward position then of course one has to question why it took what it did for that player to be removed from the starting eleven. Might we have done better in a number of fixtures had Alex Lacazette been the sole striker with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka either side of him? We’ll never know of course but we know that last night, Arsenal were good. Very good. West Ham couldn’t cope with Arsenal’s level of commitment.
But for some heroics from Fabianski and a number of defensive blocks, we’d have won by a greater margin but that’s football. A game where inches really do make a difference. David Moyes said his team didn’t start well and perhaps they didn’t but he also recognised that Arsenal did. We were better he said and we were. For 95 minutes. Not 20 or 45, 95! Ok, West Ham had a few moments in the second half but we came through unscathed.
Both our goals were really good. The first from Gabriel Martinelli was sublime. A lovely through ball from Alex Lacazette, followed by a finish which will no doubt get people comparing it with Thierry Henry. But it wasn’t, it was Martinelli’s. We’ve all known for a long time what he can do but he just needed to play. Now he is and he’s making a difference to the team and it’s performance. Emile Smith Rowe’s goal was excellent as well. I love the way he doesn’t fear running at a defence with confidence. Last night he did exactly that and as Fabianski anticipated his shot going towards his far post, ESR slotted it through the legs of the defender and inside the near post. Clever.
That second goal finished West Ham. All the time there was one goal between the two sides, anything could have happened.
There were a few controversial decisions made by Anthony Taylor throughout the game. The booking for Thomas Partey, the sending off of Vladimir Coufal, a decision which might have come earlier after he caught Kieran Tierney in the face with his arm and the penalty which Fabianski saved. Personally, I didn’t think it was a penalty because Coufal got a touch on the ball first but I can see why it was given.
After the game, Mikel Arteta said:
I’m really pleased with the performance, the attitude, the commitment and the quality that we showed in the game, and the chemistry that we generated again with our supporters. To win a game at home is really important, because it sets the tone of the team against a really good side that is very difficult to dominate the way we did today.
Of course he have been pleased with the performance because for much of the game, his team were better than David Moyes West Ham, but he wasn’t getting carried away either.
We’ve made some progress but there’s still a lot to do and we have to be aware of that. We’ve had some bumps in the road but I think we have learnt a lot from them, first of all because we have stuck together, from the top of the club to every member of the team and the staff. The biggest compliment I can give, and the players are feeling exactly the same way, is the way that we have our crowd behind us. To see that chemistry between team and crowd is unique – and I’m so proud of that.
It’s easy to say that Arsenal are a better team without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in it because it’s true. Martinelli does more in five minutes than our ex captain was doing in ninety. Forget the disciplinary stuff, performance alone should have seen him dropped.
Arsenal have moved into 4th place and the aim now is to catch Chelsea. Yes, Utd and Toots have games in hand over us but they’ve still got to win the games for them to make a difference and the more their fixtures pile up, the more difficult it might become. What’s important for Arsenal now is to maintain the level of performance we’ve seen in the last two games and push on because as Mikel Arteta said, there’s still room for improvement.
A really good night for the first team though, unlike the women who were thrashed 4-1. Had they conceded one more, they’d have been out of the WCL but they held hold and scraped through.
Next up for Arsenal is a trip to Leeds Utd on Saturday evening.
See you in the comments.
Yes, no coincidence that two games with Auba out saw a much happier band of brothers out on the pitch. We need to keep the same starters as far as possible for Leeds and trust that the team will perform.
With such a young team there will always be some inconsistencies in performance but one has to be encouraged by what we’ve just seen since Auba was dropped.
As for the penalty, getting the ball first is not relevant in the laws – it’s not even mentioned. The tackler comes sliding in, raised leading foot that scims the top of the ball and takes out Lacca recklessly. A foul and yellow all day long.
Good morning Rico, a lovely day in sunny Norfolk the depressing grey clouds of the past week have blown away just as they have gone from the minds of our players with the banishment from the team of our club captain.
That was an important win last night and thoroughly deserved as you say, playing without a passenger is a whole new ball game.
The team looked and played as though they wanted to, they looked as though they were enjoying themselves. It was great to see.
Aubameyang? Who needs him?
Morning Cicero, all.
Having switched my internet provider, a dodgy stream isn’t as good as BT Sport, but it was good enough to see we were so much better without you know who. How unlucky was Tierney not to score.
Lacazette was superb, not just because of his football but the influence he’s has on the team. He set the standards and the rest followed him.
I might yet be eating humble pie re Arteta, especially if last night was the real sign of how things are going to be. Lol
Morning Rico and all
I would be happy to join you in some humble pie Rico but how long has it taken Arteta to see this group of players are much happier with out Auba in the side.
Morning Geoff. Absolutely agree and not just Aubameyang. There’s still a lot I’m unconvinced about.
Morning Rico and all,
Wow sublime, we burst West Ham’s bubble!!
I don’t know how many times I have said as others have too Laca’s link play is his strongest skill they way he gets the youngsters working around him is a Masterclass in team work.
The way we played tonight does make me wonder how deep this Auba situation had effected the team. The way Arteta spoke you could read between the lines that the team was fed up with his antics and probably his performance. It’s a shame because he was a good captain at the start led by example.
I’m just loving the fact Martinelli is back he’s now scored two amazing goals the type of goals others can’t score. I was worried his injuries had impacted his speed but last night you could see he was back to his best again,
Last night was about the attacking play but let’s not forget we got another clean sheet, the back five have become a solid unit that we rely on, and we are able to perform at a higher level now.
I am still going to wait until the end of the season to make my mind up about Arteta but the way he has handled the Auba situation has earned him a tick.
Morning Mig. It does seem that way. I’m sure Auba is a nice bloke and all that but when certain players are giving all and another isn’t, regardless of the friendship, it must be infuriating and demoralising. Two matches without him and we’re suddenly better has to be more than just a coincidence.
But, our home form hasn’t been the real issue this season, it’s been on the road where we’ve been pretty average at best.
Ditto Geoff.
As I watched last night I said to my son , “I wonder how Lacazette’s career with Arsenal would have panned out had we not signed Aubameyang.”
I was watching his all round play like many others and his sheer presence gave West Ham problems that they would not have had with Auba and that was the catalyst that enabled Saka and Martinelli to run them ragged. His work on and off the ball gave them and Odegaard the space and encouragement to keep going forward.
Where in the recent past we have tried to protect a 1 nil lead , he drove us forward and his linking with the midfield meant that we were able to pressure them and stop their advances.
If I was Arteta I would be trying to persuade himto stay and if that is at the cost of losing Aubameyang . So be it.
Even the ghastly Peter Walton, who was quick to call No Penalty during the game, admitted it was a pen after he had watched it 42 times. And Moyes too criticised his own player and agreed that Taylor got it right. I felt that Laca who was over-egging the aftermath somewhat took it too quickly and messed it up.
Still, there was plenty to like about both the individual and team performances. Perhaps the Auba fallout will result in him moving on anyway.
Last night did everybody (except Auba) a bit of good I think.
This situation reminds me of Ozil v Alexis. Arsenal kept the wrong one then imo and will do so again if Lacazette goes and Auba stays. Not much the club can do about though, but I’d like to see Lacazette stay on too, even if it’s just for one more season. For him though, it’s big money time with a free transfer looming.
I can see why it was given Adam, I guess VAR would have soon overturned the decision if there was any doubt.
Leicester v Toots & Utd v Brighton both postponed because of Covid.
Lets get Brentford v Arasenal result annulled .
Does seem unfair now doesn’t it.
Afternoon Rico and the House
Young Arsenal burst Hammers bubble
Loved the heading Rico.
At the start of the season our u23 lost 6-1 to the hammers.
They played 3 over aged players who have been in the P/L squad since then.
That game Lanzani kicked lumps out of our boys and Im delighted to see him on the receiving end last night.
For the first time since the start of Oct I watched a league game live and the improvement is very clear to me.
The defence is looking like they enjoy playing with each other and they are
developing into a really solid unit.
Its also looking good to see some of our Hale End boys showing just how they
can play.
Rico I would like to thank you Adam,Kev,Potter, Wavey and Geoff for the way you all responed to my comment on Monday.
With guys like you the House will always Top Of the Pops
CU later
Evening Rick, last night was definitely better than some of the stuff we’ve seen recently. When the defending starts with the front men, those behind have a less tough task to do.
We could still do with a stronger midfield imo
rico, was a clear penalty.
Unfortunately, we missed another penalty.
As I’ve already posted: a) Auba, under the conditions it is in, it doesn’t offer anything to the team b) Odegard-Smith-Saka can’t play all 3 simultaneously c) The team wins more with the Laka-Martinelli duo.
In Leeds, in my opinion, 2 players should be replaced. not because they are playing badly but to keep the team fresh.
However, what has become of Chambers? (Mari must go to Flamengo)
Niles and Pepe need to play.
I hope that against Sunderland they change the team radically.
Ok Jm.
New post up now