Morning all.
December is always a bit of a grind as fixtures come thick and fast and there’s no let up for those competing on all fronts as Arsenal currently are. Our next game at Villa Park will be this Saturday at midday, so precious little recovery time. Therefore after the last three massive games the Gunners needed a match last night where everybody calmed down a little and we could focus on doing a competent job on a dangerous but ultimately beatable opponent and that’s Brentford. Sounds simple doesn’t it?
The walking wounded are returning, but they needed matches to get up to speed. Those who have carried the cause during the recent injury crisis possibly needed a breather although most of them would say otherwise so then we are left counting the days and crossing our fingers over those that are still recovering. I love seeing a game every three or four days but I’m acutely aware of the toll it actually takes on our players and that’s a big worry.
As Arsenal fans we are well aware of how injuries have derailed us in recent seasons so it’s understandable to see anxiety amongst us but everybody is suffering to a greater or lesser degree and we now have the required strength in depth.
After last season, Arteta and the players have definitely worked hard to avoid any unnecessary confrontations with the officials, last Sunday was a reminder how one-eyed some of our referees are but mistakes are still nibbling at our stress levels. A possible off-side on the Chelsea goal, a couple of stone-walled corners not given, nothing changes on that front.
With those three titanic games last week in mind Arteta decided to shuffle his pack yesterday evening and in came the reliable but underused Ben White alongside the newbies of Mosquera and Hincapie. Midfield stayed fairly unchanged but Odegaard came in and Eze was given the night off and sat down. Up front Mikel went for some badly needed freshness. Trossard was still absent so Martinelli and Madueke made up the wide attacking support for the ever-improving Mikel Merino whilst the battered Saka dat this one out. Well, that was the plan!
The Gunners started fast. I got the sense that Arteta was hoping to see his boys get this one put to bed early and Calafiori led the charge – he’s so impressive when he’s on the gallop. At the same time Brentford, also resting some players, still looked dangerous on the turnovers so we couldn’t relax.
Brentford lined up with a back-five with three monstrous centre backs at its heart so crosses into the box seemed out of the question. Then on the 11th minute the lively Madueke worked the ball towards the right of the Brentford penalty area before sliding Ben White in on the overlap. White clipped an inviting cross into the box and Merino outfoxed the land of the giants and flicked home a marvellous header. He is so calm in those situations and as a finisher he’s one of the best we have.
From then on Brentford came out of their low block and gave us an uncomfortable evening although in fairness we pretty much kept them at arms length. Odegaard put Madueke in on goal and again Noni did a soft shoe shuffle but his shot was saved. On 21 Schade got in a great header from a corner but Raya tipped it onto the bar and it was cleared, but we had been warned. Back came Arsenal on 27 and good build up between White and Calafiori set up Martinelli but he wastefully shot over the bar.
The game was finely balanced when on 37 it looked as if the Gunners had got the breathing space we needed, great work by Calafiori put Rice free on the left and his cross looked destined to be turned home by Madueke but a Bees defender got in a block and another chance was gone. A few moments later Madueke was in again but he hesitated instead of taking the shot. The chance was gone and so it seemed was his confidence as his influence pretty much got the tube home from then on.
On the 42nd minute Mosquera collapsed after heading a high ball and the injury jinx continued its transference from our forwards to our defenders. Off he went and on came a devout Christian in Jurien Timber and he continued the Lord’s work this time as the partner of Hincapie and we prayed for a 2nd Arsenal goal. The game finally reached oranges time without anymore drama. H/T 1-0.
I spent the half-time break making a cup of tea and recalling all those points we dropped last season in these types of games where we drew after wasting the many opportunities we’d had to cement the points, so as the 2nd 45 kicked off the need for an anxiety settling 2nd goal was paramount. But enough about our new sponsors, after 61 minutes of minimal progress Arteta acted and on came Saka for the increasingly sidelined Madueke and Eze replaced the ineffective Martinelli. Brentford made three changes also and the game speeded up. On 69 Merino put Rice in on goal after some good work, Declan cut into the box and let fly but Kelleher saved and Merino missed the follow up. More grinding of teeth.
The game was becoming a slog, Brentford made two more changes and Gyokeres came on for Rice on 83. Arteta later admitted that Rice had a problem which was just the kind of news we needed, not! Immediately afterwards Hincapie went down holding his head which was exactly what we didn’t need, but these Ecuadoreans are made of hard knocks and he returned to battle on.
On 89 Calafiori again went on a fine run into the box and his shot was pushed wide by Kelleher with Saka unable to follow up and the slog continued. As the added time was announced, Merino played Saka in on goal and with an unmarked Gyokeres waiting for the pass Bakayo, took the shot, Kelleher got a strong hand but the ball dropped over him and over the line, praise the Lord.
The relief of the crowd and in my front room was palpable but we weren’t lucky we just weren’t efficient with our chances, it was a game we’d dropped points in before but this season we’re getting it over the line. Tiredness is a factor, Liverpool drew at Anfield with Sunderland, Chelsea lost 3-1 at Leeds, other teams won after conceding a lot of goals.
Arsenal kept a clean sheet despite the injuries so that’s a positive. Games like these are quickly forgotten, you might see the goals again in a compilation video but the match is best consigned to the file that says ‘best to forget’ and move on.
We march on…
By Kev
Morning Kev, all.
You’re getting the hang of these match reviews Kev. 😜
Couldn’t agree more re our finishing which I thought was dire last night. Merino, well, what a reliable striker he’s proving to be. An unsung hero perhaps. He, Madueke and Saka were guilty of missing what for these players, were bread and butter chances.
It’s great to see Odegaard back but I wish he’d look forwards rather than backwards. White was excellent but players are missing some of his movement. He passes, moves and yet his movement is missed.
Raya’s save was incredible. To get a strong enough hand on what looked like a really powerful header was brilliant. Smudger suggested save of the season.
Well done Kev. good report. And that bit about the bible boys leader and the Lord’s work made me smile from ear to ear mate. I enjoyed reading the report. And agree totally on consigning it to the best to forget file. Days like these are best forgotten but they still count.
The Emirates is a fortress.
Arsenal’s home record across all competitions this season:
WWDWWWWWWWW
◉ 11 games played
◉ Goals scored: 29
◉ Goals Conceded: 3
◉ Clean Sheets: 8 out of 11
Eight consecutive home wins. I always hate losing whether home or away, even conceding a goal feels like an insult. But losing at home feels actually worse.
Arsenal Injury Update
Declan Rice Return date, when he was interviewed Rice said that he is not injured but that he is ‘fine’
Cristhian Mosquera Return date, unknown
William Saliba Expected return, December 6 vs Aston Villa (A)
Leandro Trossard Expected return, December 6 vs Aston Villa (A)
Gabriel Magalhães Expected return, December 2025
Kai Havertz Expected return, December 2025
Martinez was subbed for Villa yesterday and his back trouble might keep him out of our game according to Emery.
Great review,
It was a bit nervy at times,fantastic save by Raya when called on. Merino is amazing,I hear he’s our top scorer in 2025. Just hope the injuries aren’t serious.
I’m watching the cricket,Joe Root on the brink of a century,I really hope he does it.
2 nil , 3 points , clean sheet , lets go home.
Me too Limey re the cricket.
And he has.. Well done Joe Root, now double it. Lol
Well written Kev, thank you.
The ref was reasonable, no obvious bias and no glaring mistakes, all we can hope for from a P G M O L employee.
Very good report Kev with some amusing references, especially the 2nd goal needed😆.
Really hoping Rice ok, Arteta didn’t look too concerned when he came off. Decent performance, points of Paramount importance at this stage.
Goodly Morning Gooners.
Goodly Morning Rico and yes it’s becoming very much my post match routine, I hope I don’t drone on too much. 😉
Thanks Dev, Gott mit uns as the Jerries used to say, in these days of uncertainty it’s good to see some faith in the project.
Delighted to see Joe Root get his first century in Oz, unfortunately we’re probably 100 runs short of a decent first innings, but it’s a start.
Will Jacks was an interesting selection?
Great stats Dev, you’ve gotta try and enjoy what we’re doing despite the anxiety because what we’re doing is amazing.
Thanks Limey, all we needed was a contribution from Smith lower down the order and some more from Brooks and we’d be in a good place. I never expect anything from Pope, Duckett is usually Mr Reliable but Crawley getting some runs was welcome.
Interesting thing about Arsenal this season. Win, lose or draw, Arsenal debilitates teams, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Sunderland, Spurs, Man U all struggled in subsequent games after playing Arsenal.
Thanks Cicero, yes the referee was ok, no contentious decisions but it was a fairly easy game to referee, Saturday is going to be a war zone. Villa always seem to raise their game for Arsenal, the Birmingham fans have long memories of past encounters and can be a raucous bunch when the mood takes them, we need to quieten down the crowd. There is of course the Emery effect and he was going a bit crazy at Brighton yesterday so he’s gearing up for the weekend.
Interesting stat Obi. Never sort of observed that myself. Thinking of it you are right
With regards the City team I think that they are just one injury away from collapsing. If Haalland gets injured they are cooked. If something is to happen to him I hope its February so that they cannot buy a striker and are left to soldier on with what they have. Mind you, I wouldn’t put it past them to get a player push to be left on free, the club accept to release him on the condition that he has to pay them a set amount of money and City will give him exactly that when he signs.
Nice one Andrew and thanks 😉.
I try to bring some levity to proceedings, I guess after 90 minutes of anxiety you just need a laugh. Yeah, if would be amazing if Trossard and Rice are available this weekend but maybe it’s time for Nordgaard to lean into his inner Jorginho and why not at Villa Park?
Initially, Kev used to do a solid match report.
Now its not only a good one, he also paints them in an amusingly warm way. Makes you enjoy reading it in a way you’ve never read a match report before. Nothing out of this world but bits and pieces here and there with slashes of colour that makes imagination quite easy.
Even if he was reporting a defeat (heaven forbid) I still think he will paint it in such a way.
Agree on the ref, thought the officials had a good game. Only one booking I think and that was for Brentford.
Drone on as much as you like Kev, your words make us smile. 😝