Morning all.
2-0 down at Stamford Bridge with 75 minutes on the clock to then fight back for a point is something to admire I think. Two super “no fuss” goals earned us the point. A keeping error from Sanchez saw his clearance land at the feet of Declan Rice. He was miles out but struck his shot sweetly 8nto the back of the Chelsea goal. The second came from a Bukayo Saka cross from our right and a bit of grit and determination to make a connection by Leandro Trossard. His connection was excellent and Sanchez was beaten.
Before then though, I thought Arsenal were poor. Even Declan Rice said after the game that it was probably the worst we’d played this season. We were so poor, we made Choices look very good. Declan Rice said we were better in the second half and perhaps we were but I certainly wouldn’t include David Raya in that, or Martin Odegaard for that matter. Jorginho was hardly in the game, Oleksandr Zinchenko was all over the place and Gabriel Jesus, victim of a nasty challenge, just wasn’t in the game. Chelsea were hammering us all over the pitch because we let them. We even helped them with our often wayward passing.
How the heck is a defender, or a player in any other position for that matter, meant to get spring into his jump without using his arms? William Saliba went for the ball, the ball hit his arm and initially, the referee wasn’t at all interested. VAR were and Kavanagh bottled it. Redknapp and Neville though the decision was ridiculous, Hasslebank thought it was correct but then he would wouldn’t he…
After the break, things got worse for Mikel Arteta and his team when Chelsea went 2-0 up. Ben White played a pass to Odegaard, the latter lost possession to Cucurella and he played the ball on to Mudryk who whipped a ball in towards goal, probably in hope of finding Sterling at the far post but instead, left David Raya looking silly. He made himself look a bit silly soon after too but thankfully, his error came to nothing.
Disappointingly, it took Mikel Arteta a while to make further changes to the one he made at half-time when Takehiro Tomiyasu replaced Oleksandr Zinchenko but when they did come on, they made a difference. ESR looked a bit rusty to begin with but soon improved,,Leandro Trossard and Kai Havert gave Chelsea’s defence something different to think about, as did Eddie Nketiah whose shot was just millimetres away from securing us maximum points.
The David Raya v Aaron Ramsdale debate will no doubt surface once more, not that I think it’s gone away. As the Englishman was celebrating the birth of his and his partners baby boy, he must have had one eye on our match. Raya has now made mistakes against Lens, Man City and Chelsea. Mistakes put fear into defenders minds, nerves into the mind of the player himself and the longer it goes on, the worse it will probably get. What happens next I really don’t know but Ramsdale must be thinking his return isn’t far away. Whether Mikel Arteta is thinking the same is anyone’s guess. What I would say though is that on a day when the whole team performs badly, is it fair or right to single out our keeper, regardless of who it is?
Lastly, I thought the officiating wasn’t at its best again. The penalty decision was wrong in my opinion and even though it was compared with the Liverpool one given after an Everton player was penalised for having his arms out, the two were totally different. Miles different. Cucurella could and should have been booked a lot earlier than when he was on 70 minutes. The foul on Gabriel Jesus was horrid. Yes, for once he really was caught badly.
Anyway, in the end, we fought hard for a draw but let’s not kid ourselves, we were far from being at our best.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico and all.
Mixed feelings, on one hand we were well below our best performance but on the other hand we thought back well enough to draw the game, Let’s just put this game in the back of our minds and call it simple as a bad day in the office for all.
I could not get the story up to read, but apparently Arteta was not happy with the fans calling out for Ramsdale to return, has any one managed to read it and in short what Arteta said
Morning Geoff, on the contrary, Arteta said he was pleased the fans were sing Ramsdale’s name. That’s on the official website.
Hi Rico..
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at that result. That first half was terrible, we were so lethargic.. and as for that playing out from the back – it has me on tenterhooks every time!
Palmer should’ve seen red imo and it just had to be Mudryk involved in both of their goals didn’t it? Ugh..
Rice’s goal was superb (with Enzo “watching and learning” 🤣) Bloody loved it and as for Trossard – what a super sub he is!
A point is better than nowt I guess, especially as the Chavs thought it was game over at 2-0 (sweet). I just expected more from our team, especially as the Chavs have been rubbish.. but hey we’re still unbeaten at the Bridge (they have 1 win in 9 games home and away) and they’re sat in 10th, so not all bad (mind the gap hey) 🙂
Arteta said that he got Raya in so that we had competition for places , Raya has had 3 poor games if he meant what he said he should now bring Ramsdale in to give Raya competition and she how he goes. All I want is the BEST GK for Arsenal , not totally convinced that Raya is the best. Rams got us to CL he should have at least ONE CL game so he can stand and hear the music played
Rico I was only going by the headlines, but having said if he was happy about the fans calling for Ramsdale return, doesn’t that show that he admits he has made a mistake by dropping Ramsdale for Raya and that he has lost faith in Raya.
Hi Sue, I too expected more, and better from a team which is settled against a team who are going through change. Where has Odegaard gone? Rice was brilliant, Trossard too…
Agreed Shelia. There’s clearly something about Raya which Arteta likes. Perhaps we’re yet to see it but I worry about what the shakiness is doing to his confidence and the defence. Then again, someone else often seems better when another is struggling.
Perhaps it’s the keeper coach who needs replacing..
I don’t think so Geoff, he’s just liking the support our players are getting imo.
Morning all.
Raya v Ramsdale equals conflict! Will Arteta swap them over for the next match? I doubt it if only because by doing so would sort of being an admission of an error of judgement on his part. And I don’t think Mikel does hubris! He is becoming a bit stubborn and inflexible, a bit like Wenger in his latter days. Raya is a good goalkeeper but not imo as all round able as Ramsdale is and has been. He would be wise to take a good long hard look at his decision and change it. He knows it makes sense but will his pride let him do so?
And as I’m in questioning mode, where was Partey yesterday? I rate Jorginho but not above Thomas. The team were crying out for his control and accuracy, especially in the first half. I don’t think he even got a run down the touchline. Why not? He can’t have been injured otherwise he wouldn’t have been on the bench! He was on the bench wasn’t he?
Am I wrong or are we witnessing some rather strange team choices or is this just an example of some slightly bizarre decisions of the fabled rotation?
Not a good game yesterday. Arsenal were very poor for 77 minutes as Shearer said on motd last night and l, for one do not disagree with him. Actually a bit of a return to some of last years automatic picks may not come amiss.
Mini rant over. I do hope everyone has a very peaceful Sunday with no interruptions for yet another unnecessary football match! Perhaps I should include Monday in that too.
I thought I read (ages ago) that Mikel has always admired Raya and wanted him before we got Ramsdale?
Raya has said we have to get used to this “scary football” (ie playing out) as it’s what Mikel wants..
I’m not fully convinced by either – both of them have mistakes in them, both have me on the edge of my seat more often than I’d like, both have been careless.. but on a good day, they’re both really good. MA has a big decision to make – stick or twist?
Wavy, good comment and points and I can see where you’re coming from. Stubbornness and a bit of predictability has crept in perhaps. Mind you, he once said he learned a lot from Wenger and Guardiola and we know both are stubborn.
Perhaps the weather conditions and the fact that we play again on Tuesday kept Partey out, as well as the international fixtures. If so, why are we keeping hold of a player who is so fragile?
We might have won that game yesterday had the changes been made earlier as they really gave Chelsea something to think about.
If Arteta is true to his word, he’ll twist but chopping and changing won’t do the defence or team any good imo.
Unless I am wrong, Partey has a slight injury, and looking at the weather conditions I am guessing Arteta didn’t want to risk any further injuries and save him for the next match.
Good day Rico and all.
Mightily relieved to come away with a point, at two nil down and not showing much intent I thought we were done. I said yesterday, but the comment was lost, That I don’t want to see either Jesus or Zinchenko starting unless there are no other options. Just asking, how did our left back get booked half way up the pitch on the right side? Every time he goes walkabout Gabriel has to move over to cover the empty space left which widens the gap between our two centre backs.
Jesus just does not have the pace to keep up with Saka and Martinelli, while his diving has become a stick for referees to beat us with.
On the Ramsdale/Raya debate, there is no way that a ‘keeper, supposedly so good on taking crosses, should be beaten by a cross cum shot such as Mudryk’s.
A mid-week European game gives Arteta the freedom to rotate without the need to drop anyone, so there should be no hurt feelings.
Afternoon Cicero. Jesus and Zinchenko frustrate but for our left back, it’s the way Arteta wants him to play surely? As White said in his interview, he has to be right back, midfield, centre back – basically, everywhere.
Afternoon Rico.
I have been trying to post for some time without success.
This is just a test hope it is OK
Hope to be back Later
Afternoon Rick, there’s been a few login issues which have now been resolved.
Arsenal’s first team Head of Goalkeeping is Iñaki Caña Pavón, who joined from Brentford in December 2019.
Might be a clue or three in there.
1 :- He’s Spanish
2 :- He’s probably mates with Raya .
3 :- He was a coach at Barcelona when Arteta was in their youth teams.
Draw your own conclusions.
The problem is not onlyi in the goalkeeper
Afternoon Rico and all,
Lousy game,great comeback,we could even have won near the end.
I thought the ref was atrocious,I know it’s not just Arsenal affected but what a joke. Anyone who watches Ref Watch on Sky will see the inconsistencies in most games,I don’t know how they get away with it.
Several players look jaded,Odegaard urgently needs a rest,he plays almost every game for club and Country,he’s so important to the way we play but surely will benefit from a rest.Ramsdale for Raya looks a no brainer but we’ll see.
Most of our rivals won, we could do with a Fulham win tomorrow,would cheer me right up anyway!
Conclusions drawn Potter.
Afternoon Limey. I’ve kind of given up on the officials because they’re not going to get any better are they? If they wanted to improve, they would have by now but to think this is the League which so much money is invested in and awarded out, to have so many mistakes made every weekend is embarrassing.
The PL is embarrassing in my opinion.
What gets me Rico is when they allow loads of fouls to go unpunished,as soon as an Arsenal player commits often a lesser foul they cannot wait to blow their whistle or wave a card.
Me too Limey, cheeses me off no end. They don’t even try to hide their bias against us.
Embarrassing or corrupt ? Not just the PGMOL but the Premier League as well . For the amount of “”mistakes”” , apologies that are being issued there has to be some complicity There are just too many for it to be random.
That’s my thought too, just wish someone somewhere would prove it.
A 2 – 1 win for Arsenal Women over Bristol City both goals from Katie M’Cabe. Both Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema came on as late substitutes, great to see them back. I’m looking forward to the return of Leah Williamson, her influence on the team is massive.
Afternoon Rico and all,
Maybe the premier league have told the refs to help certain teams win, so the league is not so easily won to soon in the season as it’s been over the last few years.
Can’t help thinking Rice should be the captain in the way he was haranguing and driving the team forward after 0-2 down. Odegaard had one too many bad games and needed to be dropped.
Hi Geoff
Cicero, agree re Williamson, it’s like the men being without Saliba. Mead and Miedema returning is a big boost. Hopefully they can get themselves up the table now.
Rice doesn’t need the armband to lead though.
Odeargod needs to turn up against the big teams . He’s good in space but gets lost in a game where he is closed quickly.
Odeargod ? I don’t think that was a typo, was it Potter?
He was certainly off his game on Saturday…
I could claim it was auto correct but It came from my lips as he continually gave the ball away against Chelsea.
😆
New post up