Morning all.
There was a nasty moment early in the game when Mitrovic raked his studs down Lacazette’s ankle/Achilles. The BT Sport commentator alongside Robbie Savage seemed to find the incident amusing whilst regurgitating a story from Michael Owen about how strikers used to ‘leave something on a player’ to let them know they were there. I didn’t find it at all funny, and I doubt our French striker did either. That could so easily left him with a nasty injury and out of the game for a couple of months.
The first half was very similar to previous matches we’ve played in during our winning run. The opposition started brightly but despite us not really firing on all cylinders, Leno was barely tested. Well, other than his good early save which had taken a slight deflection.
Just before the the thirty minute mark, up popped Lacazette to put us ahead. An excellent first touch, a little swivel and bang, goal.
There’s a photograph going around which shows Aaron Ramsey sat on his own whilst the others celebrated Lacazette scoring. A sad and sorry tale really if it’s genuine.
Anyway, we couldn’t hold onto our lead until the break though because Monreal misplaced his pass. Luciano Vietto said thank you very much, played to Schurlle who for once got the better of Rob Holding and his little chip went over Leno into the back of the net. No clean sheet for the German but hey, that was hardly his fault.
The first opportunity for us in the second half fell to Bellerin. He unleashed a wicked shot which the Fulham keeper did really well to save but I bet it stung his hands. Soon after, Lacazette got his second from nothing really. Ball at his feet, goal in sight and whilst being hassled by the opposition, he took a chance. 2-1 and a bit of breathing space. We were far from looking comfortable though.
But that soon changed. Unai Emery made his first change, Aubameyang for Welbeck, then not long after, Ramsey replacing Iwobi. Then boy did we click. Ramsey started the goal fest with one of the things he loves to try, a fancy flick. Yesterday it really was perfect and at the end of a lovey team move which began with a lovely little chip over the defender by Hector Bellerin. A really nice team goal with a cheeky ending. It’ll be impossible to beat for goal of the month, hard to beat for goal of the season.
Aubameyang then scored with a similar finish to Lacazette’s opener only from the opposite side of the pitch before finishing the job off with his second of the game in added time.
5-1 and for periods in the game, particularly during the second half, I thought we played some of the best football we’ve seen under Unai Emery. Yes, we started slowly but we didn’t concede or really look like conceding. Monreal suffered a moment of madness which was really out of character for him so he can be forgiven just this once surely? Well, he can now the game is over. Xhaka was playing well alongside our little terrier and Mustafi was making a few really good tackles in defence. Like Sokratis, maybe he too will now continue to improve. Greater tests will come his way of course but yesterday’s performance should give us hope that he can. Apart from losing Schurrle for their goal, Holding too had a good game I thought. Mitrovic who?
Emery’s changes were perfectly timed. Fulham had given a lot and were tiring. On came Aubameyang with his speedy legs. The fresh legs of Ramsey worked too. Even Guendouzi towards the end gave us a little cameo of clever passing.
The work rate from our players was excellent I thought, even when the clock showed 87 minutes, we were chasing the ball down, wanting the ball and wanting another goal. One came.
At times we still looked disjointed, the midfield sometimes looked like they’d had a big falling out with both our defence and strikers but that’s work in progress. Once they click together and the football flows better than it does at the moment, we’ll look better. More movement off the ball is needed too, give the player in possession more options, allowing the ball to kept moving, making it harder for the opposition to win it back.
Arsenal under the Spaniard will remain a work in progress for a while yet but yesterday showed that progress is definitely being made.
At least I think it is….
Have a good Monday guys, fingers and toes crossed that all our players return from international duty unscathed.
I read that with a smile on my face. God it’s good to wake up and see the arsenal looking good. I felt we were imperious for long spells. I knew a whooping was coming and expected it sooner. A winger,another midfielder to replace Rambo when he leaves and a lb and we could challenge for the title this season…there I said it. Morning Rico I can’t stop smiling.
Morning all and thanks Rico for another good `un.
Ramsey wants to stay of that I have no doubt, but none of us know what wages were on offer, we do know that Arsenal pulled out, personally I`d like Arsenal to get back negotiating.
Great to watch MotD and have us praised, second half was superb and hope this is a sign of things to come with the transfer from Wengerball via transitional Dickball to Emeryball ! 🙂
Hopefully find time today to watch more on Arsenalplayer.
Morning Goonster, all.
Leno is looking good too and I wonder if he’s a calmly influence on the defence. We certainly seem more comfortable playing out from the back with him in goal.
I reckon there’s a twist in the Ramsey tale yet…
Hi Rico
I think you are right about Leno’s distribution – whatever he does he does instantly, unlike Chec who always has that moment of hesitation which leads to uncertainty.
I”m getting used to the slow and careful start, and I like it. It has a lot to do our strong finishes, along with Unai’s policy of bringing on attackers instead of the extra defenders we were used to.
Ramsey is a much better player without Ozil. If we could somehow unload him we would have the money to pay Aaron what he wants.
I thought we would be losing Iwobi to tha African cup in January, but it’s been moved to the summer. Football doing something right for a change!
Brian
Morning Rico and all.
Yet another good post.
A great result and there seems to be a collective enjoyment within the team. I agree that Leno looks good too. The club surely must be taking another look at the Ramsey contract situation. When he plays like that he is a definite bonus. Ozil will, I imagine, remain a somewhat enigmatic figure during his time at the club. I hope that Unai can work out how to get the best out of him. You can’t argue with 8 wins on the spin.
Emery looks as though he is getting into the players and the challenges the job brings to me.
It’s Fulham FFS. If we want to be serious title contenders we *should* be rolling bottom 3 teams over. Let’s see how we do against the mickey mousers before we start to think we are a contender.
Good morning Rico and all others.
Thank you for another cheering post Rico, it must be easier to write them after a performance like that.
I can’t argue with your Leno comment, he does look assured and there is definitely less headless chicken defending going on.
They used to say of Geordie Armstrong that he covered every blade of grass, well we now have the little dynamo that is Lucas Torreira, who not only does that but provides a solid presence in front of the back three or four, as well as making shrewd, penetrating forward passes. At long last we have found our Gilberto replacement. Not an invisible wall perhaps but a lively terrier ever ready to snap at the opposition’s ankles.
How good is I to sit above Spurs again, even if it is by only the slenderest of margins, a goal difference of one.
Oops. I believe it’s 9 wins.
Good article mate. You were right to mention the twin morons on BT Owen and Savage, both have a hatred of AFC that comes out every time they commentate. Unia’s whole effect on these players is what we prayed for. Like everyone else I now expect several more new players from Mislintat (the real gem in the box). When we get Kossy back and Mavro we will be more solid defensively. sadly our fullbacks are still leaving too many gaps but the movement was like the early Arsene days but with a purpose. Quality is really the name for our new style and more to come. My ratings were …Leno 7, Bellerin 7. Holding 8, Mustafi 7. Miki 7, Toreira 8. Iwobi 8. Lacazette 9. Auba 9. Welbeck 7. Ramsey 7.
I have note posted numbers like that for a long while. The Ramsey goal is what football is all about and is probably goal od the season already.
Morning all.
It keeps being proven, for mine.
Ramsey OR Ozil, but not both.
They seem to struggle together in attack, and we obviously lose defensively.
That second half was brilliant to watch.
Morning Gooners, morning Rico, another good post.
Yes Ramsey made an impact when he came on, a great finish and an assist, but does it make him worth £300k a week? I’m not convinced, do it every game and I might be, but he’s had 10 years to develop into a game changer and we’re still waiting.
The game changer is Lucas Torrieira, he doesn’t play Hollywood football or look to catch the TV directors eye, he just gets on with it, I really like him, he’s freed up Xhaka and given us a sense of security in our midfield. Also Holding had another impressive 90 minutes and even Mustafi looked as if he knew what he was doing.
Hector Bellerin after a shaky start to the season is now looking a more complete footballer, having shots, putting over decent crosses (just shows how some proper training can improve a player) and defending better.
Still areas to be worked on, but we’re never going to go through 90 minutes without the opposition threatening at sometime, but we used our possession well and Fulham wasted theirs.
Kev, no way he’s worth 300k, but then, who is?
140 or so in today’s market-still ridiculous, but it is what it is.
Think you`re all gussing this £300kpw, lets keep to Ornstein facts ! 🙂
Blog world going mad about new Adidas deal and in particular.the bruised banana shirt……………I must be the only person who doesn`t like it !
Harry, no easy games in this league for the likes of us…….the 3 sitting above us are everyones hard game and agree Scousers will test where we really are.
Thanks re the post guys….
Harry, of course it was only Fulham as you put it but nevertheless there were periods where I thought we looked good. Doesn’t mean we’re the finished article though..
It was only Fulham, but only after the team had done an 11 hour round trip to Azerbaijan and had a midday kick off. Why do people always look for the negative slant?
Lord knows Kev.
I bet people weren’t saying it’s only Newcastle when Utd went 2-0 down..
Also, City beat Fulham 3-0 at the Etihad so 5-1 away isn’t bad eh…
Nice post rico, evening. No game in the Premier is a given, and we have won six on the trot! I’m smiling, and frankly surprised than all Arsenal fans are not. We knew it would take a couple of seasons after such a long dynasty, look at the post- Ferguson situation, but I reckon we are way ahead of schedule.
Thanks Andrew. I’m with you there. Certainly didn’t expect to be in the top four that’s for sure.
I really like Emery and the way he’s going about things..
Ditto Rico, we aren’t going to win the League but surely you can still enjoy it when we score 5 goals.
Like I’m really warming to Emery after some early reservations, watching him on the touchline is uplifting and makes me smile, he enjoys the goals like a fan.
Doesn’t he just Kev, watching his reactions yesterday was so refreshing.
I like the fact that he changes things as the game goes along too, proactive and reactive…
Nine wins on the trot and we’re still not playing brilliant football. Once he’s had a couple more transfer windows, who knows..
Rico, I’m not sure he even needs transfer windows as there’s not that much wrong with the squad, imo.
It’s been almost there for several years now, and is as close as it has been for a decade or more to being a top class squad.
You might have a point Scott, the problem was the manager, the coaching staff, the medical staff, those dealing with transfers and contracts. Now that the old guard have been swept away the club and playing staff have been revitalised. It’s certainly benefitting the players although if you want to see Arsenal seriously challenge for the Premier League and God help us, the Champions League, you cannot honestly think that we presently have a squad capable of such things?
I did say we are close, Kev, not complete 🙂
The strike force is pretty lethal when the service is good.
The midfield seems a much better unit with Torreira on the pitch so the defence is definitely where we need tidying up.
Scott, I think we need at least one central defender, a central midfielder and at least one winger. If Welbeck goes, a striker too.
Another who can do what Torreira does too because he’s key to us right now. The treatment he gets on match day will very soon see him injured and then we could be snookered.
Morning guys.
New post up now.