Morning all.
While we were coasting past Southampton yesterday afternoon, up at Old Trafford, Utd had a tough game against Liverpool. They dropped two points which really helps our chase for 4th spot, and they picked up three injuries. Four if it’s turns out Rashford is out for a while too. Karma for his assault on Rob Holding if he’s out for a while.
Our game really was one of two halves. The first being good I thought, well, better than they’ve been of late anyway. The second half though was not so good. The points were ours though and that’s what matters now I think.
Whatever happens in the summer with player sales and purchases or even a managerial change should Unai Emery not fulfil his side of the Arsenal contract bargain, will happen. I’d even go as far to say the level of performance doesn’t really matter, not as long as we’re winning. I know I’ll get knocked down for saying that but it’s how I feel. Stan Kroenke is unlikely to invest heavily into the squad so we need the Champions League money. We’re in the driving seat now. Keep on winning our fixtures and 4th will be ours. It’s hard to believe that there’s just eleven league fixtures left to play of which only five are at The Emirates.
Unai Emery:
We created chances and I think today we could have won by more than two goals. I think we need to continue with this spirit to play with this intensity and to keep it up for 90 minutes. We need to create chances and goals are coming. We deserved to score more. Auba had two chances also when he was on the pitch and I think this is the way. My problem is when we cannot create changes, but today this wasn’t the issue. Also we conceded two good chances to them, but I also think Bernd played very well and helped us a lot.
He’s right, we need to score more. Our strikers need to be more ruthless, our midfielders, Iwobi especially, need to be more positive in the box. Instead of trying to walk the ball into the net or look for that one extra pass, just shoot. Our opener against BATE proved that sometimes you can get lucky but if they don’t try, they won’t get goals. Who cares if players score off their shin, shoulder or any other part of their body, a goal is a goal.
But as Emery said, the positive is we’re creating chances, really good ones which hasn’t been the case really of late. Our attacking game, especially in the first half looked better I thought but still we gave Southampton opportunities of their own. It would be easy to say better teams would have taken those chances but the same could be said about us.
Which brings me to Aubameyang. His goals earlier in the season have spared him from a lot of criticism in my opinion. The difference between him and Lacazette was clear for our second goal. Without the hassling from him, Southampton wouldn’t have panicked, Iwobi wouldn’t have been able to put his cross in, which was excellent by the way, and Mkhitaryan wouldn’t have got his goal. A really good finish it was too. The pressing game I think it’s called, at its best. Would Aubameyang have done what Lacazette did? I’m not convinced. He runs around a lot looking busy, but seldom is there much conviction in what he does. The two chances he had are good examples.
£110 million worth of strikers on show yet we lack a ruthless striker. A 30 goal a season guy who give him a sniff and he’ll find the back of the net in the way Henry would or Wrighty. Or Eduardo when at his best. Can that kind of player come from the academy, or is this just one of many positions in which Arsenal need to find from outside the club?
Goals win games and in my opinion, we don’t score enough…
Have a great day in the sunshine…
Taking shots and getting deflections was the trademark of Frank Lampard rated as one of the best midfielders of the golden generation . Over 200 goals in his career not bad for a non forward our central midfielders are a million miles away from his record.
Football has changed in some ways but not in others .Iwobi as a winger doesn’t get behind the defence and cross enough, getting defenders to go for a hard driven ball in between them and their keeper is a sure way to up the own goal count as defenders hate playing the ball facing their own goal
. Aubameyang is a poacher that will get on to the knock downs and Lacazette seems to have the ability to move the ball and shoot early with little back lift. In my opinion a more positive attacking flair from wingers and overlapping backs would provide dividends.
Our centre backs seem to be able to get the odd set piece goal and if we just got more positive the ones we let in would not be that important . Leno is a shot stopper but strangely despite our defenders having the ability to score from corners , free kicks etc they seem unable to defend them. Maybe we need more height at the back.
G’day Rico and what a day it is. 17 degrees and clear blue sky, definitely Spring like.
Having watched only brief highlights and read the text commentary I was pleasantly surprised to find an upbeat report on the game in The Telegraph this morning. When I say the game, it was much more about Arsenal than Southampton, but for the neutral it must have been a very entertaining match to watch.
Surely that’s what football should be, entertainment. Maybe The Krankies are having some influence at last, I expect to soon see a college band, a troop of cheerleaders, popcorn and hot dog stalls in all sections of the ground and a rousing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner before kick off. That’ll bring the tourists in! 😉
Great post by the way Rico, thank you.
Afternoon Rico, thanks for the post, you really look after us.
Afternoon Gooners, Lingard, Mata and Herrera all did their hamstrings, that’s usually a 2/3 weeks out jobby, so I’m really hopeful there as we play them in 13 days.
Rashford has done his ankle, I hope it’s serious but I’ve not read anything.
United have a few coming back, Martial, Valencia and Rojos are all due to be fit for us and anyway Alexis is bound to be well up for that game.
Matic is 50/50, apparently he’s out till the 10th March but they might rush him back for us?
Man Utd visit Crystal Palace this Wednesday and you never know what to expect from the Glaziers.
Next weekend while we’re at Wembley playing Middlesex the Mancs will entertain Southampton, so that’s 3 points in their onion bag.
Arsenal, of course, play Rennes a few days before we face Man Utd, United play PSG a few days after, so it’s all a case of ifs and buts over the next fortnight.
Hi potter, Cicero, Kev. I nearly didn’t but I need the money 😂😂
That’s always confused me Potter, I guess on corners etc, they’re on the move as they can kind of predict where the ball is going… however, in defence, feet hardly leave the ground.
They don’t seem to be able to read an attacking cross into our on box.
Thanks Kev, Cicero by the way.
I reckon we’ll win at Wembley Kev, they’ll be up for it but so will we.
With PSG looming, Ole might rotate, with a bit of luck. Bringing matic back early would be a huge risk.
Spot on Rico, another tick-the-boxes post.
Yes, a better performance, though Xhaka’s “pass” from the wing to the centre of our penalty box, allowing a Southampton player to crack the ball goal-wards, (only for it to whistle past the righthand post) was a let-off. Leno wouldn’t have got it so, phew!
Like all you guys I hope Man Utd have some absentees when we play them.
After all, why should we be the team that always incurs a heavy injury list?
Thanks Andorra. Apart from that hideous pas, Xhaka was pretty good I thought. Mkhitaryan had a decent game too.
I am disappointed that Rashford’s injury isn’t a lot more serious.
I take it he’s fine then…
Pretty good weekend,and Chelsea’s troubles are 24 carat banter gold.Wednesday night should be straightforward,then comes the tricky bit.
Just would love Emery to give youngsters a chance but at least we’re in contention for 4th place,at this stage.
Strange position of wanting a Spurs win on Wednesday !! Hopefully after an intense battle,loads of players booked,sent off,ruin them for the weekend!