Morning all.
Haven’t seen many highlights as yet but a 2-1 win against Wolves had to good if not a bit nervy towards the end I suspect. Thirteen minutes in and we were 2-0. Another rout coming perhaps but It didn’t come of course with Wolves scoring the only other goal in the game.
Our first was special. Saka started the move down our right, he shook off two defenders to find a pass to Gabriel Jesus who in turn played the ball to Tomi just outside the box. Saka had continued his run into the box, Tomi played him in and it was 1-0. A lovely goal but our second was even better. This one came from our left side albeit started from a Saka cross from the right. Oleksandr Zinchenko controlled the pass, exchanged passes with Gabriel Jesus at speed to get behind the Wolves defence, Zinchenko then cut his pass back to Odegaard and Arsenal’s captain fired home. A truly wonderful goal.
Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah hit the post, Saka wasn’t far away from getting his second of the match and both Jesus and Leandro Trossard came close to adding to the scoreline. Declan Rice had a couple of shots from distance but one was blocked, the other went just wide of the post after a deflection. Wolves goal came from a lovely strike of the ball which flew past Raya, who was well off his line, into the top left corner but the defending beforehand left a lot to be desired.
Gary O’Neil wanted more additional time at the end of the game because of Arsenal’s time wasting, however, he did go on to say that his team would have done the same if they were hanging on to a slender lead.
I’m sure we’d have all loved to see another few goals scored by Arsenal but they didn’t come. Not through the lack of trying though. On another day, our opportunities might go in. Might Raya have saved the Wolves goal had he not been so far off his line? If and buts now I know and I’m sure the goalkeeping coach will go through what he might have done one we lost possession in our box. Harsh? Maybe, but great keepers read danger….
A really good result though against a good Wolves side which has taken points off Man City, Totts, Newcastle and Aston Villa.
Arsenal take on Luton on Tuesday night away from home. Luton were beaten 3-1 by Brentford yesterday afternoon but it took Frank’s team a while to break them down.
More points will be dropped by clubs around us today as Man City take on Totts, Aston Villa play Bournemouth on the south coast and Liverpool take on Fulham. Hopefully the Thursday/Sunday fixtures will have an impact on a couple of those clubs. Wishful thinking though…
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, I too have seen only brief highlights but they were, for the most part, well worth a second look. Our two goals in particular. I was disappointed by the way in which we defended in the immediate build up to the Wolves goal. Zinchenko not for the first time, in this game and previous ones, lost concentration and with it possession of the ball leading to scoring opportunities for our opponents. On another day his errors could have cost us vital points.
As usual Saka was marked by two defenders whenever he got the ball, but they genuinely attempted to defend rather than kick him off the pitch.
Three points and a slight improvement in goal difference together with no significant new make injuries make for an afternoon well spent. 🔔🔔
One too many “makes” there. 😕
1st Arse!!! Sorry wrong blog😬😁
Raya might be a good keeper but he has made a few blunders and the defence doesn’t look as comfortable with him as Ramsdale. I don’t think he’s a £27m upgrade.
I (obviously don’t know what’s going on bts, but does seem like a strange purchase.
Damn, even got that wrong😂
Morning Cicero, agree re the way Wolves play. They didn’t strike me as being a man first ball later kind of team. O’Neil has worked wonders with them really.
Ha ha Strangeman, wrong blog indeed.
I’m not a fan of Raya and don’t think he’s worth signing. Ramsdale for me every day of the week but as you say, I’ve no idea what’s gone on there. If anything.
Not sure why Zinchenko has never been tried in midfield. He may have been our secret weapon last season but he’s becoming a liability more (and more) of a liability at the back.
We know he’s got the skill and, at least if he plays a pass which doesn’t come off there’s Declan (looking like a bargain, not mentioning the price now) Rice and a stronger back 4.
Can’t wait for Timber to come back, could have the same impact as Saliba in defence.
I do wonder how Arteta would have set the team up had Timber not been injured. We might very well have seen Zinchenko in midfield with Rice. I guess we’ll have to wait until next season to find out. Having Partey back will be a big boost too, and ESR.
I am happy to see the game live, in color and be thrilled with Arsenal’s victory. It wasn’t an easy game but Arsenal made it easy and then complicated it. Did Zinchenko have a moment of “distraction?” in the area and from then on the team trembled and a draw hung in the air. Ryan didn’t play for Brendford because of the contract (I assume). Ramsdale made some “blunders” that he could have compromised. Zinchenko doesn’t defend well and has often been compensated by Martinelli. It’s one of the reasons why Martinelli is almost always substituted in the middle of the 2nd half with his performance decreasing. You are usually physically exhausted. A complicated period is approaching and as always, there are many injuries. Let’s wait.
Ramsdale didn’t play Jm. We’re you at The Emirates or do you mean you watched on TV?
Arsenal at home to Liverpool in F A Cup third round.
Afternoon Rico and all,
I don’t blame Raya for Wolves goal, I wreckon it was more a slip in concentration by our defenders that led to the goal. let’s hope nthat Man C and Liverpool both get beat.
So we play Liverpool twice in a couple of weeks. At least we are at home.
3 points the main thing yesterday,from the highlights looks like we had loads of chances
Probably too much to ask for Spurs to get something at the Etihad.
Luton next,then into a really tough run of fixtures.
Can’t believe we’ve drawn them. Still, it’ll be good to knock them out early. 😂
Hi Geoff, I wasn’t, just thought he was off his line.
Villa drop two points but Liverpool score two late on to win. Jammy buggers..
Cup draw ? See the hot and cold balls were in use again .!
All the usual suspects got their byes to the next round and the TV got their two matches with us and the Geordie derby.
Yesterday Zinchenko got caught because he is a forward thinking player that is not really a defender and his thinking time was what caught him out.
Its not often that a player scores two goals in the first seven minutes, the first put his team one nil up, the second was an equaliser for his opponents. Son was that player!
Bit like yesterday , City were so much better first half and could have been well in front but slacked off and suddenly they are hanging on.
Suits us though..
Agree re Zinchenko, he likes to attack first, defend second. Risky.
Both drop two points and cop a lot of bookings 8 between them.
Perfect… 😂
Ronnie wins again! 👑
Some good results yesterday, just a shame liverpool got up, at least the goal difference between us and the next 3 teams isn’t that great, hopefully a nice win next up will close the gap even more.
Cicero, I am guessing Ronnie is a snooker player.
looks like parts of England got a nice dump of snow. were Iam it’s currently 30 degrees and 26 degrees in the shade at 11:40am looks like a hot summer for us.
Rico, sorry I didn’t mean it to read that way, it was more of my oppinon on how i sore it,
just watched highlights of Man C vs Toots, I wonder why Haaland wasn’t given a red card for the way he spoke to the ref after his free kick was brought back, unless I looked at it wrong the player who it was kicked too was in a off side position.
There can be no excusing the foul mouthed tantrum, towards the referee, by City’s petulant toddler Haarland. The F A cannot be seen to condone such conduct and should throw the proverbial book at him, his teammates and the club for the chaos they caused in yesterday’s infamous game.
However wrong the referee’s decision making was, City”s reaction was inexcusable. That said, PGMOL must take action against the referee if they are to retain any any semblance of respect from football as a whole.
No probs Geoff.
Haaland’s rant in the face of the ref is imo worse than Arteta’s post match rant.
The F A have charged Manchester City with failing to ensure their players do not behave in a way which is improper. No action is being taken against Haarland.
I would be surprised if the FA act against Haaland for 2 reason (1) his there little pin up boy (2) he plays for Man C if he was Arsenal he would be suspended for 4 weeks, Arteta for 2 weeks and the club fined.
Morning all.
New post up.
No charges for Haaland? More evidence for Arsenal’s lawyers then..