Morning all.
Mikel Arteta made just one change to his starting eleven for the visit of Newcastle with Martin Odegaard coming in for Alex Lacazette. Despite the errors last weekend, both Nuno Tavares and Sambi Lokonga kept their place in the team.
The first half was pretty slow. Newcastle were compact at the back while Arsenal played like they’d just rolled out of bed and needed time to wake up properly.
The first chance of the game fell to Bukayo Saka, who just couldn’t wrap his foot around a ball from Sambi Lokonga. It was a tough chance. Jonjo Shelvey shot from distance to test Aaron Ramsdale but our young keeper once again pulled off a cracking save, tipping the ball onto the bar and out to safety. Soon after, we really should have gone ahead. Nuno Tavares cut a fine ball back into the box to Emile Smith Rowe but his header was stopped by the Newcastle keeper. The loose ball dropped to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who with an open goal gaping, hit the post. The score remained 0-0 as both teams went off at halftime.
Arsenal stepped things up a little after the break, thank goodness, and we didn’t have to wait too long before Bukayo Saka gave us the lead. After a first half of hit and hope shooting, Nuno Tavares found his passing game to provide Saka with the ball which our young number seven fired passed the keeper and inside the far post. That goal was good but Gabriel Martinelli’s was even better. Having replaced Saka, our rarely played Brazilian superbly lobbed the Newcastle Utd keeper. The ball from Takehiro Tomiyasu was perfectly weighted, a quick look to see where the keeper was by Martinelli and with just his second touch, 90 seconds after coming on, pretty much ensured another loss for Newcastle.
After a mauling at the hands of Liverpool, a lunchtime kickoff in front of a quiet audience on a bitterly cold Autumn day which felt more like the middle of January, was always going to be a test for this young Arsenal team. Having hoped for a quick start, the team played like they simply didn’t want to lose. The passing was slow, steady, safe and lacked the high tempo needed to break through a deep and compact Newcastle defensive setup. Eddie Howe’s tactics were negative but what else did anyone expect him to do? He’s taken over a team which is rock bottom in the League and has conceded too many goals. His job is to prevent Newcastle from dropping into the Championship. Good luck to him I say.
Mikel Arteta was animated on the sidelines, urging his players to step up pace of the game. Apart from the already mentioned difficult Saka chance and the terrible miss from Aubameyang, most of shots at the Newcastle goal came from distance and were way off target. Many from the boot of Nuno Tavares who in my opinion, was trying too hard. Aubameyang on the other hand, didn’t seem to be trying much at all.
Mikel Arteta needed more from his players in the second half. I think he got it. Tavares settled down and played really well. He certainly kept Saint-Maximin quiet and his perfectly timed shoulder barge on Wilson was, well, perfect. If not slightly risky. Lokonga too had a very good game, and I mention those two because they’re both young and both received a bit of criticism last weekend.
In his post match press conference, Mikel Arteta said that all his players needed to be ready to play and perform when they’re needed and boy did Gabriel Martinelli prove that he’s more than ready. He’s full of energy, movement and running and I can’t see how Arteta can ignore him for much longer. He caused more problems in his thirty odd minutes on the pitch than Aubameyang did for the entire game and his goal was outstanding. I thought he should have been awarded a penalty but just like the barge on Wilson, the challenge on Martinelli was deemed fair.
All in all, a good start to the weekend for Arsenal. We won, Wolves and Brighton dropped two points and today, as Man Utd and Chelsea go head to head, Man City and West Ham face each other, more points will be dropped by clubs around or above us.
The downside to the game was the injury to Bukayo Saka, BT Sports man of the match. Arteta said after the game that Saka will be assessed and probably have a scan. Hopefully he’ll be fit for the trip to Old Trafford on Thursday but if not, the door opens for someone else and going by Arteta’s decision yesterday, that’ll be Martinelli.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico and everyone, it was lovely seeing us get back to winning ways, didn’t even care about the score line just three points.
Auba is becoming a problem for the team, his failure to score is really going to affect us if he is not effectively replaced, I feel Afcon is a good time to get his replacement let’s see what happens in the January transfer.
The team is a growing team, I can’t really complain, we are taking care of business quietly and gathering the points.
I really hope we can get the full 3 points at old Trafford, let’s kick the horse while it’s down.
And what do you think about Tavares and Tierney as left back? Who do you prefer there?
Morning Mexzy, all.
Aubameyang has been a problem since before his new contract I think and as suggested yesterday, he’s holding the team back from being more ruthless up front.
I like both Tierney and Tavares and just happy that we finally have two really good left backs.
Rico feel free to delete if you feel unsure.
Morning Rico and all.
I am wondering if the ACON matches will go ahead now due to the new virus going through south Africa and if it does should we ban our players from going for health reasons.
Morning Geoff, I’ve been wondering the same about the ACON. As things are today, I can’t see it going ahead.
Good question Geoff , It’s in Cameroon starting 9th january , which about 2500 miles from the current Omicron hot spots . However like all of things once it’s out of the bottle it’s everywhere. News coming out this morning as the first reports are coming through is that the virus is affecting young unvaccinated people and although they are saying it’s more transmissable that is reasonably obvious as there is nothing to stop it’s progress . It will be a few weeks before it’s rate of progress can be measured when we see how it develops in areas where the levels of vaccination is higher.
Perhaps the answer is if your not not vaccinated you don’t go . but as it’s now so close any unvaccinated player only has time for one jab which isn’t really good enough.
Football comments later .
Good morning Rico, with Newcastle done and dusted we now head into a period of games coming thick and fast.
All of next round of Premiership game are live on Amazon Prime, ours against Man U at Old Toilet kicks off at 8.15 on Thursday.
We then play Monday away, Saturday home, Wednesday home, Saturday away, Tuesday home*, Sunday away, Tuesday home, Saturday home.
The game with the asterix is the Carabao Cup Tie.
There is going to be so much rotation they players will think they’re on a carousel.
Morning Rico and vaccinated, it wasn’t until I watched MotD last evening that I even realised that Joe Willock was playing, I noticed him because he fouled Odegaard, which led to the Norwegians free kick and comfortable save.
Interesting comments on the ACoN, there’s a good month to go before it starts and that’s plenty of time for the new variant to spread, they certainly know how to develop a virus those Chinese.
Gonna be a few big decisions coming up on that jamboree like are crowds going to be allowed to attend the games and are players competing in it going to have to be quarantined when they return from it?
Morning Cicero, Kev.
Agree re the rotation, it’s coming, just like Christmas.
I’m beginning to wonder whether we’ll miss any player heading off to the ACON. In numbers perhaps but certainly not in personnel. I hope Partey can impose himself on the game at OT. He’s been very hit and miss I think.
I know we still have over one month before the ACON but looking at the bigger picture from a all club’s view.
1 when will clubs be officially informed if ACON is on or off so they can work out what players need resting or who to sell and buy.
2 If a player from England goes to ACON, but during there time playing matches The Government bans them from coming back into England who pays there weekly wages.
Sorry for the doom and gloom I will find something positive to talk about in my next comments.
I don’t think anyone can say whether or not the competition will go ahead right now Geoff, it depends on what happens with the virus over the next few weeks. Perhaps the organisers will move the competition out of Africa, or just postpone it again.
Rico agree about Partey I Thought he would have settled in by now but he seems to struggle for some reason much the same with Pepe
Tavares looked much better once he stopped trying to hard and settled down,
looking forward to Man u match I feel we win this match but it will be close.
If the ACON is forced to move out of Africa, presumably only players resident outside of their home nation will be allowed to take part.
He’s certainly not the same player he was for Atletico Geoff.
Unless the quarantine beforehand Cicero.
Hello team,
Much has been said of Tavares’s inexperience, but I am already in love with his personality/great mentality forward-thinking-kind-of-play and a no-panick attitude despite making some mistakes.
Again I still think that Auba’s issue can be resolved during AFCON, by giving Martinelli more opportunities, then look to sign a Giroud-like centre-forward, who can hold up the ball..We actually need a lot of physicality upfront that can complement the technical skills of Martinelli..
Partey , Pepe , Elneny and Aubameyang . Will we miss them ?
Games involved are 3 league games , Man city home , Spurs away , Burnley Home , 2 possible carabou cup matches and 2 possible F.A. Cup games . Then 6 days after the ACON final Chelsea away .
So 8 games if we beat Sunderland 6 if we don’t and 5 if we go out of the F.A Cup in the 3rd round.
It could be worse .
Risky, if Lacazette goes in January imo.
Anyone else think that Tavares could grow into the beast we have been looking for next to Partey or Lokonga . He has most of the attributes needed.
The squad is evolving and there is more to come from Hale end.
Burnley vs Spurs postponed due to snow on the pitch.
Partey’s issue seems linked to his level of fitness to me. He never seems able to sustain it over any period.
The AFCON is a long way away as yet. Much can happen in the interim. This new variant may turn out no worse than the common cold! ( I doubt it though!) if it’s really bad then everything will stop. There will be interventions and mitigation’s for most scenarios. The powers that be will try all strategies available to them, to keep their ‘economies open’. Despite the dangers that may create. Money, after all is far more important than human life😳
It would be a good thing for us if the ACON goes ahead, in that it gives the club a really good opportunity to play ‘shadow’ players without disturbing the noses of those playing elsewhere. It could prove to be quite a positive thing, for us!
Auba is a case in point. Arteta obviously can’t drop him, for whatever reason, but if he’s not available he can’t have any complaints, can he? It could be a real turning point. I mean, will he really return and fight hard for his place back? Just at the moment I don’t think he’s got it in him.
I thought Partey played fairly well yesterday. I can only remember him mis-placing one pass, his distribution other than that was fairly good, mostly forward passing and always seemingly aware of the opposition and the dangers they posed. Nothing outstanding, but very workmanlike. He’ll do for now I think. We may even have Xhaka back by the time comes for him to go AWOL! How good would that be???
Burnley vs Spurs postponed due to snow on the pitch.
Get out of jail free card for them .Gives Conte time to get them organised.
RIP Frank Williams.
City beat the Hammers 2 – 1. We remain fifth on goal difference behind West Ham. Both teams having played thirteen games.
Apart from winning games and keeping clean sheets, we need to start putting the ball in the net on a more regular basis.
Interesting idea re Tavares Potter, hadn’t thought of that.
I’m not sure Conte will be able to do much down the road. He’ll need/want to spend I reckon.
He definitely has a problem staying fit Adam, I don’t think he struggled with fitness before stepping onto English soil. I wonder if he came back too soon after his first injury.
I have always been of the opinion that dominating the midfield is the way to success . The defence is there to stop you losing and forwards get the plaudits from the supply that they are given . it is the midfield that wins you matches
For a long time we have been soft there , we have good players on the flanks but the power base has been weak . Partey is a step in the right direction but a power house through the middle is still missing . Looking at Tavares I can see a player that could dominate that area for 5 or six years at least.
Totally get where you’re coming from Wavy but why is it that any one player can be undroppable. I think it’s sets a negative precedent.
Same here Potter, I know we need a striker but imo, a strong midfielder is equally, if not more important.
Exactly
Well put
Rico, I don’t think that Gabon qualified for the AFCON playoffs. They needed to win their last match and if I am not mistaken they didn’t win. We are stuck with Aubameyang for the rest of the season.
My mistake, that’s World Cup Qualifying.
Obi, easy done. Lol
Belenese with only 9 fit players, 2 of them goalkeepers, were forced to play a full strength Benfica, they were losing 7-0 when the referee abandoned the game as Belenese only had 6 players on the field.
Reminded me of many a Sunday morning game over the Hackney Marshes as two pub teams would fight it out for supremacy of the East London Sunday League.
Talking about fighting having watched the Chelsea United match we are in for a rough old game . They will hit us hard and early and I was surprised to see the number of their players were getting booked for the first time.
How we react will be important they will have seen how we imploded after Arteta’s spat with Klopp.
Allez, is not Belenense but Belenenses
New post up now