Daily Bits and Bobs

Arsenal Lack Flare! Welbeck Arrives Right On Time…..

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

I hope Uefa throw the book at Galatasary and their fans! Throwing flares on the pitch as they did last night was not only stupid, it was darn right dangerous! Thank goodness we don’t behave in such a fashion!

I also hope that referee from last gets dumped out of the Champions League because his decision to award only a yellow card to Melo was just wrong! Alexis Sanchez is a very very lucky man as he could quite easily be facing a lengthy spell out with a broken leg. That tackle on him was nothing other than X-Rated!!

Calum Chambers needs to lose a silly side to his game too and stop pushing at players. He had another good game last night but his bookings are totting up in the league and he was fortunate not to be booked last night for his little shove of one of the Galatasary players.

Flamini did get booked for yet another rash challenge. Perhaps he was angry after what happened to Alexis ten minutes previously but he needs to pack that in, it’ll cost us big time one day.

Szczesny, well he was stupid. Having had nothing to do all game, a red mist moment ended up with him receiving a straight red card for bringing down Burak Yilmaz in the penalty area. Some might be tempted to suggest it was soft, but for me it was cut and dry penalty, however with the player heading away from goal, one could say the sending off was harsh but a referee will always bring out a red card for something like that.

On came David Ospina and his performance for the rest of the game will surely give Arsene Wenger food for thought. He’d been sat on the bench all game yet once on, his concentration levels were spot on and he made a couple of darn good saves during a time when the defence was under a bit of pressure.

Bit too early for comparisons but......
Bit too early for comparisons but……

Our front three were outstanding. The pace on show between them was superb and that’s what we see when Mesut Ozil doesn’t play on either wing.

Danny Welbeck’s finishing was top notch for his his hat-trick as was Alexis Sanchez for his goal.

Found it then Danny!
Found it then Danny!

Calum Chambers is not surprised that Danny Welbeck has now taken his goal scoring tally to 4 in 5 matches:

He’s an athlete – he’s got pace, power, he’s great on the ball. He’s willing to work hard and you can see that he’s a goalscorer.

He’s everything that you can ask for really. He works hard and he’s a great influence [on the team].

Danny has settled in really well. When I first came, I said that the bunch of lads and the staff here were so welcoming. It’s hard not to really settle in quickly!

A lot of praise for Welbeck and Sanchez attacking display last night is inevitable but what about their defensive duties. Both were willing to get back and help out and Danny boy even got his head to a Galatasary corner to clear any danger! Both players truly work hard for the team, as does Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

If only one or two more could follow their example…

Anyway, great result and perhaps the best display of the season and it couldn’t have come at a better time as we head to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Can we play like that against Chelsea ? I doubt it.

Should we try to? I don’t think so……

A big well done to the Under 19’s too who battered Galatasary 5-1 yesterday afternoon in the Uefa Youth League.

All in all, a good day for The Arsenal and long may those days continue…

Have a good day all….

 

 

rico

120 thoughts on “Arsenal Lack Flare! Welbeck Arrives Right On Time…..”

  1. potter says:

    Put this on at cross over time as the new post went up
    In Melo’s case just a yellow . I thought at the time it was. off , on replay I think he took the hands away but I wonder had he put his hands forward would he have touched the ball ? Ospina looked a safe option albeit a bit short . Not a problem against European sides but a Stoke / Chelsea type sized team could give him physical problems.

  3. Xr!s says:

    A good Morning to everyone!!!!

    Still buzzing with yesterday’s performance. I hope we get a good at West London this weekend. I think the boys were out to give Wenger a very good anniversary win.

    Ospina’s save from Yilmaz’ header was fantastic. I just wish us be compact and more organized especially when defending. We have so many small players

  5. Xr!s says:

    When I first saw the headline,I read “flare” as “flair”. I wanted to flare up but decided to read the post again.

    Are people still sleeping or what?

  8. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Morning, rico, All…

    Great analysis…

    Szczesny’s poor decision making in timing when to go off his line and handling back passes may cost him a career that otherwise should really be great. At 24, he’s no longer too young. When you’re 4 – 0 up and playing at home, panic should never be your lot. In such scenario concede if you must but always avoid a sending off. His amateurish display put the team under undue pressure and unnecessarily exerted so much energy in a match they could have easily shadowed home.

    Apart from the GK’s increasingly worrying characteristic error, we had an immaculate display. Arsenal made that team look so ordinary, still we know the quality Gala posses. The movement of the midfield and attack, both on and off the ball, showed we truly have quality. I saw balance, purpose, fluidity and clinical finishing.

    And Welbeck? Perfectly replied LvG.

    Carzola? Great

    Ox? Ever improving.

    Ozil? Class.

    Sanchez? Workaholic and good value for money.

    Ospina? Assured.

    Chambers? Good but my fears – against Chelsea, the 19-year old will be making his 5th straight start in two weeks and never subbed once!

    Wenger? Perhaps he’ll understand that Ramsey and Wilshere must not start to achieve balance.

    Against Chelsea? I’ll be happy for all pundits to award Chelsea three points before kick off.

  10. rico says:

    Potter – you make a good point about Ospina, could be a bit of a problem being only 6′ as we hardly have giants in front of him in defence, apart from Merts of course.

    Our midfield still worries me, will Diaby make a return on Sunday and plug the gaps?

  12. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.

    Rico – Some great points on the game.

    Melo should have been red carded for his rash two footed studs up challenge on Sanchez. If he had made solid contact with Alexis’ standing leg he could have broken his ankle.

    Szczesny deserved his red card. If he had been at full stretch he would have touched the ball with his fingers, but he chickened out at the last minute and pulled his arms in. If he is going to dive into rash tackles like that he has to put hims body on the line and get the ball. He should sit for a game or two so Ospina can get some match fitness.

    Ospina certainly kept us in the game when we went down to ten men.

    The same old problem was evident in the first half when Galatasaray counter attacked. here was a big gap between the midfield and our backs for the opposition to run into. We missed Arteta, as Flamini is just not disciplined enoughto be relied upon as DM. Mikel is vulnerable to the high balls over the top and has lost a yard or two of pace, but he will maintain or regain his position. Shame he wasn’t available and he will be missed even more this Sunday against Chelsea.

    The DM position needs to addressed in the January transfer window.

  13. McRaymonds says:

    We not sleepin.
    Good morning house.. That was a very brilliant game played last night especially our attacking force. The commentator should mind his business. Wasn’t happy about the comments he made about Özil.. He really had a good game playing as number10

  14. Lee says:

    Totally agree re DM, Flamini and Arteta need upgrading asap…..
    Szczesny is only 23yrs old, would he of benefitted from an older more experienced keeper being bought in (Schwarzer) to work along side him? Just a thought.

  15. bondex says:

    Morning all…. Great post rico,sums it all up. Wellbeck is turning out to be a top striker add consistency and another TH 14 might be in our ranks.

  16. rico says:

    Morning Cg, thanks.

    Spot on re the DM in January, just hope it won’t be a case of locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.

    In the meantime, I just hope and pray Diaby can do a decent job in there…

  17. Canadian Gooner says:

    When, not if, Welbeck continues to score many goals for The Arsenal; will that be another black mark next to van Gaal’s name for letting him go?

    I think van Gaal will be looking for a new job rather than new players in the January transfer window.

  19. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – Even Judas van Pursestrings gave us one glorious injury free season. Surely this season is Diaby’s turn, if only to put himself in the shop window for next summer.

  20. rico says:

    Thanks Bondex, if Danny can be half as good as TH, he’d be worth every penny of his £16 million…

    Just think, we could have signed Balotelli…. 😉

  21. rico says:

    Cg, that’s what I am hoping re Diaby. Then let him sign a bumper deal for another club when he leaves for free in the summer…

  24. Adam says:

    What Welbeck has given us is the possibility of someone who can run in behind defences. In this way not everything is played in front of the opposition defenders and they will be less comfortable with that-hopefully.

  28. rogerbij says:

    Hi Rico, nice post hitting up the main things on the night – even though I mightve started by accentuating the positives of a very very good performance 🙂

    I laughed when I read this from the Mirror:
    ***
    So you fail to sign a top-class defensive midfielder for the, oh, 300th transfer window in a row. Then, true to form, pretty much every player who can play in that position gets injured early in the season. Arteta: injured. Ramsey: injured. Wilshere: a bit injured (albeit on the bench). Diaby: don’t even.

    When the XI for this game was announced, most sane people assumed it would be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doing a shift in the engine room alongside Mathieu Flamini. But Arsene Wenger had other ideas. Instead, it was Santi Cazorla – tiny, technical Santi Cazorla – who started deeper than usual, dropping in to defend when Arsenal lost possession.

    **With every passing year, Wenger just gets more Wenger. Sometimes it’s like he’s picking his side based entirely on in-jokes these days.

    Wonderful 🙂
    Roll on Chelsea.

  30. rogerbij says:

    Hi Adam (12:16), yes that is exactly right – I was crying out for Remy last transfer window (an affordable second striker) because I wanted a player who can do exactly that – get in behind with pace, as an alternative attacking option to what Giroud offers, and to amplify the danger caused by Ozils natural passing game.

    What we got of course was Welbeck – right out of left field, and Im quite happy to say that with the way he has started with us that this is almost definitely a better option for Arsenal. May he grow in confidence like Sturridge did at Liverpool, so that he can be a top player for us.

  33. ozgunner says:

    good win for the lads last night – at this level we shine it’s when the big guns come calling we see how far we still have to go

  34. BrainwashedKev says:

    Afternoon All…

    Afternoon Rico, the post, hmm, getting there… 😉

    I think we should enjoy last nights performance and result, but be in no doubt that the visit to the Bridge is gonna be a very different animal…

    Welbecks confidence should be soaring and with Sanchez and AOC the Chavs will face a dangerous opponent.

    But I fear that if our defending shows it’s usual face and we give away a stupid, sloppy goal or two that it could be another painfully familiar Fulham Broadway affair…

    But I live in hope.
    No I really do!

  35. rico says:

    Afternoon Kev, I will keep trying harder, honest… lol

    I thoroughly enjoyed last nights performance, they did good.

  36. Adam says:

    Roger. I wouldn’t take too much notice of Jack Lang in the Mirror. With a quiff that makes Olivier Giroud’s look like a flat top, I have little doubt that of an evening he dons a false shaggy beard, crams himself into skintight jeans and covers himself with stick-on tattoos. Thus he would like us to see him as a hipster but we will know him better as a total and utter knob for all eternity.

  37. BrainwashedKev says:

    Having seen the success that Welbeck had enjoyed since his surprising transfer to Arsenal, I would most certainly forget the possibility of Wenger picking up anymore ManUre ‘cast-offs’ in the near future…,

  42. Canadian Gooner says:

    Kev – Amen to your 12:52 pm. Chelski’s defence wont be a porous and their forwards wont miss their opportunities like Galatasaray. Our team will have to be disciplined and on top form to get anything from Sunday’s game.

  43. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Rico, good positive post, enjoyed last nights performance, Gala certainly lived up to the theory that Turkish teams don’t travel. As for Szczesny,penalty all day long (Scott), pace was the name of the game last night, good hat-trick from Danny Boy and long may it continue. Chelski will be a completely different animal, at least we go to the “bus stop” with genuine pace on the flanks and up front.

  45. rico says:

    Thanks Bt.

    Having Danny boy hit such good form yesterday may turn out to be a blessing in disguise and will certainly give the Chelsea defence something to think about, as will OC and Alexis.

    Wenger just has to make sure that every player who is playing behind them know their role and defend with their lives… One slip and we’ll pay…

    I’d love to see us park a number 9 in front of Ches….

  46. scottfromoz says:

    BT, I have my doubt, though my main issue was not the decision, but the ridiculous fact that it carries the same penalty as that brutal attempt in Sanchez.

  47. AndrewH says:

    Excellent report rico, sat nodding my head especially first two paras, disgraceful tackle of the Shawcross type. And just imagine how our fans and club would be talked about if we had set light to the pitch.

    Quality movement all night from Welbeck and some killer balls to him. I’m thinking we are fortunate Giroud got injured. What a horrible thing to say, but without it, we would never have ended up with two strikers. Come January we have real options up front for the first time.

  48. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Scott, true Melo should have gone, the red card was harsh for Shezzer but the penalty was never a doubt imo.

  49. rico says:

    Thanks Andrew, just hope it’s the start of many many Welbeck goals. And no injury to him of course…

    Got to nip off for a couple of hours. Later folks..

  50. Canadian Gooner says:

    Well I’m off to bed. Hopefully we are all feeling as positive this Sunday evening.

    Have a great day everyone.

    Keep The Faith!

  55. Bob John says:

    Hi Rico and all. Only just read post.knowing UEFA Arsenal will be punished for the flares for allowing them in. They will dig out some rule or other about Home team being responsible! The Turks always get away with it

  80. BrainwashedKev says:

    Adam, when I’m in my new pants, anything is liable to happen… 🙂

    When, on the few occasions, that I’ve watched Arsenal abroad, the Arsenal fans are checked, searched and re-checked before they are allowed near to the turnstiles, let alone inside the ground.

    Once, at Racing Club de Lens, it was as if we were crossing Checkpoint Charlie into East Berlin.

    So if Arsenal have been sloppy in checking the Turkish fans, then they deserve a good bollocking and fine, I’ve no sympathy.

    Maybe Arsenal are too easy going with away fans.
    At most away grounds I find that the Arsenal fans are treated like shit.
    We should do the same!

  81. BrainwashedKev says:

    I’ll have you know, young Rico, that I had some quite exotic flares in my youth…

    Although I did have a fond attachment to my Prince of Wales check strides back in the early 1970’s.

  83. kene says:

    Welbeck,Sanchez, Ozil and Ox’s telepathy wrecked Gala’s defence. Look at Welbeck’s first goal- Sanchez knew where Welbeck wanted the ball. Did I tell you that Welbeck is a bag of skills and strength?

  85. kene says:

    I still think that Diaby will play dm against Chelsea. Diaby and Jack in the holding role can stop Fab and Costa’s flow. Our front 3 and Ozil should play as they did on Wednesday. We’ll beat Chelsea, keep faith.

  89. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Gringos and Damsels

    I still cannot fathom out how on earth Galatasaray did not leave the pitch with a mauling. I mean, we should have battered them to the tune of 6 or 7 goals. 4-1 is a great result.

    While many berated Ches on his sending off, I was ok with it. He has just handed the chance to Ospina, who in my opinion is the more calm of the two. In this way its not AW who dropped Ches. Its Ches himself who has dug his own grave. I simply hope that AW does not put Ches back in simply after he fulfils his one match ban. Let’s see how Ospina performs against Anderlecht.

    Gala had two balls cleared at the last attempt from the line. Hopefully these two will be saved for our team and they go in against the Chavs.

    I have a feeling that DW23 will give JT a headache which will show Lee what biblical proportions really mean.

  91. Adam says:

    Brudder. When we next meet I would preach temperance in all things to you but I know you will ignore me. :). You, Mrs Adam and Rico have led me far along the path of excess already. 🙂

  92. rico says:

    Morning Adam, Lee, Kev, Devil, Kene and all..

    I had some check ones too but that was down to the Bay City Rollers.. 😉

  98. sukky says:

    Its not that we are inferior to Chelsea in team of squad quality but Wenger tactics and team selection have made us an underdog in big games.A sqaud of WS-CC21,PM04,kozzer,Gibbs-diaby,Wilshere-Ox or campell,ozil,alexie-welbeck will see us get a positive result against chelshit

  103. rico says:

    Martin Atkinson is the ref on Sunday.

    Another weak man with the whistle who has no doubt been specially selected by Riley!

  105. BrainwashedKev says:

    Rico, I would love to see a picture of you in your Bay City Rollers gear…

    I used to have a tartan scarf, but got it from a Jock at an England vs Scotland game…
    1978…

    Morning Rico btw,
    Morning Coach, Adam, Lee and Kene (good points).

  107. BrainwashedKev says:

    Diaby is a possibility this weekend, BFG has already said that they’re gonna try some new things at the Bridge ( I hope he means defensively) and maybe Abou is part if that, in his new role as a def/mid…

  108. BrainwashedKev says:

    Of course, a defensive mix-up leading to an early Chelski goal and all the best laid plans go flying out of the window…

  109. Wavy says:

    As we were briefly going down nostalgia lane, I was reminded of a really good satirical programme of the 90’s, “drop the dead Diaby”.
    Playing the chavs on Sunday if he’s fit he could be a match winner, if he’s not fit, well, plus ça change…………!
    I’ll believe DIABY when I see him, until then he remains a mystical enigma!

  110. Lee says:

    Diaby should of been put down ages ago….he’s been a financial drain on Arsenal for years, any manager with a set of bollocks would of fucked him off years ago! He is a waste of internal organs1

  115. BrainwashedKev says:

    Mangal sounds good Lee…

    If not Diaby then maybe Coquelin?
    Anything to give our midfield a more defensive look…

    I see that Podolski has been moaning.
    I like Lukasz, but he did bugger all against Southampton in the League Cup, so what does he expect…

    Don’t get him cup-tied in the CL if he’s gonna leave.
    Inter Milan still interested?

    With Walcott and Gnabry training again, Podolski’s chances of a game seem even slimmer.

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