Morning all.
After Arsenal threw away a two goal lead against Aston Villa yesterday evening, the media described the day as ‘title defining’. Liverpool had beaten Brentford in the final few minutes of the game, the difference between title winning teams and those in chasing pack.
Mikel Arteta bemoaned having fewer options on the bench than Liverpool which of course, he’s right but as he also said, his teams defending wasn’t as good as it should have been.
On a day when we finally found the back of the net through Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, the defence couldn’t do their bit.
As for yesterday being a title defining day, I beg to differ. Whilst Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table was catchable, Arsenal’s squad was never going to be deep enough to do the catching up. The injuries we as a club have suffered has made that task even more difficult, but when 2 or 3 of the players within a small squad are injury prone to start with, it doesn’t help.
The injury to Mikel Merino was just rotten luck but Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, well, they are usually more out than in. The only surprise is that Thomas Partey hasn’t joined our long list of absentees.
There are moments, and obviously they (Liverpool) managed to do that (win),” They made the subs, and the subs made the impact and changed the game. On our side it was the opposite, even after conceding the two goals very close to each other. The danger was that I knew half the team could go downhill because we were physically drained.
He’s right, Liverpool were able to bring on game changing players at 0-0, but we’d already scored our goals so we just needed to be smart. We weren’t.
Once Tielemans had pulled one back, Villa had the momentum. It was then that we needed to be smart. Regroup, slow the game down and tighten up in defence. If that meant parking the bus for five or ten minutes, fine, just ride the Villa storm. We didn’t and Villa scored a second.
I am incredibly proud of this team. It was an immense performance. But I am very disappointed because defending the way we did for the second goal cannot be a part of our game if we want to be at the highest level in this country. It was nowhere near the standard required.
There’s always something or someone to blame in the game, we do it all the time but ultimately, win, lose or draw, it’s on the manager. It’s his team selection, his players and his tactics. His decision to replace Gabriel Martinelli with Raheem Sterling. The only change he made by the way.
Arsenal scored what I’m sure we all believed was a winning goal at the time but having watched a number of replays, I think the decision to disallow it was right. I know I’d had been cheesed off had it been scored up the other end and not been disallowed.
Arteta said post game that the club needs reinforcements but we’re already halfway through the transfer window. However, every other club will know we’re in need of reinforcements too so can hike their player valuations up as much as they like.
Fingers crossed the news on William Saliba’s injury is positive today because to lose him for a few weeks would be awful.
Catch up in the comments.
Difficult to add anything that has not already been said . It ‘s all on for Wenger’s top four trophy . Seriously thinking about season ticket renewals now . I think that I have had enough.
I think so too. CL? Not a hope in hell, as you say, top four is probably the best we can achieve and with Newcastle, Chelsea, City and Forest all better equipped than us, even that’s not certain.
Agee 100% with your reply to potter,
Rico. How Arteta’s got the cheek to complain how short we are of players when he started the season with one of the thinnest squads in the league, defies belief. Why not play Kiwior for the injured Saliba and leave Timber at right back. Every Gooner must shudder when they see a team sheet with Partey at right back. Talk about square pegs…….
I do Anthony. Not because he’s at right back so much but because he’s not in midfield. I think we all know our best midfield is Partey and Rice.
Good afternoon Rico and all
Just check out this reel…..it seems that the ball never touched HAvertz’ arm but rather his ribs….
https://www.facebook.com/reel/3808616909350698
Afternoon Devil, depends on which angle the camera catches.
Watching that reel in “slomo” suggests something else to me….. and now accept that that decision was probably correct. Ball misses his leading arm but then deflects off his more opened right arm…. Look at the way the arm is knocked back after contact- it does not seem to be a continuation of an initial arm movement.
Till now I had not been looking at that arm.
whatever the angle…and the above clearly shows it….the ball never touched neither his hand nor his arm. had it touched his arm/hand the ball would have angled down….in this case the ball continued its upward trajectory albeit with a deflection
Whether it hit is arm or not the goal was disallowed. The decision will not be looked at again, even if it was the goal cannot be awarded in retrospect. Good or bad decision, we have to live with it. Just get over it.
It’s obvious to say our players look exhausted,makes our lack of substitutions even more baffling,and it’s not even just yesterday. Rarely do we seem to make the 5 allowed.
Maybe Kiwior,Tierney and Zinchenko will be moving on,certainly Kiwior seems out of favour,the other 2 have had minutes recently so it makes no sense.
It’s also obvious we need a couple of new players,even if it’s only on loan,will we actually use them anyway?
Looking forward we have a 10 day break,then an 11 day one,soon after that an international break,at least our injured players might be nearer coming back.
yes we have to grin and bear it. but it goes to show that although the video is important to review the person/s operating it are a scam.
Nice post Rico, ‘Arsenal not smart enough’ that’s an eye-catcher, I guess after 120 minutes and a penalty shoot-out followed by a NLD there’s bound to be tired limbs and tired minds but we kept going until the end. Maybe fatigue played its part and substitutions at 2-1 might have helped?
I’m not sure after seeing Kiwior bullied by Mateta that I fancied him at right-back or centre-back, he’s probably great in a low block team or Serie A.
Thing is Devil, accidental or not, any handball which directly leads to a goal will always be penalised.
Good question Limey, Arteta’s not a man known to always use his full quota from the bench.
I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but when Villa scored, why not waste a bit of time by making a change. Jorginho could have helped sure up our midfield/defence.
Thanks Kev, he might as well head off to Italy and he probably would if we didn’t have so many injuries.
I’d rather see Heaven get a chance, or Maldini.
I am not saying it was accidental or not Rico. I am simply stating that according to the above reel the ball never touched his arm/hand. it touched his rib cage.
the ref decided it touched his hand and made his decision. c’est la vie
But it did touch his arm Devil..
according to the above reel no it never did
We’ll have to agree to differ…
Whether it is a hand or not, as has been the practice for many years, depends on the Clubs. If it’s MU or Liverpool (and others), it was “a clever deflection by the striker to take the goalkeeper out of the ball’s path”; when it’s from Arsenal “there was a clear deflection with the hand that altered the trajectory of the ball, and therefore, the goal is well disallowed”.
From what I’ve read: Tierney is on his way to Celtic; Jorginho may or may not stay because he has a market in Brazil and at the end of the season he leaves at zero cost; Kiwor stayed, because there was a lack of defenses (at the time there was a market).
It;s all immaterial now just be thankful that there is always Spurs to cheer us up. This might be Anges last game with Levy at Goodison.
Arsenal Women 5 – 0 Crystal Palace.
I hope they keep big Ange.. 😂
Excellent result for the ladies..
Clearly hit his 2nd (RIGHT) arm Devil, are you only watching his first arm? I’m glad it did, I was livid enough at the loss after thinking we had won, and then hitting the post, but if it hadn’t hit his arm, I would still be inconsolable!
Utd lost again too. 3-1 against Brighton at the old toilet… 😜