Morning all.
Unsurprisingly, the pre-match talk was about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who was missing from the squad. I assumed he’d picked up an injury in training but no, he was absent through punishment. Mikel Arteta said the striker was dropped because of a “disciplinary breach”.
I think we have been very consistent, that we have certain non-negotiables in the team that we have set ourselves as a club. Mikel Arteta added.
It is not the first time Aubameyang has had his knuckles wrapped is it? Terrible behaviour from our captain who in my opinion, doesn’t deserve to wear the armband. He’s meant to set an good example, not a bad one. If another club makes Arsenal an offer for him next month, I hope the club bite their hands off. Mikel Arteta has been struggling enough so the last thing he needs is a another rotten apple upsetting the rest.
Mikel Arteta went with the same team which had flunked at Everton with the usual suspects on the bench. I’ve not seen the entire game, just the highlights but it seems that after a messy opening fifteen minutes, the team started to play better. Three goals and a clean sheet is just what the manager and players needed before West Ham turn up on Wednesday.
As said, the opening 15 odd minutes weren’t brilliant and once again, Aaron Ramsdale stopped anything Southampton tried. To end with just three goals didn’t tell the whole story. Bukayo Saka hit the woodwork, Gabriel Martinelli did too and an offside flag denied Gabriel a goal. Our big Brazilian defender did get on the scoresheet though, as did Martin Odegaard and Alex Lacazette.
Our first goal was superb I thought. The calmness of Ramsdale whilst playing out from the back and his pass to kick start our attacking move was good. Even better was Bukayo Saka playing a lovely ball into the box for Lacazette to fire home. Talking of Ramsdale and his distribution, his ball out to Gabriel Martinelli was fantastic, just a shame it didn’t lead to a goal. The second was amusing. Kieran Tierney looked to have missed his opportunity to play the ball in but did, it came back to him in the air, he headed it back and Martin Odegaard headed it home. I don’t know who was more shocked that he’d scored with his head, his teammates or him. Lol
The third was all about the strength Gabriel showed to beat everyone to the Arsenal corner. A good delivery which passed Xhaka’s head and there was our big defender having made a perfectly timed move into the box. Arsenal could, and probably should have won by more.
I’m not trying to take anything away from Arsenal’s victory but Southampton really were poor. Certainly after their opening twenty odd minutes. It’s almost like they gave everything to begin within and when it didn’t reap rewards, they surrendered. Credit where it’s due, despite a nervy start, we kept going, and going and eventually it paid off. But, that’s what Arsenal can do at The Emirates against a team low on confidence and with a number of injuries.
I thought we still looked open in midfield and our passing was at times, atrocious, especially in the first half. The second half was better though, much better and it’s that kind of football which we all want to see I’m sure. Not all the time I know because that’s impossible but just tighten up the midfield, cut out the mistakes and who knows, we might even start winning away from home. The teams character was better though I think because despite Southampton causing problems at the start, they dug in, played through the sticky patch and gradually took control of the game.
See you in the comments.
Thanks for that Rico, it’s quiet out there so we must have won… 😀
Rico, I get what you and Geoff say about Aubameyang but I’m not sure we can dump him yet, we’re not really that strong up front. Of course if Edu can work some magic in January then Pierre Emerick may well return to a club where he is 3rd or 4th choice striker and we might well get an offer from a club whose prepared and desperate enough to take him, his whole salary and maybe give us a small fee into the bargain?
I was pleased to see that Rob Holding got a run out later in the game, players like him are vital to any successful football team, he doesn’t sulk and he doesn’t hide, regardless of others’ opinion of him footballistically he’s still a consummate professional.
Ha ha Kev, sad but true.
It’s easy for us on the outside but I recognise that how Arteta deals with Auba isn’t as easy as I think it is. To simply ban him, drop the captaincy etc, could do more harm than good. I think he’s dealt with it in the best way so far.
We’re not that strong up front but he’ll be gone next month anyway. But, his inclusion in the team doesn’t make the team any stronger, in fact I’d say we’re stronger without him him because in his place will be a player who might actually want to work for the team.
I too am glad Rob Holding got minutes, especially as we have a cup match coming up. With Christmas fixtures coming fast and furious, I’d be surprised if White and Gabriel play against Notts Forest, who won 4-0 yesterday BT the way.
Morning Rico and all
Totally agree Rico we struggled for the first 15 minutes but why I say it was one of the best games was because we didn’t give up and thought back to take control of the match.
The other problem I have with Auba is the fans should be enjoying the win and some positive talk from the media about Arsenal instead it’s all about the disrespect Auba showed the club, his team mates and fans.
I can’t believe I sticking up for Arteta but he has stuck by Auba when we all wanted him dropped and this is how he repays him.
Good morning Rico and all you happy campers.
I fully agree Rico, the first twenty minutes was an utter shambles but then things seemed to click smoothly into place. The first goal was a
thing of beauty, played out from the back with a couple of precise passes, a splendid run by Saka ending with a delightful pass across the box for Lacazette to finish in style. Sumptuous!!
The second was a bit scruffy but put away by Odegaard with an excellent header. The third came from one of a series of corners, Gabriel getting his head to the ball and finishing with venom.
For me the motm was Aaron Ramsdale, he dealt with everything that came his way, was a commanding figure in the box ordering his defenders into the right positions and distributing the ball with effect.
The two blots on the landscape were Aubameyang, not in the least missed from the squad and Pepe who looked, not only lethargic, but uninterested when he finally came on.
There was no hint of holding onto a one goal lead, just a determination to improve our goal difference.
Arteta:
Q. on Aubameyang missing the game…
It was a disciplinary breach, and that’s why he was out of the squad.
Q. on whether he remains captain…
Let’s talk about the game. I tried to explain why it was, and I did it frankly. I’m not going to say anything else, I’m going to focus on the performance and the quality that was on the pitch.
Q. on whether Aubameyang was available to play today….
I am really happy that we won 3-0, and we move onto the next one against West Ham.
Q. on whether he was worried it would have an effect on the squad…
I’ve said it in the press before – unfortunately it happened.
Q. on whether he expects more from the captain…
I expect from the team what I saw today, and I’m really happy with that.
What a dreadful line of questioning. Did the person asking them struggle understand Arteta saying he wanted to talk only about the game…?
Morning Geoff. Agree re Auba, his actions have done Mikel Arteta or the players any good whatsoever as now the focus is on Auba. It’ll be the same on Wednesday.
Morning Cicero. I think it was nerves after the Everton and Utd performances. We definitely needed that first goal. Odegaard is starting to find his feet I think, he was certainly good yesterday. He looked the kind of player we hoped we’d signed.
Ramsdale, I just love everything about him.
Credit to Arteta for being so polite to the hack, if it had been me being questioned I would have told him, in no uncertain terms, to Foxtrot Oscar.
Morning Rico, Allen Kev, Aussie Geoff et al,
Great result especially the first goal nice interplay to the well taken Lacazette goal. It’s lovely to see training pitch work reaping results.
Ramsdale is fast becoming the best PL goalie. Here’s one for you to mull over. Ederson had like 10 to 12 touches and most of these were with his feet against Wolves. It made me think why would a top goalie play in a team where he’s seldom used, I mean I get the accolades and CL etc but the top three goalies are nowhere near as worked as Martinez, Pickford, De Gea, and Ramsdale, etc. They will never be as well-practiced as the second tier goalies. If I were a goalie I want to get in on the action, just made me think.
The Auba one is a bad one we’ve had this before when his form dips he tends to sulk and gets distracted. I do think Arteta has handled it fairly. I read some garbage that Chris Sutton was inferring Arteta makes up the rules as he goes along. I mean what a load of tripe we all
Know how strict he is and has his non-negotiables. I remember reading about the England Rugby team leading up to the World Cup under their captain Martin Johnson. The team introduced a rule that on-time for meetings me at 5 mins before the start time. Arteta is very transparent and fair and doesn’t favour players which you have to respect. I wonder now whether this was partly what caused our little dip in form. When he’s away from the team we score three goals and controlled 75% of the game. I do now think he needs to strip him of the captaincy, the issue is that this would probably the final nail of no return and both parties would be looking for an Auba transfer. I think we’re beyond that point now. Bring in a top talent spend big make a statement and move on. I would also try and pin down Laca for at least another year but that’s unlikely he’ll probably end up at AM or West Ham. I also looks the idea of Balogun going to Bournemouth for the rest of the season he needs that experience if not just to show Arteta he can play at that level.
The next question is then who would take on the captaincy, it would have to be someone who wears the Arsenal badge on his heart and leads by example, and would be on the team sheet every game. Someone whose intelligent and can work between the players and Arteta’s team. Two names come to mind Tierney and Odegaard. Tierney has that heart on his sleeve and leading be example, gives everything every match but Tavares has kept him
out with a good run of games. Odegaard has the experience of being Captain for Norway but he’s had a few games on the bench but his recent form has improved three games three goals. I also think that Ramsdale has shown captains qualities berating players when they make errors and bigs them up when they play well. He’s able to drive the team at least the back five into performing. However, I’ve never been a fan of goalies being captains I like to see a captain in the middle or the park like Roy Kean and Gerrard in the think of the action.
Sorry it’s a long one today!!
Praying Burnley smash west ham tonight and shatter there confidence.
Ditto Cicero.
Morning Mig.
Whilst I think Arteta has dealt with Auba the right way, I do think he has his favourites who play regardless. Auba should have been dropped weeks back and Xhaka shouldn’t have walked right back into the team as soon as he was fit imo, let alone play 90 mins in his first game. Lokonga must feel slightly hard done by.
The Arsenal Captaincy has become a poisoned chalice. Think how many Captains Wenger appointed only for them to leave shortly afterwards. Almost every one was given the armband in an attempt to get them to stay or induce them to sign a new contract. Most times the ploy failed and the player left for greener pastures elsewhere.
I wouldn’t want to see the added pressure of the Captaincy piled onto the shoulders of one of the younger players. Nor would I advocate giving it to a goalkeeper, no not even Ramsdale.
Ideally the Captain should be a defender or a midfielder but, White, Gabriel and Tomiyasu are too new to the club, Holding doesn’t play regularly and Tierney seems a bit injury prone.
The only midfield option is Xhaka, He has the experience and the stature within the club to command the respect of his team mates.
Up front, only Lacazette qualifies in my book and it’s likely that he will be gone in the summer if not in January.
Xhaka it is!
The difference between Xhaka and Auba is simple Xhaka stuffed up on the field we’re Auba stuffed up on and off the field.
Agree re the captains. The day emotions came into the appointment, things went wrong imo.
Afternoon Mig, the captaincy issues will just give troublesome hacks ammunition to stir up problems that Arteta is dealing with. I’m not I’d take away the captaincy yet, but he’s on his final warning, he’ll be gone to Africa soon and all that rubbish will go with him in a couple of weeks, let’s see how the land lays when he returns in January.
Yes, I was thinking of Odegaard myself, he’s very vocal, very intelligent and the type of player who I think would grow with the armband on his upper arm, so I’m with you on that. Tierney as vice captain fits the bill, although I reckon that Lacazette will hold onto it in the short term as he’s highly respected in the dressing room.
I think that the poisoned chalice theme really sprung out of Wenger giving the armband to his favourite at the time for the wrong reason Cicero. Wenger never really understood the captaincy role the same as we Brits see it and in a way he devalued it with his cockeyed choices.
Give it to Xhaka and he’ll start playing on the edge, overcompensating and getting sent off, there’s no doubt in my mind that Xhaka cares and goes the full yards but maybe he just cares a tad too much and gets himself into trouble. You know, like Ian Wright.
Anyway it’s all up for grabs now.
Nor Emery, in fact he was so unsure he had five of them… 😆
Looks as if the advisors of ‘18 year old sensation’ Khaylon Edwards is putting plenty of rumours out there about his contract running down/ 6 months to go/ Chelsea interested/ German clubs interested/ everyone and their dog interested, blah blah blah.
Of course it’s proof, in case any was needed on the click baiters, that Arsenal are in chaos and that Arsenal are going to let the next Messi or Ronaldo or Lewandowski or even Benzema slip through our careless fingers. 😴
No doubt Twitter will be outraged, Edu is to blame, maybe it’s Mertesakers fault or even Wenger we can’t forget him and maybe Arteta will be cancelled?
Meanwhile in the real world……
Ha ha Kev…
New post up now
Can you put a link up please Rico my PC is in the casualty dept and I can only get yesterday’s post on my tablet.
https://highbury-house.com/2021/12/13/good-time-to-play-the-hammers/
Here you go Cicero.