Morning all.
First up, I wish Frida Maanum a speedy recovery after she collapsed during the Women’s Cup Final yesterday afternoon. Scary moments for her and her Arsenal mates. Mates who rallied round and went on to beat Chelsea 1-0 in extra time. Well done to them.
Onto The Etihad and unlike Walker and Ederson, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel recovered well enough to start the game. Stones was on the bench as was Gabriel Martinelli. Leandro Trossard was on the bench with Gabriel Jesus filling the left side of our front three.
The first half was bossed by City as far as possession goes but it was Arsenal who had the best chances to open the scoring. Both fell to Gabriel Jesus, both were hit wide. Ake had a chance too but David Raya gathered his header comfortably.
The second half was more interesting. Just. Leandro Trossard saw his shot saved although had he looked up to see Gabriel Martinelli making his run into the box, the outcome might have been different.
By the end, both teams managed three shots on target, City totted up 72% possession and committed nine fouls. Arsenal however committed 20. I’m pretty sure City were guilty of fouling us a lot more than Anthony Taylor was prepared to give.
The game, not the best to watch in my opinion, ended in a draw. Yes, a hard earned and well fought for point. I’m sure every one who cares about Arsenal FC wanted a win but to not lose was important. The old Arsenal, whatever that was, would have gone to City, try to match them and come away with nothing. This Arsenal, Mikel Arteta’s team/squad showed discipline, character and a definite ‘no way are we letting them score’ attitude. Yes they had one or two half chances but then so did we. Best of all, City were frustrated, rattled and begging Anthony Taylor for more free kicks to go their way. They’re happy to dish it out, but don’t like it back.
William Saliba talking to Arsenal.com after the game:
It was a tough game against a big team, we are not satisfied 100 per cent, but it’s okay, we take the point. We know it’s not easy to come here and not concede and we did well. Of course we can be proud of stopping them scoring but it’s not finished, there is nine games still and we have to win it.
I thought yesterday showed how smart Arsenal are under Mikel Arteta. A point against City, making it 4 for the season is such a vast improvement on seasons gone by. Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel were immense in defence, David Raya didn’t really have too much to do either because those in front of him were so good.
Gabriel Jesus lacked composure in front of goal but was back defending, helping out Jakub Kiwior. Same on the other side of the pitch with Bukayo Saka helping out Ben White. Everything City tried, we as a team stopped with every player working their socks off from start to finish.
Mikel Arteta talking to Arsenal.com:
It was a really tough, really close match against a team that is unbelievable. I think the boys competed really, really well. We were really disciplined and patient with when we had to be. The upside was that we had some big chances, some big situations that we didn’t convert and the fact that we lacked a little bit of composure, especially with the ball in the first phase to play more, to have more, to be more courageous to play but credit to them because they make your life difficult.
Yesterday was the first time since 2021 that Man City didn’t score at The Etihad. I read a comment in one of the newspaper reports which said that had Arsenal committed more in attack, they might have won the game but I don’t think that’s fair. Had we committed more in attack, we might have lost and then the press would have had a field day. In any case, we created three very good opportunities to score.
Nine league games to go and we’re still very much in the title race. Next up for Mikel Arteta’s team in Luton at The Emirates on Wednesday night.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico and Co.
A pinch and a punch for the 1st of the month and no return!
An engrossing game, not one for the neutrals or Sky but sod them. I loved the way that Arsenal refused to allow City to move us around the pitch and open us up. City were feeding on scraps and Jesus twice, Havertz and Trossard all had chances take the points. KdB has never looked less effective against Arsenal, Haaland was basically bullied by Gabriel, Foden was invisible and ineffective, Rodri was unable to influence anything, it was a complete nullification of the best team in Europe by Arsenal.
Morning Kev, ditto, what I saw was a determined Arsenal team with men out there all fighting for the same cause. The difference in mentality now is so different to when and what Mikel Arteta took over and the players he inherited. He now has a great foundation to build on each summer.
I thought we were good, very good. As for Liverpool now being labelled the favourites, well they said something similar about us when City and Liverpool drew.
It’s going to be a fantastic run in I think.
Good morning Rico and everyone.
How I so much love the tears from the junk pundits across board.
What pains them the most is the fact that they can’t actually banter us anymore.
The beautiful this is we are just getting started, Arteta isn’t done assembling his team and when he is done boy oh boy we will be unstoppable.
The concentration now should be on the forwards, we don’t have the replacement pacy wingers and the cry for an out and out striker still lingers..
The future is supper bright for us 😀😀😀😀
White Rabbits :- Win at home and draw away against the top teams and win them both against the rest ..
Gabriel and Barbie put on a terrific sideshow and Saliba tidied up the rest . I thought Rice suffered towards the end tiredness and a number were not fully 100% .
Luton dont give you much rest so Wednesday the team selection will be critical thank you, James
whoever he may be
Morning Rico and all.
I don’t think it was a boring match like some have said, the way I sore it was 2 top teams under a lot of pressure and stopping each other from really getting started and making simple mistakes.
Taking the score out of the equation the 2 most important thing I noticed about the game was (1) that we didn’t get bullied by there players, (2) we stopped Jack Grealish from entering the goal area so he could fall over his own shadow and get a penalty.
on the down side Jesus and Raya both picked up yellow cards for no reason other than their own fault. although the commentators were claiming we should have picked up more yellow cards.
I picked a draw and in the end that’s what I reckon it deserved.
Morning Mexy, yep, we’re far from the finished article but with a few more additions in the summer, we’ll be even better. Our bench needs strengthening in my opinion.
I thought Odegaard struggled too Potter. Ideally we get a few early goals on Wednesday so that Arteta can use all five subs. Quite like to see Rice rested, Saka too but I just can’t see Arteta doing that.
Nketiah, ESR, Nelson, Partey, Zinchenko, Vieira – surely all need time on the pitch on Wednesday night at some stage.
Hi Geoff, I thought it was pretty hard to watch, but the dogged performance and result was more important yesterday.
Arsenal now has the physicality to match any team in Europe. The days of Rodri bullying Arsenal in the middle is over. Yesterday watching Havertz win defensive headers, especially on corners, Rice getting stuck in, Odegaard applying pressure, Saliba, Gabriel M, and Tomiyasu refusing to be out physical was awesome.
We had our chances, and Odegaard dithered on the ball too much also.
I don’t agree with the critique of Odegaard on here, I thought he was outstanding, I also thought that Havertz was outstanding – odd how different folk see the game.
I guess that’s the beauty of the game, we can all disagree and in the end I’m right…
Depends on which side of Odegaard’s game is being judged I think. Creativity wasn’t the best but work rate, he did his bit. A few stray passes were evident but not just by him..
Agreed Rico, Odegaard’s workrate was unmatched. He’s a one man pressing machine and Havertz physicality was immense. But in the creativity department, Odegaard was indecisive.
But we as a team were Obi, the focus was clearly on defending and not getting beaten. I’m more frustrated with Jesus not putting away with one of the two chances he had. Away from home at City, chances are always few and far between.
The reason why Odegaard looked a bit hesitant was that there was seldom anyone within range that he could pass to. Everybody was concentrating on the low block.
I still stick with my statement at 10:54am this game was never going to be a goal fest but more like a game of chess each team were trying hard to check each other but no one could finally call checkmate.
What else is interesting is that we are all talking about the players and managers on both sides. yet I also think the ref had agood game in that he tried to let the game flow instead of going card crazy.
I didn’t watch the game until last night (Easter with the UK grandchildren) a great defensive performance,Raya barely had a save to make.
I wonder if Saka will play against Luton, I’m pretty sure he will be available but with lots of big games coming up he might benefit from a rest.
There’s a good chance we’ll have 2 more games against City this season. If you consider the 2 matches so far… I’d put my money on us over 2 legs.
I reckon we’ll see Saka tomorrow, starting 11 too if fit. He’s just had a 2 week break, nearly 3. 😂
Spuds drop two points at West Ham 1 – 1, final score
Excellent….
According to report the other day Arteta claimed Saka was a little tired before the game against Man C and took him off during the match due to fatigue, Saka needs a rest, or he will be burned out or get a major injury before the end of the season.
Morning..
New post up.