Morning all.
Two of the biggest decisions Mikel Arteta has had to make since becoming Arsenal manager has in my option, involved Mesut Ozil and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang. One hasn’t really done much since leaving Arsenal, the other has found himself back in the Premier League with Chelsea after a short stint at Barcelona. With Arsenal travelling to Stamford Bridge tomorrow, it’s inevitable that all eyes will be on “I’m a blue” Aubameyang. The media will be hoping he scores against his old club I’m sure, even if it’s just because it’ll create a good headline. I can see it now, ‘Aubameyang shows why Arteta was wrong to let him leave’. Gabriel Jesus going through a bit of a goal drought will only add fuel to their potential story.
Aubameyang was great for Arsenal, of that there’s little doubt, but after his new contract, things turned sour. We’ll never know what really went on but if Mikel Arteta was going to change the Arsenal mentality, he needed every player to fall into line. Not 99% of the squad, but 100%. Shape up or ship out. Both Ozil and Aubameyang were shipped out. Other players went too but their departures weren’t quite so high profile.
Ahead of tomorrow’s match, Mo Elneny has been talking about life at Arsenal and like a number of his teammate’s have said before, there is a feeling of togetherness within the squad.
Big Mo is quoted by the Independent as saying:
We don’t allow big egos. This is the dressing room we have now. Everyone loves each other and everyone works for each other. This is what actually makes our squad really strong, because we don’t have egos in the team. Now everyone looked at themselves because Mikel did that to the captain of the team. What is he going to do with another player? This showed that now we can’t play around, now we have to be calm with the team and the way the team is going we have to stick with the team, not do something different.
There’s a difference between a footballer having a big character and having an ego. Egos in team sport doesn’t always work well. Great when things are going their way but when they’re not, problems can arise. Even if Aubameyang scores a winner in today’s game, the decision to ‘let him go’ was right. By the sound of it, his swift departure woke every player up and made them realise, Arsenal are a serious club again.
Of course we all all want three points from every match but when an ex player is lining up for the opposition, it adds an extra edge to a game. A bit like playing Aston Villa after Martinez left or if we were to play Marseille with Guendouzi in the team.
Team news:
Chelsea – Chilwell, Kante, Arrizabalaga, Fofana and James are ruled out and Chukwuemeka is a doubt.
Arsenal – Emile Smith Rowe remains out and at the time of writing, there’s been no update on Takehiro Tomiyasu. Matt Turner, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney were all training yesterday.
I’ve not watched Chelsea at all this season but their results suggest they can be good one day, not so good the next. They topped their Champions League group relative ease but in their last League match, Brighton thumped them 4-1. Like I said, when an ex returns to the club he left, there’s often an added incentive to win.
The incentive for Mikel Arteta’s team today is to regain top spot. I know it means little at this stage in the season but points do. Three today would be massive.
Anyway, here’s the team.
Arsenal.com
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico, the game’s today, not tomorrow. 😉
If that is our starting eleven, I believe it’s our best.
Arsenal Women kick off away to Leicester City at 14.00, live on the BBC red button. Meanwhile England take on Argentina and that’s live on Amazon Prime also at 14.00.
What a great afternoon’s sport.
COYG
Morning Cicero, I wrote it yesterday 😂
Xhaka would have seen red for that kind of challenge
We look a bit more settled with Zinchenko back in the team, I feel we are top but it could still go anyway.
Afternoon Rico and all
why didnt Saka get the four time whack deal that Cucurella had . Oliver knew he got the first one wrong
we need a centre forward and jesus is not him . He spends too much time out of the area . We are the better team but have no bite .
Nice goal, now for the second, Auba replaced at halftime
VAR saved Chelsea that was handball
Brilliant result, absolutely brilliant.
Aubameyang who?
Afternoon Geoff, apparently his arm was outside the box so no penalty.
I reckon Saka was booked because his challenge seemed to be a response to not getting a foul himself.
Jesus is a great number 10. 😂
Great win, now if we could only put these matches to bed early.
One goal, clean sheet, three points. Back at the top of the table. Just another day at the office. 😉
Arsenal Women one nil up after 12 minutes. 🔔
After the first 10 minutes Villa 2 Man U 0
2 – 0 up.
Thought our defensive unit was superb today.
Everything is coming up roses
3 – 0 up. 🔔🔔🔔 40 minutes.
Zinchenko is the final piece in the defensive jigsaw. Just a little rusty today but brilliant to come back so well from injury.
Mo took the “words out of my mouth” when I read the first few paragraphs of HH. I complete: a team that has one (or more players) who think they are Maradona, earn much more than others, tend to almost say who plays and who doesn’t, are always in the press for whatever reason, are generally “pampered”, they don’t matter to a team. They believe that the world and/or the team revolves around them. A team is much healthier with all parameters balanced.
As for the game, I didn’t understand why Saka didn’t switch wings with Martinelli in the middle of the 1st half; Arsenal were always on top of the game; Partney was Arsenal’s best player; Thiago Silva the best player on the field; the replacements seemed late to me.
4 – 0.
And a very young player in for Arsenal.
Let’s hope Liverpool can beat Tottenham
Thiago Silva was better than Saliba?
Really?
Not imo, no.
You got your wish Geoff, Spuds 1 – 2 Scousers.
What a nasty team they have become under Conte. Sneaky little tugs and kicks, diving, faking injury and protesting every decision that doesn’t go their way. Following, no doubt, the instructions of their despicable manager who was quite rightly booked.
It’s a sobering thought that Cucarella cost well in excess of £60 million. In fact the Chelsea squad cost is eye-watering.
Nor mine Rico.
Cicero. I saw some of the second half. They must have set a new record for crosses into the box.
I saw some of Arteta’s post match presser and someone mentioned the last time Arsenal won three times in succession at Stamford Bridge was 1949/1950/1951, so some achievement for Arteta who also has the best win ratio after 150 games of any Arsenal manager, finally, I cannot remember the last time that an Arsenal goalkeeper went through an entire game without needing to make at least one save, but Ramsdale didn’t have anything to do, a testament to our amazing midfield and our superb defence.
Best players on the pitch were Partey, a Rolls Royce performance and Saliba, safe as the Bank of England, Xhaka was fabulous and Gabriel was cast-iron, Ben White also had another stormer, but when does Ben ever have a bad game?
Chelsea were playing at their absolute limit in order to prevent a heavier defeat, I can’t think of one Chelsea player who I’d have in the Arsenal team…
One of only two occasions I want Liverpool to win a league game..
We talk about players getting better, but Arteta and his staff are getting so much better with each game. The formation today, disguising a back 3 as a back 4. Literally playing Zinchenko in midfield which allowed Partey to just boss the game and Xhaka to just move around. Saliba has been terrific, but Ben White hasn’t had a bad game this season. When White was bought at 50m, my thought was he’s a 35m player- we paid the “English Player Premium”. We’ll he’s showing he is worth it.
I doubted the signing of Ben White, Gabriel Jesus too but I was very wrong.
While I had no issue with Jesus-transfer, sign me up for the White-doubters. And Ramsdale’s.
A week ago I stated that this Arsenal season is reminiscent of Leicester winning the League.
Teams are going through transitions this season that is identical to that season. Man United and Chelsea are going through managers and players transition, Liverpool is going through player transition and their transfers are not adjusting well, Totts are going through tactical transition and players turnover…the rate of player turn over there is ridiculous. Only Man City and Arsenal have shown stability from last season to this season. Arteta went through his players transition already for a season and half.
I think the problem Liverpool have relates to being in all four competitions to the end last season. The way they played with so much pace etc, they’re suffering now. Also, their squad is getting on a bit. Klopp has a lot to do if he’s to refresh and build a younger squad.
On the other hand, Mikel has his young squad and as you say Obi, they’re into their second season. Both Zinchenko and imo, Jesus have slotted in with such ease because they have history with Arteta.
I’m glad Liverpool won only because it gives us more breathing room from Toots, hopefully next week they both along with Man city get smashed.
Emery opened his account with a nice win over Man u
New post up now