Morning all.
Firstly, Luton’s Tom Lockyer collapsed during their game with Bournemouth yesterday. He was stretched off, taken to hospital and later in the day he was confirmed to have suffered a cardiac arrest. The game was postponed, rightly so I hasten to add but thank goodness, the player is ok. I wish him well and for his healths sake, I hope he hangs up his playing boots for good.
Man City dropped two points yesterday as Crystal Palace scored an equaliser from the penalty spit very late in the game but Newcastle thumped Fulham who were reduced to ten men in the first half when Jimenez was sent off. After the game, Fulham man Silva launched a scathing attack on the officials which will no doubt land him in hot water but I think it’s good for the game. Referees and VAR are making mistakes, costly ones and if things get brushed under the carpet, nothing will change.
Back to Arsenal. An awful result for the women yesterday. Arsenal totally bossed the game but wasted opportunity after opportunity to score then with what was Totts first shot on target, went 1-0 down. It stayed that way.
Mikel Arteta’s team can’t afford to spurn goal scoring opportunities later today. Last weekend we should have romped past Aston Villa with consummate ease but too many players left their shooting boots at home. We know what Brighton are capable of as we’ve seen it too many times both at home and away.
Mikel Arteta:
They are a really good side. Last year when we had the game under control was when we conceded a goal and then the game completely broke up and we struggled, especially in the last 15 minutes of the game, so we have to play better and be very efficient, which is key against them. They are really good – they have really good players and their way of playing is very specific and causes you problems. They were very efficient. Efficiency in football is key and on that day, they were more efficient than us.
Brighton will be without Ansu Fati, Pervis Estupinan, Tariq Lamptey, Julio Enciso and Solly March. Arsenal have just Mo Elneny added to the injury list which includes Thomas Partey, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber. Partey is rumoured to be very close to a return. Ideally he’d announce his retirement from international football when he’s finally fit. I know, I can dream but should he go off to the ACON, unless Ghana make the final which takes place on the 11th Feb he could be back soon after the league fixtures start up again. Anyway, we’ve been missing him for so long now, I’m beginning to forget what he looks like.
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
De Zerbi’s stock formation is a 4-2-3-1, but his full-backs regularly invert into central midfield positions during the build-up phase, making it more of a 3-3-3-1 when his side has possession. When they don’t they like to draw rival teams onto them when playing out from the back. Averaging an incredible 62 per cent share of possession – fractionally more than Manchester City and ourselves – Brighton are a side who are slick, cohesive and very intelligent in their movement. They also work insatiably hard to win the ball back, with their central midfielders often jumping out of their domain to apply pressure inside the final third. They limit opponents to 10.6 passes per defensive action, one of the lowest figures in the division, and only three teams (us, Manchester United and Spurs) have produced more shots from high turnovers.
De Zerbi has instilled a positive mentality that sees his players perform with adventure and bravery, home and away, and they have scored on average over two goals per game in league action. On the flip side, the Seagulls are one of three clubs yet to produce a clean sheet in the Premier League, with lapses in concentration, caught out by overplaying in tight areas, meaning they are not solid defensively.
Arsenal need to start fast and make any goal scoring chances count because Brighton often find a way into games which they’re not really in. It’s what good teams do, soak up the pressure, grow into the game and then hit the sucker punch when a chance of their own comes along. As Mikel Arteta said, that’s exactly what Brighton did to us back in May. There’s no room for complacency in possession. Make it count by scoring goals. We’re the home team so set the pace as well as the tone. Brighton won’t sit back and defend, they’ll play football and try to win the game. If Arsenal aren’t at the races, they’ll struggle.
The referee won’t do us any favours, he lives in Sussex for goodness sake but then I’m not asking for favours, just honesty and consistency.
Enjoy the game guys, we need a convincing home win.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, efficiency is the word of the week, lack of of it cost us in the WSL NLD Yesterday and could do so again today. Racking up record numbers of passes and masses of ball possession doesn’t equate to winning three points, creating scoring chances and turning them into goals is what matters.
Brighton are undoubtedly a good side but are certainly not unbeatable. When they go on the attack we must be ready to counter with pace and precision. If they try to park the bus our players need to carry the ball into the penalty box and create a bit of panic in their defenders, not pass the ball endlessly in front of them.
Raya, or Ramsdale, must be ready to hit the ball long to initiate swift counter-attacks.
As to the referee, I don’t care if he comes from Sussex or the dark side of the moon, I just want to see fairness and consistency.
Morning Cicero, all.
Agreed. Less of the faffing around with the ball, more urgency.
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
We will have to be aware of them playing a quick break from goal kick and I also can see them playing long passes.
As you said Rico, let’s hope the Luton player makes a full recovery
Not on the tele then?
Close contest today. Brighton are a very good team with one or two exceptional players up front. Good game for the Arsenal to win but it will only be by one goal I think.
COYGs
That seems to be the first choice line up now.
A tough game,we could be top of the league for a couple of hours.
COYG.
afternoon all
Waiting for the the game
Apparently Milner has just flattened Saka.
Raya nearly gifted Brighton a goal.
Possession – Home58%Away42%
Shots Home 15 Away 0
Shots on Target – Home 3 away 0
Corners Home 3 Away 0
Fouls Home 7 Away 6
Few cheap shots at Saka early on, another yellow card for Arteta, he is becoming his own worst enemy, so many shots on goal but nothing to show for it, but we seem to be controlling game and hopefully a goal will come
Lots of chances, save, blocks and misses. No goals yet.
One thing absolutely guaranteed, Milner to flatten Saka. As he has got older and slower Milner has become increasingly reckless when it comes to tackling.
First corner of second half, first goal by Jesus.
Yes, Jesus lovely headed goal
At last, 1-0 Jesus.
Havertz scores again. 2-0
2 nil thanks to Havertz
Havertz with the second.
3 points, excellent result.
Two goals, clean sheet, three points, just another day at the office. 🔔🔔
Nice win, could even had more goals if we on target, but with us and Villa winning the pressure is on Liverpool now.
Should increase the rumours about signing a striker in January.
On any other day I would support any team that Manchester United United play, not today though, C’mon United!!! 😉
Villa and Brentford sounds interesting, yellow and red cards plus both managers receiving yellow cards and a scuffle in the goal now it sounds like the FA could get involved
Just for 95 mins eh Cicero..lol
I don’t think it will do much good Rico, they look more untied than united. 😉
Another thrashing for Utd then Cicero? Let’s hope not..
Looking at Man U keeper, they could come for Ramsdale in January,
It’s 4am in oz I’m off to bed, 😴
Night Geoff.
Still top of the league.
Thanks Man Utd… lol
Strange how Var never disagree with Michael Oliver’s decisions.
I didn’t watch it..
Man U , helped us – now let’s hope we can take advantage of it,
Interesting game , watching from the North bank I can say that Havertz is improving but not just for the goal , his movement coupled with Odegaard and Rice is quite telling. He does things on the pitch that you don’t see on the telly . I was impressed with the speed at which the ball is moved . Arteta has created a team of workers that run for each other.
Brighton are adept at falling down on the slightest touch and both Milner and Mitoma went about savaging Saka and it was probably his 3rd or 4th attack on Saka that got him carded and Arteta for “”excessive waving “” Are they now making things up as they go along.,
Going to watch MOTD now so more tomorrow no doubt.
Only if we had a true striker,
Always good to have a view from someone at the game Potter. Sounds like we’re better than the television makes us look but then on TV we only get to see what’s going on on the ball. Good to hear that about Havertz.
New post up now