Morning all.
I think this weeks European matches have highlighted just how poorly VAR has been used. It started on Tuesday when PSG played Bayern Munich when a Ousmane Dembélé’ cross struck the arm of Alphonso Davies, who had previously had his hands behind his back. Kompany didn’t like the decision but thems the rules. On Wednesday, the ball pinged up and hit Ben White’s arm which in the Premier League, any penalty claim would be waved away. Perhaps the worst decision of the week though came last night when Elliot Anderson crunched into the ankle of Ollie Watkins with his studs up. I didn’t watch the game but have seen the incident this morning and I really don’t know how Watkins played on. As for Anderson, well, he’ll be available for the second leg but he really shouldn’t be.
The result of the night came in Ukraine where Crystal Palace beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1. Whilst they won’t be taking a place in the final for granted, barring a major cockup up at Selhurst Park next week, they should be there on the 27th May, just three days after playing Arsenal on the 24th. Should Arsenal reach the Champions League final, players will have six days to recover.
Yes, I hope they batter Shakhtar next week because it’s highly unlikely that any of their players will want to miss the final. Oliver Glasner might not even want to risk a few of his key players for that game which, should the Premier League title race go down to the final day, might help us. I know Palace have to go to The Etihad on the 13th but the final would still be two weeks away.
I know there’s a lot of “if’s” in there but we have to keep hoping things can go our way.
Arsenal’s job is to just make sure this league fight continues to the final day. Starting with a win against Fulham this evening. Right now, I really don’t care how we get a win as long as we get it because another slip up and the Premier League might as well hand City the trophy. City go to Everton on Monday night. Hopefully, six points behind us.
The battle between these two clubs back in October last year ended 1-0 to the Arsenal courtesy of a Leandro Trossard goal. Riccardo Calafiori had seen a stunning strike rifled into the net disallowed for an offside call and by the end of the game, a number of chances, good chances, had been spurned. Fulham too had their chances too but thankfully, their finishing was as ropey as ours.
Early in the second half, Bukayo Saka was brought down just inside the area by Kevin and referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot. VAR intervened and Taylor trotted off to the pitch side monitor and after watching a number of replays, decided that Kevin had got a toe to the ball before bringing down our player.
The game was as close as the scoreline suggests and I strongly suspect it will be a tough battle again tonight.
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
Silva’s stock formation is a 4-2-3-1, so we are unlikely to see any major surprises there. Fulham are happy to have the ball so while playing short passes through the lines is their preferred method, centre-back Joachim Andersen has made the second-highest number of long passes among all Premier League defenders.
The Cottagers are more patient in possession than most top-flight teams, ranking fifth for 10+ pass sequences. Last weekend against Aston Villa, they pressed extremely well, especially through the industry of Emile Smith Rowe, but they actually have the fewest shot-ending high turnovers and rank last for pressing sequences, too.
They are strong down the flanks, using their wingers and a pair of attack-minded full-backs to create 2v1s at opportune moments. Right-winger Harry Wilson is enjoying a fabulous campaign, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists, and three of the Welshman’s goals have been blockbusters from outside the box.
Only us and the two Manchester sides have faced fewer shots on target than the west Londoners, but playing out from the back is a possible weakness. Only Burnley and Tottenham have conceded more high turnovers, so pressing with conviction could be a sound tactical ploy.
Mikel Arteta confirmed yesterday that both Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz will miss this one but he didn’t rule out Martin Odegaard.
He also spoke about carrying the ball forward:
Penetration is one of the words we use the most, and taking players’ initiative and making things happen. Through the passes, obviously, it’s extremely difficult against a team that is so organised, so we need to find other ways and that’s the kind of thing we’re looking forward to.
Taking players’ initiative or does he really mean players taking initiative I wonder? If it’s the latter, there’s much room for improvement.
Perhaps that’s why I like Ebe Eze because as much as he can sometimes drift or not put in a big defensive shift, when the ball is at his feet he looks to do something special. Whether that’s by scoring or playing the ball forwards, it’s certainly better than his first thought to be looking for a safe pass. Of course it’s not always easy, especially against a strong defensive setup but that’s where moving the ball forward with more purpose can help.
Our last two matches has seen improvement but one we lost, the other drew. More of the same today and perhaps it’ll be just like our short corner routine against Newcastle, third time lucky.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, another fine and warm Norfolk day….so far.
Before this evening’s game against Fulham there is the little matter of a second leg Women’s Champions League semi-final tie for Arsenal against OL Lyonesse. Currently balanced slightly in our favour 2 – 1. Live on B B C 2 from 1.30, kick off 2 pm.
As to the Fulham game we need a 100% effort, if ever there was a must win game this is it…as are all the rest of our matches this season for both the men’s and women’s teams.
Here’s a thought, our top striker, Havertz, has missed 37 games in all competitions so far this season,City’s top striker, Haaland, has missed just one.
It appears that we have bought in a new chief physiotherapist to oversee our injury problems .Unsurprisingly he is Spanish, , albeit not from the Basque country but from Cadiz however he is said to be a good friend of Arteta so that alone demonstrates our Managers frustration at the number of selections he has to make without half the names in the hat.
None of that of course explains why players like Norgaard and MLS have spent so much time getting splinters whilst Rice and Zubimendi have been run into the ground.. Despite my caution that he should be protected I would give Dowman a run today with MLS in the middle and go forward against Fulham who themselves always play well against us .
Just give them something different to think about.
BTW :- Nice photo of John Radford and Geordie Armstrong they were a great combination , Armstrong could cross a ball and Radford could jump and head it . Perhaps it’s lesson that instead of the pass on the floor that 9 times out of 10 gets cut out by the first defender,
I thought you’d like it. The good old days when football was football, when goals mattered more than possession stats, xg etc etc.
You mean when players didn’t fall over at a powder puff touch, Rico.😉
Yes Rico, a great picture, 1967/68 I reckon given the blue n white hooped socks. I used to love Big Raddy he was an absolute gem of a centre forward and Geordie Armstrong was an amazingly consistent wing forward, both could fit seamlessly into todays team given their skill sets. Apparently Big Raddy is sadly suffering some age related mental issues according to what Charlie George told me last year.
Morning Cicero, I thought that was tomorrow. Best I get my chores done in time. Lol
Just double checked Rico, definitely today. Feed the chickens but leave the mucking out of the horses ’til tomorrow. 😉
I share your view on MLS and Norgaard. There can be no complaints about fatigue surely, certainly not from Arteta, after all, it’s he who overlooks options each match day in preference to his “favs”.
Re Havertz, I’d sell him this summer if he’s fit.
I would not have bought him in the first place , but that’s me. Despite the famous stats dna especially when buying from other clubs in the Premier league perhaps the buyers should read fan’s forums . Despite not having years of experience of managing in football , fans have been watching it long enough to evaluate a player .
Havertz has never been a prolific goalscorer, at Chelsea he scored just 19 goals in 91 games ,
Madueke is a fireball with little end product 1 goal in 5 games on average at Palace and Chelsea.
On both occasions as the transfers were being made the supporters comments were telling. People that have been watching the other clubs as long as some of us have been watching The Arsenal wanted them gone and could not believe their luck when we parted with copious amounts of cash for them.
Maybe Arteta’s vanity made him think that he could change the pattern and that he could get them to do things that no-one else could.
I would not have taken the risk.
Then we come to the big money deal for Gyokeres , his record in Portugal was sensational but on closer examination before he signed those of us that study noticed that his goals did not come against Portugal’s top teams but against the lower clubs. If you equate those lower clubs with English football they are probably on a level with teams in the middle of the Championship. I would think that JM could tell us more.
To get the best out of him , we would have to change our pattern of play , he is not going to score without the ball and the way we set up , he is feeding on scraps.