Morning all.
We might as well forget the idea of winning the Premier League any time soon. Not because we’re not capable of doing so, but because the playing field is not level. The officials are making sure of that.
On another day, with another referee, Caicedo would have been off the pitch long before the final whistle. He wiped out Martin Odegaard early in the game before committing foul after foul and Michael Oliver let him get away with it. Not even a booking!
Martin Odegaard’s return to the starting lineup was a huge boost to the team/squad and despite fitness concerns, Declan Rice started too with Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino making way.
Just a few minutes into the game and David Raya was called into action as he tipped a Cole Palmer shot from distance over the bar. That turned out to be the best effort from him all game. Palmer I mean, not Raya. Madueke headed a chance wide before Gusto headed one over the bar.
Then it was our turn to spurn a good opportunity to take the lead. Bukayo Saka’s initial shot hit Caicedo and landed at the feet of Gabriel Martinelli but his shot was easy for Sanchez to stop. Then we did have the ball in the back of the net. From free kick taken quickly by Declan Rice and into the path of Kai Havertz, the German slipped the ball past Sanchez but our celebrations were cut short when replays showed he was just offside. By the way, I loved how Havertz celebrated regardless, none of this ‘old club respect’ stuff.
After the break, we went ahead through Gabriel Martinelli. Thomas Partey played the ball to our captain on the edge of Chelsea’s box and he floated a cross up and over the Chelsea defence into the path of our winger who took a touch with his left foot before squeezing his shot between Sanchez and his near post.
Shortly after, Jurrien Timber left two Chelsea players standing with some lovely footwork as he ran towards goal, shrugged off another who tried to bring him down and then hit a shot just wide of the post from distance. So unlucky.
Chelsea equalised through Neto. It was a poor goal to concede really as not only was Neto a long way out but our central defenders, certainly Gabriel, could have made more of an effort to block the shot. Or am I being harsh?
Mikel Arteta’s players pushed hard for a winner and came close on a couple of occasions. Mikel Merino had two half chances but the best chance to take all three points came right at the end of the game for Leandro Trossard who fired high over the bar. The offside flag had gone up anyway although it would have been interesting had VAR reviewed it. Irrelevant though.
Yesterday’s result was about fine margins. The Kai Havertz offside, the lackadaisical defending in the buildup to Netos strike and the defending of the actual shot. We’re not getting any luck in front of goal. The chances we have are getting the wrong kind of deflection and there always seems to be an opposition player in the way or a keepers fingertips. I’m convinced our luck will change, it has too surely.
Now it’s the international break and I’m pretty sure both Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice will withdraw from the England squad after both went off yesterday. Martin Odegaard heading off with Norway isn’t certain either. Perhaps Kai Havertz will tell Germany his head is too sore this morning and his cut needs time to heal properly.
Whoever goes away for this fortnight, I just hope they return in as good a shape as they leave.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning, good report rico.
Not harsh at all, would Tony Adams have turned his back like that?
Not a chance Andrew , I remember watching Arsenal’s reserves at Carrow road and it was Tony’s first game back after coming out of jail .Arsenal were 4 nil up and about 10 minutes from the end a Norwich player took a shot from the edge of the box and Adams dived to his right and took the ball full in the face . No way would he let them score even at that level.
Yesterday was a highly competitive game with quite a bit of niggle , the most heartening thing I took from it was as the game was ending only one team was trying to win it whilst the the other was trying not to lose.
Can’t say I disagree about Caciedo but Oliver dished out 4 yellows to them and 2 to us . However Chelsea supporting fans have told me that he was man of the match not Cucurella who I believe got the award because of the way he handled Saka .
I have to ask Arteta why is it always Martinelli that comes off for Trossard ? why not Saka and put Martinelli over there and make the Spaniard run about a bit after all Martinelli was more effective on the left than Saka was on the right.
Ditto re Martinelli, I’d love to see him on the right every now and again or even through the middle because often, not always, central defenders aren’t as quick as full backs.
Good post Rico
I didn’t hear the Michael Oliver song but it’s well earned and he fully deserves it for being a c*nt.
I can see some light at the end of the current tunnel we’re stuck in, whether it’s too late to save our season I guess we’ll know after Forest. Liverpool have a tough December and that’s where we’ve gotta hopefully narrow the gap?
We might have to win at Anfield eventually?
Seems as if Odegaard is joining up with the Norway squad.
Thanks Kev.
I didn’t hear the song either but yep, he certainly deserved it..
Imagine if we’d have signed Caicedo, no way would he have got away with what he did yesterday..
Well, if he does I guess his fitness levels will improve. Just hope the Norway manager doesn’t ask too much of him.
180 minutes plus then
Well that’s one PGMOL ref on his way? Just seen video of Coote on X raving about Klopp and calling him a c### amongst other things. That’s not going to go down well!
The real Coote I wonder?
Looks like a drunk one!
The real one then. 😝
Well if anyone recognises a c** t it has to be Coote.One of the worst.
Ha ha, he’s been suspended according to Sky Sports.
Take the lot and give us some independant foreign refs.
Yay, first time ever, using PC, site has saved my email and password!
Excellent Andrew.
I’m warming to overseas referees although the one last week in Milan was pretty dire..
If video is AI fake as I read he has claimed, then the world is in trouble, could never believe anything seen again.
Frightening really..
The Matrix is here!
Mr Anderson…
Coote has admitted the video is real apparently…
But the comments taken out of context apparently.
He’s still going to be out of a job.. all for telling the truth.. lol
Coote will probably be signed up by Sky as back-up to Mike Bloody Dean on their Saturday afternoon football show for all the has-beens who need a few quid.
The Saudi’s will take him, the like people at the end of their career.
With a nod to the two Ronnies. Coote and Lineker….”It’s goodnight from me and its goodnight from him”.
Two for the price of one, can’t be bad! 😉
Cannot stand Dean’s voice on Sky Cicero, makes me want to turn off, why on earth employ him, do public really like him? Goodnight😀😀
Odegaard returns to Arsenal to continue his recovery after meeting with the Norge medical staff.
.https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/uefa-president-used-private-jet-at-euro-2024-despite-teams-being-told-to-cut-air-travel-rqwb7pjk5#:~:text=On%20three%20occasions%20during%20the,flown%20from%20Frankfurt%20that%20morning.
Good post Rico.
Hope you are keeping well.
Such a bad run of injuries of late.
The season is long and Liverpool at some point might well drop points, even though it’s hard to see where at the moment.
Having Odegard back against Chelsea, showed the creativity that has been missing.
Another international break….🥴
Let’s hope that the team can go on a run and start picking up some points to narrow the gap.
Thanks Marinello.
All good thanks, you too I hope.
New post by the way…