Daily Bits and Bobs

Campbell comes alive as Alexis & Ozil keep the fire burning…

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

A defeat at West Brom doesn’t make us a dreadful team overnight but equally, a victory over a very average Zagreb side, doesn’t make us world beaters however, they were the opposition and theArsenal players did exactly what was asked of them.

We needed a victory, any kind of victory and that’s just what we got. We also needed Bayern to win too and no sooner had we kicked off, Costa had put the German side 1-0 up. Bayern went on to win 4-0.

For the first half an hour, Zagreb did all they could to stop us scoring and it worked but as they pressed forward on the attack, our opening goal came. Flamini to Alexis, Alexis with a superb ball into Ozil and the German headed home. A top draw counter attacking goal.

1-0 soon became 2-0, Monreal nipped in to intercept Sigali’s pass just outside the penalty area, he found Alexis in the box and there was no missing that one. Ozil could have doubled the lead before the break but Eduardo saved well twice.

Half-time came and went and again Eduardo stood between us getting a much bigger score-line, with good saves from Ollie’s header and a shot from Cazorla.

Eventually, our third came. Alexis again the scorer, Joel Campbell with the assist and what a great assist it was too.

I’ve been hard on Joel Campbell in recent weeks, justifiably so imo, but last night perhaps we saw a glimpse of the player he could be if he puts his mind to it. He was lively and worked hard. We need to see more of that. It’s a shame he didn’t get his shot on target though, that would have been cracker.

Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were outstanding again and I loved seeing Ozil pop one in off his head. Alexis ‘I’m not tired’ Sanchez just doesn’t know when to give up on a ball does he, his work-rate is incredible and last night his two goals were well deserved.

As for the rest, they just went about their business quietly and Mathieu Flamini didn’t stand out for any wrong reason, so that’s positive.

3-0 could so easily have been 6-0 but for Eduardo or near misses but 3-0 was good enough….

Now it’s all down to one match in Greece. Win that one 2-0 or more and we’re through to the knock-out stage…

My only gripe, why on earth didn’t Alexis come off once the game had been won?

Have a good day guys…

rico

51 thoughts on “Campbell comes alive as Alexis & Ozil keep the fire burning…”

  2. Wavy says:

    Morning all and Rico.
    Apparently, according to the pundits on Five live, he doesn’t like being substituted and gets very srtoppy if he is, unless injured, of course! In that Wenger prefers a quiet life and does his best to keep his favourites happy, I don’t think we’ll see Sanchez subbed very often. He’s one of those effervescent characters who is happiest when he has a ball to play with!

    Frankly if he won’t come willingly then leave him be! We all love watching him play, let him do so! When he falls down, incapable of getting up because he’s knackered then that’s the time he should be hooked!

    Where did this expression ‘playing in the red’ come from, and what does it mean, exactly?

  4. scottfromoz says:

    Wavy, there are measures that show if a player is prone to injury.
    Scans show up distress in muscles, for want of a better term, and they are pretty accurate.
    Morning all.

  7. Lee says:

    Luckily we strengthened in the summer………. I like Wenger BUT for fuck sake why couldn’t he see this was going to happen!?!?

  11. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Nice report Rico. I saw the game as well.

    Just scanned the other reports………and incredibly none mention the runs that Ollie made during the first two goals……when he took players with him to leave space for Ozil to attack. His run off the ball in the first goal was very good in that he took one defender with him and left another in no man’s land of who to mark…go with Ollie or mark Ozil. he got caught.

    I was also impressed by Joel. His work rate is impressive as well. He knew his limitations and this enabled him to stick to his strengths.

    I also enjoyed seeing Monreal play. His interception and assist for the 2nd goal was top notch stuff for a defender.

  14. allezkev says:

    Good post Rico…

    Where did you hear that Bellerin and Giroud were out injured for this weekend?
    I can’t see it anywhere….

  15. allezkev says:

    According to Physioroom.com…

    Newcastle with 10 injuries.
    Liverpool & Bournmouth with 8 injuries.
    And of course Arsenal with 7 injuries, must all be in crisis!

    But Everton, Man City and ManUre all with 6 injuries a piece, are not in crisis….

    When is a crisis, not a crisis?

    If Micks local runs out of Nigerian Guinness, is that a crisis?

    Blimey, I’m sitting outside of the St Pancras hotel looking at Mikael Silvestre on his mobile phone.
    Thank God he’s gone inside…

  16. George says:

    George of Arabia here Kev lol

    Mickael Silvestre? egg and flour him! he was alongside Squillaci and Gus caesar one of the worst defenders we ever had.

    Rico , i may be mistaken about Joel Campbells contract length..

  20. Wavy says:

    Sylvestre? St Pancras? Holloway Road? Emirates next?
    Holy round bally Kevman, he’s just in time to sign a short term contract at the Ems?
    With our ‘crisis’ nothing would surprise us, would it? I mean even Wenger said, when he signed him the first time that ‘he could always bring on a surprise.’ Two surprises contained in one player? Heaven forfend!

    Afraid it’s the only conclusion I can draw from the situation. I mean why else would a useless, past it, or rather, never had it footballer be rocking around St Pancras?

    Follow that man Kev, and don’t lose him. If necessary neutralise him before he reaches the holy stadium………?

  21. tsgh says:

    I know George- a friend of mine got offered a contract in cyber security, good rate and all but he got scared off by the work life balance…

  22. rico says:

    Afternoon all.

    Kev, AW mentioned it in his interview after the game which SS’s showed this morning…

    That’s why both came off last night…

  30. allezkev says:

    Sorry Wavy, he gave me the slip at Highbury Corner…

    Only 36 days to go before the January Window….

    I can barely contain myself. Zzzzzzzzzz

  34. allezkev says:

    Yeah Rico, we’re running out of players…

    If Bellerin and Giroud drop out for the weekend, we may well see Adelaide starting a game.
    Or Gibbs on the left wing with Alexis thru the middle…
    I just hope that AW doesn’t rush anyone back, before they’re really ready…

  35. rico says:

    Agree there Kev. I was really surprised to see Ramsey come on last night but I guess 20 mins in a game already won was better than if we are in need on a goal..

    Jeff can’t be far away….

  37. allezkev says:

    Yeah Rico, I saw that Oxlade should be back for Greece and that Theo could be available, maybe from the bench?

    I’m quite worried about Bellerin, seems that he’s had a reaction to his groin.
    Let’s hope it doesn’t end up with him having an operation…

  38. rico says:

    Rushed back Kev? Daft really if so as Debuchy could have coped, perhaps even improved the more he played. He’s not a bad player….

  40. potter says:

    I’m quite worried about Bellerin, seems that he’s had a reaction to his groin.

    I wondered how Pinto kept up with him.

  41. tsgh says:

    you couldn’t make this up…

    Lee Tissier and co. are moaning Yanited’s only plan B is using Fellaini upfront. I thought that was what they said AW lacked as a plan B? lol

  43. Allan Michaud says:

    Allezkev, Bournemouth and Newcastle are in crisis, Liverpool are hardly flying either and losing Coutinho could be a big problem for them. Everton are only missing 1 key player Baines, City can cope because they have such a huge squad and United are only missing Carrick and Shaw, the rest are not even guaranteed a place on the bench.
    We are not in crisis yet, but not far from it. We can’t afford to lose players like Bellerin, Alexis or Giroud right now as we don’t have decent back up. To some extent we have been lucky as most of our injuries have been to the same position making Campbell essentially our 5th choice on the right wing. With Ramsey and Bellerin back I certainly feel much less worried, once Theo and Ox are back things will hopefully settle down a bit and we can rest some of the other weary legs.
    I guess some might argue we only need to lose Le Coq to qualify as being in a crisis, given our previous experiences with Arteta or Flamini at DM and our tendency to give away soft goals.

  44. allezkev says:

    Allan, well made points, but my point is, if you read/listen to the media you’d think that Arsenal are the only team who get injuries (ie crisis)…
    Injuries are a fact of life in football, every team gets them, some deal with them better than others and maybe there are areas of Arsenal’s training and preparation that can be improved…

  48. Marshall says:

    Theo return would be welcomed for the much talked Greece showdown. I don’t see us scoring 3+ goals with Giroud on. Then again why are we bothered being in a tournament where the manager isn’t even thinking about winning.

    A CL winning squad isn’t comprised of average back ups and an avalanche of ‘walking wounded’. The moment we admit it the less painful it will be when we come short in Greece. Ffs!

  49. rico says:

    I think we’ll win in Greece Marshall. Slopping defending and a gift from Ospina gave them the win at the Ems and I can’t see a repeat of either…

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