Morning all.
Arsenal went into this game knowing that a win would put a four point gap between themselves and Totts and with the two sides facing each other on Thursday night, a chance of securing 4th place would be up for grabs. Did it matter how a victory came about? No, not really in my opinion.
We’re in May, the season is all but over and having whittled the squad numbers down in the way the club has, legs must be tired and bodies exhausted with a two week break in sunny climates seeming still so far off. Arsenal as a group just need to keep pushing hard in four more fixtures, three now that yesterday’s match is a part of history.
Pre match, a number of familiar faces were on show as a few of the ‘71 double winning team were basking in the glorious sunshine. Against who did Arsenal seal the League title that season and and again in 2003/04?
Perhaps this current squad can do the same on Thursday albeit without a trophy on offer. Nowadays though, the game is much about money and Arsenal could do with a lot of that. As could most of the clubs in the league I’d imagine, barring those who are already dripping in pound notes.
We often look back and wonder why this club we all love hasn’t kicked on since the good times but back in 1971, it was Leeds who Arsenal beat to the Division One trophy. Now they’re on the brink of a season or two in the Championship.
Arsenal started in the best possible fashion when Leeds goalkeeper tried to guide a Luke Ayling back pass onto his left foot. A heavy touch from Illan Mesliar and Eddie Nketiah pounced on the ball before the Leeds keeper could clear it. 1-0. Excellent awareness from our out of contract in the summer striker. The home fans didn’t have to wait for long before they were up off their seats again when Nketiah scored a second. Gabriel Martinelli did all the ground work out on the left and his cut back into the box was perfect for Eddie to fire home.
Ten minutes hadn’t passed and with Arsenal in total control. I’m sure I was no different to anyone else in wondering how many we’d score. As it turned out, the answer was none.
Then came a moment of madness from Luke Ayling. The initial showing of his two footed, studs up challenge on Gabriel Martinelli looked bad enough but in slow motion, it really was a bad challenge which could so easily have left the Brazilian with broken bones. The only surprise was that referee Chris Kavanagh needed VAR to intervene before sending the Leeds player off. Handbags followed between a few of the players which resulted in Raphinha receiving a booking.
Leeds, who’d barely ventured into our penalty area in the first half earned themselves a corner. One shot on target, one goal and suddenly Leeds looked interested again. Dangerous too but it was still the home team who had the best chance of scoring another goal. Every Leeds player bar one was in the box for a corner, even Meslier. Arsenal cleared the corner out to Pepe. All he needed to do was play the ball forward and then use his pace to get past the Leeds defender, then he’d have been heading towards an empty goal. But he lost possession and that was that. Leeds had one more chance to nick an undeserved point but Aaron Ramsdale dealt with that.
Arsenal really did make hard work of yesterday’s fixture, especially after Ayling was sent off. In fact I’d go as far to say that had the game remained 11 v 11, Arsenal might have scored more. There’s something about teams improving playing with ten, just as teams drop off when they have a one man advantage and I think the latter applied to Arsenal yesterday.
Still, we needed three points and we got them.
See you in the comments.
Hi Rico, nice post 👍
According to Ornstein, we’ve opened talks with Mo over a new deal – great news! Another solid performance from him yesterday; he’s really stepped up for us at this crucial time. Players like him are worth their weight in gold. Well done, Mo!
As for Eddie – wow – with this form we don’t need Haaland 😁 Will he stay? I’d like to think so…
As for the players needing a ‘two week break in sunny climates’ what about us, Rico? 😄That second half was mentally exhausting – I need a two week break haha! I thought the floodgates would open, but as expected, Leeds played much better with 10 men – although we took our foot off the gas – Thursday won’t be as bad surely?!! Eddie for his hat-trick of braces? You betcha!
Glad City won..
Good Morning Rico and all.
A lovely morning it is. Hopefully the same will be said on Friday.
Its another must win game. In my opinion not even a draw although it would still help the cause. And although a win will make sure of CL participation, I would still want to challenge for 3rd seeing that we are just one point behind Chealsea.
This year we have lost silly points against teams we should have beaten with better planning, concentration, commitment and a slight pinch of luck. We lost a total of 24 points against teams like Brentford, Brighton, Palace, Man Utd, Everton, Burnley and Southampton. I am not considering any defeats against Man City, Liverpool or Chelsea.
Whose fault was it? Imo it was a collective fault. one cannot say it was the negligence of attack, lack of cover by midfield or stinkers in defence.
24 points. Imagine adding them to the tally we have right now of 66 points. That would take us to 90 points…..ahead of City and Liverpool.
No team is easy. But I feel its not the above teams which won….rather we lost the games ourselves.
Morning Sue, Devil. Thanks
Eddie is certainly proving a point isn’t he, as is Mo. Without sounding disrespectful to Arteta, both players have made him look a bit of a plonker really. Where were they before Christmas? Now it looks like we scrabbling around in order to get both to stay.
Good morning Rico, nothing more to be said about yesterday’s game we got three points. All focus must be on Thursday night’s match.
Arteta should play an unchanged side, Tomiyasu fitted in well at left back leaving the right side to Cedric who is another in the Mo Elneny mould steady, reliable and effective.
I’d happily take a repeat of the result of that Monday night game back in 1971.
Devil, I’m sure the plan is to chase down Chelsea but 4th or 5th is about where we are at best I think. I was really surprised Arteta didn’t get Saka and Martinelli off sooner than he did, fresh legs would have given us more impetus imo. Pepe was disappointing though, his head seems elsewhere to me.
I agree, Rico – a plonker indeed! This has been the case more often than not though during this season – he really should’ve had more faith in certain players!!
Morning Cicero. Mo is such a likeable guy too isn’t he, a model pro, as is Cedric. Neither fancy, just do what’s needed most of the time.
Agree Sue. The AMN situation was ridiculous really, why convince him to stay but then not play him? Hardly the kind of thing which will convince Eddie to stay. Some of the decisions he makes feel more forced than his smart management.
Nice post Rico, we’re not there yet, the Toilet Bowl will be like the Coliseum in Rome, Arsenal are the Christians, but with Arteta finding his inner George Graham we should be able to escape with at least a draw.
With next season in mind, here are a few dates for everyone’s calendar:
June 16th: Fixtures for 2022/23 released.
June 30th: Contracts expire for those in their final season.
August 6th: Premier League begins.
August 31st: Summer transfer window closes.
November 12th/13th: Last EPL games before World Cup.
November 21st: World Cup Begins.
December 18th: World Cup Ends.
December 26th: EPL Re-Starts.
January 31st: Winter transfer window closes.
May 28th: Premier League Season Ends.
Thanks Kev. I think they’ll kick us off the park, Xhaka to get sent off and we come away with nothing. How’s that for Monday morning optimism 😀
Morning Rico and all
If we play Totts like we we did last night we will get smashed.
We have to stop calling these player young and allowing for mistakes they are men earning good money and it’s time they have to learn how to kill a match off not let the other team come back, last night we were dam lucky to win.
As for Pepe I recon he knows he gone at the end of this season; why he didn’t just kick the ball long and straight at goal knowing there is no one in front of him shows his mind is some were else.
Morning Geoff, in terms of football, barring 3/4, this group of players are young. I think you’re being really harsh on them. Let’s not forget it’s their first season together too. I get it, you don’t have much time for Arteta but what they’re achieving this season, albeit with a few blips, is pretty good really.
I’m still scratching my head over AMN, Rico! Agreed – many of his ‘decisions’ have been forced.. and lo and behold look how well they’ve performed!
Totally changing the subject, but have you seen Pep has come out and said everyone supports Liverpool – the media and everyone! Good on him – he’s right! The scouse love-in is so nauseating..
I don’t get the Liverpool love in either Sue. If Mane was at Arsenal, he’d be labelled a thug or cheat. He’s as bad, no, worse than Xhaka. I hope they end up with nothing but the league cup.
Kev, what date does M’bappe sign? 😂
I see Tielemans is being heavily linked to us again.
Kev, your 10.36 comment about the good against the bad at the coliseum in Rome reminded me of this Nike advert which I used to like….Ian Wright was in it as well….
Yes the job got done but !!!!!!
We were so on top but who knows what was said at half time but certain players dropped off at the start of the second and lets not forget that Leeds came back into it because of a piece of total slackness to give away a corner which they scored from and then the nerves began to show on the pitch , in the crowd and multiple front rooms.
Currently this is our Achilles heel and it seems to be in the more established players number 34 in particular who was consistently bailed out by his partner as the second half wore on At least he resisted the attempts by Leeds to get him to react although I think that Holding pulling him away probably helped.
However three points put us in a good position but it’s not tied and dried yet.
Xhaka certainly seemed keen to level the numbers up. Thank goodness a cool head was nearby. Can he keep his head on Thursday though? I hope so.
Rico this is not about Arteta. I was more critical about the players. We were leading by 2 goals and one of there players red carded so instead of going in at half time then coming out for the kill our players stopped and turned off thinking we have won easy, these guy have to learn to go in for the kill and keep our goal difference increasing. Yes I’m Harsh but rapping these players up in cotton wool and making excuses will not help them or Arteta’s long term plans
@ Rico 10.52
So, you’re in a positive mood for a change today Rico? 😆
Mbappe eh Rico, you never know especially with Stan winding himself up for a big spend up this summer. 😄
Italian manager, Argentinan defender, assorted other hatchet men, what could go wrong DG…?
I fully expect that Martinelli , and Saka will be on the end of some ripe tackling and also that XChaka will be targetted for wind ups . We are a better team than them but they have two proven goalscorers . Conte will try anyway he can to nullify our pace and threat and he won’t be bothered about a collection of yellow cards either. They don’t mean anything now.as neither team has players near the suspension mark of 15 , Romero on 8 is their highest . As such I expect to see quite a bit of robust rotational fouling aimed at our young players if not to stop us beating them but maybe finishing their seasons.
Geoff, good job we didn’t lose, you’d be really grumpy.
Ha ha Kev, I do think they’ll give us some rough treatment though and I suspect Tierney will look the other way.
Ditto Potter.
I think Potter is absolutely right, the Spuds will try to wind Xhaka up and get him sent off. Over recent games I’ve noticed that he has calmed down a bit but needs to take a cool pill before kick off.
New post up now