Morning all.
Well that was a bit of a breeze by all accounts. I didn’t see the game, just the two goals. One either side of half-time from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ensured Arsenal would progress through to the next round. Another home fixture would be nice, as would the winners of tonight’s Manchester derby being drawn to face Liverpool or Chelsea, who should on paper beat West Ham later this evening.
Apparently Lucas Perez suffered an injury during the match which is annoying to say the least but hopefully it’s nothing serious, unlike Chuba Akpom who looks set to miss the rest of the year due to a fractured bone in his back.
The Ox stood out according to reports and if that’s the case, not only is it good for him but it’s good for Arsenal. Seems like he’s caught the Theo Walcott bug, only earlier in his Arsenal career and to be honest, it’s about time too for both of them. Another big bonus from the game was the return of Carl Jenkinson who played the entire match. Again, I’ve no idea how good/bad he played but I’m sure a few of the HH regulars will have seen the match and give their view in the comments. Olivier Giroud made his comeback too albeit from the bench which is handy before heading to Sunderland on Saturday where there’s bound to be a big 42 seater coach parked in defence.
Withe players returning from injury, others stepping up their performance, Arsene Wenger will have a selection headache. Good, he should always be in that kind of situation, Arsenal need to have a strong and deep squad because competition for players is healthy. I’m sure that’s why Walcott is doing better and having very limited playing time in the league, the Ox has realised that he too needs to be putting in the kind of performances which Arsene Wenger can’t ignore. Same with Giroud and I liked the fact he was dumped on the bench last night, despite being ‘fit’, as he too needs to needs to prove he’s a better option up front than Alexis Sanchez. He’s not imo and never will be but he’s our ‘plan b’, the big target man for when it’s hard to break down a defence. Ollie nearly did just that last night and but for a fine save from Ali Al-Habsi, he would have.
The Reading keeper had a good game by all accounts. I saw from the highlights he made a few good saves but there’s still a bit of concern with our players inability to finish off good chances. From 21 shots on goal, only 7 were on target which is a statistic in much need of improving. Yes Al-Habsi did well but just like the first team players on Saturday against Boro, too many chances went begging. We got lucky too on Saturday because the opposition couldn’t take their chances either and with Petr Cech in fine form, we salvaged a draw.
Improve on that and our chances of winning something this season will also improve.
But for now, we are through to the next round of the EFL Cup and we’ll find out who we face next later tonight. Next up for Arsenal though is a trip to Sunderland for a lunchtime fixture on Saturday….
Thanks Rico.
Only saw the highlights and the stats, so it seems it was a stroll, the great thing to me is that some youth got some game time and our big hitters were rested for Sunderland ………that is another mwg ( aint they all ! ) and there will be no excuses for not beating the bottom club even if they shrink the goal and put a mega fat bastard between the sticks !…………only a win will make me happy !.
But we do like to give struggling clubs a sniff of hope Lc. Look at the Saints away game back in Jan. They were in dreadful form up until we rolled up and got battered by them, then they improved…
If we can’t beat Sunderland, then nothing has changed….
Morning Rico
yes the Reading keeper had a good game and yes we won, but overall it wasn’t a good game and our shooting was awful.Willock looked completely out of his depth but to be fair he looks about 14.
If we are serious about this competition we will need a far more experienced team than last night but it’s a very heavy programme after the interlull and we can’t cope with all these competitions. Ramsey should be back soon,Granit as well and of course Santi but as much as I would love us to win any trophy i don’t see it happening in this competition.
Martinez looked very assured in goal despite not having that much to do,he may have a future.he made a very good double save and also on occasions threw the ball out rather than a random kick.
I think The OX trys to hard but deflection or not it pays to shoot,but I must say accurately would help.
Jenkinson looked good in his comeback game but where is Debuchy is he injured.?
I am not greedy, a squad of two good players for every position would do me.Gabriel does not impress me the slightest and some of the kids on display will make a future in football but at a lower level IMO
I see on newsnow that from a poll of 4000, 82% would be happy if there club had a gay player !…………..who fcuking cares !………come out the changing room !…………I`m more interested whether they are decent players who bring something to the team than whether they are the first on the scene to french kiss the goalscorer !…………..I honestly couldn`t give a toss !
Actually, the way players are so money orientated, I reckon any EPL gay player who came out as the first currently playing player would make a fortune……..sorry, even more of a fortune !.
Morning Kelsey.
Interesting thoughts. Having not seen the game it’s hard to comment but from what you say, perhaps I’m glad I didn’t… 😉
It’s funny how we’ve scored a few goals by shooting from distance but recently, those shots have dried up and the tippy tappy passing has returned…
Can’t see it ever happening Lc, certainly not in my lifetime. As you say, who gives a stuff about whether a player is gay or not. But the problem is that many footballing fans would and I’d imagine they’d love to be shouting disgusting abuse at any gay player whilst they sway in their seats having consumed too much alcohol before the game…
Racism hasn’t left the game yet, so there’s little chance homophobia would…
Actually Rico, if we were to look at the teams who eventually get relegated, we have a brilliant record against them over the last few years !………….last season we only dropped two points against Norwich in a draw and won the rest !
I think the same can be said against the teams which come up as well ( usually the same that go down ), it`s a good record, we usually struggle against Chavs and the Manchester clubs, plus a few mid table ones !……………………………someone will now prove me wrong hahaha
Probably right Rico !…………..I can just imagine the chants and songs that would happen !……………….shame we cant take a leaf out of the Ladies game where it`s quite the norm` to come out !, but I suppose that`s more to do with probably more women watching the games and woman are not as crude as men and with more common sense……………………well unless it`s a hen night and a stripper ! hahaha
But we dropped many points against sides we should be beating Lc, and had we ‘turned up’, we would have…
Not sure Lc but I don’t think there’s a majority who would be vile but you’ll always get a group who when having been drinking become abusive and I think both women and men can be as bad as each other in such circumstances..
Funny enough though, you don’t seem to get that mentality in cricket, rugby and most other sports..
And just imagine what abuse a gay, black footballer would get when clubs travel to certain other countries…
I remember Arsenal playing Torino in the 2nd leg of the Cup Winners Cup ( Shame that that was scrapped) at Highbury, and the referee was Dutch and openly gay…
There were no anti-gay chants and it wasn’t an issue, that was 1994, 22 years ago…
Tbh I don’t see it as an issue, not anymore….
And nor should it be….
Imagine if that had been against Galatasary though Kev…
Playing Galatasaray isn’t a pleasure for anyone Rico, especially in Istanbul…
🙂 Kev. You’re right there…
Kelsey, have to agree with you about Willock. First fell over when should have put the ball in the net and then nothing seemed to stick his way. Maybe nerves. Jenks did well considering first game back, hope he’s not another that goes the way that Chambers seems to be doing. I really thought Reading had scored but great late save from Martinez. Clean sheet, most of first team rested, job done!
Good afternoon fellow Rico and fellow gooners from the Sandpit
I watched the game last night, and although we won and rested key players, Reading were very poor and most of the kids on display i agree with Kelsey they will make money in Football, but not with Arsenal.
Martinez is an ok 3rd choice, no better than doorman Mannone we had now at Sunderland, Maitland Niles is a championship player at best, Willock out of his depth, Zelalem too slight frame and dilly dallies on the ball.
I thought Iwobi and the Ox were ok, our shooting was pathetic, Lucas looks shot of confidence and is scared to shoot with his weaker right foot. Our most composed players on the night were Holding and Elneny. Jeff Reine adelaide looks the part , but as he is still immature , its doubtful Wenger wll trust him to carry out instructions. But getting the ball of JR Adelaide is gonna be a task for most, he is very skillful.
OG looks hungry and should start against Sunderland. Jenkinson had a good game , but is at best a No 2. Tells you alot about Debuchy that he is so far away from Wenger’s plans.
Bielik should have got a run out…I think Wenger wanted to until that lump from Reading took out Lucas.
Gabriel looks shot of confidence too, very Andre Santos last night and showed up by Reading’s reserves.
Rob Holding must definately be our 3rd choice CB, on what i have seen so far.
Patience, you have to be patient with young players…
Iwobi didn’t set the world alight initially, but look at him now…
Bellerin was a bit iffy at first, now he’s our first choice right-back…
Hi George and all, I’m with Kev, let’s be patient with these youngsters. Not judge them or write them off after one game….
Agree with George about Paulista, he looked such a good defender when we first got him, now he’s very Squillaci’esque…
Btw George, how’s the camel..? ?
Agree too. I thought Gabriel was going to be a beast at first but ever since that Costa incident, he’s lost his way…
It’s funny how he went Rico, he looked like a beast in those first few games, but as you say, since the Costa incident it’s like he’s afraid to put in a meaningful challenge…
I only saw some 10 minutes of highlights but Maitland-Niles looked ok to me…
And a back-four of 3 English defenders, when did that last happen?
Kev, I honestly thought he be like Keown, I really did. I wonder if AW had a word in his ear?
I wish they’d shown the match on tv to see for myself how they played….
I wouldn`t write Chris Willock off just yet !
I wouldn’t write any of them off just yet…
Catch up tomorrow guys- nighty….
Night Rico, big final tonight….lol
They’re babies, and it’s absolutely impossible to predict how they’ll progress, so writing them off is folly, imo.
Zelalem looks brilliant on the ball and if only he were a physical monster like Messi 🙂
West Ham one up over the Chavs.
Love it lol
Afc v Saints
You ask for more, at this stage, than a home draw…
Southampton ain’t no pushovers, so a stronger side will be needed.
I hope that Wenger goes for it, as its there for the taking…
You can’t ask
Morning all..
Morning All
Just getting on the young player
bandwagon.
Young men develope at different stages
a few freaks turn up early..and all can see.
Go and watch some games at youth level
even better the U/23 games.
For young players to play top level for
90mins is impossiable,the pace of the game
has changed.
I know some on here don’t rate Pogba
but the Mancs sold him for 3/4 million
what was he 18yrs old.
Bought him back for 85million,
we got rid of Keown for a set of bibs
and were lucky to get him back.
Agree Fred, far too early to write them all off..
New post up now, catch up there a bit later…