Morning all.
When Jack Wilshere fired home our first with just 30 seconds on the clock, the fastest goal by an Englishman in Champions League history, I truly thought we were in for a treat. A feast of goals would surely follow as Marseille rested a few of their ‘better’ players but no. Not for the want of trying I hasten to add but we just couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net again in the first half.
Not even a penalty would be converted, although I have to say it was a bit of a lazy effort from Mesut Ozil. Maybe that was karma as the foul on Aaron Ramsey was clearly outside the box.
A tug on Giroud’s shirt before then though was a clear-cut penalty in my opinion, more so than the one on Mertesacker at the weekend but we didn’t get that one last night…
Half-time came and went..
Jack Wilshere doubled his goal tally on the night and of the season during the second half and that proved to be enough to secure maximum points and ensure we remained top of our group, 3 points clear of both Napoli and Dortmund.
That leaves us needing anything other than a 3-0 or more loss in Italy to go through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League.
Our first goal was all about pace and the speed in which we made our passes. From the defence, to midfield, out to Sagna and a quick ball through to Jack Wilshere, who again started on the right. Three or four touches, a cut in and around the defender and a superbly curled shot over the top of the Marseille keeper.
Our second real chance was another move involving superb passing. Sagna played the ball down the right again, this time Giroud was there. His first time ball through the legs of a defender was right into the path of Wilshere and he in turn played an inch perfect ball into the path of Aaron Ramsey who you’d have put money on scoring. The goalkeeper was off his line quick to deny the Welshman with his legs.
Ramsey was involved again as he cleverly chipped the ball over a defender just outside the left hand side of the penalty, as he turned to follow the path of the ball, he was bundled over by the same player. The referee didn’t hesitate to point to the spot although replays show the foul was just outside the area.
Up stepped Mesut Ozil – it was a stinker!
We saw chances/half-chances come and go but to be honest, we appeared to lack something. Maybe it was all a bit too easy but at 1-0, anything could have happened and we needed to put this game to bed.
Jack Wilshere did just that in the 65th minute…
The passing again was sublime – Ramsey to Ozil to Wilshere and goal…..
Marseille substitute Florian Thauvin gave me a scare when his shot was half-saved by Szczesny and the ball was still goal bound but thankfully, Monreal was on the line to hoof the ball clear. Thauvin was again denied by our keeper just two minutes later.
Theo Walcott had a good chance to make it 3-0 before the end but he dragged his shot passed the post….
Game over and three points in the bag.
As I said earlier, maybe it was all a bit too easy last night, maybe the players took their foot off of the pedal having scored the early goal.
If so, look on the bright side, they all had a bit of a rest whilst playing….
Seriously, I honestly believe that had they needed to, the team would have stepped up a gear but in all honest, they didn’t need to..
Next up is a trip to Cardiff on Saturday….
good job boys another clean sheet and on we go – nice to see the assist man back in the numbers and super finish from Jack Flash
Professional job that got the points, no injury’s or suspensions incurred so all in all a very god night.
That’s all we asked for Oz, a win….
Couple of top saves by Ches as well, always good to see…
Thought it was madness to play Jack on the right but how wrong was I. He seems to flourish there. Now to play Theo on the left and get him cutting in onto his natural foot…
morning all!
good job but unfortunatelly it wasn’t solve.
We must wait for next game but we are in a clear good position
Jack is actually more lethal on the right than the left. He has to cut back to his left foot but given the time to do so he can produce goals like the first goal last night on a regular basis.
We are more or less there Joaquim. Not to tempt faith but we need a total collapse against Napoli to go out and to be honest I cant see the team of 2013 doing that. Last years maybe but not today’s team.
Should have taken them out in the first half hour, we relaxed ,another two and Napoli would need 5 . Still I suppose if we score1 they need four, but if they get the first early on then it will .get a bit squeaky .
I don’t think the goal difference in the games between Arsenal and Marseilles makes any difference potter. I believe its the goal difference in the games between the teams that are in contention that matters. Hence as we beat Napoli 2 – 0 they need more than that.
BVB have won 3 games but have a better goal difference; if we are to lose in Naples then we will finish 2nd behind BVB if they win against OM.
JM – we need to have a horrendous night in Italy not to go through…
I agree TT, I’m all for playing right footed players on the left and vice-versa – makes sense to me but Jack loves the middle.
It doesn’t – we just need to not lose by 3 or more goals to Napoli. A draw would see us top the group as of course would a win.
We are 3 points ahead of the other two…
I know we won, but we can’t be set-up the same way as we did against Southampton and OM imo…
Our wings could have been seriously exposed if Ayew was available.
Against Cardiff, if I was AW, I will drop Ramsey and play TR07 or both Flamini and Arteta only on this occasion because of my fave DM-the pitbull; he has a history of injurying CMs’ and getting away with it.
Theo or Serge should be starting too; I may even be tempted to play Gibbs and Monreal together…
Rico- Of course we will easily win in Naples but mathematically, even a one goal lose against Napoli with BVB winning will send them top. We can’t finish 2nd in this group as we could be facing BM, PSG, RM, Yanited in the next round
Easiest way to solve it will be to go to Italy and get at least a point….
Pleased for JW with his goals… interesting AW mentioned that JW is beginning to ‘think’ more.
Has Aw been reading comments from this site? 😀
Since last season coach,Emma and I have been calling for JW to be playing on the RHS.
It’s a shame it took AW so long to realise JW can not be a no.10;
A very good match summary, Rico.
It was a strange game in many ways, going from sublime skill to some altogether ‘ordinary’ play. [Sorry, Wavy] 🙂
I know we won it at a canter really, but at 1-0 I always worry about a breakaway goal against the run of play, or a fluke giving the opposition a draw.
Still, job done – on to Cardiff – baa.
Did Akers not order short sleeve tops for Flamini…
Maybe I am too much of a disciplinarian or military minded but cutting or modifying any uniform is a BIG issue.
Good post rico, a good performance by the team yesterday, i’m more concerned about Cardiff on Saturday than the Napoli return game, there is no way Napoli will beat afc 5 nil, so they can forget about it. On a different note Chelsea didn’t have a shot on target against Basel, unbelievable.
After the early goal the team lost impetus and the willingness to drive forward. The crowd picked up on this and the atmosphere became subdued and tepid. Marseille were rubbish but we didn’t help ourselves with some uninspired and sloppy play, particularly from Rosicky and Sagna and the penalty miss from Ozil and the sitter from Ramey, who did a lot of work last night in terms of ground covered. Not one of the great nights of European football, but job done nevertheless.
Very matured advice from Frimmy to young Hayden. That is huge camaraderie right there. Even though Hayden and Frimpong are fighting for the backup DM role, it is good to see team support from a colleague..
Emmanuel Frimpong @IAMFRIMPONG26 25 Nov
“@IsaacHayden65: U make a mistake, u live with it, u accept it, u learn from it, u move on! #reality”>>
Thanks Hb & Gdna..
It was all a bit too calm for me, the players may have been relaxed and at ease, I was worried they’d equalise…
The captain chooses long or short sleeves and the rest must follow suit, Flamini needs to wind his neck in and conform with tradition…
Cardiff will be a very tough game Gdna, but we are good on the road…
Basel are a boogey man team for English clubs… they have beaten Chelsea and Yanited on a few occasions recently…
True Rico. At 1-0 the team relaxed far too much. The on-field dynamic was not right.
Its very strange how Gedion Zelalem struggles at reserve level… he had another ineffective game allegedly against OM in the UEFA u-19 tournament.
Morning guys.
Great result.
Another decent performance.
Hopefully the boys hit their peak again soon, but it is comforting to know we can get results when playing just decent football.
Here were some pretty impressive periods though.
Apparently AW was unhappy with the second shirt sleeve cutting by Flambers and said it was an Arsenal tradition and had to be observed.
Flamini said he had been a top professional for 10 years and did not like long sleeves — not with us he hasn’t — and if he wants to take on Arsene over it — good luck — and goodbye.
Last night was a ‘scored too early’ kind of night Adam. All I could hear was the odd ‘Arsenal Arsenal’ song, mind you, Townsend was annoying me so I turned the volume down…
Great result Scott but an average performance imho. But we won, so no point in moaning. I’d like to think their is an awful lot more to give from our players.
They’ll need it on Saturday.
Hb, I’m with you re Flamini, conform or bye bye….
I agree Rico. One of the good things about actually going to the games is that you don’t have to listen to A-holes like Townsend and his ilk.
We MUST be worrying pundits now.
Even Steve Nicol was praising us.
What happened to someone or in fact Matthieu rolling up the sleeves like he use to do before he left us in 2007?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1038639/Former-Arsenal-star-Flamini-described-Milan-coach-Ancelotti-complete-player.html
Tradition or not cutting any uniform to me is an unwritten rule any professional should be aware of imho…
If an ambulance driver came down to pick an ill person in a badly cut short sleeve uniform it will be strange…
And he has won long sleeve tops in the past…
He may have forgotten or he was fibbing….
Proof here:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/flamini-will-complete-ac-milan-move-in-summer
When Aaron heads home, he will bag that elusive hat trick, Rico 🙂
Adam, he’s awful. You are lucky not to be subjected to the idiot!
Mind you, he is not alone…
Couldn’t believe that he was urging Marseille to score… A-hole indeed!
🙂 Scott, not he if finishes like he did last night….
😀 are you betting Scott
Off out with the woofa now, back in a bit….
Yeah, we certainly had plenty of chances.
Still, on another day, when we play Chelski (???) we win by 6.
Ginge…always 🙂
WATH won’t be pleased. Scott. 😛
I am pleased Per is willing to extend his contract BUT it looks like Sagna is a different story…
It appears the club may be willing to play hard ball optimistic, CJ25 or Yennaris/Bellerin can step up. A very bad mistake if that happens in my view as CJ25/Bellerin are no where near ready…
Nico based on how he made Nani look and his appearances at u-21 could be ready but….
Hows everyone ive missed out last couple of days.
Im sorry but i am going to rant and i will have to agree with SP for once.
We were poor yesterday in a very poor game listening on itv hearing the pundits say arsenal still have a lot of questions to answer i was thinking boom when Wilshire scored and thought we werw going to spank then but then we just did try we weew breaking quick enough we werent getting numbers in the box and ozil was rubbish he looked like he couldn’t be bothered to be on the pitch i was actually really anoying to watch. I mean have the team not learnt anything over the last 8 yrs how many times have we been in the driving seats and then the other teams gets a goal and everything changes we need to kill teams off now and show we can blow teams like that away i hope we don’t slip into the werw too good for you mind frame cardiff are no pushovers and we will need to be careful one positive was at least we won without breaking sweat
Interesting comment MO11. I agree in part btw..
I thought we were very average from the midfield going forward. Our defenders were very matured and switched on which helped but going forward we need a bit more maturity…
I thought MO11, was more effective in the 2nd half but I believe Ozil needs a break; he is not mentally used to playing every 3 days imho based on his record at Bremen and RM…
Personally, I thought we allowed OM so much space on the wings when we did not have the ball… A better team could have troubled us but we won which is what matters I guess…
I think the mentally of the squad is partly to do with AW’s squad management. He does not refresh the squad enough so whenever changes are made there is this sense of a B squad playing even with a £42M star in the starting XI.
I agree Hb (10.25ish) the game was very ‘ordinary’ but there were 2 ‘moments’ of magic! The real Arsenal, we see it only occasionally these days but when we do it is exhilarating!
First minute, win ball one touch, next one touch, next half a dozen touches, by one player – goal. Wonderful speed, grace and accuracy. Jack didn’t blast it, a la Cazorla later, he curled it perfectly into the top corner, goalkeeper no chance!
Similarly the secomd goal, win ball back one touch move it on, one touch, two touches, cross goal. Jack again! Masterful.
But the rest of the game was little more than pedestrian. Shame, they could and probably should have scored five! Still a win is a win, as they say!
Top teams tend to just do enough to win. I have seen it many times over the years. Players are not robots and to expect Arsenal just to roll over inferior teams week in, week out is completely unrealistic. Things aren’t perfect but human beings seldom are.
I think Arsene Wenger didn’t want us to batter a French team… 😉
Do they do batter en France?
Its not the individual performance per se but more about the lack of ruthlessness which we lack…
Its not just this bunch but even the 2003/2004 squad suffered from that too; in some instances we won games in the first 15 minutes and then ‘coasted’ there after…
Fergies teams although they are not quite as beautiful to watch put teams to the sword when the opportunity rises imo… The reason why the $hitty won the title the season before on goal difference…
The current BM team had bad games but when they can they finish teams big time…
I agree Adam. It was easy, why run themselves ragged when an evening stroll would suffice…
Battered snails maybe?
Rico, your prob right lol, I didn’t even want us to batter them just to score that pen and make it easy on ourselves and means we can rest some players, all in all a very poor game
I did Mo, once Jack had scored, I wanted 5-0 by h/t and then off with key players like Merts, Giroud, Jack or Ozil etc etc…
But a four goal win last night would have changed qualifying, I take it, to being able to lose 4-0 rather than 2-0 in our last game?
I don’t think so Ah, goals against Marseille don’t count, only those clubs who are level on points after the last game…
And we beat Napoli 2-0 at home, so my guess is that’s where the 2-0 defeat in Italy comes in as we are level on goals with Dortmund.
uhm… its truly nice to see gunners truly believing again. I remember the gloomy pessimism before the start of the season… I also remember the bashing I got one fine Monday morning by gunners on this blog for my belief that we would pull off something special this season. Our boys believed this with all their hearts at the start of the season and they still do. trust me when I say this; Arsenal will be league champions again this season…
Oscar – we haven’t won anything yet, and we are not even half way through the season.
I remain hopeful, yet cautious….
Afternoon All.
Afternoon Rico. Good post…
I missed the game and only saw very brief highlights…
Marseilles were fairly uninspiring tbh…
Ramsey scores and Ozil puts away his penalty and we’d be talking about 4-0 and being less critical I suspect…
It’s the eternal question, performance vs result?
I’m most certainly in the latter.
We kept a clean sheet, again…
A great habit to have.
We played within ourselves and won.
Another great habit to have…
We will do a job in Italy and progress….
I’m happy with that, considering that we are in the ‘Group of Death’ 🙄
Now we have three winnable games and 9 points to collect.
None of those three opponents will roll over, so let’s keep some perspective…
The 9 points is all that matters to me.
Do don’t get points for artistic interpretation… 😉
Chill out Gooners and enjoy the ride… 😀
Oh, and Andy Townsed is a Cnut……
But then we all knew that already….. 🙂
Rico, winning requires mental strength which arsenal fans can give the team. its a bit early to start celebrating I guess but its hard not to. Our back is solid, the midfield is loaded and the attack is good-though a talented addition is still needed, all I can see is us growing from strength to strength. its almost half way through the season and we’re looking really good. I’m not too sure of our CL hopes but as for the league I’m 100% sure its ours.
Morning Kev and thanks..
Spot on old chap 😉
Bloody sauce… 😉
Winning breeds winning Oscar and the fans feed off of winning….
We are looking good but our squad is still lacking a striker….
Boo!! Hello, all. 🙂 I love how these days even when we are not exactly stellar, we win. There seems to be more steel to our players now. Very happy with the clean sheet as well.
Would that be Peroni sauce? 😉
That Flamini situation should never had been allowed to gather as much momentum as it currantly has…
Why not just pull your bloody sleeves up Mathieu, it isn’t really that big a deal tbh…
But the Press/Media are looking at any minute crack in our progression, that those wankers can exploit, in order to derail our season…
Wenger has to sort this and get the players focused on what really matters…
9 points from the next three EPL games….
Rico, 😛
Now ya talking…..
Hey shopping buddy, how’s things in your neighbourhood?
Hi agag, defence are doing themselves very proud, as is Ches….
Flamini is the bad guy imho, he knows the rules, every players does, he needs to grow up…
Off to the shops now, back later …..
Oscar “bashed”? You sure it was here? 😉
Kev, I am well. Manila looks festive this time of year all lit up with fairy lights and parols (local star-shaped lanterns).
rico, I agree about the defense; the Koz-Per partnership continues to improve. I love it. And THeo should be eager to get on the scoresheet now.
The sleeve-cutting is just stupid. Flamini should know better.
Walton Family gave away:-
TOTAL GIVING 2012
$432 M(0.3% of wealth)
TOTAL LIFETIME GIVING
$4.6 B
Walmart heirs gave nearly $160 million to education reform in the U.S., and another $92 million in support of environmental causes, including freshwater and marine conservation.
I wionder if Stan contributed to this. lol
Stan should sell one of his many homes (see the Forbes article) and get us a striker.
ha ha ha Agag- he doesn’t wear the trousers in his relationship; just the moustache. 😀
Tsgh, and the syrup!(bet they cost a few dollars too!)
😀 Wavy. That is a topic only the elite discuss.
That makes sense rico, otherwise they would have mentioned goal difference more if last nights came into play. Might be useful that Napoli let in another one then, hopefully irrelevant of course.
Chapter and verse :-
According to Uefa’s rules, if three teams end the group on the same number of points, the following ‘tiebreakers’ will be used (in order) to decide who progresses to the knockout stages:
(a) highest number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question (Arsenal, Napoli and Dortmund)
(b) superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question (ie. Arsenal, Napoli and Dortmund)
(c) higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question (ie. Arsenal, Napoli and Dortmund)
(d) higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question (ie. Arsenal, Napoli and Dortmund)
If, after applying criteria (a) to (d) to all three teams, two teams still have an equal ranking, criteria (a) to (b) are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the two teams in question to determine their final rankings.
If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria (e) to (g) apply;
(e) superior goal difference from all group matches played;
(f) higher number of goals scored from all group matches played;
(g) higher number of coefficient points accumulated by the club in question, as well as its association, over the previous five seasons.
Evening guys and gals…
That’s cleared that up Potter…
Be back later to see if anyone around…
Evening all, and a very liberal evaluation Rico. Personally i wasn’t happy with that performance, This is Champions league which every European team try and get into and Arsenal stroll out and dont turn up. I was bored with our constant passing back then squar ball and finally we pass past two players and then knock it straight back from where it came and bring both players back in the game. Some may call that keeping possesion, i call it boreing, Granted we won and the 3 points put us up to 12 and still not through. These games are watched right across the world and they would have witnessed what i did last night, a very negative game. Well done Jack with his goal which i must say waas the highlight of a very sad game, but i have to say Jack make the most of that goal because you will be earmarked from now on and seeing how you only have one foot you will not get many more chances to switch to your left. When a players ripped shirt gets more attention than the game tell you a lot. What the hell is wrong with a player prefering a shirt sleeved shirt why should it be a captains choice surely if a player feels more comfortable in a certain shirt he should wear one bloody childish in my eyes, A player can wear any colour boots he likes which all the players do and not a mention in my day you had a choice of black or black and the option of long or short. Anoying when you think that guys have got gloves and snoods on and Wenger said nothing, I think its time for Wenger to put his foot down on these premadonna’s and tell them the supporters are paying good money to watch you and i want you working a sight harder and send those supporters home with a hatfull of goals,. I find it very frustrating that a proffesional football cannot hit a straight shot from 20 yards what the hell do they shoot at in training lets face it a goal is massive how can you miss. Ozill you were shit last night never ever grab the ball for a penalty again. We spend 42 million and he’s to idle to take a run up i could have shot him on the spot.
Substance over style all day, everyday. #Topoftheleague#
Are you back yet Rico?
Nobody around then I shall bid you a good evening. 🙂
Cheers Potter, they are not leaving anything to chance then!
Yes Adam, I am back….
I’m with Gdna Sp, 3 points over a stylish loss any day of the week…
The Mancs have been winning trophies playing that way for many years…
I’m off for the day, night all….
I am here Adam…
Night All…
Pat Rice has been admitted into hospital, to have treatment to fight cancer…
God bless ya Pat…
Come on Pat, you can fight this bastard disease and win…….
Thinking of you big man……
Off out this morning, new post will be up at 9.35…
Catch up later
As of yet I have not seen which cancer it is , that will have a bearing on his fight. Lets hope he wins this one.
That is horrible news. I sat next to him and his wife having a cuppa in London City Airport just a few weeks ago. I wish him all the very best.
Terrible news.
We have all said it before….it does not discriminate, does it?
Thoughts are with the man and his family.
Morning guys.