Morning all.
Nicolas Pepe has to be one of the most difficult to read players Arsenal have on their books. Not for defenders though, well, not usually. But the way I’d describe him is that he makes the difficult look easy and the easy look difficult. I thought he had a good game, especially when one considers he’s not played for a while. But the star man for me was without doubt, Eddie Nketiah. A hat-trick scored, purely because he knows where the goal is and where to be in order to score them. I don’t know where his future lies but a club somewhere is going to get their hands on a very good striker. For free too!
I thought Sunderland made things difficult for Arsenal but then I thought they would. They had nothing to lose really, not being a third division club going up against a Premier League side, albeit not the strongest team Mikel Arteta could have fielded. Even so, our starting eleven was littered with international players.
I wouldn’t say we flew into a 2-0 lead but we did go ahead thanks to Eddie’s knee for the first and a second from Pepe after a lovely cutback from Cedric. Goals three and four for Eddie were classy. As said, he got himself into right place, at the right time and was clinical with his finishing. Charlie Patino, making his first team debut, had the final say on the scoreline. Pepe set him up and he buried what was a difficult finish.
Disappointingly, we conceded. A lovely finish from Nathan Broadhead, but pretty awful defending by ourselves.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AhWTtxKJAF4
Considering Mikel Arteta made nine changes to the team after the win over Leeds, we did well. But, we can’t lose sight of who we played. Pepe might look good against a League One side but it doesn’t mean Arteta should rush him back into a team which is doing well in the League. The same rule applies for every other player too. As good as Nketiah was last night, he needs to play like that against Premier League teams if he wants to be a regular in the first team. It’s a catch 22 situation for him that’s for sure, because to prove he can perform well against better/stronger opposition he needs more playing time but unless he takes those chances when they do come, he’s unlikely to be a regular starter for Arsenal. With Aubameyang out of the equation though, he’s likely to get more opportunities. He has turned down the offer of a new contract but there’s still time for him to change his mind and if he heard Paul Merson talking after the game, he will.
Cedric Soares and Rob Holding had good games, Nuno Tavares too apart from one or two dodgy moments but Flo Balogun really struggled. He had a couple of good chances to get on the scoresheet but made a hash of them. He certainly needs time out on loan where he’s playing regularly at a higher level than the under 23’s. Lastly, Charlie Patino. What a night for the young man. Brilliant.
Arsenal got the job done rather well in the end. Disappointed that Sunderland resorted to a few nasty challenges when they realised they were done for. Hopefully Martinelli and ESR feel no side effects.
I quite fancy Brentford to beat Chelsea later, a semi-final at The Emirates against them would do nicely. Wins for Leicester City and West Ham would be good too.
See you in the comments.
Morning
What an entertaining game.
Mikel certainly played his part by leaving our midfield short. I felt for Big Mo , to begin with anyway, but the wide open spaces certainly encouraged Sunderland up the field, and so gave us lots of room to counter. Great stuff.
I have to say, when Granit came on ,the whole complexion changed. We battered them. He filled the middle, and played some great balls forwards with regularity.
Found his niche as super sub maybe?
Semi remains a 2 leg affair at this point Rico.
I didn’t realise Ferg, even better if we get Brentford then.
Midfield was a bit weak last night but I can understand why, kind of.
Morning Rico, nice post on a nice game.
Yes, nutmegging a third division full back and finding space in a third division penalty box to backheel a goal isn’t the same as having an EPL defender in your face, but it was fun to see our second XI do what teams had failed to do to Sunderland in earlier rounds.
The Black Cats gave us a game in the 1st half and the way they carved us open with targeted long passes certainly gave us a few scares, I’m not sure that Arteta could start yesterday’s starting XI in the semi final or semi finals as that’ll be a seriously difficult proposition against a top Premier League team with Wembley on the horizon.
We don’t want another Villarreal do we?
Brentford are actually a Jonah club to Arsenal, check the history, so on paper it would look favourable but on the pitch it could be a banana skin.
Leicester or West Ham for me, anyone except Liverpool, save them for the final – 1987 revisited?
Morning Kev, thanks.
I’d rather Liverpool were knocked out tonight. Plus, we owe Brentford for the opening day of the season.
I thought Sunderland were pretty good, continue like that and they’ll probably be promoted.
Yes ! We need an away first leg draw because if needed extra time at home is preferable .
Last night was a nice relaxed match and easy on the eye because from the start you could see that we had better players and the difference of speed of thought was obvious and it was evident that if we were to foul up it would be by our own hand .
They pressed as we knew they would but any realist knew that as time wore on they would tire and we would overcome but having gone two up we dropped a little and they got back at us .
I was impressed by their Pritchard , not that I want to buy him , but his attitude was spot on throughout
he put in tackles covered ground and was a permanent outlet for them
One thing that became clear is that we are still light in centre midfield , Elneny bless him , was left there pretty much alone and was exposed by their pace and quick accurate passing. I believe that Odegaard and Smith Rowe are too similar to play there together and they seem to take the gilt off of each others play.
Once we changed formation and shored things up with Xhaka replacing Balogun it was plain sailing.
Apart from PSG and Marseille , are Sunderland at the same level as the rest of Ligue un ? because Pepe at this level was dynamic and a cut above and the same goes for Xhaka complete control there when he came on . Is this the level that we are at with our fringe players ?
Balogun needs to play regularly , he makes good runs , shows for the ball and doesn’t hide but looks ring rusty . Eddie we know scores goals at the level just below the Premier . He has a lot of Wrighty about him he is a natural poacher . We should tie him down but I fear his agent who is known to extract all he can and leaves things to the last minute is a dodgy bugger to deal with who will extract his kilo of flesh to make that happen.
So we have a semi final over two legs and Arteta has that fine balancing act to do . When the next match comes round , who does he pick?
Morning Rico and all
Great chance to see what the young players can do and rest some of the main players.
I’ve always had a gut feeling that Arteta is not sure if Nketiah can take the next step, which is why the club and Nketiah manger can’t come to some sort of contract.
I think Arteta will field a strong team for the semi final. A chance of a trophy is too good to miss out on I reckon. Plus, with it comes a Europa spot.
Morning Geoff. The club have offered Eddie a contract and he’s said no. I think Arteta rates him and the next couple of months with Pepe out, he should get more time on the pitch.
Isn’t Eddie’s agent the same as Saka and Balogun?
Good morning all.
Eddie’s hat trick apart, I thought Elneny was probably our best player. He was taking the ball from our lateral and back passing fixated defence and taking it forward and setting up some attacking moves. He’s not a match winning superstar but he sticks to his task and doesn’t give the ball away as often as Partey, for instance.
Potter I think it likely that the semis will be changed to one legged affairs with penalties after ninety minutes. With fixture congestion. And Covid limiting crowd numbers, or even causing ground closures and behind closed door games, it seems a sensible option.
Not sure about the Europa League spot Rico, that comes with the FA Cup I think.
All scenarios are possible in this crazy time .
Rico There’s only 2 reasons why he hasn’t signed,
1 Arteta will not give him the game time he wants.
2 he wants too much money.
The one thing I can’t stand is a young player who’s contract is due and they kick a goal against a week team then run straight at the cameraman making a telephone symbol
I thought both domestic cup winners went into Europe Cicero.
Just checked Cicero, it was Europa but now it’s Europa Conference League.
It’s game time Geoff. Eddie pretty much said that last night after the game. He’s in the same situation as AMN. Apart from his contract expiring next summer.
The telephone thing has nothing to do with Eddies contract. He explained that a while back.
It’s not only him Rico it’s a lot of these younger players, I don’t think it’s a good look it just looks like they kick one goal so they are now worth top dollar.
If he’s not going to get game time then I don’t blame him for wanting out.
He is just 22 years old the same age as Wrighty was when Coppell signed him at Palace . He has good movement and timing and has scored goals at every level that he has come through . Not keeping him now could turn out to be great mistake.
I’ve not seen anyone else do it Geoff.
Agree Potter, I think Eddie is going to be a great player in time.
Don’t know about great but definitely useful to have around . I would rather see him here than somewhere else.
I guess only time will prove how good he can be but as you say, I hope he/we find out whilst he’s wearing an Arsenal shirt.
Evening Rico and the House
Many thanks for another good report on another win.
I find it rather pleasing to see some of the youngsters who I have surported from u18 level now getting a better chance to play for the first team at the Ems.
Kev and I have been saying for some time now that Eddy will score goals at
what ever level he plays at . I will add to that as long as he plays at no9
in the middle
Now will he stay or go? Mikal make him feel part of the first team and really wanted and I think he will.
Nice to see Charlie score he needs to do that for the U23s for the rest of the season.
Rico remember the 14 year old who scored the wonder goal at the start
of the season His name isMyles Lewis-Skelly and today he was captain of the England U16 team that beat France 3-1
I wonder if the Coach still thinks he will never make.
CU later
Evening Rick. Thanks.
I’m hoping with Eddie it’s just another one which go to the wire likes those before him. As for Lewis-Skelly, I don’t recall him but he’s obviously doing well. Which coach didn’t think he was much good?
I bet we get Toots
No we got Liverpool
First leg home.
Just seen. I like the home tie first because of the away goal rule, if it applies.
Morning all
New post up now