Daily Bits and Bobs

Forget September, this Arsenal is very different.

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

I was listening to 5live yesterday lunchtime where a healthy debate was taking place over an article written in the Independent about when you know a manager’s past it. Ex players talked about tactics, concentrating on one aspect of the game and not the other and perhaps more importantly, how his or her players buy into their beliefs. The bloke they were talking about was Mourinho who when sacked by Chelsea, the first time, grown men cried. I think it was Dion Dublin sharing his views but don’t quote me on that. Whoever it was went on to say that the Man Utd players wouldn’t have shed a tear when Mourinho was given the boot and as sure as heck, no Toots player would either.

We Arsenal fans went through something similar and it was kind of sad. Hanging on even though the only person believing in what he or she is trying to do is that person him or herself, is foolish but I guess all the time a club is willing to employ them, they hang on.

The NLD will be kind of weird this afternoon. Part of the buzz around the game comes from the fans within the stadium. The friendly and not so friendly banter shared between different sections of the ground before, during and after the game. The anticipation, expectation even, of victory. The feeling of dread as the end of the game approaches and we’re losing. When the Toots fans come crawling out of the woodwork as it’s their moment of glory. Well, they’ve had little to celebrate for so long now, they do tend to get carried away. Not today I hope.

Toots have one or two players who are very good, perhaps three if you want to count Lloris but in my opinion, he’s no better than either of our two keepers. From the little I’ve seen of Toots play, they are pretty average under Mourinho. Reports on how they’ve been playing have been highly critical.

But this is man who seems to pull rabbits out of hats when it comes to coming up against Arsenal and be certain of one thing, he’ll want to get an early victory over the man he coached as a boy at Barcelona B.

Today is about Arsenal turning up for 95 minutes and winning the game but beyond, it’s about being consistent over a season because that’s what makes a club successful. Going into every game with confidence and discipline. Being organised, prepared and focused for more than just 95 minutes twice a season. That’s what Mikel Arteta will be striving for long term.

This game isn’t about Mourinho v Arteta either but as said, Mourinho will think it is because that’s him all over. It’s how he’s always been. Arteta however, strikes me as being the kind of guy who wants to get things right for The Arsenal, not just for him. Whereas our neighbours have the old has been, we have one of the game’s young and upcoming managers. As have Chelsea. Both many years away from reaching their peak, let alone sliding down the other side of it.

Back in September last year, things were very different when these two clubs met. Unai Emery was in the red corner, Pochetttino in the white. We went 2-0 down after Xhaka conceded a penalty and Leno could only push Lamela’s shot into the path of Eriksen for an easy finish but as halftime fast approached, Lacazette pulled one back. After the break, Aubameyang made it 2-2. We could, probably should have nicked it by the end.

The difference between then and now doesn’t just stop at the managers though. Guendouzi was very good back then but now he can’t even get into the squad. Martinez will be between the posts instead of Leno. Saka is now part of the first team whereas back in September, he wasn’t even in the squad. Tierney, Bellerin and Mustafi are fit, the latter along with Xhaka and Ceballos are much improved. Mkhitaryan has gone.

Arsenal now have a Molineux style performance in the locker and I think we might see something similar today. Certainly to begin with so we don’t get caught cold. Then again, we might come out of the blocks with purpose, take the initiative and hit them hard early.

Either way, I’m confident we’ll be coming away with three big points in the bag.

Enjoy the game guys..

 

 

 

rico

47 thoughts on “Forget September, this Arsenal is very different.”

  1. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all.
    A very rousing post Rico. Reminds me of Henry V before Agincourt. Pity it’s not St Crispin’s day.

  2. Aussie Geoff says:

    Hi Rico and All We need to come out and hit the ground running and hopefully score first to put the pressure on them,
    Did any one see what happened last week as I just watched the highlight video of last weeks games and it showed Tottenham goal keeper and Son having to be pulled apart I wonder if pressure is getting to them know they may miss out on finishing in the top 6

  3. Sue says:

    Morning peeps! It’s match day!! Nice post, Rico, ta very much!
    The spuds are to fly a ‘Levy out’ banner over the stadium later….

    I’m a little apprehensive about the game… I saw this on twitter earlier –
    Lee Dixon (North London derby) “I remember my first north London derby and Tony Adams literally had me up against the wall by the throat and said; ‘You don’t understand. We can’t lose this game’”

    What I’d give for them to all have that mindset later!!

  5. rico says:

    Luiz will no what what today is about Sue. He may not be home grown, but he probably dislike the Toots from his Chelsea days.

  6. Paddy says:

    Morning Rico. This NLD is important for our quest to be in Europe next season. Judging from our current firm post Brighton, then North London should be red.

  8. Sue says:

    It should be red…. but with regards to them, form goes out of the window…I don’t want to go into it overly confident, as I have a tendency of jinxing things..😂😂 So all I’ll say is… Come on Arsenal, it’s Sunday, let’s roast some chicken (or cremate the cockerel 🤣)

    Yes, Rico, Luiz should be up for it… and I’m sure Tesco (Tierney) will be too 😉

  11. Cicero says:

    You just to have love Vetel and Leclerc, they have their usual collision and are both out of the race on the first lap.

    That, as they say, is entertainment. 😉

  26. rico says:

    Thanks Andrew.

    Really poor from Kolasinac but thank goodness Luiz kept his head.

    Great save from Martinez

    Aubameyang too quiet.

  28. Cicero says:

    Some sloppy passing not only by Kolasinac.

    Aubameyang and Pepe not at the races.

    Oliver is working up to a red card for someone. I wonder which way it will go.

  29. Sue says:

    Pepe is still in the delivery suite…. they really need to wake up…. can’t handle another gifted goal, not sure my heart can take it!! Come on Arsenal….

  33. Potter says:

    How to get defeat from the jaws of victory.Stupid mistakes but this season doesn’t really matter

  34. Sue says:

    I’m not at all surprised by this..absolutely disgraceful….. all those bloody backward passes…. well we’re consistent with ending droughts, saving manager’s jobs! Groundhog day…..

  35. Potter says:

    All Kolasinac had to do was play it forward. Never play across the midfield was drummed into me at an early age . Then again we were encouraged to go forward rather than keep passing to hold possession

  37. Sue says:

    #thfc have now gone unbeaten in six consecutive home league games (W4, D2) against
    @Arsenal
    for the first time since January 1968. [BBC]

    We’re on a roll….

  38. allezkev says:

    I’m a bit worried about Aubameyang, I know he scored against Leicester but since his future became an issue again, with rumours of Arsenal offering the same deal/terms they offered him before lockdown, I sense that he’s lost a bit of his edge, similar to how Luiz was playing before his future was sorted.

    If, as seems certain now, that Arsenal will fail to qualify for the Europa then Aubameyang isn’t going to hang around I suspect…

  41. allezkev says:

    I’d love to see us win the FACup, but I have this horrible feeling Rico that if we get past Man City (don’t laugh, you never know) that we’ll face Chelsea in the final and Giroud will stuff us again…

  42. allezkev says:

    What to do against Liverpool?

    Does Arteta go with the same defence or does he make a change with one eye on the FACup?

  43. potter says:

    Had time to think now and Mourinho outthought Arteta.
    We are only dangerous when we get our fullbacks forward. He pushed them back and our midfield of Xhaka and Ceballos lost out to Lo Selso and Winks . Says a lot that , we displayed a total lack of flair and creativity. Add to that the defence Mustafi totally mentally lost it and Kolasinac gave the ball away not only for the goal but for most of the game.
    We were always comfortable looking but it was all top show , under the surface we were scrambling making our own mistakes contributing to our downfall.
    I think that Spurs didn’t win it , itwas more that we lost it all on our own.
    As far as I am concerned that’s it for the season , I can’t see us getting past City and expect a hiding against Liverpool and probably 4 points in the last two matches. it’s all about next season now , how we set up who stays and who leaves.

  44. ScottfromOz says:

    I can’t comment on the overall game as I’ve only seen the highlights this morning, but if they’re a true indication, once again, we should have been off and gone before Spuds even looked like scoring.
    Yes, our defenders made errors but so did our forwards, and plenty of them based on what I saw.
    Fair call or not?

  45. Aussie Geoff says:

    Just watched mini match highlights great goal by Lacazette but it seemed we made too many incorrect passes for which one led to their first goal how ever once again Aubameyang looks like he went missing again in a big match, but what worries me is the interview with Arteta when he said he was proud of the boys today unless they only showed the bad parts then I would not not be proud of a side that lost due to stupid mistakes. one positive thing was Kane never scored

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