Morning all.
Speaking after the 4-2 defeat of Leicester City, Mikel Arteta said:
I’m really happy with the performance, the victory, the three points and with the way we played. I think it was a really good football match against a really good opponent and it was just a joy to play in front of this crowd. I think the crowd was special, especially after Saliba’s own goal. The way they reacted was something I’ve never seen in football; the amount of support and connection they are showing with us, and especially with William, lifted the team straight away. I have to thank them so much for that. From the first minute, they were electric. You feel like they are totally with us, totally engaged and it is so energising for the team. The boys keep talking about it – they can’t wait to play in front of this crowd, and it’s making a huge difference.
In between the buffering and reconnecting on the stream I watched, the game looked good. Arsenal looked good. Gabriel Jesus? Two goals on his home debut and could so easily have had more. Probably should have had more but then so should Arsenal. That’s not a criticism at all, I’m just saying that this team is far more creative up front. Do I dare mention how good Granit Xhaka looked? Seriously though, from the bits I saw, this team looks so much better.
Aaron Ramsdale won’t be happy that he conceded a goal in the way he did and William Saliba will be extremely disappointed to have scored an own goal too but these things happen every once in a while so I’m not going to be too critical. If it was the umpteenth time for either or both then yes, it’d be a concern but it wasn’t. However, it does seem like Aaron Ramsdale is yet to return to the kind of form he showed against the same team last season when he was making world class saves and keeping us in games we could have dropped points in. He’s still very young in goal keeping terms and let’s not forget, even the best goal keepers in the world make mistakes.
Pick of the bunch was probably our opener but I liked every one of them for different reasons. Gabriel Martinelli’s from distance was inch perfect, Jesus at the far post, desperate to get something on the ball and Xhaka’s, just because he was in the right place at the right time and ready for the loose ball. Whilst Jesus will get all the praise, I thought Xhaka was excellent.
They’re different goals, but I think the first is a top individual action to be able to produce that at that moment, especially when the game is 0-0. It is something that brings the team to a different level and his work rate, his movement and his quality – he produced two assists in the game as well so he was terrific.
We want [Granit] to arrive in the box and create those moments. He has done it in his career, and I’m a big believer that he can do it and he now has this moment to do it. He should have scored another with that header in the first half, but I’m really pleased with him. This boy [Martinelli] – the way he is developing so quickly is just incredible. It’s his hunger, his character and desire to be better every single day and the ambition that he has to play this game.
I think we sometimes looked a bit shaky at the back so there’s work to be done on the training pitch in my opinion unless it was just one of those days and it might have been. The first home game of the season, nerves, the heat, wanting to get things right for the home fans who were fantastic once again. How good did they sound pre kick-off? Awesome!
I was surprised Mikel Arteta didn’t make changes earlier than he did, especially with the weather as it is and players tiring. Saying that, Brendan Rogers made less changes overall.
How poor was Youri Tielemans? If ever there was a player trying to tell his manager he wanted out of a club by the way he played, that was it. I found it amusing when the Arsenal fans started singing, “Youri Tielemans, we’ll see you next week”. Perhaps he stayed in north London after the game and signed on the Arsenal dotted line.
Jamie Vardy, what a cheat he is. Without VAR, Leicester would have have a penalty and Ramsdale would have been booked or sent off. Instead, Darren England’s original decision was overturned and Vardy escaped punishment. Shoddy officiating in my opinion but excellent from Mike Dean. I’ve always thought he was a great referee……
The day got even better in the later game as Brentford absolutely thumped Man Utd 4-0. Utd are experiencing what Arsenal did last season, two games in, no points and bottom of the league table. Arsenal recovered but I hope Utd don’t. The longer their problems continue, the better it is for every other Premier League club.
Two games in, two victories on the board, what’s not to be happy about this morning?
Next up for Arsenal is a trip to the South coast to play Bournemouth…
See you in the comments.
On this day, 26 years ago, Arsenal signed Patrick Vieira…
Good morning Rico. Happiness all around us today and more to follow as two of our rivals face off down the Fulham road this evening, they cannot both win so either or both must drop points.
Two players we have been endlessly linked with auditioned yesterday, in my opinion neither would improve on what we already have. Thielemans looked pedestrian, clueless and not a patch on Odegaard and ESR. While Madison didn’t compare well with Xhaka.
I don’t expect perfection from any player at any club and Saliba is no exception as his unlucky own goal demonstrates. The good thing is his own reaction, and that of the fans, which allowed him to get on with the game with no apparent loss of confidence. It is very early in his Arsenal career but Edu should be urging him to sign a new long term contract before the vultures start congregating around him.
Oh! and not only did Xhaka score, he didn’t get booked! 😉
Morning Rico and all well just back from visiting wife in hospital,
Hopefully toots and Chelsea come a draw tonight,
Would love to hang crap on Man U but a bit early into the season to do that but it is great to see them at the bottom and us up the top end
Morning Cicero, Geoff, all.
I’d still be happy if we signed Tielemans because he’d give us something different, another option in the cups, Europa and cover in midfield. I’d rather a proper DM but if it’s Tielemans or nothing, I know which I’d prefer. Lol
I wonder how many people bet on Xhaka not getting booked…. 😂
Sorry to hear about your wife Geoff, nothing serious I hope…
Thank Rico my wife has been in hospital for nearly a week she woke up with real bad stomach pains took her to hospital and found out that she had an infection in the pancreas coursing it to swell twice it’s normal size, white blood cells way to high, red blood cells way to low and on top of that they also found gallstones operated today hopefully home on Tuesday or Wednesday
It looks like the new recruits are bringing out the best in Xhaka hope it continues
Geoff, sorry to hear that about your wife mate, I hope she recovers well, please give her my best wishes.
Gosh Geoff, your poor wife, and you of course. Not nice at all. Wishing Mrs Geoff a speedy recovery..
Headlines on NN suggest Edu has boarded a plane to Spain.. Wonder who he’s going to bring back with him… 😂
Morning Rico. Excellent result but, for me, still a few negatives. I’m not sure that Ramsdale is very good with shots on the ground close to his body. One on one I would still rate Leno as the better keeper. The Madison goal that went through his legs yesterday from a fine angle was a howler. It didn’t cost us, but there will be days when it will. His passing out is ok but I always feel he’s prone to a gaffe and the best goalkeepers handle those things far more assuredly than he’s doing right now.
Arteta knows this too I think.
But, that aside, we were pretty good, if a little too open to the long ball again which is getting a bit concerning. Still, early days so enough time to iron out those things.
Morning Adam, if one could put Leno’s best bits with Ramsdale’s, we’d have the near perfect keeper. 😂
I’m not overly concerned about Ramsdale, yet.
Rico. I wouldn’t be either except I think he’s carried some of this stuff over from last season. Always best to deal with issues while things are going well. But I guess all goalkeepers have their ups and downs.
Thank everyone for the wishes will pass them. On.
Is this the first time we are all saying something positive about Xhaka as for Ramsdale the way he plays we all know he is going to make a silly mistake every now and then as longs as it doesn’t cost us the match.
I am wondering why Vardy was not given a yellow card for diving in the goal square, didn’t Xhaka get one for something similar in another match
Adam, I think our defence, including Ramsdale needs a little time to gel and get used to each other. Even George Graham’s miserly back line took a while to settle in.
Cicero. I agree, but Arteta is a much less defensive-minded manager than Graham and Seaman was a more rounded ‘keeper. Different era though I know.
We’ll wait and see how the season develops.
Adam, agreed but he’s young. He just needs calming down I think and to work on his concentration.
First and foremost, sorry to hear that your wife has been crook Geoff, please send her my regards and to get well soon.
I’m not too concerned about Ramsdale, yes it’s disappointing to concede from there but where was the cover? Also Maddison hit his shot like a bullet and it stayed low and true so credit to him…
Man City got three quick goals and then cruised which I guess is what Arteta wants and but for an outstretched leg or a post Arsenal could have gone in 3-0 or 4-0 at halftime.
We still aren’t quite clinical enough up front just yet but we’re getting better and that’s the answer to Arsenal not getting nervous when we concede.
I saw some idiot trying to blame Ben White for the Saliba own goal, some players are definitely Teflon and some are always going to take the blame even when it’s not their fault.
I liked the way the crowd responded and I’m sure that contributed to a quick response from our lads.
After watching the demolition of Man Utd at Brentford, a Man Utd without our injury and illness issues of a year ago, I reckon we’ve not got a lot to moan about – but grumble we will because that’s the nature of the football fan. For me it’s just a pleasure to see our young players knock the ball around and to enjoy the growing relationship between club and fans, it’s approaching Liverpool proportions.
We’re gonna have disappointments this season because that’s football but I am so relishing the development of this team of young footballers.
Just seen forest manager standing at the side of the pitch, I thought it was a fan
Kev, there’s always someone to blame, that’s football for you. Considering the changes of personnel and so early in the season, I thought we were good.
Re Ramsdale, I think he might put too much pressure on himself.
Rico I sort of agree with you about Ramsdale putting too much pressure on him self, as he may feel a bit insecure about his position having seen Arteta sell 2 good keeper and loaning 1 or 2 out he may feel a couple off bad games and he could be shown door.
Did you watch all or nothing Geoff? In that you can see how cheesed off he gets after conceding a goal. Perhaps he tries to hard.
Rico have not seen it as I will have to down load it and then pay for it, However I did see a little bit on YouTube of Arteta having a go at the players after a lose where he steamed out off the change room on them which was good to see. At the moment I am enjoying watching NFO v WHU
You’ll probably be able to watch for free in a few months Geoff. I’m looking forward to the next game. Hoping for a Chelsea win and lots of red cards. Lol
Chavs one nil up at halftime. Spuds not at the races. Not sure if Kane has touched the ball yet, I guess he just on the pitch in case Chelsea give away a penalty.
Having watched the games multiple times, 3 to be exact. I think, if anyone is to be blame for the own goal, beside Saliba,it’s Ramsdale. Why did he unnecessarily came out of his goal? He does that a lot. He must have done that about 4 times yesterday. But with Ramsdale, you take the good with the bad, he’s the best that we have now.
Jammy Spuds but at least both dropped points.
Harsh to blame Ramsdale for Saliba’s own goal imo.
Rico, watch Ramsdale’s positioning even before the attempted flick to Vardy. Why is he’s way off his line when there are two defenders flanking Vardy? The defender is trying to head the ball back to his goalie whose out of position.
2 – 2 final score, best result for us. Conte sent off after scuffles with Tuchel who was also booked and should also have been dismissed.
Kane got the equaliser with his only effective touch of the ball in the entire match.
Both teams are a disgrace and, by their behaviour, sully the reputation of the game in London. The FA should deduct points from both sides.
The referee should be stood down and sent on a refresher course on the laws of the game.
I have Obi.
Both managers were sent off Cicero, according to Sky Sports anyway.
Hope they are right Rico, both deserved the punishment.
Nice to see the love between Toots and Chelsea coach
Morning all.
They were Cicero.
New post up now