Daily Bits and Bobs

He’s back..

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

A game started in daylight yet ended in darkness and with Arsenal fans near and far, happy. After a weird opening five minutes or so of little but sideways and backwards passing, Arsenal found their stride. Saka, ESR and debutant Ødegaard were playing well. Less than fifteen minutes gone in the game and captain Aubameyang opened the scoring. Xhaka played him through on the left and as the Leeds defence, their keeper too, expected him to shoot across the goal as he so often has, he beat the keeper at his near post.

Next up was a penalty shout for Arsenal as Saka appeared to be pushed over in the box. Attwell pointed straight to the spot. VAR, or rather Paul Marriner, had a word in his ear and after a check on the pitch side monitor, the decision was overturned. Yes, I too thought of the Wolves game.

Anyway, we did get a penalty when the young Leeds keeper faffed around with the ball at his feet in the box. Saka closed him down, he fouled Saka and this time, the penalty stood. Up stepped our captain to blast it into the back of the net. Well, the side of the net to be precise.

Two more goals came our way, one each side of the break. I thought we’d taken too many touches in the box but with Saka on the ball, things happen. His trickery and a Ceballos nutmeg on a Leeds player left Bellerin with a chance to score his first league goal of the season. He took it. Our fourth, Aubameyang’s third came after some nice work from ESR followed by a cross (cough) to the Leeds far post where our number 14 was lurking to head home for his first League hat-trick for Arsenal.

I really hope yesterday was a sign that the Aubameyang we’ve known in previous seasons to this one is back because if he’s not scoring goals, he’s a wasted selection. Once his first goal went in, his tail was up.

Bielsa had made a couple of changes at halftime. Off went Jack Harrison and Mateusz Klich on had come Tyler Roberts and Helder Costa. Leeds upped their game a bit, or we dropped ours but either way, we allowed Leeds a sniff of a recovery. Struijk wasn’t tracked on a Leeds corner and got the better of Luiz to head home and then soon after, Bellerin got caught out as Leeds played the ball inside him for Costa to run onto. His cross was subsequently prodded in by Roberts.

We survived a penalty appeal as Cedric used his body to ‘usher’ Bamford off the ball in the box and to be honest, I thought Attwell would give it. Although how could he after turning down the one on Saka earlier in the game?

I don’t think the first Mikel Arteta made did the team any good whatsoever.  I feel like I’m constantly berating Willian, probably because I am but he offers the team very little. He runs around, looks busy but seldom does anything positive. ESR going off made a difference, Ødegaard the same yet we still rattled the woodwork on several occasions. Just like Leeds did at Elland Road.

The difference yesterday though was at the time of do so, we already had four goals in the bag. The job was done.

We now move on. To Rome.

See you in the comments.

 

 

 

rico

46 thoughts on “He’s back..”

  1. Sue says:

    Hi Rico.. nice read 👍
    Hard to believe that was Auba’s first PL hat-trick!! Was so happy for him.. just what we needed before Thursday! Defo my motm, with Saka a close second -he’s involved in everything!!
    Rumour has it we’re to offer Luiz another deal….

  2. Cicero says:

    Good morning Rico.

    On reflection, the first ten minutes apart, it was a really good game. Six goals, some excellent football and a tense final fifteen minutes as Leeds tried for a couple more goals to salvage a point.

    I shall be very happy if Aubameyang can sustain his sudden re-awakening and get on the score sheet with a bit more regularity. One tactic that worked a treat was the closing down of the Leeds ‘keeper, both Aubameyang and Saka got into his face and forced him into errors.

    I completely understand that was necessary to protect ESR and Odegaard, the former because he has played a lot of games since recovering from injury and the latter simply because he has hardly played since December. My problem with the substitutions was taking off two dynamic, forward facing players and bringing on Willian, a player with all the dynamism of a Madame Tussaud wax-work dummy.

    Three points and no injuries. A good outcome.

  3. allezkev says:

    Nice post Rico, I was surprised by the omission of Holding from the starting line up and wondered if he would, as he’s done for most of this season, have headed away the cross/corner from where Leeds pulled a goal back?

    I can only imagine that having a Brazilian partnership of Gabriel and Luiz at the back was tactical as both of them surged forward into the Leeds half whenever possible during the game, causing panic in the Leeds defence.

    This game was tactically one of the best from Arteta this season, Leeds looked quite ordinary for long periods of the game but this was because Arsenal had nullified their threat. They showed how dangerous they actually are later in the game and when it went to 4-2 I doubt that there were many Arsenal fans out there who didn’t think that we were going to throw it away.

    Aubameyang almost calmed the nerves with an instinctive chip cum shot onto the bar, if that had gone in we might have got 6 goals, it was that kind of game, Mourinho would have hated it.

    You just don’t know what you’re going to get with this Arsenal team, it’s the uncertainty that’ll kill ya, we’re just as likely to beat Man City next time out as to lose 4-0,

    Benfica next out and a totally different experience where playacting and gamesmanship is the name of the game. Arsenal will need a strong and smart referee as the Portuguese are masters at getting opponents sent off and this Arsenal team is generally quite dumb. The diving and simulation will be endemic from the Iberians, we will soon realise we aren’t playing Molde or Dundalk this time,

    Benfica are serious european operators, they know all the tricks, they know how to manipulate a referee and I don’t think we have VAR so anything is possible?

    I’m actually not as bothered about this competition as I normally am when we play in europe, our record is absolutely pants so I’ve no reason to think that this dysfunctional squad will turn our abysmal european record around any time soon.

  4. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. A fairly convincing win despite the late comeback by Leeds. What on earth Willian’s appearance was all about I cannot imagine but I suppose there must be a plan in there somewhere.
    Still, always good to see Souness choking on it.

  5. Aussie Geoff says:

    Hi Rico and all considering what happened last time we played them and the rubbish that they’re captain said about us I was kind of hoping that Arteta would bring Pepe on so he can have the last laugh

  6. rico says:

    Morning to you all. I can’t be bothered with the individual hellos today 😅

    William and Luiz need moving on imo, so disappointed to hear we’re thinking about offering him a new deal. Unless there’s some other rationale behind the decision.

  7. Aussie Geoff says:

    Rico from what I read back in December, apparently Luiz has been helping the younger players with some private coaching and advice on how to handle the pressure on and off the field which has impressed Arteta

  10. Devilgunner says:

    Good Afternoon Rico and everyone.

    I enjoyed reading the post as much as I enjoyed yesterday’s game between the 5th and 55th minute.

    Kev was spot on with is observations as well….especially on the Luiz-Gabriel issue of them bombing up the pitch to help. I enjoyed seeing Luiz play yesterday and no heart stopping moments. But on the first Leeds goal he looked his age as he was slow to react. However the spine was a good one yesterday with Luiz-Gabriel and in front of them Xhaka and Ceballos pulling the strings.

    I still do not like the fact that Luiz will be given a new contract. We should be looking at younger better players instead. yes experience and helping younger players count a lot but we surely need younger and stronger players instead of a 34 year old one

    I also enjoyed seeing Auba play yesterday and felt that unlike most of the games I saw him he did not unbalance the team. I feel that he operates better with just one out and out winger like Saka on the right while two number 10s were behind him and no one taking his place on the left wing where he likes to drift. Pepe has played well recently on the left but very often he takes the position of Auba andthe latter suffers because of it. Yesterday we had none of that as ESR never took Auba’s place there but tucked in beside Odegaard. Auba drifted on the left then ghosted in to steal that half a yard of space without being unmarked.

    We were tactically good yesterday especially in the first half. I did not like the fact that we stopped at 4-0 and tried to control the game…..I still want to see us beat the Manure scoring record of two 9-0 results.

    I feel that next Thursday Laca will lead the line with Pepe, ESR Saka behind him. Even the CB partnership will be changed as it will be Holding and Mari I feel.

    If Matty Ryan plays I guess we will be seeing Scott doing Cartwheels all the way from OZ to Rome 🤣🤣🤣🤣

  11. potter says:

    Nothing against Ryan but I think for this match it should be Leno , If we are to change the centre backs then the keeper as well would be too much.

    As for Luiz it depends on the terms of the contract . From all reports he is very popular with the young players and is an experienced influence off the field, which is something that Arteta needs in the background as he finds his feet as a manager.. A deal similar to that offered to Mertesacker makes sense as long as it is reflected in his salary and an opening to the coaching side in the long run.

    We are very much still work in progress and despite showing signs of getting better even at 4 nil , I bet most of us got nerve jangles when they got their second . Arteta certainly did . Having already taken off ESR and the closing down foot in up front had gone we lost Odegaard and Ceballos to shore things up .

    We played really well for about an hour but we need to remember that not every team we face will be as open as Leeds who under the caganer Bielsa do come to play and attack , I doubt we will get as much room in many games in the future.

    Still 3 points and 4 goals , not too much to gripe about although I am sure reading around the blogs many will find a way.

  12. Limey says:

    Afternoon Rico/everyone
    We played some very good stuff.I thought Bellerin had fluffed his chance but it was a great finish.To me he’s good going forward, never going to be a great defender.In my opinion Luiz should be at least 5th choice,after Gabriel, Holding,Mari and Chambers.Who knows what will happen with Saliba ?
    Willian is just a mystery.
    Other results pretty good for Arsenal,on to Benfica which will be tough .

    Also the Sky commentators were so desperate for a Leeds comeback…

  14. rico says:

    That’s where I see Luiz too Limey, my guess is it’ll be Holding and Mari for Benfica. Tough game but who knows with the way this season is going for many clubs, we might nick a win..

  15. Rick says:

    Hi Rico,
    Just like yesturday Having problems with H/H.
    On my P/C i can only see 2 comments and on my Tablet ther is 7
    Something wrong

  18. allezkev says:

    There’s always hope, so don’t worry if we finish outside of the top six, because it seems that the team that finishes 7th in the Premier League could go into the new european competition, the Europa Conference League – hurrah….

  20. ScottfromOz says:

    Cricket.
    Cricket.
    Cricket 🙂
    Cicero, this is the best Indian side I’ve seen.
    No, our Aussies didn’t play well, but with the injuries they suffered during the series, India left us with no excuses at all.
    They’re a superb squad atm.

  22. Limey says:

    The next test is day night, which should favour our bowlers/negate their spinners. Could be famous last words.. hopefully Anderson and Archer back.

  26. Sue says:

    Hi Rico.. CL back tonight 🙂 Going to watch Barca v PSG and hope the scousers lose!
    That Wilshere masterclass 10 years ago?! Wow… I really miss being in it! One day hey?!
    Well, Rico, it’s Shrove Tuesday, the only day you can get away with calling somebody a to$$er 🤣

  36. Rick says:

    Evening Rico and the House
    Potter I was starting to think it was me.
    Mine has just (in the last5mins) defrosted.
    Its been like this for 3 days now.

  37. rico says:

    Evening Rick. There are some things going on behind the scenes due to the new Google rules, it could be behind the problems. Should be ok very soon. 🤞

  39. Potter says:

    Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras , Carnaval.
    None of that this year will have to settle for pancakes with lemon and sugar obviously

  43. Devilgunner says:

    Bonjour Rico

    No post I am afraid. Neither on news now.

    Can you kindly post the link here??

    RB Lepizig’s loss was their own undoing. You dont play 3-5-2 against the dippers’ 4-3-3. They practically played in their own hands. The dippers’ attack had a field day pulling them all over the place. Yes, its true that the Leipzig wingbacks went down to help the defence but that left them short up front. In a two legged game a more pragmatic 4-1-4-1 approach for the first leg would have been ideal. Then go 4-2-3-1 at Anfield. But never a 3 at the back against the dippers. That was asking for suicide.

  44. Cicero says:

    So he’s back is he? Well maybe not. Unless he can explain away an instagram message of him in close contact with a tattoo artist. It has since been deleted but Arsenal are investigating.

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