Morning all.
What is there to say after the 97 minutes of football played out by both Bournemouth and Arsenal yesterday other than, wow! I said before the game that I believed Bournemouth are better than their League position suggests…..
Mikel Arteta made three changes to the starting eleven of midweek. Fabio Vieira, Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu came in for Granit Xhaka, Jorginho and Ben White respectively. Eddie Nketiah was ruled out through injury. In case you’re interested, not one player from the Arsene Wenger era started the game.
Referee Chris Kavanagh had barely taken his whistle out of his mouth after started the game and Arsenal were 1-0 down. Not the best defensive work we’ve seen from this Arsenal team. Not the best defensive work from Thomas Partey either when from a Bournemouth corner early in the second half, the away team doubled their lead. What a shock and very disappointing after Man City had already won their match earlier in the day.
Cometh the hour, cometh the comeback…..
A corner from Bukayo Saka was half cleared by Neto, Emile Smith Rowe headed the ball back across the box for Thomas Partey to smash home. Then, on came Reiss Nelson. Off down the left wing he soon went, a cross in towards the far post where Ben White was cutting in from the right. His shot was palmed away by Neto but only after the ball had crossed the line. Bukayo Saka hit the woodwork, Gabriel Martinelli fired over the bar and time was running out. We were into the seventh minute of the six added when we had a corner which was cleared, but only as far as Reiss Nelson who was lurking on the the edge of the box. He chested the ball down and then fired his left footed shot hard past Neto and into the net. 3-2, an astonishing comeback complete.
The Emirates went into celebration mode and in a big way and why not? Andrew has kindly sent in a video clip of the players after the final whistle blew. Sorry, I need to Google how to insert it properly. Lol
To go 2-0 down and still believe take mental strength. To fight back shows grit, determination and dedication.
Mikel Arteta:
Everybody is overwhelmed a bit. It was madness from the first minute of the game where we defended so poorly and then you have to climb a mountain. After that don’t lose the shape and try to score the first one. We did that and once we did that the atmosphere and the place changed. We generated a lot of chances. I thought the subs made a huge impact. So happy for Reiss after he made a huge impact.
On the celebrating:
You lose sight of where you are, I started to run and I didn’t know where I was running to. Just looking at the faces of everybody it’s just great to live.
Gary O’Neil:
I’ve no comment to make on what Arsenal did. I shook hands with Mikel, it was a game he needed to win and I needed something from. We went to battle and he came out on top. They score a goal they can celebrate how they want.
Exactly!
Five VAR reviews for Arsenal, nothing given. Bournemouth players in Arsenal’s half when the game kicked off, not spotted – but is anyone really surprised?
The downside of the game was the injury to Leandro Trossard. ESR came on in his place but he too was subbed for Reiss Nelson. Probably not for any other reason than Mikel Arteta wanting a bit more pace and width. He got it. What a way for the Arsenal boy turned man to say ‘hi, I’m back’…
A shout out for Aaron Ramsdale too because he made a number of superb saves at crucial moments in the match. It’s easy to say that’s his job but he was superb. Arsenal were superb but only after going two goals down. A mention for the fans too because despite seeing their team concede two sloppy goals, they didn’t give up either.
What a game, what a comeback and what a result….
Lastly, here’s another short clip of a number of Arsenal fans after the game….
Catch up in the comments….
Having reflected a little one thing came to me and it was that Nelson had the confidence to shoot . How many fringe players would have lobbed it back into the box ? How many would have passed the responsibility to someone else.?
Is this the product of the building of personal confidence , would anyone have blamed him had it sailed into the crowd or is it that this group win together and lose together and everyone is valued.
It was noticeable that I saw on T.V that Elneny was on the pitch at the finish , I didn’t see that in the ground as everyone was too busy leaping around and hugging each other.
The video clip is great, so jealous the players, officials and fans made it look and sound like we had just won the World Cup, FA Cup and the premier league all in one.
Must admit when I checked the score this morning I had to look twice.
I would have loved to seen peps face when that last shot when in.
Good morning all.
There’s a togetherness about this squad, even after conceding two sloppy goals there is no finger pointing and heads do not drop. They stick to the game plan and give 100% effort.
The coolest head on the pitch yesterday? Reiss Nelson’s!
Morning all.
Agree re Nelson but I guess his confidence was up having just provided the assist for our equaliser. Post match he said he was just desperate for the ball to drop for him.
Reiss Nelson was given the opportunity and he took it, the pressure will be on Eddie now, with Jesus waiting around the corner
The video was similar to the party I made at home… 🙂
As for the game a) Martinelli yields much more on the left than on the middle. That’s why he often traveled to fetch a game. b) ESR, he always seemed lost in the game, without depth or sharpness. On the other hand, it uses very repetitive processes. c) I was surprised because the 1st substitution wasn’t Nelson right away instead of ESR d) We continue to have serious defensive lapses. Against Sporting, for example, it could be crucial e) Bournemouth’s center forward was a player who could get on Arsenal’s radar.
Who’s coming to Lisbon next Thursday?
Not me Jm.
Tickets are like gold dust I am afraid JM otherwise I would be trying to get there.
Great win over Chelsea in the Womens League Cup Final. 3-1.
Arsenal Women win the Continental Cup with a 3 – 1 victory over Chelsea. 🔔🔔🔔
🤣 Liverpool already 3Nil up as at 54Min. Should be start celebrating this result?
Liverpool overrunning supposedly inform Man United😆
Excellent…
As if that is not enough 4 Nil up at 70′ 😆
Yes so potter. Unfortunately, I have difficulties with going to London, let alone getting a ticket for any game on the Emirates.
Hope is a freak performance from Liverpool, we have to play them at Anfield..
Oh my God, it’s 5:0 at 77′
This is insane 6:0, 85′
Now 7:0 , 90′
Seven nil.
I told you that Ten Hag is a genius.
That’s a battering… 😀
Afternoon all, good report rico. Just about recovered from running Chelmsford Half, runnings hard when you start in your 60s! and home in time to watch Man United 😀😀. I now believe confidently for the first time, we will be above them. So its runners up…. or better. Either way, a top season that keeps getting better.
Thanks Andrew and thanks for the videos. I enjoyed watching them.
Big well done to you for the half marathon.. They do day life starts at 60. 😂
When I was younger they said life begins at 40, then at 50. Thank goodness it’s been updated😀
I updated it when I turned 60. 😂
Thank you rico😀😀
My pleasure Andrew 🤣
Hmm, let’s hope it starts at eighty, I can wait until May…..I hope.
Congratulations to our ladies’ team on collecting another trophy.
I was trying to feel sorry for Man U, but I couldn’t stop laughing at the score line. 🤣😂
Life is what you make it ,
That’s what the people say ,
And if I can’t make it till tomorrow,
Better make it through today.
Eric Clapton .
New post up now