Morning all.
Two top quality goals were enough to defeat Basel last night. Being picky, we should have scored a few more and probably would have had their keeper not had such a fine game. But, the boys fluffed a few too.
Regardless, the display overall was very very good again, especially the first half as in similar fashion to the weekend, the goals came before interval.
Walcott’s first was handed to him on a plate by Alexis who supplied an inch perfect cross begging to be headed home. But this time last season, or many before, Theo wouldn’t have got himself into such a position, last night he did. He wanted that ball, he wanted that goal. He was smart and determined. His second was much more difficult. A quick exchange of passes with Alexis and Theo tucked the ball home from a tight angle. Super stuff. Five goals for Walcott already this season, incredible really considering how disappointing hes been in years gone by. I’m liking this new Theo and long may his form continue.
I thought Arsenal were excellent again, everyone too. Attacking with pace, defending in numbers, ping the ball around with meaning and great movement. The defensive unit were calm and well organised and when Ospina was called upon, he did well. Alexis, well he was just Alexis, simply wonderful to watch. Mustafi, well what can one say, he’s slotted in alongside Koscielny with ease and the two together are forming a solid defensive pairing.
Granit Xhaka won the battle of the two brothers, both during the game and at the end – his passing is a joy to watch but I think he’s been told to pick and choose his time to shoot as last night, as the crowd urged him to put his foot through the ball, he declined, instead finding a team-mate to pass to.
Going into this game, Basel had lost just one match in ten against an English opposition, so this victory is not to be sniffed at. This wasn’t a team who couldn’t defend like the one we played at the weekend. They were organised and had a keeper in great form. It was Arsenal who did the damage, it was the way we played which won on the night, it wasn’t the opposition who lost the match.
Whatever Arsene has done or said to his players over the last few months, long may it continue because for the first time in such a long long time, this group of players really look up for the challenge.
As does Arsene Wenger…….
Morning all.
My glass is overflowing 🙂
When isn’t it?
😉
I too was urging Xhaka to let it rip. 🙂
Rico, I can’t help it…..
As was I Marshall..
I know Scott..
How did someone not poke home that cross from Theo just before half-time…
Rico. It’s true, we were wasteful.
Very Adam. Ozil, Alexis, Nacho could have all added to the goals…
I loved that bit of defensive play just before half-time. Under a little bit of pressure, Mustafi plays it back to Ospina, two Basel players in front of him, Mustafi goes wide right, players move and Ospina kicks it out to Bellerin. Super control by him before the whistle blew…
No panic defending….
I still remember our panic defending in the cup final. Keeps me up at night.
Which one? 😉
Good afternoon everyone….
Am just enjoying the moments
…it’s great football again
I actually get annoyed or frustrated,not sure which is more appropriate, when we could have bought Mustafi last year as Pers was already losing more pace, instead of experimenting with Chambers and others and I still don’t know how the Walcott lookalike got into such form.
He is about 27 and has just realised he needed to bulk up yet in the Summer a very high percentage of us thought “we have had enough,he needs to move on “.
Now we have a hard choice for September player of the month and it’s a long time since I can remember so many players who could ultimately win it.
Can we have a poll please Rico but not only to vote but to give the reason why.
Marshall.
are you refering to the 1927 Cup final, only time it was won by a club not in England 😉
Kelsey, hindsight and all that, but I’m not looking back, im just grateful Wenger FINALLY brought quality in, giving us a strong squad all round.
It’s about time.
It’ been a long time of waiting Simon..
There’s a poll on the official site kelsey… 😉
Lol Rico the one Schez fluffed for Obafemi to nick it in typically last min? Was it with Kos- poor lad back then.
or more recent panic defending at Westham, Caroll wiped the floor with our defence. Or at the scouscers scum twice! I need to refill my glass 🙂
I actually agree with Scott on this one. What’s the point in looking back as all it does is frustrate and anger. We all know Wenger has cocked up royally over the last few years and I think most of us hope he goes at the end of the season but I honestly don’t think he will.
Right now things look a little better, apart from the finishing but there will be much tougher tests to come. Ibra, Carroll, Bony, Lukaku and City’s strike force will really challenge us, as will the parked bus up north.
Personally, game by game for me and see what happens….
Haha Kelsey in ’27? I’d have forgotten/moved on from that one. That’s almost 90 years ago! Probably only Kev witnessed that, lol.
I savour the good times like we are having now but let’s not forget our past, we have to learn from it. Oh to be a gooner.
Marshall, equally, our past included an Unbeaten season 🙂
Let’s hope we get somewhere close to those lofty heights again.
Yes, I’m always confident, but this is easily the best all round squad we’ve had for 10 years, I believe.
Rico, agreeing with me never does anyone any good lol
Scott, true. We’ve had a good and exciting past that’s what got us fans stuck with the club. I’ve never been confident of this squad like this one. It’s strong from Cech to Sanchez. And we are not selling the good ones anymore!
Onwards and upwards, Marshall.
Buon Pomeriggio Lovelies and Hunkies.
Rico ….. you summed it perfectly…..It was Arsenal who did the damage, it was the way we played which won on the night, it wasn’t the opposition who lost the match.
Seems as if the teams have lost the shackles that were binding their mental and physical abilities. For the first time yesterday I saw Theo run the channels and time everything like a clockwork with the rest of the team. I liked goals like his second…..it shows understanding and forward thinking.
I’m seeing two very, very happy players in Ozil and Sanchez, as well.
I’d say they are buying in to the ambition shown by the club, and see a great future.
Am I reading too much into this?
Devil, I said last night that Theos goal v Chelski was unlike Theo of old….he made a brilliant run in the build up, then a second great run to slot home.
I hope we don’t get caught up in a fleeting moment of brilliance from him.
There were a few fluffed Marshall. Ozil and Sanchez were the most guilty I’d say…
Marshall, I kind of meant transfer mistakes, but yes, they need learning from too…..
🙂 Scott.
I certainly saw it that way Devil which makes a nice change.
Interesting how both Sanchez and ozil do not drop deep to pick up the ball when Santi is playing.
The 2 cdm did a splendid job covering both our FBs when they pushed up.
Afternoon all BTW
Only downside from AW point of view if I should guess is xhaka covering less ground than any other player…
what stuck me most was the fact that like the previous game, when we achieved a 2 or 3 goal lead the team did not kind of remain gung ho, nor became lackadaisical, but controlled the game. And by controlled I meant, allowing the opposition to have the ball yes, but channelling them into areas that don’t do damage until all lines of defence have been set up. We saw it against the chavs and we saw it against Basel.
but we still need to take more of our chances. Yesterday could easily have been a 5,6 or 7 goals game.
Why should they drop deep Ginge?? If they drop deep to collect the ball the opposition will be more all over us. Since they stay more upfield they keep players up there and thus create more space.
Ginge, do we need Xhaka to cover plenty of ground?
As long as he controls his patch, that peach that’s often been left open by us in the past, I reckon he’s doing fine.
Ginge, I’m not sure that it really matters how far a player travels during a game. The most important ‘stat’ is, is he in the right place at the right time to deal with any eventuality . If Granit did his job effectively then no one should have any complaints. I haven’t seen the game but I doubt he let the team down in any way, shape or form.
No wonderRico hates statistics! They never reveal the whole story!
I’m not really one for all this ‘ground covered’ stuff. Let the ball do the work, all running around proves is you can run. It’s what you do with the ball which counts…
They certainly don’t don’t Wavy…
Dev, both ozil and Sanchez not dropping deep is a good thing.it shows that the midfielders are being creative and that the aforementioned are not starving for the ball…
Folks should not forget that when Santi is out of the team those 2 drop deeper to pick up the ball.
Watch Mustafi and nobody else for two minutes.
He controls the backline superbly, barking orders all the while.
Random comment lol.
I’m watching the replay now and noticed him.
He’s so animated.
As I watched the recording this morning a wry smile came over my face as about 20 minutes in as the crowd urged Xhaka to shoot , the commentator said that he could quite understand the Basle supporters booing him. Sometimes I wonder if these guys understand the supporters mentality at all. First half we tore them a new one . They were not looking a bad side just one that was confident but ultimately out of it’s depth. We needed to be at our best to play through them and we led from the front , gave them little time and had the crowd on it’s feet. Maybe Theo reads the blogs because the dogs abuse he got last year seems to have got to him .Last year I said I would be happy never to see him in an Arsenal shirt again. Wonder if he read that.( tongue in cheek Emoji ) if I could find them.
Ts your are right on both point. Santi is the engine to this team. Last year when Santi got injured the team became stagnate because when Ozil comes deep it slows the attack, and movement and creative become lacking, obviously because the ball travels quickly if players can pick passes which Santi does. On Xhaka, as per Lee Dixon, AW was playing Coq because he has been struggling in training with his stamina.
Scott I think we need xhaka to have the capability to cover the ground if needed in a game where the opposition have better stamina and we are not having the Lions share of possession.
Before anyone says I am slating xhaka believe me I am not.
Talking about xhaka on here with goonie and obi before we signed him it was brought up that the down side to his game was probably fitness as he needed runners around him in midfield.s someone like Kramer..
If the rumours are to be true Dixon mentioned that as a reason why AW was not playing him..
So I am not being clever here…just making an observation as someone who watched xhaka and admired him before he joined Arsenal.
Sorry Obi.Didnt see you comment before I posted.
Ginge, fair call, and I’m sure his engine will move in time.
The fact we now have guys in front all working defensively helps, as well.
It’s a domino effect and one that can’t be underestimated……that’s why I just love a worker.
We now have plenty, and it makes the defensive unit a much more solid one, and less pressured.
It’s massive, IMO.
Improve in time, not move…….
Scott on Mustafi, again Dixon says, that the reason Kos feels comfortable with Mert is that Kos does not like to organize, he just wants to play hence his refusal of the captaincy. But Mustafi loves doing that and talking so Kos is happy with that.
Scott I know you are an honest man. ?
Last year when we were signing Gabriel who was I saying was available and should have been signed…
Sometimes stats says jack all but unfortunately Gabriel stats failed wenger
Obi, Dixon is just reading what I post and running with it, quite obviously Hahahahahaha.
Actually, it proves that our own Lee is wrong when he says I’m always wrong 🙂 🙂 🙂
I’m ecstatic with Mustafi so far.
He could end up the best of our signings…..
Ginge, I still say he signed Gabriel to counter Costa, and he has curtailed the guys aggression, which was his biggest asset.
I could be wrong on all counts lol.
Yep, you got it right with Mustafi……based on everything I’ve seen.
Agreed there Scott.
It just takes one passenger for things to fall apart.
Folks you to slate arteta for not having the legs but then say if you are good on the ball it does not matter .lol
I never had a crack at Arteta 🙂 🙂
Lol Scott.i thought you looked like Dixon when I met up… Just slightly taller.
Slightly??
Come on hahahaha
Scott not about being right.as said then Gabriel was not suitable to compliment kosser when per was out…
Gabriel is a good defender he just needs an organiser next to him.
Lol Scott
Yeah fair enough…on Gabriel.
He’s the hitmen….needs direction.
He can have a future with us if used correctly.
Ts no problem, and I can attest you were early on Xhaka.
I know a lot of people here hates the international break, but I love and looks forward to it because you get a chance to see a collective of talent together which really allows you to evaluate players. The first time I saw Mustafi play with Germany. I was like this little guy thinks hes the captain, he just kept talking…lol.
Btw Rico, ” letting the ball work” only counts when you have the ball. Whoever play next to Santi has to have a lot of range especially on the day Theo or Iwobi doesn’t track bac adequately . I see Elneny playing when we play fast moving teams.ki in
Obi- personally I prefer the bundesliga and series A provides good options for unknown talents.
Ts @ 3:07, you are right for Unknown talent, and ironically the English Championship, plus the Mexican Acenso and Campeonato Brasileiro. But the National teams supposedly have the best talents so I like watching how, arguably, the best talents in the world works together.
Lol classic Scott saying this is the best squad in 10 years. Don’t be caught up with the euphoria my friend and forget the best team that never won a major trophy. Theovannasrigas. Now that was a team. Heck even the 07/08 squad is miles ahead of this current team. Not knocking this bunch of players I live them but saying this is the best team in ten years is just ridiculous. Morning gooners.
Afternoon Stan, now don’t go upsetting Scott, you know how sensitive he is…
Pick on Ginge, he loves it… ?
Goonie you finally admit you loved Eboue.lol
Obi my eurosat does not show sth American footie these days unfortunately.
A few years back I use to watch a few Argentine games following Aranguiz.
Interesting comments from Roy Keane yesterday evening after the game…
Disparaging comments about Arsenal players wearing gloves when the weather gets colder…
Yeah, I guess he means pansies like Vieira and Lauren and Henry and Bergkamp…
Stupid berk…
Lol kev…Stan is probably Stan the owner. .. be honest goonie how many ranches do you own?
Ts eboue was a class act when we signed him. Remember he ended Lauren’s arsenal career. Wenger ruined him by shunting him on the wings. Go watch that run to the champions League final. Eboue was a beast. We never lost scandalously back then. Yes we lost to the mancs and chavs but it was always a close game. A drogba wonder goal or a manc penalty usually decides it.
Howdy kev ?I love to rile up scotty Oz. Lol he’s so easy. Hahahaha
And of course we had Chris Coleman digging out Arsenal and Wenger over the fitness of Aaron Ramsey, suggesting that we aren’t handling him correctly…
That’s the same Chris Coleman who was sacked by both Fulham and Coventry City.
The rest of his club management career successes can be listed on the back of a cigarette paper…
Welsh plank
Hiya Ginge and Stan… ?
Untold is in meltdown the site crashed 😉
Hiya Kev- George Osborne got away with preparing several autumn budgets on the back of a cigarette packet…never knock it. Lol
I know Obi, but I just think judging a players attributes by how much ground he covers is odd…
? Kelsey
My wife is Welsh and it’s her birthday today and both those things are true so it’s goodnight from him and goodnight from me 😉
Night Kelsey, night all.
Kelsey this is not a footballing matter but, I am much concerned about your blog image, or whatever the right term should be. The silver hair, the dark glasses, the cheeky grin, the cut of your jib, mmmmmmm………..it all reminds me of someone quite familiar, and I know you are probably not going to like this but, it’s JOE KINNEAR! You aren’t him in disguise are you? If it’s any consolation, despite the fact that he was a spud I always ethought he was a pretty useful full back. Shame he fell in with Sports Direct, it spoiled him! Sorry, you!,!,!,?
Nothing personal, just an observation.
Stan,mall I know is you’ve been awful quiet of late.
That coincides with the side playing well…..as is often the case.
A loss will see you back in full tilt, no doubt.
Kelsey wrote a commentary about you yesterday lol
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/3685208/Newcastle-United-manager-Joe-Kinnear-handed-second-Football-Association-charge-Football.html
Wavy no comparison really,ask Rico.
FEKKEN twins, Kelsey 🙂
Morning all..
Ask me what Kelsey? 😉
Morning Rico, new post up???
Morning Kev, oops, yes there is….. 🙂
Well I’ll see you on the next one… ?