Morning all.
I said to a friend of mine yesterday, at least Arsenal’s style of football should be more exciting this season. How can it not be after signing three quality attacking players and having the likes of Saka, Nelson, Willock and Eddie to call upon. We’ll be winning matches 6-5 I joked as our defensive unit remains the same as last season. But you know what, maybe that’s not quite as funny as it sounds, or rather, unrealistic. I know I’ve referred to this comment made by Unai Emery before, but this season it might just be played out before our eyes. ‘I’d rather win 5-4 than 1-0’ he said, or something similar..
I thought about that yesterday as I imagined sitting at the Emirates for 89 minutes, watching a solid defensive display before someone popped up with a winner. 1-0 and three points.
I have been there and done that although it was 88 minutes and 2-0 in the end after two quick but late goals. The atmosphere was great when the goals went in but before then, I felt like I could have been sat anywhere other than a football stadium. A supermarket perhaps on a Saturday morning. Busy, plenty of mutterings to be heard but not much excitement. Nikki B scored the first goal on that day, injured himself in the process and had to leave the pitch. Walcott nabbed a second. Soon after the game was over the long journey home began. My friend and I talked a lot but not much about the game, other than the ‘oh well, at least we won’ kind of thing.
Another match I went to see was Arsenal against Reading in one of the Cups at The Madjeski Stadium. My uncle had given me his season ticket for the night so there I was sat in amongst the Reading fans telling myself to stay calm as the last thing I needed was to forget my surroundings when Arsenal scored. Except they didn’t for 45 minutes. Reading did though, four times! My brother, sister and her husband, all Reading fans, were in the stadium and I was already dreading the journey home with them. Thankfully it was a short one I thought to myself. Theo Walcott made it 4-1 in added time before the break. I just sat there as Reading fans around me were buzzing.
What happened after the break was incredible really. Just after the hour mark, Giroud made it 4-2 but as the clock ticked by, we looked like we were going out. 89 minutes, 4-3 thanks to Koscielny, a consolation for his earlier own goal but time was running out. Run out I thought as we were already four minutes into added time. Then up popped Walcott again. 4-4. The whistle blew. The Mad Stad was silenced, inwardly I was going bonkers, outwardly the travelling fans were. Another 30 mins to decide this tie. Chamakh scored to put us in the lead for the first time in the match but we couldn’t hold on as Pogrebnyak brought the scores level again. 5-5. Walcott secured his hat-trick before Chamakh made sure we’d go home winners. I went home very happy.
Arsenal’s defending that night was awful but then some credit had to be given to ex Arsenal man Brian McDermott whose side came out of the blocks fast and furious and we weren’t ready for it. No surprise there though. The game itself was entertaining to say the least. It had everything. Good and bad.
But it sure as heck made better viewing than the 2-0 victory I mentioned earlier. I just wish my seat had been in with the away fans…..
The moral of this story? Still to this day we defend like a schoolboy team but in attack, we are riddled with quality, speed and exciting players. A mix of youth and experience who if click together should provide much entertainment and goals. If the opposition sit back and defend I reckon we’ll have the ability to get through, around, behind and even over the top of them and I’m really looking forward to seeing how this team plays.
However, I can’t see us keeping many clean sheets, not if the club don’t manage to make any defensive signings between now and 5pm on Thursday and even if they do, there’s no guarantee we’ll see an improvement straight away.
I’m off to watch that Walcott hat-trick again. Or the one against Newcastle, that was another entertaining and high scoring game. 7-3 I think, with Walcott’s last being his best..
Have a great weekend guys..
If the defence remains the same , although not ideal, it’s not a disaster. Our attacking unit is likely to get more chances as teams pile forward trying to expose our defensive weakness or wont be as gung ho knowing we have a truly frightening front 3/4 that are going to hurt them. I may be clutching at straws but this year’s Arsenal are likely to be a lot less predictable and gives opposing teams a lot more to think about.
Absolutely agree Chrispy, going forward we have so many options for Emery to try.
Goals galore – for and against. We need a defensive coach. I don’t know who it was last season but it cannot have been Steve Bould wo was kept well out of the way.
Morning guys (inclusive of the ladies od course), well, the future certainly looks brighter with our offensive armoury.
I don’t recall whether it was the match against Angers but one of the midfielders demonstrated some nifty ball control skills to beat two players who were hounding him and executed a slide rule pass to the wing and I could not believe who it was? Any guesses?
Non other than Xhaka! What a heart-warming surprise particularly since I have been a vocal critic all season of his inept displays.
Let’s hope hope that his enterprising display continues………..all season long!
Thanks for the Pepe video Rico, what an exciting player.
Bould was part of the training though, which part I’ve no idea but there’s just no coaching some players I think. Mustafi and Xhaka being two imo.
Morning Andorra, you surprise me re Xhaka and his ball skills.. you sure you weren’t watching a trading video and Xhaka going round the dummies? Lol
Morning all and Rico.
I agree wholeheartedly with the view that we have got some amazing attacking players. Also, I agree we have a colander like defence! However, I am concerned that the midfield is not crafty, clever or skilful enough to provide devastating passes or play to set our forwards ‘free’.
Pepe looks to be one player who may well defy that view, let’s hope so. Ozil in his pomp would be stitched on, in the same regard, but can he be relied on? On past performances, probably not. Xhaka Torreira, perhaps. Willock, well have to wait and see.
Finally, our need for a commanding CH. I think we’ve bought one already, except he’s gone back to France for a years vacation, sorry, maturation. When he returns if he’s good enough he will be old enough. If the ‘management’ think we are short now then a loan, a good loan player is probably the way to go. We’ve still got 5 days to sort something!
Enough of the ramblings I’m off to listen to or watch the Test match, while the sun still shines!
Morning Wavy, don’t forget Cebellos though, my hunch is he’s going to be good. I’ve seen him on YouTube 😜
In his Cameo I got the impression that his game was very similar to our new old boy’s Edu .Nothing too dramatic , look ,receive , pass moving the ball quickly but accurately. Similar skills to Wilshere but not dwelling on the ball and inviting the inevitable tackle . Hopefully first impressions prove accurate
I’m starting to think Emery just isn’t that bothered about defence. To be fair a better midfield, our new goalscoring winger, all our talented young players, will improve things naturally.
I haven’t looked forward to a new season so much for years. One or two more new players(we are never satisfied) and things are looking good.
Had a good laugh Rico.
Seriously, I was stunned, in fact I’ll try and find the clip and re-check it was him and not an old piece of trickery by Cazorla! LOL!!
Good day all and thanks for the post Rico.
Creating chances hasn’t been the problem over the last couple of seasons, if Aubameyang, in particular, had managed to convert a higher percentage of those that fell to him we would have easily qualified for the Champions League.
Mini collapse by England, three wickets gone this morning. The lead is only 16.
Agree Potter, I like the simple game. Looks really good too.
Ha ha Andorra, my money is on it being Santi.
That mini collapse has been upgraded, Bairstow gone for 8. 😕
Typical collapse by England.
http://hofoot.viuclips.net/player/html/tYKhqkSAn9?popup=yes&autoplay=1
Here you are Rico, 5:05 mins of the first half
Xhaka>>>>
But Cicero, Eddie, Nelson, Willock, Pepe and Cebellos will add to our goal tally. Creating hasn’t been huge problem as you say, but our build up has been slow and painful. These guys will hopefully change that.
Seeing is clearly believing Andorra.. lol Thank you.
That may well be true Rico, but our principal striker will be Aubameyang and he’s the player to which the majority of chances will fall, he must improve his conversion rate.
Evening all.
Seems collapses by Australia are down to great bowling by England, yet collapses by England are down to bad batting by England 🙂 🙂
The pitch is playing its part and this could go right down to the wire.
If we can get 230-250 in front, we are a massive chance I reckon.
Isn’t it nice to see a test where whoever wins the toss does not simply win??
The leading is creeping up 73 now the Broad / Woakes partnership 52. Keep it going lads.
Must be getting a bit desperate Scott, they’re trying to get the ball changed yet again. 😉
Cicero, until the season begins and we see what Emery’s plans are, who knows who will be our lead striker. All I’m saying is we have plenty of goal scorers and for once, they might share the goals instead of relying on one or two.
Interesting to go into the season with the you score three we will get four mantra of Keegan as we face up to his old club on the Tyne .
Best we go at them early and get a 4 goal lead and hope that they don’t get a complicit refereee ( Dowd ) and a cheat like Barton getting our numbers reduced.
Rico there will obviously be a degree of rotation in the striker role but do you seriously believe that Aubameyang will not be the regular first choice when he is fit and available?
As long as they have more kick offs than us. Still time to get some defensive players.
It’s looking like a good year for us is coming at last 🙂
Reports we are interested in a loan for Coutinho, good player but not what we need.We are crying out for a centre back,and anyway I had high hopes for Joe Willock.
Mind you it does tell me Emery doesn’t want to rely on Ozil, you can’t blame him for that.
Cicero, I’d imagine it would be Aubemeyang but when he and Lacazette start together, isn’t Aubameyang the one out on the right or left with Lacazette being the central striker.
Either way, my point is merely about our attacking unit as a whole looking a lot stronger with more options open for Emery.
A loan deal for Coutinho seems an odd one to me.
Morning all.
Terrible news about the shooting in Texas… 😢
New post up now