Morning all.
One more fixture down and the gap of eight points between Arsenal and Man City remains. Liverpool went to The Etihad and got duffed up. Literally. A 4-1 victory for City meant all eyes were on Mikel Arteta’s team and how would they respond. Bukayo Saka had been unwell so started the game on the bench. So, there we were, starting another game without what I believe to be Mikel Arteta’s strongest first eleven. Still, at least Thomas Partey had recovered. Leandro Trossard and Rob Holding came in for William Saliba and Bukayo Saka.
35 minutes had gone by before the first goal came. Luke Ayling fouled Gabriel Jesus in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. The same player stepped up, hit the penalty down the middle and past Meslier who’d already gone to his right. But for an Ayling clearance, we’d have gone into the break 2-0 up, instead we had to wait for two minutes of the second half to be played before Ben White increased our lead. Gabriel Jesus made it 3-0 and we looked home and dry but then Leeds went and cut the deficit to two. No sooner had the BBC commentary team begin to wonder if a fight back was coming, Granit Xhaka headed home our fourth after a wonderful ball into the box from Martin Odegaard.
It was so good playing again, starting again and feeling the atmosphere of the crowd. The supporters come all together, and the way they support me is massive. I just want to say thank you to them for supporting me until the end. It’s not easy when you’re seeing your striker not scoring goals but they always support me. – Gabriel Jesus.
As expected, Leeds started well. Aaron Ramsdale was tested by Kristensen within seconds of the match kicking off but our keeper saved well. Arsenal were in control of the possession but Leeds looked bright on the break. Gabriel Jesus looked lively full stop. It’s not easy for a striker to go so long without scoring and our Brazilian was on a baron run before he picked up his injury so to see his spot kick hit the back of the net must have been a huge relief for him. For Arsenal fans too.
We were singing the song all together – goosebumps. The crowd transmits energy and belief and love to the players and unconditional support. Today is another example; when we conceded the goal the reaction of the crowd was to cheer the team and that is rare to see in any stadium and is an exceptional response. Stay with us – we are so excited and we want to go for it. Focus on the next game and put all the energy there. Mikel Arteta
It was Arsenal who started the second half well. Very well really as Leeds were torn apart. Some of the football our guys played was top notch. I particularly enjoyed the goal Ben White scored because he hit his shot with real passion. But hey, any goal is a great goal right now and Arsenal are scoring plenty of them.
I can’t remember the last time an Arsenal team shared the goals around as much as this team is. Perhaps it was back when Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg were playing. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard have 35 goals between them and the season isn’t even over yet. Arsenal have a positive goal difference of 43, a number only bettered by Man City. By two. They’ve scored 71 goals so far, Arsenal have scored 70. They’ve conceded one goal less than us too but that’s an indication of how close Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal team is to Guardiola’s.
Next weekend we go to Anfield and for the first time in years, I think we have a great chance to beat them. In fact I’d go so far as to say it’ll be a disappointment if we don’t. That’s what Arsenal have done, what Mikel Arteta and his team have done and it’s a great feeling. Hope, expectation and belief.
Lastly, good luck to the women who take on Man City later today. They too are chasing down another League title.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico yes, another very good performance by our boys but it could have been even better, we could have had a clean sheet except for Zinchenko turning his back on Kristenson’s shot which deflected off his shoulder and out of Ramsdale’s reach. I know the natural instinct is to avoid getting hit in the face but I hate to see it especially when it results in a goal for the opposition.
If Jesus was an inch taller, or could jump an inch higher, we could have finished 5 – 1 winners and he would have had a hat trick.
The important stat is three more points.
On the Saka illness Grealish admitted he had spent Saturday morning on the toilet. Did they both pick up a bug on England duty?
Morning Cicero.
I think Mikel said there was a bug going around on international duty so yep, it’s possible.
Shame re the conceded goal but only because the title might come down to goal difference
Morning Rico and all.
As I said earlier, if Saka had any illness Arteta should have informed Saka to stay at home and rest for next week, and not take a chance on passing any bug on to the team.
The press are wetting themselves over the financially doped Man City. Still, we move on as underdogs, which is good.
Watching the women it seems to me that, until they get some decent refs, it’s all a bit of a lottery.
He Geoff, why not? He clearly felt better.
A bit like the mens game then really Adam.
What a goal!
Rico, Saka needed a rest, so why not take advantage of it, and let him rest fully for next week’s match, and not take a chance of any bug going through the club in this crucial time of the season.
Looks like a nice day for our ladies team, Beautiful second goal,
Players want to play Geoff, he’ll have a seven day rest now.
we won 2-1! Great!
Brilliant second half from Arsenal.. massive three points.
Hope Powell is such a boring commentator imo.
Nice comeback by the ladies, now second and looking good,
Leicester have sacked their manager. Perhaps Brendon Rogers will take over at Spuds. 😉
A shambolic display by Man U sees them go down 2 – 0 to Newcastle.
Rogers wanted that didn’t he? His career as a manager has been full of ups and downs. If Potter isn’t careful, his could go the same way.
Chelsea have sacked Potter now.
Busy old day… lol
Another new manager bounce , and he was doing so well .
He cost £ 20 million to Brighton on a £ 50 million contract over five years that they now have to pay out and just after spending £ 600 million in two transfer windows .
How do Chelsea escape FFP rules ?
Aren’t their finances being looked at? If not, they should be..
How can the powers that be deal with a club that uses Monopoly money when dealing wither finances?
McCabe has been watching too much Saka! She’s just a copy cat! What a goal absolutely fabulous. A fitting strike to win the game. A gone of two halves, as they say.
The double is definitely on.
Hope I haven’t spooked it.
The officials have to make their mind up about FFP rule.
They need to make a cut offline, a small amount over is a heavy fine, just in case of human error, but when well over or deliberately breaking the rules, they need to really hit the club hard by relegating the team involved or get rid of the FFP rule, if they only want to slap these clubs on the wrist.
Morning Rico. Yes, the FFP rules have never been very clear have they? If they were meant to level things out so the financially-doped clubs couldn’t walk over the others then they have been a failure. Then again, the allowances made for Covid seem to have given some clubs a free pass. We await the outcome of the procedures against Man City with some interest.
Personally, I am not holding my breath as I suspect you aren’t.
Morning Adam, all.
I’m not Adam. City will wriggle out of hefty punishment I’m sure. Just as Chelsea will if anyone can be bothered to look at them. I have very little faith in the footballing ownership/financial implementation of the rules etc. The charges look good but that’s where it ends imo.
It is no longer left to individual leagues or football associations to oversee/police what was called FFP (Financial Fair Play) but is now UEFA’s FSR (Financial Stability Regulations).
When clubs like Barcelona are still trading with outstanding debts of £1.5 billion, and have already drawn down on their expected earnings over the next three years, but are still planning on borrowing a further half billion pounds to rebuild the Nou Camp, to expect the league an F A investigate is unrealistic.
Only UEFA, has the power to ban clubs from European competitions, impose transfer bans and instruct leagues to deduct points and/or relegate them.
One thing that will immediately reduce debt is to ban clubs from buying players on the never never. Transfer fees should be paid in full before the purchasing club can register a new signing. Manchester United’s £1 billion debt includes a significant amount in delayed transfer payments.
New post up now