Morning all.
It’s been a pretty good weekend as far as results go with Man City and Liverpool both dropping three points. Liverpool aren’t a threat for a top four place right now but I just don’t like them. Newcastle Utd and Chelsea managed to scrape three points each yesterday but the performance and result of the day was at Tottenham’s ground where an Arsenal team turned up and rolled the opposition over with ease.
The pre-match questions for Mikel Arteta were about discipline, losing out to Chelsea in the transfer window and will Arsenal ever beat Tottenham away from The Emirates. Throughout the game, the only time Craig Pawson had players around him was when Tottenham players objected to some of decisions. Right at the end of the game, it was Richarlison behaving badly by shoving Aaron Ramsdale in the face and it was one of the home club’s fans who jumped over the stand to kick our goalkeeper in the back before running away. Yes, it’s Tottenham who should soon be slapped with an FA charge or two this week. A lifetime ban from football stadiums should be in order for the idiot who assaulted Aaron Ramsdale.
Football fans like to give it, but they can’t always take it when it comes to ‘banter’. Aaron Ramsdale said after the game that he and the Tottenham fans were enjoying a bit of good spirited exchanges but one idiot had to take it too far. Granit Xhaka had a little exchange of words with the Tottenham bench (not literally) and Gabriel Martinelli tried to wind up Romeo by controlling the ball using his back. Hilarious really albeit a bit naughty. Lol
I thought Mikel Arteta was brilliant at the end of the game, especially when he saw Granit Xhaka making a beeline towards the action. He wasn’t letting one of his players get into trouble so chased him down and moved him on to the best place possible. The corner where the Arsenal fans were, and together they celebrated what was a really good performance and a fantastic result.
As for the game itself, I’m sure pundits and media alike will say that Tottenham were awful in the first half and they were, but that was because Arsenal didn’t let them play. Mikel Arteta’s players were all over their counterparts like a bad rash.
Arsenal’s passing game was superb, the work off the ball, superb. Could have been more clinical in front of goal but hey, I’m not going to moan for the sake of moaning. The home team were marginally better in the second half but when Arsenal needed to dig in, they did. Plus, Aaron Ramsdale was outstanding.
Lloris on the other hand was awful, yet a joy to watch. What a hash he made of Bukayo Saka’s shot eh. Hilarious. Arsenal’s second came after Thomas Partey cleared up in defence, played the ball out to Bukayo Saka who passed to Martin Odegaard in acres of space just outside the Totts penalty area. A look up, a swing of his left foot and the ball bobbled nicely over Lloris’ outstretched arm before nestling nicely in the back of the net. Thomas Partey hit a fantastic shot which smashed into the post which was a great shame. Eddie Nketiah had a couple of chances too but yesterday wasn’t his day. Like every other player though, he worked his socks off, at one point tracking back to successfully slide tackle a Totts player.
For the first time in a number of years, Arsenal have done the double over the neighbours which great as far as the rivalry between the two club goes but the fashion in which Mikel Arteta’s team beat Conte’s is the most pleasing. The consistency of performance the players are achieving is excellent. Individually and collectively, players have upped their game.
But, we’re just half way through the season. An eight point gap between ourselves and second place Man City is brilliant but, those points can soon be recovered. Better still though is Arsenal being fifteen points and a game in hand over fifth place Tottenham and sixteen points and two games in hand over Fulham in sixth place.
Paul Merson reckons it’s Arsenal League title to throw away but I disagree. Man City have a deeper and stronger squad, they’ll be able to cope with the addition of European football fixtures better than most other clubs. Certainly Arsenal. But at least the European fixtures don’t begin again until March so for now, Mikel Arteta can focus on the League. Manchester Utd is next up for his players and it’ll be a tough one as Utd seem to have found a bit of form. They have a midweek game in London against Crystal Palace, Arsenal however, have the week off.
Transfer gossip: Sky Sports report that Arsenal could try again for Raphinha. The move to Barcelona hasn’t gone that well for the player and with the Catalan club needing to balance their accounts, Raphinha could leave. Brighton winger Leandro Trossard is also linked to Arsenal along with a few others whose names I forgot after reading them.
Seriously though, the club clearly have money available so I just hope in the next two weeks, they can secure a couple of deals which would turn our hope for a PL title into a reality.
Catch up in the comments…
Nice piece Rico.
I thought that was one of the best 1st half performances I have ever seen. Spurs were chasing shadows. Wonderful to watch.
The analysts blamed Spurs for playing poorly, but missed the bit about Arsenal playing brilliantly. Neville seemed more interested in criticising Arteta. And it’s about time Tyler hung up his microphone.
Not one bad performance in the Arsenal side. Ramsdale, Partey and Odegaard were outstanding.
Considering all the flak Arsenal have been getting from the FA about controlling their players then Spurs should be knee deep after the fan assault on Ramsdale. I reckon they should close the lid on the stadium to fans for 3 games.
Ref did well under pressure from the divers. The Hojbjerg dive in the area at the end of the first half was pathetic. Although how Romero stayed on the pitch is a mystery.
Morning Pete and thanks.
I hope we can spank Utd to shut Neville up. He’s forgetting that his old team are pretty poor away from OT.
Romero was extremely lucky.
https://twitter.com/TheBOMBOMs/status/1614814259254550528?s=20&t=PE1GCwU_v6XGrgNfJHiJkQ
If reports are correct Raphinha has told Arsenal he is not interested in joining us.
I starting to wonder if we are being fed bull s—t about buying a player this wonder.
Sorry wonder should be window
Morning all
That assault on Ramsdale was appalling.
The FA cannot fall to take serious action against Tottenham Hotspur Football club. Their security operation was abysmal. Ground closure for a specified number of games or points deduction are disciplinary measure to be considered. The police must make every effort to trace, arrest and charge the individual responsible.
Just why what’s written in the media should be ignored Geoff.
Cicero, I don’t think he’ll take much hunting down, his face is all over the internet. The funny thing is, it’s the Totts fans posting the videos of him.l
When they built their stadium they made a big play about that stand being close to the pitch and a wall of intimidating sound.
Best thing to do is to close the first 5 rows indefinitely which would penalise both the club and the fans . The fans would lose a large number of seats and the club revenue .
And dock points.
Strong rumour going round that the guy is Irish , So he is probably in hiding now . They can ban him but the buck stops with Tottenham.
Cicero/Rico, the Police and FA will makes statements, wait for the furore to blow over and do nothing. Richarlison should get a straight red card for what he did but he’ll get away with a talking to and the FA will do nothing.
What the FA want is an opportunity to charge Arsenal over something and to deduct us points, mark my words it’s in the pipeline…
As I said yesterday the security were piss weak and just let him go, The FA have to come down heavy on Tottenham or fans from other clubs will follow suit.
Good morning all.
Where next in the transfer market? It is to be hoped that Edu is fully active behind the scenes, but is there a Chelsea spy in the theatre? Gazumped over Mudryk and outsmarted over Felix. Now Forest have signed Danilo, another player we have been linked with.
Potential good news, William Saliba is”so happy at Arsenal” as talks continue over a new contract, that’s according to The Independent.
Sun blazing down here, off to breakfast then maybe snorkelling or just poolside relaxation with a good book. 🏊😎
Can’t see a points deduction happening Kev, not unless our players get involved in a mass brawl. I don’t think the FA will let Tottenham off the hook either, not unless they want to make themselves look really stupid.
Stupid is as stupid does and you can’t fix stupid
I would like to know how Chelsea can spend the amount they have in the last couple of transfer markets including this one and yet they have not broken the FFP rules.
by giving such long contracts . £ 100 million over 8 and a half years it equates to about £ 11 million a year . I believe thats how they arr getting round it .
Police have arrested a man over the assault on Aaron Ramsdale at Sunday’s NLD match.
Joseph Watts aged 35 from Hackney will appear in Highbury Magistrates’ Court on February 17th charged with assault by beating, going onto an area adjacent to a playing area and throwing a missile onto a football playing area.
I’ll be happy when the Police arres5 Richarlison – maybe they could charge him with impersonating a footballer?
Thanks Potter I thought they may have been doing some type of shifty deals to keep under the FFP rule.
Cicero good news about the arrest let’s hope the judge is an Arsenal fan and throws the book at him.
Geoff, I suspect that the court hearing will be adjourned for social services reports on the defendant as being Spurs supporter is prima facie evidence of insanity.
Perhaps his sentence will be to have to sit in the front row and watch that shit every week.