Morning all.
Back down to earth with a bang eh…
On a damp Tuesday night, a trip up north to face an out of form Everton side should have been a match where Arsenal showed they were up for this Premier League battle, after all, it’s fixtures like this which often cause us the most problems. But this Arsenal side are mentally and physically much strong than in years gone by, at least that’s what we have been led to believe…
We should have gone 1-0 up with just six minutes on the clock when Monreal played the ball into the box to Ozil. I’d have put my last ten pence of him blasting that one home but instead, he fired high and over the bar. Ozil looked dejected. Around 20 minutes into the game and we got the breakthrough from a free kick just outside the penalty area. Jagielka was booked for a nasty tackle on Coquelin and up stepped Alexis. His free kick deflected off Williams, Marten Stekelenburg got a hand to it, but not enough to prevent the ball hitting the back of the net. Lady Luck was on our side….
Oh no she wasn’t……..
Everton, who had started poorly, upped their game, or we dropped ours, I don’t really know which way around it was but nevertheless, the home team were creating chances to equalise and they did just before the break. Walcott made a hash of trying to stop one of their players crossing the ball and once he had, there was Seamus Coleman, all 5′ 10″ of him, to head home. There was handbags between Mesut Ozil and James McCarthy as they left the pitch which resulted from a rough tackle on Coquelin just before the break. One which earned the Irishman a yellow card. Then everyone seemed to join in as they entered the tunnel. How exciting to see a bit of passion in the game.
Never mind, a stiff team talk at half-time from Arsene, followed by a few early tactical changes and we’d be fine….
Cue panto…
Mesut Ozil again had a chance to take us into the lead early in the second half but again he spurned it and as the remainder of the game played out, that chance cost us dear, as did other opportunities which came and went because right at the end of the game, Everton grabbed the winner. After the game Arsene said:
‘It was not a corner – you can see it was not a corner.’
Clattenburg and his little helper running the line missed it.
Regardless, why the heck couldn’t one of the players get their head to the cross before Williams? I bet Mustafi would have. The blame seems to be lumped Mesut Ozil but I’m not sure it should be. He’s no defender and he’s certainly not a player who goes head to head in aerial challenges. Why didn’t Gabriel, Xhaka, Koscielny or even Giroud get stuck in there? Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain are taking some stick on Twitter too but to highlight any player after last night is harsh imo because they all played their part in what was a pretty lacklustre performance all round. I include Arsene Wenger in there too as once again, he appeared to do very little to improve the performance.
Jagielka was sent off just before the whistle blew after receiving a second yellow card as Arsenal were left to reflect on why and how they lost this game.
1-0 up against a side who were struggling in the league. Their confidence was low with the fans nervous. This was a game where Arsenal needed to take control and put real pressure on them. A second goal would have all but killed the game off. The fans would have been even more nervous, some may have even started to leave the ground which again could have affected the home team. But no, we took the foot of the gas, allowed them back into the game and gave them hope. With that hope, the fans began to get behind their team and their confidence built.
‘It was a very physical game, we faced many physical challenges and that disturbed our game but we were a bit unlucky to lose as well’. – Arsene Wenger.
Did he expect Everton to roll over and gift us a victory? Where was our spirit and passion, why didn’t we match them with their level of desire to win the game? Why weren’t we getting stuck into them just as they were with us?
This was a poor performance by Arsenal against an average Everton side and perhaps in hindsight the team selection was wrong but of that’ll we’ll never know. But when one can see that certain players really aren’t up for the game, it seems somewhat odd to leave them on the pitch for so long. But that’s what Arsene does….
Hopefully this is just a blip as we’ve been doing really well of late both with results and performances. Three points dropped is a big thing with Chelsea in with a chance of extending the gap between them and us to six points this evening but the bigger issue now is how we respond. And there’s nothing like a trip to Manchester to play an out of form Pep Guardiola side to find the answer…
Good assessment Rico of a. Very disappointing game and result.
Two or three issues that should be addressed:
Walnut’s defending prior to the goal. He was spot on, don’t let Baines get to the by line turn him on to his right foot, you could hear SB instructing him! He did just that who would have thought that Baines would then hit the perfect cross with his spare leg. Not really the number 14’s fault. Mind you he had a stinker of a game generally. Shame.
Xhaka, I don’t have the stats but the number of times he gave the ball away and in dangerous places on the pitch I have no idea, air was definitely more than half a dozen. There were easy options to pass to, and he chose impossible options. He needs a little common sense tuition imo.
As for it being a physical game, it was! See the first 30 seconds when Barclay scraped the Achilles of, I think Xhaka, as lesser man would not have got up! He got his revenge a while later on The same player, with a little interest! But all their team were dishing it out, largely without any admonishment from the over tattooed referee.
Poor result for us. It should not be terminal but it has been coming for a few weeks now. Citeh, on Sunday. Like Everton they are in a period of poor form so we will almost certainly not win there, either!
Morning all. Sun’s just emerged here, lovely.
Oh! And 1st!!!
I didn’t enjoy it one bit Wavy…
Nor me Rico.
Morning all.
I think it is incredible how hard we Gooners find it to give opponents credit.
When was the last time we lost or even drew and simply said we were outplayed?
It’s always how poor we were.
Oh, and check Evertons him ground form this yes, not just this season……not too shabby, and they’re not easy to beat there.
Anyway, Citeh offers us a chance at redemption.
And I thought we’d solve our complacency issues Adam..
Scott, when we play Bayern, we’ll see a side which will probably deserve praise, maybe even City at the weekend but the only thing one can praise Everton for is their passion. If only we’d have matched them, we might have run…
For me we played badly v PSG , Spuds and manure and managed 4 draws……
To be honest, I think that Everton were allowed to rough us up from the off by Clattenburg, not sure if Mike Dean being 4th official had any influence, I mean all the officials converse before a game.
But I counted four fouls by Everton players in the opening minutes which Clattenburg ignored, but then blew against an Arsenal player as soon as one our guys went in hard.
I don’t think we were bullied, those in the media who use those terms just show their ignorance by using such lazy journalism…
We looked below par as a team, nothing seemed to come off, Ozil usually so reliable had a poor night, it happens ffs…
The problem for us is the consistency of Chelsea, but an injury to Costa and that could all change….
Rico, they gave 100% and ran their arses off.
Funny what work rate can do 🙂 🙂
Our guys were off a little less and paid the price but we can’t always be at our best, though yes, we have been below standard a little too often of late.
We’ve played worse and drawn or even won of late, IMO.
It’s no consolation, but 2 losses for the season isnt too bad at this stage.
If that turns to 3 on the weekend, we could be in trouble.
Two of the big guns both battling for form-should be an interesting tussle.
I just wish AW didn’t use it as an excuse. It’s a man’s game and he shouldn’t forget that Coquelin was putting it about a bit…
Maybe a bit of rotation wouldn’t have gone a miss last night. Perez couldn’t do any worse than Ox and Walcott..
We started so well Scott but the level dropped after we scored. We should have really gone for them then..
Rico. Obviously, as Mr Allezkev mentioned, Clattenberg applied the rules differently for us and I would reckon that Everton were allowed more leeway in terms of the level of fouls they got away with. I don’t think we were necessarily bullied though. We looked tired and somewhat listless I thought. Perhaps 3 games in a week took its toll. As for team selection Wenger is damned if he does or doesn’t rotate but he gets paid for making the big decisions.
In a cliche-ridden sport it does seem that games like last night go toward winning the big prizes – or not – as the case may be. What really matters now is Sunday but, personally, I saw nothing last night that is new or unexpected. We have been here a hundred times before.
I’d say we’ve had a better shake from the officials this season.
Should we be paying Ozil and Sanchez the 300 odd a week they’re asking?
Should we be demanding these guys step up and win games like this for us?
I’m torn between yes and no on this one.
11:24 Adam, I get what you and Kev are saying, I really do but Arsene Wenger clearly doesn’t…
We didn’t, maybe couldn’t or wouldn’t be allowed to match their physicality, but we could have matched their intensity and passion when closing them down and I don’t think we did…
Afternoon All
We should have killed them off first half hour,
Thats what happens when you don’t respond
to the tough side of the game.
In saying that you could say we have improved
a little bit.
When the ref wants a tough game like last night
you have to match not moan,
It’s part of football as far as I remember.
Ozil…..Cherry on top of the cake player,That’s it.
Sanchez a great alround player,the rest just
can’t keep up with him.
Scott, I’d say yes because so often one or the other does win matches for us…
Agree Fred, they were there for the taking after we scored, however….
Rico, I watched the game with Adam yesterday and the most constant comment both of us muttered throughout the game was
‘that was a foul’
as yet another offence went ignored by Clattenburg…
McCarthy did Xhaka early, the Everton players consistently left their foot in, won the ball but made sure they followed through to give our guys a snide kick.
Yes Coquelin did put it about, but he was pulled up for most of his fouls and had fouls given against him when he had won the ball.
Clattenburg had as bad a night as we did, he’s usually a good referee.
But we didn’t get bullied, all that stuff is a media construct, all the anti-Arsenal pundits in the media love to trot it out to bash Wenger, just as they’re digging out Guardiola atm….
I was listening to TalkRubbish as I was driving home yesterday, God knows why?
But they had that fat slag Jason Candy on there and he almost came in his pants as he was trotting out all the same old shite about Arsenal being soft and they always have these results in them etc zzzz.
Well every team has ‘these results in them’…
ManUre have had a season of them so far, but that doesn’t suit the media line does it…
It’s only our 2nd defeat of the season in the EPL, the same as Chelsea, and all the other contenders…
It’s first away defeat in months, since February, last season.
Hardly a reason to take an overdose… ?
It’s a long season and up till now we’re 2nd in the EPL.
And.
Won our CL group…
If someone had offered me that in August I’d have bitten their hand off…
Strange how all the experts who predicted that Arsenal would (again) finish outside of the top four don’t talk about that anymore?!!!
See you tomorrow Adam…
Good afternoon Rico and all…
Well, it was in the script for us to lose to Koeman and Everton. 😉
You are spot on Mr Kev… re Clattenberg
Kev, I know Clattenburg was awful, all the refs are but I still believe we were average. Yes we are in a great position but it’s the level f performance which worries me as we’ve seen it all too often before..
Maybe I used the wrong word in bullied, but even so, I still think Everton wanted it more than we did and that’s what irks…
Afternoon Ts.
I concur with your post. Rico-
we seem drop our efforts after we scored…
I must say Xhaka and Le Coq combo really fills me with dread. In my view if both start in games such as last nights then Ozil should not be starting.
It’s funny Ts, many of us here and on other blogs can see that certain players don’t appear to suit certain matches, yet still they start. I know I’m no football manager etc but it doesn’t take a genius to see that a few don’t like a trip up north in midweek, so why start them?
Going to the likes of Everton, Liverpool, Stoke etc etc, this team needs grafters in it…
Thanks Rico
With hindsight, we probably would have been better off going down 1-0 early, just like against Stoke !
Will not change my mind from day one that one of Bindippers or Chavs would win the league due to no other commitments, it was nice whilst it lasted, but we all know what road we will end down, it`s harder this year and I will say it again, our best chance was last season when we bought top out field players !……oops !..oh yeah we only bought a goalie !. 🙂
Rico- maybe Ozil had one eye on the Bundesliga winter break… 😉
On the plus side it appears only lowly Hoffenheim has been unbeaten in top 4 European leagues this season
Good point LC, we seem to raise our game after going behind… lol
I wasn’t only thinking of him Ts.. lol
https://twitter.com/WMFormation/status/808796154142007296
Again I wonder why we bother putting bodies in the box to defend a corner. Ozil didn’t even bother.
gone to read the post.
Marshall, not being funny but there’s no way Ozil was going to defend that corner, that’s not what he’s about..
I’m more concerned that no one even tracked Williams, let alone get to the ball. Reminded me of the header Lescott got against us late in one game and I’m sure there’s been few more…
Exactly Rico,
Good evening..
We all know and most importantly arsene and the players know that Ozil dosent put himself in any kind of physical challenge. .you can see his reaction in the video, it’s like he heard a blast in aleppo or something. .
Being the wonderful footballer he is, Arsene needs to compensate his shortage in certain games as we mentioned before..
Last night obviously wasn’t going to be his night and should have been substituted instead of ox.
I know he had off day as well but at least he is more physical than Ozil.
Also as mentioned ,Giroud got in and not a single cross put in the box..any instructions from arsene?
he can’t play well in a high line defence, as he’s got very limited dribbling skills and speed.
Iowbi also had stinker when he came on. .didn’t make a successful single pass and put the team under too much pressure.
Overall a disappointing night and made feel worse because started very strong and didn’t make it count.
Hopefully a wake up call .I just wish theo would shut up and stop giving these jinxy interviews and let the football do the talking!
Still feel sick to be honest. .now where is that bucket
Rico, I understand defending aerial balls is not in Ozil’s alley but why get in the box with no intention of getting stuck in?
Kk, the Giroud and then no crosses is hard to understand…
Marshall, totally agree and perhaps sometimes it’s a case of too many chefs…..
Night guys…
Night Rico. .
Ain’t no party like the crystals girls..
The Emirates could do with them fit cheerleaders?
Hope they stuff those manure gobshites
With a bit of coaching, Zaha can be a world beater..
and he is a gooner!
KK, I like Zaha.
Plenty going for him, imo.
All the other results going tits up so far tonight!
Worst fucking results possible…
Terrible results ..
By Saturday the chavs will be 9 points ahead!
could be game over by Sunday!
Well ..it’s bah humbug for us yet again !
Still, we are on for our customary top four to second finish !………………which would please Kroenke and the owners of 88 other clubs !…………………..bet you cant guess the 3 clubs that wouldn`t be pleased with less than a top 1st ! 🙂
Even with £90m worth of players added it’s the same old tedious predictable shit, yeah we are slightly better (1point compared to last season)
We are serial bottlers as soon as any pressure is upon us. The city game, we’ve got a great chance to go there and rectify the Goodson cock up…..I’ve just got feeling we’ll shit ourselves again. I really hope I’m wrong but (Arsenal) history tends to repeat itself.
Hopefully we’ll see the back of Wenger next year, these Italian coaches seem to have got the PL sussed out…..
I fear the worst ahead of our trip to City….
Morning Lee and all..
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3359067/Chelsea-s-decline-Premier-League-worst-English-flight-history.html#ixzz3uOLn0TmK
Morning..
I think we’ll hold our own against city, imo with the problems they have at the back we should be going there to hurt them… of course that depends on wenger let’s see if he can rally his troops and a few players need to fucking wise up.
I do have concerns about monreal v de bruyne though.. 🙁
I copied this exactly a year ago to the day. Then we humiliated them at Home this season and Conte acted fast and now look what can be done.10 straight wins .All good teams at least in the PL are built first and foremost on a solid defence and a physical presence.They will be hard to catch and now we have the familiar position of either fighting or relying on others to make the top four but this time there are up to 7 teams involved.We beat the champions last year twice and some will argue that we have only lost twice this season but how often have we really looked like a team going places.Personally I think there are many issues at the club including Kroenke, Wenger’s inability to really have a plan B or even C, being loyal to players for far too long therefore in that respect not being ruthless,buying generally the wrong sort of player for the demands of our league and expecting many first teamers to play away from their best position and play them in two or three positions, but most of all why are the team so lacking in motivation and the amount of strayed passes are the worst I have seen for years.None of this is new but it”s becoming increasingly frustrating.Sanchez most really be wondering what to do and Ozil who can work matches gets found out when up against teams like Everton on Tuesday.If so many of us can see these faults one has to wonder why the manager can’t or wont change things.Money isn’t an excuse anymore .Finally I will repeat what i and others have said time and time again .We critisize because we are passionate about our club, not to be negative, we are realists.
I’m sure Arsene Wenger will have a plan for de Bruyne Kel… 😉
Kelsey, I’m going to see how we react to the performance/result on Tuesday because that will tell us more about the team than the loss imo. Yes we’ve been here before but this bunch of players might react a lot better than those gone by…
Morning Rico and all. It seems that Wenger was right when he said that negativity sweeps through players and fans like a virus. Emotionally it’s a roller-coaster ride. 🙂
Good morning Rico and all.
Well lets see how they bounce back…
At least the match is an away game and so ‘less pressure’
Morning Adam. I’m feeling quite positive this morning…
Morning Ts. Spot on, bouncebackability is the name of the game… 😉 Kammy said so…
Rico. Glad to hear it. 🙂
Sorry Rico I forgot to say Good Morning.
We have been here before time and time again therefore my expectations are low and if we really do challenge it’s a pleasant bonus.
🙂 Adam.
Morning Kelsey, not a problem at all… lol
New post up now.
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