Daily Bits and Bobs

More questions for Unai Emery after that result…

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

With our domestic season being very up and down, it could have been tempting for Unai Emery to field a strong side last night just to get the job done and with it, get a bit more confidence into a group of first team players who seem able to play a half decent game for 45 minutes.

I hoped he wouldn’t and he didn’t. Watching on a stream isn’t brilliant I know but for once, it was better than not watching.

Starting XI: Martinez, Chambers, Holding, Mustafi, Tierney, Torreira, Willock, Nelson, Ozil, Smith Rowe, Martinelli

Subs: Macey, Bellerin, Bola, Burton, Ceballos, Saka, Balogun

A very young squad with a few wiser heads thrown in, in the shape of Mustafi and Ozil. The rest I believe are under 25 years old, nine under 21.

Notts Forest have one of the tightest defences in the Championship having conceded the third least goals so far this season and it took a speedy attack to score our first. Nelson, Chambers and then a strong header from Martinelli to finish with. A great moment for our summer signing who was making his first start for Arsenal.

Emile Smith Rowe, in his attempt to double our lead suffered what looked like a nasty injury or concussion when he and a Forest defender clashed heads as both went for the ball. Smith Rowe was stretchered off as his rotten run of injuries continue. Hopefully he’ll be ok.

Our second goal came from another header, this time from Rob Holding who was not only playing in his first competitive game of the season but his first for nearly a year. The look on his face after doubling our lead said it all. He was thrilled, as were his teammates. Joe Willock scored our third, the player setting up his opportunity was Hector Bellerin who by now had come off the bench to make his long awaited return from injury. Reiss Nelson made it 4-0 before Martinelli finished it off with his second of the night.

I know it’s tempting to say ‘it was only Notts Forest’ but I think to do so would be unfair. As said, I watched on a stream but regardless, what I saw I enjoyed. Our young team was full of energy and passing the ball around well. Kieran Tierney is quick, very quick and his crossing was excellent. Chambers too on the right. The return of Bellerin, Holding and Tierney himself is something I know many of us have been waiting for, well that time is here. Whether all three will be in the squad for our trip to Old Trafford I don’t know and I guess that depends on how they feel this morning and over the next few days.

Martinelli is good, very good. He’s quick, strong and more than good enough to be in the first team in my opinion. Whoever spotted him and brought him to Arsenal needs a pat on the back. I think he’s going to be an excellent and exciting player for us.

The focus will no doubt be on the return of our defensive trio and our Brazilian striker but let’s not forget the likes of Mustafi, Torreira and Ozil who although seem to be out of favour with Unai Emery, played their part in this game and played it well. I especially liked the pass Mustafi played to Bellerin before the latter turned provider for Willock and the cross from Chambers, who’d moved left to make way for Bellerin, for our fourth. Our fifth was a peach. Brazilian at its best. Ok, it was very very good.

The rest of the players deserve credit too because it’s a team game and I don’t know if it was my imagination, the stream buffering or something else, but I thought we actually played like a team too. A team which kept another clean sheet as it did in Germany.

Finally, well done to Unai Emery for believing in his younger players and playing them despite the pressure he must be under. Bar the injury to Smith Rowe, it was a perfect night for him but in my opinion, he needs to get over whatever his issue is with Torreira if there is one because he’s a far better player than Xhaka. Question marks must be running through his mind about Mustafi too. Is he playing better right now than Luiz or Sokratis? Does he start with Martinelli at Old Trafford? Should he rip that captains armband off of Xhaka’s arm and hand it to Rob Holding?  What about Chambers too, has he done enough to warrant  more playing time?

Many questions I know and only Emery has the answers but compared to our league performances, last nights match was a breath of fresh air. Players were smiling, working hard and clearly enjoying what they were doing. Not much pulling of shirts, cynical fouling or anything like it. Or if there was, I didn’t see it. Interestingly, Willock I think it was, made a cracking tackle very similar to AMN one at the weekend. Ball won first, then a bit of the player as his momentum carried him through the challenge. The referee awarded Forest a free kick which I didn’t think was justified, but no yellow card was produced.

Anyway, I’ve rabbited on for far too long.

Here’s some highlights if you missed the game. Watch out for Mustafi’s audacious flick. I so wish it’d gone in.

 

Catch up in the comments guys..

 

 

 

 

rico

59 thoughts on “More questions for Unai Emery after that result…”

  1. Mexzy says:

    Goodmorning Rico and all, it was truely an exciting game to watch, I agree with you on martinelli, we have a big one in our hands I believe. Torriera wasn’t really solid I guess due to lack of playing time but I will still take him ahead of Xhaka any day any time. Reiss is also a worry for me as he is still making petty mistakes, Willock was solid, chambers deserves to be in the starting line up, three assist for him. And Tierney..we finally got a left back😁😁

  2. andrewh1313 says:

    Morning rico, all. Great report, it’s got my enthusiasm back after such puzzling managerial decisions recently. To be fair to Emery, he also will be very relieved to have the three defenders back. Whether he finds and selects the correct four going forward and gets them playing as a unit, we will have to wait and see.

  3. Invinciblemindset says:

    I would put in 3 at the back against Manure. Chambers and Tierny. Torreira, Matteo and Dani in mid then Martinelli and Auba upfront especially first 60 minutes.

  4. rico says:

    Morning Mexy, Andrew, all.

    Agree, having the three defenders back and then to get everyone playing off the same hymn sheet, well, time will tell. The midfield is key, but it’s not working.

  5. Cicero says:

    Good morning Rico and all.

    From what I’ve seen and read last night’s performance was a breath of fresh air, full of enthusiasm and some great skill not to mention five goals and a clean sheet.

    But, and there has to be a but, it was against a Championship side that didn’t look that threatening nor that robust. The foul count for the match was just ten, of which Arsenal committed six. Much sterner tests will be need to judge the young players who did so well last night.

    Tierney is picked out by several pundits and praised for his pace, control and crosses when getting forward, there is no mention of the defensive side of his game however and that is, after all, his main function as a full back.

    Emery now has the task of selecting a team that can take advantage of a poor, by their own high standards, Manchester United team at Old Trafford next Monday evening.

  7. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. Excellent performance and result yesterday and hopefully a pointer toward the future. Sacrificing Torreira in order to include Xhaka can’t continue.

  8. Goonster says:

    Can someone just make a video of the last 30 minutes against villa and the whole game yesterday and send it to unai. I love xhaka but our best midfield trio should be torriera at the base and either guenzizou and willock or guenzizou and ceballos. We looked better and allowed less shots yeah it’s only Nottingham forests but we looked better and well organized. Morning HH it’s been s while 🙂

  10. allezkev says:

    Morning Rico, thanks for the post.

    Yeah, I thought that Chambers was outstanding, when you consider that his career seemed over at Arsenal, he was loaned out and written off, but he has stuck at it, worked at his game, not agitated for a move and now has a great chance to be in the starting XI at Old Trafford.

    Emery has some big calls for that game?

    Tierney must be close to an EPL start at OT, a proper overlapping left back, old school almost.
    How good it is to have so many young, enthusiastic and technically proficient players ready to step in for those that continually fail.

    It’s so good that the narrative isn’t about Ozil, he did ok, went off and then we scored 4 goals!

    Yes Rico, you’re right about Mustafi, maybe having Holding alongside him helped, someone who reads the game and kept him calm? But he did have a solid game…

    You do know that it’ll be quiet on here today now Rico, nothing to moan about… 😉

  12. Goonster says:

    The British core looked impressive yesterday. Glad the club is churning out gems lately. None gives me the same excitement level that Jack the lad gave all those years ago but am really super excited about willock and saka. Willock has a bit of diary and Rambo about him. How he glides with the ball and always at the right place to score a goal. Granted he’s still growing but I see a potential world beater there if he keeps improving. He should be starting ahead of dele and lingard. Chris willock ll be kicking himself now. Shame.

  14. rico says:

    Hi Kev, yep, nothing like a win coupled with a very good performance to quieten HH down… lol

    I too think who Mustafi or any defender plays alongside makes a difference. Toure and Campbell another example. Holding and Mustafi or Sokratis and Luiz? I know who’d I’d prefer to start at OT.

  17. Goonster says:

    KT is gonna be a handful once he hits the ground running. His combination play with laca auba and pepe ll be a thing of joy. If I were Emery I ll have pepe and KT playing from the same wing. They ll be devastating. Am so excited.

  18. Adam says:

    Yes Stan. I often pop over there with Mrs Adam. I was in the Rijksmuseum and wandered aimlessly around trying to avoid getting run down by 6 foot girls on bikes.

  19. Goonster says:

    🤣🤣🤣🤣 blondes, blue eyes and athletic right? I miss home Adam. Haven’t been for almost 2 years now. My mom sent me a picture complaining about the rising number of migrants.

  21. Mike says:

    Morning Rico and Everyone, Wow ! How refreshing was that..Like you say only Forest , but even so we played as a proper team.
    Everybody played their part. Chambers was a bit of a revelation for me, Even when he was put on his wrong side. He could probably take Xhaka`s place in midfield. Mustafi didn`t put a foot wrong and Ozil did ok. Best of all, the lads coming back from injury and youngsters. Wasn`t it great to see genuine happy faces!

    We could do worse than play that back four against united.!

  22. Goonster says:

    Hiya kev 😁😁 diaby was one of my favorite gunners of all time. The lad had it all. The height and physicality of viera and deft and silky touch of bergy. He could have been one the greatest if Dan Smith didn’t snap his ankle. How are AK? how’s the family?? Still a cabbie?? I heard uber is back in London. How true is that?

  23. rico says:

    Morning Mike. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed watching that young team. I like what Kev said about Özil, he went off, begrudgingly though I thought and then we scored four goals. Could have had more too.

    Nelson whipped in a few really good crosses, as did Tierney and Chambers from both sides. Our forwards were just millimetres from converting a few of them.

    I’m genuinely excited about the crop coming through and they don’t look like duffers either. With the right coaching, they have a good, if not very good career ahead of them.

  27. Mike says:

    Cicero, re Tierney`s defensive duties, he did ok ! I especially liked the way he sprinted back to the half way line, although he was shattered to be ready when the ball went out. He looks defensively minded and switched on ..

  28. Goonster says:

    Oh wow you don’t say?? I heard nothing Adam. Good for them. About time the city council start flexing its muscles. We need to catch up with eindhoven and Rotterdam. We are being left behind. Can’t wait to go home and see for myself. Thanks adam.

  30. rico says:

    Tierney will face tougher defensive tests than he did last night but so far so good I reckon. He’s a strong guy too, his legs looks incredibly strong.

  31. Goonster says:

    Adam🤣🤣🤣 you don’t forget do you?? But that was a while back. I ll probably sneak in and grab a drink when I go home.

  34. Goonster says:

    Am salivating at the prospect of seeing KT setting up auba and laca. There ll be blood baths soon. A team is going to annihilated pretty soon.

  36. Goonster says:

    How’s mrs A mate? Is she still giving you grief? Bless her heart 😁😁😁 whenever I make it to London I ll be buying her a pint. Lovely woman.

  38. Goonster says:

    Lol poor lady. She should have kicked you to the curb. Hey what about Lee, my Irish mate micko, scotty oz and of course WATH??

  39. Mike says:

    Yeah Rico, Ozil doesn’t help himself does he. He did ok gets a nice applause, and trudges off like a spoilt brat.
    Why can’t he just trot off and have a little wave to keep everyone happy.
    Can’t believe nobody says anything to him.
    His Mum, Dad or Wife should tell him!

  41. allezkev says:

    Ah Mike, the cult of Ozil, all the intellectual football fans love him, they collectively get a hard on if he makes an assist.
    For me he’s a relic, football has moved on and he’s living off of his World Cup winners medal..,

  42. Cicero says:

    Talking of crosses that volleyed one by Chambers for Martinelli’s first goal was stunning. Who passed the ball to Chambers for the volley? I shall have to look at the highlights on a bigger screen, but I think it could make Goal of the Month.

  46. Mike says:

    Kev , lol you`re right ! I can`t think of a worse captain. His attitude would really pox me off if I was a team mate. Yeah his time has been and gone I think.

  47. rico says:

    Ha ha Cicero, you must. It was a peach though, as was Chambers delivery into the box.

    Xhaka and Ozil have done nothing to earn the captains armband. To wear it should be a privilege, a reward. Not handed out to just anybody. I think it’ll be given to Holding eventually, or Chambers, Willock or another player who plays with passion for the club, the players around him and the fans..

  48. Reg Caton says:

    Good morning Rico,
    If you want to watch the game it is now on Arsenal Player. Mustafi didn’t do badly against Frankfurt.
    Exciting times – now that T,B and H are back. Hope for consistency now.

  49. rico says:

    Hi Reg, I hope you’re right but I think it’ll take more than just our injured returning. We’ll see and there’s little excuse not to improve as far as the fixtures go. Emery has a job on his hands sorting our defending out. That’s what he’s paid to do though…

  51. Obi says:

    Rico at 4:05 by the way, did you notice the difference when PEA was given the captain’s armband against Villa? His entire effort, passion and play increased by a 100%. It was unbelievable.

  57. rico says:

    Just checked the fixture list. The league cup fixture is in between two champions/Europa League fixtures plus a league match to be played too. Having lost their opener, Liverpool will need to win both of their CL matches so I suspect Klopp will play a similar team to the one he played tonight which was like ours last night.

  58. allezkev says:

    Last time we played a League Cup tie at Anfield we won 6-3, so who knows…

    By the time the next round comes around Bellerin, Tierney and Holding will be in the 1st team…

    Would have preferred another home game vs a Crawley or a Colchester.
    Still go up there, shit or bust, give it a go, if rather lose up there than get mullered by Man City again…

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