Morning all.
Back in 2016, or rather the 2015/16 season, the media, television pundits, even football fans didn’t really believe Leicester City could win the Premier League title. As each so called ‘big club’ turned up to face them, that was the day Claudio Ranieri‘s team would stutter or stumble but they didn’t. In fact they were beaten on just three occasions. By Liverpool at Anfield, Arsenal at The Emirates Stadium and Arsenal again at the King Power Stadium. I can still picture Danny Welbeck coming off the bench to nod in our winner at The Emirates. I can remember typing ‘he won’t will he’ into the comments as he stepped onto the turf because before that moment, he’d been injured for ages.
Arsenal are in a similar position now as Leicester City was seven years ago. Outside the Arsenal circle, ‘people’ are expecting us to stutter, stumble and ultimately fail in our attempt to win the League. Unlike in Leicester City’s case though, those same people probably want us to fail. No other club has to pass ‘the next big test’ in a way Arsenal do but, as each of those tests are put to Mikel Arteta’s players, they pass. Often with flying colours.
Photo from The Mail.
Yesterday was no exception. The game had everything a football fan could wish for, well, apart from a few wayward Arsenal passes but the way we battered Man Utd’s defence in the second half was fantastic. I know we could have scored more goals but Utd weren’t going to roll over and let us. Their backs were against the wall but not one Arsenal player looked like he’d settled for the point.
I don’t know if Mikel Arteta and his players will go on to win the league but they are certainly up for the fight to do so. Sometimes it will be a fight too, not literally of course but other teams are going to make the next few months difficult for us, just as Man Utd did yesterday. Yet once again, despite going behind and then surrendering a 2-1 lead, we fought hard until the end before Eddie Nketiah popped up with the winner with just minutes left in the game.
Mikel Arteta spoke and Eddie Nketiah after the game:
The qualities that he has, how much he wants it, how much belief he’s got in himself to become Arsenal’s number 9. His desire, his background, we’re with him every single day, [he’s] a special kid, he’s so loved by everybody at the football club, he’s got a real Arsenal heart and experience within him and that’s really special. You cannot put that into numbers. He’s really, really good.
I’m not sure what more he has to do in order to get his critics off his back. He’s not Haaland, he’s not Gabriel Jesus or any other big money signing. He’s Eddie Nketiah, he’s getting his chance and he’s not only working hard off the ball but he’s scoring goals.
Photo from The Mail.
Regardless of how it came about, Marcus Rashford’s goal was superb. Bukayo Saka’s though, was better and but for a lick of paint, he’d have nabbed another in similar fashion. Both of Eddie Nketiah’s goals were very good too. The first saw him jump high to head home a lovely cross from Granit Xhaka, the second was a what I’d call a poachers goal. Right place, right time, great finish.
The good news keeps on coming as after yesterday’s match, the number of bookings a player has totted up so far this season went back to zero which. Plus, Leandro Trossard may have not had much time on the pitch but he looked good.
Glad to meet you, Gunners! 😍
Big three points and amazing atmosphere out there! 🙌 @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/gkR4OI5VZp— Leandro Trossard (@LTrossard) January 22, 2023
Our imminent new arrival and second signing of this transfer window Jakub Kiwior was in the stands watching his new teammates perform well. I bet he’s glad he didn’t join that rotten club down the road.
Post match, Mikel Arteta was asked about the atmosphere within the stadium at full time…
I don’t know [if I’ve ever heard an atmosphere like that], but it doesn’t get much better than that. It was a beautiful moment, a really special one because we were pushing and pushing and pushing and the goal wasn’t coming, but it came at the end and then VAR made it even more difficult, but it was just electric, it was really emotional, really passionate and I loved it.
Even watching on television, it was clear to see and hear The Emirates faithful not only celebrating the victory but urging their team on during the match. They, as we all do, have a reason to believe in the club again and by that I mean the owners, the board, the manager, his coaching staff and the players. Especially the players because if they didn’t believe in the what the club, our club, is doing, they wouldn’t be fighting tooth and nail for three points each game.
Photo from The Guardian.
I mentioned Eddie Nketiah earlier for obvious reasons but as conversations continue about his performances, there are so many other players in the team who are seriously good. A few were already at the club when Mikel Arteta arrived but now they play even better. Arsenal’s recruitment over the last couple of years has been excellent, possibly the best it’s been since Arsene Wenger was in his prime. How many Utd players would, hypothetically, improve Mikel Arteta’s first team?
Lastly, I think the signing of Jakub Kiwior will be confirmed today. When Mikel Arteta was asked about him, instead of refusing to talk about other players, he said he’d talk when the deal was done. I suspect it’s already done but he just needs to pose for the camera…
One more thing, Arseblog, courtesy of The Athletic, report that Real Valladolid’s right-back Ivan Fresneda will decide today whether he signs for Arsenal or Borussia Dortmund. Both clubs have have agreed to pay the €15 million asking price. Whichever club Fresneda signs for, he’ll stay at Valladolid for the rest of the season.
Next up is Man City in the FA Cup on Friday.
Catch up in the comments guys…
Morning Rico
That was fun! The better team won.
Saka was outrageously good yesterday. Moving into the ‘world class’ category. Time to get him pinned down on a long deal.
Morning Rico. I have certainly had doubts about Eddie but yesterday he was really good and very decisive in his finishing. Long may it continue. He deserves all the praise he’s getting.
Morning Pete, Adam and all.
Re Eddie, I think many of us have had doubts but it’s about changing opinion instead of battering him because it’s become habit. I totally agree, he deserves all the credit for working hard, scoring goals and just being an all round good player. Imo anyway.
Nice post Rico, I can understand the comparisons with Leicester a few years back but I think it shows how football has changed because Arsenal are a huge club, bigger than Chelsea, bigger than Man City, bigger than Newcastle, but it’s the finance backing those clubs that we’re up against…
Arsenal will remain firmly in third place behind Man Utd and Liverpool for championships won and far ahead of City and Chavski whilst out of sight of Newcastle, who still haven’t won a trophy since 1969.
Money talks.
Hi Fellas, I think there is a difference between just being critical just to be, and there’s constructive criticism. All Arsenal fans would love Eddie to be successful because we want Arsenal to be successful. I give the kid credits for performing under the extreme pressure of having to replace Jesus and doing well. However, his occasional lapses are very evident. Granted, he’s only 23 y.o., and not the finish product, but he’s playing for Arsenal Football Club.
Good afternoon Rico and members of the House. Good game yesterday. I loved the little I saw of Trossard in am arsenal shirt
Morning Rico and all.
The one good thing about the way Eddie is playing, it will give Jesus a chance to play off the bench and get match fit without being rushed back into the starting lineup.
The culture at the club has defiantly changed when you see Elneny and Jesus come onto the pitch and show their support and celebrate with the players.
Thanks Kev. I hope that at some stage, a wage/transfer fee cap is implemented. Something like FFP but more robust and without loopholes.
Many players have lapses though, even Haaland. I know Jesus cost the club money and I’m really glad we bought him but Nketiah is I believe, out scoring him.
Hi Geoff, it’s great to see.
Hi Fatgun, good to see you back. Ditto, I reckon he’s going to be good for Arsenal.
Hey Rico, It’s good to be back.
Good Fatgun, it’s been quiet on here.
In the next league game, we face a team with a new coach.
Boring…
Lampard sacked, puts a different spin on our visit to Goodison…
Moushiri could have had the decency to wait until we’d been up there.
Talk about being selfish…
I doubt Everton will find someone to replace Lampard before we play them..
If they want to save themselves it probably will be someone well versed in Premier League survival rather than a spurious name from abroad . Fat Sam & Dyche and a few other football stiflers maybe Pulis who knows but typically we will get the new manager bounce .
How many times does this happen ?
I’m not as convinced. Everton are rock bottom, it’ll take a lot more than a new manager to sort them out surely. I wonder if Big Dunc will step in again.
We are breaking all barriers this season. All big six save for Man City are already in the bag. Bring on sleeping Everton.
Still have to go to Anfield though and Newcastle too
Interesting rumour about Juventus ‘ American midfielder Weston McKennie , world cup player for about £ 25 million and 24 years old . Right up Arteta’s street.
Yep, I read that one too. A DM finally arriving I wonder
Jakub Kiwior confirmed..
Zinchenko into midfield ?
McKennie perhaps if we sign him.
Just watched the Fulham -Totts match . Kane is such a snidey player , leaves his foot in on every tackle then rolls around like he’s been shot.
One day someone will take him out and he will deserve it.
McKennie will have had a good schooling in Serie A and maybe an alternative to the French boy at Madrid we wanted on loan, probably with an obligation to sign him, Accelotti said no…
I’M looking forward to seeing Kiwior play, from what I have seen he could be what we need. for defense and his height could help set pieces.
Good morning Rico and all. Just got home, what a change in the weather 28c in Sharm yesterday arrived at Luton to find the car iced over, snow on the ground around Hitchen, freezing fog most of the way to Newmarket then a diversion through Bury St Edmunds as the A11 was closed. On top of that the flight was delayed two hours which meant a four hour wait in the most miserable airport I’ve ever visited. Everybody had to undergo three security checks.
I seriously doubt we will take another overseas holiday.
Very good news about Kiwior.
Morning All. I just watched the game again, Xhaka was a beast. His ball intelligence is superb – what an “engine room” of intelligent players? Xhaka, Ode, Partey and add Zinchenko also. The way we dominated United in the box, we should’ve had more goals – ok I am being greedy, but I wouldn’t have mind 5-2, lol. Lauturo Martinez showed lots of class after the game. He went up to most of the Arsenal players and congratulated them.
I noticed that too, Martinez came over as a nice guy.
Arteta was a very competent midfielder as a player and appreciates how that position controls the game . I believe from the heat map that Zinchenko, although playing left back was all over the pitch and supplemented that area and overran the United middle . https://talksport.com/football/1311466/eddie-nketiah-oleksandr-zinchenko-man-utd-heat-map-statistics-arsenal/
That was where Arteta got the better of Ten Hag , in the second half the speed of thought and movement proved to be too much for them. I can see Trossard and Martinelli dovetailing , Zinchenko pushing forward more and using 15 men to maintain the speed going forward and the pressing going back.
Soares will go and possibly Tierney and Holding ,all capable players but limited in this high speed movement system .
Concentrating on young talent is how he is forming his squad for the next few years . His plan is to spend most of the game in the other teams half with pace at the back to counter the breakaway .
Incidentally Balogun scored again on the week end , albeit a penalty in a French cup match.
UEFA claim they are going to fix the loophole that Chelsea used to buy players with very long contracts and beat the FFP rules, well better late than never, but it does not help the small clubs.
It will be egg on Chelsea’s face if they don’t make top 4 this season and win the title next season.
New post up now
Hi Cicero, my return from a break didn’t have such a temperature difference 😂