Morning all.
One criticism after yesterday’s game, we should have scored more…
Captain Martin Odegaard is up and running. His quick brace of goals saw Arsenal take an early 2-0 lead and the way we were playing, coupled with Bournemouth looking out of ideas on how to stop the football we were playing, I imagine Scott Parker was fearing a result worse than last weeks pasting at The Etihad. As it turned out, it wasn’t to be although it might have been equally as bad had our fourth not been ruled offside.
The first goal was all about Gabriel Jesus, his control of a Ben White looping ball forward and strength to brush off his marker before his magical feet weaved their way past a couple of Bournemouth players and then playing a lovely ball through to Gabriel Martinelli. The younger of the two Brazilians saw his shot saved but Odegaard was there to bury the stray ball home. The second was just as good and Ben White was involved again. He picked the ball up in our own half and ran with it. An exchange of passes between him and Bukayo Saka before our new right back crossed the ball into the box. Jesus was there but as he controlled the ball and thought about his shot, Odegaard nipped in and whipped the ball into the back of the net.
The third was something else. Literally really because as the first two goals were all about pass and movement, William Saliba’s was about trying his luck from distance and boy, he couldn’t have hit the ball sweeter if he tried. With his left foot! The goal came from a set-piece which was taken quickly before the cross was sent deep to Grant Xhaka on the left-side of the penalty area. One touch, a pass and a goal. Brilliant.
As said, we had the ball in the net a fourth time but just millimetres prevent Jesus getting on the score-sheet. Xhaka’s intelligence in the build up to that disallowed goal will be overlooked by his critics I’m sure.
Bournemouth posed more of a threat in the second half but despite Aaron Ramsdale having one or two nervous moments, Arsenal came away from the south coast with maximum points and a clean sheet. Excellent result but there’s always room for improvement and I’m sure Mikel Arteta will be thinking the same. We could have won 7-0 and I suspect Mikel Arteta would think we could have done better.
The away fans were fantastic. Did they stop singing at any stage during the game? At one point I wished they would. Lol Seriously though, they really were right behind the team from beginning to end and I’m sure William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko will know they’re loved after that.
Tougher tests for this group of Arsenal players are just around the corner, for Mikel Arteta too but the more the team keep on winning and playing well, the more confident they will get and let’s not forget, some of these guys only arrived at the club a few weeks ago so they’re still getting used to playing alongside new players. One wouldn’t think that’s the case on days like yesterday, because the understanding on the pitch is good. But, there are going to be occasions when the big bump in the road comes along. How we do against the likes of Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea will tell us more about this Arsenal. As will how we compete against Newcastle Utd, Brighton, Man Utd and Totts.
As said the other day, the Europa League comes into play soon so rotation and dealing with Thursday/Sunday football will be a challenge for Mikel Arteta, as will injuries/suspensions when they come along and we know they will. I’m sure Mike Riley will make sure of that.
For now though, everything in the Arsenal garden is rosy, but we have to keep on making hay whilst the sun shines. Whilst the fixtures are kinder to us. I don’t mean easy as no fixture in this league is that whilst we’re doing well, keep on doing well. Our next three fixtures are Fulham next Saturday evening and then Aston Villa on Wednesday, both at The Emirates. Then it’s a trip to Old Trafford to face Man Utd on the Sunday.
With eleven days left of this transfer window, Nicolas Pepe is according to reports, trying to secure a move to Nice. Hector Bellerin and AMN probably need to find another club too and I still think Arsenal need to find a central midfielder. Youri Tielemans was dropped to the bench by Brendan Rogers yesterday so that’ll keep the Arsenal rumour tongues wagging but other than that, the transfer gossip is pretty quiet as far as Arsenal goes. At least we’re not blowing around £60 million on a 30 year old, or nearly £20 million on a 33 year old. Lol.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico, isn’t it nice to be making the headlines for all the right reasons?
Yes it was a good result yesterday but there are going to be much tougher games to come, I do hope Arteta can keep the player’s feet on the ground.
Ever heard of a Ukrainian 21 year old striker Mykhaylo Mudryk? No me neither but we are, reportedly, ready to make a move for him. He plays for Shakhtar Donetsk. That could put Eddy Nketiah’s nose out of joint.
Morning Cicero, I was just reading that rumour. Interesting but like you, I’ve never heard of him. I read he’s a winger.
Agreed, no one can get carried away and Arteta said the same post game.
Good start. Hope to match the game Next week
Or watch Jm. Lol
Morning Rico and all
Like other people have said the real test will come when we play the likes of man c and Liverpool. Which is why Arteta needs to speak to Ramsdale and try to get him to concentrate a bit more before his mistakes cost us.
Hi Geoff, I think it’s a concentration thing, so perhaps when we have to defend more, he’ll be more focussed.
Chelsea lose 3 – 0 to Leeds, now City are 2 – 1 down to Newcastle. What a strange start to the season.
City held to a three all draw. Arsenal are the only club in the Premiership with a 100% record.
The only 100% record in four English divisions.
A good day for us Cicero.
Sleepy day down Gillespie Road way.
7 point gap on the scousers, 6 on United , we need to keep it going for a few games and try and stretch it , because a sticky patch will come .
Liverpool look like a shadow of the team they were last season. ten Hag must have kicked a few players up the a**e to get that reaction from them. Some lenient refereeing from Michael Oliver he could have sent off a couple of United players and booked a couple more Liverpool ones too.
Liverpool only one point above the drop zone and Everton one point behind them it’s crisis time on Merseyside.
Don’t yer just luv it? 😉
Rashford offside ????????
Obviously not Potter, VAR checked it and ruled he was onside and the goal stood. We all know that VAR is always fair and always right….don’t we? 😉
I thought that decision was unclear too. Perhaps there was a hastily-drawn line suggesting a tiny portion of a knee-cap was the culprit for keeping the goal inside.
Morning all. I guess Utd needed a helping hand to get their season going…
New post up