Morning all.
So much for my prediction of Arsenal being drawn against Juventus in the Europa League eh. Sporting Lisbon came out of the pot and as you and I know, Portuguese clubs are hard to beat but let’s worry about that another day.
Today is all about getting three points at the King Power Stadium.
This same fixture last season was a bonkers match I think. A fast start by Arsenal and soon we were 2-0 up thanks to Gabriel and Emile Smith Rowe. Just before the break, Aaron Ramsdale pulled off a top top save from a Maddison free kick which looked destined for the top corner of the net. Another superb save came in the second half too which prevented Lookman from giving his team late hope and as well as Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White and Gabriel were superb on the day.
It’s hard to believe that just last season, Lacazette, Aubameyang and Tavares were in Arsenal’s starting eleven with substitutes Pepe and Kolasinac coming on later in the game. Sambi Lokonga also started, in central midfield alongside Thomas Partey.
February has been a weird month for Brendan Rogers team as last weekend they were beaten by a Man Utd team which should have had a player sent off and but for David de Gea, could easily have been 3-0 down before half-time. The week before though, they battered Totts 4-1 at the King Power Stadium and prior to that, defeated Aston Villa 4-2 at Villa Park.
Brendan Rogers is without Ryan Bertrand and Jonny Evans and James Maddison faces a late fitness test.
Gabriel Jesus and Mo Elneny remain absent for us whilst Thomas Partey, who wasn’t in the training photos on the official website a couple of days ago, could return. Chatting about the team news in his pre-match press conference, Mikel Arteta said:
The question mark is on Thomas. He hasn’t trained much but it looks like he could be available, so let’s see how he trains today. He’s a really important player for us, who we missed in the last few games. Hopefully he can be available.
I think this will be a tough game today. Really tough. Mikel Arteta’s team need to start this game as they started the second half against Villa and not the first because not always are we going to have Lady Luck on our side with a comeback. We’re not always going to have someone on VAR who thinks that two Arsenal players stood in front of the oppositions goalkeeper in an offside position is ok, nor will a shot bounce back off the woodwork, hit the keepers head and go in the net. Hilarious as it was.
Mikel Arteta’s players had to fight hard for a win last weekend and the way they did it can only be admired. The second half against Villa was as good as the first half was poor but in the end, we won because that’s what this group of players are about. Working together, working hard and never giving up. There’s a big difference between dropping points through errors and dropping points because players can’t be bothered. Arsenal don’t have any of the latter these days….
Catch up in the comments..
Good day Rico, the form Jorginho is in indicates, to me, that Arteta doesn’t need to rush Partey back, let him have another week to fully recover. At most twenty minutes off the bench if really necessary.
Afternoon Cicero, agree. Perhaps Partey will be on the bench just to get minutes in the second half. I think we’ll be so much stronger when both can start together.
Morning all!
Come on Arsenal!
Leicester City XI: Ward, Castagne, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndidi, Tete, Praet, Barnes, Iheanacho.
Subs: Iversen, Tielemens, Vardy, Amartey, Daka, Pereira, Mendy, Thomas, Soumare.
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Jorginho, Xhaka, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard.
Subs: Turner, Tierney, Partey, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Kiwior, Holding, Tomiyasu, Vieira.
Interesting to see Trossard’s deployment upfront. I’m quite excited though, let’s see how it pans out
Unless Martinelli plays central.
Afternoon all. Martinelli staying out left. What a goal from new man up front !!!!
F—ken Ben White, again holding players
Silly Ben White. How VAR saw that?!
Such a shame for Trossard after a great strike,,
Even Andy Grey says a microscopic find by VAR
As did Gary Linekar…
Ridiculous decision I think, purely because it happens in every game and every week.
Odd decision to rule that goal out.
Still can’t believe Saka was not awarded a penalty,
Much better start, nice goal
Marquinos scores for Norwich.
The way Ramsdale is going, he is going to cost us the game
Nice win, but we made it hard for our self
A welcome 3 points but we should have won more comfortably. Two red cards for N’didi. He changed direction to stamp on Gabi’s knee as he scored and then deliberately elbowed Xhaka in the back of the head. It’s a pity the refereeing wasn’t up to the forensic examinations that Trossard’s ‘goal’ and Saka’s ‘penalty were though.
Well deserved win.
Why we still have to suffer such injustices I don’t know. As the crowd sang, ‘same old Arsenal, always cheating’. But full credit to Arsenal, superb result, two good away wins that were tricky.
Terrible officiating but sadly, it’s unlikely to improve any time soon.
Good 3 points. Now to inflict revenge on Everton…
One goal a clean sheet three points j a d a t o. 😉
I think that the victory is undisputed and it’s a mistake because it was only 1-0. In my opinion, Xhaka is slow, predictable and lacking in pace. It was important to come up with an alternative without having an impact on overall performance, to give him rest and renew his energy.
New post up now