Morning all.
Arsene Wenger must regret not playing Rob Holding last weekend against the neighbours as part from a dodgy back pass, his performance was pretty much flawless. Aaron Ramsey was back to somewhere near his best which earned him a man of the match award and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain just gets better and better at right wing back. Laurent Koscienly had a good game too but let’s not get carried away, Utd were not particularly good.
However, you can only beat what’s put in front of you and that’s what we did. Liverpool were held to a goalless draw earlier in the day so Arsene Wenger might yet get his precious top four place.
Before we scored, we’d stung the hands of de Gea a couple of times from long range without success but when Granit Xhaka let go of one from distance, a deflection off Herrera who’d turned his back on the shot, sent the ball flying past the Spaniard into the back of the net. Fortunate maybe, but if you don’t shoot you don’t score and we should have tried more shots from distance as Mourinho bus was hard to get past. Like buses, you don’t see one for a while and then two arrive within minutes and that’s just what happened with us in terms of goals.
Oxlade-Chamberlain lost the ball on the right hand side of the penalty area, Holding won it back and fed the Englishman who then fired in a pin point cross and there was Danny Welbeck to head home. De Gea had no chance. Que Jamie Redknapp comparing the goal to the one Thierry Henry scored against Utd a few years ago now from an Eboue cross which Sky Sports just had to show after the game.
Alex Sanchez had another quiet day by his standards. He was busy that’s for sure but Utd’s young right back got the better of him for most of the game. Ozil looked like he was enjoying himself for a change.
Before the game kicked off, the Wenger Out banners were in full flow. No matter what happened in yesterdays game, he still has to go. Those of us who want change haven’t made this decision overnight, nor is it based on this season alone. This is about the steady decline over the last few years and just because Arsene Wenger finally got one over Mourinho, nothing changes.
The first half from us was so typical of this current team. Lady Luck was with us when Herrera turned his back on Granit’s shot for our first and I’m not trying to take anything away from the Swiss international because when other teams score in such a fashion, seldom do the get the ‘lucky’ tag which we are getting this morning. The second goal though was a cracker.
The game itself was pretty average and perhaps that was down to Mourinho packing his defence for most of the game but by now you’d think we had a plan to get past a defensive setup. Utd aren’t the only team who will play that way at The Emirates, or even at their own ground as they attempt to stifle our free flowing ‘perfect’ football. But in reality, our free flowing perfect football has long gone..
Mourinho was Mourinho after the match with his patronising comments. Utd were the better team he said, his teams performance was superb and lastly, he was pleased that the Arsenal fans left The Emirates smiling instead of crying during the Highbury days. He really is a ghastly man.
Next up is Southampton away on Wednesday night, the team who held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw yesterday….
Thanks Rico.
https://twitter.com/ArsenalRelevant/status/861319444903206912
I really rate him Lc and he’s only going to improve imo.
Good misprint there ( slowing not flowing ) But that’s the problem build up is too slow and allows the defence to get back in numbers . Shots from outside the box and the Ox getting down the line and turning their defence would seem to be the answer. Then again some of us have been saying that for a long time.
I didn’t even notice Potter but yes, apt…
Agree re the shooting and the Ox, he is really impressing in his new role. No doubt he and Xhaka, Ramsey too will have been reprimanded this morning for shooting..
Good morning Rico
Arsene Wenger must regret not playing Rob Holding last weekend against the neighbours as part from a dodgy back pass, his performance was pretty much flawless.
Not sure about this…
There was no any danger had Koscielny positioned and expected the pass.Rob made sensible pass but Kossa was slow and badly positioned in my view.
I rate the kid but one thing that i am not sure about him is dealing with pacy players.Other than that i will select him ahead of that buffon Gab .
Remember the Manure kid made his name when skinned that crap Gabriel.He might have this warrior thing in him but technically is just very average.
Morning Alex.
Moronho just makes himself look more ridiculous with every interview. He never cared when Lampard was scoring deflected goals every week for the Chavs! Personally I never thought he was the ‘breath of fresh air’ the press dubbed him when he first came over. More like ‘breath of rabid mongrel’!
Agreed Bob, he’s a ghastly man with boring football ideas…
Morning Rico and all
It’s not often you get what used to be high entisty games one after another but to be honest both games didn’t have the old feel of intense rivalry as shown in the tunnel where Monreal was nearly kissing half the United team.
I set high standards from our team but now have finally accepted it won’t happen with Wenger there and many of our players are just average,
Of course beating United is always pleasurable and it still gives us an outside chance of fourth place as the other three are nailed on.
I thought The Ox in his new role was great,never gave up, but whee does that leave bellerin.
Granit got lucky as did Monreal the week before,but so what.
Apart from the ox i too thought Ramsey he had his best game for ages and Holding will be a big plus.
Why wenger doesn’t see the benefit of shoting I will never understand and the problem is we have very few players who can really strike a ball well.
I thought Sanchez did have a good game with his cunning passes that split a defence.
I was just thinking that Welbeck though quick is another without a shot but made up for it with his bullet header.
Now Southampton followed by Stoke AWay that will give us a much better picture if we are eventually clicking together as a team.
Apparently there were more tourists than ever at the stadium with their 50-50 scarves,
All in all we played better but still have the tendency to counter attack quckly and then when it really matters,stop or pass sideways and Ozil is a master at that.If we lose Sanchez which I feel we will we need an upgrade on any othe other strikers and Ozil might be hard to shift if he wants to leave but even if he stays he is a luxury player and never puts in 90 minutes,could be a problem.
high intensity.
December 2004
Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea
April 2005
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
August 2005
Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal
December 2005
Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea
December 2006
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
May 2007
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
December 2013
Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
March 2014
Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal
October 2014
Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal
April 2015
Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
September 2015
Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal
November 2016
Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal
May 2017
Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
Good overview of the match Rico. Hope you and all the regulars have been keeping well.
If you get a chance to read Ray Parlour’s book, The Romford Pele, good incite into what Arsene is like……
Hi Rico and HH’ers.
I nearly commented last night, but I didn’t want to spoil Cornwall’s good mood.
Well, that was better than a centre-back combo of Jeff Blockley and Terry Mancini all day long.
Two consecutive seasons we’ve beaten United, and without them scoring.
Naturally I’m happy with the three points, if we can nick something from the Saints, the battle for our cherished top-four heats up a little.
I don’t want to sound like a doomer, but I would have preferred to have played against United with something more significant riding on the game.
The recent games against the two Manchester’s and Tottenham all tell the same story.
Against City in the league we were tentative and nervous, but Pep’s team were quite happy to settle for the point. Against City in the FA Cup semi-final we got away with it and made the most of our good fortune. Plus there wasn’t that feeling of anxiety going into the game because we were over-whelming under-dogs, and no-one really expected us to win – (apart from Cornwall, obviously!)
The NLD is a different animal, and ALWAYS a must win game whatever the circumstances, so the pressure to perform came flooding back, so we reverted back to what we do in pressure-cooker situations, and let them dominate us in a way that I’ve never seen before. It’s far too premature to contemplate ‘power-shifts’, but it did expose glaring holes in our personel and showed we have some catching up to do on the park.
Again yesterday, there was no real pressure on the players, many pundits described it as a ‘nothing’ game, and that’s how I saw it. When the sun is out and there’s no pressure we tend to open up and express exactly what we’re capable of, but these performances are so isolated and rare it’s hard to determine who and what the real Arsenal are.
But Arsenal are Jeckyll and Hyde because they reflect the manager. The players feed off his instructions and body language, and for that reason alone, he has to go.
To use a Boxing analogy, we’ve become like Frank Bruno and the big clubs are Mike Tyson. Yes we’ve got a punch that will hurt them and remind them that we’re there, but ultimately we can’t follow it up and the bigger teams always beat us into submission. We always win the odd skirmish and then lose the main fight.
Wenger’s Arsenal, a model of schizophrenia.
Where does that leave Bellerin , the rumours in Spain are in the Nou camp with Money and Rakatic coming our way.
Afternoon All
Afternoon Rico, good post.
I’ve read suggestions that Rob Holding should be loaned out next season, but I ask why?
To me, he is ready now, as Tony Adams was, you just have to accept that he is going to make the odd mistake.
My ideal starting back three would be Koscielny, Mustaphi and Holding, with Gabriel or Monreal as back up.
If Oxlade-Chamberlain doesn’t sign in the summer, sell him.
Bellerin is under a long contract and can do as good a job.
As for the other contract ‘rebels’ either sign or fcuk off, I’m tired of all the posturing by agents, just fcuking do one!
Next season, being out of the appalling CL, gives us a chance to catch our breath and rebuild, get rid of the serial underachievers like a Giroud and Walcott, they’ve had their chance, time to go in a different direction.
£85 million is a crazy fee for Mbappe, but if we bring in a lot of money for Alexis and Ozil you’re just swapping 2 for 1 and it’s not costing a lot, but we’d get a refreshing young talent and losing two who seem to lack that team ethic that we’ve lost.
Afternoon Rico and All
Not sure where the old brainbox is going
when watching us lately,
The tension has been evaporated from me,
when we scored my arris never moved off
the seat…..But I was Happy anyway.
The mancs set up for a draw and planned to
nick it later.Looking at the little mans Rhubabs.
Luck was on our side for the 1st goal and then
a goal by Danny sealed it.
We have some fair players when in the mood.
But its hard to know what comes next,With this lot.
It reminds me of watching a team,who are 3-0 down
and then decide to play.
I know it matters to win…But is it to late now?
Anyway anyone know what date:
The Lord Mayor’s show’s on this year?
Afternoon all……………………………..I dont get all this…..”it was a nothing/training/testimonial game view from supporters and “experts” a like !………………..Mancs can say that because they lost, it may have looked easy on the eye, but are people really of the opinion no one cared to win ?.
Believe me, we wanted to win and they did !………….put some sunscreen on people…..mad dogs and englishmen and all that ! hahaha
Afternoon Herb, Fred and all.
Not much to add really, said my thoughts on the game in the post. The big question now is which team will turn up at St Mary’s….
Mind you, it’s all too little too late anyway…
Afternoon all…kev i wouldnt sign mbappe for that amount. Am sorry sir but i wont. He’s having a cracking season yes but one swan don’t make a summer. For 89 million quid i ll rather get pjanic isco or kovacic from madrid(if we can lure them) sell off ozil and sanchez and try to tempt harry kane to the Emirates. Get forster and release ospina. Have cech as number 2. Get Rodriguez(Swiss player) the left back to replace nacho let gibbo leave. Keep the ox at all costs.
But what difference ll it make if we still have the same goat in charge. Bummer.
We lack a real box to box ball Carrier type player. Since diaby we havent had one. Shame he was a crock. We could use him now. He accelerates our play. With him on the side we dont play that tiki taka nonsense. He gets the ball and drives forward. His skill on the ball is one of the best i ve ever seen. An injury free diaby would have been a ballon d’or candidate. Shame really.
https://youtu.be/CLlYHRXDI_Q
A beast of a player????
Shame we didn’t get Forster when he was as Celtic goonster, van Dijk too….
I ll give anything to have mateo kovacic in our ranks. That kid is something else. He’s strong big as an ox can’t be bullied and a good shot on him too. Plus this kid can actually play. Lord God in heaven. My whole world for kovacic in red and white. Still think inter were foolish to let him go. Is there any young midfielder better than him right now??? I doubt it. If zizou keeps using him sparingly he might end up losing him. Kovacic is the SHIT.
Rico forstser ll improve us tremendously. He’s a demon in goal. Why do we always miss out on good reliable English goal keepers. Yet we stuck by almunia for eons.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy-UMtWaDqk
He’s a beast at 6′ 7″ goonie. Didn’t like his antics against Liverpool much though. Helped us mind you… lol
Rico he’s 6’7 ??? Wow now we really must get him.
Yes, shame about Diabolical, he had it all to be something else…………..Pogba is a cheap Diaby !
I think so Goonster. I bet we struggle to score past him on Wednesday.
I always thought Chuks Aneke was going to fill the void left by Diaby. Good to see he’s back in England with MK Dons..
Yes Lc, that got at Birmingham put pay to his career…
Our stiffs are live on Arsenal Player @7pm against Manshafters reserves…………….so that`ll be two games in 2 days for Moronho`s reserves !…………………….
Oh my chuks aneke. I totally forgot about him. Glad he’s back in England.
Howdy LC still on the sauce?????
Hope they get the same result…
He’s a big lad now Goonie.
No idea what you mean by “the sauce”, Goonie, but I`ll just say yes anyway ! 😀
Evening Rico and the House.
Not a happy Bunny.
After beating Man U 3-0 on thurs the U 18’s had a very good chance of becoming Champions if they beat Chelsea tomorrow.
However 5 of the team that played on Thurs are in the side for tonights game.
Nelson and Nketiah start and J Willock Malan and Olowu are on the bench, and out of the window goes the chance of winning tomorrow.
Kev Matty Willock starts for Man U Chriss Willock starts for us.Joe on bench
Is it possible all 3 will be on the pitch at the same time and will all 3 be at Man U next season???
Chuks and JET scored some unbelievable goals for the youths and thought they were easy going to make it into the first team squad………….that`s why I dont get carried away with all the new ones like Willock, Malen, Nkettiah, Nelson etc` as I dont want to get disappointed if they fail !.
And the guy we got from Villa who`s out on loan…………Crowley…………..I was praising him as high as anything and yet he still is an unknown quantity !…….really thought he was going to take over from Wheelchair !.
Pogba and diaby shouldn’t even be in the same sentence if the later was injury free. Pogba is an unbelievable athlete. Strong skillful and a great eye for a pass but people tend to forget that vidal and most especially pirlo made him look good at juve. Without both players now he looks like a dross. Diaby on the other hand is a beast all by himself. Was his biggest fan. Shame he didnt cut it.
Evening Rick. What a daft thing to do. Why sacrice winning their league…
Lol LC????????wheelchair….hahahahahahaha
Rico whats the word on the street. Is leloser staying or leaving. Want to know so i can just get off football totally and start following curling. My new fiancée is Canadian????
Hahaha …………..watching the game and the camera just caught the Reff……………it`s Spock !……..dead ringer !. …..same hairstyle and ears !
I’ve no idea Goonster. I’m not sure the board know either… lol
1-0 to the Arsenal………….Reece Nelson..it has been coming……….
Rick, I strongly suspect that all three will be at ManUre next season.
But so be it, remember Matthew Wicks, it didn’t do him much good did it?
2-0……….Nketiah !……………superb stuff !………………….I could go downstairs and watch the soaps with the missus !….hahaha
Why they’d want to go to Utd to play boring football is beyond me Kev/Rick.
Money , money , money probably.
Of course. What else could it be….
2-0 half time……………………not one negative to say !
Catch up tomorrow guys..
Night all.
Kev Half Time subs Nelson and Nketiah off
Joe Willock and Malan on
3 Brothers on
Isn’t it good to see a few Arsenal players who aren’t afraid to tackle… some good ones flying in by the u23’s
Watch wenger coach that out of them….that is if they even make it.
2-1………………………Mancs coming more into it, poor goal to concede from our goalie Macy !
Penalty to us !.
Malen misses !.
2-2 ……………………….it`s been coming !………………….two Arsenal players have been on floor with cramp !…………and only one sub left to bring on !……….will do well to hold on !…………………..player coming off with cramp !.
Wenger out
2-2 final whistle….entertaining game !.
Pretty even and a fair result . Nketiah looks raw but very sharp, Hopefully he will continue to improve and if Mavididi can come back we might have a couple of forwards coming through.
Morning…
Morning Rico.
Morning Adam. It’s nearly all over… 😉
The season? 🙂
Indeed.. 🙂
New post up now.
No there isn’t…
Where’s everyone gone?
New post up now. Don’t think so !
I had to bin it as I thought it was Wednesday… 🙂
There’s a new one up now…