Sporting are a club in crisis. Having recently sacked their manager they almost certainly saw this game at Arsenal as a chance for them to recover some of their tarnished pride and for what is in essence a poor side, Sporting actually dug in well, defended in numbers and made it a difficult evening for Arsenal.
They were helped in no short measure by a very average referee who ignored a succession of Sporting fouls, that broke up any rhythm Arsenal tried to build. I lost count of the times that an Arsenal man was pushed over or tripped with no reaction from the officials. It was very poor night for them.
Cech had a fairly comfortable 90 minutes thanks to the poor quality of Sporting in an attacking sense, but also the excellent Holding and Sokratis, who snuffed out the little the Portugese side could muster in attack.
With Jenkinson looking totally out of place at left back yet still having a comfortable evening due to the poor opposition, and Lichtsteiner, who put in another good nights work before going off with what looked a pulled muscle, it was a trouble free evening in that dept.
It was not a good night on the fitness front with Danny Welbeck going off with a leg injury. I’ve heard it’s a dislocated ankle, which could be a few months on the treatment table for our Dan. That will end any January transfer rumours and rob us of of a very versatile and reliable player. Nketiah will now, I’m sure, get some minutes on the pitch for the time being up, certainly until the January window.
Arsenal buzzed around the edge of the Sporting box, Ramsey, Mkhitarayan, Smith-Rowe, Guendouzi and Iwobi creating a lot but then wasting a whole stream of chances to score. Poor delivery from free kicks and corners was a constant irritation, but to be fair, Sporting defended resolutely as well, getting in some last ditch challenges, but even so, Arsenal could and should have won 3-0. It was just one of those nights.
Aubameyang replaced the unlucky Welbeck and squandered a couple of great chances, Kolasinac came on for Jenkinson, who in truth had struggled on the left. The final substitution had a air of the comedic about it. Eddie Nketiah was being readied to come on as Lichtsteiner hurt himself and almost immediately he put his coat back on as Maitland-Niles took his place. Poor Eddie, he must have been wondering when he’s going to get a chance.
Guendouzi was excellent throughout, he really is developing into a top player, Iwobi tried everything, never letting his head drop, but nothing came off for him last night. Smith-Rowe showed flashes of his talent, but never really threatened.
Nobody was poor, but nobody was brilliant from the attack, it was all a bit stop start.
So now we need to win one of our last two games to top the group, which we could have done without.
For Sporting, that’s now four games against Arsenal in european football without scoring, which kind of sums them up.
By AllezKev.
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and the Sooth of Hackney Marshes.
A very high price to pay, two injured players, for only one point. We can ill afford to lose any players with all the competitions we are still in.
Good morning Rico. Has the November hoodoo struck again? Two games played, two games drawn and two injuries suffered. Welbeck’s looks, from the press photographs, to be a dislocation rather than a break. We must hope that is the case.
Both players will be missed, but Bellerin will return to his normal position in the starting line-up, while Eddie will get his chance to shine.
Guendouzi liked to be very upset by Danny’s injury, a rest against wolves should be on the cards.
Off for a lunch date with relatives, back later.
Looked, not liked.
Morning Kev, Cicero, Cg, all.
I can feel the disappointment in your post Kev which perfectly sums up the game, nice one.
A dreadful night for Welbeck and I fear for his career now as his legs have taken a lot as far as injuries go. I really hope I’m wrong though and he makes a full recovery. We’ll miss him big time. Lichtsteiner too, who I also hope makes a good recovery.
As Kev says though, perhaps it’s now Eddies time. Jerks should be more at home on the right too.
Emery hinted at a break.
A forgettable game and a horrible injury to Danny. I wish him all the best.
First and foremost, I would like to wish Danny Welbeck a speedy recovery, and to say that I hope we see you back in an Arsenal shirt in the New Year.
Just a pity we couldn’t keep a winning streak going.
I don’t think the players really recovered after the injury to Welbeck. Guendouzi looked in a pickle. Must have effected Ramsey too after what he suffered.
Just as he gets a confidence boost and regains his place in the England squad the bubble is burst through what looked like an innocuous collision. Break or dislocation , the angle his foot was at doesn’t bode well , not another Eduardo injury I hope.
Any steam in the game disappeared following the injury , Sporting had come to limit damage and Arsenal desp[ite having lots of the ball did not have the creation to break through. It was reminiscent of days gone by . BT’s commentators bemoaned the absence of Lacazette and even Giroud to shake things up. In many ways they were right . In fairness we were playing a mainly reserve team and got a reserve match .
Onward and upward Wolves next up.
I suspect twelve months ago the Bt Sports commentators were saying Giroud wasn’t good enough and Lacazette wasn’t as good as he was in France. Fickle lot.
Rico. True. The BT commentators are really bad and yet funny. I was in stitches the other evening listening to Keown trotting out every football cliche in the book. My favourite was when he introduced the term “Veneer of confidence”. Something about that phrase that tickled me.
I switch off from them Adam.
Evening all and thanks Adonis Kev.
Man of match has to go to Jenks for his “No Look” pass to Guendouzi, better than anything Thiery did !
https://twitter.com/MundialMag/status/1060827038242820096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1060827038242820096&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.talkingbaws.com%2F2018%2F11%2Fvideo-carl-jenkinson-produces-the-greatest-volley-weve-ever-seen%2F
Please don’t respond to that odious, obnoxious wanker Adrian Durham.
Publicity for him and his shit radio station is like oxygen to anyone else.
The best way to treat scum like them is to ignore them and to boycott their ridiculous station.
Who Kev? 😝
New post up now..