Morning all.
Well, did you see it? Emi Martinez had to pick the ball out of the net three times as he and his Aston Villa teammates were thrashed at home by Leeds Utd in the week. Leeds opening goal came after Emi could only parry his save into the path of Bamford. Not too dissimilar to the Leno save from which Man City scored last Saturday. In a weird kind of way, Villa conceding three goals might do Leno the world of good because he’s been under scrutiny since we sold Martinez. At least that’s what I hope.
The season is in it’s early stages I know, but already there’s a few surprise names around the top. Ancelloti seems to have assembled a strong squad and are doing well, as are Villa and Leeds but how long their good form will continue is anyone’s guess. All Arsenal need to do is stay in touch. Our next two fixtures are really tough. Leicester at The Emirates later this afternoon and then a trip to Old Trafford seven days later. Sandwiched in between is another Europa fixture, a home match against Dundalk.
I’m sure Brendan Rogers will deploy similar tactics to those on show at The Etihad last month. That is to allow Arsenal the possession and then hit us hard and fast on the break. They are very much reliant on the pace of Jamie Vardy. That’s not to say the rest of their players won’t casques problems as I’m sure they will but Vardy is their main goal threat. He loves to run at defenders, drive into the box and go over with the slightest of touches.
Since that much applauded victory over Man City, Leicester haven’t won a League fixture, losing at home to Aston Villa 1-0 and then West Ham 3-0. Vardy missed both through injury and remains a doubt today too. Ricardo Pereira, Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey and Wilfred Ndidi are all injured.
Arsenal have a couple of injury concerns of their own with Willian and Dani Ceballos needing a late fitness test although both were training yesterday so hopefully that’s a good sign.
Thomas Partey will hopefully make his home debut. He was superb against Rapid Vienna, as was Gabriel and together Arsenal’s central outfield core is looking much stronger. It’ll be interesting to see how Mikel Arteta juggles our midfield now and who he partners with Partey and I think Arteta is still in the process of finding a consistent partner for Gabriel too.
Is Reiss Nelson taking corners in training a hint that he’s set to start today I wonder? I hope so because it’s not like Pepe is in great form. Nelson has pace to burn and he’s not afraid to run at defenders.
“Thomas has been great since joining the club,” Aubameyang told the official matchday programme. “He has integrated so well in the squad. He is kind, calm and smiley. On the pitch, we have seen already seen what he will bring us in matches.
He is so strong physically but yet so good on the ball as well. We didn’t really have a profile like this in our squad before. In terms of ball progression, beating the press, going forward, he will be very important for us.
“My family is from Gabon but I also have some roots in Ghana where Thomas is from so we are family too! It is good for some of our younger players as well to have a player like him, of his calibre at training. They will learn a lot from him.”
Without wanting to heap the pressure on our new man or state the bleedin’ obvious but his role is crucial in this Arsenal team.
I understand the constant likening to Patrick Vieira because they posses similar qualities. The ability to break up an opposition attack and turn it into one of our own. But our front players need to be less static for his skills to be utilised to their best. Our forward players need to be make themselves available for his pass. Same goes for Ceballos when he’s in possession, or any other player really, they need a forward passing option instead of looking up and seeing a crowded house.
Find those pockets of space and use them. Get at their defence with pace and perhaps most importantly, start well and start with purpose. We’re at home so make it count.
Enjoy the game guys, see you in the comments.
Morning Rico, yeah we can’t really take any game lightly in the Premier League this season not least because of the strange circumstances it’s operating under, both Man City and Liverpool have slid back into the pack and every team – except probably Fulham, is dangerous.
Everton are flying and if they win today it’ll be their best start to a season since 1938, nobody mentioned them in relation to a top four finish when everyone was debating top four in the summer. Tottenham are on a good run, Aston Villa despite their defeat are still a strong competitor, Leicester of course are a threat, top four is really up for grabs…
Morning Rico. This evening is surely a good opportunity for the team to show us what it’s been hiding for a while now. Let’s keep it tight but get stuck into them when we can and score a few goals.
Nelson needs a start for his own development and to keep Pepe on his toes . Interesting game today , I wonder if sky will be honest and report how many subscribers they get and whether we get to find out how many groups of friends break their individual lockdown groups to watch it together.
When all is said and done this is just as easy a game to win as lose . Rodgers is saying that Vardy will be fit , Bluff or not we will see an hour before the start , we need to attack them without leaving gaping holes in the middle for them to charge through and Partey needs to be careful of getting an early yellow as you can be sure that Pawson will be primed and on the look out.
Morning Adam, Potter and all.
I just hope the midfield and forwards can start to link up better. They have to at some stage surely?
I’d love to see Nelson given a try. He’s an exciting player imo.
I think I have a comment in the spam
Kev, Rico will be looking for the can opener right this minute. 😉
I used to love Spam as a kid Cicero, it was a treat, Span, egg n chips, lovely… 😄
Morning Kev. We called it luncheon meat. 😆
Honestly, I see a number of clubs who might believe they could ‘do a Leicester’ – really weird season so far. Perhaps players are missing the atmosphere fans bring to the game.
Like corned Beef you had to watch the key didn’t spring back and take your finger off.. it was a staple after drinking session foot Spam and fried egg sandwich.
Do your comment again Kev , then when Rico retrieves it we can read it twice.
Perhaps players are missing the atmosphere fans bring to the game
Or refs are. Some of the decisions are open to debate at the best of times.
That’s because your posh Rico and I most certainly ain’t…. 😆
Now your talking Potter, fish fingers with mash, a nob of butter on the mash and baked beans if your really lucky….
I think the lack of fans has helped with referees not being influenced but they still make some amazingly daft calls.
I was too quick Potter. Ha
Refs seem to be making decisions when players react now. Barring Arsenal players of course.
Is it just me or are the officials worse this season than ever before?
Ha ha Kev, hardly… lol
Maybe they are actually hearing the abuse which is often hidden by the crowds
Possibly.
Saints 2-0 up against Everton..
Everton unlucky not to get a penalty, it looked a clear shove on Rodriguez to me – maybe his reputation went before him?
I’ve only just realised that our match is a PPV on Sky. No way would it be normally.
Spam and corned beef? What about a hot Saveloy? Delicious with mustard. 😉
Oi OI Saveloy . . Needed the bread to soak up the alki and a saveloy takes 20 minutes to simmer . No microwaves in those days.
TEAM NEWS: Leno; Bellerin, David Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney; Ceballos, Xhaka, Partey, Saka, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Nelson not in the squad.
Hi Rico… 433… ooh I love that line up. Diver, oops Vardy on the bench…
Evening House. £15 or not, that is the question? Know it doesn’t go to Sky, but said I wouldn’t pay any more, only added BT this season due to a reduced offer. Line up has got me excited. If they play well and I don’t watch, or I do pay and it’s pants! Help! Who else is coughing up?
I’m not Andrew. Will watch on Hesgoal
Not sure why disallowed, looked like went in off post and no one touched, but Lino flagged.
Leno nearly disaster 2nd minute, coming out of area and kicking straight to them!
7 attempts Arsenal, 1 Leicester
Playing more fluent with four at the back,
Hi Sue, thanks for the link, just caught the second half of the first half.
We should be winning. Lacazette missed a really good chance.
Xhaka offside I think Andrew and in the keepers eyeline.
Rico, I used to think interfering with play, player in front of goalie, was the norm, but haven’t seen it given for ages, until it’s Arsenal!
Only seen it once Andrew but it seemed a bit odd. Commentators reckoned he was interfering. Goodness only knows what the rules are these days.
Bloody Vardy again..
So good for twenty five minutes. So ineffective whole second half.
Not a good night at all.
We are too nice we give too much time to teams when they have the ball and take to long when we have it.
Under got away from Xhaka or at best ran straight past him Gabriel and Leno crossed over to cover and mustafi was too far away from Vardy.
I am sure that Arteta will analyse their goal as once again we were caught flat footed by a long pass
. i had forgotten that Ceballos was playing for most of the second half and watching a Morrocan feed with sound off allowed me the peace and quiet to watch without suggestion from commentators and it kept £ 15 quid in my pocket. .
Partey looks good enough but we do need more next to him . I am slowly coming round to the remove Xhaka position and would like to see AMN finally get a run at being the midfielder he claims to be.
Also Ceballos why not be radical and give Nelson a chance
Lets try a bit of speed and move the ball quicker through the midfield at the moment the Xhaka /Ceballos combo stride manfully to the halfway line put their foot on it exchange a couple of passes and then give it to the centre backs to recycle and do it again.
I wasn’t prepared to pay fifteen quid to watch the game, haven’t read any reports and now won’t bother with either MOTD or the Sky highlights programme. It’s enough to know that we lost one nil.
If you don’t watch it how will you know how to comment on such a stultifiying , abject , waste of a sunday evening and the ruination of a good tempranillo.
After watching Tao Geoghegan Hart win the Giro d’Italia and Lewis Hamilton become the all time winner of Formula 1, I thoroughly enjoyed a bottle of Argentinean Malbec, My Sunday evening was very pleasant. 😉
Cicero. Trust me, you never missed much. Apart from the same old Arsenal. Naive mistakes made from seasoned professionals.
Brendan Rogers done a job on Mikel Arteta. You could see his plan throughout the game and it worked a treat. The smirk on his face after the final whistle said it all.
Leicester for their craft deserved the win imo.
It’s not sour grapes, but another howler was committed by VAR. How on earth is Xhaka impeding their goalkeeper ?????? has he got eyes in the back of his head???
This just proves the FA are corupt and have an agenda against/for clubs.
The Maguire neck choke was the same, how was that NOT a penalty.
Ian Wright had it correct after the game. The official at VAR should be interviewed and asked in what way was Schmeical (?) impeded?
The official at VAR should be interviewed and asked in what way was Schmeical (?) impeded?
Name and shame :-PAUL TIERNEY.
Coming up Against Manchester United all to be revealed later.
Lets bring up the elephant in the room and ask whether the Ozil situation has soured the spirit within the team .
Watching Mustafi ambling about when he came on didn’t show someone who was particularly bothered . How many yards away from Vardy was he when Gabriel went to cover the hapless Xhaka who was he not so slow week in week out would make me consider that he has downed tools on Arteta as well.
It’s tipping point for Arteta , he has had in the beginning the support of the silent majority and is probably gaining from the fact that there is no-one in the stadium to voice their displeasure but I am coming to the opinion that whilst Ozil is around sniping in the media and most probably the dressing room his mates in the squad are downing tools as well.
There is no coincidence in my mind that the way our selection of so called stars i.e. Lacazette , Aubameyang , Pepe , seem to have gone backwards since this thing has blown up and until it’s sorted the manager is going to have a hard time remotivating his squad.
potter. 9:07. I’ve been saying this for a few years now. Officials SHOULD be questioned over their decisions. In any other walk of life, one is asked to explain their actions. And until such measures are met, these types of ludicrous decisions will continue, as they have no recourse, or persons to answer to.
Alan Shearer made a good point. I quote ” He (VAR) will not be asked about his reasons, as he could not possibly explain the reasoning” Just look at the view from behind the goal. Xhaka was a couple of metres behind Schmeical when Lacazette made contact with his header. Now tell me there is not an agenda within the FA?
New post up now.
Potter, I typed something similar in my post this morning about the Ozil situation but deleted it before pressing the button. I think you’re right, this Ozil situation is hurting more than one player. As might be Sokratis..