Morning all.
When I wrote about Arsenal v Man City a couple of days ago, suggesting that the game wouldn’t get going until either side scored a goal, I wasn’t far wrong. The game didn’t really get going at all, not in the true sense of the word. In fact it was more like a game of chess with both sides desperately trying to not make that one bad move which would allow the other to take advantage. The commentators/pundits, call them what you like, suggested Arsenal as a team were nervous. I’m not sure I agree, I think they were just focused, playing the safe game in order to give themselves a chance. David Raya didn’t get the memo though as for throughout the first half, he did his best to look like peak Flapianski. Thankfully, he was much better in the second half.
Gabriel, Saliba, Rice, Jorginho, White and Zinchenko didn’t really give City a sniff. Haaland is probably still trying to climb out of Saliba’s pocket and when he eventually does, he’ll realise there’s one more pocket to negotiate. Gabriel’s.
What is there to say about such a closely contended game? Oh yes, the missed sending off of Kovacic, if not for his first challenge on Odegaard, he should have gone for his second on Rice. The second half saw Martinelli return from injury, a welcome sight for all Arsenal fans, just as the return of Partey was later in the half. The best sight though was when Havertz teed up our Brazilian winger who fired his shot towards the right of the City goal. The ball smacked Ake in the head and into the back of the net. The initial shot was goal bound so it was credited to Martinelli.
All Arteta’s team had to do was hold on and that they did, comfortably. I loved seeing a few row z clearances by our defenders, just as I enjoyed seeing Havertz run the ball down to the corner flag too.
For far too long we’ve constantly heard about the number of years it’s been since we as a club had beaten Man City in the league. It’d become boring. Thank goodness we won’t be hearing that old rubbish anymore.
Mikel Arteta on the win:
A great feeling obviously, you could sense it’s been so many years without beating them and today we have beaten in my opinion without a question of doubt the best team in the world, and we done it in a great way, there were moments we had to suffer, but as well moments we showed real determination, desire and belief to beat them, so really happy.
Much talk from the pundits was about the players City were missing, certainly Rodri and de Bruyne. They’d have made a difference they said and perhaps they might have but the reality is, they weren’t available. I don’t recall too many in the media feeling sorry for Arsenal when injuries derailed our Premier League challenge back in the Spring and did they forget that we were without Saka and Timber?
The game wasn’t for the purists but I reckon George Graham would have been proud of the way Mikel Arteta’s defence performed. A City team, usually full of goals and goal scoring opportunities were restricted to just four shots with only one on target. Yes, they edged the possession stats but as said before, possession means nothing without an end product. We found that end product – interestingly, through Partey, Tomiyasu, Havertz and Martinelli, our substitutes.
There’s no doubt, Man City should have been playing the entire second half with ten men but yet again, the officials let themselves and the game down. Arsenal too, but that’s nothing new. In hindsight, I’m glad we beat them with eleven though because it stops the nonsense which might have followed. Arsenal earned this victory through hard work, concentration and a plan instigated by Arteta.
Lastly, the fans. Excellent. They responded to the players and the players in turn, responded to them. When the final whistle blew, everyone went bonkers. We’d beaten City at last and it felt great.
Now it’s the international break and Bukayo Saka won’t be involved in it. I’ve a feeling this is Arsenal putting their foot down and the main reason he didn’t play yesterday. I assume Trossard won’t be going off with Belgium either, not after picking up a reported hamstring injury yesterday. Saliba has withdrawn from the French team too because of injury according to The Sun. Another smart move from Arsenal?
Enjoy the two week break guys, I’ll mainly be watching the cricket….
Catch up in the comments..
Hi Rico..
Nice read. I’m not going to lie, but I was so nervous, especially after the team news came out. I watched in a Greek bar, which was pretty quiet, but once the ball hit the back of the net it was obvious who the gooners were!
We played well in the 2nd half, Martinelli the game changer (we’ve certainly missed him!). In a way, I was glad Kovacic wasn’t given his marching orders as it showed we can match them 11 for 11. Although it was terrible challenge and I was surprised it was only a yellow.
Still unbeaten and top of the league – fantastic! It won’t be long and the ‘Angela’ love-in bubble will burst and we’ll be ahead of them!
Shame about the break – they always happen at the wrong time!
I was lucky in the ballot (finally) and will be going to Arsenal v Burnley, so very happy about that!
https://twitter.com/TrollFootball/status/1711071111188717647?s=19
This cracked me up (hopefully you can see it)
Morning Rico
Great result. Should stop the moaners for a while.
I reckon Ake must have an imprint of the ball on his nose after that deflection.
Wild celebrations after the goal. So much that a bloke sitting behind had a heart attack. Hope he’s ok.
Good morning Rico, I confess to feeling frustrated by both sides yesterday, more like a game of chess than at football match. On reflection it’s what I should have expected from two sides who play a very similar style. That said I think we just did enough to give Arteta his first Premiership win over his old tutor. In off the defender’s face!
First sight of the first Kovacic foul on Odegaard looked bad enough to have broken his ankle, the slo mo repeats did nothing to suggest anything but a red card was the correct punishment but somehow Var agreed on a yellow. The second was also a wild un-controlled lunge, itself a red card offence that Michael Oliver did not even consider worthy of a second Yellow.
Howard Webb has some serious issues to sort out when his elite referees continue to make such egregious errors
Morning Sue, Pete.
Certainly feels like a big moment for Arsenal and I so pleased for Arteta. He must be on cloud 9 today. Loved his post match interview.
A mention for Havertz, that will have done him a lot of good. A goal, now an assist so the beginning of better times I hope.
Morning Cicero, I did warn you. 😂
Rico, 👍
I hear Andy Jacobs complaining about the deflected goal. Never heard him complain when Lampard was getting them on a regular basis.
Interesting little fact going the rounds :-
Michael Oliver, who refused to send Mateo Kovacic off for what was an obvious instance of two yellows recently travelled to the UAE to referee a game and was paid by the same people who own Manchester City.
What’s more :- Txiki Begiristain was the director of football at Barcelona during the time they have been accused of bribing refs, he is now the director of football for City.
Beginning to unravel ??
I hope so Potter, there’s an awful lot to unravel though..
Morning Rico and all.
Interesting information Potter, especially considering how many times, City have been reported for breaking the FFP rules, when will they learn.
I wish they would stop playing these stupid friendly matches, nothing to game but a hell of a lot for the clubs to lose.
Morning Geoff. Just one friendly, the other is a qualifying fixture. I’m against playing any international fixtures once the domestic season kicks off. I think it’s the ACON in January too.
New post up