Morning all.
I’m writing this paragraph just seconds after the final whistle has blown. My stomach has settled though and my heart rate has returned to normal. I don’t know what feels better right now, being 3-0 up and cruising or having won the game knowing that at times, Totts had hope but ended up with nothing. Their equaliser which VAR ruled out, a couple of ridiculous penalty shouts which were rightly turned down, a goal gifted to them by Raya to give them hope, double hope when Rice gave them a penalty and then as the home fans roared with belief of achieving at least a draw – they ended up with absolutely nothing.
I think I’d have preferred it if Bukayo Saka had buried what would have been our 4th and we’d gone on to hammer them but three points is three points regardless of how they come, especially away from home at the end of April.
I didn’t think we were at our best. Players were getting caught in possession and some of our passing was off. Yet still we went 3-0 before half-time.
Just 13 minutes had gone by when Thomas Partey played a lovely ball to Martin Odegaard. Our captain set up Kai Havertz to score but the linesman spotted an offside in the buildup. Minutes later, a Declan Rice shot was blocked, the ball went out for a corner which Saka whipped in and Hojbjerg’s attempted clearance ended up fizzing past his own keeper. Up the other end, Totts hit the post before scoring what they believed to be an equaliser. VAR intervened and decided that Gabriel’s bum isn’t really that big.
Mikel Arteta talking to Sky Sports after the game:
We started the second half really well, in total control of the game, could have scored the fourth one. Then an individual error, and you can feel it, it’s game on. From there, you have to manage the game and have a bit of luck at times. We conceded the second one, again with a mistake that is not very usual. And then, pray! Defend your box. They threw everything. Romero was playing as a striker for the last 25-30 minutes and anything can happen.
Before Totts players had stopped complaining about the decision as well as a couple of penalty shouts being rejected, they were 2-0 down. Saka to Havertz, Havertz back to Saka, a cut inside Ben Davies and then a left footed shot past Vicario. His 15th of the season which is impressive. But he should have had 16! With half-time still 8 minutes away, more as it turned out, Kai Havertz scored our 3rd. A Declan Rice corner, a good jump from our German which was only bettered by his header.
After the break, we could have increased our lead when Takehiro Tomiyasu headed a good chance just over the bar. Totts had another chance to pull a goal back but Romero’s header went too high as well. Saka looked like he’d got our 4th and his 2nd of the game but somehow Vicario got his boot to it.
We were far from being in total control of the game but at 3-0, we looked pretty comfortable. Until David Raya made a dreadful mistake. A simple kick required but he fluffed it so badly, it landed nicely for Romero and he made no mistake. Their goal lifted the home fans, the Totts players too but not as much as when Son slotted his penalty kick past Raya. Michael Oliver didn’t give the penalty at first but a quick trip to the pitch side monitor was enough for him to spot Rice’s kick Davies in the nuts….
Squeaky bum time followed for what seemed like an eternity. Totts threw everything bar the kitchen sink at us but we held on to secure a 3-2 victory and three massive points.
It kind of feels unfair to criticise either Rice or Raya for their mistakes because they were isolated. It’s unusual to see two moments like theirs in one match and add in the opposition, it seems worse. I’m not a Raya fan, never have been but he didn’t let the mistake affect his game as he comfortably dealt with a few dangerous high balls which Totts lumped into the box. As for Rice, well he’s been immense all season. If neither mistake had led to a goal, it’s forgotten but both gave Totts hope. In the end, we held on and both players played a big part in making sure we did.
Champions League football for next season is secured with neither Aston Villa or Totts able to catch us. But, Totts can still secure 4th spot and it hope it stays that way because it’ll give them something to fight for when Man City go there. City won there game against Nottingham Forest so there’s still little between ourselves and them. One point to be precise but of course, they have a game in hand.
Next up for Mikel Arteta’s players is a home fixture against Bournemouth.
Catch up in the comments.
Mortning all, I am still recovering from a heart rate that went through the roof. The last time was when Eboue handed Liverpool a penalty in about the 100th minute and later that night I took up residence in Norfolk and Norwich hospital with a couple of stents for my pleasure.
There’s no point in going on about Raya’s cock up , Arteta’s reaction to him at the end showed just how much he has cemented his place . Personally I would have made him walk home with the fans and by the time he got to Tottenham Hale he would known just how they felt about it.
Still it’s done , Arteta won’t drop him so it’s a pointless discussion , Move on to Bournemouth on Saturday get three more points and make sure that they have to win that game in hand .
Talk of dropping Raya , potter, is absurd. I am not a far either, far from it, but Ramsdales skittishness and hesitancy are burned into my brain. We persist and should then replace in the summer. But we wont. Sadly
Blimey Potter!
Agree re Raya, he’s here to stay regardless of what you or I think. I guess the good things he does outweighs the errors in Arteta’s mind although as you said yesterday, that doesn’t extend to Ramsdale or a few other players it seems.
Bournemouth thumped Brighton 3-0 yesterday so they won’t be a walkover. We look for City to drop points but if we have another ‘Villa’ performance then it won’t matter what City do.
Feyenoord are targeting a move for Arsenal assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg as a replacement for Liverpool-bound Arne Slot according to the media.
With three fixtures left, dropping any player would be strange unless it’s for injury/tactical reasons. Dropping Raya would be wrong too but there’s been times when he’s been suspect to say the least. That’s when he might have been dropped if the same rules were applied to him as they were Ramsdale.
Beating Spurs at WHL should never be sniffed at. Before last season it was nearly 10 years since we won at Spurs. Enjoy the moment.
Saka & Havertz were outstanding. The 2nd goal was a thing of beauty. Partey again kept the midfield ticking.
Spurs tactics seemed to be get into the area and dive, or kick our players out of possession.
I hope the 3 eejits goading Rice by the corner flag are treated with the disrespect they deserve at their places of work today (if they do actually work?)
Enjoy the moment? How could any Arsenal fan not? lol
I saw that behaviour towards Rice, shocking, as is the online abuse his partner has received.
Useless piece of information but I’ve just checked my heart rate stats for yesterday and around 3-30pm, my rate went really high for a few minutes. 😂
Talk of dropping Raya , potter, is absurd.
I don’t think I said he should be rather that he won’t be. I do believe however that he is held to a different standard to other players but that’s down to the manager and the influence of Inaki Cana Pavon who obviously has Arteta’s ear.
Much is being made, in the media, about Arsenal’s dark arts. Ben White blocking off the keeper at corners, perfectly within the laws of the game, and a new one yesterday when he attempted to loosen the keeper”s glove. Definitely a novel way to distract the poor dear between the posts. 😉
The, so called, dark arts have been used for years against Arsenal with little or no action by officialdom, so at last we are using a bit of nous to even up the playing field.
I did see him messing around with the keepers gloves, made me chuckle. At least he’s no kicking lumps out of opposition players..
Afternoon Rico and all.
I would like to know when the refs are going to do something about the Dirty tactics and diving by Tottenham Richarlison
And Maddison Geoff , I watched both games and couldn’t tell the difference between Maddison and Grealish.
The stars are slowly aligning!
I hardly noticed Maddison Potter, shows we kept him pretty quiet!
Afternoon rico, all, nice report.
When all said and done, 3 great points, and that’s 3 wins on the trot (2 away) just when we were being written off.
5 points ahead of Liverpool equal games and just the 20 above Spurs, and a better goal difference by 42!
Is that the one and only Lee back?
Afternoon Geoff, Andrew. Thanks Andrew.
Agreed, the only thing I spotted from Maddison was a blatant dive..
I thought we dealt with Son easily too.
Richarlison is a ghastly player.
New post up