Morning All,
Well a decent result after not exactly playing very well. Thought we were quite poor in the first half and allowed West Brom was to many chances to score and or take the lead. We were easily opened up and they were far more attacking than we may have expected but with the chances they had and wasted we were very lucky to go in at half time one up.
The big talking point from the first half was the penalty that never was for West Brom, Mustafi made contact with Jay Rodriguez and it looked a pretty blatant penalty to me if am honest but Rodriguez was quickly to his feet and fired off a shot that Cech brilliantly turned onto the post. Now this whole situation will ope a big can of worms I am sure…. Was Rodriguez to ‘honest’ did the ref make a big cock up… should Rodriguez of stayed down and rolled around a bit to make sure he got the penalty..? Lots of ways to look at it and I feel the player was indeed very honest, the ref should of given the penalty but when it’s not given what does Rodriguez do next time it happens? I wonder if he’s stay down and roll around of get straight up and try and score. It highlights the fact that players get fouled don’t get a penalty and then think to themselves well next time there is contact I am going down like i got shot. It’s a vicious circle and we’ve had enough of those decisions go against us over the years so it’s swings and roundabouts. What i do find laughable is the media hysteria at the Rodriguez penalty that wasn’t but no mention at all when Sanchez has his shirt pulled off his back half way through the first half that also should of been a penalty and no one says a dickie bird…. Where’s the consistency in that “media people”..?
We took the lead from a nice bit of poaching from our new striker and it’s the kind of goal we been lacking in the last few years. Lacazette is always sniffing and in the right places in and around the box. His movement is all about getting into the right areas where he knows the ball may be or where he wants it to create an opportunity and re rarely doesn’t at least hit the target which is always going to get you your fair share of goals. The Alexis free kick was pretty tasty but at least we had someone following up.
I thought we were much improved second half and that was good to see and although we didn’t set the world on fire we at least played ok and still created a few chances. I must admit i like Ramsey in that role where he is free to go where ever, his runs into the box are good and that doesn’t leave us exposed in central midfield either, I’d of liked to see two up front last night with Ramsey in behind for 20/30mins just to see how that went but it seems as if Arsene is messing a little with the set up ad balance of the side and are we a work in progress i am not sure but least we are seeing an improvement.
Lacazette took the penalty clinically and he does give us a threat in the box, i think him and Alexis could create lots of opportunities together but again that depends on how we are set up behind them as well.
A shout out to Monreal for that goal line clearance in the first half as well, well played that man and great defending.
Enjoy ya day.
Good post, Wath.
The media are consistent-we all know how they’ll handle things involving Arsenal 🙂
Morning all.
Ramsey played the right way is a gun.
Most fans thought he was a shit player, then a gun, back to shit and now a gun again.
No coincidence that he’s back central and up the pitch but it’s more important that Wenger realise this than it is the fans.
Solid performance.
Good game, 3 points, work in progress. Xhaka needs rotation and not a permanent spot on the team sheet.
The ref failing to give the blatant penalty to West Brom at a time when they were on top in the game had a big influence on how the game then panned out. It may also have influenced him regarding not giving a penalty to Sanchez in the shirt pulling incident later. Refs tend to do these things when they have made mistakes and last night’s ref would have realised that he had made one on seeing the replay at half-time. Another get out of jail result for lucky old Arsene deja vu the Leicester at home one as well . Wenger however despite this is well on the back-foot in the league playing catch-up every game and the current side that he has assembled looks exactly like what it is. A Thursday night on TV Ropey Cup one. There was not much between the two sides last night despite the 2-0 win for us and that must be a concern for supporters .Much is being made of the 0-0 away to Chelsea but in reality Wenger needed to have won that game to make a statement of intent regarding a possible title tilt. A title challenge though looks further away this season than ever before .
Spot on Jeff, just shows you how far we have fallen behind…
The midfield for me is the weak link, Xhaka is so slow and his wayward passing is a concern. It was bloody WBA at home and there wasn’t a great deal between the two teams.
Bang on Lee, I was back on the North Bank for the 1st time in 28 years, & there is no excuse for Xhaka’s wayward passing.
WBA should have had a penalty & how they missed the subsequent shots? Anyway, I’ll leave London with 4 points from 2 games?
Xhaka has always played poorly imo. He is slow, liable to give away free kicks, and gives the ball away all the time. I’ve just never ‘got’ him at all tbh.
Ramsey however, I have always rated. Even when he was slated, he never let it get him down and always gives 100% for the team. He’s not looking to leave either, which is nice. We need some loyal, committed players at the club and he is a good role model for the younger players hopefully coming through.
We will never win the title again under Wenger and Kroenke, but as long as we give a good account of ourselves in the league games, thats all I ask. Get shot of those whose agents are always leaking things to the press, and who don’t want to wear the shirt with pride. They will just cause problems in the dressing room politics.
Ask Oxlade Chamberlain if the grass is greener in poo land, and I’d be interested to know how Sanchez can improve on Pep’s team, except in keeping their bench warm.
He was again guilty of wayward passes last night, but at least he accepted that and held his hands up for a change, when he cocked up.
Meerkat sanchez always does aknolwledge his team mates, except one incident when he gave ramsey bollocking..lol
Xhka has been disappointing so far.. flashes of quality but over all not good enough.
I guess we have a decent attack and defence but very average midfield.
Evening all and thank`s Wath.
Shorts and T-Shirts weather down here in Cornwall……baking !………………was on the Lizard peninsula delivering and talkng to a client telling him I`m up Sunday for a game and he tells me an old boy in the village(Lizard) who passed away in 2009 played for Arsenal !………………..Mike Tiddy !
https://www.arsenal.com/historic/players/mike-tiddy
I`m adding to my collection of Arsenal connections whilst delivering !……………………1st one was talking to a chap at Castle Drogo who was the Step-Son of Alan Skirton……………………..2nd was delivering near Argal Lake and learning Bruce Rioch lives around the corner at Mawnan Smith……………………………..3rd was receptionist at works Father in Law was Les Henley another former player and now Mike Tiddy !………………nothing special but it`s great to talk to people about players etc`in areas you would never think of hearing or finding out about them……….keeps me entertained ! hahaha
On the game……………I`ll keep taking the shit performnace wins anyday of the week compared to our stat filled losses like Stoke…………………….Arsenal posted their highest amount of possession in a Premier League game (77.3%) since 2003-04…………..and……..The Gunners (732) attempted 520 more passes than Stoke (212) in the game……………….sounds impressive and deserved a win, but we lost !……………..more of the WBrom and Leicester shit wins for me ! hahaha
LC, some fans will complain when we play well and fail to get a result, and they’ll complain when we play poorly or averagely and win.
Some just like to complain, no matter what.
I reckon plenty fail to give our opponents their dues, as well.
It’s as if we should just win every game.
We’ve seen a decent level of effort the last two games, so as long as that is maintained, I’ll be happy.
Back to the original post, Wath, Lacazette could end up a super signing for us.
He’s just deadly in front of goal.
New post up