Morning all.
Mikel Arteta on The Emirates atmosphere:
I’ve never seen it like this, you cannot imagine how much it helps the players, how much belief it gives, how much confidence, and support. It’s one of the nicest things we’ve done since we are together here, to unite everybody and feel like you go here and you’re going to have some experience and it’s great. It’s great, honesty thank you so much to everybody. The way they generate that energy, that togetherness with the team. They are living the game with us. Some days to watch the game and sometimes to live the game with us. They are in every ball, in every action and it’s just magnificent
The build up for this match was all about Arsenal’s recent results against Liverpool and whether the club sitting second in the League before kick off, could finally beat their nemesis. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have beaten Klopp’s Liverpool before of course but that was a hollow victory according to Martin Tyler I think, because Liverpool had just won the league. If this Arsenal are to be taken seriously, they had to beat Liverpool. Why the media would say that when they’ve spent the last eight weeks writing about how poor Liverpool are this season, only they know but I guess they were hoping we’d give them another negative Arsenal headline to write.
The match was great for the neutral but so so stressful for an Arsenal fan. Well, it was for me.
Oleksandr Zinchenko was missing from the squad so Takehiro Tomiyasu came in at left back. No surprise really as Kieran Tierney played on Thursday and is like to start this Thursday too, plus, our Japanese player is an excellent dual footed defender as Mo Salah soon found out. The rest of the team was the same as last weekend.
Less that a minute on the clock and we were 1-0 up. William Saliba won the ball in his own half to start the move going. Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and lastly Gabriel Martinelli. The latter’s finish was clinical. Liverpool looked shell shocked, the Arsenal players looked thrilled whilst Arsenal fans were probably in dreamland.
After a while, Liverpool started to find their feet and Aaron Ramsdale was called into action. First to stop a Darwin Nunez shot and then to grab a cool header back to him from William Saliba. Lucky deflection? Never. But Klopps men did draw level through Nunez, helped by some slack defensive work. I felt Arsenal lost their way a bit after conceding and Liverpool looked the more likely to score but just as halftime approached, we sprung an attack which started from a clearance of a Liverpool free-kick. The move was really good and Saka was on the end of it with a stretched leg to beat Alison.
The goal and the break came at the perfect time for Mikel Arteta’s team.
The second half started with Arsenal on the front foot again and really should have extended the lead but once more, Liverpool equalised, once more Arsenal’s defending wasn’t at its best. Firmino once again getting a goal against us. Then came the penalty which Michael Oliver awarded after Thiago caught the back of Jesus’ foot. Up stepped Bukayo Saka, cool as a cucumber and Arsenal were again in the lead. Arsenal had beaten Liverpool 3-2.
There were a few spicy moments in the game, certainly the handbags after Oliver awarded us a penalty, something which the FA are set to investigate. Rumours on the internet suggest that Henderson said something to Gabriel which the Brazilian didn’t like. By the look on Firmino’s face, he didn’t like it either.
Gabriel Jesus was caught in the face by Tsimikas, deliberate or not only the Liverpool defender knows but the referee and VAR thought it was fine. Gabriel Martinelli was dangerously barged off the pitch by Gomez, the kind of action which has seen both Mateiu Debuchy and Rob Holding suffer serious injury in the past and Liverpool were denied a penalty when the ball hit Gabriel’s hand in the box. Martinelli also caught Alexander-Arnold’s ankle with his studs after he’d won the ball.
Gabriel Martinelli won the man of the match award, understandably of course but the player who I thought was exceptional too is Takehiro Tomiyasu, who after 69 minutes, let Mo Salah out of his pocket.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to Sky Sports:
It feels great [beating Liverpool], especially the way we won the game, the way we played, the atmosphere, I think we deserved to win the game. There were a lot of moments, the way they can open you up and exploit the space. They were very efficient with the chances they had. But we showed a lot of composure and character in difficult moments to overcome them, especially in the second half.
It was a lively half-time team talk, but I wanted to give them some encouragement and confidence the game was there for the taking. There were obviously a few things we had to adjust and be better at; more composure and more courage to play. Everything was better in the second half. The organisation, the timing of the press, we won every duel and second ball. I was really happy with that.
Next up for Arsenal is Bodo/Glimt in Norway on Thursday evening.
See you in the comments.
I see the media are trying to deflect our victory by releasing a video of Aubameyang slating Mikel Arteta.
It’s not Mikel who can’t handle big names, it’s about him not accepting big egos who can’t be bothered to give 100% to the club.
Very glad when the final whistle was blown, but prior to that I thought we could be in trouble when Ramsdale went down holding his leg, but Luckly it looks like it may have been just muscle cramp.
I think Ramsdale just wanted to stop the game for a few minutes. Clever if so.
Morning Rico
Another great performance. This is becoming a theme and I like it!
We went toe to toe with Liverpool and beat them at their own game. The 2nd half performance was scintillating.
A side note: Nunez performed theatrics in front of the North Bank after he scored. Bizarre as he has no history with Arsenal fans. He looked like a South American reincarnation of Andy Carroll. I hope his career emulates that carthorse.
Morning Pete.
It was great wasn’t it. When we dipped in performance during the first half I feared we wouldn’t win but the goal just before halftime and whatever Mikel Arteta said at the break did the trick. Despite conceding, we never gave up.
I would like to know what the Liverpool player said that led the ref to speak to both coaches as the picture above shows he’s own teammate didn’t look too impressed by what he said.
Rico, I have seen the story of Auba having a go at Arteta but could not be bothered reading it as it seems Auba PA people are already at work with a story a couple of days back with them talking about him leaving Chelsea at the end of the season for PSG, my guess is their fans will drive him there.
Beautiful football on display….. strength to strenght
I’m sure we’ll find out Geoff. Auba is just bitter I’m sure.
Good Morning to the Lady of the house and all fellow Gooners.
The game got off to a great start, but had a few Cardiac Kids moments. When Liverfool scored no Arsenal heads dropped, they just got back to playing their game their way. There was the odd slip-up, but no finger pointing or bitching at each other, just pick yourself up and get yourself and your head back in the game.
The players are obviously enjoying paying for our team and their is an obvious comradery between all our players, no swell headed legends in their own mind ‘superstars’. They have a true Three Musketeer’s ethos “All for one and one for all”. Also important is the crowd support, no more emulating the Highbury Library.
This is the most positive start to a season in too too long a time. Win, lose or draw we are behind the team and they will entertain and thrill us.
Morning Cg.
I guess it’s a two way thing with the players and fans. With the egos gone and players in who want to give 100%, it’s much easier for fans to be positive. Things are clearly so much better at the club. The management, owners and staff are doing a great job imo.
Can’t remember what Arsenal player said it but in an interview I recon he hit the nail on the head when asked what has changed his reply was we are no longer a team, we are a family and we watch each other’s back.
Martinelli or Saka said that yesterday too.
Great post, Rico. At last we’re getting some decent refereeing now. In the past we would have had Dean or Webb and lost the match, and probably ended with 10 men. Good riddance!
Thanks Brian. More luck than judgement I think.
Afternoon Rico. It was a disconnected first half from us (between the goals) but a superb second half. We should have scored another couple really.
Still, mustn’t be greedy😀
Afternoon Adam, agree re the scoreline. Too much faffing around in the box, just shoot. 😂
Too much faffing around in the box? How else do you draw fouls and win penalties? 😉
At last even the pessimists are beginning to believe.
People like you and I Cicero. 😆
I think the next danger is the expectation . Already we are reading comments like when we have beaten Bodo and Leeds we will have 5 more league league matches before the world cup and that apart from Chelsea there are no hard ones and we should get a minimum of 15 points..
There will be hiccups for us and others, we have had a great start but that’s all it is , A START .
I don’t think Arteta and the team will be getting carried away but some of our fans are already on the bandwagon . They need to realise that the press are building things up hoping for a fall . It’s best to keep our powder dry until after the world cup and hope we continue with our momentum then.
Good morning all, another glorious morning here in Norfolk and the press are are doing little to spoil it. Of course there are plenty of phrases like “it’s early doors”, “only nine games in”, “bigger tests to come” and “if Arsenal can hang onto City’s coat tails”, but the fact remains that this version of Arsenal is showing the kind of spirit, determination and togetherness that has been absent for far, far too long.
There will be injuries, there will be suspensions and there will be drops in form all inevitable in such a congested season but as someone said “this is not just a team, it’s more a family”.
That closeness and perhaps an extra player or two, in January, will help to carry us through. Top four? Champions? It IS early doors. 😉
New post up now
I agree, it’s a great start and all looks very positive but imo, we’re still an injury to Partey away from struggling a bit.