Morning all.
Another day on from the game at The Etihad yet still Arsenal’s style of play after Leandro Trossard was sent off still occupies the sports headlines. These critics need to get a grip really because had they been involved in what Mikel Arteta had to deal with, I’m sure they’d be singing his praises. Did they honestly expect us to try and go toe to toe with Guardiola’s side with a one man disadvantage?
There are clubs in this league who play with a defensive setup away from home every week and there’s a reason for that. They don’t want to get spanked! However, when a manager does that against Arsenal for example, they’re given credit. Meanwhile, Arsenal are criticised for not being able to breakdown a disciplined defence. I heard one of the pundits mention the Newcastle game a while ago and Arteta’s rant after the game because of Howe’s tactics but I’m pretty sure his grievance was with the officiating for their goal rather than their style of football.
There’s an excellent article in The Athletic this morning written by Art de Roché.
Arsenal hosted Manchester City in a 3-0 defeat five days before Arteta was named head coach. He was in the away dugout as Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager, with Freddie Ljungberg Arsenal’s interim head coach. In his post-match press conference that day, the Swede outlined Arsenal’s issues compared to City, saying:
What we can learn is that we got done again in transitions, but if you look at City, when we countered them, they took five yellow cards from just taking us down. That’s something we need to learn, to be a bit more cynical when opponents have a chance to counter because that is a weakness of ours. We need to take those fouls. That (cynical fouls) was intelligent by City. It’s obvious to see.
The writer mentions the time when Gabriel Martinelli went to ground with cramp against West Ham. The Brazilian got himself over the sideline only to see Mikel Arteta pull him up again and be told to get back onto the pitch. A similar thing happened to Thomas Partey when he suffered injury. When Arteta shoved him back on the pitch it seemed so very wrong but on both occasions, it was more about keeping a body on the pitch so the referee has to stop the game which gives Arteta time to plan his next move. I strongly suspect he learned that during his time at Man City, either that or he initiated it. Whichever, it’s just being smart as why give the opposition a one man advantage even if it is just for a couple of minutes.
The game was a feisty affair. From the moment Kai Havertz let Rodri know he was on the pitch. Like most I’d imagine, I love the feistiness as long as both sets of players don’t cross the line, not that Michael Oliver would have noticed if a City player did, it shows the players care. City aren’t used to having to fight to the death for an equaliser because they’re so used to rolling Arsenal over with ease. Well, those days are over!
The Athletic article ends with:
Even if certain moments can be handled better, Arsenal are no longer easy to play against. They are a genuine threat to City, which was made clear in how animated Erling Haaland was both after John Stones’ equaliser and the full-time whistle. That comes from how Arteta has made them more competitive in the way they play and how they behave on the pitch, which should be a compliment rather than a stick to be beaten with.
I think that’s something we all agree on….
Catch up in the comments.
watched motd2 last night when Havertz made his run Rodri stepped left to block him but Havertz is getting the blame . Nothing changes.
That doesn’t surprise me..
Good morning Rico.
We have not seen the end of the fallout from Sunday’s game. That kind, simple, yoga loving Norwegian, who posed in the Lotus position on a rock in a lake, turned out to be a foul-mouthed, cowardly thug in his reaction at the end of the game.
The City players appear to be upset that Arsenal, having been reduced to ten men with 55 minutes to play, didn’t politely roll over and accept a sound thrashing.
The Premiership and the F A need to look at the fracas caused by Haarland after the final whistle, as well has the the videos posted on the official City website yesterday.
No doubt our Prime Minister is already looking to scrounge another freebie executive box at The Emirates for the return fixture later in the season.
Morning Cicero. I read what he’s supposed to have said to MLS, disgraceful.
Hasn’t the PL said they weren’t looking into the after the match stuff?
Good morning, Rico and all.
I am just repeating what I said earlier today.
Trossard can play in our next league match and the club can use this Wednesday Carabao cup for his one match suspension, he is very lucky.
Does Lewis-Skelly go into the record book as the youngest senior player to receive a yellow card without playing a minute, after he received it for being un-sportsman like after he passed on a message to Raya to start and waste time. 😁
Morning Rico, I’ve avoided the sports media, I usually do anyway, they have an agenda and they’re not going to change their narrative, but Arteta will use it as a motivational tool just as George Graham used to.
I saw on the post-match blurb some discussion regarding Rodri getting knocked over last Sunday by Havertz and the tv guy said Kai ‘instigated’ the contact, but when you see it from behind you could clearly see Rodri step across to block Havertz as mentioned above. Kai just knocked him out of the way and the City whinging started from then till today. Haaland is clearly rattled, Bernardo is a cry baby, as are the rest of his team, they are terrible losers and that’s why they rarely lose. We’re the same now but we have to press home this slight psychological advantage.
I have plenty of podcasts to listen to: Arseblog, Vision, Handbrake, Harry Symeou, Charles Watts, Athletic FC podcast, it helps me avoid the MSM bullshit.
Let the games begin 😀
Morning Geoff, I suspect so re Miles.
Morning Kev. I’m not fussed what the writers etc say because all it tells me is Arsenal are good and they don’t like it. Long may they continue to be negative, especially if it’s after we lift the PL trophy.
Regarding the Bolton game I think it’s an opportunity to go full strength in attack with Jesus, Sterling and even Martinelli as they all need a goal or two, as for Trossard I’m pretty sure he is suspended from the weekends game but available this Wednesday?
I’m not sure, as Arsenal keep these things close to their chest, but both Zinchenko and Tomiyasu could be close to a return, as for Tierney, who knows?
We don’t want to be on the receiving end of an upset so we need to take Bolton seriously as they’re a big unit and can hurt us physically.
Ethan and Myles look set to start, with some more yoot on the bench.
The Arsenal, fighting spirit that many of us have been longing for. Man City and the like, have come expect easy points when they play against Arsenal that their sense of entitlement when it doesn’t go their way is quite baffling.
Thanks Rico for the awesome piece!
Exactly Rico, they don’t like us and it has been forever this.
You know when we’re really good, you can tell it from the snide remarks and even via the commentary on games. It kills them to see us win.
The forward will instead serve his one-match suspension against Bolton in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup clash.15 hours ago
Evening Standard.
Seems I’m wrong, which is great for Saturday 😃
Bolton concern me because of their style. Big lumps, big challenges which could potentially lead to more injuries. I’ll check re Tross..
Thanks Kyalo. My view too. They don’t like it that we’ve become more robust and more wise.
Agreed Kev.
From the FA
Leandro Trossard was also sent off in Matchweek 5 for two yellow-card offences. However he will not miss Arsenal’s next Premier League match against Leicester City as the Gunners play an EFL Cup match in midweek against Bolton Wanderers. Trossard will serve his suspension in the cup encounter.
Oops, didn’t see yours Kev until it was too late.
Many of us have lived through the seige mentality years of George Graham and his team ,that continued with the players through the early Wenger years . As his time progressed we softened and the M62 mafia bullied and took advantage .
Now it’s back and pushovers we are not . Of course the northern teams that called us southern softees and the media that built their narrative on how to solve Arsenal’s problems don’t like it .
GOOD!
It will be be very interesting to see the line up tomorrow,hard to see any of Sundays starting line up but we are sure to see a few.
Raya would be obvious but I saw he had picked up a knock. Which is a problem because our reserve goalie is cup tied. Maybe he will be OK.
Could be a very young team Jesus,Sterling etc as said above Bolton will be physical.
How does that old saying go,
if you can’t win the match than no matter what happens don’t lose it.
The way I see it the more Man C complain the more it shows how Arteta out managed Pep on the day. Now looking forward to the return match.
As it is only the Carabao cup should, we rest Saka and start Trossard and Havertz
My mistake didn’t mean Trossard, should have been Calafiori
Trossards out anyway , but the real question is Raya , left City bandaged but with Neto tied and the next in line 16 years old do we risk it .
I strongly suspect Raya will be fit for tomorrow although I’d much rather he was rested. Makes the signing of Neto look a bit strange but I guess the club were thinking about more than the League Cup.
Afternoon rico, House. Away at Fuengirola for 4 nights, we just arrived in time to watch that game!
Not good, Arteta has hinted at a serious injury from Sunday. Cali, Timber or Raya?
Good afternoon Rico and all
SOME BREAKING NEWS: Rodri is expected to be back for Man City’s League Two campaign opener against Grimsby Town at the start of the 2025/26 season.
Onto present worries.
The team out tomorrow should not be to the detriment of the EPL campaign. However, we should make sure we are in the hat for next round as well. I would surely rest Raya to recover from the knock. I would also rest Saka (definitely) and PArtey.
My team…Porter, White, Timber, Kiwior, Calafiori, ; Jorginho, Rice, Nwaneri; Sterling, Jesus, Martinelli.
I dont know about Tommy and Zinchenko’s recovery date. So cant include them.
But remember that Bolton have a tough game on weekend so they will be rotating as well.
Afternoon Andrew, that’s worrying news. Especially if it’s Raya…
Afternoon Devil, that’s funny.
Just read Arteta’s interview, sounds like it is Raya..
Raya is out and we have a 16 year old keeper Jack Porter as the only back up as I read it .
Lucas Nygaard Is an option, he’s 18..
if it were not serious, I could not help but laugh, we sold keepers, brought keepers, loaned out keepers and now it looks like we have to pick between an 18 or 16 year old. o’boy what a mess we make
I see the metro have a story on first to last place in regard to time wasting, we are near the top, I guess we can blame our throw ins for that.
Neto is Arsenal’s back-up stopper but he is cup-tied after signing from Bournemouth, leaving Arteta short of options in goal.
18-year-old Tommy Setford would be next in line but has been struggling with injury, meaning 16-year-old Jack Porter could get the nod after he was on the bench for the Champions League game against Atalanta last week .
Only tomorrow though Geoff, Neto will come in then if he’s needed.