Morning all.
When the team news came through, I’d no idea Covid had forced Mikel Arteta to make a few changes. That’s assuming Mikel opted to change his team around because of it of course. I first thought ‘at last, he’s changing tact’.
No Willian, Gabriel or Luiz. No Aubameyang or Pepe to start with either which made me smile with relief. Xhaka in midfield though against an exciting Chelsea attack was a concern to say the least. Misplaced though, totally misplaced.
A perfectly executed penalty from Lacazette, a wonderful free kick from Xhaka and the most audacious shot from man of the match Saka to make it 3-0.
Without my Arsenal tinted specs on, we utterly deserved those three points, and more had they been on offer. Not one of the starting eleven deserve criticism in my opinion, not even Xhaka. He might not be the quickest to get back but he was getting back. Some of his attacking passes were excellent. ESR looked right at home in the team. Saka, our best player was creating chances one minute, back in defence, digging us out of trouble the next. Lacazette was smiling! Leno saved a penalty but otherwise, had very little to too because Arsenal defended well. Holding was superb.
The only annoying bit was not smacking another 2/3 goals past Mendy. Martinelli and Lacazette will be kicking themselves. As will Elneny after rattling the woodwork.
Anything, everything Chelsea tried, we dealt with comfortably. Until Mikel Arteta made his substitutions. Pepe simply doesn’t have the same energy as Martinelli. Nor does he, or rather did he, offer the same level of assistance to Tierney. Willock did appear to be as calm on the ball as ESR but that’s not be being overly critical, just an observation.
The goal we conceded was disappointing, as was the penalty but at least it gives us all a chance to applaud Leno for his excellent penalty save. I thought his ball handling was better yesterday too as I’m sure I saw him catch the ball on more than a handful of occasions.
As for the game itself, it was good. From an Arsenal perspective of course. Frank Lampard, the much praised young manager with a glut of players to choose from, certainly in the attacking department, versus another young manager on the verge of the sack. There was only ever going to be one winner.
I thought Arsenal came out in a positive mood and it wasn’t long before Elneny and Bellerin worked the ball down our right. Bellerin whipped the ball into the box where Martinelli was lurking. His shot went just wide of Chelsea’s goal. Chelsea too had a good chance, the result of a rare silly mistake made by Xhaka as his challenge led to a free kick which Mount took and hit the outside of the post. That was probably the closest they came to scoring until the moment they did.
Just before the half hour mark, Bellerin was involved in another attack which ended with the ball at the feet of ESR. His shot was rushed, miss hit but Martinelli was on hand to try his luck but a deflection resulted in an Arsenal corner. When were we going to get Lady Luck back on our side? Ten minutes before halftime was the answer, although she wasn’t needed because Michael Oliver didn’t hesitate to point to the spot when Tierney went over in the box. He’d beaten the Chelsea right back, felt contact and did what every other player would do. He went to ground. Up stepped Lacazette to send Mendy the wrong way.
Michael Oliver was probably checking his watch for halftime when Kante fouled Saka just outside the box. The angle of the free kick definitely suited the left foot of Xhaka but with Lacazette looking interested, I thought he was going to take it. I was wrong. Xhaka, pace, accuracy and 2-0.
Ten minutes after the break, we were 3-0. An incredible goal really but then Saka is an incredible talent. In a flash, a moment of brilliance probably raised all Arsenal fans hopes. Beliefs even that this terrible run we’ve been on was about to end. We were beating a Chelsea side who were aiming to finish the day in second place but three goals. I wanted Michael Oliver to blow his whistle there and then.
Chelsea got one back, annoyingly and when Mari conceded a penalty late in the game, my nerves returned. But it was our day because Leno did what very few Arsenal keepers have done over recent years. He saved it.
Finally, Arsenal had won a game. Not by luck and certainly not by playing badly. For most of the match I thought we were excellent. The best we’ve played this season.
I’m not for one minute going to suggest Mikel Arteta has cracked it, or Arsenal’s troubles are over etc because they’re not. This is just one game and one victory. But a darn good one and one to build on.
See you in the comments.
That’s what happens when you play a REAL NO 10 in his position. You create chances and you score goals. We haven’t had that since M10 was out of the team. And willock is not one as he proved yesterday. He is more Chamberlain than Berkamp
Good morning Rico, let’s hope Arteta has seen the light and doesn’t revert to his old selections for the Brighton game.
Three points on Tuesday could help to sustain the Arsenal resurgence.
Morning Cicero, if he does and we revert to playing slow football, he’ll deserve the criticism he’ll probably get.
Morning Rico snd Co,
Wow wow wow, it was a sublime performance seeing Lacazette being supported by three maestros Saka, ESR, snd Martinelli was both dazzling and somehow reassuring. Because they were on the attack one moment and the next tracking back but their ability to go from attacking to defending and vice versa was the secret to their performance. There was a balance and a swagger from these three with Lacazette performing with dignity and cunning keeping the attacks going helping the youngsters by holding up playing perfectly. I’ve not seen a better example of holding play then I saw today from Lacazette he was excellent.
Umah, I don’t think Arteta sees Willock as a number ten but more of a box to box with energy.
Morning Mig.
Lacazette showed a similar kind of performance when playing in the Europa fixtures. Perhaps it’s simple, play him with energetic players and his game goes up a level but as soon as the slow, sideways and predictable returns, he struggles to make an impact. A bit like Aubameyang really although he’s one of the players who should be playing with the kind of pace and energy Martinelli has.
If he’s legs aren’t up for it, then why give him a new deal and a big pay rise. ESR though, what a cracking little player he looked yesterday. Chelsea had no answer.
Great write up rico, afternoon all.
Despite the recent gloom, Saka, Martinelli and Tierney, plus Partey and Gabriel when they return give great optimism as we end this sad year. Only worry yesterday was the amount of free headers we still allow, fortunately they all went over.
The joy on their faces was lovely to see. No team looks happy on a dreadful run, but it’s hard to see much dressing room unrest with the delight for each other shown yesterday.
good morning everyone!
a) Finally, Arsenal had someone playing in the middle. The team, obviously, is more balanced. Nothing I hadn’t posted before
b) The problem isn’t Xhaka “not be the quickest to get back but he was getting back”. The problem is even the defense that, in the face of an attack, retreats in a bloc, feeling insecure, prefers to close himself and leaves an important area “unpopulated” and offered to the opponent.
Hence dangerous fouls to be made by the midfielders, it is an apex. Block defense has to gain confidence, attack opponents, reduce spacing and consequently decrease the possibility of mobilizing opponents.
c) Saka and Pepe were on the opposite sides.
Yet a beautiful one Rico, good afternoon. Ending our winless run by beating a strong rival club of Chelsea’s pedigree makes me feel like am in the moon. Soooo happy with the line up, performance and the result. Pls I’ll appreciate if someone could tell me formation or system Arteta played yesterday. I saw the boys attacking, pressing and defending relentlessly and that couldn’t had been possible with 343 system so please tell me thanks. Beating Manu brought us bad luck, lets hope beating Chelsea will be the turning point of this ugly season.
Thanks Andrew. Perhaps the dressing room unrest was missing because the perpetrators were also missing..
Did I say good morning earlier? Good afternoon then. Rico I was only highlighting our lack of No 10s and how it is a major part of our current catharsis. I think it made all the difference yesterday along with Martinelli and all that he brings. Even a player as decent as Smith Rowe could improve us immensely. I was so glad to see that saka wasn’t the only one huffing and puffing yesterday. He had Smith Rowe and Martinelli. You could also see the positioning of the players in attack very positive they were giving dangerous options to pass to. Saka was just going to pass to Smith Rowe in a dangerous position before he was tripped for xkaka’s goal. By the way, Arteta played a 433.
With a bit of luck it could have been 5-1 to the Gunners, if it had been 3-2 then that wouldn’t have been a fair reflection, but all’s well that ends well.
When I saw Xhaka smash in his goal I just thought why? Why don’t you do that more often, you should be scoring 5,6 &7 goals a season not just one… but it was a great hit and he deserved it.
So pleased to see fans recognising all the hard work Rob has been doing this season, just stay fit and maybe Southgate will give you a chance?
Now Mikel, you’ve seen what our Kids can do against a top top side, stick with them because they’re the future and they’ll save your job and why your at it for pity’s sake use Reiss Nelson instead of that bloody show pony Pepe…
The January Window opens soon, but if Arsenal are to do only one piece of business make it signing Foloran Balogun on a long term deal…
Thanks for the post Rico.
Here goes Twinsy and I’m not a tactical type, but I understand that we were playing a 4 2 3 1, with our full backs overloading on the flanks when we attacked, Tierney/Martinelli and Bellerin/Saka, Smith Rowe was playing ‘between lines’ as the term goes these days and offering Xhaka and Elneny a link to the attackers through the middle.
I mean even Elneny got forward and was unlucky not to score with Rob following up his effort and also coming close to scoring.
Maybe it’s a glimpse and how we’re going to progress the ball and the possibility that more of our players are going for goal now, thankfully…
I hope that helps…
Twinsy, agree re the pressing etc, how refreshing it was.
Sorry Umar, I put the two together and came to the wrong conclusion. Agree re our lack of a proper no10 and despite Ozil talent, there’s no way imo, would he have worked as hard for the team as ESR did yesterday. I’m so glad he was given his chance.
From open play too Kev. So often the opportunity has been there for Xhaka to unleash a shot but it’s like he’s too afraid to.
Really not liking the rumours of Balogun to Liverpool…
https://twitter.com/Bernd_Leno/status/1342923641764409345?s=20
Balogun is still ours until he’s not Rico, until then all the rumours can do one…
Just hope he wants to stay Kev, otherwise he’s a gonner.
Watching Sam’s reorganisation of West brom at. Liverpool and they will not be a shoe in for us
First game fluke Potter. Lol
Apparently Brighton are suspect at dead ball situations according to the commentary blurb, so hopefully our dead ball coach will have some specialities planned for Potter and his cheats.
Would that be the dead ball specialist who can’t work out how to get our corners past the first defender? 😂
That’s the bloke, brilliant isn’t he…. 😆
Morning all.
Rico, I don’t see many youngsters practicing corners or free kicks and certainly no delivering a cross.
Seems the focus is on pass, move and receive.
I recon we need to take more long shots at goal just to keep the opposition and there keeper unaware of who is going to take the shot or were from
Geoff, agreed, especially as we have a few guys who can bang themselves in from distance.
Xhaka, Laca, Elneny……they’ve all scored some rippers.
Yet they’ll practice penalties Scott.
Morning all
New post up now
I have nothing to add to all the brilliant comments on here , but I like reading this blog & I like the people who reply on it , so I just wanted to join with the ‘Happiness’ & hope that we are all feeling . /MARTINELLI/ESR/SAKA/TIERNEY/AMN/NELSON/ BALOGUN ( if he stays) our Arsenal future PLEASE Arteta let us have more of this after all us fans have been through we DESERVE it