The acid test?

Morning all.

Is this the fixture which will tell us where Arsenal really are right now? Perhaps it is. We know we’re not in the same financial league as Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs and we’re some way off of the level Liverpool are at so what’s important for Arsenal is to not lose against the clubs competing for fourth place. Despite their big spending, I include Man Utd in that list of teams which include Leicester City, West Ham and Toots.

Brendan Rogers is doing a great job at Leicester City and the club have signed some very good players in recent years. He’s got them playing well again after a dodgy start to the season.

 

Arsenal.com

I think this game will be similar to Brighton. A busy Leicester team who’ll be all over the Arsenal players like a bad rash. If Arsenal let them! The key is to disrupt their style of play by getting at them first. Play our game and not surrender to theirs as we did at Brighton and at home against Crystal Palace.

But that’s the thing about Arsenal right now, one just never knows what Mikel Arteta’s team are going to serve up on a match day. That’s not a criticism, it’s a reality.

Here’s today’s team.

Arsenal.com

That’s a good team, a strong team and one which can cause Leicester City problems.

COYG’S.

See you in the comments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

88 thoughts on “The acid test?

  1. Ferk says:

    Morning
    Yes like that team. Love that draw,… first I’d heard of both .
    If we out compete , and so make the oppo look like they are rubbish ( Spurs and Villa) then we can ,as fans, be more comfortable that there’s a corner being turned. Anything else, other than a drubbing, then we remain in “what next?”limbo
    COYG

  2. Aussie Geoff says:

    Afternoon Rico and all
    Finally a decent time for us Aussie’s to watch should be a good match fingers crossed for a nice win

  3. andrewh1313 says:

    Love Laca’s little flicks back helping us build up play. Just seems too good a start! Centre backs keep firm, they covering well so far.

  4. Cicero says:

    Excellent first half, a quick start to the second with an early goal will knock the stuffing out of Leicester.

    Man of the match stuff from Ramsdale😉

  5. ScottfromOz says:

    We are headed the right way.
    The recent purchases have been brilliant for us.
    Everything is ticking along nicely and we will just keep getting better.

  6. Obi says:

    Having watched lots of Saliba and Guendouzi this season, I am wondering how Ben White is better than Saliba to justify a 50m price tag, and how Sambi is better than Guendouzi? Talk about making organizational decisions based on personalities…..

  7. rico says:

    Love what Ramsdale did at halftime, applauded the away fans and signed that his heart was with them. No wonder we love him. His distribution is amazing.

  8. Aussie Geoff says:

    Great start but nearly let them back in, we need to refocus for the second half and hopefully another quick goal or two

  9. ScottfromOz says:

    Rico, I have no idea how another club hadn’t spotted him, but I’m glad 🙂
    And to think he was copping abuse before he’d even played a game for us.
    I’m sure he’s won every fan over now, and that was as good a save as we will see all season.
    Defied physics lol

  10. ScottfromOz says:

    Obi, until we see Saliba in England…..
    Guendouzi didn’t set the league on fire.
    We are on a roll so why are you looking for negatives at half time of a game we are leading 2-0???

  11. Aussie Geoff says:

    Obi big difference between Sambi and Guendouzi Sambi listens Guendouzi doesn’t also you need to remember this is Sambi first season in the premier league

  12. rico says:

    Obi, Guendouzi is cheesing off everyone who comes in his way. That’s why he’s not at Arsenal I’m sure. Saliba is a mystery to me though but we’ll get a more experienced player next summer when he returns.

  13. Devilgunner says:

    Good afternooooooooooonnnn Rico and all.

    Just back from the health centre….had an incident with the grinder while doing an odd job in the garden and now have 3 stitches in my thigh. And I just saw the result…..mouth dropped much more than when I saw the deep cut the grinder did in my thigh.

    I never expected that. am I living in a parallel universe??

    Did Aaron make a save?? off course it was a worldie one. what makes you think it wasnt. Will see it later on but am enjoying what I am seeing. So far so good. I hope we keep a clean sheet, get another goal…..3 stitches, 3 points, 3 goals. 333

  14. Obi says:

    Rico, true about Guendouzi. He was worst at PSG when he was younger which was the reason Arsenal got him for less than 1m after he left PSG for a lesser club in France.

  15. rico says:

    Walton said it was down to the distance still to go Adam, but then he would. Must admit, I’d be disappointed if one of our players were sent off for that.

  16. ScottfromOz says:

    We must give credit to Leicester for working their way back into the game, but we also need to handle things a little better-that should come with experience.
    On the flip side, we also had a few great chances in the second half so it certainly wasn’t all one way.
    Definitely progressing well, in general.

  17. ScottfromOz says:

    I’m not sure if any of you saw the same broadcast as I did, with the same commentary team, but when Tomiyasu fouled an opponent, all I heard was “dirty f***en swamp rat”, absolutely as clearly as if the person saying it was 3 feet from me.
    Will this be followed up?

  18. Aussie Geoff says:

    Ramsdale saved us again, still a bit concerned with how we switch off the last 10 to 20 minutes in the first half, we can’t afford to do that against the top teams, however I will enjoy the win even more knowing Vardy never scored.

  19. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Arsenal !!!
    Since we stopped playing with ESR and Odegard at the same time, we play better. Odegard’s entry into the game coincided with our worst phase and the team had to be balanced right away.
    Why didn’t I go to coach?

  20. Adam says:

    Rico. I saw Koscielny sent off for that and he was on the half-way line.😀
    Evans knew he was gone if Auba got past him.

  21. rico says:

    Geoff,I think it’s more about game management than switching off. They can’t play at 100 mph for 90 mins imo.

    Adam, I remember now you mentioned it.

  22. Aussie Geoff says:

    Rico Not sure about game management because we left the other teams get more confidence which will cost us one day. However one good thing is we are starting to score. and even taking some long shots

  23. ScottfromOz says:

    Evans is blessed.
    Straight red without question, and the cheap shot on Ramsdale was pathetic.
    Too old and slow lol

  24. Aussie Geoff says:

    Scott the worst part about VAR not giving Evans a red card, According to the commentators it was the Aussie ref in VAR

  25. ScottfromOz says:

    Same guy who gave a penalty against Chambers when he should’ve received the foul, Geoff lol
    Bloody Aussies 😉

  26. allezkev says:

    Defeat for the Whites at Elland Road.

    Premier League 2

    Leeds United 2 (Greenwood 19’, Dean 34’)

    Arsenal 4 (Oulad M’Hand 24’, Biereth 46’, Balogun 55’ pen, Lopez 85’)

    Leeds: Klaesson (GK), Moore, Cresswell (McCarron 45’), Kenneh, Firpo (Hjelde 30’), Jenkins, Bate, Greenwood, Summerville (McKinstry 45’), Miller, Dean.

    Subs not used: Van Den Heuvel (GK), McGurk.

    Arsenal: Hein (GK), Swanson (Ideho 72’), Lopez, Monlouis, Rekik, Ogungbo (Taylor-Hart 22’), Norton-Cuffy, Akinola, Biereth, Oulad M’Hand (Henry-Francis 45’), Balogun (c).

    Subs not used: Ejeheri, Buttler-Oyeoeji.

    Mark Jackson’s Under-23s side were defeated at Elland Road in what was a match full of goals of chances throughout, under the lights.

    In front of a superb crowd inside the stadium, the Whites got the game underway and were instantly on the front foot. The lively Crysencio Summerville got into the box after a nice ball from Nohan Kenneh and saw his effort well saved.

    Max Dean was then the next to create a chance, as he played in former Arsenal and now Leeds United forward, Sam Greenwood who saw his strike saved.

    Shortly after that, the Whites did take the lead, and it was through Greenwood’s excellent finish. The striker was free inside the box and found by Summerville after the tricky winger won the ball back, broke forward and picked him out.

    Arsenal then equalised though, in their first real attack of the half. Salah Oulad M’Hand pounced on a defensive mistake and punished Leeds, curling his effort from outside the box into the top corner.

    Leeds kept the pressure on though and went forward looking to re-take the lead, and found it 10 minutes before the interval.

    Dean picked up the ball on the half-way line and surged forward, before timing a pass perfectly to Lewis Bate. The midfielder then controlled and slipped Dean back through, for the striker to finish calmly at the near post.

    Kristoffer Klaesson was forced to make a stop shortly before the whistle and did just that, denying Kido Taylor-Hart’s powerful effort, which sent Leeds into the break with a goal advantage.

    HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Arsenal

    Arsenal started the second half strongly and equalised instantly, as Mika Biereth pounced on a deflected ball inside the box to poke his effort over the line.

    The turnaround was completed for the visitors shortly after, from the penalty spot. Klaesson came out to narrow the angle against Taylor-Hart but in doing so, brought down the attacker. Flo Balogun stepped up from the spot and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to put Arsenal ahead.

    In response, Dean continued to be the biggest threat for Leeds. Firstly he picked up the ball outside the box and tried a curling effort which struck the inside of the post. His second effort moments later was from close range and forced Karl Hein into a superb save.

    As the clock started to tick down inside Elland Road, the superb crowd of 8,943 in attendance looked to support their team from the touchline as they searched for the equaliser.

    Leeds did leave themselves vulnerable to the counter though when going forward and after netting earlier in the match, Biereth had two great chances to settle the game but put his shots over the bar.

    The counter-attack continued to look a problem though and the Whites were punished from the next one. Balogun’s pace caused the issues as he got into the box and squared for Joel Lopez to tap home and secure the three points for Arsenal.

    FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-4 Arsenal

  27. potter says:

    That’s a relief Scott I have been having Internet problems all day and all I saw was

    Ramsdale was pathetic.
    Too old and slow lol..

    Then it cleared and I got the rest of your post .

    Saw bits and pieces of the game as I am not a BT subscriber . and I reckon we will get the standard 7 minutes of MOTD .

    Still worth waiting up for I suppose.

  28. andrewh1313 says:

    Loved Ramsdale’s reaction after home fans gave him the whistle and ‘your sh##’ when taking a goal kick having already made some great saves. He turned round to them smiling, and punched the air!

    Are we 5th at the moment?😀😀

  29. allezkev says:

    Yeah I agree, seemed a nailed on red for Evans, no covering defenders and the referee pundit on BT is a clown so his view is worthless.

    We have a great starting XI (Tierney/Tavares?) but after the 1st team there’s a drop in intensity and that’s a worry.

  30. rico says:

    He joined in with their chants too Andrew, loved it.

    Agree Kev re the starting 11/13. If we suffer a few injuries it could cause problems. I guess the next couple of transfer windows will help sort that out.

  31. Aussie Geoff says:

    We deserved our win today.
    Some big upset today working in our favour, I don’t like palace but glad for Viera palace 2 man city 0

  32. andrewh1313 says:

    Leicester were always going to have long spells after that first half as they are a good team. It’s how we dealt with them and we had pretty good defending with an outstanding goalie.

    Blast, we are 3 points behind Man City!

  33. rico says:

    Agree Andrew, especially being the home team and Rogers is no fool.

    Great from England, super bowling and a wonderful bash from Jos.

  34. Devilgunner says:

    News from El Sackico….OGS is winning 1-0 over NES. I hope they get a draw.

    Good results all around….we are just 5 points away from 2nd place dippers. And City lost….. ironically to 2 teams who we got a draw with. Where they 4 dropped points or we did well with our team? It’s a matter of opinion, how one looks at it. If there is a game I feel bad about it’s the first one against Brentford. Otherwise I feel we did well with CP and BAHA.

    Another point I really liked today is the fact that the goals came from a defender and a midfielder while Saka got two assists.

    Ramsdale, White and Gabriel all get 15 out of 10 from me, while Tavarez gets 14/15.

  35. Devilgunner says:

    did you know that 10 years ago today……..Andre Santos scored against the Chavs!!!!

    Anyone remembers Pizza Santos here?

  36. andrewh1313 says:

    Arsenal win, England win at a canter, Man U win which keeps Ole there, and Spurs lose. Why can’t all Saturdays be like this😀

  37. Devilgunner says:

    Andrew……I dont want Spurs to lose. Actually I would rather see them remain unbeaten for a whole season….provided they draw all their games. That way they would have the distinct possibility of being unbeaten but not winning the league. They might even be relegated with 38 points.

    That would be WICKED

  38. ScottfromOz says:

    Exactly, Andrew.
    They adjusted, had their chances but at the same time, we had some great chances in the second half as well.
    Small margins-they could easily have pinched a 2-2 result, we could’ve won by 4.

  39. ScottfromOz says:

    Best deliverer of a cross we’d had in a decade.
    Shame he could only get one hat high up the pitch once a game.

  40. Aussie Geoff says:

    Ramsdale – Coaches of young children should use him as an example to show them that no matter how bad things look never give up on your dream.

  41. ScottfromOz says:

    Some of our fans should look at him as an example why they should shut up
    before insulting a man without having see him play 🙂
    Plenty did on social media, which was just incredible but your point stands, Geoff.
    The guy is all heart, with a fair splattering of talent mixed in.
    Brilliant keeper.

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