Morning all.
A headline on Sky Sports yesterday read “Isak’s time to show Arsenal what they are missing” and he did. Would I like Arsenal to break the bank to sign him? Absolutely not because as good as he is, he’s often injured. Not that I think he would be interested in switching Newcastle for Arsenal anyway, but I don’t think the headline meant that. I think the writer was simply suggesting that Arsenal are missing a player who can do what he does.
Gabriel Martinelli had a wonderful opportunity to give the team a 1-0 lead but blasted his shot against the post. Five minutes later, Newcastle had free-kick which their keeper launched up field. Arsenals defending wasn’t the best no sooner had the ball landed at Isak’s feet, we were 1-0 down. It was so easy for Newcastle.
With 51 minutes on the clock, Arsenal went 2-0 down. A free kick which led to Isak taking a shot. David Raya could only parry the ball and Gordon pounced on the loose ball.
Arsenal’s football was sluggish in comparison to Newcastle who started with power, speed and determination. Our defence and our defending looked disjointed and lacklustre, our passing too slow and sometimes indecisive.
Yet, at 2-0 down, Arsenal finally played with a bit more purpose but by then, it was too late, Newcastle had their two goal cushion and they were not surrendering it. Their defence was solid, their keeper strong and despite trying so very hard, Arsenal couldn’t half the deficit let alone level it.
Whilst Arsenal might be down, Mikel Arteta said we are not necessarily out:
There’s a long way [to go], it’s just half-time,” he said post-match. “It’s very disappointing because the performance and dominance in the game doesn’t reflect the scoreline unfortunately. We could have done better in the two goals that we conceded and with the amount of shots and situations that we generated, we should have scored at least two or three goals. With the scenario that we have which has been very tricky, we perform and produce what we can in the game so no excuses about that. Let’s move on, it’s just half-time. The team showed today that we can go up there and win the game in the manner that we need to in order to be in the final.
He is right of course, it is only half-time and I’d like to think this group of players are capable of getting the right result but I’d be kidding myself, just as Mikel Arteta probably is too. If last nights lacklustre performance was out of the blue then fine, but it wasn’t. Barring odd game or three, our football hasn’t made particularly good viewing.
69% possession, 23 shots, 3 on target . There lies the problem, or at least one of them.
What about Alexander Isak’s performance:
I don’t think he created or had any big chances, but he was involved in both goals unfortunately with the two times that he had the ball in the box. That’s what you have – the real quality up front and they can make a difference. They’re very clinical.
He did have one big chance though and he buried it, just as it was his shot which Raya parried that led to Gordon scoring and that’s the difference a lethal finisher, or as Arteta put it, real quality up front can make in a game. Apparently, playing with a different ball can too…
It’s just different, very different to a Premier League ball and you have to adapt to that because it flies differently. When you touch it, the grip is very different as well, so you have to adapt to that.
I don’t recall it being a problem in our previous rounds….
I don’t believe in giving up or giving in in life but sometimes, one has to admit defeat. Perhaps when the return leg comes around, Mikel Arteta does just that. Accept the task ahead is too great and heavily rotate his players.
Next up is Manchester Utd in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon, followed by a north London Derby on Wednesday night. I know you and I always say one game at a time but……
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico.
I totally disagree with Arteta on dominance and performance, ok, dominance in possession but doing what? Side to side, back and forth, wow Newcastle must have been quaking. Theo alluded to the wingers passing back too often, fully agree. It seems we prefer the safe option probably suggested by Opta stats.
It was not only poor it was boring, and the set pieces have been nullified so a change of tactics seems obvious but let’s not hold our breath.
Morning Berg.
I’m with you there and it’s something he often says. Possession is only relevant if a team puts the ball in the back of the net. Much of our possession this season has been sideways, backwards and safe passing. Up front and even in midfield, we lack that killer ball and finish.
Arteta’s comments about the game is why I take his comments like agrain of salt, he is so quick to find / use any excuse but never admits the truth when he gets his game plan wrong, team selection or blaim a team perforance for a lose. he is so conviced scoreing from corner kicks is the way to win a game.
I did think we speeded up with Jorghino coming on, that said, they had dropped back as a block but we did threaten more.
I’m sure he’d want us to score more goals from open play Geoff but imo, our football is too slow. We make it too easy for opponents with an organised defence.
Exactly, two goals in the bank so just defend. I’m sure we’d have done the same away from home.
Vented all my frustration last night but this morning I am still seething.
I concluded at half time that I was not going to worry anymore than the players were.
As usual we were clueless about how to break down an organised defence. As others have said crab football in midfield and defence , Is Arteta Ray Wilkins in disguise ? When we do make chances , we miss them , people as usual have their favourites and Martinelli is copping the blame all over the web for hitting the post but at least he didn’t close his eyes before attempting head a ball 2 foot out.
Frankly although both Havertz and Jesus are good footballers they are not the answer when it comes to breaking deadlocks and the time we take to get the ball to them going round in circles and then passing a 2 yard pass .
We need a tactical shake up , we can’t rely on set pieces , we have to change the pattern , we need to be more direct.
As you may have guessed , I am not happy.
Arteta interview quote
‘Unfortunately the two times he had the ball in the box and that’s what happens when you have real quality up front and they can make the difference, and they’re very clinical.’
Well well well , who would have thought it
Good Morning Rico and all
On yesterday’s showing yes we did need a striker who buries his chances. We outshot them however they scored and we didn’t. We had 23 shots and while it would be impossible to get them all on target I expect better. at least 10 shots on target.
With regards the ball, Arteta was not using it as an excuse. He got asked the question ” other managers have said the ball is different, what did you think” And he gave his opinion. So for those thinking he used it as an excuse its just they heard half truth.
While I said we need a finisher, I still hold my ground on the issues of creativity and sharing of goals around the team. Relying on Saka to drive us forward shows how limited and dependent we are. Maybe a shift in tactics, ideas will lead to unpredictability and new options.
Like Potter I made my feelings clear earlier today, no point in repeating them.
One oddity, why when we needed a goal in the closing stages, with Sterling on the bench, why bring on Zinchenko? His only significant action was to pull a player back and thus get booked. Screwy!!
Cicero, was Arteta protecting MLS by bringing on Zinchenko?
My point exactly re his comment about Isak in the post. Arteta has kind of made him self look silly b3cause he insists on not signing a striker.
It’ll be interesting to hear what Kev says about the atmosphere in the stadium..
Morning Devil.
Arteta’s ball comment just made me laugh, that’s all.
I guess Sterling was just making up the bench numbers…
Berg, MLS was subbed on 78 mins, including added time that left 17 mins to play. The lad did not look tired to me, he seemed to be doing very well. If Arteta was protecting him, what difference could those 17 minutes make?
Cicero, I agree but maybe he was thinking that Nwaneri was left on too long for a young lad resulting in his muscular injury? The fact that Newcastle had opted to park the bus signalled the fact their lack of attacking intent so we could have re enforced the attack with Sterling but Arteta edged his bets with Zinchenko as he’s a bit of both attack/defence.
Or a bit of neither Berg.. 😜
If we are looking to buy a forward I hope we manage to do soon, or Arteta will end up giving Sterling a five year contract and paying Chelsea for the privilege doing so.
Afternoon Rico.
Regarding the atmosphere, well the Ashburton Army lost all their seats as Newcastle had the Clock End lower and if did affect the atmosphere which wasn’t as vocal as usual. My son commented that he hardly recognised anyone as most of the regulars were absent.
As for the game, narrow margins again, if Martinelli scores the game changes and maybe Isak doesn’t score, if Havertz got his head on the ball then maybe at 1-2 down we’d be more hopeful of turning it around? Newcastle defended well and looked dangerous on the break, Arsenal didn’t have any luck and in those types of games you do need a break.
Afternoon Kev, thanks re that, is the League Cup included for ST holders I wonder?
Agree re the fine margins but then that’s why I and a few others of us keep harping on about signing a clinical goal scorer. Right now we’re relying on midfielders/wingers to score goals but they’re not.
Cicero, let’s hope not eh…
Rico, the number of cup vouchers in the season ticket has been reduced the past couple of seasons, consequently none of the League Cup or FA Cup games are included and I think there’s only one more cup voucher for the CL before you have to buy them.
The ticket was £30 yesterday so it was a reasonable price and it attracted fans who usually don’t go.
It means that your season ticket is less vfm but it allows more fans who struggle to get a ticket to actually go and I’m sure that’s how the club would see it rather than the vfm angle.
Might explain the early exits then Kev. My fear was the fans were getting a bit restless with the football.
Yeah I agree, we do need a striker of two or even three Rico but the ball pin-balled around both boxes at times but for Newcastle it fell kindly whereas for Arsenal the huge frame of Dan Burn usually got in the way.
Well I left 10 minutes before the end but then my son has to be up at 4am for work so we needed to get our trains.
Of course if it had been 1-2 and Arsenal were really looking likely to score we might have stayed another 5 minutes!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14232965/Premier-League-star-accused-rape-CPS.html
There’s literally thousands of young working class girls across the entire country who have been raped in an industrial manner and the Police, CPS, social services and of course politicians did absolutely zero.
Sort that out first and stop gaslighting over a footballer.
who that 30+ year old may be is anyone’s guess. There are lots of 30+ year old players in the EPL. The number gets to narrow down due to the fact that he is on a 6 figure salary pw. However, I feel that the prosecutor will not decide to press charges to see how the title race unfolds. It might be that naming this player will stop him playing for his club. Plus he might be carrying the team and without him his club would surely struggle.
I had deleted the link Kev, thought it was better but it’s back now.
But yes, you’re absolutely right…
My opinion is that if the allegation was that serious, or if the evidence was clear, whoever it was would have been dealt with by now..
yes Rico you are right about that. the fact that its still ongoing is just one of two things….either no clear evidence (not serious) or else the reason I gave above.
The CPS won’t take the players career into consideration Devil. If there’s the evidence to charge him, he’ll be charged.
I dont think he’s an Arsenal player though…if yes his name would be plastered all over the pages. Nohing is foolproof nowadays so his name would have been leaked
It’s a PL footballer so if his name was out there, we’d know. Whether he plays for Arsenal or not is imo irrelevant..
In my opinion, the team is physically and mentally tired. Which is not surprising. They are slow, lose in physical confrontations, react late and lack confidence. They have a very short squad as I said before the season started. In fact, he spends his life exchanging the ball without objectivity, which shows the physical and mental fragility of the players. It’s all done with effort and reported. And in my opinion, a policy of acquiring/reinforcing the wrong team.
Totts score in the 86th minute. Is this a sign of Liverpool’s luck running out?
Agreed Jm.
However, at this stage of the competition, it is mandatory to go play and decide the 2nd half of the round. It’s the difference between a big club and a modest club.
Rico, I don’t know about Liverpool’s luck running out but mine just got worse as one son in law and grandson are Newcastle fans and the other son in law and grandson are Spuds and recently I’ve been dissing them.😜
😂 Berg, you poor thing…
Berg, your house must be fun trying not to talk about football at Christmas time.
I never like it when a manager or the media single out one player, after all if he is haveing a bad game, then the manager should change him,
I like the idea of dropping the gate price for certain matches as it feels that the club is trying to help families who cannot afford a normal match ticket, a chance to see our team play.