Morning all.
Those two things are. Dirty Bournemouth and Carl Jenkinson!
I always thought Eddie Howe was one of the good guys, a nice guy who believed in playing good football but what was on show last night was different to that. Seems to me he’s resorted to the ‘Arsenal don’t like it up em’ approach but he’s failed to realise is that we’re stronger these days. We’re more robust. The studs into the leg of Koscielny though, well that’s different, that was ugly. Our captain got up and carried on, gingerly I hasten to add but he’s going to be sore.
Carl Jenkinson hasn’t kicked a ball for the first team for a while. One match at centre back if my memory serves me right. He hasn’t played out on the right for even longer but just how confident a performance did he put in? I thought he was excellent. That crunching tackle he made was a throwback to times when good, hard and honest tackles were made. Loved it. Could he face the Totts at the weekend, why not? He certainly won’t need motivating…
Ozil and Mkhitaryan had good games too I thought, both with a goal to their name which is an added bonus but it’ll take more than one good game for Ozil to win over his critics I’m sure. The only blemish of the night was conceding a goal. That darn playing out from the back did us again. Guendouzi was probably not in the best place to be given the ball in the first place. The only other occasions Bournemouth came close to scoring was when they hit the woodwork. Mind you, so did Ozil. Oh, and Leno made a good save again.
Could or should we have been awarded a penalty when Sokratis was pulled over? I’ve seen them given but i thought there was a bit of pulling and holding from both players so I can understand the referee not giving it. Perhaps we, or rather Sokratis was fortunate right at the end when he gave away a free kick just outside our own penalty area. Many a Riley puppet would have produced a second yellow card. (I think it was Sokratis but I was watching on a footie app)
Other than that, a good game from Arsenal I thought. Quite even between first and second half too. Five good goals from different players was just what we’ve been asking for. Ozil with our opener, Mkhitaryan with the second before Koscielny popped up with our third. Aubameyang our paced the defence like we know he can to make it 4-1 and finally, Lacazette came off the bench to strike a fine free kick. A quick mention of Suarez too who showed a bit grit and determination from the ground.
It’s been a good few days for Arsenal. We’ve progressed further in the Europa Cup by dismantling BATE, we’ve beaten Southampton thanks to a solid first half performance, battered a rough and dirty Bournemouth team and we’re up on the amount of points won in the league compared to last season. Progress? Well considering the points tally was often used to justify Arsene Wenger’s demise, the answer has to be yes. Ok, there are issues with certain areas of our play like defending and complacency but I truly believe we might just be turning a corner. If we get battered at the weekend, I’ll eat my words, don my tin hat and run to the hills and hide for a few days.
A few weeks ago, top four was being written off as Utd and Chelsea were red hot favourites to fight it out for that but we’re still in there with a chance. A good chance too and I’d say third place too is still up for grabs. I’m not suggesting we’ll get it but its far from cut and dry that the Toots will. It’s the 1st of March tomorrow and as far as our season goes, there’s still an awful lot to play for. Including pride, improvement and player understanding between each other.
Whats next for Unai Emery?
Now, I am going to watch this match for the analysis and I am going to watch Tottenham and after decide our gameplan against them with every player. We need the players in the first 11 and on the bench, and we need a big commitment from every player to help us. The next match is Saturday. If we can play with big performance I want every player to help us with this decision.
For Arsenal? A short trip across London on Saturday lunchtime where three massive points are up for grabs. I’d take just the one right now, but all three?
I wouldn’t bet against it….
Morning all.
Pass mark, Rico hahahaha
You summarised things bloody well!!
A damn solid win, and we went in with the job which was pleasing to see, especially after conceding to give them a sniff.
Some lovely goals, Auba scored the type of goal we should probably expect more of as he has everything needed to do so, and Laca’s freekick was an absolute beauty.
Good result, good performance and I do hope Ozil backs up that performance and tears the Spuds apart.
He’s more than capable, so hopefully, this game was the confidence builder he needed.
Good +ve thoughts there Rico – stir the troops and I think you’ll find we’ll all be pretty much on the same page.
Family visiting this week (not really football fans) so didn’t see the match.
Couldn’t believe my eyes when I finally saw the score. Wow, a very pleasant change and some good goals too (video highlights).
IF we beat Spurs, then I am very hopeful we can nick 3rd spot or, surely 4th?
Just got to keep winning and scoring more goals that Man Utd and Chelsea..
There was more spirit in the team yesterday, Özil did what we know he can, and apart from the Leno blip giving the ball to Guendouzi when there was someone already on top of him, it was much better all round.
Pleased to see Jenks back.
Can we keep replicating it?
Thanks you two..
I don’t think Ozil will play against Toots Scott. Has he played an away game this year?
Mkhitaryan is the one I hope carries on as he’s going. On form he’s a classy player. Imo of course. Lol
Rico, I doubt anyone would disagree on Mkhitaryan.
He’s a damn classy player and is having a good crack.
His form has been very good lately.
Like Ozil and a few others though Scott, they’ve got to be more consistent and not just play well when they feel like it..
Rico, that goes for every player, as well as Emery 🙂
Great to see a Jenks get a run!!!
His passion and effort could rub off on others.
Morning Rico and all.
Good post Rico and I echo your thoughts about Howe and Bournemouth. With, what only a couple of seasons ago, seemed a rather boyish face and charm, Eddie Howe has in actual fact always seen physicality as a way of making up the gap to the quality of the bigger teams. When he had the ghastly Harry Arter running around kicking everyone he could, leading with his elbows and slipping in over-the-top tackles, it was bad enough but, the stamp on Kos by King and that edge of the box assault on Torreira but some fat bloke whose name escapes me, shows that some things just don’t change. I know all teams need a physical side but the boyish charm has gone and it looks as if Howe has decided that the Pulis model is the way to go.
Spurs will be a bigger challenge and we’ll have to be ready for the over-physical side to their game, nurtured by ex-enforcer and supreme knob, Pochettino. They will dish out a severe kicking and I wish that ‘Arry Kane gets a ban for his rather weird head butt on that Chelsea left back who never stops moaning.
Emery can’t be held responsible for players inconsistencies though Scott. But yes, as said, there are a few players who need to work a lot harder each week.
Morning Adam, thanks.
Agree re Saturday, a strong and honest ref would be ideal.
Are the FA taking a look at that head butt? The certainly should. It’s about time Toots were pulled up for their off the ball stuff.
Rico, I meant Emery himself
Needs to be a little more consistent.
Adam, physicality, and I am being polite there, seems the default strategy when managers run out of ideas.
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico, a fine post from your eloquent pen, even if it was tapped out on a keyboard. 🙂
They didn’t show the penalty claim on MotD or many of the fouls that Adam spoke of, but that’s the BBC for you, it doesn’t fit in with their narrative.
Tottenham are going to be a totally different proposition, even minus the ace knobhead Dier.
All the many Argentinian skills that Pochettino has passed onto his players will be on view, we know that the media’s little darlings will be up to all their many tricks a la Ferguson United style. So I’m not sure that Ozil will start, I’m not sure that he can handle the physicality, a couple of crunching tackles and he’ll become a passenger and we need 11 players up for the fight, so for me both Xhaka and Ramsey must come into the team before Mesut.
Iwobi must start, Lacazette must start, Guendouzi and Torrieira also, we need players who are willing to put their all on the line as it’s going to be a bear pit at Wembley.
When we beat Spurs 4-2 we surprised them, they couldn’t handle our intensity and our three at the back worked a treat.
Pochettino changed things in the League Cup, no Harry Kane, more runners from midfield rather than playing through a centre forward and they undid our back three, they mugged us 2-0 and it could have been worse.
Emery will have learned from that so will he go three at the back or a back four?
Whatever he does we need a fit Koscielny because he’s been absolutely superb.
Would I start Jenkinson?
Yes, I probably would, Maitland Niles is too casual, his concentration wanders and we can’t afford anyone knocking off, whilst Lichtsteiner is a risk, he has the mentality and attitude for this type of game but does he have the legs? He could get sent off and that’s something we need to be aware of because the home fans will be baying for blood, saliva dripping down their chins after consuming several pints of cheap lager.
We haven’t beaten the Scum at their hovel for a long long time, too long, so maybe this being Emery’s first attempt will see us succeed. But I reckon it’ll be a draw.
Michael Oliver would be my pick for the NLD this weekend Rico.
Good post and good morning Rico. Yes, great result and the good thing here is that it appears that the players are realising the importance of scoring as many goals as possible. Goals difference may be the decider between Arsenal, ManU and Chelsea.
A few observations though. Guendouzu has a penchant for holding onto the ball unduly instead of a simple pass to the next player, hence he is most often ccaught in possession. The goal we conceded is an example. Rewatch the match and see other cases. Emery must stop this.
. Emery’s press statement which you quoted here states that he will watch the Totts game against Chelsea before deciding on his game plan. I would rather he watched the Totts home game against same Chelsea to see their suffocating press. If he does, he might reserve Ozil on the bench pending when the steam is gone from both teams. We need warriors against the Totts as it will be all about running non-stop, marking, robust tackling, quick thinking and relentless press. The Totts will be wary that a loss will throw open even their third place.
. Anyway, I do know that the players need no more motivation than the fact that they are facing their noisy neighbours. But if you ask me, I will prefer Jenkinson as the right back for thatvday, because it will be a high energy game and all he needs be told is to stop crosses in to our box.
Even if Kane was cited, he would surely appeal and still be able to play against us…
Or maybe Pochettino will pull his Son stunt and start with the Korean Up front?
I think I kind of favour a back four with three in midfield a 4 3 3/4 5 1 combo…
Emery will probably switch a couple of times during the game, our players seems more able to deal with this flexibility now.
I thought that Guendouzi was fouled, I don’t think the Bournemouth player got a touch of the ball and just shoved Matteo over, but it’s something he needs to be aware of, in that the referees in England don’t always give the foul.
Anywhere else in Europe, that’s a foul…
In what way Scott?
Morning Kev, thanks.
Oliver is about the best of a bad bunch I’d say. Dean would be ok too now he’s fallen out big time with Poch. Lol
I’d be tempted to play Jenks on Saturday but having not played last night, I’d imagine Lichtsteiner will play. Same with Iwobi and Xhaka. Kos would be a huge miss especially as Mustafi has the tendency to go to ground so often. We need calm heads in defence together with the clever Sokratis who should be looking to wind Kane up. He’s obvious vulnerable.. lol
Morning Daniel , thanks. I doubt Emery will use a match which they lost to judge Toots, he’ll be looking at more than just last night. Certainly no place in the team for softies on Saturday.
Lacazette is clearly going to be the frontman after being on the bench yesterday. Xhaka, Iwobi, Ramsey too perhaps.
Should be a good game…
Might not risk an appeal though Kev, not for the extra game ban. It was blatant I thought.
Good morning Rico and all others.
An excellent post Rico, thank you.
How can almost the same team play two such different games in such a short time. On Sunday a stodgy Arsenal team played keep ball in front of the Southampton defence. Endlessly passing the ball laterally and backwards before losing possession while struggling to overcome a poor but physical challenge.
Last night we saw virtually the same team, with a few notable changes, play a fast paced, direct and technically brilliant game to run out easy winners against a poor but physical challenge.
Has Emery stumbled upon a pairing that can utilise two naturally gifted players who, all too often, fail to make the impact that their talents should demand. Ozil, who had a brilliant game and Mkhitaryan who looked an entirely different proposition to the lackadaisical bit-part player so often on show.
It was noticeable that, in the absence of Iwobi, the pace of our attacks was considerably increased and showed a greater determination to get the telling pass in early.
I haven’t seen the Koscielny injury, it barely got a mention on the Sky Hits highlights show last night, but from what I’ve read the FA should be taking a look at the video and considering retrospective action against Bournemouth player concerned. Not that such action will do any good to either Koscielny or Arsenal.
Morning Cicero, thanks.
I thought the incident with Kos was reminiscent of the Lukaku one. Trouble is, all we hear from pundits alike is that there was no intent as it happened so quickly but I’m not so sure.
Good question re Iwobi, he’s fine and pretty quick until like Ozil, often puts his foot on the ball whilst he thinks about where to pass it. Or perhaps the movement off the ball was better last night allowing us to play a quicker passing game.
Or Bournemouth just didn’t defend as well as Southampton…
I don’t know quite what more Jenkinson has to do to get the gig whilst Bellerin is out . He gets up and down, he crosses well ,he isn’t slow and he can tackle and he is handy in the air too . Maybe it’s a body language thing as he kind of looks awkward and doesn’t exude athleticism however he gets the job done efficiently and doesn’t make any more mistakes than others .
Wembley and it’s wide open spaces might be suited for Ozil so I would not write him out so quickly. Things were potent last night and the team seemed to be pulling together with him they have just won 5 -1 why change it ?
Bournemouth at the Emirates is different to Toots away though.
Afternoon all and thanks Rico for another good one.
Mesut doesn`t have to convince, but his critics do ! hahaha
Will watch MotD in a minute, but I`m sure this is the best goal by an Arsenal player yesterday……………..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/47396590
Am currently fast forwarding through MotD as I only watch Arsenal…………………………………..and of course Spuds when they lose ! hahaha………………….Spuds first then !
Does Giroud get an assist for Trippier`s goal ?
He was the last player to touch the ball prior to the spud clown putting the ball neatly in the net, so it should be an assist for Giroud but I really don’t care. 😉
Definately a foul on Guendouzi for Pournemouth goal !
Would have sent off the player who fouled Terrier for Laca`s free kick goal !
Loved Ozil`s technigue for goal………………the deliberate kick down to bounce ball over goalie, other wise known as The Ozil ! 🙂
Thanks Lc.
Any news on Kos yet?
Ranieri has been sacked..
Morning all.
Quiet one Scott…
The calm before the storm 🙂
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico
I like it when there’s no daft comments coming out of our camp before a big game.
Not interested in pre match bragging, just shut up and do it on the pitch.
Lichtsteiner and Koscielny are both fit to start for the weekend, but would you start them?
Jenkinson put in a great 90 minute shift last time out, Mustafi has been been playing well and is well rested, Lichtsteiner had had two good outings before his injury, Maitland Niles has pace to burn and it’s Tottenham so you would think he’d be fully focused?
Do we go a back four or a back three?
Does Ozil start or do we recall the more robust Ramsey?
One up top and who?
Is tomorrow the most important NLD since the FACup semi final in the early 2000’s?
I see that Rennes had their Ligue Un game before they play us postponed…
Does that show that they fancy their chances against us?
Because there has been a bit of a complacent vibe coming out from the fan base prior to this tie, as if it’s done and dusted and that’s a recipe for another disappointing result in France.
Surely BATE should have taught us not to underestimate anyone in the UEFA Cup…
Hi Kev, maybe it shows that Rennes are taking the game seriously and the French powers that be are prepared to help them any way they can.
Could you imagine the Premiership doing something similar for us?
Not a chance Cicero, they’d have to do it for all the English teams and the Premier League is the biggest show in town!
Afternoon Kev, Cicero.
I haven’t bothered today as it’s so quiet. There was a time pre NLD would make for much chit chat. How times have changed.
I’m wondering if the blog world is coming to an end with social media taking over…
I don’t think Rennes should be permitted to postpone their league game, not unless it’s for legitimate reason like their league opponents being in the champions league and playing the night before..
Just read the statement from the French FA. The decision is purely down to giving Rennes more time off to be better rested/prepared.
If UEFA had a backbone……
Let them have their extra time off Rico, it might backfire on them?
If we’re on our game it won’t make any difference, I guess they could always plough up their pitch to make it like BATE’s…
Yeah, it’s all very low key leading up to the NLD, maybe because it’s such a massive game?
I always think it’s better to be playing than resting Kev. Perhaps it quiet as we’ve not won against them away from home for so long.
March 2014 Kev..
Wavy, his English is better than my Spanish… lol
I think it’s 5 years since we beat them at their place.
Wenger actually had a relatively ordinary record against Spurs at their place, we never beat them at WHL in any of his 3 EPL title winning seasons.
In 22 attempts, Wenger won at WHL in the league only 4 times!
Just listened to SSN’s interview with little Dick. I can reveal that I understood every word he uttered, they were all there but, as with Morecombe and Wise, I don’t think they were in the right order…….I haven’t a clue what any of it meant! Not a word! Ozil, apparently is a player when he’s not sick. Tomorrow is a moment, we will try…!!! It’s all nonsense. I can only hope he communicates on the training pitch better than he does on the TV!
Game tomorrow? 2 weeks ago I would have thought Spurs only had to turn up to win, now I’m not so sure, a draw probably but if we turn up, and the coach gets the team up with a rousing oration, that makes sense to the players before the k.o. and the scum perform like they have over the last three games then the Arsenal should win fairly comfortably, derby or no derby.
Last years attempt at a comeback ended in 3 months off work, so here goes nothing-kick off In 2 hours.
Wish me luck 🙂
See you in three months Scott…lol
New post up now