Morning all.
Ok, it was Vorskla. Vorskla aren’t very good but they’re not the worst side either. We won the game, Petr Cech relatively untroubled. It was what it was and it was bloomin cold out there don’t forget. -12 to be precise. A temperature we seldom experience here in the UK, certainly not these days.
Unai Emery made a judgement when he selected his squad first and foremost, and then his players for the game. A judgement which proved to be spot on.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching last nights match, I really did. Watching Arsenal’s future go out and play in a European match without fear was great and I don’t think any one of the players let themselves or the club down. Eddies finishing might not have been on form but no one can knock his work rate, Smith-Rowe was impressive and terribly unlucky to see his second goal wrongly ruled out. Willock, after a slow start I thought, did really well. His finish for our third was so calm and clever. Holding and Jenkinson were pretty steady too and perhaps a central role suits the latter better than playing right-back. I’d love to see Jenks make it at the club, maybe he will yet.
Zech Medley, Bukayo Saka and Charlie Gilmour all had some time on the pitch and didn’t look out of place at all. Zech Medley looked impressive I thought, a very confident young centre-back. Tyreece John-Jules and Jordi Osei-Tutu, well their time will no doubt come on a different day. Perhaps in the final Europa group fixture which is at home against Qarabag FK on the 13th December.
Inevitably, Unai Emery was asked about Emile Smith-Rowe after the game:
‘He is taking confidence, he is taking responsibility and also I think today his performance in 90 minutes is very good. He is a good example for the other young players. We think they can help us but they need the confidence of playing matches, not only working with us in the training sessions.
They needs to take minutes in matches like today. We want and have the responsibility with the young players like Emile but also the others for them to stay, work and show us that they can improve and stay with us.’
We as a club have a big bunch of young players who are very talented footballers. Whether they all reach the level required to play at the top of the Premier League remains to be seen but in all honesty, I think that will be up to them. The club has everything they need, certainly in the coaching department and many other areas too. I doubt they want for anything and now only hard work, looking after their bodies, having the determination and right attitude will ensure they have a great career in the game.
Over the last twenty years we’ve seen youngsters come and go, some weren’t really given a chance, others perhaps thought they’d made it when they hadn’t, nowhere near. Potential careers have been lost because their life away from the training ground wasn’t exactly as it should be for a professional footballer. This current crop, some perhaps more than others are far too good to let anything like that happen, otherwise before they know it, it’ll be too late. They’ll be gone.
Unai Emery and his coaching staff clearly have high standards when it comes to football, training and work ethic and in my opinion, our young players are at the best club to improve their game. Yes, there might be better managers/coaches out their but in the main, I’d say they are at clubs where money brings in a good player, not the clubs academy. At Arsenal, they’ll get their chance.
I’m not trying to suggest that next season we’ll see all our younger players in the first team, of course we won’t but I certainly believe we’ll see one or two getting more first team minutes on the pitch. I can see now why Emery went for older, experienced players in certain positions on the pitch and perhaps he’ll continue to do so in January and next summer too because these young guys need them as they progress and eventually take over. Or at least some of them look like they will.
For now though, it’s all eyes on the first NLD of the season which kicks off a very hard and busy December.
TGIF- enjoy it…
Good morning Rico, up early this morning or still celebrating last night’s win? 😉
Good morning Rico and everyone, the boys were wonderful yesterday, seeing the fight,the eagerness to do more.. Smith Rowe was cool, nketiah was awesome, wasn’t lucky enough to be on the score sheet but the dude is fast, never knew he was that fast.. Willock, guendozi, and surprisingly elneny was cool.. great game for the young guns.. I just home we come out victorious on Sunday
Morning Cicero. Ha ha, but no. One of those nights really with the added misery of a nasty cold arriving…
Morning Mexy. Medley impressed me too. He’s my tip for a good future. Elneny just doesn’t stop moving does he?hes like one of those wind up toys with Duracell batteries.
Morning Rico and all. The boys did good last night, especially considering the cold.
Hi Rico, definitely reasons to be cheerful !
Unai’s philosophy of integrating the young players into first team training is really paying off. Jenks had a good game at centre back, don’t forget he is a right back although he’s hardly played there since he’s been back, and I loved Zach Medley’s cameo. Eddie could have had two or three in the second half if others had passed to him rather than going themselves, but the match was won so I don’t blame them.
Chelsea, on the other hand, only played a few young players and I see that FIFA are going to cut their number of players on loan from 20-odd to 6 or 8.
Brian
Morning Adam, Brian.
Yes, they did very well. I can’t imagine playing in such cold temperatures.
About time re Chelsea and their loans…
Alexis will miss our match at OT, hamstring injury apparently. I reckon he’s off in January.
Would you have him back on his old wages? Rico.
I believe Alexis has a swollen bank account but a severely bruised ego.
I think I would Cicero…
A bit like his manager Adam.
Don’t know if you have seen this but it’s interesting
https://streamable.com/fo9sw
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico, good post.
Yes it was only Vorskla, we can say that now after the event and there’s plenty of doomers who’ll try to belittle this result, but this was a great result.
A back four who’ve never played together before, a very average if enthusiastic right back who did a great job at centre half, a position possibly better suited to his skill set, as has been mentioned on here before.
A centre forward making his full debut, staying on for 90 minutes and despite the pearls of wisdom from that paragon of virtue Martin Keown, he lead the line, took all stick and had none of the luck.
Three youngsters making their senior debuts and all doing well.
Chris Willock playing a more advanced role than under Wenger and looking a much better player, got a very calmly taken goal as well, his first at senior level..
Emery confident enough to take off Holding and Guendouzi because the youngsters were so assured and in control.
For me there is plenty to feel happy about without going OTT.
Meanwhile the media drone on about Tottenham this and Tottenham that, hmm, it reminds me a bit of how things were when George Graham first took over, you know 1987 and all that jazz.
Well let them talk.
job done.
The Totts and the referee next
Rico. I think so. Long may it continue too. 🙂
Afternoon Kev, thanks.
Just why I put that at the beginning. It might have been Vorskla but nothing should be taken away from what such young and experienced players did out there especially knowing we needed to win and in extremely cold temperatures.
I hope we shut all this Totts talk on Sunday’s, they’ve won bugger all for years…
Have you seen Dave Kitson’s article in the Sun. Tells a lot about Pulis and Wenger
Indeed Adam.
I’ve not Potter. Good?
I’ve just read it. What a ghastly bloke Pulis is. Honest from Kitson though, albeit a bit too late.
New post up now.
White rabbits…