Morning all.
With Christmas not far off, I hope Santa brings our manager a warmer coat. A less black and certainly a less shiny one. But boy doesn’t he always look crisp, sharp.
The game was certainly not easy. Molde worked tirelessly in defence, especially in the first half. Arsenal certainly struggled a bit. Pepe was having a tough old time yet again but he wasn’t alone. We bossed the possession stats as expected but just lacked the final ball or an end product. Nketiah came close but a fingertip save from their keeper kept shot from creeping inside the post.
Molde would have shocked the home fans had any been in the stadium, when a wicked strike from distance beat Leno. A long ball clearance by our German, encouraged by Xhaka, soon found itself back in our half with a disorganised defensive unit left exposed. That’s perhaps why we play out from the back. Expecting Nketiah to win the ariel challenge when up against a tall centre back was foolhardy. I’m sure Leno won’t do that again in a hurry, especially after his team-mates hung him out to dry seconds later.
Arsenal thought they’d equalised. They did but the offside flag went up to deny Nketiah a legitimate goal. Eddie had done everything right. He looked left, waited, made his short run to meet Pepe’s cross and tapped the ball home. No VAR, no overturning of what looked a wrong decision.
Next up came a couple of owns goal for the away team. Rotten luck for them perhaps but credit has to go to Arsenal for forcing the mistakes. Credit has to go to Joe Willock for his part in both. The first was a great goal. A perfect counter attack which involved Willian, Xhaka, Nketiah and finally Willock. Oh, and a Molde defender. Our second came from a Xhaka chip into the box towards Willock, he fought hard to win the ball, fizzed a cross in front of the goal and their defender nudged it into the back of the net with his knee.
Sandwiched in between us equalising and taking the lead, Kolasinac missed a sitter. Right foot or left foot, he should have buried it.
Then along came our third thanks to Saka and Pepe. A lovely pass from one, a fine finish by our winger. Pepe really can be lethal with his left foot in and around the box. Is his talent wasted on the wing?
An offside flag denied Nketiah again before Willock, who once more had a very good night, made it 4-1. The perfect end to the game for him and for Arsenal who sit comfortably at the top of their group.
Mikel Arteta’s substitutions in the second half really made a difference. Molde had already been worked over, not literally of course but the energy had slowly been sapped out of their legs. By the time Saka and Elneny came on, they’d been worn down. Saka’s pass to Pepe for his goal was perfect, the ball from Elneny which began the move for Willock to score, a peach. Simple yet precise. They made the difference.
Much is being said about Joe Willock right and understandably so. He’s taken to Europa League football like fish to water. He’s enthusiastic, he has a great work ethic and he never gives up chasing the ball down. He’s scoring goals too. He really is performing well. The BT Sports pundits were suggesting that he might need a loan, the interviewer asked the player himself if he’s planning on having a talk with Mikel Arteta about being in the first team. Seriously, I wish these people would stick to the football played and not try and make out they know best. I’m sure Mikel Arteta will know when Willock is ready for the first team and when he is, he’ll get his chance.
What’s more important now for Willock and the club is he carries on doing what he’s doing. Playing with a smile, working hard and helping Arsenal win football matches. His day in the Arsenal first team will come. I’m sure he knows that as no doubt does Mikel Arteta. A loan Mr Keown? I don’t think so…
Back to the Premier League on Sunday as Emi Martinez and his Aston Villa team-mates travel to The Emirates.
See you in the comments.
Morning Rico. Hard to draw too many conclusions from last night. Willock was good but nagging questions still hovering around Willian and the frustrating Pepe for me. Leno should surely have done better with the goal, Saka made a real difference when he came on etc. We won and that’s obviously important but, as the season unfolds I think there will be a lot of important decisions to be made as to where Mikel is steering the club and who remains onboard.
Morning Adam.
I’m sure question marks remain over a few for Mikel too as he can’t be overly impressed with some of them out the last night but it was virtually an entirely different team than on Sunday. I’m not too bothered really as I do believe the end looms large for quite a number of players either in Jan or the summer a# the club rebuilds..
For now though, use them when we can I guess.
Morning all.
Anyone not on board with Mikel can go, and they will.
He’s our future and players are easily replaced.
As shown though Scott with Sokratis, Ozil, Kolasinac etc etc, players aren’t easily replaced.
Not really sure though what prompted your comment..
Morning Rico and All
Took a while didn’t it,got I think the performance and result in the end
Interesting comparison between us and the 4b2’s,Maureen stuck all the bigboys out
Their young lads must be looking up the road and Wishing For a Micky not a Maureen.
Morning Fred. I guess that’s because they lost their last match and we didn’t. The fact Mourinho had to play his strongest will be missed by those raving about victory.
I was disappointed Leno started though, thought we might see more of our new guy.
Rico, it’s Mikels way or the highway.
The Ozil situation has shown that and it’s proof enough imo
I realised Scott but just wondered why you mentioned it..
Gotta be a question mark or settling in maybe
I’m waiting to give him a nickname just hope it’s not Teflon 😁
Rico, Adam touched on it in his comment.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8921103/Jose-Mourinho-fumes-sending-three-Tottenham-stars-work-Arsenal-coach-Wales-duty.html
Trying to influence and get the guy the sack ?
Potter, he’s a strange man, that Joe Say lol
Until the other day, I didn’t even realise Arteta’s assistant worked with Wales.
Got it Scott. I took that as meaning who stays..
Yesterday’s game was a bit like the Curate’s egg, good in parts.
Should any top ‘keeper be beaten from 25 yards? That goal was entirely self-inflicted.
Willian and Pepe regularly waste corners, either playing them short or not clearing the first defender.
The two goals we scored were well worked, Pepe at least earned himself a little credit with his goal and an assist for Willock who, on the night, was easily our best player on the pitch.
Two own goals were a very generous and early Christmas present from the Norwegians to go with the traditional Trafalgar Square tree.
Shocking to read that Mesut Ozil has been done for speeding, 97mph on a motorway. He is pleading for his licence by saying he thought his speedo was registering KPH not MPH. Also as his wife doesn’t drive it will be very difficult to travel on public transport for training etc. I guess as he only gets £350,000 per week he can’t afford taxis or to hire a chauffeur. A chance for you there Kev? 😉
I thought the own goals were good too Cicero. We might not have put the ball in the ne5 but we forced the errors.
Absolutely right Rico.
Nketiah was very unlucky to have his “goal” ruled out. I wonder what the outcome would have been had VAR been in operation.
Rico I’ve just put up a comment and it’s disappeared into the ether, I repeated it and that’s gone too.
In Europe Cicero, possibly overturned.
Evening Rico and the House.
At long last our U23 are going to win (in their 8th game)
With 70 mins on the clock thet are beating (no thrashing)
Blacburn away 5-0
Scorers Moller, Cirjan ESR 2 and a og.
could be more ESR missed a sitter and Balagun unlucky with 2 more
Finished 6-0 Moller with no 6
No longer bottem first clean sheet.
Kev 4 16year old played ESR the oldest in the team
Next up Gillingham nrxt Tuesday.
Spurs could well finish the weekend top of the league,crikey it was bad enough when Liverpool were top – this would be 1000 times worse.All in all 2020 has been a lousy year..
Limey, don’t even talk about it lol
Morning all.
Morning Scott,
Best not mention again.
My trip to Australia for October 2021 is looking doubtful, I’m hoping for 2022
If Man Utd lose later the pressure will be on OGS.From an Arsenal point of view,we want him to stay.
Limey, we are pretty open in Oz, so don’t rule it out.
Life’s getting back closer to normal by the day.
OGS-yep, we wish him a long career at OT 🙂
Morning Limey, Scott, Rick and all.
Come on guys, you know swearing isn’t for on here. 😝
Rico, Limeys suggestion was worse than swearing hahahaha
Ha ha, I look forward to the (inevitable) meltdown between Jose and Levy.
Usually happens around the 18 month mark, Limey, but it does always happen lol
Very true Scott. Lol
New post up now