Morning all.
Before Martin Atkinson blew his first whistle we knew what was on offer. Another trip to the south coast for an awkward fixture against Portsmouth in the next round. The alternative was a Hampshire v Dorset derby and we we didn’t want that. The way Bournemouth started the game, it looked they didn’t either.
Mikel Arteta rested one or two but there was another match for Hector Bellerin, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka. Joe Willock and Matteo Guendouzi were at the heart of the midfield together with Granit Xhaka. The big surprise though was Eddie Nketiah being handed the central striker role. In my opinion, not one player was disappointing.
The first half was a breeze for Arsenal, it really was. Martinez must have been bored stiff. Cold too. Conceding a goal late in the game was disappointing but not half as much as seeing Shkodran Mustafi stretchered off with what looked like a serious injury and one which will keep him out of the game long after the season has ended. He’d had a good game up until then.
Bournemouth found themselves a goal down within five minutes of the start. 22 Arsenal passes were made before Saka rifled his shot into the top of the Bournemouth net. The angle was tight, his finish superb. Our second was very different yet equally as good. Again a patient buildup before the final ball into the box from Saka, fell nicely into the path of Eddie to finish well. It looked easy but we’ve all seen Pepe, Aubameyang and Lacazette miss opportunities like it. VAR searched long and hard but they couldn’t find a reason to disallow the goal, a review which even Macca said on BT Sport was ridiculous and took farvtoo long.
I’m very pleased. I knew it was going to be a tough game and we played a really young squad. I wanted to see the reaction and I was very pleased because I saw a lot of things I really liked.
In the first half we were really, really good. They executed everything we planned in a really good way and showed he courage to make big decisions.
We played with that accountability, making decisions and I really liked it. They were terrific with their work-rate, showed courage to make those big decisions and not to play safe.
That is the difference.”
Arsenal fans should be pleased too because many of the clubs long term future were on the pitch yesterday evening and in my opinion, they’ve come a long way since the beginning of the season. Saka and Willock especially. Nketiah, who not that long ago looked lost and out of his depth, looked assured and much more at home against a defence which included Nathan Ake, a player many top clubs have been linked with for silly money. Martinelli was, Martinelli. Industrious from start to finish, as was Guendouzi. Ceballos when he came on, gave a gentle reminder to Mikel Arteta that he’s worth playing and he’ll work hard for the good of the team and why he’s wasted sitting on the bench.
Here are some highlights in case you missed the game.
A win on the road, we’re through to the next round of the FA Cup so there’s plenty to be pleased about.
See you in the comments guys.
Good morning Rico, I actually enjoyed watching the game and haven’t been able to say that for quite some time. Even in the frenetic last minutes of added time I never felt that we were in danger of throwing away the win.
With a decent interval before Sunday’s game at Burnley, our squad should be well rested and ready to go again.
It was good to see Hector Bellerin back and looking fit, while Rob Holding got some important game time.
Arteta is giving nothing away regarding Mustafi’s injury “we will be assessing him today and tomorrow” he said.
It’s always difficult to add much to comments made during and immediately after the game , however the Mustafi injury has given Flamengo the whip hand over Mari.. They want a sale and we want a loan first , I am afraid that we are going to have to suck it up if we don’t see our current three fit ones as sufficient.
According to Ukrainian media outlet Komanda 1, Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk have thrashed out the ‘nuances’ of a deal in principle for Matviyenko.
The centre-back is a key man for Shakhtar and has featured 14 times in the Ukrainian Premier Liga this season.
Matviyenko also took to the pitch on both occasions when Shakhtar faced Manchester City in the Champions League group stage this season.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta would’ve had a close-up look at the player from the touchline, as he was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at the time.
From 4-4-2- 8 minutes ago ………………………..The truth is out there
Afternoon Rico, thanks for the post, I really enjoyed listening to Arteta after the game, I hated Emery’s pressers it was all gibberish but Mikel speaks with such authority, positivity and common sense, it’s like he’s saying ‘relax, it’s all ok now, I’m here’…
Guendouzi, Martinelli, Saka, Nketiah, Willock, all 20 and under, in fact Sokratis was the only player 30+ it was such a young team. It bodes well for the future, all these young men learning from the man who learnt from Pep, the man who learnt from Cruyff, no wonder it’s so quiet on here, everyone is chilling… 😀
Centre half is a worry, yeah Xhaka has shown that he can fill in and fill in admirably, but we need him in midfield, but there are so many mixed rumours around the Mari situation and I don’t know the truth, all I know is that Arsenal don’t come out of it looking very smart, frankly it makes us look, on the outside, a bit shambolic.
I’ve read that it was always the plan for him to fly home, for whatever reason and we know that the Press will make up stuff, basically invent what isn’t there and lie to get a few clicks.
I’ve heard that Flamengo aren’t happy, but I’ve not seen any quotes, so where is the truth?
Certainly not in the Express, the Mail, the Mirror etc etc.
Another one of our young players went out on loan yesterday to Northampton Town, a young midfielder James Olayinka, he’s quite good, very quick, hard working with a nice touch, can play wide or inside and has played several other positions so he’s versatile, a bit like Saka.
Hopefully he’ll come back ready to push on into the senior squad…
Morning alll
“There are three of them ……….. and Xhaka” (Tinker, Tailor. Soldier, Spy)
They may be enough to see us through, then again???
Good performance last night. The first half was much more like the Arsenal we all know and love, the second half was not quite so convincing. Still we progress. Let’s hope we win at Burnley, never an easy ask, that, but we often do well up in the now new Tory stronghold!
Another blue sky, breezy day here, with a distinct chill of colder to come! Ah, I do love the British winter.
Charles Watts
@charles_watts
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1h
Arsenal confirm they will head to Dubai during the winter break. The first-team squad will travel their on Feb 7th and return on Feb 11th.
Arteta: “As we prepare for several key fixtures, we are looking forward to a change of routine with some warm-weather training.”
Our defensive options look a bit threadbare. Our only right fullback has just returned from injury, can he be expected to play in almost every game to the end of the season?
Off our three remaining centre backs one, Holding, is just returning from injury, the other two are card magnets and are bound to miss games through suspension and their ages suggest injuries may not be entirely absent.
We have one recognised left back, currently injured, and whilst Saka is making prodigious efforts, and progress, he can’t be expected to take the position full time.
Mari will be welcome, if he comes, as he can play across the back four, that ability should guarantee him quite a bit of game time.
Afternoon Kev, Cicero, all.
I too enjoy listening to Mikel Arteta. He speaks well and seems to have clarity on where he ants to take the club and how. He plays the media well too which is smart imo because a good rapport with them will only benefit the club long term.
Arteta is everything Emery wasn’t imo which was mostly down to a breakdown in communication which is no ones fault. Certainly not Emery’s.
I can’t believe the transformation in our younger English players. Great for them and Arsenal.
We’ve two right backs though, Bellerin and AMN. Kolasinac should be back after the break too.
Maybe a couple more youngsters will have to step up if the injury crisis worsens, but we have players who can step in in an emergency as Xhaka did at Stamford Bridge, Nelson can play right back, Bola has been training regularly with the seniors and he’s a left back, but I do see what Cicero says and anymore long term injuries and we will be struggling.
Kolasinac and Nelson are due to return to training in a little over two weeks, Tierney by the middle of March.
I wonder if we can recall Mavropanos if things get out of hand?
AMN is no more a fullback than Saka both can fill in but that’s all.
I agree there has been an amazing transformation in a lot of our players;who would have believed Mustafi would be a big loss, hopefully his injury won’t be as bad as feared.Guendouzi is another who’s really responded to Arteta.Not to mention the youngsters.
The future looks brighter, no one is expecting to challenge Liverpool anytime soon,but at least watching Arsenal is fun again.
I meant for the interim Cicero. Not long term.
Imo it’s about getting to the summer when transfer business is perhaps easier to get done.
James Milner is often maligned for being a jack of all trades and a master of none, you know average in many positions but not special in any, but is that really true?
He’s got a drawer full of England caps and in his latter years has been an important member of two of our most important teams in recent years winning titles at Man City and Liverpool, where he was and is viewed as a vital member of those squads.
So is it more a case that Milner is actually very effective in many different positions and able to cover for injuries and suspensions whilst being a first choice in many games rather than just an alternative to someone whose unavailable, rather than him being a very average footballer?
Why is versatility viewed as a weakness for many players when maybe we should view is as a strength and benefit to our squad?
AMN and Saka can both play full back and very well, we should be happy about than surely?
Xhaka can play centre back it seems, he certainly did well against a strong Chelsea team.
Positive or negative? For me it’s the former.
I think we should be glad that so many of our players can switch positions and still look comfortable and put in a good performance.
After all the Dutch team back in the 1970’s and 1980’s made their name by playing a brand of football whereby every outfield player could play any position and do a good job.
Maybe after 40 years we’re finally catching up?
Good point Kev. Wenger did that quite often. Not all he tried worked, far from it but he did like a mr utility or two in his squad.
Another great post Rico, thanks.
When did Mustafi become such a good passer ???? I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Then he gets injured, just his and our luck.
Isn’t it great when we pass and move so quickly and decisively. I wonder if Ozil will get many games now. He seems to slow us down and isn’t dynamic like Willock. I thought Ceballos was good when he came on too.
Another mention for our fans.
They were immense! It’s doing Mustafi the world of good having support.
Thanks Mike. To be fair to Mustafi, other than that awful backpass, he played well against Chelsea but some of his passes last night were the kind we’d expect to see Ozil play.
Yep, fans have been incredible but then they’ve got something to shout about.
I do hope Le Coq is ok, he’s not been on here for a while.
Yeah, I was talking to Adam yesterday and he mentioned our Cornish white van man and his absence Rico, hasn’t he had some illness in his family, I hope he’s ok…
I’ve been blogging on here for about 12 years now, man, time has flown…
Kev, I think his wife has been poorly, just hope all is well.
Yep, time has flown. LG to Avenell Road and then here for me. All started a long long time ago.
You’ll get a long service medal. I too wondered about Le Coq maybe he’s gone away and left his phone at home , hope it’s something trivial anyway.
As long as I can remember we have had spates of injuries like buses they always come together and always in the same position.
I’m having a medal before Kev. 😜
Saka’s goal voted the best of the FA Cup fourth round.
I seem to remember LC complained, a short while ago, that he too had had a few problems, apart from his wife’s illness. He made an oblique reference to his own internal organs, not being all quite ticketty boo. It’s possible that he too is not too fit. I sincerely hope I’m wrong cos the House isn’t quite the same place without his ridiculous but often sharply observed comments.
In all events I hope everything turns out well.
I’m not surprised re Saka’s goal.
Now you’ve mentioned it Wavy, I remember. I’ll email him I think.
Rumours suggest we’ve made an off for Saints Cedric Soares.
Mustafi injury not as serious as thought apparently.
Morning all.
Mustafi’s problem has never been his general play, it’s those absolute horror moments of which he has too many and too often, and we invariably paid the price.
Eliminate those and there’s a damn decent player.
Everything is progressing nicely since Arteta took over and I do hope LC’s absence is the fact he is busy celebrating the appointment.
Seriously though, I do hope he and those around him are ok….
Cedric, in my opinion, has nothing to do with what it was 2-3 years ago. You may want to say that either Bellerin is about to leave or is seriously injured and cannot make an entire season.
Aston Villa can gain access to a European competition.
They have to get past either Manchester City or United first Joaquim. 😉
It seems that Soares is primarily a right back but can also play left back. Two for the price of one, good business.
Mustafi has a sprained ankle and left the Vitality Stadium on foot wearing a protective boot. He will be assessed over the next forty-eight hours while waiting for the swelling to go down.
Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Shaktar defender Mykola Matviyenko The Ukrainian international is a centre back who can so play left back. He’s six foot tall aged 23.
We are also refusing to sell Aubameyang to Barcelona……for less than £50 million.
It’s all happening now, or is it? 😉
Mativyenko looks good on you tube.
I’m not sure why no one mentions Zac Medley, i think he deserves a chance before we sign a new player
still the same old arsenal what to the last second to officially sign some one
Morning all.
Geoff, Not a lot of business has been done this January in general.
Xmas and a new Year is a damn busy period and suddenly we are nearly into February-it all happens pretty quickly 🙂
Mari signed on loan with option to buy at end of season.
One in three sidelined, and counting!
Any more???
First signing for Prince Mikel of the Emirates 😀
Afternoon all.
Mari signed in time for Monday’s trip to Burnley so a good one to have on the bench perhaps.
Giroud to Toots??
Lc is fine by the way. Just a cold or as he put it, ‘man flu.’ Lol
Mari is a good left side defender and an accurate passer. He likes defending deep. But at Flamengo they all defended deep. I think arsenal just got a very good one at an unbelievable price. With a healthy Bellerin, Saliba, Mari, Tierney, plus Hoding, Luiz, Mustafi, Mavropanos and Sokratis the defensive problems may be solved soon.
Hi Rico,
A good Post as always! 😁
It is wonderful that Mikel, who clearly has very sensible thoughts on getting Arsenal back where they belong, has started to really give some more of the youngsters their chances to become stars has changed the whole way we play and with that he has given a whole bunch of us that there is hope for the more immediate future.
I was just thinking that I do not remember when we had so many 18 and 20 year olds in and around the 1st team squad with Gabriel, Saka, both 18, and Joe Willock, Guendouzi, Eddie and Reiss Nelson all 20 y.o. and then Tierney, Pepe and Terrier all in the 22 to 24 y.o. range.
And they are combined with some slightly older more experienced players.
Love it.
Glad to hear that Le Coq is on the mend.
If that rumour about Olly is true, Rico, only one word comes to mind……………………Giroudas !
I can’t think off the top of my head of anyone who’s played for Arsenal,Spurs and Chelsea (don’t do it Ollie)
Back in the day John Hollins played for Arsenal, Chelsea and QPR – QPR were probably a bigger club than Chelsea in those days.
Hi RA, thanks.
Lc, glad I woke you up. Lol
New post up now