Well, wrap that performance in a bow and call it an early Christmas present. Unai Emery turned a shabby opening 35 minutes into the best performance of the season. A Mesut Ozil masterclass chalked our 10th consecutive win of the season on the board and allowed us to climb to a heady 4th, ahead of Spurs (GD), just behind Chelsea (GD).
I think we can all confidently agree that this was the best 55 minutes Emery has had at Arsenal. The team started off terribly, as per usual. We were open at the back, we made sloppy mistakes, mostly stemming from looped balls over the back of the high line. Transitioning the ball in the final third was non-existent, our attack had zero sauce. The front three were anonymous, and Lacazette was being eaten alive by an Evans/Mcguire partnership.
We went down in sorry circumstances. Hector Bellerin was left alone on the right, Leicester switched play in his direction, Lacazette was slow off the mark (why he was tracking I’ll never know), Chillwell had the pace to pick up the ball, power past a vegan Bellerin (triiiger) and ricochet his cross off the Spaniards leg past a helpless Leno.
You wondered whether we were about to witness the brutal xG correction everyone had feared, but at the same time, it’s clear we’re really fucking slow starters under Emery, and we’ve come back enough times this season not to throw the towel in.
It didn’t take long to find our rhythm, the goal jolted Arsenal into gear. Leicester, who’d had great success with a strong strategic press seemed to fall apart. We found out rhythm in midfield, and Ozil started to pick the game up by the scruff of the neck. Our movement improved, Ozil, Mikhi, Iwobi and Lacazette started to work each other out and we became more of a threat.
Just before the break Torreira turned over possession finding Lacazette who played it back to Xhaka. The Swiss moved the ball forward to Ozil who surged forward 20 yards, he released Bellerin who played it right back to him first time, Mesut was on the edge of the box to pass the ball into the far corner. An immaculate finish, a beauty of a goal and just in time to wreck the Leicester halftime talk.
The second half was interesting because we didn’t make any subs on 45, the only notable change seemed to be Iwobi moving the right. We had a brief scare with Leicester hitting the bar after a Leno flap. The magic happened when Emery took off Mikhi and Lichtsteiner, bringing on Auba and Guendouzi. The move had an almost instant impact.
After some lovely passing moves between Auba, Laca, and Guendouzi, Ozil was found in space, he weighted a dream ball to Bellerin, evading 4 players in the process, the cross was first time AGAIN where Auba was foxing for the tap in. A wonderful goal.
Our finishing move was an epic masterpiece for the ages starting from the keeper. Torreira moved the ball Ozil. Ozil with the side of the foot flick to Guendouzi, who released Bellerin, Iwobi drags the attention of two players with a dummy run, Bellerin plays inside to Ozil who fakes and lets the ball play through his legs, Lacazette feeds it back into his run, Ozil the chips the ball with the outside of his foot to Auba who scores AGAIN from about 5 yards. What. A. Goal.
My timeline is flooded with this beauty
— Le Grove (@LeGrove) October 23, 2018
The game finished 3-1. Emery missiles us soaring to within 2 points of the league leaders. Arsenal look like a proper team again.
So, the first time we’ve won 10 in a row since October 2007 (a month after we started this blog). Auba bags 21 goals in 22 Premier League games for Arsenal. Arsenal top the league table for subs with goals on 6. Arsenal also corrected on their xG model, meaning we deserved the win. All the magic.
I don’t really know what to write. Things are going incredibly well. The players look fit, the football at times was exceptional and some of the goals were off the charts. We’ve had about 5 goals of the season and we’re only in October.
The key thing for me is if we’re performing like this now, it’s a good indicator that even when we have a blip, we’re capable of fighting for top 4 regardless. It feels like there’s a resilience to the setup. We’ll probably still have to go hard at Europa, but it looks like the squad depth is there. We’re rolling hard with the wins playing a 34 year left back and Mustafi. Imagine how we’ll be playing with Koscielny and Sokratis coming into the side. Also, did you see the team preserving energy on 72minutes? I love that. The coach has the players thinking past the 90 they’re in.
We’re still going to have to work hard on our defensive solidity, especially early on in the game. We were incredibly open and teams are exploiting our high press with ease. If we’re open like that against Liverpool, we’re buried in 15minutes. I’m fascinated to see how Emery approaches that game because it can’t look anything like the first 25minutes of every other game we’ve played this season.
When Mesut took control after we went a goal down, we were a different beast. He really unlocked Leicester and was a driving force in the revival. He is the key to any success we have this year. Unlocking his drive and personal ambition is a must for Emery. I really can’t put words to how scintilatting it was to have him revved up. I mean, it helps when he has a game off and an international break playing on his twitch, but shit, who cares, get me that every week, or at least in the important games.
Big shout out to Iwobi. He had some moments of sexiness out there. His final ball needs to improve, but you can see the footballer he could become shining through. That cheeky nutmeg he made, some of those beautiful passes and his improved movement are all items that are making it hard to drop him.
Also notable that Ramsey is now a bit part player. No doubt he’ll have a role to play in midweek (I mean, I’m not even sure there), but coming on with 15 minutes to go as a third sub tells you that Emery is going to play it his way, and he wants him gone by January so he can bring in players who are committed to the cause and can help. Ramsey’s agent has had a fucking shocker, his client is going to be out of form and out of mind when he needed to be playing games shop windowing himself.
What a fool.
Anyway, we’re above Spurs, everything is looking very rosy and the fans really do sound like they’ve got their Arsenal back.
See you in the comments! x
P.S. Shout out to the English I sat next to in an LA bar yesterday who leant over and said,
‘Do you listen to Arsenal podcasts?’
‘Yes, which do you like?’
‘That Yankee Gunner guy on Arsenal Vision, that’s the best one out there by a mile’
Still applying aloe vera to my third degree burns. Thanks a lot. 😭
10 out of 10.
Pedro do you still want Arteta?
BOOOOM!
2
I’m here for the Tr4phy again
BOOOOOOOOM!
Clean sweep. Where’s everyone? DM? Boomslang? Azed? Anyways to talk about last night’s game. The last 55 mins was pure orgasmic football. Do think some never wanted Wenger gone. To think some even preferred rookie star Arteta over Emery. Emery has successfully instilled in these boys a collective confidence which they’ve gone on to exude in games. Leicester had the game in the first 25 mins and looked like owning it. Games like these under Wenger and we’d have collapsed but at no point did I feel like we’d lose the game. The boys are heading into the Liverpool game… Read more »
The game yesterday evening was one of the most entertaining, thrilling I’ve watched in a long while. The players were scintillating, they were happy to be on the pitch, they worked their socks off and reaped the rewards. And may I say, Ozil was simply sublime. Wonderful to see, well done to all and 10 straight wins now.
Emery really brining life back to our club.
Still a long way to go but the future is something to be getting really excited about again after the drab last 10 years.
Ozil firing again and looking happy shows just how good Emery is. Hopefully Ozil’s appetite for the game and club is back – just consistency needed now.
Good morning pals..
Ozillllll
Very early this am Peds
insane performance from Ozil.
Iwobi also developing into a very interesting player under Emery.
Top 20…..
In the end a good win, we really can’t be giving away early rounds (to coin a boxing term) to the opposition. Eventually we will run out of luck.
Emery has given us our Arsenal back! 10 in a row and getting better by the game. Ozil with an absolute master class performance. How’s Germany doing without him again??
It was noticeable how Arsenal’s mentality changed as soon as we conceded…..the players immediately became more aggressive on the ball and in their closing down and the intensity of our game went up . Emery needs to try and find the answer as to why we begin games so lethargic all over the pitch.. I know It is how Emery like a to play but having both full backs so high ,especially early in the game,is causing us problems. We are always open to the ball played down the channel that the full back has vacated and as we have… Read more »
One Arsene Wenger says Ozil not playing internationally for Germany is bad for him. Unai Emery says the exact opposite. Which one looks correct after yesterday’s performance? Le Senile should pick up a new hobby not involving football. Like knitting.
Pedro
Well done for not mentioning wenger.
Anyway, the arsenal express keeps building momentum. I’d like to see Kos in that defence though.
Lets see if AlexanderHenry gets through the day without mentioning Kronke or how Wenger was starved of money 😀
Ozil was fantastic. His best performance for Arsenal in a very long time, maybe ever. However, we now need to see him play that way regularly and against better competition. Otherwise, we didn’t really begin to purr until the 60th minute, when Emery brought Aubameyang and Guendouzi on and switched the formation. And Leedsgunner, Iwobi did nothing in the match last night to change my view of him. Hard-working squad player. Nothing more. Sorry. Ozil was class. Torreira was good. Guendouzi and Aubameyang were good. And it’s looking more and more like Emery knows what he is doing, though again,… Read more »
Alexanderhenry
Think Kos is done. The man gave us his best years and did his best to do the work of two men in central defence while taking shots for his Achilles just to play. A hero.
Let him go back to France and play for a midtable Ligue 1 side for his senior years
though I have been heavily criticised for it on le grove, I always maintained over the previous 9 months or so that Mesut Ozil was being harshly treated by the media and some fans. I was the one person on here who continually backed Ozil …he was ridiculed for apparently feigning injury and people saying it’s because he has a large contract that he doesn’t want to play….all bullshit. I have given stats from the first half of last season as proof of how well be was playing but again people ridiculed those stats …. If a player is carrying… Read more »
Such a shame I couldn’t stay up for this game
Sporting too
Is next weekend earlier????
Ah this weekend is watchable but all of the other games recently won’t be
Even the Liverpool game is probably a stretch too far as I work on Sunday mornings and it starts at 2am….
HMMMMMMM…….
Alexander Henry
Agree on Kosielny..there is no way he is finished as some think…I believe he will come back fitter and stronger due to the fact he has been playing with Achilles problem for the last 2 seasons and will be an asset to the team.
What a game!
But we want our ZIP back 🙂
With Auba we’ve finally found a replacement for Jeffers.
Pierre
People will focus on the positives when he plays like he did last night. No one is going to “focus on the positives,” however, if he puts in listless, lackluster performances, as he has done many, many times in the past. The notion that people should keep saying positive things about him (when he is not playing well) simply because he is a talented player is complete and utter nonsense.
Dare I say it, our absolute full strength team on paper looks quite legit based on current form and hoping injured players return to full strength ———————-Leno Bellerin-Sokratis-Koscielny-monreal —————-torreira-xhaka Iwobi—————-ozil————Aubameyang ————————laca It’s not flawless but there’s some genuine quality in there. Perhaps more importantly there is confidence and resilience. Liverpool might beat us, it could definitely happen. But I’m not so sure it will. Our attack is better than their defense. As well, of course we need to restrict their chances much better early on – but Liverpool haven’t really been that clinical this season. They’re scoring goals and winning… Read more »
Ozil will have hopefully started turning a corner
Bellerin has already turned a corner
Iwobi has turned a corner
Xhaka has turned a corner
Leno looks good
Even fucking Mustafi. MUSTAFI is playing ok right now.
And to think some on here were telling people they didn’t have good cause to be loving what they’re seeing because there is still room for improvement. I don’t care if we’re not perfect. I care that we are demonstrably trying, relentlessly to get there. And we are seeing progress in every single department of the club.
BEAUTIFUL
I don’t remember Jeffers scoring 18 goals in 24 games ,do you?
My one fear is that when we do inevitably lose or put in a stinker of a performance and drop points that those whose daggers were so gleefully sharpened and drawn earlier in the season will take a deep breath and see the bigger picture.
We are trying our best to improve and we can see loads of evidence that it’s working. Relax
China
The only issue with your XI above is that that is not the team or the formation that dazzled last night. We only began to dazzle in the 60th, when Emery went to 3-5-2. We had been solid prior to that, but nothing special. While all of the players in your XI above are fine enough, I don’t know that that is the formation that is going to allow us to compete with a Liverpool, a Chelsea or a City.
Dream10
I disagree, provided he’s fit of course.
If he is, he’ll play.
Comment is quite off don’t you think George? Jeffers played just over 22 games and managed 4 goals. Where do some of these posters come from…honestly.
Bamford, no need to apologise for your retentive attitude to Iwobi. Wonder at what point you’ll change your opinion? That’s probably the moment to acknowledge your fixed mind set.
Missed my first home matches the season, watched a dodgy stream from my brother’s hillside house in Tenerife. As Pedro pointed out, when we can field a solid centre back partnership I think we’ll be able to fully compete. Really hoping Kos has not lost any pace.
Loving the imagination and movement of our attacking play, they’re enjoying their football!
Haven’t watched the match yet, but last night’s XI was very Wengerish with the layers of playmaking behind a #9. This configuration is class at home when we’re favourites. I would love for us to replace Ramsey and Mkhitaryan next year with Lemar and Dembélé. Those two on either side of Özil would be terrific against the better sides. It would also allow Iwobi to continue to be a continuity player (link between the CM and the final third), instead of a key provider.
Bamford
It’s about having an understanding of what ozil brings to the team which is not always the case.
A case in point was the first half last night ,loads of unwarranted criticism just because it’s easy to criticise him.
People jump on the bandwagon of hate towards ozil because he makes the game look too easy ,they can’t understand how a player can look so lazy but still create the most chances in Europe since records began ..
Just think we have a player in our side who has this unbelievable record but is not rated on le grove….
China1
Totally agree.
Got my 3-1 prediction correct.
OK, I admit it, I made a mistake the other day by highlighting the Ozil contract once again. If he plays like that on a consistent basis, I think I can just about take it.
Iwobi, Bellerin, Mustafi , Holding, all looking so much better.
Leno all day long.
Christ, even the fans look and sound different.
Bloody brilliant! We have a team once again.
Onwards and Upwards.
Akbs running out of excuses pretty quickly. The “where’s the pretty football?” line seems to have vanished from them.
ozil dominated the highlight reel that I watched. But it’s only Leicester, hope he turns up in more games and consistently
Left side, I think you may have missed Pedro’s comment on PEA foxing in the box. The link to Jeffers, the infamous fox in the box, was fairly obvious. Don’t think there was any more of a comparison than that.
The big question now is, can Ozil perform like that against the big boys?
Fingers crossed.
Bamford
“Otherwise, we didn’t really begin to purr until the 60th minute, when Emery brought Aubameyang and Guendouzi on and switched the formation…Iwobi did nothing in the match last night to change my view of him. Hard-working squad player. Nothing more. Sorry.”
we moved up a gear as soon as we went behind. they barely had a kick the first 25mins of the second half.
and you’ve got to be trying really hard to not be seeing the transformation in Iwobi. alongside Lacazette, Torreira & Bellerin our best player this season.
Pierre ” I was the one person on here who continually backed Ozil …he was ridiculed for apparently feigning injury and people saying it’s because he has a large contract that he doesn’t want to play….all bullshit” Yes you were. Ozil is technically superior to most players in the game, a very few exceptions, but some fans/pundits like to pick on a player and turn into bullies. We saw that with Giroud. To get the best out of Ozil you need good movement around him and a team that plays to his strengths, things Emery seems to have changed. He… Read more »
Still need a a 12 month a year captain, preferably a Tony Adams type, but that performance by The Arsenal, after the foxes scored, was so refreshing. The noise levels sounded Highburyesq & Iwobi was Rocky Rocastle reincarnated.
The 10 wins in a row had Jason Cunty on talksport sounding petrified. He knows The Arse is coming, you can tell by how high pitched his insults to Gooner phone ins kept getting.
Pierre
No, actually, the person who doesn’t see Ozil well is you, as you don’t see his weaknesses well enough. Your comment above highlights this. When Ozil is criticized, he is criticized because he is playing like a moody, indifferent, energy-less pussy. This can’t be explained away by the kind of nonsense you’re giving us above (“makes the game look easy”). As for last night, he was brilliant. I have no idea who was criticizing him — was anyone? — but any criticism of him last night would have been misplaced.
I like what Mkhitaryan can give us.
It’s all about squad rotation.
Definitely think that top 4 is possible, which would be incredible based on where we were at the end of last season.
To compete with the “big boys” is at least now a possibility.
Well done Unai.
Wallace
Right, bit moving up a gear and purring are two different things. The latter didn’t begin until the 60th minute.
Chalk and cheese in terms of their output in front of goal but fair dos Bob I get that. Yes, I didn’t see that comment from Pedro.
Wow what a 55 mins yesterday. I’m still salivating on that 3rd goal. Pedro, I’ve also thought that the following points are areas of improvement on our current situation: 1. The transition play from defense/CM to our attackers: With Leno we do have a capable sweeper keeper, but I don’t think we have a back 4 that can intelligently transition the ball with a vision – yes our full backs are now regularly breaching opposition last line of defense and having those effective cut backs in the D-box (boy I’m glad to see that instead of just hugging the byline… Read more »
Interesting take on Twitter from Tim Stillman of Arseblog: “I still don’t think Arsenal are transformed (yet). What is pleasing is that the fundamentals are being observed more seriously. Honestly [though,] I think Emery has got his starting XI wrong in pretty much every game other than Fulham. The second half upturns usually happen when Emery makes a corrective substitution and the front line is properly balanced — usually the balance of creators and scorers is wrong at the start. But because Arsenal observe the fundamentals better, games aren’t getting away from them. That said, if we have to wait… Read more »
A lot of folks cannot really analyze a game well. Leicester came with the press and outplayed our midfield. They were all over us. We all saw the match. Their goal was always coming. Our equalizer came from a transition that Ozil masterfully engineered and a beautiful cross from Bellerin with a perfect Ozil finish. I watched our manager, he knew something was wrong in our midfield and our attack and he responded appropriately after some 2nd half minutes. That response changed the game. Our midfield resisted the press. O hoo! How come? Guendouzi is a fantastic baller. He handled… Read more »
Teams don’t “purr” all 90mins. They choose their moments, which we did. We definitely played better after the goal. Everyone is saying it except you of course.
I am also happy for you to continue eating your word re Iwobi. It won’t be the first time. Morata, Benteke, Renato Sanchez, Pogba, Coq etc.
disagree with Stillman. last night was probably our best balanced midfield/attack combination. especially for a home game.
I saw the MIDFIELD partnership between GUENDOUZI and L.T and that partnership won us the game…. l love that lad…. he was everywhere exchanging passes with virtually everyone… never afraid and was very mobile… Guendouzi’s ability to quickly turn around and move the ball upfield won us the game…. xhaka was decent, but by far the weak link in our MIDFIELD, never tried anything new, and playing as if he doesn’t want to be the one to make the mistake leading to a goal, with his give me I give you back the pass…. just hope EMERY sees this match… Read more »
Pierre at his very best ridiculous self. Just like he was saying after a good Arsenal game Wenger is not as bad as people think and he was getting the stick from fans for no reason. Now it’s Ozil. Mind you that Ozil has always had couple of games where he’d play great, followed by tens of games marked by absolutely zero-fucks-given behavior. It was the same vs Everton and Huddersfield last season. Same vs West Ham and Ludogorets 2 seasons ago. It’s same old, same old until he manages to be a top player for a full season. Not… Read more »
Tim is correct though. It doesn’t help that we have a top heavy sqaud and players that just maybe cannot be dropped for a long time.
I mean, Ozil has to play, Laca has to play, Auba has to play. Before the contract impasse you would imagine Ramsey has to play too. Good luck finding a balance with a line up that consists those players.
PS: The first Ozil goal is how your midfielder arrives late in the box. That’s what Lampard mastered. Never ahead of play.
Guendouzi is 19. Emery’s handling him perfectly. at some point in the future he probably will take Xhaka’s spot, but right now I think the Xhaka/Torreira partnership is the right one.
Tim Stillman can have his opinions all day long while the result are indicating the opposite. I’m sure he completely forgot the fact about the “quality” of players we have in the current squad and that it is basically 90% of the same squad we had last season who would have crumpled like a house of cards after that first 30-35 mins and a goal down. People are seriously undermining the Emery effect which has seen most players improve and play with a vision. And I like the fact that he completely turned around Unai’s in game management as lack… Read more »
Mystic
“I mean, Ozil has to play, Laca has to play, Auba has to play. Before the contract impasse you would imagine Ramsey has to play too. ”
I’d say Lacazette’s the only guaranteed starter of those four at the minute.
Bamford “I have no idea who was criticizing him — was anyone? — ” Here are a few examples of the comments on ozil Last night … “MarkoOctober 22, 2018 20:30:21 29 minutes in and Ozil is still wank. And his mustache is shit&” “raptoraOctober 22, 2018 20:30:17 We are playing with 10 ppl cause Ozil is missing.” “aptoraOctober 22, 2018 20:31:59 Look at Ozil?!?!?!?! He had to run closer to reach the ball but the mofo gives two fucks. What a piece of shit” “azedOctober 22, 2018 20:32:33 Ozil should be given away for free. We are one man… Read more »
Bamford
Tim Stillman: “Honestly [though,] I think Emery has got his starting XI wrong in pretty much every game other than Fulham”.
Seven straight wins and he comes out with this pearler (holds head in hands). It’s a squad game, using substitutions is part of the tactics Tim.
Emerys a dozen games into the job, winning games and already the armchair experts could do better. (Sigh)
The main difference I see in our games these days is the expectation and knowing that the manager can and will do something to change things. I have to admit that in years gone by, I used to sit there like a nervous wreck wondering when our lead was going to evaporate or how we would lose easy games and drop points unnecessarily and sometimes diabolically. I don’t feel that anymore. Even when we went down, I felt sure that something would be done by the manager that would have the desired effect. The substitutions at 60th minute and the… Read more »
Guendouzi is developing nicely as a player, some of his passing is seriously great. That could be our first real Mislintat find there, just £8 Million as well. I think we’ve got to the stage now where only one of Ramsey, Ozil or Mkhitaryan can play at once. Xhaka, Torreria as a base with one of those at CAM, Iwobi on one flank and then Welbeck on the other unless we’re playing something close to 2 up front in which case Aubameyang. Great performance anyway. That is two games in a row now where we’ve played the best football I… Read more »
Ozil is “back”, only vs the little teams, as usual, but it’s better than nothing.
Impressive run under Unai, and I hope that, even if we get 0 point at Anfield, that will not change the point of view about his good work so far.
Our 3rd goal last night was a real beauty, and a very pleasant reminder of the good old days.
C’MON YOU GUNNERS!!
raptora
How you must have hated seeing ozil playing the CAM role how it should be played.
Like many I felt our 3rd goal yesterday was a “typical” Arsenal goal.
The “typical” Arsenal goal is courtesy of Wenger and epitomized how we played under him in the first 10 years of his tenure before he started to loose his footballing hunger, motivation, and inspiration. Credit where its due.
Happy belated birthday Arsene.
Maybe this guy saying that Emery has picked the wrong starting 11 in all of his games bar the Fulham game should look it from another perspective. Emery is using a huge amount of players, especially in attack, where he’s keeping everyone involved, everyone hungry to prove himself. He is changing our front 4 all the time so that he can keep players fresh but involved. We have game changers on our bench at any moment. We don’t have drained physically and mentally starting 11. Instead we have a big number of players who are always ready to make the… Read more »
Ozil was fantastic last night.
Can he do the same against Liverpool?
Based on the law of averages………………..
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Uli Hoeness, the German Football Federation and finally the German Right wing media for giving Ozil an axe to grind this season.
Pierre: “raptora How you must have hated seeing ozil playing the CAM role how it should be played.”
Pierre,
how you must have hated seeing Wenger get the sack after you’ve been singing songs for him year after year.
Were you right year after year to support Wenger with your “shut up and support the team” meaning no fans act of disapproval on or off the pitch?!
Were you right to spill your usual “be careful what you wish for” bollocks?!
Please do answer.
This Time Stillman geezer is entitled to his opinion.
Just like us, he likes to blog about Arsenal. What’s so special about his perceptions?
If he knew anything about the game, he would realise that Emery has, so far, managed a monumental disaster zone exceptionally well.
Who cares what Stillman says?
Not me.
Have to say that Emery is winning me over …his substitutions have been inspiring all season which shows that he has a good knowledge and understanding of what the game needs at a particular time …..are the substitutions luck or good judgement..I go for good judgement. Having 2 holding midfielders(at long last) gives the team more control and a better balance. Our system /formation is now very similar to Tottenham..I have always liked their system of 2 defensive/ holding midfielders who rarely ,if ever get ahead of the ball …it is what we have needed for a very long time… Read more »
Owen Hargreaves: “The best Arsenal can hope for is 5th”
Bamford but emery can’t pick players we don’t have. These are what we have until January and perhaps besides a couple of ins and outs, until the end of the season We need to make do with this basically Secondly, so far, we are competing with those teams. We’re a couple of points off top spot so far and beat all the cannon fodder thus far. Whilst I don’t expect us to win the league either, we don’t need to be better than them squad-wise. We need to pick up more points than them over the course of a season.… Read more »
Pierre
Winning you over?
You mean from your preconceived ideas that he was nothing special?
Raptora Yes I respected wenger but I also wanted him replaced as it was obvious that he was not going to improve the club. As you know I have been more critical than anyone of wenger’s continual use of Ramsey in a 2 man midfield and not replacing Giroud as our main striker so why would I want him to stay as I knew he would continue to play Ramsey to the detriment of the team. It’s you who loves Ramsey so I could say that you would prefer wenger to be still at the club as he was and… Read more »
Bamford to summarize my point more clearly, I don’t expect we will compete for the title. But I do believe it’s a game of maths as much as it is quality. We have a better team than Leicester who won the league and Ferguson had a few sides around the same level as us which collected points like a machine and won titles relentlessly. You need quality, sure, but it’s a game of maths. If you beat enough of the dross and average teams in this league and survive in most of the top 6 games, it’s mathematically very possible… Read more »
G62 Let me explain the difference between now and earlier in the season … These are the different areas that I was concerned about 1) Lacazette on the bench 2)Torriera on the bench 3)playing out from the back with cech in goal. 4) Ramsey as CAM playing in front of our C.F. 5)ozil not at CAM and playing wide and expected to track back which he is useless at. And one area that I am still concerned about is both full backs pushing forward at the same time. So yes he is winning me over and no they wasn’t preconceived… Read more »
Put it this way, what if Chelsea have a run like they did about 5 years ago when over Xmas they were missing like 5 players from their defensive unit through injury. Will they come out the other side in tact?
Pierre: “It’s you who loves Ramsey” I give my love to the people who deserve it. Ramsey has proven in my eyes that he was the difference maker when none of our team was willing to be decisive and proactive including your favorite Ozil who’s shown his weak mentality and attitude in hundreds of games in his career. Ramsey has become a favorite of mine in his recent years when it was either him or Alexis who would try something or even anything, to try to win us the game. Now I can see that trait developing in to players… Read more »
can anyone on le-grove….. see bamford for what he is, as an attention seeking jobless old slagging prick….
he constantly says all the wrongs things, and saying nothing would change his opinion on iwobi……
Having had time to reflect on last night’s performance there is a clear trend to our game, which is to try and absorb pressure in the first half of games when opposition like Fulham and Leicester are pressing and counterattacking us. It is no accident that in those situations we do still look vulnerable and explains perhaps why Aubameyang is not being used in the starting eleven since the team is still defensively fragile on the left side of defence. On the right side of defence the weaknesses of both Bellerin and Mustafi have to some extent been resolved by… Read more »
@bamford
For Christ sake…who are you????
And who told you your opinion matters..???
It’s not your families business we are discussing about when you are the head of your home, and try to ask as the king… It’s legrove…
Anyone seeing your constant ranting about the 60 mins substitution would have thought you watched the match…you didn’t, and you are just whining after watching a 2mins 45sec highlight online not even an extended highlight clip…..
What an embarrassment
I’ve said that Mustafi has future in our team.
I’ve said that Holding and Chambers have none.
Holding yesterday could and probably should have seen a second yellow card garnered with a pen for Leicester and possibly resulted in a 0:1 lead for them and 10 vs 11 players on the pitch. He would have cost us 3 points. And it’s not the first time he’s been shown up. Vs Fulham he was a joke in the first half.
The less said for Chambers the better. A calamity of a defender. Should sell asap.
That wasn’t a handball with Holding. As he jumped with the striker his arm got pushed towards the ball.
For me, Ozil has just arrived, not come back.
Evidently the guy needs tender loving care. Making him captain was another wave of Emery’s magic wand. Result, a glittering performance reminiscent of – dare I say it – Dennis?
It seems to me that the wizard is bringing the best out of ALL the players, not just Ozil.
Raptora
I think that Chambers is gone. Arsenal renewed his contract presumably not to
lose yet another player on Bosman, but I don’t believe that he is in Emery’s plans.
He falls into the same category as Jenkinson who is most certainly not good enough to play for Arsenal.
Holding has also signed a new contract, but I don’t see him staying at club unless there is progression in his game.
So long as we stay in Europa and Football League Cups players like these may
continue to be used but not in higher level games.
the Leicester player headed Holding’s arm into the ball. maybe slightly fortunate to get away with it, just as we’d have been slightly unfortunate if the ref had blown. definitely not stonewall.
raptora
“Now I can see that trait developing in to players I didn’t really like before. People like Iwobi and Lacazette. You know why I didn’t like – because they weren’t playing as well as they are playing now. The moment they start to play well for an extended amount of time they would become my favorites as well.”
surely better just to say ‘x is a talented player not playing(or being played) to his potential currently’ rather than ‘x is a shit player’, no? that way it’s not so embarrassing when a poster does go 180% on a player.
Wallace, what if the player does indeed go through a 180% transformation?! Iwobi from today would have never happened to Iwobi under Wenger. Never. It’s a turnaround and a half so it makes sense to say it as it is. The Nigerian said it himself – Emery has shown him the way. He’s always had the talent but we’ve been there where talented players ruin their potential one reason or another and finish with an underwhelming career afterwards. Pennant comes to mind. Even Arshavin comes to mind. Lacazette is a different player also. He’d be pushed and harassed by defenders… Read more »
Seriously, some prick criticizing arsenal a fucking handball by holding…. Saying we could have been 2 nil down…. Arsenal have some many blind critics, it world take a world war to send them all to different war fronts and get all of them killed…. Remembeeed a handball, but forgot when laca was hurled to the floor in the foxes penalty box… What needs to happen to lacazette to be awarded a penalty….. Maybe been shot with a short gun in the front of the ref… Or as said by someone, maybe hit with a crossbar on the head and start… Read more »
It’s refreshing to see a lack of Wenger related comments! Perhaps we can finally move on and not mention him anymore. This current Arsenal team is exciting and hopefully it’s here to stay!
How good is Aubamayang…!!
He came on and glided over the pitch, his touch, balance and speed is reminiscent of the great Thierry.
I think he is being underrated by a lot of people he really is a special player.
http://arsenalist.com/f/2018-19/holding-gets-away-with-handball-2018-10-22.html
Ball is going to the Leicester player’s head. Holding is clumsy. I don’t want to dig deeper in this situation as I’m happy that we avoided that. But I’d be seriously pissed if this thing had happened against our team in a game vs another team of the big 6.
Raptor
Does anyone care about the Holding incident?
Seriously mate, this ‘what if’ scenario keeps getting played out but nobody knows whether that would have changed the game or not.. If they had got the penalty, gone one nil up perhaps we would have gone at them earlier. Perhaps they would have missed the penalty? Perhaps Vardy the Portugese full back would have been sent off (as he should have)
Who knows.
Remember when Mike Dean gave a penalty at WBA for what was never a handball?
That’s football.
We won 3-1 that’s all I want to talk about.
Vardy or the Portugese full back
To quote Bamford10 here: “… The only issue with your XI above is that that is not the team or the formation that dazzled last night. We only began to dazzle in the 60th, when Emery went to 3-5-2… ” Mid-game formation changes! Adapting to things! Meaningful substitutions! Ozil having a good day! Who said Santa isn’t real?! It’s hard not to be in a happy place. Last season we finished with 63 points. So far, we’re 1/3rd of that with only 9 games played. 5 points ahead of where we were at the same point last season. On top… Read more »
Bellerin is the one player we can’t afford to lose at the moment. He’s a constant outlet.
Especially key when teams press us like mad.
I say let the continual writing off of Arsenal continue. We are playing with a freedom and a purpose not seen since we last won the title.
Lest, I be misunderstood, I’m not equating this squad with the Invincibles but it is brilliant that Emery’s man management skills are bringing out the best in most of our players.
Who should we play on Thursday?
Leedsgunner
“I say let the continual writing off of Arsenal continue. We are playing with a freedom and a purpose not seen since we last won the title”
Exactly. Let’s not make unrealistic expectations just so we can shoot the team down but instead enjoy what is nothing more than work in progress under Emery.
On Thursday I suspect those who came on later may start, Emery will rotate.
“I say let the continual writing off of Arsenal continue. We are playing with a freedom and a purpose not seen since we last won the title”
Yep. Attention is not necessary. Let’s keep working and developing. We have had periods where we have been terrific though. Six months of 07-08, the 09-10 side were unbelievable for a few.months before RVPs injury, first couple of months in 16-17 before Cazorla became broken