Arsenal didn’t go to Old Trafford to play a football match, they went to fight a war. Jose Mourinho had no other way to compete. He’s built a £350m Stoke, a bland execution of hard pressing blended with brazen thuggery. This time though, we were their equal. For every clipped set of heels, we had a shoulder barge. For every elbow, we had a crunched shin. The game wasn’t high on technical wonderment, it was more a brutal showcase of the darker side of the English game. Though it has to be said, United made over 120 more passes than Spurs did at the weekend, and Arsenal roughly the same amount.
Though it was enjoyable to watch us go toe-to-toe, in the end, we walked away with the feeling that we fucked a great opportunity. That was two points lost. Familiar shabby defending and some not-so-familiar missed chances cost us in a game that finished a 2-2 draw.
Arsenal shouldn’t be conceding leads as quickly as we have been. We went 1-0 up from a corner. Mustafi managed to break free from a penalty box tangle and powered a strong header into the slick grass, De Gea fumbled the catch and Herrera on the line volleyed the clearance instead of heading it away, allowing the ball to creep half a yard deeper past the goal line. The ref looked at his wrist and saw that tech had decided the goal would stand. You have to say, Mustafi is an absolute menace from corners.
In a re-run of the weekend game against Spurs, 4 minutes later, we conceded. This time, from a freekick. Rojo surprised everyone and clipped a shot across Leno, the German pushed the ball wide, but he didn’t put it behind the goal. Herrera pounced on the second ball (was offside as well), the cross made its way through a huddle of aqua blue shirts, finding Martial who smashed the ball in from close range.
It was the same story in the second half after Emery introduced Mikhi and Lacazette. The Frenchman timed a great run into the box, he struck his shot into two United defenders and the ball somehow slinked past De Gea. Then, immediately from the restart, we struggled with a long ball, Sokratis misjudging the flight, Kolasinac and Leno were caught in no man’s land allowing Lingaard to zip in and take United level again.
The game turned into a slugfest as both sets of players tired. It was brutal. Violent tackle after violent tackle. I have no idea how Torreira survived, he was crunched over and over again, but never gave up. We had the better of the chances. Auba was denied by De Gea’s dropped leg when he struck from a Kola cut back. Lacazette headed the ball out of De Gea’s hand and struck into the empty net, I thought that was legal, but the ref didn’t. Then there was a moment right at the end when Mikhi came from an offside position to volley in from an impossibly tight angle.
It wasn’t to be. United will be feeling luckier than us today, but the 20 game unbeaten run goes on and we can say that we preserve the progress momentum heading into the Huddersfield game this weekend.
Thoughts:
Iwobi: I think I was bang on when I called out his recent performances. He had a really poor game after being subbed at half time versus Spurs. His close control is Hleb like, but his overall decision making isn’t decisive enough and when it is, it isn’t often right. 72% pass completion isn’t great in a massive game at United.
Guendouzi: He stepped in for Xhaka at Old Trafford. I feel like he’s being judged through a 26 year old international lens when he’s a teenager. Though his start was shaky, he really grew into the game. He doesn’t ever give up, he’s always looking for the ball and he can drive forward with clever dribbles, or quick short passes. He delivered an incredible 87% pass completion rate (25 of his of his 65 successful passes made in the final third, 10 more than anyone else). He also made 7 ball recoveries. Just think about that. I was really impressed. Once his nerves subsided, he really made an impact on the game. Fellaini pulling his hair was the height of embarrassing… interesting that MG was also the most fouled (6). United clearly targeting the new boy.
Torreira: A mini man mountain. He is everything you want at the heart of your team. He’s focused, never complains and he’ll go to war with anyone. Each game he grows. To play next to a teenager and still look excellent is quite the achievement (90% pass completion / 10 ball recoveries). My worry is he’s playing all the games and we don’t really have anyone else in the squad to fill in for what he does. He’s integral to our mentality, maybe AMN could step in when he needs a rest? I ADORE this guy.
Leno: You have to call it out, he’s made two errors in two games. I think he could have done better with that free kick. The strike was surprising, but not fierce enough not to put it behind the goal. All players make mistakes, let’s hope missteps in big games isn’t a thing
Holding: Absolutely gutted Rob Baresi picked up an injury because if it’s a nasty one, we don’t have Kos now because he’s broken again. Not an ideal time to lose your best passer out of the back.
Kola: He’s a chance making machine. Absolutely devastating down the left. He created some fantastic chances this evening that should have counted towards goals. His defensive side needs some work, but his power and pace driving into the oppositions box has proved deadly when he’s played. He created three chances yesterday, 5 against Spurs. That’s not bad for a wing back.
Laca/Auba: I love these two. Auba was dying by the end of the game, but it’s great to know you’re always in the game with them on the pitch. I love them both. I’m especially enjoying the more creative side of Auba coming through. He’s starting to show he’s more than just a goalscorer. His pressing from the front was really solid. Lacazette is another warrior. What he delivers with his pressing is underrated. He’s also more attuned to the rough and tumble of the league this year. How he managed to score from two players swamping him is something else.
Mikhi: He started poorly, but I thought he grew into the game and had some excellent moments. With the real Mesut Ozil MIA at the minute, we need an experienced creative in the team. If he can give us Dortmund Mikhi, we’re in good shape. I feel like there’s some form in there somewhere, hopefully, Emery and the coaches can release him.
Warrior Mentality: It was interesting to hear Emery talk about how he was a coward of a player and he doesn’t allow it in his players. The team is motivated, they relish the fight and we are not to be fucked with. I think we’ve seen a lot of evidence that suggests the signings of Papa, Torreira and Lichtsteiner have been very smart. They are brawlers. They bring out the nasty in everyone. You want to go to war with those guys on your team.
We might not have the best squad in the league, but with smart preparation, fighting spirit and a lot of belief… there’s no reason we can’t secure top 4.
Onwards and upwards. What a fucking joy it is to love football again.
So far, under Unai Emery, we haven’t been 4-0 up at HT, 4-2 up going into injury time, or 3-0 up (Anderlect 2014) and failed to win the game.
That’s a major improvement as far as I’m concerned.
north wanker
i’m surprised you can read your reply makes no sense this is about arsenal not you keep blogging and watching sky .prick
Hello Dissenter
I’ve been following le grove regularly. Been abroad for a while.
I took an hiatus for a while. My head was well and truly in the shed about what was happening at the club. I watched the games but tbh was getting minimal enjoyment out of it
Now I’ve got the bounce back and I’m buzzing. I just love fact we go toe to toe with teams and don’t back down. I’m sure we’ll improve as we move forward as well. I’m excited again
Remember that time they scored 6 vs emery’s arsenal???
No, neither do I.
Tunny
Feel free to join the #EKB movement 🙂
Joe
“Edie will/can be our 3rd striker next year”
That’s sentimental bollocks.
Assuming Auba and Laca get niggling injuries in late January , both out for two weeks, are you comfortable to play Eddie in that situation?
Eddie is too green at the moment.
You’re a miserable one dissenter 🙂
If Rashford and matrial can be starters for Man U at 19 , Eddie can be our 3rd string
It’s about time we produced a striker at our club
And we also have nelson
I would give EN minutes, just in case. 10-20 minutes in comfortable games, if he does well, ideally of he scores or at least makes a nuisance of himself, give him a game to chase, Kid has the right ideas.
Comfortable? Ask me this question after two games he features in. I would start him against Quarabag
If Eddie isn’t good enough to be 3rd string at 20 then maybe he ain’t good enough.
RVP was good enough at 20
I’d be giving Eddie time over wellbeck this season before the injury
Joe,
I think EN has much much higher ceiling than Welbeck. Would ease him though for many reasons. Like avoiding teenagemutantwengeritis. Back to the old school.
Suga
That’s why I’m saying 3rd string is perfect. We need one of our young strikers to come good. Nelson or Eddie or both as “3rd string”.
If both laca and aubu go down injured we will need to buy another CF no matter who is our 3rd string
Suga
I don’t rate wellbeck at all
Man U reject. Waste of 15m. That 15m could have been added to higuain bid and got us higuain
Wenger is a genius.
Or add it to the Suarez bid.
Etc
Etc
Etc
Joe We ought to have been more decisive over the summer and sold Welbeck to the highest bidder. Eddie Nkettiah should have had his run-in this year to see what he has. He would have deputized form Laca/Auba and be more refined by now. My concern is that there’s bound to be a time when both Laca and Auba wont be available for selection, out third striker is too far behind in experience and quality. Chelsea will spend in January to get a main striker, Liverpool have Sturridge as third striker, City have several wide players that can fit in.… Read more »
At the end of the day we were going to bring in a CB and AM in the summer no doubt (unless Emery & Sven are mental)So the injuries to Welbeck and Holding should just bring that recruitment forward by 6 months. Big difference between going for Pepe and De Ligt in the summer and going for them in January. To be fair we could get Pepe this January but q top quality CB is probably going to be difficult. As for names De Ligt is the best one imo we can pick relatively cheap who’s going to explode in… Read more »
Victorious honest question but where was this criticism when fuckface was the manager? Had problems in defence for years had a horrendous defence the last two seasons especially and had so many embarrassing defeats under Wenger how cum you didn’t say much then? You little cretin
Can’t see how we could sign De Ligt as every top club after him inc Barca
We will be outbid and we shall need to look elsewhere
Hope I’m wrong but he’s the best known secret around as far as CBs are concerned
I hear ya north but at the end of the day it’s more about convincing the player than anything else. Doesn’t matter if we’re outbid by Barcelona they can hardly give Lenglet, Umtiti and Pique a game on top of De Ligt. Point is that will a big club give a 19 year old the game time when already these types of clubs have good CB’S? I feel like a big club can give enough game time to someone young in midfield like Frenkie De Jong but a 19 year old CB would be used sparingly. He’d guarantee start here… Read more »
Marko
I asked the same question, but slightly more diplomatically.
Still no response.
Vic I posted earlier this seasons goals for, against, points and away points compared to the same fixtures last season. We’ve scored more, conceded less, have more points and are only 2 points off of last seasons total away points tally. No one on here thinks everything is perfect or there doesn’t need to be improvements in several areas however the simple facts point to everything being better than last season. Now matter how you want to dress it up, shape it or try to paint it Emery is a staggeringly better option than Wenger has been for years. END… Read more »
Marc No matter how you want to dress it up, shape it or try to paint it Emery is a staggeringly better option than Wenger has been for years. END OF. Absolutely. We are a work in progress. Anyone expecting a fast revival is deluded. It will take some tine to get us back to being a proper football club with a football team than go toe-to-toe with the top clubs. The great thing is that Unai is getting us there quicker than we all could have expected. Last night was an example. Yes we conceded two poor goals. BUT… Read more »
No surprise Graham. I’m sure him and Charlie were discussing how bad we were defensively after the game against Wolves and were criticizing the manager I’ve no doubt that is the only time in the last number of years that they’ve done that. Which is weird considering that we’ve only lost by one and two goals this season and have 15 wins in 22 games this season. No 6-0’s or 8-2’s yet
Marc
Most ten year olds also know ” Emery is a staggeringly better option”.
Shirt sales are up.
Commercially, the club is raking it in once again.
Marko
Couldn’t agree more but we would all think that wouldn’t we?
Mind you I never thought we would get Auba either!
DB10 Before last night when was the last time you watched a match at Old Trafford with a genuine sense of optimism or actually enjoyed the match? Pretty much tells you everything. Emery is doing a good job – on a score card I’d say he’s pitching at a B. The best thing for Arsenal though isn’t Emery it’s the management structure that appointed him, scouted Torreira, Sokratis, Guendozi, Leno and Lich, have just done a deal that doubles our shirt deal and are re vamping our club from top to bottom. 2019 will be great. 2020 will be better.… Read more »
For the first time in years, kids are proud to wear the Arsenal shirt.
Thanks Unai.
Graham
No wat we get the adidas deal with Wenger still here with the number they gave us
North De Ligt by all accounts should stay where he is for a few more years but honestly he should not contemplate a move to someone like Barcelona this young.
Graham
You know Pedro needs to set up 2 comment sections, an under 10 and over!
Some of the poster’s on here are laughable. It’s not a differing of opinion it’s immaturity or insanity.
Top 4 and Europa in emery’s first season would be better than Wengers 3 last fa cups combined
Nearly everyone I speak to with a knowledge of Football, speak so glowingly about Arsenal and Unai Emery.
Just a shame that some Arsenal fans don’t see it that way.
Joe
Winning the FA Cup was a great thing, Wenger should have walked out on the pitch after the first if the three and said “I’ve got you through the stadium move, I’ve got you to where the money is feeing up and I’ve given the club the first trophy at the Emirates but it’s time to step aside for something new”.
Would’ve gone down an absolute legend, instead it’s going to take 10 – 20 years before people cool down and appreciate what he did achieve.
It’s actually really sad.
Marc
A ten and under section would be brilliant.
“Emery is a nice manager. but Mr Wenger was much more nicest”
This week we have stuffed the Scum
Drawn at Old Trafford
Play Huddersfield next
Yet there are still people on here whining and moaning
Graham
Not sure it would be that mature.
Marc
That’s all fine in hindsight but he didn’t leave and has made his own bed.
I truly think that the decade of regression will sour how Wenger is viewed. No matter how time has passed. It’s not like he left on top like Ferguson.
It’s not like it was only a bad season or two. It was more than a decade. Plus on top of that his behaviour. His arrogance. His disdain for the fans. Lying to the fans.
His legacy has been tainted for ever
Graham and Marc
The secuon would be filled with fireman pole and curry jokes and LOLs after
Joe
That’s what’s so sad about it. He could’ve easily gone down as a legend but he soured it all by himself and damaged the club in the process.
What an horrible dirty cunt Rashford is…
Didn’t need to tackle like that … hope the same injury visits him some day…
Or is it Jose thought , did he tell them to kick them off the park.
damaged the club in the process.
And that’s the worst part. Tried to say he loved the club. Did it all for the club.
I could care less about him ruining his own legacy.
But he has damaged the club year on year for over a decade for his own personal ego and wealth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYm1Yo5D-bA
Just read that sal…
Sad news
Marc I don’t disagree with you. That’s why I am so looking forward to The Arsenal’s future. As much as Gazidis was a total asshole, he indeed left us with a competent management team who will want to make us better. Of course the bottom line is that Kroenke will still have a valuable company to help him offset his huge debts. But this is all to our advantage as we now have a team of people looking to make us more valuable (and therefore more succesful cuz without it this would not be the case). Ps: And I definitively… Read more »
https://www.goal.com/en/news/i-dont-like-it-pochettino-tells-arsenal-to-save-social-media/2p5d3glise3q1frdw2yk7oqor
Lol… What a miserable c*nt.
Mauricio Pochettino says Arsenal should save celebratory social media posts for after trophy-winning triumphs rather than mid-season derby wins.
What would he know about celebrating trophies.
So we now have security footage of Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette and others smoking Hippy Crack at a wild party. That’s shocking and disgraceful and dangerous for your health.
Anyone know where I can get some?
Sounds like a good team bonding exercise to me, and at least Mesut isn’t playing Fortnite all the time then.
To be fair that incident happened before the start of the season and with the exception of Ozil everyone else is doing well at the moment so it’s not ideal but not a big deal. I will say though as the most senior squad member there and the one with the most to lose you’d think Ozil would have more sense and with regards to the balloon stuff with recently joined up 19 year old Guendouzi it sets a bad example. It doesn’t paint a great picture of Ozil but what’s new there. Lad’s a proper useless cunt these days
That article from the Sun is so much clickbait, it’s embarrassing.
That’s exactly the kinda shit the fans like to see from the team, before the beginning of the season
Bacary, your theory is famous.
Really feel for Holding. At the time I thought Rashford was looking to do damage to Holding.
Emery has made a great statement to the world, fans and players implementing his will, philosophies and tactics on the PL. The team have equally made their own collective statement in getting their winning mentality and team mental resolve back again. Now it’s time for the club to follow suite suit and make their statement in the January TW. I’d see it as a strong message for now and the future if we bought the 2 Dutch lads posted earlier (De Ligt & De Jong) along with Pepe or better winger. Age and experience it might make us a bit… Read more »
Ajax values De Ligt at 57m pounds and De Jong at 66m so the likelihood of us buying either of them is slim unfortunately.
Would still be a good investment I think but can’t see it happening. 2 superstars in the making for sure.
Wilshere has played 3 games for West Ham sice he joined them and is now out with another ankle injury.
Can’t believe there are still fuckwits that wanted us to give him a new contract.
Hope the clearout of deadwood continues in the next 2 windows.
Agreed Freddie and is why I said it would be a major statement for the club to make.
Both have the real potential to become £100+ million players in the next 3+ years.
If Stan sanctioned those buys, He would win huge kudos from the fans and really prove his future success ‘Intent’ statements as well as proving himself as an ambitious owner.
It’s the perfect timing to spend £150 million (including a winger) for the club to show its real ambition and to be honest it’s not even a risky gamble.
When you consider purchase prices are paid over several seasons, it’s not like the whole £150 million has to be paid January – maybe only around £40 million outlay in January. Pretty sure we could offload players for that amount in January and the summer. Sell Mikhi and we get his £170K a week wages to pay their salaries. We get Ramsey’s £110 a week free in January or the summer. If, as we should, get rid of Ozil next year, we will be in a good position to pay incoming players. Financially it could be made to work if… Read more »
I would take De Ligt in a heartbeat, De Jong too but think we need an AM more than a CM right now. Neither Mikhi or Ozil are good enough. Ozil has apparently said he would like to try a new experience in Italy, ship him out asap. Lyon wants a resolution with Fekir before the window opens since he only has 18 months left of his contract, time for a cheeky bid? We could easily make a statement and spend 200m in the next 2 windows if we wanted to. With the new sponsorship money coming in and moving… Read more »
Be more than happy to move Xhaka on in favour of De Jong.
Spot on with your other points Freddie.
Injury updates
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6468157/Arsenal-fear-Rob-Holding-miss-rest-season-injury.html
I would look closer to home for a CB. Bailly and Toby would be more attainable than De Ligt. Both are also ready made and know the PL. Let’s get in there for Toby. He’s in the wrong north London club, we should make him realise it.
Marc
Wenger was a football addict. A junkie.
Someone needed to make him go because he would never leave.
No junkie will ever go willingly to cold turkey.
I don’t think Stan is clueless or weak. I think he deliberately allowed Wenger to stay because there was no incentive for Arsenal to progress until Usmanov left.
Hippy crack, get the sack.
Silly footballers.
Freddie
There is absolutely no chance Arsenal will be spending £200m in the next two windows.
I’m afraid you’re living in cloud cuckoo land.
Graham
Maybe learn to read before before issuing dickish statements.
I said we could easily do it if we wanted to, never said I think it’s likely.
It wouldn’t be 200m net anyway, more like 100-120m with all the outgoings.
This is what we should be doing, not what I think will happen…
Freddie
Good morning to you too!
Pedro,
I would like to thank my wife, my children, my agent and of course, my publicist Peter Wood.
What happened to Julio Pleguezuelo? The young Spaniard that started against for us in an Europa League game a few weeks ago? Is he injured?
If not, I want him to step up. He’s 22. If he’s not good enough sell him on, but he needs to be given a chance… Quarabag should not be too beyond him.
Time for Medley to show us what he is made of.
About time we produced a defensive player from the academy, who was last one to make the step up Bellerin?
wing back system.. Although we have conceded goals in the last few games, I think in general we have looked more solid as a team . The goals we have conceded in the last 3 games have mainly been individual errors that could have been avoided ..3 dead ball situations , an error by Kolasinac v man Utd with the Bournemouth goal being the only time we have over committed and were punished for it. Kolasinac is a potent weapon in the wing back system ,his delivery is first class and bellerin also has the pace and energy and a… Read more »
Here we fuckin’ go, bunch of stupid twats:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/7919695/arsenal-hippy-crack-ozil-lacazette-aubameyang-guendouzi/
FFs, we are truly doomed as a club, with a bunch of irresponsables player like those ones…
But in a way, it explains a lot of things, Ozil and Mikki out of shape for example. It comes from The Sun, but if it’s true, we are in trouble – and I’m sure Emery will appreciate that article.
And of course, when it happens with Chelsea or Manure players, it’s “not so harmful”, but if it’s with Arsenal, we must prepare for a real mediatic tornado is coming to us.
Have just read…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46442319
a stat analysis of Chelsea…it points out the impact of displacing Kante to the right to make room for Jorginho — the result was Kante goes from hero to being vilified by Sarri as the reason they lost to the Spuds
criticising the performance of a player who’s played out of position…sounded familiar
Thank you for the link Danny…@ 1:30 nice to see the senior players looking after the kids like Guendouzi 🙂
There’s a clue there…it’s call the Tape Club
“70 girls brought in for the event”…hippy crack…Balloon D’Whore?
Pedro
“some not-so-familiar missed chances”
I know you love your xG stat, but we have missed some glaring opportunities from ‘big chances’ this season. Bellerin, iwobi, mhki, auba and Laca have all missed some seriously big chances. Whether that is blasting over, or the keeper saving brilliantly or just very lame shots straight at the keeper, we have witnessed quite a few sitters missed from in and around the 6 yard box.
So the Jerk Mariner tells the FA he dealt with the hair pulling by giving a free kick.
Why no card then ??? Dodgy Cunt!
This formation doesn’t work. To use the wing back for attack, you need to have the inside forward to set it up. Instead we have 3 midfielders. We need Mikki to play with Bellerin or Iwobi for Kos. Also why Sokratis kept carrying the ball upfield and then passed it back. It is totally useless. Now both our CB’s have 5 yellows. What a bad half of football.