I read someone in the comments say I didn’t write match previews these days. It is true, as I’ve been gunning to do the match report right after the whistle, but today, I’m gonna do one for you DivineSherlock.
I’m very much buzzing for an FA Cup final. At this point, we’d probably have pitched up at The Greenman, 4 beers deep after a meet up at that ‘Spoons a Liverpool Street. I’d be meeting cousins, my dad, the extended Le Grove family. My brother would be leading the charge on pints, lapping me by at least 3. My dad would be holding court about Alex Song and Arsene Wenger.
‘No Dad, it’s ok, Wenger’s gone now’
We’d all laugh at the guy slumped in the corner that had wet himself, then we’d applaud as he got up in time for the walk to the stadium. The good times, the good times.
Ahh, I miss it. I miss hanging out with the Arsenal family. I’m gutted for all the kids that miss out on a day like today. Semi-Finals are iconic days out. They are special. You always remember them.
This year is different, no fans are allowed in the ground, so we’ll be watching the players battle it out to an empty stadium. That doesn’t mean it lacks importance. For Arsenal, a win defines our summer transfer window. Currently, it’s a roll of a dice as to whether we make it into the European positions. We can finish anywhere from 10th to 6th. The FA Cup guarantees us a place in the Thursday night trophy (sad that we’re pining for that level of comp these days).
Arteta was realistic in his presser. He knows Manchester City better than anyone. They’ve scored the most goals in the Premier League this season, on their day, for me, there’s still no better side technically. Peak Guardiola football is mesmeric. They also have a team of game-changers. The shapes, the off the ball movement, and the decisiveness in important moments makes our task daunting.
The gameplan versus Liverpool was not to get absolutely battered for 90 minutes, but that’s what happened. I don’t think we’ll be able to ride our luck like that for a second game in a week. Arsenal have to show up, they have to play a better game of football, we have to try and control their strengths, but also play to our own.
I don’t know how we change it up in this game, but we know there is a path forward, because the first half against Leicester showed that there is a football team that can express themselves like Arsenal somewhere hiding in the squad.
That’s what we’ll try to do as much as possible! Like any other team they have some weaknesses, as you mentioned, and as well it’s about stopping their strengths.
They have a lot. It’s part of any gameplan. It’s not about City, it’s about any other opponent we are facing. Tomorrow we will do exactly the same.
One of their weaknesses this season has been away days. They’ve been pitiful for their standards on the road. They are also susceptible at the back if you get at them with pace in the front line. I’d imagine we’re going to try and load up with pace, Auba, Saka, and maybe Pepe. Then it’s about bringing the most stable backline offering we have (👀). It’s really hard to decide what that looks like these days. Rob Holding grew immensely with the Liverpool game, he feels like a better option than Kola. I thought Cedric Soares looked off his game, does he get the nod over Bellerin, or dare I say it, AMN? This is what he said on the 22 year old.
He’s a player who can play in many different positions, we have discussed the things in my opinion that he can improve or adapt to his game because he has incredible quality. He has every quality that you need to be a football player to play the highest level and he just needs to do it in a little bit more of a consistent way, but he is someone who can adapt to any position as well.
AMN could be a very good player, he showed it against Wolves. Focus is his weakness though, that said, it’s hard to say that focus isn’t an issue with at least half the starting 11 we roll with game to game.
That also leads us to Mustafi, does he start? Probably. We have to hope that we get the best version of him, because the German Superman, flying into challenges, is not going to help against City.
In midfield, it’s pretty clear what we’ll do. Arteta was effusive about Ceballos.
Well that’s a conversation that we are having with the club, to see what we can do in the future with him. But I’m really, really happy with the progress and how much he’s improving and giving to the club.
I always give the example that he’s a loan player but when you see his celebrations for every goal, the way he trains every day, how much he cares, he’s fighting, he’s top. I’m really happy with him.
Dani has been excellent for us. He moves the ball forward and his defensive contributions get better with each game. Xhaka will no doubt sit next to him despite a little dip in form of late, likely due to fatigue. Then the question is whether Torreira starts. I suspect he will.
It’s extremely important we come out of the gates this time. Starting smartly generally leads us to better performances. Wolves and Leicester showed us that. We are a team that has fragile confidence. If the game plan looks good, we have a great chance. If it’s off, the players tend not to recover (Spurs). When we let Liverpool take control, we never took it back. I appreciate it’s Liverpool, but we’re not a team that should allow another side such a large chunk of possession. City with have more answers to a deep block than Liverpool.
We have to nip at City, we have to ask questions of their defence, and we have to play a more positive game.
Arteta was asked about Mesut Ozil again, his response was a terse, ‘he is in training.’ It’s clear there is very little chance of him returning this season. Fans remember the wrong Ozil when they don’t see him. This is a guy that was the best #10 in the world, he is not that now.
Here are his numbers.
Last 3 seasons:
68 Appearances
10 goals
13 assists
Last two seasons:
42 appearances
6 goals
4 assists
£350k p/w
3 Villa players have matched/more assists this season than Ozil has in had in 2 years (Grealish, Hourihane, El Ghazi). Andy Carrol has the same assist numbers this season as Ozil has had in 2 seasons.
He is the best chance creator in the team, still, but his 2.3 chances per game is more than half what it was back in the day, and those numbers don’t outweigh the negatives of having a player that regularly doesn’t show up in important games. Are we beating Liverpool with Mesut in the week? No chance.
Arteta also cleared up the SPEND SOME FUCKING MONEY comments he made in the week.
No, that was misinterpreted. It wasn’t my intention. We work so closely with everyone at the club, with the owners to put the plan that we need to take the club forward. Everybody has the same ambition, we are in all of this together. But if you ask me if I know right now what do I have and how can I do it, I’m sorry but I don’t know because there are a lot of questions that we can not resolve right now with the situation we have.
One is financially and the other one is because we do not know if we are in Europe, and because we have players that we don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s the reality. It’s not about sending a message, we all have the same objective which is to try to bring the club back as quickly as possible, fighting with the top teams in the country and in Europe and that’s it, and I want to do that as quickly as possible.
I don’t think you can knock a coach for pushing the club to give him funds to compete, though some obviously will. Hopefully, we’ll make Europe, that’s the first place to find some money, and if we don’t, Arteta will just have to deal with the consequences. His point about money is that it allows you to get there faster, which is an obvious statement, but one that is more important this summer because a little injection of credit could give us a lot of bang for our buck. As I said in the week, it’s new to hear an Arsenal manager fight for the football, and I welcome it. Stan K, for all his problems, is not an owner afraid to spend money, remember, Unai Emery had a higher net spend than Klopp and he was only with us for 18 months. Question is, can he afford to give the club an injection of cash when ALL sports are fucked from COVID and he’s a sports business guy? Doubtful.
Still, Madrid aren’t going on for Mbappe this summer, so if the Spanish big dogs are fucked, then he can hardly take offence at Arsenal not having a lot of cash to burn.
ALSO, I know people are uncomfortable that the manager keeps pumping players in press. I am too. Mostly because we’re unsure whether he means it. I am almost 100% sure he’s being a salesman here. He is pumping value, he is playing the reluctant seller, and you’ll see where his taste levels are at this summer when he has to move on big names.
Finally, before I go, I would ask you to all take a read of this from The Athletic. It’s a very well sourced piece about how we do business at Arsenal. I know plenty don’t believe things when they come from me, but hey, look where the mainstream media is going with something I’ve been banging the drum on for a while. If you are bored, take a read of this story about how we landed where we did. A nice compliment.
Enjoy the game, see you in the comments!
Sterling can fuck off.
We have to score otherwise it’s over we cannot sit back and hang on.
That’s a dive if so it’s booking
Good tackle that time .. Mustafi.. you have to hold your breath every time though. because of Freakin VAR. Like if its not obvious what the fuck. come on.
Mustafi is such a clown I swear
Why is that even subject to such scrutiny
VAR is being used to kill football
Mustafi with his sliding routine
Man City haha appealing for a soft penalty to save themselves blushes.
We’re being overrun here.
Make the change Arteta !
Un –
“Does Saka do as well against marhez?”
I’m not sure, but so far the current 11 have been getting the job done, so I’m not complaining. Just think we have better options for LCB and LWB.
Beginning to creak a little.
Missed headers from their corner
Water break … needed that timeout.
There’s an unreal quality to this scoreline
We are in total disarray hold the ball up ffs.
New legs
Fresh legs!! NOW.
Mahrez taken off. AMN take a bow son, there’s no greater compliment from Pep.
AMN can cross from the right though.
I didn’t imagine Willock be the first sub.
still not sure about Willock though
Arsenal’s defence line is too deep.
That is creating a gap between the lines for City to play their stuff on the edge of the penalty box.
If we have enough money,we should get an organiser CB who can keep the defence line High and not succumb to the pressure.
Laca is tired, should bring on willock for him.
Why is Arteta holding off on bringing his fresh legs?
Ah the trademark Willock sub
great ball from Tierney!!!!!!!!
Arsenal 2 Cheating Cowards 0
OMG OMG OMG IMG OMG
Diss and Un
I agree with you both: Emi deserves the no1 shirt.
Ever since i saw him start for us, you could tell that confidence oozes out of him.
Sell Leno back!!!
Go Auba!!!!!!! YESSSSSSS!!!!!
FFUCK YESS!!!!!!
Yes!!!!
OMG
Auba! Never a doubt eh!
Effing unbelievable
Is this for real
Fuck yes!!!! 2-0 baby.
Game over!!
Arsenal makes my night
Auba again
So happy here😂😂😂😂😂
KT you beauty! Great weight of pass to Pepe and then lovely clip into Auba
Come on The Arsenal!!!!
Auba!!!!
Chuffed as fuck with is scoring that 2nd goal!!!
Aubamayang!!
The future’s bright, the future’s Arteta.
Auba putting in a captain’s performance than some.
And it’s over. They aren’t coming back from 2 goals down. They might not even score today
Perfecy counter attack goal.
Man City looked all night that they could conceded a second.
Beautiful goal.
The players have been on it regarding the counters all night.
Still a shit ton of time.
Premium rushing loading
Aubamyang is fucking world class. Get way too much hate on this blog 30 goals a season striker and still got his pace
Fucking sauce!
Lol..
I think Eddie being out helped Arteta though
perfect counter attack.
perfection.
David Luiz playing intelligently. Experience
FA cup trophy and a place in Europa will be a great end to what has been a tumultuous season.
CG 87.4% unhappy right now.
David Luiz giving him the finger for his usual pre-match clown predictions.
Just sayin… still nervous.. hahahaha
*then some
How many time do Arsenal have two players throwing their bodies in line to block shots.
OMG OMG!!
This is fantastic!
Wonder if Arteta will have the balls to drop Leno and stick with Martinez…..
15 mins is still too long a time
Still long time to hold on…
Take Auba off now
“ Wonder if Arteta will have the balls to drop Leno and stick with Martinez”
He has no choice really
Emi has made the case very well.
He’s better than Leno globally. He has a presence in the box and keeps the defense calmer.
Martinez is just a top class keeper constant focus no howlers in him calm presence who Marshalls his box.
Luiz having a blinder.
Torreira coming on, perfect game for him.
Build a wall.. build a wall… build a wall. Come on clock.. tick down.
Still time for a fuck up.
We must hold the ball in mid
Mid
Who will pay for that wall though
Lol Diss- you know who… the taxpayers.. I mean the fans.
Asking where posters are after literally seeing their comments… What’s even wrong with you?
Wow… that looked good at first.
This team performance has been exceptional. Incredible work rate. Feels good, man.
Laporte with an almost screamer. Inches.
MC is missing all the shots.
Auba looks tired
Honestly just play Saka in that role
I do understand he has to have an eye on the remotely rare chances they game could still go into overtime if we choke in the next 14 mins.
You do all realise we will now get the customary post from Pierre and CG on how we are all so excited about the FA cup, and Wenger delivered us 3, yes 3 FA cups in what were considered his worst years at the club blah blah blah.
Completely missing the fact Wenger was a manager in decline and we now have a manager that can only get better.
Un
Has ceballos played well?
Missed most of this game
That was a stamp
5 mins… plus stoppage… Mustafi looks hurt maybe.
Auba should’ve come off instead of Laca
now we go all out parking the bus lol
truly a saucy masterclass
Sterling steps on Mustafi’s foot.
Whoa. Kola.
Fuck off kola!
Danny S that is either here nor there right now, try to enjoy what is likely to be a memorable win!
Arteta going full Mourinho.
And knee on his thigh
Auba looks tired as well.. stretching the hammies. Ok lets finish this.
“That was a stamp“
You love drama. There was nothing in it, he’s pulled his hamstring ffs
Why Kolasinach ?
Arteta getting it out through his brain ?
Hope not.
OK
Holding too
Chris
I am very much enjoying it, don’t worry about that.
If Auba could control a ball he’d be Ronaldo.
Not even a foul given. So you tread on another player and fall on his hamstring. That’s ok now.
Auba doesn’t even look fast he is that fast.
Like he doesn’t need to all out sprint to be levels in front
Fuck yes boys, great night to be a Gooner.
Clean sheet win over Pep’s City in a Cup SF, doesn’t get more impressive than that domestically.
Bring on the Chavs or Yoonited in the Final.
Receding
The man is a Wengerite clown.
He’s been dissing Arsenal’s only bonafide world class player all season. Aubameyang of course.
Danny S
Glad to see 👍
Collectively as a team it’s a been a bloody marvellous effort.
Waiting to see stoppage time board better not be something stupid.
AMN really plays a strong game!
7 mins.. I guess it could be worse..
7 mins from being the cone placer to a true saucy unlocker
AMN MOTM for me.
Mahrez, DeBruyne tried their luck against him and he outclassed them both.
What a fucking week for Arteta.
We lost the NLD but he delivered a win over the league and european champions and a cup final instead.
Lovely stuff!
CC
He stamped on his ankle. Watch it again casting director.
He pulled his hamming before the stamp.
Jamie
Always hate losing against Spurs but that’s some consolation prize!
Ishola something’s definitely wrong with him
Game plan tonight was better, picked the counters better and were better in possession. Much more meaningful win than Liverpool.
If we play like this against United or Chelsea we beat them.