Mikel Arteta made the biggest statement of his tenure with an electric win over Manchester City. It was 97 minutes of football we’ve rarely been capable of over the last 10 years.
Arsenal’s team of uncoachables purposely gave up 71% possession to a far better team and beat them 2-0 in a huge FA Cup game. The players defended like warriors. They worked for each other. They executed a tactical plan to near perfection.
This is a new Arsenal. The performance was more George Graham than Arsene Wenger. It was masterful to watch for so many reasons.
If Liverpool was a fluke, this was a purposeful masterclass.
The usual run of play against Manchester City is they brutalise teams with an aggressive press. Teams like Burnley panic in defence and fly the ball back out to their defenders and go again. Mikel Arteta knew this was how they operated. Instead of falling into the usual demoralising trap, he instructed his team to go harder at playing out the back than they’ve ever dared. To the untrained eye (mine), it was criminal negligence. Early on, Mustafi was tackled by Sterling 3 yards from the keepers’ line, only the quick thinking (and pessimism) of Ceballos kept out a clean strike at goal.
Still, it started to work. The plan was to play around the press. We gained confidence as the game wore on. It was clear that City were not Liverpool. Our first major chance happened when Luiz won the ball in midfield and threaded Auba through, only to see the chance fluffed.
You kind of worried that was going to be the best chance we’d create. It wasn’t to be. Our first goal was the best goal of the Arteta rein.
Emi > Luiz > Emi > Ceballos > (OMG he’s on the byline) Mustafi > (OMG he’s on his goal line) Emi > (OME he’s on the penatly spot) Xhaka > Luiz > Tierney > (what a pass) Lacazette > Hector > Pepe > AUBAOMGWHATAGOAL
What a goal. It had purpose, skill and craft. It was straight off the training ground chalkboard onto the pitch. It wasn’t even a fluke. We continued to stretch City because we played around their press. The half ended and City hadn’t had a shot on target. We had the better chances. Sure, our haul wasn’t dominant, but that was more down to sloppy play in the final third than a lack of opportunity.
The second half was better for City, but not that much so. They probed more. A little sharper in our third and it felt more dangerous, but overall, most of their sniffs were of the half-chance variety. The best of them fell to Mahrez. He only found one opening against AMN, he cut inside, beat his man, and forced a world-class one-handed save from Emi (which he held).
We took the second goal with a lovely move. Pepe received the ball on the left on the counter, he laid off Tierney who weighted a chipped pass so perfectly into Auba I thought it must be offside. Our man from Gabon broke their defensive line with an exceptionally timed run, he bore down on Ederson, and cheekily slotted between his legs for the win.
We still had 7 minutes of injury time to deal with, but the team was focused and delivered a stout defensive performance to see the game out.
We beat Pep G. Mikel Arteta, a novice coach, turned over the doubters as well as City and Liverpool in a week. He took uncoachable players and made them a team. He showed that football is about more than individual talent. Arsenal ran away with a win off 29% possession. A team that couldn’t pass out the back for 18 months after Arsene Wenger, used passing out the back as a tactic to flummox the opposition and score a goal. City, the most devastating attacking force in the league came away with one shot on target in 97 minutes.
That is exceptional.
I applaud the players. The coaching staff. The club for making a brave decision to invest in a vision, versus the bland idea that we should have hired in someone with a low ceiling that was recognised or invest in names we know are finished in the game.
Whatever happens this season – and it might not be pretty – I think for the first time in a very long time, we know we have the right coach at the helm.
With regards to the players?
Fuck me, Emi Martinez dropped another heroic performance. He’s played more games this season than he has in 9 years. He has EATEN his chance. His huge frame makes him very difficult to beat from any type of shot. He dominates his box. His passing is elite. He has stood up to every challenge. Arsenal finally has two great keepers.
David Luiz was a MAN MONSTER out there today. He lead by example, he never stopped, he concentrated, he delivered a HUGE world-class performance.
AMN, what a fucking smart performance. KDB, in his pocked. Mahrez, in his pocket. Foden, in his pocket. The only question I have about his future is whether the kit man can make a sturdy pocket for this boy. AMN moaned in the media earlier this week, then took his chance when it was offered. Superb game from him.
Lacazette was brilliant. We really needed him to drop deep at times to control the midfield. He did that. He never stopped. A very different performance to the one at Liverpool, but my word, what an underappreciated job he did.
Kieran Tierney. I cannot offer him enough praise. A rich footballer so focused his choice of designer bag is from Tescos. His power is off the charts; so explosive, so dogged. He put in an absolute shift again. What a gem Sven unearthed there, likely his best find.
ALSO, I should, you know, apologise for my opinion of Dani C. He really is a good player. He has the same attitude as Tierney. He loves the game, he never stops, his defensive contributions are huge. I thought he was excellent. Same with Granit Xhaka who has found a new lease of life since December. He made an unreal block when Bellerin made an attacking contribution to City in the first half. I also think it’s clear that he is a bit of a leader, particularly under this regime.
Final shout, Mikel Arteta. I hope we can now move on from ‘can a novice do a job for Arsenal.’ We just beat Liverpool and Manchester City inside a week. That is massive. Arsenal are resolute, the players are bought in, our results are getting better and we are VERY competitive. The debate should now be focused on how far can he take this, not whether he can take us there.
What Arsenal did wouldn’t be bold by business standards. Startups regularly nick talent from Apple, Amazon, and Google in the hope some of the magic rubs off on their operation. However, most football fans are new to that type of thinking. Arteta was a risk, but not as big as was made out. Regardless, so far, the thinking has paid off in the short term. We’re not being relegated, we have an outside chance of Europe, and we could win an FA Cup final. All from the starting position of being absolutely shite with a group of supposedly uncoachable players.
We still have 3 huge games left. It could be horribly disappointing. But don’t doubt we are on the right path. Mikel is the right man for the job. The big hope is that the improved performances might push the club to be braver this summer.
I’ll talk more tomorrow about what I think that should look like.
For now, enjoy my radio show below, and bask in the feeling of being excited about your club again. The future we wanted is here, Arsenal are finally on the up, the only thing getting in the way of a winning future is ourselves.
*tapped
Interesting that some of the more vociferous posters on here when things go badly are notable by their absence when things go well. I write that as if it is a bad thing but it saves Arsenal fans who are basically keen to see their team progress from reading a lot of shite .
Anyone trying to claim that Arteta is a novice who is out of his depth would be laughed at on the evidence of his first seven months . Long may they remain away if they continue to chip away at the club in a negative way
Id be raiding Atalanta for players this summer, they are an absolutely outstanding team with versatile players that excel in high-tempo attacking and pressing football. Arteta’s wet dream.
Papu Gomez, Duvan Zapata, Josip Ilicic and Luis Muriel are the stars but the likes of Gosens, Malinovsky, Pasalic and De Roon/Freuler are all top quality players that could be snagged for realistic fees.
Bigger win against City than any other since Pep’s been there, and that includes the Wenger’s FA cup semifinal win from 2017 where we got all the calls, including a disallowed goal by City that should’ve stood. A quality second string keeper the likes of which we have ( accidentally or not) now, would’ve given Wenger the CL title in 06 , I feel. The only question now is who’s the second string keeper at Arsenal and should Arteta try to keep them both? People dismissing City’s chances in the Prem next season are jumping the gun prematurely. They didn’t… Read more »
RH
He was supposedly acting the cunt at Brighton going on about his wages to their lads wasn’t he?
And I doubt that Arteta has anything against him personally, he just doesn’t like what he sees from him football wise and has hinted that it’s down to poor attitude.
Think we should sell him regardless because I don’t rate him as a player. Fee of 15 million would be good business.
Debruyne was rubbish last night ….
WengerEagle
“I personally still think we ought to bin Xhaka, Kolasinac, Chambers, Guendouzi, Sokratis and Bellerin.”
I would keep Xhaka, his attitude and application has impressed me. I would replace him for Mustafi. He is just too mistake prone. Hopefully his upturn in form means we can recover some money from his sale… to invest into the team.
Before Arteta, and under Emery, Mustafi was deader than a dodo. If we can receive £20m for him that’s good business.
‘No mate I just think you’re a bit hypocritical. You preached the bible here yet you’re snide, arrogant, belittling and judgmental. Often without provocation.’ You have been told that Christians have to submit to wankers like yourself? You have been told that Christians have to be angels? How wrongly informed you are. Again, Gentlebris is not the only Christian in the world, if you were actually not a complete nobody that can’t gain entrance into a hotdog shop without the other customers hurriedly abandoning their lunch to leave, I would have said go anywhere near Steve Harvey and try to… Read more »
WengerEagle
” they are an absolutely outstanding team with versatile players that excel in high-tempo attacking and pressing football”
This should be the blueprint going forward = versatility especially in midfield but there are some on here that are still wedded to individual technicians.
Hey Pedro what’s the deal? Didn’t expect this kinda magnanimity from ya😅 I was waiting for a bigger, brasher “I told you so” victory lap speech😅 Anyway kudos to your man Arteta. There was definitely a bond there that was on display during and after the match. But it was also on display vs Tottenham at home (4-2) and after we beat Valencia enroute to the Europa league finals. The key is consistency of performance, effort and mental focus and not just moments. But I can’t take away anything from the lads yesterday. I had to watch the game over… Read more »
Gentle
You had me laughing when you wrote ‘Donald Trump is a Christian”
Even his doting supporters don’t agree with you on that one.
Your belief system should be deeply personal, no need to justify them by bringing up others.
Cheers.
Weagle
Could be the summer of swaps mate, maybe the club can get creative with potential suitors.
Not sure how much coin we have ourselves, but do fancy us to shuffle the pieces more than perhaps thought.
Personally see CM/AM as a huge priority, a wide forward, then CB only after a sale or two.
Of the names that have been chucked about I like Carlos Soler, Marc Roca, Partey, Coutinho, and Depay. See maybe two of that ilk and beyond that it depends on how much turnover we manage plus Auba’s decision to stick or twist.
@Receeding:
“ I am going to make it a point never to respond to Un na nai again on here ever. He is clearly a vile retard. Can’t be engaging such a person on a daily as it affects you mentally.”
I’m surprised you’re just realizing that. The clown is a low life scumbag. His only sense of worth is posting on this site.
Thank God Pedro is sustaining him cuz who knows what he’d be up to without LeGrove.
‘Not mad on him as a player. Too small and slight for me which would be fine if he was an outstanding ball player but David Silva he is not.’ David Villa he could be with some patience. Remember his early months when he was scoring with scissors kicks and sealing victories against Spuds? In a proper setup, he will shine. And he can work on his durability…that much is easy. And then, with the fact that the hype around him has settled, he has realized he can’t do no better than Arsenal for now and so I think his… Read more »
What was AMN on last night.
He was a fearless spartan last night, never seen anyone mark out Mahrez like that . Long may it continue.
CG
In 30 plus years of impeccable management from Arsenal to Grampus 8- our Wenger has never overseen his team sitting in 10th!
So don’t forget it.
At Monaco he was sacked with the team at 17th. Nancy was relegated . Stop it man youre embarrasing.
Gob
What with all the exclamation marks?! Are you an excited little boy?
Today isn’t the day to try assassinate any of the players you just come across as a clueless prick.
All the team had an excellent game. Football players make mistakes and misplace passes in football big shock.
We are now set up to minimise the opposition capitalising in these errors.
Dissenter
How many games did you say it would take MA to beat Pep?
‘I’m surprised you’re just realizing that. The clown is a low life scumbag. His only sense of worth is posting on this site.
Thank God Pedro is sustaining him cuz who knows what he’d be up to without LeGrove.’
He probably would be stealing buns at knifepoint just to get noticed.
This guy is straight from the gutters, that much is too apparent to miss. Probably raised by a more decent junkie who found him down some alley left to his fate by the actual junkie who gave birth to him…fatherless, of course.
Uruguayan bulldog
I said it would take 8 games for Arteta to beat his mentor
He proved me wrong, did it in 2 games. I guess the sauce is fresh and spicy
Next question…
Gentlebris
Gentle now. You’re going into the proverbial gutter now.
the state of some of these comments after an arsenal win.
Don’t think Nigeria has drainage he’s just a sad religious nut
Pierre, a leader on the pitch demands that players give their best. No hiding, no passing the buck.
Arteta seems like that sort of leader off the pitch, and although he is very active from the sideline we still need a real leader on the pitch too.
OK so we’ve got what looks like it’s going to be a wet Grand Prix, Leicester going to smash the Spuddies and then hopefully Chelsea and ManU kick lumps out of each other.
Not a bad day of televised sport.
Watched the game at 1.30 this morning
and again a couple of hours ago as I was not
sure what I saw the first time was real.
Where did that performance come from.?
I we could maintain consistency to this level
then the 66/1 with Sky bet EW is a steal 2020/2021.?
A simply stunning performance littered with fewer mistakes.
Undie:
No one cares what you say.
You are the Village Imbecile!
@GentleBris:
“ He probably would be stealing buns at knifepoint just to get noticed.This guy is straight from the gutters, that much is too apparent to miss. Probably raised by a more decent junkie who found him down some alley left to his fate by the actual junkie who gave birth to him…fatherless, of course.”
Oh dear🥱🥱😮😮😮😮😮😮
‘Your belief system should be deeply personal, no need to justify them by bringing up others. Cheers.’ I know you may not like Trump, but Christianity is first and foremost by confession. Other things follow, of course, but the confession that God is real and alive and His Son saves is what essentially makes you a Christian. And you have to know what is happening today is not the first time, and I defended my Faith without mentioning my Brethren in the previous occasions. But today I just had to point to the fact that I’m not the only Christian… Read more »
‘Gentlebris
Gentle now. You’re going into the proverbial gutter now.’
Did you see what that sick roach wrote above about the God I worship?
Stay off this, man.
Welcome to Le Grove –
Crucifixion, excellent up to the door line on the left one cross each! Next.
Apparently Man City all had some sort of an undisclosed illness (Not Covid19) and that’s why their performance was below par.
‘Come on lads
This was just a George carling joke time wind Bris up. didn’t expect it to carry on this far
Let’s drop it
It was just a wind up’
Yeah backpedal, boy.
You have been seen for the vile odour that you are.
Making snide remarks about The God that you know nothing about just to get to me.
You are such an ugly mess.
Still binned?
Hackney
Not Lasagnevid20?
Pedro
Please moderate comments such as criticising other’s religion.
Marc
I was trying to deflect away from the growing discord on the site.
Having said that, I am glad it’s not me being called a vile reptile like I usually am.
Keep up the good work.
Hackney
Thought you were being serious!
What sort of scumbag makes something like that up?
Scumbag…that’s my call sign.
Gentle
The problem is that you’re espousing Christianity one minute and devolving to trying to out-gutter that poster the next minute. Let it go, he’s not going to get it. Like Receding said, just avoid him if he’s so offensive.
How about you stop casting your pearls before swine
For your info – you’re not the only Christian on the blog.
Arteta’s taken LeGrove biblical, was only a matter of time really.
Nice to see Le Grove Apostle Wenger Eagle coming out of the fold, parting a red sea of Guinness to get here.
Cheers brother.
Nice write Pedro what a 97 minutes that was, my eldest sat with me the whole way. We’ve replayed that opening goal easily 20 times. Magic.
I suspect Leicester are going to get knocked down to the EL
Spurs will beat them today
United will beat them next week.
Northbanker cool that you’re a writer. I can’t call myself a professional author since all I’ve done is a single (very) short poetry book which was self published via kindle online, but I like to think at some point I’ll return to either add to that whether in terms of more content or a new book entirely
One day…
Guns of Hackney
How’s the sauce coming up?
Guns you vile reptile
Pierre
Re: 2005 Cup Final.
By luck, would you not agree.
If the shoe had been on the other foot, you’d still be moaning to this day and force feeding us with your conspiracy theories and statistical analysis of the match.
Nothing to do with Wenger obsession, just telling you the way it was.
We were blitzed that day.
Anyway, because it was MU, who cares.
,
I remember when we lost to Ipswich and WHU in the seventies, we were lucky to escape with only 1-0 losses.
I was at the 78 Final and, although I was gutted, you couldn’t begrudge Ipswich their victory.
We were lucky to escape with a 1-0 defeat on both occasions.
Serie A riddled with young talent at moment.
I really like that Albanian CB Kumbulla from Verona, Zaniola already looking back to his best after doing his ACL, Sandro Tonali has a bit of Gattuso to him with a pass like Pirlo… well he may get there.
If were raiding Atalanta and go with experience don’t tell me Papu Gomez wouldn’t be fun for a couple seasons as an Ozil replacement. Shame Pasalic is a Chelsea man out on loan.
not a single day without any negativity ever since 2008
that’s Le Grove for you
Nigel Pearson sacked!
Is it April 01st?
Well, well, well… Liverpool’s result was a total fluke, I think we can all agree on that. But yesterday… pure masterclass executed to perfection. Arteta and the boys delivered and I’m about to eat a HUGE slice of a humble pie for breakfast. Well done, and it will certainly shut some of the haters up (myself included) at least until the next shitty performance/result 😀 . I will say this though, if (and that’s a big IF ) Arteta can deliver the FA Cup trophy which obviously comes with a Europa League spot, I’ll be fully on board with him… Read more »
One of the main reasons Le-Grove was set up was to allow fans to vent their ever increasing frustrations and negative opinions about the Arsenal regime.
‘The problem is that you’re espousing Christianity one minute and devolving to trying to out-gutter that poster the next minute. Let it go, he’s not going to get it. Like Receding said, just avoid him if he’s so offensive. How about you stop casting your pearls before swine For your info – you’re not the only Christian on the blog.’ By your closing remark you mean you are a Christian too? Good. But I can carry my personality inside my Faith if I know how not to cross the line. I’m a very fierce person but also very respectful in… Read more »
I understand that Graham62 but the senseless bickering amongst each other after a big win is just amusing to me
even the OG poster gnarleygeorge9 pops up a bit to celebrate
Pearson sacked with Bourmouth down a goal at half.. and Watford 3 points clear.
Very strange decision, dude took them over 6 points adrift could loose last two and still stay up if this result holds.
Guys, only one god I want to talk about today and that’s the big man Arteta.
Graham, you mean, the mighty Nigel Pearson who we should have hired?
Gentlebris
If you went to knock on someone’s door to witness and they rudely tell you to eff off, would you persist or just apologize and move on?
All I’m suggesting is some ‘wisdom’ like deft-fully smart sheep living amongst wolves.
Sal
Watford sacked Pearson?, hope they go down. Hope we are the ones who send them down,
Sal you old slag, how are you keeping? Paying your respects to the church of Arteta I hope?
Bang on the money re Serie A, hotbed of young talent right now.
Have you checked out Musa Barrow at Bologna? Another Atalanta loanee, they’re bloody stacked that lot.
Bizarre stuff re Pearson.
What’s the point in disrupting the dressing room now with two games to go. And if Bournemouth go on to lose this they just need a point to stay up. Largely Pearson’s work considering he took them over in December with SINGLE digit points ffs.
Just enjoy the replay. At one time, MC had 14 shots and only one on target. Arsenal had 4 shots and 4 on target. They could have given Martinez more challenges.
I like both goals from Auba. For the 2nd goal, he waited for the perfect time to tip the ball through the GK’s leg. Everything looks so automatics.
MC doesn’t have tall players for set pieces. We cleared all the high balls into the box.
Also, are we in agreement that Tierney is now the best Sven find of the lot?
Bris, you also have to take the L my man.
‘Arteta has to be about more than moments’
This is the single worst piece of analysis I’ve read on the feed.
Onto lighter things… it is so nice to be able to watch the semi final today knowing we’ve made the final. I had no hope we’d make it. I am SO happy
CG from earlier… for a man that pushed every shithousing manager going, I find it odd that there’s nothing you like about this Arsenal squad. AMN, Saka, Martinez, Hector, Gabi, Auba… plenty to like. Unless you meant style… but what happened yesterday is what you’ve been asking for.
I believe Watford would have owed Nigel Pearson a healthy bonus had he kept them up. It just smacks of gross ingratitude to get rid of him when he’s brought them to the brink of staying up.
With Bournemouth losing currently, they re in good position even though their last two games are super tough.
Pedro
I’m awarding you the dissenter-wrong medal.
Be careful though, it weighs 20 pounds and may snap your neck if you decide to wear if on your uniform.
Dissenter, the absolute rarest of medals, I’ll be keeping it in the safe!
Who do you want in the final?
GentleBris:
Please sheath thy sword.
I will never tell or critique how you
Or anyone chooses to worship but let’s
try and move on.
Certain people ain’t worth the cyber-oxygen ..
Let’s get back to football … Cheers.
Can’t wait to sit back and watch the Spuds and Leicester kick the crap out of each other before settling in for United vs Chelsea!
Great weekend to be a Gooner
Pearson comes across as being the sort of guy who doesn’t take shite from anyone.
Strange goings on at Watford.
“Who do you want in the final?”
Chelsea, 100%
Pedro
Prefer a Chelski in the final.
All day long.
a classic FA Cup final against United for me
both clubs are in resurgence and this will be a good barometer for their progress
welcome back the 2000s
I’ve criticised AMN many times on here but last night, he grew on me.
Well done young man.
Think I’d prefer Chelsea because United has such a potent attack atm.
Hoping for a Leicester win as well
Pedro
Overstating Tierney as a ‘find’ aren’t you? Scottish young player of the year for 3 years running with the champions…
He was the premier talent in Scotland lol
Re. Pearson
He may never get The Arsenal job.
Too outspoken, too combative for Josh and Vinny.
They would lock themselves in the cleaning cupboards if Big Nige come bounding down the Colney corridors.
But we should always be grateful for his sensational Watford 3 Liverpool 0 performance.
There will only ever be one Invincibles.
And that’s Arsene Wengers Arsenal.
Cheers and farewell Nigel Pearson.
CC, true, the find was up there with finding Auba, but still, Big Sven gets a lot of shit here and he was bringing in some gems.
He left too soon…
Martial is flying at present and with young Greenwood firing, United are favourites.
Today though I have this sneaking suspicion that Christian Pulisic will show the world just how good he really is.
Pulisic shown flashes of brilliance at Dortmund before being outshone by Sancho
with Havertz coming in then they will be even more dangerous
I’m going to go for a 3-2 Chelski win.
Giroud to score.
Pulisic is a special special talent.
Note special x2.
United will beat Chelsea with an undeserved late penalty
Play United in a final and you’ve got the officials to worry about too. If Mustafi’s tackle had been against United yesterday they would’ve given the pen in a heartbeat.
“Big Sven gets a lot of shit here and he was bringing in some gems.”
Sok, Lich, Miki, Mav
Yeah it’s like Hatton Garden. I think he was secretly working for the Spuds
Arteta hasn’t had a win over Chelsea this season – one in the Cup final would be very nice indeed.
Anyone that got us Lichsteiner deserves some shit
Football is the only religion that is acceptable on here all you god botherers
Dissenter
What are the odds that if Pepe nails it next season with 15 PL goals and 20 assists he’ll be a Mislintat signing as well suddenly?
Marc
They can’t have it both ways. Raul overpaid for Pepe so he the doesn’t get to share the glory.
Ings would be a useful addition as we have so few goal scorers.
I truly hate VAR.
The imperfections of the game have been destroyed.
Tough on Bournemouth.
‘Martial is flying at present and with young Greenwood firing, United are favourites’ United are flat track bullies. Sure they have had some big results recently, but they mostly fold under pressure and can’t really play possession football. All you need to do them in is to not bomb forward at them, as they tend to rely on the counter to win big games. Build your play around them and calmly keep possession, then United become sitting ducks. I tip them to win though as Chelsea are atrocious at the back and will certainly bomb forward at them. Fat Frank… Read more »
UK clubs better get serious with their approach to youth.
The DM is reporting that United did everything to sign Birmingham city’s Jude Bellingham , including more wages and having Fergie take him on a tour round the training ground.
Still yet, the kid chose to go to Dortmund.
F*cking joke decision, Spurs score in a move where there was an offside TWICE during play (Son during the initial run in the Leicester half then Kane right in front of the keeper when Son scores). VAR reviews and allows the goal.
andy
Son looked clearly offside and how was Kane not interfering with play?
Marc, the officials are ruining the game. Absolutely dreadful.
The pass that Tierney made to set Auba on his way for the second was perfect. In fact his interplay with Pepe, prior to this, was superb.
andy
People blame VAR – VAR isn’t the issue, the issue we have is it’s current ref’s making the VAR decisions.
We brought VAR in because they are so completely useless and then give them control of it.
Re: Ceballos
There’s definitely a player in there.
Just need to beef him up a wee bit.
Un
I’d say that’s a good deal, bring in another CM, shoot Xhaka and bury the body where it can escape and we can look forward to CL football for season after next.