Arteta delivers big 6 away day masterclass. Feels good, right?

by .

via Arsenal Instagram

We did it. Arsenal finally broke their 5-year ‘WE CAN’T WIN AWAY AT A BIG 6 CLUB’ hoodoo (29 games). The last time we won away at United in the league was 14 years ago, I was like, 8 years old or something?! Make no mistake, that wasn’t a lucky win, that was the performance we’ve been waiting for in a big game. Arteta is the first Arsenal manager to win his first two games against United since Herbert Chapman. A super day for Gooners all over the world.

The starting 11 saw quite the reaction on the cyber terraces.

‘HE NEEDS TO GET OUT’

‘TOO NEGATIVE’

‘SERIOUS QUESTIONS MUST BE ASKED’

It’s quite a stretch to suggest that taking a pragmatic approach to United away was ever an incorrect way to think about this game. They absolutely destroyed RB Leipzig in the week. 5 goals against last seasons Champions League semi-finalists who have the best young manager in the world was a warning sign that things could go awry if we weren’t at our best… and at our best defensively we were.

I am rubbish at blow by blow football reports, but I’ll give you a list of things I really liked.

I thought Gabriel and Rob holding were absolutely excellent. Our new Brazilian centre back shaded it for me, he was unbelievable. He’s such a monster defender. He didn’t give anyone an inch all day. The performances of both were made all the more monumental by the fact they both picked up bookings around the 25-minute mark, Catnip for a ref like Mike Dean. Gabriel made 5 tackles, 4 clearances, combined with a 92% pass completion rate. Stunning numbers. It’s early days, but my word does he look like an incredible signing. Rob Holding also went a long way to justifying the faith Arteta has shown in him, rocking 91% pass completion in an assured return to action (after 1 training session). Also, side note, a massive shout out to the medical staff for getting him back ahead of schedule!

You need more than a good defensive pairing to win in games like that. Thomas Partey started his first big one for us and boy oh boy was he fucking unbelievable. The man is the coldest, crispest beer after running a marathon in the Sudan desert. How have we not addressed our midfield with someone this classy? He is such a difference-maker. If he loses the ball, he gets it back. If he breaks a press, he controls the ball out the other side. His passing is elite and he is so, so efficient. Most importantly, he gives us power in a place we’ve been weak. Watching him slug it out against Paul Pogba and win was special. Seeing him do it with 92% pass completion, with 12 of his 53 attempted passed heading into the final third was joyous. He had the most take-ons, he had the most ball recoveries, he made 4 tackles, 2 interceptions, and he had a shot on target. A superb game. What is even more amusing for me is there was actually a debate about his arrival because the Twitter spreadsheet merchants didn’t like his radar. It just goes to show you that data without good analysis is just a shit opinion.

My man of the match though? It was Mo Elneny. I give him the award mostly because he gets so much shit. People are having to face up to the reality that he’s actually a very tidy player. He’s been good all season. He was immense yesterday. His engine is outrageous, watching him lead the press in the 91st minute like Maradona after a bathroom break in the 94 World Cup was nuts. His passing has added some much-needed verticality, and it’s always fast and positive. He reads danger really well, he fouls when he has to, he plays with a smile on his face so he gets away with more. It already looks like he’s the bag man for Thomas Partey. Arteta says that the players love him and he transmits special energy in the dressing room. Good for him, that was his best performance in an Arsenal shirt, let’s see that consistently.

The game was won via a Mike Dean awarded penalty, which was super odd. Not sure many had that on their ‘how it happened’ bingo card. Auba buried the kick, he said after they practice a lot, which is nice to know. I think the biggest critique of our performance is that the players you need to be the difference makers aren’t firing on all cylinders yet. Auba isn’t taking his chances or gambling on balls like he was last year. Willian looks out of sorts, his composure is a little off, though he did show some nice moments. Saka was a bit overwhelmed by Wan-Bissaka. Lacazette had a better day, creating two chances, but he is still very easily overpowered by fridge like defenders. He had to drop really deep to involve himself and I wasn’t always sure that was part of the plan. It’ll come, but the fact we still won with that going against us made it more special

Still, you can’t argue we didn’t have the better chances. We tried harder to make things happen in the final third. The game was more Dundalk than Leicester. That part is important as well… Arteta used the Europa League as a live test run for what he did versus United. Mo was brilliant in that game as well. Our manager is young, he will make mistakes, but if he learns quickly from them, the fans will always forgive. He set out to make us competitive in big games, and we are exactly that.

Arsenal fans do need to accept that we’re more Simeone than Pep G. That game was fine margins like Liverpool, City, and Leicester. All those occasions were battles of chess and we didn’t win out in the decisive moments. The United game was the first one that rolled our way. It was hopefully a watershed moment. The Halloween ghouls can go back in the cupboard for a few more games.

We need an Aouar like talent to really unlock those moments. In the meantime, we need to hope that Gabriel M can give us a focal point through the middle… and we need to cross our fingers that maybe ESR can be more than a star in the Europa League… but a good start would be to show he can start in the Europa this Thursday against Molde.

Last weekend people were calling time on the Arteta project, today, we’re 2 points off 2nd place, with Villa up next before the international break. We’ve also played 4 teams that’ll be in the top 6 this season. We have the BEST defence in the league after 7 games, pretty great, right? Things are starting to feel positive… let’s see how we handle the next two games, in the meantime, enjoy Zoom gloating to all those sad United fans.

See you in the comments. x

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Champagne charlie

Weagle Yea all fair observations/concerns, though I think we’re shy of an established attacker of that ilk versus a talent imo. Saka, Martinelli, Nelson, Willock, Nketiah even ESR, are all young in and around that area of the pitch whereas our established Pros are Laca, Ozil, Pepe, (discounting Auba/Willian) of which I’d argue two are goners. Personally see room for a classy player in his late twenties with some pedigree and consistency to him. Again, maybe that’s not Thauvin for reasons mentioned, but it wouldn’t be a concern for me one that basis when scouting for a player. Did just… Read more »

Thorough

Boga and/or Barrow woukd be amazing. Their the feisty kind of wingers we’re missing.

WengerEagle

Marko

Settle down lad was tongue in cheek.

salparadisenyc

Never thought i’d see Eagle go full conspiracy theorist.

That said I commend the list, De Paul, Thuram and Oyarzabal would send us to the next echelon, sadly time to buy the man from Sociedad was this past window and that money was chunked into Pepe. He’s lost to us unless Kroenke pulls another unforeseen move.

Hard to look past the gaping hole in the attacking end of the MF at present though and De Paul was an interesting plan B to Aouar.

WengerEagle

Charlie

Draxler has been subdued for years, such a shame to see. Really was a Rolls Royce of a player at Schalke/Wolfsburg.

How old is he now, 27? I’m with you on more established players and what they bring with their pedigree but that is more your James, Coutinho, Isco, Draxler, Depay, Fekir types that have performed in the CL and at National level too than say a Thauvin that is still a bit of a rook in those terms.

WengerEagle

Sal

Been watching too much Alex Jones/Eddie Bravo on JRE.

The walls are speaking to me.

salparadisenyc

WE

Think they are going to speak to us all in the next 24-36 hourse… the walls that is.

WengerEagle

Sal

It’ll be epic on here and further afield no matter who wins. Beer O’Clock after work tomorrow to watch the chaos unfold.

raptora

CC is defending Xhaka selection, now defends Lacazette selection. Clearly is a contrarian.

As of now, we have 0 wingers on form and 0 CFs on form. Mind you Auba’s favorite position is CF and we have Saka who could flourish in a LW or AM position. Clearly just keep playing Lacazette. Clearly we will maybe score 0.7 goals per game.

Champagne charlie

Weagle Yea Drax turned 27 like 6 weeks ago, and I think he’s finally accepted the crossroads his career is at. Would love to see him here with a point to prove, personally enjoy that kind of story with footballers – and have been a long-time Draxler advocate. Taps into the human element seeing a player written off and marching back with a grand fuck you, is the very opposite most expect from the millionaire pampered image portrayed by wankers like, well…..Ozil. True though, Thauvin has always operated below that level when considering those names. But I have to say,… Read more »

Champagne charlie

“CC is defending Xhaka selection, now defends Lacazette selection. Clearly is a contrarian”

Yep, that’s it, i have a different opinion to you ergo I’m a contrarian. What a take, hot as ice.

WengerEagle

Funny seeing OSG so resistant to using Cavani/VDB.

The latter is a top player but a new CM is probably the last thing that Utd needed with Pogba, Matic, McTominay and Fred all there already.

Makes you wonder whether he was even his signing. Personally think that all of their chips were on landing Sancho and Cavani and VDB were reactive fan-appeasing signings to soften the blow when it became clear that Dortmund were not fucking around.

WengerEagle

Charlie

Yep, for some players their career and professional pride actually means something to them and a redemption arc is as sweet as it gets. Seeing James enjoy one now at Everton, I hated him at the time but Van Der Vaart had a couple of top seasons at the Spuds after suffering James’ fate at Real Madrid.

Sneijder too albeit to a lesser extent.

And then you have the mercenaries like Ozil and Oscar that are only after securing the bag.

azed

Pedro

Hoping UTD get Pochettino is you straying into Bamford territory.

Anyone on this blog that wants OGS fired is an enemy and should be banned.

raptora

Yeah 100% they took a gamble that they’ll get Sancho.

Laughable really cause Dortmund were very clear in their communication. Very clear. Manure’s recruitment has been laughable for years now.

How is Woodward still there I’ve no idea. Failed manager choices, needlessly expensive yet not ideal signings.

Manure with Lukaku yesterday prolly wins vs us. Would have given Gabriel a run for his money and possibly ruined Holding’s day.

Shocking really the way they’ve been wasting hundreds of millions TW after TW.

MidwestGun

Unless we are competitively looking near the top 4 in January, I really can’t see Kroenke.. ponying up anymore cash. So loan move options are more likely, imo in January. So most any big moves we are gonna make we will be next summer after the league shakes out. . ..most likely.

So basically we will be looking for internal solutions., for me that is Martinelli like a new signing, getting Saliba in the team and shockingly I agree with Pierre give the Balogun kid a try…see what we got. That plus he’s from NY, NY. USAdna.

raptora

We’ll see if the USAdna is a good thing tomorrow lol

MidwestGun

Not all Usadna is equal I have to admit.. B.am.ford is from Florida. I think.

Chris

Give Ole a new contract I say, 10 more years!

I’m not sure how bad it would have to get for United to dismiss him, as someone said above it’s a bit like putting down the family dog.

WengerEagle

Balogun is Murican?

salparadisenyc

Middy hoping the caravans haven’t blocked your route to the local boozer.
Reading Texan in play… that true?

MidwestGun

Eagle.. dual citizenship I believe.. Born in NYC.

Champagne charlie

Weagle It’s where you can get some of the biggest “wins” in the transfer market sometimes, when you extend an olive branch to a guy many clubs dont fancy anymore. Everyone is out here trying to hoover up the best and brightest, but there’s genuine value in some diamonds that have gotten a bit dusty. Always been in total agreement with big Weng on the influence of the club/player marriage in a professionals career. There’s loads of talented footballers about, but it can be all about suitability as the deciding factor between seeing a talent explode, or wilt into the… Read more »

WengerEagle

Selling Lukaku was a big mistake. Top strikers are hard to find and he is easily a 25+ goal CF in the right environment.

MidwestGun

Sal… not in play.. I don’t think .. unless the Hispanic vote/ comes in huge. Uncle Joe B said he was gonna shut down fracking and the Oil industry… That’s doesn’t play well here.

Champagne charlie

They sold Lukaku and have since loaned Ighalo and signed veteran Cavani.

Their transfer banter is incredible.

WengerEagle

Middy

Balosdeep is potentially back on the menu!

Balotelli without a club now at 30, shame. He really was the man in his Inter/Citeh days, one of a select few to destroy Germany.

salparadisenyc

Mid

Sounds consistent reg Texas with what the real pundits are saying, good news you can keep that Balosdeep poster up in your bedroom!

MidwestGun

Eagle-

Whaaaaa? don’t tease me.. hahaa seriously though, Surely some Italian team will take another swing, no?

Graham62

Those folk on here who’ve been talking up GX over the past year or so must now surely realise that he’s not a priority.

karim

Trump showing his true colours …
Again, dare I say

WengerEagle

Charlie Absolutely, leaving Arsenal for so many years was the career killer. Overmars, Petit, Anelka (not killer but can be argued that it went downhill), Vieira, Hleb, Flamini, Adebayor, Toure, Song, Sagna, Sanchez. Few bucked the trend of course in Henry, Cole, Nasri, Fabregas, RVP, Szczesny but even at that none of them other than Cole and Shezzer were better than they were at Arsenal. Certain players thrive no matter the environment, some players shape the environment (Ronaldo, Messi with different Barca teams) and some players only excel within a certain environment. Zlatan is a rare example of one of… Read more »

WengerEagle

Big Rom has been killing it at Inter, guy gets grief about his first touch but he’s a battering ram of a CF. Freakishly fast and powerful, good dribbler in open spaces, great finisher and aerially always a threat.

WengerEagle

Middy

Unlikely I’d say, fizzled out pretty spectacularly at his hometown club Brescia and they were relegated.

He should go back to France, was great for Nice and had a good loan at Marseille.

Pierre

Lots of talk about buying a striker or moving Aubameyang up top.. I think the answer is there right under Arteta’s nose….Balogun could transform our attack … He has power and speed and the physique to cope with the demands of the prem . Lacazette’s game has descended into physical battles on the pitch, probably because he doesn’t have the pace or power to lose his marker. No one can tell me that Balogun cannot replicate Lacazette’s output or replicate what Willian produced against city at centre forward.. I don’t think Arteta will regret playing Balogun up top, i mentioned… Read more »

Karsa

It may take an injury to Lacazette for arteta to stumble upon an attacking set up that will tear teams apart.

Maybe a start against Molde might be that opportunity.

Pierre

Gabriel has looked the business since he arrived, i don’t believe he would be anywhere near the first team if Mustafi , holding, mari and Luiz had been fit for the opener against Fulham, he would have probably had to settle for a few games in the cup competitions with the excuse that he is not ready for the prem .

Sometimes injuries are a blessing in disguise for a manager and this is the case with Gabriel..

Pierre

It’s a similar case with Elneny, for all intents and purposes he was out the door and never playing for Arsenal again..

Now here he is, fighting for a place in the starting line up and the possibility that he and partey are the first choice midfield partnership.

Luck can play a part though of course Arteta’s coaching is bringing out the best in Elneny’s game.
It’s a pity we didn’t keep Mhkitaryan as i believe his output has the potential to be higher than Willian under Arteta’s coaching.

Danny+S

Pierre

What happened to your love affair with Eddie? Wasn’t he our next Ian Wright?

Pierre

Danny
Eddie and Balogun have different qualities, both are strikers and both could be prolific..

Because i rate Eddie as a goalscorer doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the qualities of Balogun,that would be pretty dim, as was your question ….dim.

Pierre

Danny
I wouldn’t liken Eddie to ian wright as Wright is not only a good scorer of goals , he is also a scorer of good goals.

Eddie is just a scorer of goals and i doubt will ever score goals of the quality of Wright ( not many can).as he doesn’t as yet have the quality of wrights ability to strike a ball.

Hope that clears it up for you .

Jamie

Fulham catching up to Utd. Only 3 points behind after tonight’s win.

Power rankings.

bacaryisgod

ok-quick quiz for you all.

Only one Arsenal player has kicked a ball in every one of our 12 matches this season. (Prem, Carabao, Europa and Community)

Without cheating, who is he?

Buzzy

Leeds were the best team last weekend by a mile..will be interesting to see whether Bielsa lives up to the hype against a stronger opponent..really looking forward to this match..Leeds play some intense football..reminded me of how Liverpool played in 2018..crazy pace

Danny+S

Pierre I’ve seen nothing of Eddie to suggest he’s anything more than mid table to be honest, but then I don’t have your exquisite footballing brain. I go by a bit more what I see rather than cherry picking statistics. I hear a lot about Balogun, but again I think if he was that good we would have seen a lot more by now. He doesn’t even get a cup run out usually. And Wrighty was a scorer of any goals he could get. Right place right time most of the time and industrious. Not a million miles from Eddie,… Read more »

Pierre

Fulham central midfielder looked good earlier ..Zambo anguissa.

Bacaryisgod

Elneny?

Jamie

Gabriel

Buzzy

That would be Bellerin..i think he had played every match

Pierre

Danny
“I hear a lot about Balogun, but again I think if he was that good we would have seen a lot more by now. He doesn’t even get a cup run out usually.”

As i said earlier , Gabriel would be nowhere near the first team but for injuries..

Anlka wouldn’t have got his chance if Wright wasn’t injured.

Pierre

Danny
“And Wrighty was a scorer of any goals he could get. Right place right time most of the time and industrious. Not a million miles from Eddie, but he could finish.”

If you say so…you are wrong and most Arsenal fans will tell you that Wright was much more than just a scorer of right time right place goals through industry….best out and out striker i have seen in my lifetime watching Arsenal

salparadisenyc

Fulham pulled its first 3x points of the campaign, didn’t see that coming.

bacaryisgod

Pierre, Jamie, Buzzy

Not Elneny, Gabriel or Bellerin

Danny+S

Pierre

That is merely your opinion re Gabriel.

bacaryisgod

It’s actually Eddie

Danny+S

Bacary

Lacazertte?

Jamie

Eddie? Subbed on when he didn’t start?

Buzzy

Rofl what a start

Nelson

I think that CB will never try another back pass when Vardy is there.

Graham62

If Eddie could have a drop of Ian Wrights blood in his system he’d be a totally different animal.

bacaryisgod

Where would this team be (Prem,? Championship?)

I would make it a 3-4-3 and have Chambers as DM like he was with Fulham.

Macey
Saliba, Sokratis, Mari
Cedric, Chambers, Smith-Rowe, Nelson
Ozil, Balogun, Martinelli

Whether through injuries or management decision, this line-up has a total of zero Premier League minutes played.this season and about £130 million in transfer and loan fees.

bacaryisgod

Yeah, Eddie 6 starts and came on and played as sub 6 times. However, I’m assuming he kicked the ball in all his sub appearances!

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Oh god I forgot bout Mari
..

Danny+S

I’d like to see Mari in a back 3 with Gabriel and Holding/Saliba.
I think he’d assume the central role with Gabriel left.

Not sure what ot is but there is something I like about him
And I think given the chance he will do well.

Either that or I’m completely wrong and he was a Raul signing and we won’t see him play again.

Guns of Brixton

Mari still exists?

Nelson

Leeds defense is very open. Leicester City has an easy game.

Buzzy

Leicester had really missed Albrighton…lethal crossing

Champagne charlie

Leicester sitting back again here because of their thread bare squad…..

Just the 14 shots and 2 goals up after 30 mins against Leeds, carbon copy of the performance against us.

Radio Raheem

Leeds losing 0-2 to Leicester, think it’s time for a knee jerk reaction.

Leeds’ bubble had burst they’ll meander to their natural position of 15th to 17th in the league.

Then I need to garnish my knee jerk with a bit of pseudo clever shit like Leeds’ are set up too open, any team that sits back and counter attacks with quick forward player playing out long balls from the back to bypass their initial press will always be successful against them.

There.

Radio Raheem

*has not had

*players not player

Can’t be knee jerking with errors

bacaryisgod

The big issue with Mari is if he gets isolated one-on-one. That’s actually how he got injured when he was absolutely roasted by Kyle Walker. He has Mertesacker recovery speed without the German’s crazy long leg reach to make a desperation tackle..

Buzzy

Bamfraud

Radio Raheem

The real Bamford is back.

Champagne charlie

Pedro

They’re spanking them, Leeds defence is wobbly and Leicester carving them open time and again with quick transitions. Taken their foot off a bit now but the opening 20 mins was a mare for Leeds.

Bielsa needs to strike a better balance

Danny+S

Bacary

He’s not the quickest that’s true, but when mert was playing with a peak Kos and Bellerin he marshalled the defence so well he almost made up for his lack of pace.

John Terry and Adams were very slow players but world class CB’s. I think Mari has the credentials to succeed especially in a back 3. It’s weather Arteta sticks to a back 3.

Buzzy

Liecester will go 2nd only a point behind Pool..considering Pool got spanked 7 2 and have scraped some results with a very dodgy defense, Id say Liecester have been the best team so far…And we dominated them only to lose to a smash n grab and a wrongly disallowed goal..doesnt look too bad that loss now

Marko

I mean Leeds approach to premier league football is kamikaze stuff. Might be enough to keep them up but nothing more. More open than a whores mouth that lot

Rich

Pierre I agree, Wrighty was different class, a two footed predator who scored all types of goals. Wright didn’t turn professional until he was almost 22, played in the what is now the championship for 4 seasons, had 2 seasons in the top flight with Palace, then signed for Arsenal, he was a couple of months shy of turning 28. Brilliant player, but a late developer Nketiah has just turned 21, Wright wasn’t even a professional at Eddie’s age. Nobody knows how young players will develop, look at Gnabry, Vardy, Aubameyang didn’t find real consistency until he was 25/26. Henry… Read more »

Champagne charlie

Pedro

Agree, big month ahead with Wolves, Villa, Leeds separated with a double header against Molde.

Get those 5 winnable games out the way and we should be looking to build a head of steam before the first NLD early December. Crucial we get some wins flowing though, and some goals.

salparadisenyc

Leeds young keeper, playing like a teenager.

Nelson

Leeds plays fast but their passes are risky. Leicester has two fast runners in Vardy and Barn. Once they intercept a pass, they can start a fast counter. There are a lot of backups in Leicester’s defense and midfield

Danny+S

I think Pepe needs to be given a bit more freedom. Maybe interchanging with the CF so he can drift a bit more left at times.
Being stuck hard right doesn’t suit his game. Makes him very one dimensional.

Tom

Leeds are the perfect opponent for Leicester.
Bielsa apparently only knows one way and that’s music to Rodger’s ears.
That said their first goal was a gift and had Bamford taken his chances this easily could’ve been Leeds 2:1 up.

Radio Raheem

When did defending deep become low block? Fewer letters used but still two words to describe the same act.

‘Low block’ sounds more technical so I suspect it’s come from the growing influence of techies in the game. Yet defending deep is easier to understand, thus, more accessible and for me gives a better description of what is going on.

I suppose the practitioners of the “science of football” can point to the complex act of setting up a low block to highlight the complexity of kicking a ball into the opposition’s net.

What to do at halftime? 😆

Danny+S

Radio Raheem

Sounds alike an Americanism to me tbh, jumped upon by the hipsters.

Nelson

No offside. Good goal. The game is on.

Radio Raheem

Danny

Them crazy Americans, only they would go from Obama to Trump.

We’ve got some good crazies here though – sal and Mid – and some crazy crazy – Bamford et al 😂

MidwestGun

Well the way Leeds play… with 5 or 6 players streaming forward after every turnover… they are gonna give up goals by leaving so much space… Usually fun to watch though.. for a neutral fan… Leeds fans might feel different if they go on a losing streak.
That plus their payroll is about the size of Kroenke’s spare change jar so hard not to root for the underdogs except for when they play us of course.

Arsenal payroll… 117 mill . Leeds… 10 mill.

Comeback on. now.

Nelson

The way Leeds plays, they must use up a lot of energy. The players will be tired after 70 mins.

Marko

Poch looks like the fat kid that got cut from The Inbetweeners.

salparadisenyc

To be a fly on the wall for that halftime talk.

MidwestGun

Oh man rattled the shit out of the post.

MidwestGun

There is no way I could play for Brenda and have to hear that voice shouting at me every match.

salparadisenyc

Agree Mid it would be full on France 2010 to weed him out.

MidwestGun

Hernandez went full Ozil on getting subbed off. Glove tossing mode.

MidwestGun

That looked familiar. Game over now most likely.

Tom

Under showing great vision to make that pass

MidwestGun

Not a fan of the 5 minutes later penalty decision.

WengerEagle

Ha Vardy won’t be pleased, gunning for that golden boot again.