It’s tough hyping yourself to write a match report after beating a very average side in a tournament that generally doesn’t heat up until the semi-finals, but we have to make it work for a few hundred words, so keep with me.
Firstly, we won. You can only beat what is put in front of you and we did the job. We’ve qualified for the knockout phase of the competition which means our last two games should see some real minutes for some of the kids that are taking our fancy.
The performance wasn’t exactly electric, but we saw what need to from certain player. Nicolas Pepe had a major reaction after his dim sending off against Leeds. Again, he’s usually quite good against sides that give him the luxury of time and space that he doesn’t get in the Premier League but he still looked motivated and purposeful. He had 6 shots, he made the most passes, and his goal from a Joe Willock cross was lovely.
Arteta was pleased after the game.
‘He had a great performance, he scored one goal and could have scored another one or two. He created some good moments in the game and worked really hard for the team, so I really like it, I am pleased with that.’
‘We all know what his level is, and all the time the question is how often he can get to that level and how he contributes to other aspects of the game.’
‘Today is the example of the level he needs to hit, and he needs to keep doing it because he is capable of it and you can see that every time he gets in those positions win the final third, he is a real threat and a very difficult player to control because he can go with his feet, he can come inside, he can shoot, he can create crosses and he can go in behind you as well. That is what we can expect from him.’
It’s a shame we won’t see him for three games in the league now.
That might open up some opportunities for others. Reiss Nelson put in another good performance. His runs were direct, he was fast, his passing was crisp. I loved the goal he scored. He showed a lot of energy to get on the end of another Joe Willock cross. Again though, it’s in the Premier League where he needs to make it count. When the pressure is high and spaces are tighter.
Joe Willock had another game where you can see what he could offer the side. I think the glimpse of Emile Smith Rowe might have been a little more exciting, the manager seemed to be adament that we have a very good player on our hands. He created an assist very quickly, his clever run into space found the ball from Tierney, he’d already spotted Balogun who took a nice touch and bundled home for his first-ever goal for Arsenal. There’s something special about the two of them combining. Hopefully, that’s a partnership we see more of in the future.
Overall, the more attacking approach to the game had a positive impact on our numbers. We had 19 attempts at their goal, hitting the target 8 times. I’m not sure we landed a ‘performance’ out there, but I do think we are increasingly seeing why we’re not where we need to be as a squad. Another 2/10 performance from Lacazette who looked shite against a pub team. Another fairly anonymous runout for Eddie. Xhaka was far too slow in midfield again, even at this level. He doesn’t move the ball at pace and he’s a fairly one-dimensional player. We desperately lack craft with our final ball, even with space and time. Speed and precision is so important to this system Arteta is trying to move us towards. We need to find some of that in the January window otherwise it’s going to be more of this bland football we feel is unbefitting of a club like Arsenal.
The good news is Thomas Partey should be back this weekend. It’ll be interesting to see if he plays next to Mo or Ceballos. Then we’ll wait to see what he does about Joe Willock. Still, I’d prefer to play an attacking system badly, than give up and stick 11 men behind the ball. We need to move faster towards a creativity production line, so let’s see what we do against a very good Wolves side this weekend.
I hope it’s not the slap back to reality we had against Leeds at the weekend.
ES, I’m glad that your little chat with Ken didn’t lead to anything, the idea that local community clubs should drop out of the league structure to accommodate the ‘B’ teams of the big clubs is abhorrent and a further exercise in greed and selfishness that pervades the games in this country.
“Note who isn’t here when we win.”
But we won though didn’t we? And you haven’t been around much since then, are you calling yourself out?
Do you think we will win tomorrow?
Emirates
“He had very limited football and coaching background before he went to Porto.”
Mate you are just embarrassing your self now. He did start as a translator before becoming Ass Coach, he then went on to manage at both Benfica and União de Leiria (yes I did copy and paste the name) before going onto success at Porto. The rest is history.
Pedro
“Emirates, when you realise posters like Marc/RH are here to exact revenge on me for Emery, it’s easier to digest why they are calling for Arteta’s job a few games into the season.”
Get over yourself – I enjoy the blog and the comments section but first and foremost I want Arsenal to win.
Emery’s dead, gone, finished. The only reason he gets a mention is because he’s the only bench mark we have for Arteta.
Great goal by Leeds!
Win our next three games!
Blind Faith indeed.
Leeds ahead now great goal.
Fuck me you mention Kim Dumb Pedro and he appears.
It’s like some sort of dark magic.
ES You continue to not take on the points made. Mourinho was not a rookie manager when he went to Porto and even more importantly he took over at Porto when they were very much an established CL club. You do realise that if Arsenal fail to get into the CL again this season that will be five seasons out. We are a Eurpopa League level club atm. Porto on the other hand when Mourinho took over were as said a firmly established CL club. You are not taking on board what level certain clubs were at when these managers… Read more »
Leeds should have at least 3 by my count. That was a daisy cutter special.. from range.
Ancelotti though, missed opportunity and all that as they’re currently 0-1 down at home to Leeds who have a shocking defence this season.
More than good value for it too, Bamford has missed a boat load.
Marc The arguments on this forum generally fall into four categories: 1. Are we currently better off prioritising defensive structure over showing more attacking ambition, with this group of players? And will the additional attacking intent come at the expense of losing our defensive structure, and which is more beneficial to us right now? 2. Is this squad unbalanced, and lacking certain qualities in key areas, which makes us predictable? or should Arteta be doing better with this group of players? 3. The amount of time a manager needs to change our fortunes, and develop a team, both in the… Read more »
Pedro
Marc/RH “here to exact revenge on me for Emery”?
I have to say you’re coming across all Donald Trump with that gem.
STOP THE STEAL!
Incidentally I wouldn’t use Fergie as a benchmark, in his first full season he improved United’s position from 11th the previous season to second behind champions Liverpool. I doubt that Mark or anyone else would be complaining if Arteta did that.
Win or lose, March and RH are on here.
Only the small matter of a wedding and a honeymoon kept RH (briefly) away.
The Fergie example was daft.
He worked miracles at Aberdeen to give them european glory.
They had done nothing of that sort before Fergie arrived and they have done nothing of that sort again after Fergie left.
Make that Marc btw.
Talking if whom I must have missed all the posts calling for MA’s head. Demanding improvement yes, but call for him to be fired? Nope, must have missed those.
March = Marc
Words the idea that I want Arsenal football club to lose football matches so I can mock Pedro over Emery is absurd and laughable Emery was a man that came here to do a job, my only crime is consistently pointing out that all our failings cannot be laid at his feet, that we have certain characters in this club who are poor footballers and lazy,a dangerous combination. I was mocked and called names. Now we have a better manager who had the chance to rid us of some of these players but instead choose to make them his key… Read more »
Rich All but one of the points you made there are easily answered by a reasonable fan, the one that isn’t is the issue that some will not accept. “2. Is this squad unbalanced, and lacking certain qualities in key areas, which makes us predictable? or should Arteta be doing better with this group of players?” It’s both – of course the squad isn’t the finished article and needs additions but the simple and plain fact is Arteta is not getting a good enough return at this point in either performances or results. My personal belief is generally if you… Read more »
Win or lose Marc is here…
_____
True..
Yep no matter how much we try to get rid. of him.. he is like Keith Richards keeps coming back like a Rolling Stones reunion tour. never ends.
😀
“Only the small matter of a wedding and a honeymoon kept RH (briefly) away.”
And we’re very happy together!
Midwest
You’d miss me if I was gone.
WOAB and Andy
Much appreciate the saying it how it is.
“And we’re very happy together!”
Tell em honey bunch
Ancelotti’s Everton lose two in a row at home
You’d miss me if I was gone.
_____
Famous last words.. I think Lord Bendtner said something similar. hahaha
Anyhow. Your like Pedro’s evil super villain …. arch- nemesis keeps him on his toes.
Alright y”all, Ill leave you too it.. My scoreline bet let me down… It really should have been 3-1.
On tommorows match surely Arteta has got to go for the jugular and attack Wolves from the start.
Wolves struggle to score just like Arsenal.
A cagey approach to the game may well be in the intesrest of Wolves.
Arsenal did show good attacking intent against Leicester in the first half at home. The only problem there was that the areas of attack were too predictable.
Marc/Receding
Please get a room!
Nobody fiercely touting Ancelotti today? Weird..
Leeds are 10/10 games where they have the ball more than their opponent. Including games at Anfield and Vs City at home.
Talking about a manager with a plan. From a serial 13th place finisher in the Championship when he took the club, to a 3rd and 1st place with 10 pts gap to the 2nd. With plus net spend. Well, well on their way to fight for a top 10 finish in their first top flight season in 16 years.
Absolute randoms passing the ball better than some of the best teams in the country.
Arteta lost the only game he managed on his own at city! @ home !..
Most are disputing his managerial pedigree and experience for the task at Arsenal
and rightly so based on what we have been witnessing so far
I don’t understand why some are going OTT making excuses and bringing up irrelevant stories to make him look like someone he is not .
He has this side of the year and Xmas to show he is improving, if not then the moaning and criticism continue
Man, I truly enjoy watching Leeds play futbol. Win lose or draw.
Don’t care if they fade, not that good, or any other type of negativity. They play their way, gods be damned.
When does two half seasons of 29 nine total games = a full season of futbol?
Yup, that is right-never, or we would have won the league many times.
Let’s see where we are at a few more windows from now.
“Nobody fiercely touting Ancelotti today? Weird.”
What’s weird is your glee whenever he loses matches, one would think we automatically get the points.
He is what? Five points off Liverpool in first, with a striker that has scored more league goals than our whole squad? We are not really in a position to mock Everton are we.
That’s two clean sheets in a row then for Leeds who were having a shocking time defensively prior to that.
Everton seem to be forever taking 1 step forward and 2 back. Maddeningly inconsistent.
Marc What if the defensive structure comes first? Our defensive shape, and out of possession we’re much better. We’ve gone from being one of the worst for set piece conceded last season, to the best this season. We need to keep our defensive structure, but become much more threatening in possession and in transition. That’s the next part of the puzzle. We’ve got some really good players, but there’s not much use having good strikers, if we don’t carve open many chances. Pepe is inconsistent and a liability out of possession, and Saka is our only consistent chance creator. Aubameyang,… Read more »
When people talk about sauce it’s hard not to think of proper managers who imprint a definite distinctive style on their team. And to be truly saucy you have to get your players to play attractive attacking football.
Leeds and Brighton will most probably end up behind us in the premier league at the end of the season.
But boy do Bielsa and Potter have sauce: transforming second-rank players into fluid confident attacking teams
RH
Re Ancelotti it is typical back and forth between football fans that’s all. It’s not just on here, a lot of Arsenal fans across various social media platforms only last week were asking why we didn’t appoint Ancelotti. This week he loses at home to a promoted team.
Basically one week one is The Don, the next week one is a dunce.
You are wrong WOAB
Source is buying a 50m pound CM,placing him on a 200+ a week salary and hope he somehow transforms your midfield on his own. Why bother with coaching or a style of play? Just batten down the hatches in every game and hope your highest earners produce a moment of magic.
That’s sauce
Rich If Mourinho on steroids (parking the bus) is a 0 and a 10 is Wenger on steroids (why do we need defenders) then I’m not asking us to go 8 but it’d be nice to turn it up to a 5 or 6 at home on occasions. We’ve got to a stage where our fixation with being defensively sound is causing us to concede chances because we have no threat going forward. That is not something that’s happened because we’ve lost the greatest winger or striker in history, Arteta has gone too far and unbalanced the team. The question… Read more »
Chris I know that, its weird though anytime he loses a game a particular poster comes on here popping champagne. No one ever said we were going to be unbeaten with an experienced coach in charge
Far from being a generational coach, Arteta’s problem seems to be he is so 2015. Slow boring possession play it to feet in front of the opposition isn’t really the way to go in the roaring 20s. He’s playing the wrong type of football. Our players must be looking at the other teams and thinking ‘man why is our manager wanting us to play so pedestrian? It can’t be that fun for player let alone for us fans to watch. MA was a slow risk averse neat but boring at times midfielder. My fear he is the same character as… Read more »
Attacking and defending are not mutually exclusive – who knew?
Bar midfield we have a decent enough squad, certainly not a mid-table one. Most posters on here seem to agree that Gabriel is decent, we also have two of the better wing backs in the PL, a striker that is usually up the top of the scoring charts, a £50m midfielder that everyone seems to rate highly and one of the very best youngsters playing in the PL plus several other decent players to pad out the side.
No reason why we shouldn’t be doing better.
Receding
Where’s the glee? Sounds like another bullshit invention on your part. Obviously caught you in wonderful spirits after you’ve spent the majority of the day dismissing Emirates view of Arteta.
You’ve enough in the tank to talk of apparent glee at managerial failure though? Boldly stood in the face of irony there.
andy
Is that an honest opinion or are you extracting revenge on Pedro for something?
That £50 million midfielder is out again tomorrow.
I suspect we will do better when he gets a settled run of games.
Pops up once Leeds score and yet there was no glee
Learn to own your bullshit Charles, nobody will think less of you than they already do.
“He is what? Five points off Liverpool in first, with a striker that has scored more league goals than our whole squad? We are not really in a position to mock Everton are we.“
Win tomorrow and we’re level with Everton, and 5 points behind Liverpool with an attack that’s scored the same number as their striker.
Do you have a point?
RH getting triggered that Leeds have beaten Everton.
Does the same when we win as well.
New post chaps.
Yea a whole team to their striker seems like a fair comparison.
My point? We are in no position to mock any team yet. It was stated clearly in my post.
Now run along
“RH getting triggered that Leeds have beaten Everton.”
Yea that’s what’s happening.
Receding
You’re free to be a miserable cunt all your life, but football is football and I’ll always banter other sides where the opportunity is presented.
You be the contrarian hero the world deserves though.
Leeds outplaying Everton away is nothing unusual. They are one of those weird teams who don’t care as much about home cooking as they do about playing on a fast, slightly wet and perfectly manicured pitch.
Marc Against Leicester people were furious with Arteta, because Leicester sat back, set a trap, and we fell for into that trap. We did well first half, Luiz was running the game, and Xhaka was causing issues, second half, Luiz went off injured, they man-marked Xhaka, and we struggled. Lots of teams will try that this season, we’ve been found out. The more we commit forward, the more dangerous the opponent becomes. Our defenders aren’t comfortable pushing up the pitch, and we lack creativity. We don’t have players who play between the striker and the midfield. There’s no value having… Read more »
Anyone relying on Xhakalson and Luiz as our creators is clueless.
Signing Buendia instead of Willian to play alongsude Saka would have solved this problem
while providing someone who can press at the front.