I’ve been writing for a few weeks that the two most important games of the month would be the Southampton game and the United one. Last night, we passed with flying colours, beating a top 8 contender in fairly convincing style.
Arsenal switched back to their strongest 11, bar Gabriel who was out for Luiz, Tierney who was deputised by Cedric, and Auba who continues to miss action for reasons unknown.
Things started badly, Lacazette missed a one-on-one after 50 seconds, two minutes later we were done by an outrageous corner, Nicolas Pepe dozing on the edge of the box, Armstrong smashing home with a first-time finish.
We clawed our way back fairly quickly though. Pepe turned hero after Xhaka released him inside left, he used his body well, held off a strong challenge and bounced his shot off the ground high enough to fizz past the Southampton keeper.
Saka made it two. Lacazette made up for his early miss, guiding a Xhaka pass into Saka’s path. ‘Star boy’ broke the line, rounded the keeper and slotted home to make it two.
Our third was started by Cedric who switched play to Saka with a stunning pass. Bukayo took over, finding Lacazette at the back post for a tap-in. Amusing that Laca was writhing in agony by laughing at the same time after hitting the post with his body.
So what did we learn? Same thing we have done every week since Chelsea. We have a really exciting first team and when they play we look really decent.
What we learned today is there are a few surprise packages coming to life when it matters. Nicolas Pepe created five chances in the FA Cup game we lost, I thought he was fairly drossy in that game, but many cited the lack of a #10 to play with. We have to commend his performance tonight. He made a difference, he was a threat, and he put in a shift defensively. I’m not sure he’s good enough, but what he did last night was way better than we’ve been seeing.
Cedric was elite all game. Arteta reckons fitness has been the problem. Well, whatever it was, he’s showing his talent in the best of ways. He’s very efficient on the ball, he works like a demon, and say it quietly… he has a bit of sauce to his game. I was very impressed with him last night. Maybe he’s about to come good?
It goes without saying the Saka IS the sauce. It’s chilli sauce. He’s the little chilli because they pack the most flavour. Since the Chelsea game, he’s popping up with numbers. He’s an incredible talent and we are VERY lucky to have him at Arsenal getting better game after game.
Also, small shout for ESR. He didn’t land a goal or an assist, but he’s a class act. Brilliant movement, great work ethic, and an unpredictable game that makes him very difficult to play against. I love his first touch. What I love even more is how fast he moves the ball or makes a decision. He has a very simple game, executed efficiently. Just what we needed.
We have a HUGE game coming up this weekend. OGS has United purring. Rashford, Martial, Fernandes and Pogba are all buzzing… so it’ll be a very tough game. Wouldn’t it be magic if we could do some damage in that fixture?
Right, short post. Listen to our on-the-whistle podcast and I’ll see you in the comments.
“This is what world class keepers do…give you 3 points.”
What does Emi give you though?
“I still like Emi. But, unlike some here make Leno as a rubbish goalie.”
Yep, I liked Emi too. Solid backup. Suggesting he’s better than Leno right now is pure comedy though.
Given how crazy this season has been, I almost wish Arteta had kept Mkhi and not brought in Willian. Not sure he would have been good for much besides coming off the bench but at least he played well with full backs and seemed to be involved in goals even in games where he looked sure. Another Pepe really, but better him than Willian
“Nobody wants a league thats decided the season before and the season before that. That’s why our league is the best, any other country and Man City would walk it.”
Messi’s been doing that for years.
Obviously, Leno has a better reach. Leno has a better chance of stopping the 2nd and 3rd goals which are both weak shots. Martinez is stronger with the feet and communicates with the defenders better.
Emi gives you 3points and he went ahead to conceed 3goals doesn’t that look like knee jerk posting?
Emi is Aston Villa player when are we going to get over it,I mean Leno has been helping us lately with great saves and giving us points but just keep hearing Emi this Emi that
Leno and Emi are both very good goalkeepers.
Emi deserves to play regularly and he made the right decision. Leno has proved over the last few games that he is a top goalkeeper and we did the right thing.
EMI plays for a weaker team but EMI still better in distribution and control of his area. Leno still punches them away.
Leno might be better at this, and Emi might be better at that, but Emi is not some world class keeper we let slip through our fingers for a measly £20m.
There is literally nothing to suggest Emi is any better overall than Leno, given that he’s conceding goals at a faster rate than Leno. Doesn’t say much for Emi being a pro at ‘organising his/communicating with his defenders’.
Every time he makes a save for Villa, a few folk here wet themselves. It’s pretty strange.
Buzzy
“Martinez came out for a pressure corner and then made a crazy save…the next play Villa tske the lead..This is what world class keepers do…give you 3 points”
That didn’t age well.
We’ve 18 games to go, win 13/14 and we’ll 100% qualify for the CL.
Can anyone see us doing it?
Personally, no chance we would win 10 out of those games.
EMI is not better than Leno stop it anyone who says otherwise
We’ll have extra day rest on Saturday. I hope ManU they pick one or two injuries today .
Hopefully shef U shithouse them and rough them up
Time Up
It doesn’t matter whether we believe the boys can do it, it’s what the players believe. Halfway through the season, after a pretty poor first half, yet we are only 5 points away from 4th. Partey is fit and Odegaard has come in while our form has improved. So it is definitely possible. Bit of luck along the way required, which we are due. This won’t be a popular view because it will deeply offend the Arteta Out crowd but who cares what they think, they get nearly everything wrong in any case.
Tuchel era off to a whimper.. Anyhow.. yep… Hoping for Sheffield to rough United up a little before we play them. Wouldn’t be mad at a few hard challenges on Bruno and Pogba. Not sure if there is a hardcore Arteta out crowd. More like a Big Club sacks managers who don’t get results. crowd. and Arteta certainly wasn’t. getting them, . historically bad actually. Anyhow, I’m happy at our form at the moment and maybe Kroenke being a bit of a wallflower helped. Guess we will find out. Will be happy if we don’t have to resort to somebody… Read more »
Yes.. Get in ya pink kit wearing Fuckers.. 😀
Tom
Uncle Arsene once said …..“Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home.”
This comment must have bit the old fraud in his Aris after he engaged in une affaire de coeur (!) with a rapper whilst on punditry duties at a world cup. I’ve not read it and won’t do so til a copy appears in my local Oxfam, but I sincerely doubt that episode appears in his biog. Nice to be reminded of some of the cod philosophy he used to spout.
City, Pool, Chelsea and the odd Leicester year.
That’s your most competitive league right there lol.
Like my earlier post said, for about 2 seasons now, the premier league hasn’t been close to being the best at anything except the odd giant killing which happens everywhere else really.
Pool had the league sewn up by what November last season.
AFC,
You’ve the right to keep dreaming that’s what football all about. However, you don’t have to point out and mention the “Arteta out crowed” or “positive or negative crowed” or you’re going down the Pierre line, who can’t send a post without mentioning or implying Ozil and recently Eddie.
This place is to have an opinion, and others have to respect it even if you disagree with it.
👍👍👍.
“That’s your most competitive league right there lol.”
I mean.. name a more competitive league? German? France? Spain? Italy?
Arsenal haven’t been in the conversation for anything serious since what 2008
United fans are jizzing up about being top after heaven knows how long. Looked so ordinary against second rate Sevilla last season
City with all their money can’t get past Lyon or the semis on Europe.
It’s a poor league with good PR and more teams with more money than sense
Lol cmon Shef
https://amp.rte.ie/amp/1193456/
Give me this Ref name, he disallowed a ManU goal 🙂
Get in boys.
Just waiting for the dodgy penalty from VAR
Hopefully the cavemen in pink will put in a few tasty tackles to hold the lead and stave off the threat of the Manc friendly VAR clowns.
“Give me this Ref name, he disallowed a ManU goal”
He is new to the EPL so he doesn’t know he’s not allowed to do that. Fergie won’t be happy he’ll be giving Mike Riley an ear bashing tomorrow.
Everton 1 up, hope they both draw.
Man u need to be hurt before we play them I know we can best them but I would prefer Bruno not to be playing
Really at the weekend I would not enjoy even draw, I want us to beat those pretenders.
I really start seeing Arsenal making the mid table teams look the shit they’re. Southampton gave every top teams hard game, it’s been long since I saw an Arsenal team dominated those teams physically and energy wise.
Hope we get this referee the Weekend and not Kevin Friend
Bruno is a handful.. hopefully Partey is fit. And Xhaka stays on form. Pogba tends to lag back and easier to mark. One thing for sure Man U gives you space to play… so hopefully we take our chances.
BatistutA
We shoulda won the league the year leicester did. Another late wenger masterclass
Tuchel should be sacked after that showing tonight.
No ? Okay, just trying it out to see what it feels like !
Midwest
Yes they do give teams space. Rio Ferdinand doing his usual biased claptrap. Peter Walton putting him straight. They just aren’t used to decisions going against them.
If anything I thought the yellow card near the end on Tuanzebe could have been a red very easily. Bad challenge and late where he hooked his legs around and could have caused severe damage. They said Var reviewed it. I guess.
Jamie’s obsession with bashing Emi is the 2nd most embarrassing thing I’ve seen on this site. Right after Bamford.
Even Pierre’s Ozil love-in was mostly his responses, not him literally waiting every single day to repeat his point.
Pure comedy at this point.
Midwest
Is Tierney back by Saturday.
If Tierney’s isn’t close to 100%, he should just rest him and let Soares get back to back games.
I would rest Auba on Saturday too, Let Laca continue to play- Auba can come in later.
If we beat United, it could attach rocker boosters on our current run
The league should apply a surcharge on any team that want’s to dress like little girls.
Why would a loser team be wearing pink?
No wonder they are going down.
Pierre’s Ozil wankfest was mostly Pierre just bringing Ozil up
Midwest, yes that wasn’t a good challenge. Could have been a red.
Diss_
I’m not sure.. about Tierney’s condition. Arteta tends to favor Bellerin too.. so could see him playing, instead of Soares on the right if Tierney is fit. . Definitely some choices to be made. .
Oh man tallk about an epic choke… Sheffield dude.. 1v1 keeper. Oh nevermind offside I guess. but still.
Midwest
Cedric’s form just gives an opportunity to mange Tierney properly.
We have to try to face Benfica with a full team in 3 weeks time.
It may have been premature to commend the referee for not giving United their customary penalty since there’s still 30-35 mins left to go.
The Ref been told off, that is never a free kick
Who did Jagielka eat? Packing on the midriff tire these days.
From a free kick that never was came a corner resulted on ManU he score, couldn’t make it up.
The proof that United have improved to title contenders is that we all can’t stop hating them more.
They have too many heavy hitters in this team.
Imagine Cavani coming in late when all we have is nice boy Eddie.
Pickford is shit
Man Utd are so open. We need to exploit that the Weekend.
Leicester equalised too.
Mr Serge
Ancelottj will bring in his goalie in the summer. I’m surprised he’s persisted this long.
1/1 at Everton game Pickford fuck up again.
How can Pickford give up a goal like that.
Dissenter/Midwest There is a clip on YouTube today (I think from arsenal.com) of Odegaard’s first training session. He was doing a pretty full-on drill with KT and Ceballos. Judge for yourselves but Tierney looked in pretty good shape.
Get in!!!!!
Ok Kroenkephobe.. That’s good news then. I will have to check out the .com later to see some Odegaard pictures.
Oh sweet.. hit.
Lol
Imagine competing for a title and losing to basement dwellers who are definitely going down
Off Tuanzebe.. karma for that tackle.
Kris –
Dry those tears, mate. Emi plays for another club, and he wanted to leave.
Diss I don’t mind that he has persisted I think Pickford is the new Joe Hart he will never be s top flight keeper again
Who is England’s next up and coming Keeper? Nick Pope?
ManU trying to score and bringing shaw lol. They relay on the fat boy to create lol.
Midwest he never got sent off
Midwest pope is the next in line not sure there are any good going keepers coming through
Pope’s distribution is woeful he is an old school keeper but better than Pickford
Mr Serge.. yep. that what I meant I thought his challenge should have been Red .. but he stays on and gives up a deflection goal….. karma. making up for bad call.
Who’s thinking the ref will be instructed to give a pen??????.
He could have given one then
4 minutes of Fergie time. Come on Sheffield.
Everton drew great
Results have really fallen for us today
One day fans like us will realise you can never predict results in the Premier League. This is why it’s such a great league.Sheffield Utd played 20 lust 16, won 2. They didn’t even have a full bench due to injuries.
Manure loooool
AFC greatest league in the world
Nice.. I hope we compound their misery… and send them on a losing streak..
Just tomorrow Spud draw or lose and a good results for mid week.
what a week lol
Darianford absolutely gutted his hero let him down tonight. Shit-housed at OT by Sheffield.
Elite power rankings. 🤡
This result just raises the stakes for our match on Saturday.
United will be extra motivated to get a result.
Man U, same again on Saturday if you please!
Crazy result
Dissenter, yes they will be but they will also have a bit of a confidence hit.
Been saying it for weeks, nothing remotely special about this UTD side and have been in a false position at the top
Big shame on us if we don’t get the 3points when they come to town
Fuck United
Anyone think our friend Dari Bamford would be sending a message tonight?
Worst team in prem history just beat man u
but they will also have a bit of a confidence hit.
—————
Plus one less day to recover.
Again, you could say that for all the leagues AFC.
Could you have predicted that Hoffenheim would spank Bayern 4-1?
Or Fiorentina beat Juventus 3-0 away?
Basement boys beat the penthouse teams in other major European leagues too.
It’s just the nature of the game, that’s why we all watch them games.
Favourable results for a us today.
Haha got beat by the Pink Wall.. That’s what the interviewer called Sheffield.
EPL is undoubtedly the most competitive league in the world, anyone saying otherwise need their eyes test
Still so pisses me off that we didn’t beat Burnley, Wolves, A.Villa and C.Palace at home, imagine 11 extra points we’d be joint top, fuck.
United looked dreadful tonight, really bereft of any creativity and played majority of the game at a snail’s pace with no urgency.
Bruno is a fantastic final third player but imo his involvement in the phases before that is average at best. Players like Rashford and Martial are so much more effective against teams that press high.
Sheffield played it perfectly. Deserved result.
Anyone think our friend Dari Bamford would be sending a message tonight?”
I certainly hope so, really want to hear from the guy, been too long!
Most competitive? Maybe so.
Best? Up for debate that.
PL is the most unpredictable league game by game, season after season. That’s why it’s held in such high esteem by Managers & players. It’s a physical, high energy league and there are no gimmers. It’s easier to get on other leagues than this.
Every week on here people are routinely calling teams ‘shit’,:Time Up did it earlier. That is not true. Even the weaker teams can beat anyone as tonight proved.
*bet not get!
There’s only one Norwegian Jesus, and he’s at Arsenal.
Sad sad day for Solskjaer.
Let’s hope we smash them on Saturday.