Well, today is huge. Everton were beaten by Newcastle giving Arsenal the opportunity to go level points with them AND Spurs in the table. Both teams have a game in hand, but let’s be clear, some sections of the Arsenal fanbase have been purring over both managers, dreaming of the alternative reality where we’d hired them. I’m not sure the extra £12m a year looks like good value at the moment.
Today is one of the dreamy opportunities to close that gap when those around us are flapping around like a seagull trapped in a Pot Noodle container. Having to do that against a team that has the attacking options of United is going to be tough. Today is basically our very good defence versus their very good attack.
The main difference between the sides since the last time we met is that Arsenal has found a bit of a formula when it comes to attack. Since the emergence of ESR in the side, we’ve gone from creating 10 shots a game to 16. That’s quite the jump. Outside the shots output, we’ve just looked more cohesive in general. We can play some nice football at times, especially when the runners are on the pitch.
Many eyes will be focused on the left side of midfield. Nicolas Pepe had a good game by his standards in the week, scoring a vital goal against a good team. Martinelli sat the 90 out on the bench. There are many that think you should play the expensive signing who has found something resembling form… my view would be to give the best player the minutes. That would be Martinelli.
I feel for Pepe, I really did, but how many false dawns can one man be given? The first half of our season was dedicated to the hope that certain players would come good. I’d rather go on meritocracy. Pepe scored a nice goal, yes, but he also switched off and failed to track his man for the first goal. That sort of lapse will cost us harder if it happens today. It’s a big call. I will happily eat humble pie if he plays and scores… but for United, I’d love to see ESR, Saka, Martinelli and Lacazette conjuring magic.
Defence is also a tough one. Pablo Mari is out and Kieran Tierney seems to be running into trouble again. Cedric was excellent in our last game, but it’s a huge ask to play out of position against United. Not that we have much of a choice. There are also big questions over who partners Rob Holding… David Luiz? Or do we bring Gabriel back into the mixer?
Midfield is likely going to be Thomas Partey… but will they roll with Big Mo to hunt down the United firestarters, or will they opt for Granit Xhaka who has found some nice form next to a better midfielder who shares the workload?
Also tantalising that Martin O is in the squad.
I’m feeling excited about the game. These are the moments that have to matter. We need a tactical masterclass. There has to be a result if we’re serious about European places this season. Win and we go 4 points from 4th, lose, and it’s going to be a long week.
Before we go, can we have a chat about Edu? He is a DISGRACE for trying to move on Mustafi. This is what we all feared. Our powerhouse defender is rumoured to be off to Liverpool. For any of their fans leaving. He’s a machine. Great in the air, elite levels of concentration, a player so dedicated to the clean sheet he cries when he concedes in training. I’ll be reeeeeally miffed if we let him go. Perhaps you should tweet that he’d be a good signing? Pull it over the line?
On that note, see you in the comments… and watch my Youtube appearance.
I’ll accept the point, we worked hard for it, good to see.
Red’s being Red. Could have scripted his response to the result, win, lose or draw. MU’s result against SU set it up for him.
Mr Serge
Arsenal have picked up just 9 points off the top 10 while taking 21 points from the bottom 10.
Just watched the replay of last night’s game and tbh, Martinelli had a poor first half. Replacing him in the second half was a reasonable decision.
Henry we have had that issue for years it’s improving under MA
Bo I agree he was Poor this Will improve with game time
Guns of
“Someone tell me why, when we loan players from spain, they
are 5’7 or smaller. Weak.”
You know, just for a moment there I thought we must have signed Lionel Messi. Barcelona didn’t do so bad with him, not too shabby. We also had Iniesta & Xavi winning everything. In England David Silva did okay. Santi Cazorla? Eden Hazard.? Did you know Maradonna was 5ft 6″?
They weren’t goalies mate.
Not sure why anybody would call last night’s game boring. You don’t have to have goals for a game to be exciting.
“I think I’m sold on offering Lacazette a two year extension (three years total) this summer. He’s a warrior and will always be a good option even if he’s no longer first-choice CF. A two-year extension will mean he will be 32 for the final year of the deal.”
Agree
Arsenal firing blanks after coming into the game with all the momentum.
Anyone satisfied with the result is a liar and has an agenda
A lot more positivity in here last night. A few of the usual suspects throwing a dose of cold water on the performance. I have heard that positivity can have a beneficial effect on your sex life. Try it, getting laid may solve more than just football related problems.
Reality should strike home Sunday evening it will be 7+ points of 4th place. Don’t get your nickers in a twist 🙂
I think the club will be looking at finding a new home for Laca in the summer. Hopefully he will keep improving for the remainder of the season to increase his value.
I dont wanna say people are judging wrong but boy there is some weird analysis on Legrove. Pierre thinks Martinelli was poor defensively while he made the most important interception denying Rashford a clear cut chance . Partey didnt have a bad game, he was just guilty of trying too hard to beat the Utd press, when the simple of pass was available. Willian did look like the man who had only 3 shots on target whole season , so when the chance came I’d rather Martinelli was there instead of him . If we had either Auba or Saka… Read more »
I have to admit I used to be Holding out but this year he has improved so much. t’s easy to see why he was given an extention. This guy plays for the shirt.and just keeps getting better.
partey is still not 100 percent, and has not had a run of games to get going. I think the best is still to come with him…. Laca I have to say, I am impressed every game. His tenacity also seems to be rubbing off on Pepe… you can see how hard he works, constantly battling, getting fouled, taking shots, and never stops… all game Pepe today was also fighting too… seems like someone told him to play with the shackles off… maybe Ode coming to the team has fired up certain players… ? Whatever it is, its good to… Read more »
Pepe only needed a playmaker, he was ineffective getting the ball on the halfway line and everyone knew this but diet pep.
When Pepe played with Ozil in the team he was relatively effective and it was his 1st season.
For partey to be effective one of 2 things needs to be done.
1. If he is DM get a proper box to box , Xhakalson is static and parteys long range passing to the forwards isnt great.
2. Get a DM and let Partey be the box to box, but Partey is better at DM.
BIssouma as DM
Partey in the B2B would be a lot better than him having to cover all the time with xhaka
A very cagey game, 1st half United started quicker and won it on points, but we kept them out and the second half was ours, we grew into the game, and the lads put a shift in.
If you can’t win make sure you don’t lose, and Arsenal proved a few doubters wrong with this performance.
We are on the right trajectory, if we can maintain this level for the rest of the season, top six is very achievable.
Martinelli was poor and I think we are contributing to it. The hype is too much. He has done nothing for people to think he is our best player or even one of them. I mean Pedro said Martinelli was the better player than Pepe and should start ahead of him. Pepe played almost a blinder today and Martinelli played like a talented kid who is into his 3rd year of senior football that’s retuning from 8 months out injured. We need to allow him to recover and fulfil his talent and not bill him already as a superstar in… Read more »
I don’t have issues with Partey at all. He didn’t “play well” yesterday but defensive he was a rock and limited space very well for United through the middle. His loss of possession was through playing forward passes or trying to beat the press through dribbles. I hope he continues doing that. If he starts sideways passing like Xhaka and el neny it’s over for us
from NBC Sports:
Man of the Match: Nicolas Pepe
Three key passes, 7-of-11 on duels, and the top scoring threat for either side, Pepe will have wished to find the breakthrough goal but his day was just ahead of Harry Maguire and Granit Xhaka in terms of impact on his team’s result.
The hype with Martinelli is real. I think he is still a world class youngster. But he isn’t playing in the position that he can do most damage. He can be a good winger but put him as the center forward and he will be elite. I hope somehow arteta sees this. People forget his impressive goal return last season mostly came from playing as a 9. We don’t have natural LW now and that may be why he is playing him there. Willian has been poor and Reiss seems out of favor. The best thing to do regarding Martinelli… Read more »
Valentin “Martinelli over Willian is a no brainer. If his substitution was for tactical reason and not protect him from injury then it was a bad call.” I would have thought that any tactical substitution that improved the team (which it did) , could hardly be regarded as a ” bad call”…..the opposite in fact.. Martinelli has time on his side , people should stop panicking.. I doubt that Willian will be starting ahead of Aubameyang, ESR, Saka ,Pepe anytime soon , so again stop panicking, his subsitution yesterday improved the side and that’s all that matters… Nobody said he… Read more »
Patrick Van anholt being linked. Has been a decent player for a while. Now he is 30. If he comes on low wages and we have the chance to move him on if it doesn’t work out this can be a good deal.
All I can say is that we again have a manager bigger than the club in some people’s eyes and it’s really disgusting to read how much they gargle on Arteta’s ‘sauce’.
Not that it matters but I’m definitely finding it harder and harder to read the comments here. And that is saying something considering how crazy shit had been on here under the latter years of wenger and especially under Emery.
But yeah it is what it is haha.
Thanks Pedro for a sweet blog nonetheless!
We are playing on average two games a week since beginning of January losing just one game in FA Cup and conceding two goals. Yet there are posters constantly criticising our performance and of course the manager. When you discuss yesterday’s result against Man Utd we were playing against a team who are currently in second place in EPL and have not lost an away game for a very long time. Moreover they were able to put out more or less their strongest team. Arsenal by contrast were without Aubameyang, Saka and Tierney. It should also not be forgotten that… Read more »
On a separate point I think that Leno’s performance level since Christmas has been absolutely outstanding.
Moreover he is now beginning to kick the ball upfield rather than the perpetual short passing game.
I was one of the critics who preferred Martinez at start of season, but that would not be the case now. It was a very difficult decision to make, but probably the right one.
Willian is s shit player even a young esr is telling him to move to a that he will receive a ball
Sid “Pepe only needed a playmaker, he was ineffective getting the ball on the halfway line and everyone knew this but diet pep. When Pepe played with Ozil in the team he was relatively effective and it was his 1st season.” Correct Without Ozil to feed him, Pepe’s performances have been regressing week on week . Smith Rowe coming into the side has reinvigorated Pepe añd there is a definite partnership developing there. Arteta now has a conundrum in that the emergence of Pepe could give him a selection problem. It may be a case of juggling Pepe, Aubameyang, Lacazette,… Read more »
Willian is a shit player even a young esr is telling him to move to a position that he will receive a ball
Has for holding the guy is good in defen
ding corner
Sid
“When Pepe played with Ozil in the team he was relatively effective and it was his 1st season.”
That was down to Emery’s management skills.
Emiratesstroller
https://youtu.be/3zcs9IpVLsg
BBC MOTD match analysis Arsenal v Man Itd
Pepe’s best game by a mile and a furlong.
Apart from the fact that with a bit of lick he could have scored a couple of goals, with and without the ball he was excellent.
He also stayed on his feet far more. He looks stronger and more confident.
Maybe this is the turning point for him.
luck not lick.
Graham62
https://youtu.be/4zkq_hlgnIc
Pierre, Redtruth, Sid…. Great minds think alike
Lmfaooo
Fuck arteta, useless cunt doesn’t learn, fuck off from my club
H19
Your point being?
Graham you might have been right the first time!
He doesn’t appear to be very fluent in English so maybe he’s not been getting much in the way of ‘licks’ off the field. All that lent up tension has been affecting his performances!!
Does 6th place qualify for the EL?
Henry19 [RT/Marble] Your perpetual negative critique about Arsenal is boring. The team/squad are improving under Arteta. We have not lost a game in EPL since beginning of January and conceded just one goal. That is in itself progression. The starting point in any journey is to build a solid defence something neither Wenger nor Emery managed to do. That has now been achieved. Only Man City have conceded fewer goals than us this season. Our attacking potential needs improvement, but I am sure that will happen. Even Pepe despite his shortcomings and lack of brain looks a better player. Lacazette… Read more »
Sid
“Pepe only needed a playmaker, , he was ineffective getting the ball on the halfway line and everyone knew this but diet pep.”
Yeah mate, must have missed your comment about 10 ways to improve Pepe, prior to him improving. Don’t suppose you can repost it. For free of course.
Yes you had to feel for Pepe earlier in the season as the number for times he would be in line with the last defender ready for a through ball that never came must have been really frustrating for him. Not helped by no 10 and Bellerin behind him.
On the subject of Bellerin he seems to have had barely one mention in this whole thread. How was his play yesterday and does Cedric still look the better option for RB both offensively and defensively?
Partey on Facebook
Not my best game but I’m happy to make 90 minutes and also continue with our premier league unbeaten run 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
#keepworkinghard #COYG
He understands his responsibility and accepts it. Still not best to his fitness but we don’t need to worry about him.
Barnes reminds me a little of Ramsey outstanding player.
On the subject of Bellerin he seems to have had barely one mention in this whole thread.
That usually means he had a good game.