Well hello my darlings, are we ready for some Arsenal goodness? I think we are.
The BIG night is finally here. I can hear the famous tune. Eurooooooopa da dah da da daaahhhhh!
The main meal has arrived piping hot after the Champions League starters. Unai Emery back on the couch with his comfort blanket. Mikel Arteta is out to avenge the competition that gave him the covid. OGS and Brenda ready to rep the Premier League. Antonio Conte’s stunning syrup back in the spotlight.
Arsenal needs a win tonight. Italy is the away leg for us. We need to score. We need a clean sheet. We need to impose ourselves on this competition like a VAR ref imposes on an Arsenal decision. Ruthless, standout, and maybe even a little unfair.
It sounds like we’ll see a pretty strong team. This is an extremely important backdoor to the Champions League. We can’t afford to go light in the name of rotation. It’s a cup run until the end of the season in all competitions.
Our big fear? Mikel pumping Willian in the media.
“What he is doing, the way he is training, the way he is working and the way he is pushing to give everything at the team, is what I demand. Whether he is more or less successful in the game is another matter. It will come, with the quality he has.”
My word nothing would stink out the pregame discourse worse than Arteta rehabbing Willian over Martinelli or Pepe.
He’s gonna do it though, isn’t he?
Let’s live in a dream world for a minute. A world that was focused on the future.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see Gabriel through the middle? Leading the line? Terrifying Benfica with his dogged pressing? I’d like that.
Imagine this. Arteta gives with Gabriel but takes with Willian. Betting that perhaps, Gabi joy will drown out Willian misery? Imagine if Willian scores… the joy of a goal, coupled with knowing that’ll secure him a 10 game run in the league.
Oh man, I am really not looking forward to seeing him on the team sheet.
Things I am hoping for.
- Minutes for Balogun
- Odegaard continuing to feel his way into the squad
- Return of Pablo Mari or Cal Chambers
- A continuation of our exciting performances in the league.
Just gonna leave a short one today because typing is real tough right now… before you leave, check out my first appearance with the guys from the Touchy Gooners Podcast. I am a big fan of their work, you should subscribe, and make sure you watch the below.
COME ON YOU GOONERS!
Finally Bellerin does it only for Ayba to mess it up
Aubameyang 💩
Shocking miss
We wi convincingly today and we take off the sting from next week’s game.
This is a risk on Arteta’s part. The plan is clearly to have a lead heading back to The Emirates where we can rest some players I like the risk.
Jamie
Nothing to do with Leno.
The number of times the defenders don’t clear it and do something silly by giving it away.
I am impressed by that well built up counter-attack and would like to see more of them.
Saka should probably try tap it rather than leaving it to Auba
That miss from auba, hopefully it’s not one to regret.
Benefica packing the middle of the field.and forcing us to play to the wings. It’s keeping our midfielders out of the game.
Bellerin has been running that channel for 3 or 4 games now
Auba does his usual and shits his pants when the pressure is on
If we are 3-0 up vs derby county he’s scoring that
Jamie still gagging on Leno’
Never a foul
Looked a handball by Luiz there
Refereeing very poor so far
Don’t see the point of a long ball to Auba man can’t hold up.
“ Auba does his usual and shits his pants when the pressure is on”
Like in the cup semi final and final last season?
It was a shocker of a miss but to pile it on him because of that just reeks of you having a personal dislike of him, which is obvious to everyone, Don.
Let’s hope he puts the next one away. It’s been a fairly bright start from us, but just need that calmness and intelligence in the final ball.
Stay onside!!
2 things certain in life, death and Auba missing at least one sitter per game.
Observation, whichever side saka plays on he improve the attacking play of his fullback partner.
Bellerin been tidy going forward today linking up with him.
Both Saka and ESR are not as sharp as usual
Chris
There’s a reasonable case to b e made that Auba doesn’t fo enough.
He’s only good for his goals and when he ‘s missing chances like that against a good side, then he deserves that type of stick.
That was a tap in..he missed it woefully.
They are beginning to boss the game, our 20 minute escapade is over.
Agree Nelson. Hopefully they still could produce some moments of sparks and brilliance as may be required during the game to win it
They are beginning to boss the game, our 20 minute escapade is done
Dissenter
Nobody is disputing it was a bad miss, it was awful. But guess what, every striker misses sitters, it happens.
He scored a hatrick with a fresh attacking midfield line up behind him, best to look at the potential of that before reverting to old criticisms.
Benfica now just keeping the ball.
This is why you rotate, at least a little. Freshen it up. This is dull as can be
Auba missed that sitter at home to Olympiakos last season too.
Need to defend well while waiting for our second wind.
That’s lazy drifting offside there. Saka and Auba both guilty of that
Boring
We just look a bit disinterested. Would have liked to have seen Pepe start over one of ESR/Ode/Saka. And probably rather Laca to auba
Thank you dissenter Chris He’s not worth the money in my opinion. No good him scoring tap ins against your Derby’s and your Newcastle’s if he goes missing on the big nights Yes He scored vs city and chelsea and I was shocked Then he got the contract and he reverted to type It’s also an observation of mine that he seems to turn up more in warmer weather. Fair weather player. Good time guy. Doesn’t show up when the chips are down. He’s another ozil A cherry on the cake olayer with only one skill. No different to xakha… Read more »
Auba doing a poor job of holding the ball up.
Auba doing a poor job when he gets 1 on 1.
Auba doing a poor job scoring tap ins.
I also feel for Martinelli…Why isn’t he getting any game time?
Pepe strings some very good performances together in a row and is dropped?
Poor management.
Xhaka just kicking it out of play miles from Bellerin.
Excellent defending by Cedric.
Chris
Hope that miss doesn’t come back and bite us because these two ties with Benefica are 50-50 at best.
ChrisFebruary 18, 2021 20:35:12
DissenterNobody is disputing it was a bad miss, it was awful. But guess what, every striker misses sitters, it happens. He scored a hatrick with a fresh attacking midfield line up behind him, best to look at the potential of that before reverting to old criticisms
One word
Aberration
Pepe needs to come on for ESR in second half, game isn’t open enough for both ESR and odegaard to be on the pitch.
I feel zee passing lacks a bit of sharpness, not as direct and at times takes one touch too many. Up the tempo. Benficar isn’t a team oozes pace…
Ceballos doing nothing. Just easy safe passes. He’s in the team to create something
Shit, shir pass by bellerin in that position
Get auba off
All he ever does is piggy back better players
He offers nothing outside his tap in
Bellerin scuppers so many good attacking opportunities
I don’t think we are disinterested.. just not quite as sharp as needed in final pass. And Benifica has done a good job of clogging middle. And lets face it we should be ahead.
Shoot !
ODE shoots FFS
Ceballos!!!!
Shot for fucks sake ,
Wrong decision there
Oh man.. Ode almost brilliant.
Man we just can’t find a finish today.
We’re moving the ball forward well it’s just not coming together for the finish.
This is the type of game Martinelli would love, he would knick one no doubt with the way we’re getting into their box.
Ceballos…. how can you misshit!!
Great moment there. We are getting there slowly but surely.
Lovely olay Dani c
Bendica loves our pace and feels right at home. We make it easy for the competition
ESR on the ground.
ESR finish!
“ Chris
Hope that miss doesn’t come back and bite us because these two ties with Benefica are 50-50 at best.”
Amen to that.
Cramps I think.
Our build-up bis too slow and I’d like to see Odegaard played in more often. Surely, Martinelli on for Smith Rowe if he’s hurt.
If he needs subbing please god not Willian……
This woman is illiterate
She sounds like a Dalek
Ars en al are do ing o….k they just need to score sum goals. More than the oth er team. That’s how foot ball works
Anon-
ESR is one of the only ones out there currently trying to take the game to Benfica.
If anything, bring a different dynamic but don’t take off one of the players actually causing some issues. I’d throw ESR in the center and slide Ode out wide before making the sub and seeing how that dynamic changes and how the link up in the middle of pitch goes.
Vertong founded 3 times already time for a card
So much for Arteta is saving Pepe for Benfica and that’s why Willian played vs Leeds.
Can’t think of a better way to stifle a player short on confidence than failure to start him twice in a row after he begins showing improvement.
You know whose coming on next don’t you?
Away goals matter in the se crazy EL games on neutral grounds
We sore one today and it carries more weight
ESR not having a good time of it today, but that’s only relative to the standards he himself set.
Mid
I saw that as ESR buying us some time. 😊
Which idiot made that pass from left to right??
Was it the usual suspect Xhaka?
A lame 1H
Vintage Granit
Should still be 1 or 2 up though
Whoaaa.. almost a mess up.
Xhaka. WTF!
If there is even a 1 % chance if getting hurt, Auba wont go in. Be it a 50/50, 60/40 or just a duel.
If Willian comes on today I will join the Arteta out brigade!
Xhaka lack of concentration didn’t cost us… phew!!!!
Funny thing is this wasn’t even his only insanely bad pass in the half.
Sorry to say, this first half is just meh. Smith Rowe isn’t a winger, never has and never will be, it makes no sense playing him there, odegard isn’t any different from from ozil, and the only player who brings the best out of our wingers is laca, never Auba.
The thing is because the return leg isn’t at the Emirates it basically means 2 matches like what we’re watching here, therefore we’ve got to play better than this, Benfica really aren’t any good.
We can win this easily, need to finish one of these chances.
Put on Pepe, punish their high line.
Now, every team knows how to stop Saka. Just keep fouling him.
ESR should come off at half time, the lad needs a rest and hasn’t been up to his usual standards. Don’t overplay the kid. Bring on Pepe, who has been excellent his last few games, and is always good in Europe, and bring on Martinelli a little later if needed. DO NOT BRING ON WILLIAN.
Xhakas pass at the end sums the half up. Very slack. Sharpness of Sunday has all disappeared. Need to go up 2 gears at least.
Willian will come on to be the saviour !
We had some really good moments and showed some doggedness…. a goid half to build on.
I fancy us scoring!!!
@Radio Raheem
Totally agree with you 100%, odegaard should be given more of the ball. So composed, his touch is good, really like him
auba playing so poorly. really not ok. he better up it in the 2nd half
I thought we were the better side…but nothing to show for it. More sharpness needed.. subs might make the difference with freshness.
Sohan
Willian will come on to be the saviour !
Nooooooooooooooo!!!
Tom
You’re right
He’s fucking Pepe again
Aubameyang is no better than Pepe
Another black hole where a player should be
Nelson
“Now, every team knows how to stop Saka. Just keep fouling him.”
That’s what happens to ALL good players, to be fair
Saka has to learn to deal with it.
I see he’s becoming very good at drawing fouls now by going down very quickly.
We need to get a dead ball specialist and team tactics to profit from the free kicks he will get the team.
Odegaard dictating the press from the front, give him a Martinelli Infront of him to direct like that and we will demolish this game.
Bring on Willian and Arteta can fuck right off… it’s almost as if he does it on purpose to irk the fans
Saka is up for the physicality, he just needs to snap.
He got angry against Leeds and then went off, same thing can happen here.
We have a bunch of class footballers – Martinelli, Laca, Pepe, Willian included. Players that are fresh and have a point to prove.
Yet our boy Mikel, plays the same team that started last game. Can’t say I’m surprised.
Whether they are playing in England or Europe Arsenal seem to find it difficult to work out that if you pass the ball forwards you’re more likely to create chances against the opposition…Even more importantly it might finally dawn on them that passing the ball forwards quickly might have an even more positive result…Unfortunately this is obviously a tactical advance which remains outside of Arteta’s current grasp..
zacharseFebruary 18, 2021 20:50:38
auba playing so poorly. really not ok. he better up it in the 2nd half
Zach
Why the fuck is everyone so surprised? This is what he does.
He’s a flake. No different from ozil
Lads his stats agaisnt teams arsenal should be beating
Our team is not as fresh as last game. Some passes are a second too slow resulting in offside. Auba misses open net. Xhaka misplaces a few passes. I find Bellerin is our best player up to now.
ESR had some nice touches but he doesn’t threaten the fullback like a winger would.
Not a slight on him just what his game is.
Oh fuck me
That Aubameyang miss again
Hook him