Arsenal notched their first win of the season versus Norwich City. The game wasn’t easy. The result felt like a bit of a slog. But the 3 points on the board were more than deserved and will hopefully act as a pivot point for the season.
The starting line-up was pretty wild. Arteta put most of his new players out on the pitch. We saw Tomiyasu, Odegaard, White, Lokonga… and Ramsdale. Those were big decisions. The Premier League is tough, to make so many changes in one go was always a huge risk, especially notable considering Tuchel had to yank Saul at halftime against Villa. Arteta even dropped Ainsley into midfield. When the chips are down for Mikel, he always turns to the kids, and they usually do the job.
The first half was a fairly mixed bag. We dominated the first 20, fell off a little, then came back before halftime. The second half was where it was at, we refound our intensity, kicked up into the 4th gear we haven’t had all season, and finally made the game count when Nicolas Pepe fizzed a shot at the inside post, bundled himself at the second chance, allowing a rebound to fall comfortably for Auba to prod home from a single yard.
It was the sort of goal the game needed. Just a mad one even the footballing gods couldn’t deny us. At the stage Arsenal were, you couldn’t complain. We just needed something, anything, to get this season going.
So what did we learn?
When Arsenal have all their best players out, even those that have never played together, we are a far more interesting and capable side. It’s weird having to argue with people for 2 weeks that mass injuries and covid outbreaks impact performance, but there you are. We created 30 attempts at the Norwich goal. That is a beasting. The problem wasn’t dominating the opposition, the problem was finding the target.
This new team will deliver what the summer needed of it. Every component piece we’ve added helps us move the ball forward faster and with more variety. The players make us more unpredictable and the quality of final ball is better so it gives players like Auba the confidence to make runs because he knows the chances are that someone will find him.
Aaron Ramsdale was the big move for me. Bernd Leno isn’t committed to the Arsenal cause, but I didn’t expect him to be dropped so soon. The move worked. Sure, it was Norwich and they didn’t do much in possession, but the issues we had in goal weren’t about shots. It was more about communication, decisions making, and raw ground skill. Aaron passed the game with flying colours. His passing range is varied, he’s comfortable on the ball, turning a Norwich player with ease at one point and pinging a pass out wide, and he seems to radiate energy. Patrick Vieira always had great engagement with the fans, Ramsdale seems like he’s going to be that type of persona because he’s basically like having a fan in goal.
Ben White is a good player. You can’t deny it. The weirdos writing him off after one game will look very silly this season. He created three chances of his own yesterday. His ability to move the ball out of defence like a midfielder makes his problematic. As a defender, you can’t sit back because he can pass, you can’t let him run because he can overload, and he’s risky to press because he’ll go past you. He’s a very rare type of problem for a centre back. I thought he was excellent. It’s also clear that the partnership he has with Gabriel already is a game of opposites. The main bonus? Both are very athletic defenders.
Tomiyasu was the real surprise package of the day. He had a debut to dream of. The fans loved him, they felt his presence, and they could all see that he has all the raw ingredients to be a good player. Firstly, he has it all physically. He showed off his pace early catching up 5 yards on a dangerous run with ease. He’s aerially very strong because he’s basically a centre back. His technique on the floor is great and his hunger to join the attack means we’re more balanced going forward. I really like him, his work ethic looks great, and Arteta went to great lengths to communicate that he’s a smiler behind the scenes that is always happy.
Midfield was a mixed bag. Ainsley started next to Sambi and struggled at times, but did grow a bit in the second half. He created a few chances, but his 76% pass completion rate in the final third needs to be higher. It was good to see him given a chance regardless. Sambi Lokonga is such a talent, he came off on 60 because of fitness concerns, but he really does have it all. Great awareness, he’s tactically mature, and he is basically everything Ceballos is not. Quick at passing, tight control, forward momentum.
In attack, we had a good day for movement and attempts at goal. Nicolas Pepe was frustrating, but also nearly really amazing. He created 5 chances, made plenty of direct runs, and was decisive for their goal. He needs to be coming out of games like that with 3 goals and 2 assists. He looks fit, he looks very interested, and I think having a proper right back to create chemistry with is going to make him more involved in ways he wants to be. I just wish he could sharpen his footwork, sometimes he looks easy to defend against because it’s the same bag of tricks over and over. I’m hoping there’s more to come from him.
Odegaard is a very, very good signing. He’s a leader, he works relentlessly, and he often leads the press. I think he’s going to love it at Arsenal this season and I can’t wait to see the sort of relationship he forms with Auba. I can’t believe people were calling him a boring player, I love watching him, his eye for a final ball is something else and we’ve barely scratched the surface with his ability.
The real star though was Thomas Partey. He’s a new player to my mind. He’s our best player and when he came on, he made a huge difference. Keep him fit this season and we’re going places. He’s the difference-maker. We’ve missed him, he will be such a driving force for us this year. Honestly, I cannot believe how good he is.
Finally, so much for the fans getting on Arteta’s back. They are there to support. He’s built a very likeable young team, everyone at the club has communicated that this project might take a bit, and they are all there to back the players. They were excellent all game and it turns out… Twitter/blog comments vibes isn’t an in-stadium thing.
Arteta has a lot of work to do regardless. You could sense he’s been to some dark places of the past few weeks. He’s likely taken onboard some home truths as well, because the way he’s conducting himself is a lot more positive than before. Every game needs a result. Burnley and Wimbledon are huge games, but Spurs is our cup final. We need to gel fast, the football needs to keep adding 10% of excitement, and the fans need to see where the project is going. Everyone was very quick to complain about the talent we brought in this summer, but no one is pinning for Maddison. Not many of the Emerson experts are clawing for him this morning after his disaster-class yesterday. There also seems to be quite a bit of love for our new keeper. Those kids were good signings, I’m convinced of that.
There’s a long way to go this season, there will be bumps in the road, but for now… it’s one game at a time. Let’s see where this season can take us now everything is in place and looking fit.
NOW WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW.
A lot of promising signs but Burnley will be a much more accurate test. -Ramsdale: Johnny called it perfectly on the pod. He brings energy and enthusiasm to the position. I still rate Leno, but he’s been looking almost depressed recently. -Tomiyasu: He could turn out to be our new right-sided Monreal. Total commitment with an ability to occasionally arrive on the far post for an important goal or two. The encouraging thing is Monreal got off to a rocky start. Tomiyasu came out flying. -White/Gabriel: This is our only viable partnership at CB right now. -Sambi/Partey: Didn’t play together… Read more »
Seeing Leeds play. Night and day to what our assortment of shit offers. Ramsdale the relegator is all you need to tell we are not a serious club at all.
Surfex
I have no doubt on that assessment of White. I had to just have a quick look over the highlights
He is very composed on the ball. Does play nice short and long passes. And can press.
“I think he was terrific,” said Arteta after the game. “It’s not only what he did on the technical side, it’s what he transmits, his energy, his chemistry with the backline, how he reacts, his body language – I think he was top. Father and son return to Emirates Stadium after 533 days “We have two fantastic goalkeepers. Never forget what Bernd has done for us and what a good goalkeeper he is. “I had to make a decision and today I believed Aaron was the right one to do so, like in any other position we have to decide… Read more »
Salah to get a hat-trick today.
Uggg so much preferred Liverpool suffering last season, looking back to peak here.
Liverpool looking very good, can’t be discounted from the title picture.
I think Jota will prove to be a bargain signing at £30 million.
Did not expect Leno to be benched so early though, I thought Arteta would wait for him to make a howler before making Ramsdale no 1.
Chris
Jota already proved it he score 9 goal in 19 last season (7)of those sub.
Already benchinf Firminho week in week out
Rodrigo is the weak link in that Leeds side. His decision making is elementary at best
KarsaSeptember 12, 2021 10:02:27
Amazing how many were writing White off after a single game
People wrote him off before one game lol
Pedro is correct no rumblings of discontent at all in the match let’s see if that carries on
Jota is a very good player. His directness is on another level.
Sal
I think Klopp’s got the bin dippers back on the asthma tablets this season.
I said yesterday that white looks a different player next to Gabriel and tomiyasu I like Gabriel he can be a dominant cb with experience we had 8 players 23 and under yesterday in the starting 11 how many teams can say that ?
Let’s see what happens next few games but the youngsters are likeable the support tomyasu got was amazing
Bacaryisgod,
Very interesting comment…”playing Pep football with a Klopp team”.
Care to expatiate this some more?
‘
Kroenkephobe
Always said Klopp should of been a Tour de France director sportif.
Seems totally fair to hand White, Gabriel and Ramsdale the easiest game so far this season in the league and hastily declare them the best combination at the back.
Rodrigo off for the second half. He was awful in the first.
Mee
Bielsa such a pro active manager, seen enough.. next.
Liverpool crying for a penalty after a Sane miss kick / trip and Salah miss.
Hilarious.
As said….
Holding in defence, then line up White, Lokonga, Partey in CM against stronger/tougher opposition. White at the base, Lokonga left, Partey right…
good comment. I’d love to see it.
Horrible injury
Another broken leg
Nasty injury to Harvey Elliot
His studs were trapped in the turf and his ankle broke
Fofana like
That was not a red card
Horrible officiating
He saw it initially and waved it on
Good little player that Elliot
Mee
A red card given based on pure emotion. It’s a game not a movie
To be honest, I don’t care what formation or lineup we use going forward ….as long as Xhaka is not in it. What we do with him once he comes back from suspension will go a long ways to what happens on the pitch. AMN wasn’t lighting it up in midfield but he still was about a million times more progressive then Xhaka or Elneny. . He attempted at least 8 or 10 line splitting passes .. unfortunately he only completed about half of them. Plus I wasn’t worried about him getting beat for pace defensively. For me.. the biggest… Read more »
Have to think VAR went with red.
Receding says….. “We created 30 attempts at the Norwich goal. That is a beasting.”No it isn’t. 13 of those 30 shots were blocked shots, only 6 of that 30 was on target, we created only 2 big chance the entirety of the 90″. .. nice job Hairline in taking stats and putting the most negative anti-Arsenal spin on them that you possibly could. What is it in your life that made you this pessimistic about everything? I could venture a couple guesses, but I won’t be mean like some of you here. Those shots that were blocked were mostly going… Read more »
Mane can’t score for shit
Mane has regressed along with Firmino.
Salah keeping that frontline afloat, won’t be enough to push City, Chelsea and United for me. See them finishing 3rd/4th.
SurferX
I have to admit that I am not 100% sure that their GK’s foot hit the ball. The camera’s angle showed only the GK’s right leg was high up reaching for the ball while Pepe just rolled over to the GK without any attempt to kick the ball. I would be surprised that the ball can bound 5 ft away without any kicking action. Definitely, Pepe was not trying to pass the ball.The commentator also said that Pepe didn’t know what happened. In any case, the goal was allowed. End of story.
I think that particular lunging tackle, where a defender wins the ball with one leg and collapses over the ball carrier’s ankle with the rest of his body ,needs to be seriously looked at………….especially when most top level football is played on semi- synthetic pitches these days.
Wow… Mane has Auba disease. 2 seasons ago he buries that…without breaking a sweat.
“nice job Hairline in taking stats and putting the most negative anti-Arsenal spin on them that you possibly could.”
Didn’t know being pro Arsenal was also being allergic to facts…thanks for the education.
Just heard it was Craig Pawson that gave the red card, not VAR
He’s always been one of the worst refs in the league
That was more of studs caught up in the turf while the player is making a twisting motion
“Wow… Mane has Auba disease. 2 seasons ago he buries that…without breaking a sweat.”
Love to see it, long may it last.
Ohhhh Bamford.
Receding getting the Tufnel head-in-sand treatment.
Agree Pawson definitely let emotion of situation take over, waved play on as ball was won then alters view with injury.
Mane scores lol I didn’t want to say anything.
Game was already dead to be fair, Mane is still very good but he has fallen off quite a bit from his peak play around two years ago imo where he was a top 2-3 LF.
Zlatan on for Milan, turns 40 years old in a few weeks the madman.
Mane missed an open net earlier where a player of his quality should be scoring. His former self could have had two or three goals.
And…. he scores.
Well the Le Grove jinx is strong.. guarantee if you trash talk a player.. they will score.. happens too much to be coincidence.
Middy
I angered Ibra by mentioning his age it seems haha.
Hahah IBRA what a character, expect another.
Yep…He is Tom Brady like. .. just keeps ticking along at an advanced age. for top level sports.
Lari03
I would like to see a little more ‘heavy metal’ chaos from our team. I even think Pepe would thrive in the environment that Klopp provides. Arteta’s possession-based football is a little too deliberate and inhibiting for me. We have the players to thrive in a more aggressive, pressing team that moves the ball more quickly. I hope that now we have players like Tomiyasu and Sambi adding energy to the line-up we can move more in this direction.
MidwestGun
“Well the Le Grove jinx is strong.. guarantee if you trash talk a player.. they will score.. happens too much to be coincidence.”
Wish it worked on our players. White would probably be tied with Lukaku for goals…lol
Mid
It worked yesterday when I said Auba shouldn’t be on the pitch and he scored lol
Envy Batistuta having Milan as a 2nd team to follow and escape the misery of Arsenal right now.
Ibra must be one of the top 10 players of modern era, right ?
Eagle.. My go to second team to watch when I don’t want to deal with Arsenal’s misery.. Is Dortmund.. couldn’t care less where they finish or the inner details.. Just like to watch them play.
He is no doubt up there TR7.
I prefer to do it by position because there are too many great players that a top 10 overall excludes too many.
Top 5 strikers of the past decade for me in no particular order are:
Suarez, Ibrahimovic, Lewandowski, Benzema, Aguero.
Mid
You must be loving them right now, I watched highlights of their match vs Leverkusen yesterday and it was insanity.
Both sides full of creativity, goals and allergic to defending.
Cmon Eagle give LGs the Scorpion king and honorable mention.
Kroenkephobe,
This line seems like it was part of the original :
“Then I get Mike fever, Mike fever, Mike fevah-a
I think I’m gonna vomit”
Brilliant. How’s the form today? At least the brits have the tennis to cheer them up, though big Jack would be proud of the recruitment system there. Was watching the leeds game,I’m with the lads who think liverpool won’t win the lge,the other 3 are all ahead of them now. Yet we’re so far behind even them it’s unbelievable. Where are we going at all? At least Xhaka will be back for the derby……
Yep.. of course defense is important to winning consistently but not for my viewing pleasure. And like I said don’t care where Dortmund finish. Just too bad my boy… Gio Reyna is carrying an injury right now. Alright I guess I better go accomplish something today.. rather then watch sports on tv.
😀
We have three players in Saka, ESR and Odegaard (four if you count Martinelli) who are going to need regular playing time in a set position to allow them to develop properly. Arteta needs to decide on one for all of them so that they can develop their games and understanding. His penchant for chopping and changing will ruin them. Even yesterday he started AMN off in the middle before moving him to right back. Our team seems to consist off too many utility players at the moment. Since Arteta wants to attack from the wings I would move Saka… Read more »
Sal
Who do you and Middy rate the most out of the American lads?
Guessing Pulisic but Reyna looks like he could be even better. Also have some top talent in Dest, Adams, McKennie, Robinson.
Top 4 already cut adrift.
KSE not repacing A.Wenger with J. Klopp looking most costlier every season.
Ronaldo, Lukaku, Salah and Mane all on the scoresheet.Goalscorers.
Crikey this season will be dull.Arteta dull.
Ramsdale is a good talker
White makes pretty passes
TT raiding down the flanks
There will be eulogies about that little lot on here.
If it all clicks, we are back in the Europa.
Cant wait.
“Suarez, Ibrahimovic, Lewandowski, Benzema, Aguero.”
Rooney in the same elite club for me, perhaps the most rounded striker along with Benzema.
Receding hairline and Dissenter,
Funny how all your responses to me don’t point at any specifics I used that weren’t correct, or at least reasonable.
I criticize your negativity all the time, but in every case I point out the garbage you spew that often goes unchallenged by many self-hating gooners here. Many, like you, get their facts from football manager, highlight reels, and newsnow clickbait sites. Worst of all, from wannabe experts like you two.
It’s like having klansmen teach a course in civil rights. It’s backwards, biased opinions, given as fact, and coming from an unsavory lot.
Isn’t it the case that only forward passes can be offside? Pass back and it cannot be offside. And Pepe was forward of Auba. Unless Auba was interfering with play. Which clearly he wasn’t. And if Oliver and Dean agree on a goal for Arsenal you can bet your last buck it’s a 100% genuine goal.
But who cares anyway, it’s history. What matters is the future, which is bright.
Rooney was a monster TR7 but he did a lot of his best work in the previous decade before the 2010s.
He doesn’t hold a candle to those other 5 for 2014-2020 so misses the cut.
Nigel
Can you just wind your miserable ego in and find new material to lament about.
You need to stand up in a corner, face the wall and be quieT
.and stop making stupid remarks about klansmen teaching civil rights courses.
Eagle-
Well for me… Reyna top of the list of course we still have Pulisic who is still very young. Dest.. can be a bit too overly tricky at times. Mckennie is a geat player.. rate him but, bit of a headcase loves the partying a bit too much. Up and coming player to watch Ricardo Pepi… only 18 y/o. Might be the #9 US team has been looking for about a decade. Wont be in the MLS too long is my guess.
Cristiano has scored most of his goals in recent years as a striker, so he should be included. Him drifting in from the wing has been replaced with almost exclusively headers, tap-ins, and penalties – your typical striker routine.
Lewandowski the most rounded of the lot – the best passer plus a goalscoring machine. Haaland may soon rival him for goals due to his beastly physicality, but will never be as good all-round.
Young Ibra (before the British public rated him) was unbelievable. Just a reminder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2WsVHbD7zg
Zaha turned Emerson Royal inside out and tied him up in knots yesterday
He’s like the premier league’s welcome party for full.backs.
I wonder how our new boys will fare against him.
Zaha’ s agent served him wrong< he’s too good for palace.
He’s got 2 years left on his contract, I would still sign him next year or on a free transfer in 2023.
Nice Middy.
You rate that Hoppe lad? Started with a bang at Schalke with that hat-rick but faded. Still only a kid.
Eagle
Agree with mid Ricardo Pepi most exciting thing coming thru thats yet to find footing in Europe. Saw FC Dallas play Austin last week, had very good game kid can find net, makes great runs, can dribble seems to always be in right place of a classic poacher.
Sal
Yea, that Ricardo Pepi kid is bound for glory so long as he gets a good move.
He has to go where he can play regularly, maybe Holland. He has to work his way up from Belgium/Holland to France and then maybe England/Italy/Spain.
He can’t afford to waste his talent on the bench. He better stay in the MLS until that perfect move materializes.
Charlie Patino is something else, really hope he lives up to the billing. The guy looks so fucking special.
Gotta say I was feeling very jealous about Emerson Royal transfer – glad to see Zaha bully him
Not a bad goal from Patino!
https://twitter.com/i/status/1437118200941002756
Weagle
There’ll always be the sadness with Arsenal and how far off we’ve fallen but yea absolutely buzzing with Milan, just hope we don’t fade off like we did last season
Oyarzabal w/ 2. (1 pen) putting Sociedad within 1 of Atletico, hoping they can sustain a bit longer this season. La Liga hasn’t been this wide open is years barring favourites Atletico.
Dissenter
Good call get Pepi playing at Ajax, PSV or say Celtic definitely has potential.
There are some silly rumours going round that Jack Wilshire could be utilised in the team!!
This is utter nonsense and should be denied asap.. as it shows a weak mindset (cheap) of the club.
There’s also a rumour circulating that Sol Campbell will be coming back for a third time.
And like that Benz w/ 3rd on season, dudes like a clock.
Yea, Benzema can’t stop scoring
That’s why the Real Madrid for Mbappe was dubious.
They bid, desperately hoping PSG dot take the bait. They don’t need Mbappe this season
The bid was like a courtship ritual.
Englandsbest
“Isn’t it the case that only forward passes can be offside”
Not really, I’ll think you’ll find that Aubamayang was onside because he was behind the ball when pepe played the ball.
If Aubamayang had been ahead of the ball it would have been deemed offside
Almunia Spot on about the tennis. I think Canadians, Chinese and Romanians can equally claim Raducano as their own. I have to say though that she’s a very impressive player for an 18 year old. Leeds are so flaky and bipolar aren’t they?Some terrific players but real lapses too. I saw that tackle and result was clearly horrendous for the tacklee but I’m not sure it was a red for the tackler. Thinking ahead to Burnley (what else is there to do in the utter futility of life? ), I’m glad the fixture at their place is happening at this… Read more »
I don’t know Dissenter Don Carlo rocking a 442 king Benz and Mbappe leading that with Vinicious Jr in the Pires and Hazard on right sounds pretty tasty to me.
Defensivley they are fucked this season loosing Ramos and Varane, Nacho a shocking center half.
Sal
But $200 million for a player they can get for nada, next season?
I think they had to tell Benzema …this is how much we value you.
That’s will be one of the most ridiculous free transfers of all time, to get a 23 yr old [next-summer] ‘veteran’.
*** I think they had to tell MBAPPE …this is how much we value you
Carlo seen muttering when’s Alaba fit… continuosly.
No doubt about that Dissenter here we are complaining about loosing Lacazette on and free and PSG pulling a classic hold my beer moment with Mbappe. Mental.
Has the England captain wished Harvey Elliot well yet ?
Rambo
White
TT. Saliba gabs. KT
Thomas ode
Saka. Auba. ESR
Maybe next season
Djokovic to cement himself as the outright GOAT tonight in all likelihood.
Hopefully Medvedev at least makes it competitive like Zverev did.
What’s the situation with Lacazette?
Can someone update me on this.
Arthur Ashe Stadium is quite stunning.
G62
Are you referring to the allegations ?
Tr7
Thought that last night great venue.
Medvedev is going to give this a twist, going to be a fight.
Was in Ashe on Thursday, stunning. No tourists in town makes it all the more appealing.
Murican’s definitely know how to put on a show, it’s something you have to give them props for.
Think Djoker wins it in 4 but hoping that it will be a 5 set marathon.