YOUNG ARSENAL TEAM SHOW UP FOR BURNLEY FIGHT AND WIN

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Arsenal showed up to Burnley away and put up a fight to be proud of. The oldest team of brutes in the Premier League did exactly what they always do… they battled, threw long balls at our defence, and they worked the second balls like demons. Arsenal were more than a match for them and they showed the sort of character that gets the fans moist at the loins.

The difference on the day was a Martin Odegaard freekick. After 2 seasons of watching David Luiz sky shots into the car park, it was a relief to see the young Norwegian place a freekick over the wall to break the deadlock.

The toughest part of the day was watching the clunkiness in the final third. We’re just not quite there when we break. The positions we’re taking up are good, the distance we’re out isn’t far, but it’s apparent that we’re not a well-oiled machine yet. The players are too good for that to remain the case for much longer. But it needs work.

Burnley don’t make it easy for you. The grass is a bit longer, they don’t water the pitch, and they close down space really well which makes it hard to play behind the lines. That didn’t stop us having a crack, but everything was a little bit off. Our players, when breaking at speed, were playing balls a little bit behind the runners. Some of the decision making in the box was very average. We didn’t make enough of our shots.

The Hale-Enders didn’t have their best day out. I thought ESR was off the pace most of the game and he struggled with the physicality. Saka has been off all season, he’s clearly struggling with a Euros hangover, but it’ll come. Bergkamp came back from the World Cup in 1998 and he was very poor for a while until he broke his duck with goals against Aston Villa. This is our reality though, we have a lot of young players who are going to be in and out with form. What I love is that our fans are on fire this season. Now they understand the path we’re on, they are backing the kids, because getting on their backs isn’t going to help anyone.

Defensively, we were really very good when you consider that 60% of the players are new. The boring droning of fans throwing shade at our summer has been ‘BEN WHITE IS SHORT AND CAN’T HEAD THE BALL HE IS ALSO GOING TO GET BULLIED BECAUSE HE IS PRETTY.’ Well, that didn’t really work out. He won 4 of 7 duels and he made 6/6 headed clearances. That was a better percentage than Gabriel, who was also excellent. Oddly, Ben White’s problem was on the ground, he was caught out a few times and he made a few uncharacteristic erroneous passes.

Gabriel was a man-monster. He matched Burnley’s strikers for brutality all day. He was absolutely dominant. He’s a great counter to Ben White and I’m sure the partnership they are about the form is going to be very exciting. Tomiyasu won 4/4 of his aerial duels. He’s some player. To adapt to the Premier League like he has so fast is a testament to his talent. I think we have a player there. Lots to come from him.

My MoTM award goes to Aaron Ramsdale. The vicious internet stuff that went on before he signed looks even sillier than it did a few months ago. The keeper is vocal, he makes very fast decisions, and he’s dominant in the box. Watching him take responsibility for high balls and catch them was something else. He was a real difference-maker. Moping up for Ben White with the tackle that was nearly given as a penalty was a 3 point saver. I’m not even really fussed about his shot-stopping, it’s all the other bits he has that Bernd doesn’t. It’s early doors, but I really, really like what I see.

Auba wasn’t exactly at his peak from a striking perspective, but he created three chances, he did a lot of dirty work, and I thought he ran like a captain. It’s hard for him, the system we play need a Calvert-Lewin, but regardless, we need to get him more chances in the box. He has to be a 30 goal a season striker this season, so something needs to be amended so we can release him.

A special shout to Martin Odegaard who looks a Rolls Royce of a player. His freekick was the special sauce we’ve been lacking. Stunning stuff. Overall though, I just love what I see. He’s aggressive with his pressing, he’s great at controlling possession, I like that his passing is getting more ambitious, but I really love his leadership. He’s always trying to lift the team. Nothing is more motivating than getting binned off by a mega club, he’s going places with us. A top game from him.

Also, a shout for the subs. I thought they were good today. Tavares did a solid job, his run was so, so powerful. He has it all if he can apply himself. Lokonga and AMN came on a did a good job in midfield. I was particularly impressed with Ainsley. He looked super focused on the job. Bigger picture here, Arteta is learning from past mistakes, he’s brought the player in from the cold and he’s giving him a go after the debacle of the summer. Fans will love that. Player has to do a job, but it’s nice to see him getting minutes.

Arsenal have done the job that was needed. We’re not off track now. There’s a big game midweek in the league cup, we’ll want a win there. Then the big one, the cup final, a North London derby of great significance. Spurs have been ropey this season, Arsenal have also been off colour, this is the first mega test of faith. If Arteta delivers a result, it’ll go a very long way to restoring a bit of faith. Lose? It’s not even on the agenda.

Right, listen to the podcast or watch the video. It’s me and Matt. Johnny has his boys birthday party. IT IS STILL GOOD THO.

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Dissenter

We want Lampard back in Chelsea
He was overseeing a proper project back then.

salparadisenyc

No question Chelsea with that team and manager will be at the very business end of table when it matters.

TitsMcGee

Spot on. Very happy about the three points, but if we’re honest, that was not a good performance at all. Neither was Norwich“

We got the three points but very unconvincing victories. If we cannot implement what we claim we are trying to do vs those teams then how can we compete with the big boys.?

Odeegard nice goal vs Burnley but completely average other than that. Has the body of a 17 year old, will completely be dominated vs anyone with a pulse.

Don’t even get me started on the £50 million joke signing.

Habesha Gooner

Thomas Tuchel is what pedro thinks Arteta is. I didn’t rate him from his Dortmund days. And I also though he was lucky with the squad of PSG. But he has turned a bunch of talented Chelsea players into an absolute machine. He knows how to get the best out of his players.

MD-Gunner

After watching today’s games anyone that still entertains the idea Arsenal will creep into top 4 is grossly delusional and needs an immediate reality check. 6 point below top 4 and 3 points away from European football. So 2 goals against bottom dwellers anything less and the complaints would be even greater. It will be decided after the next two games, loose the NLD and against BHA going into the international break and it should be toast for the clueless duo. Let someone else get a crack at the squad and do a turn around like Tuchel did at Chelsea.… Read more »

Dissenter

I’m a bit reticent to talk smack about spuds right now.
I’ll wait for this time next Sunday .

Mics

Pedro, I can’t speak for others, but I certainly can’t revel in a loss. I badly want Arteta to succeed because if he succeeds than Arsenal succeed. We’re all fans here, we all want the team to do well. I can appreciate that you’ve consciously adopted a more optimistic and hopeful outlook over the past eighteen months;indeed, it’s admirable in a way—choosing to be hopeful even when things seem grim. But given that you also recognize, and have written and spoken about, some of the serious problems of the Arteta regime, I don’t get why when others express concerns about… Read more »

salparadisenyc

Dissenter

Never let a moment pass to go in studs up on Spurs, regardless of next week. Just look at the state of Deli Ali.

Dissenter

MD-Gunner
“ Let someone else get a crack at the squad and do a turn around like Tuchel did at Chelsea. Now there is someone who can setup a defense. 14 goals allowed since he took over. No goal from open play yet in the 5 games”

That’s the other half of the Dortmund model
They aren’t emotional or sentimental about managers. They sign the best youngsters with a high ceiling but won’t hesitate to change managers.
Arsenal is a project for an inexperienced manager, t the same time we are undertaking a project with younger players.

Sid

Supreme leader Doesnt have the balls to put great Sid on the pod

Dissenter

Sal
I don’t know which Arsenal will show up and they have this knack of scoring special goals against us

salparadisenyc

Dissenter

From what we’ve seen thus far whichever Arsenal shows up it will be a very stern test. We’re poor but those are the days that turn things.

G8

Ole could be the reason of manure shortcoming, but they have winners and big characters in their squad that could change results
the likes of Ronaldo, Bogba, Bruno ,Cavani and Varan could win you titles playing together..
Who cares anyway! we have a generational coach and young squad to support and cheer for many years to come!

Mics

Dis,

Like that Lamela rabona, one of the most irritating goals of last season.

Emiratesstroller

Watched the Spurs v Chelsea game. Spurs started off like a train, but the lesson was that Chelsea took control at around the half hour mark and Spurs ran out of steam.

They were completely outplayed in second half by a very good Chelsea team.

Frankly I think that Chelsea may well win the League this season. They have outplayed everyone they have played in EPL this season except perhaps against Liverpool when they went down to 10 men and even there they managed the game.

Mics

Emiratesstroller,

Agreed, early doors, but Chelsea look like the best team in the league. Their squad is absolutely stacked, they’ve got good chemistry, and Tuchel has been perhaps the best manager in the country since coming to Chelsea. They look frighteningly good.

I hate it.

Ken

“and he made 6/6 headed clearances”

I must have been hallucinating yesterday because I saw Ben White completely miss a header that resulted in a chance for Burnley that fortunately they put over the bar.

MD-Gunner

@Dissenter
Didn’t I read somewhere Pedro saying Arsenal is aspiring to Dortmund++? Well, so fat all I have seen is Dortmund- – – But then the season doesn’t start until after November or is it December plus give them 5, 10 or 20 more games after 2019.

Just sitting here and tossing the what ifs around and the only idea that with regularity surfaces is “Change at the top” If not owners than at least those who are responsible for Arsenal’s football style what it is at present.

Nigel Tufnel

Cg,
I agree that Arteta may have to go. If this attack doesn’t start to click soon, I’ll be calling for it. It’s not just the past few matches. We were awful most of last year with those stupid crosses thirty times a game.

I’m still hoping it will happen, but I have doubts. I hope he proves us wrong.

Matt

Coming to the post very late so apologies if it’s already been mentioned, but regarding Pedro’s comment below:

‘ Mr Serge, there were really nice patches out there today. Burnley aren’t ever going to let you play elite football against them. They are well organised destroyers.’

Erm, Everton played some pretty elite football against them in the second half on Monday when they tore them apart.

Mics

Pedro,

That’s fair enough, you’re not wrong about the Tollington heh.

rollen

2 goals after 5 games playing 3 crap teams and you are happy lol

embarrassing just like Arteta

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