Sunday worked out quite nicely for Arsenal FC.
Leicester, the absolute darlings for some Arsenal fans are now on the same points as Arsenal after 5 games. Rodgers out, anyone? Didn’t think so.
Chelsea showed that they are actually pretty decent, dispatching of Spurs in a clinical fashion. No doubt Spurs are saving their best for next weekend, but it doesn’t look good for them, Harry Kane is not looking the £150m player he was during the summer. Thiago Silva, same age as me, dropping a worldie performance again.
West Ham lost, which is good for us really, but they were really, really decent. David Moyes subbing on a penalty taker was peak awful, but they were as good as United most of the game. Their football is… exciting.
The big shift for me is that last weekend, Norwich was a 6 pointer. This weekend, it’ll be Spurs. Win that game and we’re back in the top 6 mixer, lose and I’ll be taking cover for a few weeks.
In the post-Burnley away day glow, there are some things that I’m enjoying.
There’s a picture of Ramsdale over a Tierney who is down injured, Burnley players come rushing in, Aaron and Gabriel protect him and shove the players away. Small thing, but you love to see it. That’s camaraderie and it’s an edge we’ve not had for a few years.
This stuff matters pic.twitter.com/iHwCJgjLnh
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) September 19, 2021
I also liked the video at the end. Auba is all smiles, Arteta is fired up on the pitch, and all the players are loving on Tomiyasu who is on the floor exhausted.
That Burnley game was a really good run out. The football wasn’t stunning by any stretch, but those games are about character and doing what is needed. Turfmoor is a beastly place to go, the fans are electric, the grass is long, and they don’t water the pitch. Notable that Ben White called this out.
‘It was a tough one, my heart skipped a beat for a second. It was really, really dry out there today & my pass back didn’t get there at all. Luckily Aaron came to save me’
I do love the ‘I WILL NOT HEAR IT’ merchants acting like things like this don’t matter. Reality is, it’s tough, and we can say it because we won. But the grass was clearly an issue we didn’t deal well with, and it was probably the reason so many of our final third passes were hit short. We didn’t get our feel on the pitch, so there’s hope we can find that against Spurs at the weekend when the pitch will roll like an ice rink.
Back to the Spurs game. Nuno has a tough week on his hands. Morale in their camp will be low, their fans will start feeling the heat, and he has to show up. Their League Cup game is Wolves. There’s a personal pride thing for Nuno, but also a need to get his team firing. Could we see him rolling with a first team looking side? Maybe. A win for us gives Arteta the luxury of rolling with a younger team and resting some of his seniors (particularly Saka and ESR).
Player hype post Burnley? I think Gabriel is the main man. He had an inconsistent season last year and COVID clearly messed with him. But he’s in season two mode and he’s looking like a really, really top talent again. He has the physically imposing nature of Sol Campbell, and the recovery ability of Kolo Toure. He leaves it all on the pitch and he’s a great counterpoint to Ben White.
Aaron Ramsdale is the big talk post-game. We have a keeper that wants to dominate his area. We genuinely haven’t had that since Jens Lehmann. The biggest mistake Bernd Leno made this season wasn’t his lack of command of his 6 yard box against City, it was letting himself get pinned from a set-play against Brentford. He allowed himself to be man-handled. We’re not going to get that with Ramsdale. There were some shaky moments, he was caught on the ball a couple of times, but overall, he really does have a lot of softer skills we’ve lacked. Fan connection, fan-like passion, and loads of communication with his players. That’s a great thing. Early days, we’ll see how we feel when he drops a clanger, but so far, so good. Looks a better option than Neto.
Let’s also talk about Thomas Partey. I love him. If there’s a player our season hinges on, it’s this one. He has so much about his game. He’s tactically sharp, he’s an athlete, and he absolutely commands on the pitch. He’s a way off full fitness, he left the pitch because of cramps, but man… if he can get his Atleti fitness back, he’s going to be a force this season.
Right, on that note, please watch our video or listen to the podcast.
Gunners make top 6. No doubts.
And I even read the post!
Tr4phy
Whoops!
At the time was quite happy with the Ramsdale signing.. people going on about how much we spent but we got around 18m selling our keeper to villa so net wise a ver small outlay..
Also looks a leader
Happy Sunday Le Grovers! An afternoon of watching the NFL is in my future. Nice to get 3 points yesterday. Let it continue.
Pedro
Leno didn’t allow himself to be manhandled against Brentford.
That was the function of the defenders who shouldn’t have let that defender get so close to the goalie. That’s why there are scuffles all the time next to the goalie.
It was poor defensive organization for a corner kick, just basic stuff
Leno should have embellished that contact and protested vehemently, like Ramsdale did yesterday. Had he protested, that call may have been overruled.
Why does Pedro look like he’s about to cum in this above thumbnail On another note though, Arteta’s personal picks Ramsdale and Tomiyasu look absolutely outstanding ( Edu reportedly wanted Neto and Emerson). I think Tomiyasu is already establishing himself as a cult hero. He is very dominant in the air. Won all his Aerial duels against Burnley, not even Gabriel managed that. His acceleration for the first 5 yards is electric which imo is essential for a full back when up against top class wingers ( AWB, Reece James, Kyle Walker all have this ability) + his 6’2 frame… Read more »
Diss, if you have played football at any level, you will know that he was manhandled. Jen Lehmann would never have allowed that.
Saliba is putting in top class performances for Marseille and they look to be good enough to fight for a top 3 spot in the ligue.
Captain Tierney
I think you’ve been too busy on pornhub, ESL people don’t have that look when they arrive
Ramsdale looks eager and interested, like he really cares
Leno’s withdrawn apathy wasn’t great. He’s been acting like he was being forced to do his job. When you get held back, like he did against Brentford, you have to throw a massive hissy fit, even if it gets you a yellow card. The ref/VAR has to be forced to revise it properly.
The man handling on Leno was a clear foul.
But if Leno was a dominant keeper he wouldn’t allow an outfield player to do that to him.
I love listening to Thomas Tuchel, straight talk no spin. Absolutely top class stuff.
Even the goalies at Sunday League level have the opposing forwards shaking in their boots. Leno is way too nice.
No mention of Brighton in the post. Lying in fourth place. West Sussex is well and truly on the footballing map. Of course Graham Potter is not considered to be on Arteta’s level.
Yes, I’m looking forward to next week, as all Arsenal fans should be.
Spuds were overrun in the second half today by my favourites for the title. A win against Spuds will be very nice, even it’s another 1-0.
The most commanding Keeper we had prior to Ramsdale was Martinez, not Lehmann.
Everyone knows that.
Pedro
Lens would have embellished the contact and started a s ruffle whilst the corner was being taken.
That’s what I said, Leno didn’t act like he gave a damn but the entire defensive organization for the corner was wrong.
‘It’s pretty standard to deny the opposition player that close a contact to your goalie before corners. That’s why there are jostling and shoving before corners.
Ben White and Holding let Leno down, maybe Leno should have drsssed them down proper;y. That’s part of the valid criticism against him.
East Sussex.
Okay, Pedro. But Leicester were utterly robbed today. The VAR people should be banned from the game forever. Brighton’s penalty was a complete joke, and for one of the chalked-off equalizers the offside player was 2 yards away from impeding the GK’s view. 2 atrocious decisions in 1 game. In the whole of Euros there was not a single one as bad as these two in a single game. English refs out, foreign refs in. “We have a keeper that wants to dominate his area. We genuinely haven’t had that since Jens Lehmann.” I know you’re having a laugh, so… Read more »
‘. When you get held back, like he did against Brentford, you have to throw a massive hissy fit, even if it gets you a yellow card. The ref/VAR has to be forced to revise it properly.’ Yeah, unfortunately most of our players have meek characters and are used to getting bullied around. For the last 2 seasons countless decisions have went against us but its also down to us not pressuring the refs. Hell if one of our prayer is being bullied by an opposition nobody even interferes. I loved when Guendo and Ramsey used to stand up for… Read more »
Emi was very vocal when it came to set pieces. There’s video of Emi as a stand stand-in goalie, earning 20k monthly yelling at David Luiz to ‘get you arse back here”.
Leno was too quiet and withdra, that attitude spreads across the defense line.
Yesterday, Ramsdale came out to collect a ball and he yelled so loudly, that it was audible in every living room that the game was being shown in.
I still think Leno is the better keeper but he’s out suited for the number one spot …until Ramsdale messes up.
An encouraging, battling performance and no Xhaka in the side which is always preferable.
I hope he stays out of the starting XI.
It really does feel a bit year zero though at arsenal- lots of work to do, but reasons for cautious optimism.
The NLD is going to be intense, maybe more so than usual.
Pedro
Any GK who allows himself to be manhandled is not fit for purpose.
Leno just doesn’t like the physical stuff.
Ramsdale has to stay fit.
One more thing about Ramsdale – when he comes to catch a ball he comes all guns blazing, studs high. like subtly communicating to the opposition forwards that if they come near they are getting a boot in the face
Diss, Leno let himself down and that’s why he’s out. Keepers, at any level, will tell you that you don’t let another man do that to you in the box.
Our own hard man Guendouzi is up next against the Qatari Saint Germain!
If we could team him up with Ramsdale we would be the new Dons of London
CT
Yesterday when Tierney got a hand in the face from Barnes there were a few players surrounding the Ref. Gabriel looked the most vocal from what I can remember.
‘Diss, Leno let himself down and that’s why he’s out. Keepers, at any level, will tell you that you don’t let another man do that to you in the box.’
Especially when keepers are giving much leeway in the box and ofc the benefit of the doubt.
I am a massive Leno supporter and still think he is probably the best shot stopper in the league. But the overall quality Ramsdale brings is more valuable. He is very brave, is constantly communicating, much much better passer and someone who can get the stadium roaring. Hard to not play him now
Samesong
Yeah this season we are improving in that category imo.
I remember a lot of times when Laca would be bought down for a clear pen, not one of our players would protest, not even Laca .
Now it’s a bit better
CT, Leno is a great keeper… but he’s not interested at the moment. He also didn’t move his game forward. Command of the box can be developed, he’s become meeker imo.
+ Gabriel is acting more and more like a leader in the back now.
He couldn’t do that last year as he couldn’t communicate in English I presume.
Time Up, not the site for trolling after a win. Go somewhere else.
Pedro, if you claim it is early for Tets and AFC then apply the same the the other clubs. We were expected points from the first 3 games we didn’t thus the outcry here.
The real tell tale will be the games against those that compete for 5th & 6th and battling with Nuno, Potter, Moyes, Rodgers, Benitez and Dean Smith will see Arteta getting the short end of the stick. Winning at home and drawing away could be a success but that is too elusive for dumb and dumber.
If we start celebrating beating 20th at home and 29th away by the odd goal while defending for our lives, this is the whole sign of a mid table team.
Can you see any of the top 4 celebrating this like Pedro does????
Ok Pedro, I’ll go somewhere else.
I just remember you trolling Arsene after every win in his last 5 years.
Pedro I don’t believe in the not interested chatter. Why wouldn’t he not be interested? He’s got a shot at Germany #1 after Neuer and a new team and new contract next season. If he performs well this season he gets a better pay packet, simple as that. Leno has always had the same attitude and body language. We only perceive him to be not interested because the new alternative is like a fan on the pitch. But I do agree he hasn’t improved much. His passing is still average and so is his command of the box. Improve those… Read more »
Time Up, I never trolled a win because I support Arsenal.
My absolute favorite bit was Gabriel clattering Barnes and Wood in the box , they were unsettled all game . Also I dont want to bring this up but had we played Xhaka , we would have given a lot of fouls to Burnley , in places that couldve been dangerous ( also a walking red card) . If Leno has lost his place , then so has Xhaka. Do not start him Arteta !
AR makes a couple of good saves vs Burnley. You would think he was Manuel Neuer.
Leno let’s his introversion gets in his way of great goalkeeping. Yo can be an introvert after the game ends, but whilst in the game , you have to come out of your shell so you can properly communicate to mates, dominate your box especially during corners, and just look a little more interested.
Leno is a just a very laid back character. I’m hoping we see an even better Leno when he comes back into the fold.
Captain T
I noticed the high studs too whenever he came out to collect the ball. I thought, get too close to him and you get a knee in the face instead of ball.
Dissenter
“Ben White and Mari (not Holding) let Leno down, maybe Leno should have drsssed them down proper;y. That’s part of the valid criticism against him.”
Corrected your post. The lack of a call is also notable when you look at the two VAR confirmed offside calls on Barnes today, for being obstructing the vision of the keeper. Even if he hadn’t been there the keeper was unlikely to have gotten to either of the goals that were ruled out and that helped preserve Brighton’s 2-1 win.
MD, winning games is the real tell. We beat Burnley, plenty on here thought that an impossibility, so we enjoy the moment and move to the next.
Beating Spurs would be massive.
Next 6 league games are Spurs, Brighton, Palace, Villa, Leicester, Watford. 18 points out of em too much to ask for??? One can certainly hope so.
Matt, good for them… Everton, at home, on a nice slick pitch smashed Burnley. We’ll do the same when they come to The Emirates.
Did you see Villa smash them? Not so hot in that game.
Samesong
Lots of laid-back characters out there who turn to demons during the game. Allison comes to mind.
Also if Ramsdale keep up these early signs, I see no way back in for Leno. Ramsdale is the kind of character, that a person like Leno will find intimidating.
Saladin, 15 points would be very good.
I will take 15 points definitely as long as we don’t lose to Spurs.
Saladin, that Spurs game is a cup final. We really need something. They’ve been dreadful this season
Pedro
True, those idiots have a habit of turning it up against us every freaking time for some reason. Even in peak Wenger years those games were always competitive and stressful. Will need lots of character like we showed against Burnley yesterday.
Saladin, I remember going to a game when they looked like relegation fodder and it was 4-4 or something… think David Bentley scored from about 40 yards. Awful day out.
OM are 2nd in Ligue Un with a game to spare to literally all of the clubs.
4 wins, 1 draw, 2nd best defensive record in the league and another clean sheet today.
If Arsenal’s recruiting policy is buying young but talented players, Burnley’s policy seem to be to bring in as many gym rats as they can. Almost all their players are robust and sturdy.
Raptora, nothing on the Arsenal game? You’d rather a Saliba/Matteo debate?
Next week is huge, obviously. Feels like we can have the measure of them now, they are on the dreaded ‘negative spiral’!!
Brighton away will be tough but in truth they are fortunate to win today with the decisions going against Leicester.
You then look at our hole fixtures upcoming in the next month or so and it isn’t unreasonable to think we can start accumulating plenty of points. Of course this is football, it will only take one negative result to swing the pendulum the other way and that will be the true test of this new teams resolve.
Excuse me but how the hell can Leno be “a great keeper” when every time the opposition had a corner, a free kick, a long throw-in or crossed the ball, we were all praying.
Leno is not and never has been a great GK.
Please do not try and convince me otherwise.
.
People are going to be surprised about Arteta’s secret masterplan with Saliba.
TR7
””””’I love listening to Thomas Tuchel, straight talk no spin. Absolutely top class stuff.”””’
Not a heartthrob like Arteta, and even makes Dowie look like Ryan O’Neill but very lucid and a straight shooter.
No mumbo jumbo from Tuchel.
He has his European Cup and Arteta has his process/project.
He plays to win. The Tuchel and Abrahomwich combo looking ominous for the rest.
I talked quite a lot about our win yesterday, Pedro. Nothing to write home about really. Still 3 pts are 3 pts. That’s pretty much all.
Good 3 points, but regarding one of Pedro’s comments form the last post: ‘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.
Naija, Saliba bossing it this season will mean he’s with us next year. If AMN can get minutes, there’s hope for William.
I think the fans should lay off a bit on White. His game has been affected by all the criticism. He now looks a bit timid with the ball.
Graham
Do you ever get over to the AMEX? It’s not far from me either, I have been a few times over the years when we don’t have a home game.
Folks saying he doesn’t fancy Saliba. No way he doesn’t fancy a player who plays like a young VVD. He knows with more patience Saliba could be top notch.
Hence the loans to get him as much experience as possible. He ll be back next year or 2 ready to go.
Naija, more interested in our new defence. Looks like it could be a good one.
CG, appreciate it must sting to see Arteta get the better of your main man.
Another thing about Saliba is that I get the feeling that he really wants to play for Arsenal. He comes off like a true die hard Arsenal fan.
Though he would have been too young to know the Henry Era.
Pedro
What’s your target for the season besides boring 1-0 wins
Pedro
We had the same idea.
I m liking our new defense I think it has potential to be really good. But add Saliba to that mix and we might be talking elite potential. I like White, Gabriel, Saliba fighting it out for 2 positions.
P
”””’CG, appreciate it must sting to see Arteta get the better of your main man.”””’
No!
What stings me?
Bullshite.
Wafflers.
Mediocrity.
Underachievers.
JPG
Over promoted Spaniards.
Chelsea winning European Cups
Time Up, not the site for trolling after a win. Go somewhere else.
Problem is Pedro, a large majority of the commenters on here have been slaughtering the team over the past 2 days rather than see the positives in winning a tough away game.
Too many on here would rather be proved right than see the gunners win.
Embarrassing
How did Pedro get Samir Nasri to do a podcast ?
Saliba is a die hard Arsenal fan? What’s the basis for making such a statement?
As for demetrios claiming people would rather we lose to be proved right; what a prick.
His game has been affected by all the criticism“
Cry me a river.
It’s not his fault he was bought for £50 million but he was. Comes with the territory. Especially if you look weak.
One thing I have noticed is our players for some reason lack fitness, whoever is the fitness and conditioning coach needs to work on that. Something else is whenever I watch the training videos posted by the club, I see most of the time the goal scorers are lacazette, balogun and Pepe, I find that it also transfers to match days, auba, smith Rowe, saka, the entire midfield need to be drilled in scoring goals from open play.
Excuse me Matt, but go back and read the comments over the last 2 days to see how certain people have reacted to our win and you’ll see exactly what I mean.
No need to call me a prick and I won’t resort to your trolling levels, just a normal discussion
The next level is back to the level we were before the next level.
CG, your record of pandering the Wenger doesn’t speak to a high performance mentality when it comes to Arsenal. You spent 7 months pumping Dyche to Arsenal. Never forget.
Pedro
“We beat Burnley, plenty on here thought that an impossibility”
lol slightly far-fetched.
I think the Burnley match was more thinking 50/50 or even 60/40 in Arsenal’s favour.
We can’t overlook that Burnley themselves have been in poor form for a long while now.
Those that thought the match was 50/50 were not far off because a solitary setpiece won the match for Arsenal.
Recycled, beating Spurs is next on the agenda. Obviously a great run out for the kids against Wimbledon would be nice.
Demetrios
Regardless of what people say on here, nobody wants to see arsenal lose and everyone feels better for us winning. So yeah, you suggesting otherwise is a prickish thing in my eyes and it comes across as massively condescending.
People will criticise and the express their opinion, which everyone is entitled to do.
If Spurs are beaten this of course will be the game where more real notice will be taken.
Apart from being the derby Spurs are a half decent side even if people are saying they have been awful this season. Kane and Son make them a half decent side.
Demetrios, I know. Then when they are called out they make out the comments has a pro-Arteta slant. If you immediate reach after a win is to hammer the team, you’ve lost track
Some people wanted Sean dyche at Arsenal ????? Must be opposition fans pretending to be Arsenal fans.
@Demetrios Again what prove is there that Saliba is a big Arsenal fan, media click bait? Because everyone is scratching their heads that he is being loaned out for a 3rd season. If he has a decent campaign more power will be shifted to him and his agent. It all depends on how pissed off he is at Arteta. He can talk to other clubs in 18 months after the current season ends. Arsenal has no leverage, it is all with the Saliba team. So yeah what makes you believe he will ever play for Arsenal? Not in my book… Read more »
Naija, CG campaigned for him because he’d bring a British core back to Arsenal. Not a shock that CG doesn’t like any of the British core Arteta and Edu have brought in.
MD, Saliba had an Arsenal birthday cake. If we offer him a new deal and a chance at the first team he will sign
CG also loves the way Dyche dresses. Proper manager attire.
It will be interesting to see the team selections for the Carrabo League Cup Games on Wednesday.
Spurs are away to Wolves and we are playing Wimbledon. The question will be whether Spurs select a strong team considering their game against us on Sunday.
I would be surprised if Arsenal do not send out a totally different side to the one which will
play on Sunday. Also perhaps we will see players like Balogun, Patino and Nketiah given
a runout.
January 18 2019 by Pedro “The PR team at Arsenal need to understand that their strategies of appeasement won’t be tolerated by fans in the new era. There is no bond with Emery. Long-term plans and painful transitions won’t be tolerated unless there is clear progress on the pitch. That interview was a disaster. We cannot fall into the doomed trap of ‘more money’ being the requirement for progress when Spurs are ahead of us in the league after spending ZERO this summer, and we’re being out-defended by Palace, Brighton, Newcastle, Leicester, Wolves and Everton.” “We hired a coach, time… Read more »
Pedro
Arsenal paid a large transfer fee for Saliba. The only club in France who could match that fee
is PSG.
Arsenal declined to offer Marseille an option/obligation to buy the player so I think that you are correct in concluding that he may return to Arsenal next season.
The situation with Guendouzi is entirely different. We have offered him to Marseille with an
obligation to buy and more importantly we will receive double what we paid for him even if
this is not his current market valuation.
https://twitter.com/zrafc/status/1155146635334356993 This is Saliba in an Arsenal shirt. He is an Arsenal fan although kids tend to wear all kinds of shirts when they are young. Also, don’t bring me back the “Saliba wasn’t ready and Arteta has a plan for him”. We keep Saliba in the team, and pass on White, we have 50m more to invest in our team. White looked bad yesterday. Facts. Saliba is at least as good as him and he’s accomplished unlike the 182 cm that we brought a tall RB to help in height. White as a player might be good, but 50m… Read more »
At this point we have to pray for Pedro.
Dude has gone in too deep I can barely believe it.
So we brought a 50m CB cause Saliba isn’t ready yet, then next season Saliba supposedly comes here, and what do we do? We bench the 50m CB, or the one that actually looks like a 50m player Gabriel? Fantastic planning LOL!
Arsenal the only team to have a 25m reserve GK /Leno or Ramsdale/, a 50m reserve CB , and a 50m reserve CF!!! While we ball with Xhaka and Elneny at CM.
Neymar is such a cheat: it was a blatant dive to get the penalty against Lyon. Sickening.
Need to watch the first half, but imo all the signs of life as a competitive unit are showing up. You can only play whats in front of you and if thats ashley barnes and a cornfield pitch so be it it was never going to be pretty but we didnt concede and we stopped a few sucker punch goals cold- something that only happens w leno if its a diving save. I think the attack is weaker than it should be. Not surprised auba saka pepe are a bit cold since a lot of our focus seems to be… Read more »
Raptora
Chelsea bought Kepa for £72 million and Mendy their first choice goalkeeper cost £21.60 million.
BezeGOAL!!
Stroller,
But Mendy was brought to start every single game after Chelsea basically admitted to making a huge mistake with Kepa. They paid for a starting GK both times with Kepa and Mendy. We brought Ramsdale and no one knew if he’d start, we don’t know if he’ll keep starting, we don’t know who is our 1st choice GK at all. It’s not the same.