CAPTAIN LACAZETTE LEADS BLISTERING PERFORMANCE – ARSENAL TOP 4 PROPER

by .

When managers make big decisions, players need to follow through with big performances. Ditching your charismatic captain like Arteta did was a bold move. Most of us knew it was the correct thing to do, many of us were not sure if the timing was right. Based on last night, I’d say it’s apparent that it’s business as usual for the players and that captain Lacazette might be the right guy to see this season out short term.

Arsenal put on a ‘performance of the season’ show for the home fans. Alex Lacazette set the mood, he was the catalyst for creativity, he was the barometer for aggression, and his tireless work-rate made sure every one of the young players knew where the standards were.

West Ham are one of the best teams in the country. They’ve scalped most of the so-called big teams this season. They don’t fluke their wins either, they are quite simply a very good team. Arsenal totally dominated them for the full 90 minutes. The score was 2-0 but it should have been 4 or 5. We had 21 shots at their goal, 8 found the target. The xG was 2.84 – 0.24. There wasn’t a statistics or faux statistic you could look at to take away from the fact that we were just really f*cking awesome.

When Arsenal tick, it all starts from our back 5. Ben White and Gabriel were something else. Antonio, the man they said would bully us, faced 22 duels and he won 4 of them. Our centre backs were a match for his power and speed all day. If you deal with him, you make it very hard for the Hammers to string anything together. Our full-backs did a brilliant job, Tomiyasu in particular was beastly all game on the ground, in the air, and going forward. KT looks like he’s close to getting back to his best. In a better defence, he’s a better player.

I know we harp on about Aaron Ramsdale – maybe it’s too much – but he feels like one of the most consequential signings we’ve made in the last decade. I arrived at the ground super early yesterday. I watched the warm-up with my Arsenal family. We were in awe looking at Ramsdale practice his kicking in the game. The power, speed and accuracy he moves the ball at is so deliberate. The difference between Arsenal this season and last season is in large part down to what he can do with the ball. It doesn’t matter what minute of the game it is, he’ll take the hard pass every time. The pressure it takes out of the game cannot be underestimated. There was a moment late in the game when things were getting a bit shaky, he switched a lot pass out to Laca, right to into his feet, it was such a great pass under pressure. All I could think was… imagine Leno doing that? Factor in the 1 save he had to make after a horror pass by Odegaard. Well, he’s the complete keeper. He wins us points, that’s what the greats do, and it’s taken us 15 years to find a player that can do that for us.

The area we’ve struggled with this season is our attack. Things haven’t really clicked. It’s quite clear that the biggest problem has been Auba. If you’ve built a team that can break the lines and find feet from distance, and your outlet can’t make the ball stick, then you are in trouble. Lacazette as the focal point with youthful runners around him seemed to do the trick yesterday. He drew defenders and midfielders in, he linked the play, he selflessly made everyone else look immense.

Saka looked close to his best. Arsenal switching play to find him in space out wide was a prosperous route all night. He had so much luck cutting inside and driving at Fabianski’s goal. He was unlucky not to have a goal next to his name. For me though, it was more about seeing him at his best, creating 4 chances in a game, looking like a king. He hasn’t been there this season, last night was promising. He looked like one of the best young players in Europe. That couldn’t come at a more choice time.

Gabriel Martinelli was the ultimate starboy. His game has really moved forward. Everything he does now is far more deliberate. His off the ball work is relentless, focused, and powerful. Watching him track run, win the ball back, and fight like a traditional English defender really did get everyone fired up. Going forward, he’s making better decisions, his runs are better timed and he’s a bit more patient. I was at the perfect angle watching him collect that Lacazette through ball, the finish… well, pure Thierry Henry. What a goal to break the deadlock. I think it’s safe to say Martinelli has landed and he’s going to be tough to budge. It looks like he’s the December superstar for 2021.

Martin Odegaard had a solid game. He never hides, he’s a leader, and he can deal with the fight of the league. There was too much Bang Bang going off in the game for him to shine above everyone else, but he really is a talented operator who is going to get better and better as the season goes on. £35m was a snip, the people calling him a dud are going to look extremely silly, onwards and upwards for him.

When you watch games on your own, your opinion is yours. When you sit next to someone taking issue with two players all game, it’s hard to know if you are borrowing theirs. But Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey felt a little sloppy at times. Thomas Partey, particularly in the first half, looked like he was hiding from the ball. Lacking the confidence to take it on and turn. I know he was being pursued by West Ham players, but he’s not quite the player I thought he’d be at the moment. Granit Xhaka is the opposite, he’ll never hide, but some of that sloppiness and slowness was present last night. They grew with the game and there was a huge uptick in the second half, so it really is just a minor issue.

ESR showed that he is the ABSOLUTE real deal when he came on late in the game. We needed a bit of control and we needed an outlet. Declan Rice tried his best to keep on him, but he couldn’t. We needed a kill move after Lacazette missed our 3rd penalty of the season. The Smith took on that job with typical gusto, we broke at speed, he picked up Saka’s pass, ran at goal and drove his shot home. Our number #10. What a talent to bring off the bench to sew up a game against one of the best teams of the season.

FINAL SHOUT OUT. The fans. Oh my. The atmosphere is rocking at The Emirates these days. The true barometer of where Arsenal are is with the fans in the ground. You can’t argue it. The internet is not the truth. Too many casuals looking to grow their following versus being supporters. So what is the truth of the Arteta Project? We had a squad of players out there with an average age of 23, they put on a lions performance, and the fans absolutely loved it. This Arsenal team is likeable, the atmosphere is as good as I can remember it being, and everyone feels something special is happening. As I’ve said all season, there will be ups and downs. There are going to be horrible moments. But as long as the route to progress is ticking upwards, we need to support it… and guess what, everyone in the ground seems to agree.

So where are we now?

Arsenal are in the top 4 proper, now above team of the season West Ham for points. We’re averaging our highest shots per game of the season at 14.5 (that has us 4th in the league) (take out top 3 teams, it’s 16.7). Our goal difference is finally positive. Our home form is joint best in the league.

The job this December was to be within striking distance of top 4. Things can still go wrong very quickly, but we’re in very, very good shape to be in the running for the big prize at the end of the season. I keep reading fans say they can’t pin down this Arsenal team. It’s quite simple. We had a shocking start because of the sort of COVID outbreak that everyone else is getting cancellations for / our business not being done… and since then, we’ve been very decent outside Liverpool and a shocking performance against Everton. This is the youngest team in the league, they are going to get better as they grow together, so strap up and enjoy the ride.

It’s a good day to be an Arsenal fan. Now we have to make sure we go to Leeds and address our away form. We cannot be a gift for a Bielsa side in disarray. We also need to make sure we’re going to a Cup Final by beating Sunderland the following Tuesday.

Ok, Johnny and Matt went rogue on the podcast last night. Tune in. I haven’t heard it, but I’ll be jumping in pretty sharpish today.

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WengerEagle

How are you Bati?

Looking like Deja Vu with Milan again, were smashing through the league like a wrecking ball but now have started slipping and have lots of key players like Kjaer, Rebic, Leao, Calabria out injured while Inter are getting into their stride.

Messias like I told you in the summer has looked quality but for whatever reason Krunic/Saelemackers are the favoured wide duo.

Batistuta

Eagle

I’m doing good mate.

Yea Pioli has to get the boot for me, can’t seem to manage the good form for prolonged periods and weird lineups. It’s boring and stale now and the fact we have to still rely on 90 year old Ibrahimovic is concerning.

Yea Messias has been very good and so has Tonali who’s for me been our best midfielder. How Bakayoko has been getting games ahead of Bennacer has been confusing too. We’re just all ove the place sadly.

Title is between Inter and Atlanta

Janky

Raptora, Implied in my comment was that I wouldn’t have kept him after the second 8th place finish. They did. Which only matters in that I can’t imagine them giving him the boot if he pulls us back into the Europa positions. I’m not making excuses for him just saying they will likely read it as starting with a team that finished 8th, going 8th in first full year, and then progressing to something better. I’m not a fan of him despite thinking we might now, terribly slow and painful getting there, be heading in a positive direction. That said,… Read more »

TheLegendaryDB10

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12497976/pierre-emerick-aubameyang-arsenal-striker-not-available-for-leeds-says-mikel-arteta

Sorry, if this link has already been posted but this story has 2 sides to its coin: on one side this clearly shows how undisciplined Auba is. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went into a strop and ended up having to train away of the squad.

But this also shows how much of a disciplinarian Arteta is. He doesn’t hesitate. Shame that he doesn’t know how to apply this equally (William or Pepe (his red card)) for exsmple).

Interesting to see Auba being ostracized though. A clear sign he will be sold???

zacharse

https://metro.co.uk/2021/12/17/william-saliba-reveals-how-he-reacted-to-mikel-artetas-arsenal-snub-15789775/?ito=newsnow-feed

gonna be interesting to see what happens w willy. sounds like he might be more game for the cause than anyone’s given him credit for if his words here arent bs. also kind of an interesting take on how arteta nips ego in the bud w everyone seemingly

Vintage Gun

I agree with Wegale. With no Europe we should be competing for 4th spot this season. I have Man U as favourites for that spot but we should right up ’em if they fail to ignite.

Anything lower than 6th and he should be sacked

zacharse

also so funny to see vlahovic now linked to utd
on what planet does utd buy another striker!?

Champagne Charlie

“Nonsense, Liverpool shouldn’t be able to compete with City and Chelsea on spending and yet here we are. They have massively outperformed Chelsea and United over the past x5 years with a much lower spend.“ And Klopp was an established top class manager who recruited to his ideology which saw steady progression in the league over that period. Arteta isn’t established even if you were daft enough to consider him top class as is. Be like expecting Nketiah to play as cultured a game as Lukaku discounting their respective profiles, nvm ability. Consider that plus the overhaul of shite we’ve… Read more »

englandsbest

CC

Nice one, fully agree – except I’m still expecting Pepe to come good.

Nigel Tufnel

Pierre, Thanks for all the detail. It’s of no consequence where Willock plays for Newcastle, or his goal tally. I don’t even think that is important, and it’s not a special insight. I didn’t mention his lack of goals, did I? You can go back and re-read my comment. I said he is a weak minded midfielder who belongs in the championship, where he may make a career. Just thank God that he was played in a way where he could get the opportunistic goals last season. Every time he scored I heard old fashioned cash registers ringing. It’s a… Read more »

Nigel Tufnel

Leeds good summary of Arteta burning bridges with some talented players that could have brought value to the team, as players, or as maximized sales.

Nigel Tufnel

China,
If you put a prime Cesc on any decent team and they’d be contenders.

Cesc is so underrated over the passage of time. He dominated and ran every game. Opponents hated him and all of them wished they had him.

Assists, goals, pulling the strings.

How many better midfielders in the Prem since his time with us?

Nigel Tufnel

Weagle… I’m no Arteta lover, but I think you over simplified things about Artetas spend and getting top 4 within his first 2 full seasons. One of the main reasons I say that, is that the squad was a mess, even with Emerys small successes, and Artetas FA cup, it was clear to me that our personnel made no sense. 10 cbs, no midfield, Auba and Lacazette and no special youth involvement. Now, we have some direction I feel, and I love the look of the way we build from the back from keeper to White and Gabs, talented and… Read more »

China1

‘ If you’re a bedwetter who hates Xhaka + Arteta, you’ll probably edge towards “Xhaka favouritism”, providing the evidence points towards that…’ BUSTED. You got me!!! In all seriousness tho the way I see it is these are two separate incidents under separate managers to be handled on their own merits. They’re not the same. I also think we could’ve handled this auba one better because we could’ve done it in a classier way as some others have alluded to. But I don’t think it’s the end of the world and thankfully auba has seemed to react to it professionally… Read more »

China1

Re selling emi and buying ramsdale Selling emi was a mistake. He should’ve been told he’s the number 1 and we should’ve kept him. It would’ve saved us time and money and we’d have had a better season last season with emi in goal. Post that when we bought ramsdale I had no comment on his ability but was not impressed with the price tag. He was expensive for a keeper especially one who doesn’t have a massive reputation or anything. Despite all of the above the guy looks to have been an absolutely phenomenal signing and also an upgrade… Read more »

China1

Tomi is another beast signing. I don’t know why it’s taken us so long to understand that it’s worth having a good RB???? Sagna left when? 2014 or something? What the fact have we been doing since? Bellerin was good for about 18 months and then turned to absolute shite. Chambers is only backup quality. Jenkins???? Soares??? Why has it taken so long to draw a line and say wait what’s happening here? Tomi is that guy. A player none of us hard heard of. Very reasonable price. I had serious doubts when we signed him because he spent most… Read more »

China1

Nigel cesc was a fucking monster. What a player At the end of the day he was so good that the greatest club team and probably national team of all time got him and played him despite the absolutely comically elite competition But what is a shame is that Barca and Spain never loved him like us because xavi and iniesta were the faces of that midfield. Even Henry had to play sidekick to Messi (despite out scoring him) when at Barca. When cesc went to Chelsea he went as a different player. One who was still world class but… Read more »

Tony

“You’re wasted on here.You should be doing jury service”

Had to put my morning coffee down laughing at that one, Graham.

Priceless.

Sorry Bob, but you have talked about your school days and tedious debating most points with teachers. Just imagined you being the jury foreman and the deliberations taking a months to get a decision, for it only to be a hung jury and re-trial.

No offense, Bob. Just really funny.

Tony

“Xhaka is a top professional, really sorry that pains you. Try digesting the reality though”

That one was even funnier. Take a bow Charlie.

Charlie Xhaka superfan ……….

AFCF
Jamie has your number, son.

I’d give up the keyboard warrior stuff you’re just not good enough. Ask Pedro or Charlie for lessons. In a decade or so you’ll be good at it, maybe………..

Alex Cutter
You ok, still fighting the fight?

Nigel Tufnel

China, Slight disagreement, I think Emi was pretty much promised number 1 and left anyway, but it’s fine.. Even if you took away Aaron’s worldie saves so far…, the way he scopes out opportunities upfield is like nobody I’ve ever seen. Got us 2 goals last week by my estimation, suckingbin the defense on the first,, and getting us a corner on the third.. Only Ederson compares, but he plays with a world class midfield. On Tomiyasu, a victim of size prejudice and ignorance. Everyone, including those stupid sky pundits who mocked his purchase, got it wrong. They said he’s… Read more »

Tony

“The decision to force Aubameyang to train on his own may be construed by some as spite on the part of Arteta” Totally agree with you, ES, Arteta has a very poor record if not abominable in his dealings with players, particularly youth players. Where this ‘spite’ issue can be rightly or wrongly stated. It’s Arteta’s inconsistent applying of his non-negotiables to his pets, which incidentally is a revolving platform, ask Pepe. Who will be next to go on the non-negotiables merry go round? They seem to be like the ten commandments that most christians break every day. Everyone say… Read more »

Tony

As for the game tonight, it’s a must win. The fight for 4th is a ferocious one particularly with other teams’ games in hand. Right now we are where the squad is rightly sitting: 4th!! Every game now is a cup final to remain there until the end of the season. We’re young and hungry rather than pampered oldies. Now we’ll find out what Arteta and Edu really are made of. Now the excuses have run out there is only time left on which to make a judgement on the pair. 4th or better and they have acquitted themselves well,… Read more »

China1

In all these years I think I’d have been softer on xhaka if we hadn’t previously been blessed with some of the worlds best CMs time and again over a 15 odd year period. The come down to his level and for such a long period of time is one that is just too irritating The same way bellerins place in the team for such a long time bothered me to no end after we used to have top quality players like Sagna and Lauren. Just a Tomi has underscored just what a difference a genuine lot good player can… Read more »

China1

Nigel tomi is the guy. Just what the doctor ordered at RB As for Emi I don’t think he would’ve left if he was given the #1. He was told he’d start the next game but I don’t think assured that he is actually seen as the established first choice for the season. He must have felt frustrated at the manager not being able to commit that to him and would’ve been openly promised that at Villa. For footballers their careers are so short and emi had taken such a long time to get into that position that I think… Read more »

DivineSherlock

We should absolutely beat Leeds , they are ravaged by injuries to first choice players . No excuses . They only play one way , which should suit us .

DivineSherlock

Aubameyang is not even training with the first team , wow . Spiteful and disgraceful behavior from our club.

Chika

When Arsenal is described as a classy club, certain fans make a mockery of it. However, the same fans are now demanding Auba be disciplined in a classy way.

Also, by making comparisons to incidents concerning Xhaka, Willian and Pepe, they conveniently ignore the fact that Auba is a repeat offender.

Luteo Guenreira

Surely Ramsdale has got to be top choice for England number one by now.

FACupofTea

Chika

Bet you’d be livid with Arteta’s decision if Auba were slapping in the goals.

Nelson

I find Arteta’s man management is really generational (bad). You never hear Pep or Klopp make a theatre openly on one of their player. Arteta seems to enjoy it. I wonder whether other EPL coaches have non_negotiables also.

Luteo Guenreira

Joke Saturday Some clueless old fart – let’s call him Anthony – was riding in his limousine when he saw two women along the roadside eating grass. Wondering what was going on, he ordered his driver to stop and he got out to investigate. He asked one of the women, “Why are you eating grass?” “We don’t have any money for food,” she replied. “We have to eat grass.” “Well then, you can come with me to my house and I’ll feed you,” he said. “But sir! I have a husband and two children with me, they’re under that tree… Read more »

China1

Chika no that’s explicitly not what has happened. We laughed that the club got called classy despite often not being especially classy. Treating the fans like fools for years. Taking us for a ride with season ticket prices and lies about ambitions to compete when the club only cared about hanging in top 4 for the pay Cheques. For getting rid of gunnersaurus but having enough money to blow on shite players etc etc etc The club did loads of Unclassy things over the years and kept trying to portray itself as somehow special and classier than others because it… Read more »

TR7

CC

“And Klopp was an established top class manager who recruited to his ideology which saw steady progression in the league over that period. Arteta isn’t established even if you were daft enough to consider him top class as is. Be like expecting Nketiah to play as cultured a game as Lukaku discounting their respective profiles, nvm ability.Consider”

So all in all hiring Arteta was a mistake, wasn’t it ?

China1

Then there was the super league fiasco

Can’t forget that one

Bob N16

No offence taken Tony. It’s was Graham’s best line by far on an otherwise quite hysterical output yesterday. Was Foreman of a jury a few years ago (of course I volunteered for the job!), 9 different offences to consider. We had one person who said guilty to every charge and one person who had doubt about everything so voted innocent each time. After a day of going and growing, the judge allowed us a 9 out of 12 majority for a guilty verdict.. I think we decided 6 out of 9 charges the defendant were guilty. I believe justice was… Read more »

Bob N16

A day of toing and froing (I obviously made sure everybody got a chance to speak)

Raulishuss

Let’s see how your crush(conte) does with your 2nd favourite team tr7. And no hiring arteta wasn’t/isn’t a mistake. Sure was a big gamble tho, especially for a club as big as ours but we’re not the first or the last to do it.

Tom

Raulishuss
And what would you consider Conte making the grade with Tottenham come May?

Tee

“I find Arteta’s man management is really generational (bad). You never hear Pep or Klopp make a theatre openly on one of their player. Arteta seems to enjoy it. I wonder whether other EPL coaches have non_negotiables also.” Gobshite. How would you know when liverpool and man city don’t have a captain who is a repeated offender. The usual suspects would have made this place a hell if the team’s performance without aubamayang has been nothing to right home about. Besides, the usual straw man argument, have you for once taught the issue of auba training alone could be a… Read more »

Pierre

Raulishuss “. And no hiring arteta wasn’t/isn’t a mistake” Impossible to say at this present time, for sure it hasn’t been a success , probably closer to a mistake than a success i would say. If we look at our premier league history under Arteta , his first 4/5 months or so were very positive, turning the season around and putting us in contention for champions league before the first lockdown…things were looking good , playing well , results good , creativity was not an issue. Arteta alienated a couple of players during this period and it had a dramatic… Read more »

Karsa

Maybe Auba tested positive on his return from France.

Karsa

Or maybe he has refused to train with the team.

Karsa

There could be countless explanations. No-one outside the training ground realy knows.

Raulishuss

Pierre i don’t have time to argue with your points as they are as transparent as they come. It all boils down to arteta leaving out ozil, not playing eddie and selling joe for you. It’s all about you and your favourites. Now you want to lap marti into it? After you were trying to tell the whole world eddie is better than him? Lol. Irrespective of any circumstance or what not, the kids are playing aren’t they? So there you are. But keep on with whatever you do. P.s willock is sure making us regret our decision i see

Raulishuss

Taveres and loko along with so many young players are some of the reasons our away form is bad. With much more game time and a lil bit of know how i believe we can turn it around starting from today i hope. Pierre with your excellent knowledge of the game, i expect you to rise beyond legrove xhaka hate fest and see how even though he isn’t the best out there why xhaka with the options(and age plus inexperience profile) is the best we have in our squad for NOW in how he helps with our balance but maybe… Read more »

Positive pete

There are those here,namely bedwetters,where Arteta being over the top ,suits their narrative.Another stick to beat him with.Personally I’m glad he’s getting the “ full non negotiables “ bashing.He has been taking the piss with his attitude & behaviour far too long.” Laughing boy” in the sin bin for the foreseeable future.Watch our improvement now we’re playing with a full side & not ten.

Graham62

England getting blitzed in the cricket, which is of no surprise really. We just know it’s going to be 5-0.

Every time I see Steve Smith and David Warner I still see them gushing their eyes out after being found out.

Two weasels of the highest order.

Unfortunately in professional sports cheats tend to prosper.

TR7

Raul

What about making a few valid counter points than throwing childish jibes at me or is that too much to expect from you ?

Graham62

Really sad that England are still reliant on Anderson(39) and Broad(35) to dismantle the Aussies.

Great bowlers though.

Champagne Charlie

“So all in all hiring Arteta was a mistake, wasn’t it ?“ Why? Because he wasn’t at Klopp’s level the moment he arrived? It was a different path vs plucking one of Europes top performing coaches and building around his ideas. Instead we went with a promising coach, and are flooding the squad with promising talents in an attempt to completely revamp the football club from academy to first team. It certainly isn’t the short road, but with our last league title nearly 20 years ago I think those at the top probably feel something more speculative was ok to… Read more »

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