The debate is OVER.
Sambi Lokonga gets the nod in midfield. This is a huge year for him. We heard him bitching about playing time, the key tonight is to show he can make the most of it when it’s offered on a plate.
He’s going to partner Granit Xhaka. The major question is going to be whether he sits a little deeper and allow the Swiss to roam, or does he play in the more advanced role, swapping out where Granit has been playing.
The kid has talent, no doubt, but his 2022 has mostly seen him play with substandard or ‘not ready’ partners in midfield. He’s played with Big Mo, Odegaard, and Charlie Patino. I’m looking forward to seeing how he does with someone better.
Reality is, unless we sign Tielemans, there’s no #6 or #8 that is dropping into the side right away, the better bet is always going to be an internal solution like it was for left back.
Talking of left back, there’s no Zinchenko for the second game in a row, so we’re going to have to rely on Sambi and Xhaka picking up the progressive passing that has been lost by the Ukrainian and Partey.
Aston Villa have been utter shite all season, they look lost without Dean Smith, and their identity has come crashing down.
That said, this is Arsenal, they’ll be up for showing us a thing or two, so we need to manage complacency, and we have to respect that they have some really talented individuals that can do damage.
We also have to keep an eye on Emi Martinez dropping his annual masterclass against us.
This is a home game, if we win it, I believe this will go down as the best start in our history. Quite the pivot from last season.
Let’s see if we can do it.
We’ll be On The Whistle later, so come and join the party!
I honestly can see how anyone can slag off Sambi for his performance today. The lad played well.
Maybe take a look at the other one who played with him.
He is the same chap who has the touch of a rhino and the pace of a tug boat yet plays every minute of every damn game
A word for Xhaka, I thought he was brilliant tonight and Odegaard was like a metronome, the heartbeat of the team.
Liverpool NEwscastle 1-1 2 minutes into stoppage
lol Xhaka didn’t put a foot wrong either kept it tidy and composed enabling Sambi to play his game instead of carrying him in that midfield
Still no Vieira or Marquinos debuts… very odd I suppose he’s waiting for someone to get injured before bringing them on
I would like to make only one comment today, regarding Xhaka, I read a lot on this site almost daily and I was one of those critical of Xhaka. The man is a man for a reason for all arsenal managers of his Arsenal career and despite all we know, knew about him, he was for me today the difference and by far the leader of the team. I hope we stop tearing each other and be positive and acknowledge a simple truth like myself, Xhaka is the leader and we need his guidance in this young team.
@ foxy, excellent point you made right there. Lots of people claiming he didn’t put a foot wrong, how many tackles did he win? How much space did he close? How many interceptions? Splitting passes? He only showed for balls and he didn’t even dictate with balls at his feet. He jogged around marking no one, closing no space yet he put no foot wrong.
Wow results this week really have gone our way.
Thanks Vickings Iws getting worried I was watching the wrong game re Sambi.
Liverpool 2
Some good results for us.
Chavs lost, the scum dropped points. Liverpool should have dropped if the ref hadn’t decided to help them out. Let’s hope United loses tomorrow and gets a few injuries in the process.
I don’t get the criticism of Sambi. He had a great game. The only Arsenal player who deserves criticism today is Ramsdale – he was fucking atrocious for their goal.
Damn liverpool winner 2.5 minutes after minimum of stoppage was up
Fuck Pool but I’m kinda happy the new contenders lost the game.
Pool are still 9 points behind though.
Newcastle, lol. I’m reminded of that late Tommy V winner years ago after Krul was wasting all that time.
PGMOL 2-1 Newcastle winner scored in 98th minute,
I’ll never forget the 4-4 either. Fuck them northerners!
In that situation what could Ramsdale actually have done? It was just legal obstruction
Pool are 7 points behind now.
WTAF is up with that Liverpool stoppage? I get Newcastle wasted time but in the 5 mins of stoppage they ceratinly didn’t waste half of it.
Incredible how much rub Klopp gets in this league with Liverpool, the new Fergie.
Liverpool were very poor again. Ive said time and again there downfall has already started.
Foxy,
How about moving around the player not letting himself get pinned? Boss the area like he’s supposed to do? Anything except for standing behind their player and flapping?
*their
Liverpool can’t be allowed to be cut adrift, they’re the Premier League poster boys…
Just give the golden boot to haaland already
What a night, we should’ve won by more.
Ref given Liverpool extra time over extra time until they scored!, I hope the celebration police Will talk about Liverpool OVER celebrating after the match!. Especially that’s cunt Kays and that Villa crap ex striker.
Newcastle wasting time at min91 and paid a hefty price
Isak looked good btw. Scored 2 very good goals, one of them removed through VAR.
Why buy more players when Arteta is not
going to use them?? It didnt cost today but
it will next time.
Say we are top of the league we are top of the league
Just 33 games left to win now!!
Win them all and we keep City and their bionic mongrol at bay
Another energetic, determined and character building win tonight.
Our play in the opening half hour was electric. However we need to develop more of a killer edge, we could have been out of sight by half time with more ruthlessness.
A very poor quality goal to give away again, but yet again we responded in the best possible way.
The crowd again were incredible. I can’t wait to be a part of it soon.
These are the good times!
The PGMOL don’t even bother hiding their orders or bias any more., getting as bad as Italy a few years back
Their agenda seems to be anyone in the NW first and foremost, with Tottenham strangely getting love from them these days , perhaps replacing Chelsea now Roman has gone
Are we gonna talk about Ramsdale consistent clanger dropping? Oh, we are on top of the league and he’s a young GK, he gets a free pass. We have what it takes to really make a mark this season but I’m afraid the result papers over the cracks and it’s all good till the day it stops being good. No excuse for that villa goal. If a player obstructs you as a GK, push him down even before the ball gets kicked and let ref’s attention be drawn to it but what do I know!
Switched over for the last ten mins of the WHU/Spurs game. And boy, are Spurs so shit to watch, honestly. Lucky again too. Own goal and West Ham spurned some late chances. And that’s only from what I saw.
It will all catch up with Spurs eventually. We are by far the better footballing side as well as being vastly superior to watch.
Sal
Could not agree more about Klopp
Manure got away with murder with Fergie… sometimes they still do
Should of had the game in the bag by ht but we all know football has a habit of knocking you back.
Twice we have responded to setbacks last two games. Poor goal to concede.
Thought Jesus, Martinelli, Xhaka and Sambi until the last 20 or so all had very good games.
15 pts 5 games super start to the season.
Blame Nick Pope for standing like a mannequin instead of attacking and claiming the ball.
Vickimgz I think that goal should not have stood he was being pinned by the defender
GD4
“He is the same chap who has the touch of a rhino and the pace of a tug boat yet plays every minute of every damn game”
Have to say you’re making me laugh in a good way.
One of these days, I’ll set up a date between you and Xhaka
Sambi had a good game because Xhaka was there to hold his hands
The last times, he struggled he was playing aside Patino.
Vikingz – are we going to talk about Ramsdale? Hmm let’s see – no we’re not. We’re going to support him
Sambi did me proud today. I still feel he isn’t a 6. He doesn’t have the nous of a DM. I think he will eventually develop in to a controlling type of CM. I think he should try and model his game to the likes of Toni Kroos. He won’t reach any of those levels but I can see him being a good sub option as a backup 8 for us. Xhaka has also played very well. He is easily becoming Mr consistent. Martinelli is just superb. That half volley that he hit was sublime. His whole game is growing… Read more »
Mr Serge, I also think so, I was so angry the goal stood. It goes a long to show that we are wresting not just again our opponent on match days but against the Refs, VAR officials and all and we have to be smart. Ramsdale didn’t do enough. If it was Leno or Martinez that did that, we wouldn’t be quiet about it and something like this happened with Leno just last season or so. We have to be wiser than the conglomerate of evil folks against us out there
Northbanker, of course, that’s what we have to do. Raising concerns about his goalkeeping doesn’t mean we ain’t supporting him.
Dissenter,
funny that I don’t remember Patino playing vs Southampton (loss), Brighton (loss), Burnley (draw), Liverpool (Cup) . I guess Xhaka didn’t hold his hands that well vs Southampton maybe.
Yeah we defo need to support him the atmosphere was rocking I hear
waiting for new signings now as reinforcement in certain areas are badly needed
might be another one or two more players
failing that should we blood the prospects in u23? lol about time more of them stepping up in Europa League
Not convinced Haaland is human. Man City just got a cheat code. I wish he went to Real Madrid instead. DISGUSTING!!!
raptora
Because we lost those games doesn’t mean Sambi was poor, there were other things going on ion the squad at the time.
Your cause and effect approach is a bit lazy but that’s what happens when you lot jump in the anti-Xhaka train. Logic no longer matters.
The worst game Sambi had in an Arsenal shirt was the FA cup game against Forest. He was playing aside Patino.
Keep arguing that a 29 year old international captain with more than 240 starts for Arsenal wasn’t there to help a youngster. like Lokonga today.
Diss,
Funny that. I guess he was dropped for Elneny cause he played great then.
The best thing Arteta has done for Arsenal is to connect the club back with the fanbase.
Winning the support of the Kroenke’s and getting them interested in spending meaningfully and reviving fan support has been fantastic.
I do wonder if the fan connection bit is partly due to the catharsis from being back in the stadium after the lock downs. People aren’t taking anything for granted and are living in the moment more. now.
People thinking Haaland would flop made me chuckle in the past. The dude is just a beast. And he is made for the Premier league. He set a new record tonight by scoring 8 goals in just one month. 6 games in and he already has 9. I thought he might get around 20 to 25 but I fear he will get 30 now injuries aside. When city signed him I thought the league was done for the next 4 to 5 seasons at least. And I think I am right. Added to that, that Alvarez kid looks fantastic as… Read more »
Watch Julian Alvarez!
What a run! Well done Arsenal!
5 out of 5. Fantastic stuff.
Amazing that some are still finding fault.
The pre match Xhaka haters should hang their heads in shane.
Eddie was absolutely brilliant.
It’s in our hands. Nothing City or Harland can do about it if we win all the remaining games.
Who the fuck is Shane and what has he done to deserve my head up his arse?
Man City are pissed we are top hence they’re blowing away relegation and mid table fodder. They won’t get it this easy against the top half teams. Their defense can be got at by teams in the top half. They may well overtake us at the top but i feel it will be a while before that happens with the momentum we are on right. We need to push on further and take advantage on whenever they draw games which they will and any one off losses they get. Critical we make that DM signing and the bonus winger.
What a game? Its so exciting to be supporting Arsenal at the moment. Where are we? Top of the league! Say that again. So sad, the moaners can’t just be quiet for a while! Do I hear some say Saka isn’t performing and that Sam I had a torrid game? You just wonder if some people do t just waste their time watching games they can never ever have a grasp of? He was having his first start and kept everything simple. So, because Saka hasn’t managed to score a handful means he hasn’t been up to scratch? Get a… Read more »
SAMBI
Wonder if Douglas Luiz is unsettled…
I think its foolhardy of anyone to keep coming here to tell how crappy Xhaka is. Its getting monotonous and really stupid. If there’s any of our players that deserves to be acknowledged as most improved, then its arguably Xhaka. He might not be on same pedestal with De Brune but coming here regularly to slate him is fool is venturesome. And how do you even explain to such people that they aren’t more knowledgeable than Arteta and the managers who had kept faith with him over the seasons. He had truly improved and if you understand the game and… Read more »
Mr Serge
“Vickimgz I think that goal should not have stood he was being pinned by the defender
I think the refs are going to allow thise goals all season long.
It was consistent with allowing our winning goal against Fulham, after Saliba and Gabriel mugged Leno.
Hey Akinzo, you’re the one who’s monotonous.
Great to see Martinelli kicking on this season. Lad is playing like a key player and he’s not looking back
Just back from the Emirates, had a few errands to run of course but great result and we have some momentum going into the United game.
Akinzo‘s is the best corrective I have read in my years of lurking on this blog. The patrons of this message board tend to be more excitable than elsewhere, yes, but some of the group-think (faction-think?) regarding a few of the players in this wonderful, young team and the regular baying for various rumoured transfers they
saw on newsnow (other manky aggregators are available) is tortuous to hear.
Akinzo,
Good stuff. I know you don’t comment often, but you always have something meaningful to say.
That’s a lot better than spewing hate like the guy (he admitted here HIMSELF) who has deep seeded personal issues relating to his younger days, that colour his constant hateful comments about our player Xhaka.
Show us on the doll where Xhaka touched you.
In case Pedro asks,, the poster in question uses the word hate in relation to Xhaka often enough.
Apply some of that hate to Spurs please.
Just to correct you Pedro supposedly we won the first 5 games in 2004-05 I read somewhere
I don’t know if it’s that Sambi just has a languid style or not, but he seemed to be making sure he was covering defensively.. playing it safe for now…, that’s what we would’ve wanted from him for now.
but one thing for sure.. he is a truly gifted passer.
As others have said, and it makes sense, — maybe he can play in the set up when we have our preferred back 4 and full backs less wide.
Is Ode hurt?
Great result. Game was too late for me so didn’t watch it will just assume everyone was a 10/10 😃 Saw the highlights which were good. Ramsdale looked like he could’ve done better but he was literally being held. How is that not a free kick? Spurs are shite. Liverpool aren’t as good as last year. Let’s beat United and meanwhile Liverpool will be playing Everton. Everton are a bit shit but it’s a derby and Liverpool aren’t great so whilst I’m actually expecting a 4-0 Liverpool win, anything could happen. A draw would be lovely, I’m Not greedy! Btw… Read more »
Haaland is next level and suited to the league
Btw a shocking stat about xhaka you may not believe
5 matches played this season but I think only one yellow card???????
What’s going on here???
China I think he is playing higher upfield so less likely to have to make a rash challenge and get booked
It’s harder to could when you are playing forward
Serge xhaka could be on the bench or sitting at home playing on his Xbox, I’d still expect him to pick up at least one card for every two games.
Somethings up here
Xhaka’s the kind of guy who could get himself a yellow card whilst giving his nan a bunch of flower of her birthday. ‘Accidentally’ body check here whilst handing them over or drag her to the ground by the blouse as she turns away to put them in a vase
1 yellow from 5 games? Something fishy is going on here I’m calling it now. Could be Soros or bilderberg, rothschilds etc, will have to follow the money and get to the bottom of this
Have the Illuminati got hold of him ? 🤣🤣
Serge,
One thing though.. Xhaka is getting all the way up the pitch now, but he still defends deep in our half, so he’s just been better…
but i get your point, he hasn’t had to chase anybody down as in the past.
Credit to him and the manager for the big change.
Also, I like his low, hard crosses into the box. Thats something Liverpool do that always seem more effective… I’m already tired of Tierney high crosses that never work.
Serge you laugh but if you pause the arsenal match on exactly 32 mins and 18 seconds and zoom in to the left half of the screen, if you ignore the positions of all the other players, Tierney, Gabriel the ref and the ball boy. Close your eyes, count to 8 (8 being the number of planets in our solar system) and what do you see directly in the middle of those 4 people? A patch of grass that after Gabriel slid through it earlier in the game appears to resemble Niel warnock if you squint at it carefully. You… Read more »
In case Ødegaard can’t play against United, we are going to realize how important he is to our press.. leading, organizing, coming in late to cut off passing lanes ….
Emile or Vieira may be able to create and score like him, but the people who discounted his value in the press should be embarrassed. Their knowledge is shite.
Nigel ‘ I’m already tired of Tierney high crosses that never work’
There’s a name for those! Gorm crosses. And I spent all last season complaining and Cedric and Tierney defaulting to those hopeless high crosses as soon as they ran out of ideas because they only had like a 1/50 chance of resulting in a goal and we did them relentlessly anyway
This is one of the key areas where tomi, white and even more so zinchenko show their worth at fullback. Beside shaving better technique than Tierney and Cedric, they are both just much smarter decision makers in the opposition half. There is no ‘default to’ option as soon as they run out of ideas because then running out of ideas doesn’t happen often and they make the right decision 85% of the time anyway
Is zinchenko back for Sunday ?
Nigel yeah xhaka has been great this season for sure credit where credit is due I like this version of xhaka long may it continue
China yeah
,
I was pulling my hair out the season before last. We had a string of games with about 30 crosses lobbed in.
Got a little better last season, but low hard crosses always have worked for Liverpool.. even get some own goals.
Today Xhakas hard cross got a slight deflection and Emi spilled it for the goal.
And let’s not forget Hectors crossing. I was one of the first to say that Cedric was actually better than him. I know, that’s not saying very much.
If you have haaland, Kane or mitrovic those high crosses are one thing but with the CFs we’ve had it’s been as pointless as punting it straight out for a goal kick. Why even bother? How many headed goals did Laca and auba score between them in all those years? 5? How many high crosses in that time? *Literally* hundreds. Even if you are going to do a high cross it’s much better if you can ping it. Our crosses have been for the most part not just very high but also slow and floaty. That’s literally bread and butter… Read more »
To be fair to hector his crossing is bad but not as bad as his throw ins. Is he the first player in PL history to do 2 foul throws within 5 mins of one of another? That’s surely a record. His last season with us he looked like a player from the Chinese super league. That’s how bad lol
I laughed at loud about the throw ins.
You can laugh now but when that happened I’m pretty sure I threw something across the room in anger
Jeeeeez he got paid over 100k for that week. Fuck my life
Bellerin > Cedric > tomi is one hell of an upgrade. Tomi is class, I’m a huge fan. White is doing very well there at the moment tho. Glad we’ve not rushed Tomi back. We will need him fit this season
‘I think its foolhardy of anyone to keep coming here to tell how crappy Xhaka is. Its getting monotonous and really stupid.’
Akinzo, amen to this my friend. Xhaka has been great for a very long time. A lot of people in the conversation in the gutter on this.
Pedro,
You have a guy coming here everyday, called gd4 …saying he “hates” Xhaka no matter what he does for the club. Look up his comments the past few days.
Literally said that Xhaka is responsible for all our midfield injuries over the past 5 years.
Is this a hate blog now? I thought we reserved that for rivals, not our own players.
I was at game last night and the stadium was rocking. The Emirates is no longer a “library”. Overall we played quite well. Lokonga had an excellent game and looked solid. Tierney also showed an improved performance after an indifferent game against Fulham. The major concern for me was that for all the pressure in first half we scored only one goal. We should have scored at least three and as usual we conceded an unnecessary goal in second half. We need to be more clinical. Our game against Man United this weekend may well tell us more about our… Read more »
He has to apologise for the pain fans have gone through over the years then we will reciprocate with congratulate him for his recent perfomances. Its transactional.
Spuds dull , dull football think Fulham may shock them.
For us , I’m hoping just hoping we make it 6 in a row but…. I’ve got a nasty feeling about Saturday
Gabriel and Ramsdale make me twitchy
Tierney is so predictable in play
Manager could do with earlier more purposeful changes
Also give the new guy some minutes will you
Front 3 all look absolutely buzzing
Goals for Saka will come
Xhaka has been brilliant now that he plays far away from our own goal for the most part
I was here yesterday telling y’all there’s no way we are signing an expensive DM, it makes no sense. Partey and Elneny injury are 2 weeks away, Lokonga can deputize, heck even white can play there. We have more pressing needs on the wings that will win football matches and maybe an 8 if the price is right. Xhaka rarely gets injured, Odegaard can be replaced by Viera , Smith Rowe can get a game, only the right price will make us buy. However a right winger is an absolutely must. Just Incase you are wondering why Lokonga played well,… Read more »
Tierney playing yesterday highlighted how important Zinchenko is to the system. KT now looks a very limited footballer.