Gunners Grind Out The Points At The Palace
Feb 21st, 2015 by 'holic
Arsenal sit in third place in the Premier League after an atmospheric afternoon at Selhurst Park. From early on it was clear that we were paying Palace much respect, relying once again on the pragmatic that brought us joy at Eastlands rather than the flourish with which Boro were dismissed last week.
A difficult afternoon for Mark Clattenburg took shape in the fourth minute when Francis Coquelin’s raised boot caught Campbell in the stomach. He can feel himself very fortunate to have escaped with a warning. Invited on, Palace seemed to want to get Zaha running at Nacho Monreal, and the Spanish left-back struggled early on. Thankfully the winger who returned from Manchester United was less than accurate with his delivery.
Arsenal were looking menacing on the break and had the lead on eight minutes when the Palace debutant Souare upended Danny Welbeck around the eighteen yard line. The linesman indicated a penalty and Santi Cazorla found the net comfortably. Cue “One nil to the Arsenal” from the magnificent traveling support, also enjoying a contest of their own with their home counterparts.
Palace responded by working the flanks and a stream of crosses were dealt with comfortably by a resolute Gunners defence, although the fact that more were not prevented by the full-backs is something to be addressed at Shenley before Wednesday. Monaco too are likely to attack from wide. The half-time stats told a story. Not a single Palace effort on target.
That haunted them more as Olivier Giroud grabbed a second for the visitors in time added on at the end of the half. Alexis set Welbeck through and his effort was parried by Speroni only as far as the in-form Frenchman who finished. Palace claimed Welbeck was offside, and it was certainly a close call.
If we had hoped that goal would have knocked the stuffing out of Palace after the break we discovered quickly that it hadn’t. Zaha was denied by Monreal for the first of a string of corners which we defended comfortably. Still Arsenal looked to carry more threat on the break. Mesut Ozil saw his header from an Alexis cross graze the bar and the same player put Alexis through for a one on one with Speroni, but the Chilean stroked the ball inches wide of the far post.
Giroud and Zaha traded chances as Palace continued to send a stream of crosses in without creating any opportunities of note, but the match was far from over. In the fourth added minute the hosts suddenly got the bounce of the ball, and Murray converted a scramble in the six yard box. An incredible comeback was denied them when the scorer saw his last gasp header bounce back off the post and into the grateful arms of the prone Ospina.
The final whistle brought to an end a very strange but fascinating contest. The man of the match vote would be a tough one to call, and I would have no problem with anybody disagreeing with my choice, Danny Welbeck. That call owes as much to the shift he was prepared to put in defensively as well as in attack. He is keeping Theo Walcott out of the side at present and today provided the reason why.
Not emphatic by any means, but the three points were what mattered, and once again we secured them despite not being at our best. That’s a good sign, isn’t it?
106 Responses to “Gunners Grind Out The Points At The Palace”
3 points. Ugly, at times, but I will take that.
Everywhere you go
Everywhere you go
On Thursday nights you’re fucking shite
Everywhere you go
a note on welbeck, I thought he was great today, gives Theo another (after Alexis) to look at for how he should be working.
Onwards.. bring on Monaco now!
Welbeck has been brilliant, should definitely start most matches as he can only get better. Would love to see him improve on his finishing!
Can Theo and Wilshere get back into the team easily now? Wow! Selection problems indeed!
😀
Winning whilst playing not particularly well. For United or Chelsea, the ‘mark of champions’. For Arsenal ‘lucky’. Funny old world innit???
Just back home. Great day out. Shit ground though. I’m a bit hoist by my own pertard when I slag off out new home. At least you get a decent view (without having to balance on the back of a plastic bucket if you’re only 11), and there’s more than 1 set of urinals for 3,000 supporters.
But churlish to dampen feelings about what was a truly great day out. Big thanks to people who probably don’t come in here, but they made it a fucking magnificent day out; WestStandTone, Sickboy, Chef, Chef’s missis, EastStand, Bob and of course Patrick.
We’re the fucking Arsenal mate, what’s your excuse?
Fully agree with ‘Holic on Danny as the MoTM. Hard working as well as effective performance. Some off-season work on finishing and he can be a more capable deputy for Giroud in the central role.
I think this is the tactics we will use in most of our remaining away games this season, and today too we could have score a couple of more from counter-attacks. That awful pitch played a part in our loss of fluency in possession as well. Fortunately no one got injured.
Giroud’s 50th goal in 117 appearances. Good that he remains under-appreciated. One more season like this and we will hear how he is too good for Arsenal and he should be playing with players like Ozil, and Alexis, and Santi…
On wait… 🙂
I’ve always liked Welbeck since we signed him and away from home against teams with wingers he is essential especially with Chambers at right back against a speedster. Walcott would give no protection. Having Danny has perked up Giroud too.
I think Chavski are in a difficult place and Citeh will put pressure on them now. Hopefully we will press them both from third
Good day at the office even if we dozed for the last 3 minutes. Welbeck adds strength, pace and hard work. Deserves a few goals. They will come soon.
Meanwhile onward. Ever upwards.
Mission one of three accomplished.
Next.
UTA.
Esso, Sickboy but no Renton? 😉
And it’s a very, very good sign, Guvna,
Slainte
Holic, On player, sounded like Danny was putting in a shift. And if you also concur, it must be FACT. 🙂 Enjoyed your (fair) examination.
Can we do away with the rigid ‘Starting 11’ ideology. Yes competition is vital, but … we need the services of every player, we’ve got. Three competitions, that’s where we’re at! 😉
Welbeck thoughts. Would be interested to hear others chime in.
He’s said in the past that he’d like to play in the middle, and that if he does he will score more. And indeed, most of his goals for us have come when he’s played in the middle. On the left he is still busy and productive (today was a great example), but scores much less often. That’s because a traditional striker in the mold of Giroud or Welbeck needs to be in the middle to get not the end of things, poke in rebounds etc. Those are the proverbial “striker’s goals.”
Welbeck’s finishing could stand to improve a bit (and I think it will in coming years) – but then we’ve all said that about Giroud too. And even so, it’s not as if Welbeck has spurned a load of clearcut chances. Some “half chances,” sure. But the main point is that out wide, there are fewer chances to be had.
Not saying Welbeck should be starting in front of Giroud. On current form, Giroud’s clearly the man. And Welbeck does offer so much out wide in terms of pressing, tracking back, closing down loose balls, and creating chances as we saw today.
The point is, I think, that despite his speed Welbeck is showing that he’s not a traditional winger who can score the kinds of goals that, say, Alexis or Theo score. Maybe he can and will improve those parts of his game. But I think in the end he’s primarily a more traditional striker, and his input in terms of goals will always be more modest till he gets a run in the middle.
Lucky Arsenal. Pen could easily have been just a free, right on the edge, and Danny was offside for the second. Plus they hit the post in the last minute. But nice to see the luck going our way for a change.
I have to say I am flummoxed by the support for Danny here. Yes he turned up all over the pitch, but only to give the ball away as often as not. As for supporting Cal, when was that? Bolasie in particular had a virtual free-run down Cal’s side when he came on. And of course Danny can’t score, which I would have thought was de rigeur for a forward occasionally. So where is this motm rubbish coming from?
Another disappointing display to my mind. More good work from Özilla, but some worrying signs of burnout from Alexis who has been a shadow of his earlier form lately. I’d like to see TR7 replace him for Monaco and, needless to say, Theo for Danny.
Öskar
I am the one, Orgasmatron…Glad all over…
But I was pleased and surprised by the speed of your otherwise very fair summary ‘holic. I hope you didn’t miss too many Tollie rounds in consequence!
Öskar
So which one are you, Silly Second?
https://cinema1544.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/orgasmatron.png
Cheers ‘holic.
Danny my motm too, put in a major shift at both ends, something Feo lacks, and had a hand in both goals. Good enough for me.
Oskar, you need to pay better attention mate………
The Tollie is not an away day cruiser. 😉
Touché H2H. 🙂
Öskar
…but don’t you think he should score like Theo? And I suppose you’re claiming an assist for his failure to score? 🙁
Öskar
Cynic in the last drinks. Great find on Star Soccer including the voice of Mario Machado himself. Much appreciated and great memories.
I don’t think the officials got the off-side call on Welbeck for Giroud’s goal wrong. If you look at the freeze-frames, the right foot of the defender (Scott Dann?) is a long way back, keeping Welbeck ‘level’, even though much of his body is beyond Dann’s. It looks as if the off-side line runs through Welbeck’s shoulder joint (arms don’t count in offside), which is about as close to a “close call” as you can get. But FIFA’s guideline is that the benefit of the doubt goes to the attacker.
Great results today. I’m willing to grant one point to every club that is playing tomorrow. 😉
This performance från Welbeck is what Arsene wanted in the NLD. He worked his socks off, and had a major hand in both goals.
I’ll leave the MoM debate, but I know who or rather what gets the award for worst performance. That pitch was the worst pitch I have seen since Wigan were relegated, several players struggled badly with the uneven surface and there was barely one player who didn’t slip and fall over during the game. I just hope it didn’t cause us any injuries. In any case, it was not a pitch worthy of the Premier League. With the amassed knowledge of how to keep pitches in good condition that is around these days there are no excuses for having such a potato field for a pitch.
Well, whatever. We got the three points and are now back in the top four and have put at least a little pressure on the teams chasing us. However, I can’t see West Ham getting anything from their game v Spurs tomorrow as West Ham not only seem to have run out of steam a bit but also have a few injuries. It will be quite interesting, however, to see the Southampton-Liverpool game because it is a game that both teams really don’t want to lose and you could argue that anything but a win would be quite damaging for Liverpool in terms of keeping pace in the top four chase.
Oh, look – MOTD on in just a minute! Got to dash…
Never saw so many slipping players in my life. Gives new meaning to “banana skin avoided.”
Mmm. Beer.
Best handbags ever. Well not exactly handbags, more like body bags.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fBOwNa62hA
I agree on welbeck easy to too see why he’s holding walcott out
He got the benefit of the doubt, Ned, and there certainly was doubt. I’ve watched it again and Danny looks offside for all money when I freeze the moment of contact. I’m just glad (all over) to see luck going our way for a change.
Öskar
Cynic, wrestling maneuver executed A+. Wrong sport, to do it.
Again, a reckless challenge spurring on a hot headed response.
Can’t the FA give more power to the linesmen (women) ? The Refs can’t see everything!
Oskar, we’re delighted you finally feel ‘glad all over’ 😉
Give me a good old fashioned Japanese stranglehold over this choke slam rubbish any day, abb.
Speaking of “assistant referees”, the best one in the business, Sian Massey, has been absent due to upping the surplus population by one. Which is a good thing. I suppose.
Still not seen our game at all yet. Saving it up for bed time.
Oh Cynic, that explains her absence. She has been missed.
Enjoy our game, mate. I have to wait till tomorrow!
MoM for me was Danny as well. Too many silly fouls given away around our box for my liking. Any other league they shut up shop two goals down but not in this league. The game gets even harder.
Danny over Theo in away matches every day for me. Theo is a luxury we cant carry at the moment as ozil too is not defensively minded.
Just a note on the significance of Welbeck maybe being offside for the second goal: early on, wasn’t Mesut through on goal only to be wrongly given offside?
Generally I felt we were in charge of the game, but we are frustratingly unable to keep the ball when subjected to an intense press. We’ve seen similar against Dortmund, Soton and those white cocks and perhaps we’d have struggled yesterday if Palace had had a bit more quality/belief. Nevertheless I feel confident about Monaco.
Roll on Wednesday!
Up gunners at selhurst park
Good 3 points…but we made(again)hard work of it..teams will always up their game against the Arse…the team must remember that.
I love Danny 23,perhaps his selfless running, defending and general attitude will rub off on some of his team mates??????
Respect to all Gooners
Ohh the rantings of the moaning one… looking forward to him getting fined and banned for the next few matches!
😀
wenger has finally earnt to protect his leads. Although the last three minutes gave me epileptic fits, the Manchester Utd and Chelsea results did well to restore my sanity.
Lucky from the Spuds.. !
Lucky, but we extend the gap by two points, so I’ll take that!
Arsologist.
Mesut goal disallowed for incorrect flag. Correct.
After watching the end of the Spuds-West Ham game, anyone who still had the idea that we should have brought back Song must have dropped it now. West Ham defending a 2-1 lead with just minutes to go and Song starts trying to dribble and be cute instead of just booting it upfield. When Tottenham got the ball back he basically just stood there and watched them and then capped it off by giving away a stupid penalty with less than ten seconds on the clock.
A good read : http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/21/arsenal-arsene-wenger-scarred-monaco-marseille
🙂
BB@44: Good read though much of it is well-documented territory. If Monaco had accepted Bayern’s approach I would not have probably become an Arsenal supporter. 🙂
Because of the unique TV deals French league was really very strong then, it was just the time when the best days of Serie A were just behind and the Premier League bonanza was yet to start…
@DocFaust
What? Not support The Arsenal??!?
http://i.imgur.com/v63xyps.gif
Then again ..if we had gone the Moaninho way.. 🙂
I do believe that we’re due a resurgence again, our players are clicking and the squad is mature and we’re not selling our better players anymore! Coming full circle.. much of it thanks to Arsene. Hope we get a CL trophy before he finally calls it a day, if not this year then the next. Things be looking up indeed!
😀
Looks like we’re staying third this week… 🙂
Well on track for the predicted one point all around in today’s matches. I shoulda woulda coulda put a fiver on it. 🙂
3rd best goal differential now too. Agent Sterling doing his stuff.
Draw at Soton not in cards it seems but zero Saints points will do the trick nicely.
Going to be an interesting run in… Pool look strong, at least here anyways. Was hoping for a draw but you takes what you can gets!
🙂
As long as Man U are not in the League of Champions, I’m happy.
God forgive me but I can’t stand ’em.
By the way, how come the manx never wash their hands after number one?
Nice one, Holic,
I missed the entire thing yesterday and had only the witterings of Shearer and whoever that prat with a giant cup cake on his head was, who was masquerading as an expert on MoTD.
Lars,
Agreed re Song. I said a few weeks ago, when he was being talked up, that I wouldn’t have taken him back.
There was a time, when he was playing with Fabregas, that he was so strong and laid on a few worldy assists, that I really wondered which of them we could most afford to lose.
Gradually, though, he deserted his defensive duties and, while he was very strong once on the ball, he gave away a lot of silly free kicks while trying to win the ball.
I don’t think he ever had the defensive awareness of Gilberto, or the tackling ability of Petit.
Few do, it is true, but that should be our standard – not a Barcelona flop who did, even if he hasn’t now, have an attitude problem.
SSY. Because they have paws? 🙂
Good weekend for us. Hopefully City will stall Liverpool next weekend anyway.
Our win yesterday is nothing to sneeze at especially after looking at the Premier League form table where Crystal Palace lie one notch above Manchester City.
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/form-guide.html
Trev sums up Song well. He has ability but not a great football brain and he was stupid to give Kane the chance to go down as the prats on MOTD are wont to say. I could see that penalty coming a mile off. Our current team needs a strong holding midfielder. Le Coq is about. 6.75 out of 10 and we need about a7.5. I’d rate Song and Coquelin similarly at the moment. Schneiderlin is probably our best bet but I think Wenger is shopping at Harrods this summer so we may be surprised.
I think we can definitely get third now but it would have been great to take three points at Anfield rather than one. Hopefully United will struggle over the next few weeks and RVP will drop off the roster for the rest of the season. I think it’s United, Liverpool and us for two places. We ideally need to beat them both in every game we play against them for the rest of the season. If that happens life will be very good I suspect. If we take the CL as well I will be relatively happy considering our manager should be sacked according to some of our number. This month the choice to replace him is Simeone
lols
https://twitter.com/CarltonCole1/status/569558238913544192
TTG, As far as I was concerned, the Wenger ahht brigade lost whatever credibility they had (never much tbh) when I started hearing suggestions that he had lost the plot and should be replaced with a “yoing English” manager such as Fat Sam or Pardieux.
Wenger In. You know it makes sense.
COYG
Panglossdroid11
How chilling does the thought of those two seem now? The next big suggestion will be Tony Pubis/ Penis/Pubis whatever. Although ‘ Arry is looking for a job.
Bedbugs and Ballyhoo coming from the left, beers from the right.
Life is good.
Monaco?
Ready and wet.
(towels anyone?)
You’re a hard man, tag,
“relatively happy if we take the CL” ?
You’ve been mixing with Pangloss too much I fear 😉
People have suggested Pardew or The Walrus as Wenger replacements? Stone me, the Wenger outists have a lot less sense than I’ve credited them with.
Those two clowns aren’t fit to zip up Wenger’s coat.
And on that point I’ll leave you with a factoid: did you know that Puma developed a new, easy use zip just for the Prof?
PS – I actually wish he wouldn’t wear that vile garment, it’s deeply unbecoming of a man of sophistication. I want to see the boss turning out in an Aquascutum overcoat or a natty number from Paul Smith.
Mourinho has a new fashion coat supplier – Aquascrotum. 😉
Holics, How are we going to penetrate Monaco’s defense. This is our one weak spot. Getting a bit nervous. Maybe this draw isn’t suited for us, after all!
Someone please quell my fears! 😉
Abb, answer in five words :
Özil, Sanchez, Cazorla, Giroud, Rosicky.
Think they’ll be fancying that ?
😉
Ohhhhh Trev, bingo!
Been reading up on them, and they are quite cheeky with their PR and I fell under their spell.
Feel better now 🙂
Trev, wouldn’t the Special One be clothed by Uniqlo, though perhaps Pratagonia would be more suitable.
And the Oscar goes to…..
…Olivieeeeeer Giroooooouuuuuud!
(with or without the nose)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31575913
Interesting that other managers behaving like Mourinho is would be accused of cracking up under the mind games of other managers . It would be wonderful if their season fell apart now
3 points in a weekend where most other teams around us dropped them. It was close to perfect bar the diving kane getting a soft penalty in the end. Do not ever say that you were an Arsenal academy player( 1 year), we do not teach that.
Monaco bring in the best defense across europe and in Moutinho( apparently injured) and Kondogbia, they have 2 dm’s who could be in our wish list for the summer. Add in a certain Berbatov and it is easy to see that it will be a tough tie. Arsenal will try to hit them by pace and i do expect Theo to start the game even though i prefer Danny. I have never truly been convinced about Theo and feel he is best suited for an impact sub. Well thats me.
Mou had his rant on all and even though i agree Matic was a bad tackle, he completely forgets that his players are no saints either. Remember the tackle by Mikel on Arteta or more recently, Cahill on Sanchez.
He also cries over Wenger saying he has the dream job and even though he does add in a few words of respect, we are all wise enough not to fall for it. Get a life mou, you will still win the league, just.
Re: Chelscum.
So his attorney says the suspect “had travelled to games for more than 20 years “without incident” and had never been part of any “group or faction” of Chelsea fans.”
Could that be due to the entirety of Chelsea fans acting the same way? Just askin’
Circumstantial evidence against the Chavs.
They worship at the feet of Mourinho, a despicable bully.
Chavs won’t win the league this year..!
Moaninho can groan all he wants.. hope they throw the book at those fans.. after 20years you’re bound to get caught finally!
Countdown to AS Monaco, all aboard!
Vinay, no arguments from me. And no shame in being an ‘impact sub’! Maybe if we fans start believing that football truly is a team endeavor, all the players will see their worth!
Have any of you experienced Racism, Homophobia, Sexism or Ageism. 🙁
It hurts, doesn’t it. That someone can’t see past your ‘label’, to see YOU. And what you offer. xx
I admit to feeling a little sorry for the former RUC man caught up in the Paris metro racism incident. However, while I probably wouldn’t have intervened if racist chanting and actions broke out around me, I’m not a (presumably) big, strong ex-policeman. On the other hand, the BBC piece linked above reports Chelski as saying that provided there was sufficient evidence, they’d ban anyone involved for life, and the bloke says he was involved, before going on to say he hadn’t actually done anything. Go figure.
I have been accused of all four, abb – does that count? 😎
Hello holics…..
Anyone spot the dangerous Zaha left footed swing into TR7’s shoulder/neck/head vicinity just as TR is about to clear for their goal? I would have been mightily pissed off if Palace equalized after their 1st was allowed to stand.
Anyway, all history now…..onwards to the next big 1. They are all big from this point in.
Come on Arsenal……
Naughty Feelgood….
Racism. Homophobia. Sexism. Ageism.
Man, those were the days. Gone but not forgotten.
Nowadays you say (or yell) “I am white and I am not gay” and they will lynch you.
Only because you’re saying the truth. Nothing more.
Funny, eh.
Have any of you experienced Racism, Homophobia, Sexism or Ageism.
Yes, no, I should be so lucky and that’s still to come. And sooner rather than later 🙁
TTG @ 71 – The sweet thing about all this is that Mourinho is cracking up under mind games, but they’re mind games he’s playing on himself.
But having said that, he was right about the tackle on Matic at least. I haven’t back drunk so this has probably been mentioned, but we’re a club that has seen horrific broken legs inflicted on our players so I completely understand the reaction of Matic and his manager. That the FA is taking no action against Barnes is not exactly surprising, but I’m still disgusted by their lack of balls.
I hear what you all are saying.
And in my humble opinion, you’re all terrific!
Nite Holic and holics xx
abb, they are really.
The only label you have ere is ‘lovely’ 🙂
Now, while I am sharing the love, our very own cba appears to be having issues getting through on his steam powered ex-Russian army mobile brick.
He is, however, fulsome in his praise for one Trev behind the scenes.
You lot are brilliant.
Thank you.
I have several times shared the agony of having a grandson who has pledged his allegiance to the Swampies. He is only 7 and his younger brother is a Gooner.
But I was so chuffed today to hear he has won a Football League competition and will take and face penalties at halftime at Wembley on Sunday. He gets a specially designed souvenir kit, special Adidas Boots and the chance to play in front of almost 90, 000 at Wembley. Seeing his reaction when he found out was unbelievable . What a lucky boy and what a proud grandad!
Good for your grandson, ttg. What a wonderful memory it will be for him — even when the Guv’nor’s clock turns over for the century that the neighbours have gone without winning the league.
Thanks Ned. Yes I can’t see a Tottenham title win on a very far horizon!
What’s that TTG? Spuds have made it to Wembley?
Lucky for your grandson, he can enjoy reliving the experience whenever he wants- they won’t even have to win for this to make it to DVD…
I wish that young man every success, personally. I hope his team lose to bad refereeing in unfair and heartbreaking circumstances that leave Spuds able to point out (quite rightly) that they should have won.
As they ooze home empty-handed to plot another assault on sixth place.
So the pressure is on! : http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/louis-van-gaal-branded-arrogant-5218404
😀
BB. If you invite pressure you must not be surprised when pressure arrives. But Falcao is getting paid £285,000-a-week for a total return of 4 goals. Most of the time he doesn’t even make the team. Van Gaal and his Manchester United executive play pals must have smoked some expensive stuff during the committee meeting before reaching the conclusion that he could be worth anything approaching that salary.
Maybe someone should point out that RVP is now injured too, or include the words “striker crisis” in a completely objective analysis of Manchester United’s run-in prospects. 😉
@bt8b
I do not know which I would like more … For ManU to finish out of the CL spots or for Chelski to not win the league…! Van Balls is getting his just deserts!
Aha! I know.. I prefer us to win the league or the CL! 😀
Bring on Monaco!!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-invincibles-reunite-screening-documentary-5220516
😀
At least we now know Lauren didn’t go off on jihad 😀
Now, I know I should issue a yellow card to Mr. Cynic…but play on!
GSD
I fully understand your sentiments but I find it easier to wish them success when the alternative is Chavski.How desperately awful the prospect of Sunday is.
*nods it in*
Errrm
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/02/21/25EBAAC500000578-2962985-image-a-34_1424548600604.jpg
Matic’s ban gets reduced to two games. The FA really are spineless.
Yeah. If they had any balls they would have wiped it out and given the ban to Barnes.
Fancy football on view at the Etihad!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Cynic
I don’t want to start a discussion here. But Barnes played the ball first. The question is did he follow through with the intention to hit and harm Matic? I don’t know and I will not go any deeper into that. But how many times have we witnessed our players getting kicked and stamped and how did they react to it?