The Sweet Taste Of Victory As Toffees Digested
Oct 25th, 2015 by 'holic
Sunday morning, the extra hour in bed turned down in order to catch Match of the Day. Was that really such a good game yesterday? It turns out the answer was yes, but only because we withstood a spirited fightback by a very positive Everton side.
The afternoon started well with reports of Chelsea’s continuing woes accompanying the pre-match pintage. The team news filtered into the pub and the news of Per Mertesacker’s illness meant a recall for Gabriel. The inclusion of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Aaron Ramsey was largely expected, but most significant was the recall for Olivier Giroud in place of Theo Walcott.
Giroud was needed for his target man qualities as Arsenal sought to relieve moments of pressure from an Everton side that was prepared to commit bodies forward when in possession. He was also a significant threat, heading a Santi Cazorla corner wide before setting up Mesut Ozil for an effort that was deflected wide by Tim Howard. The opening half hour lacked the intensity of the Manchester United match, but that owed much to Everton being well organised in the opening exchanges.
Giroud brings Monreal into play
Then the goals arrived, like London buses, two together. It was almost inevitable that Ozil would be the provider, and Giroud the finisher of the first. From the restart Alexis Sanchez quickly regained possession, was tripped on the edge of the box, and Santi Cazorla’s cross was powered home by the head of Laurent Koscielny. It was a burst that would prove decisive, but by no means was it the end of the contest.
Everton were not about to fold as they had done last week, and broke at pace with the impressive Berkley’s speculative effort deflecting off Gabriel and wrong-footing Petr Cech. Were Deulofeu not suffering from an inner-ear infection they might have made more of an impact. That boy does enjoy chewing the cud and quite how he avoided the attention of Lee Mason is a mystery.
The second-half started as the first before building to a frenetic crescendo. Alexis was twice denied by Tim Howard and Olivier Giroud will be wondering how he did not add to his tally. He had an acrobatic effort saved by Howard, just failed to connect with a teasing Bellerin cross, and rattled the crossbar with another fine effort. Ozil, as ever decorating the performance with some sumptuous passes, drilled a fine drive against the foot of a post
It wasn’t all one way traffic though and Everton sensed a point, coming closest when Lukako out jumped the Gunners defence to head onto the top of the crossbar. Flamini, on to protect the slender lead, found himself at centre-forward but he headed straight at Howard thereby enabling the visitors to counter attack in his absence. Deulofeu stayed on his feet to blast another effort goalward but Cech saved excellently.
There were some amusing exchanges between the crowd and fourth official Anthony Taylor over some of Mr Mason’s more bizarre decisions, or non-decisions, but to be fair he took them in good spirit and even sent a fruit pastille up to the neighbour for the day. Mason finally saw the same things as the crowd and two yellow cards for Gareth Barry were correctly administered.
And so to the pub to ruminate on the creative axis of Cazorla and Ozil, and the fact that once again we are at the summit of the Premier League, if only briefly. It matters not a lot in October, but adds to the growing belief in the squad. Patches like these are there to be savoured, but not overstated. At least we are competitive thus far, and that is all we can ask for.
41 Responses to “The Sweet Taste Of Victory As Toffees Digested”
*Sups*
Morning neighbour. 🙂
Get’s an early one in.
Cheers Guv.
I thought that OG was tremendous yesterday, it was his sliding tackle that led to Alexis getting the free kick prior to the second. Kos must of had trouble walking, what with that big lump Lakuku firmly nestled in his pocket. Cech once again showing the difference between a decent keeper and a world class one, he really is a top, top signing.
We are top of the league, say…….
Nice one H2H 🙂
Cheers H!
Great day out yesterday. Daughter now desperate to come to another game already.
I love that back four, five if you include the goalie.
A fantastic 3 points considering the exertions of midweek.
Nice feeling being top, again.
Cheers H.
Good times at the moment. I’m enjoying the ride.
Fine report Guvna. I remain awestruck that you can get them out so coherently so quickly after a post-match refreshment session.
H2H knows. Best all round performance by HFB that I can remember. Dominated the Toffee defence all day with wonderful control and lay-offs. Likewise on Kos. I had forgotten Lukaku was on the field, he was so deep in Kos’s back pocket.
Excellent performance all round particularly in view of Tuesday’s exertions.
Excellent report. Excellent week. This lofty position on top feels good.
Good to see Gabriel get another outing at the back. Pleasing to see his game improve with these gentle introductions as understudy to the big friendly one. Would have liked to see Arsene take the opportunity to try Walcott – Giroud – Ox up front. Alexis clearly needs a rest.
Nice one, ‘Holic. Sun is indeed shining this morning. Cloudy days will inevitable come, and pass, but plenty to enjoy right now.
zico@7: that back six (including Coquelin) was bought for what now looks a bargain £35 million. Typical AW mix: two kids in Bellerin and Le Coq; two relative unknowns in Kos and Monreal; and two class old heads in Per and Petr.
A report of average quality, Holic, which, for you, is very high indeed.
What looked like turning into a romp at two-nil, then became a bit of a struggle, mostly due to the effect of the Bayern victory in mid-week.
Not so long ago we would have drawn this one, or succumbed to a late onslaught. We do look much more secure these days though, not only due to Petr Cech in goal but also to the quality of that whole back four and yet another quite excellent evening’s work from Coquelin.
Kos is in brilliant form just now and got his first strike of the season too.
Good to see Giroud putting himself about with strength and conviction again, instead of the more downbeat figure of late.
A word for Özil. Class.
@ Ned
Mertesacker didnt play 😉
Watching our two rivals play at the Toiliet was underwhelming. We have a very good chance this season subject to my regular caveat about injuries.
LJW has pitched in suggesting we don’t need to buy anybody because our squad is good enough. This from a man who has scarcely set foot on the pitch this season. The problem isn’t ability it’s fitness.
United had lots of injuries a few weeks ago but everybody seems fit now. Their problem isn’t fitness its ability
“A very good chance”, TTG? Can’t be. T’was only a few weeks ago that people were decrying this squad as very, very average.
BTM
There was a lot of negativity about the squad around the time the window closed. I think our best 11 is as good as anybody’s but my worry with us is always injuries. I note we have crept up to second on physioroom.com and most of the injuries are to our midfield.
We have the best defence we’ve had for some time .
Holic great report but I missed the mention of rain that was forecast in your preview. My TV set showed rainwater dripping from Arsene’s chin. Perhaps the Guinni made it not so bothersome?
Well summed up H
Had a bit of luck 2nd half with some kamikaze attacking,leaving us vulnerable at the back,but on another day we could have scored 4 or 5.
The transition from defence to attack these days is so quick as to defy the eye.
From Flamini’s header straight at Howard,to Delafeau shot at the other end,i swear was about 10 seconds.!!
The Flamster must have misheard his instructions when he came on as a Sub.
” play in front of back 4 ” was supposed to be ours not Everton’s. !!
After the exertions of the Bayern game in midweek,it was a sterling effort by essentially the same team to beat a fully rested Everton.
Cannot see any of our first 11 playing up North on Tuesday night,a full weeks rest for them, before another ultra competitive week away at Swansea and Bayern,and finishing with a visit from our Neighbours down the road.
Going to be another edge of seat emotional roller coaster.
Nice one Guv’! 😎
Watched the two Mancs put everyone to sleep with that display. Only riveting moment (pun intended) was seeing Shreck having his hairs getting reattached on the sideline with a stapler.
City without Silva and Aguero are just ordinary. Bony had no impact; just goes to show the folly of signing a name striker for a lot of money for the sake of filling out a roster because you think you might need one.
@18 not to suggest AW had been drinking Guinni before the game of course. 😉
Deulofeu inner ear infraction? 🙂
zico@14: point taken, but Gabriel for Mertesacker puts the cost up by only £2.6 million and if anything makes it more AW-ery as Gabriel is another under-the-radar buy.
Bayonne – was writing the exact same thing regarding Bony but my drink has been eaten by the vast void of the Internet. He has been completely rubbish, and I used to like him a lot when he was playing for Sparta Prague. On one hand I admire his desire to “make it”.
When he was playing here in Czech Republic, he said he would like to become another Drogba, that he is a blueprint for him. Everyone pretty much chuckled and went “yeah, right” since he was absolute shitkicker when he arrived here. Stong, but no technique whatsoever.
Than his career took massive turnaround, he started to play really well and now he is at City. Still…not really emulating Drogba as I maintain that he is poor mans Giroud. Physical presence but his link up play and technique are still pretty much non-existant. Really glad we did not sign him.
Morning people.
Nice report H. I caught the extended Sky highlights and it looked another efficient performance. Cech again emphasised the difference from having good to having truly top class. Sometimes it takes the introduction of such quality for people to realise the difference. I would suggest that it’s no coincidence that we look far stronger as a unit at the back due to the arrival of Cech.
A good result against a decent side. Tougher tests will no doubt follow but all in all, a great result after the week we have had.
Clive, excellent summary above.
Not sure I spotted too many errors from Mason from what I viewed. He could have dealt differently with inner ear problem boy, but overall he got the majority right.
Onwards to Sheffield and at least 11 changes.
Monday Morning, 3 Points already Secured – Joint top of the League and another Mourinho Meltdown what a Great Fucking Weekend 🙂 Wenger deserves a medal for getting so far under Mourinhos skin, Its now bordering on Abuse and I Love It !
Up The Arse
Eandy, you are not the only one who has experienced lost drinks the last few days. Rather than eaten though I prefer to think of them as drunk, still trying to find their way home. 🙂
nice one ‘hol
26 and 27
😉
bt8b@27: 🙂
Gabrielle with that fist pump is fast becoming a favourite and proving “Dreams” do come true even if you think they are “Out of Reach” glad we gave him “A little more time” and didn’t “just walk on By” Now for the Pirate Eye Patch and Legend status beckons !
Saturday’s win was a win which we would have drawn previously. Remember the 1-1 last season i think wherein Ozil scores in the 81st min, only to see delofeou score in the 89th. have we turned the corner??? time shall tell.
Giroud was our best player by a mile. Apart from the goal, his link up play was excellent and as Henry pointed out in MOTD, his defensive work does not get the due recognition it deserves.
Ozil and Cazorla good, Kos and Gabriel had good games to, Hector and Nacho maintained their consistency and Cech was Cech. A win that mattered than one to savour. Who cares as long as it meant 3 points.
The manchester derby could put an insomniac to sleep. It was depressing and to think between the 2 teams, close to 600 million were spent on those players. Pool and Saints did nothing better and this Klopp mania is annoying, remember he hasnt won anything still.
Sheffield on wed should give the opportunity to rest the entire first team except Ox, Giroud and Gabriel. For me it really doesnt matter what happens in the game as long as most of our first team players rest.
P.S- Jose still standing in the westham director’s box?????
@17, TTG, not everyone is willing to give us any latitude for injuries and even a Crimean War sized injury ward is described as wingeing in some quarters.
I’m absolutely with you though. Last year around this time Martinez was in goal because Woj and Ospina were crocked (2), Bellerin & Chambers featured at RB because Debuchy was out for the year (1), Kos’ achilles meant Nacho played CB (1) and then Gibbsy’s total body ailments saw Nacho pop up at LB (1).
Midfield looked like the aftermath of a WW1 march through a minefield. Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Arteta, Diaby (5) were all flat on their backs – necessitating the only golden moment (injury-wise) of 2014 – a telephone call which heralded the return of Le Coq from Charlton (to sound of trumpet fanfare).
Up front Walcott was still ACL-ed, Giroud had broken his shinbone and Ox was again troubled. Gnabry was long-term out for reasons undisclosed and Rosicky had tendered his customary autumn sick statement (5).
So, 16 missing, many at the same time. Meanwhile over at the Bus Stop, Matic missed one game which had the press pimple pickers wondering “Will Matic absence derail Chelsea title bid?”
Many of this very, very average squad then returned early in 2015 and (big, big surprise) Arsenal went on a much better than very, very average run of points gathering and trophy winning. Since those dark days, the squad has been strengthened by the shrewd acquisition of Gabriel and Cech.
In with a chance? You bet we are! Are injuries a major obstacle? Without a shadow of a doubt. Ramsey, Wilshere and Wellbeck would walk into most BPL teams and their absence restricts rotation opportunities. Hopefully the injury list will reduce from the current point not increase. Over to you Mr Forsyth.
Brilliant from Bergkamp’s the man but then what else do you expect with that name…………..
BtM knows @32.
*sacrifices a Chav to the altar of Mars the Healer*
That’s not a game we would of drawn last season.
Arsenal 2 – 0 Everton (01-03-2015)
=======
BtM..
http://metro.co.uk/2015/10/23/stats-show-arsenals-fitness-team-are-working-wonders-this-season-5458461/
Sheffield Wednesday playing on a Tuesday??
Almost as confusing as counting the number of Debuchy’s tattoos.
H2 H
That’s encouraging to read but we are still second in physioroom.com in terms of the number of injuries we have sustained. And most of them are long ones- Wilshere, Welbeck and Rosicky have not kicked a ball in the league this season and won’t for some time, Ospina is out for the second time this season , Ramsey and Arteta are also out. We’re only improved because we were so badly hit last season!
There’s a reason for that BTM. Whilst injuries played their part they are clearly not the only reason we faltered. Our three best players last season were Santi, Alexis and Per. They missed a total of 11 league games between them. Martinez played 3 league games meaning the remaining 35 were shared by Shezza and Ospina.
In the close season we spent the best part of £30 million on two right backs. As a result we let another go out on loan. Bizarrely we started the season with 4 right backs on our books but only 2 centre backs. Kos played 26 league games but there were still those who did not think it foolish not to have bought another centre back. No need really because Chambers we were now being told was actually bought as a centre back. Some even went on to say that he was even bought to play a holding midfield role.
Our three reminding right backs managed a total of 44 league games. Nacho made 26 league appearances whilst Gibbs made 22.
Arteta and Tommy R are now just squad players. Jack has never cemented a regular place and will need to bring something special to the party in order to become a regular. Disby should not have still been on the payroll.
The loss of Ollie G was a big blow. This was compounded by the fact that the back up came from Sanago, Welbeck and Campbell. Theo was another big loss although there were several on here that were adamant that he should be sold in the summer.
Injuries clearly played their part but they were in no way fully responsible for our failings last year. The failure to sign a top striker and a centre back were major errors. A top keeper was also called for my more than a few. It’s when you see how good Cech is that you realise what we were missing. If only we had bought a striker and not started the season with two centre backs then who knows what might have been??
As I said, injuries were a problem, but don’t fall into the trap and believe that injuries were the only issue. There was a lot more to it than that.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
2 perfectly reasoned posts with differing views on last years issues re injuries etc.
Personally on the injury front,i think the players today are a bunch of fucking wimps.
Back in the days of the Ramblers,i remember we played a Cup semi final
against arch rivals the Burnt Oak Bombers.
Our starting side that day included 3 players with broken legs,2 with broken jaws,2 with fractured skulls, 2 with multiple rib fractures,and a one armed goalkeeper. !!
The fact that we lost 26 nil is neither here nor there.
The boys played through the pain,and managed to get in a few telling blows on the opposition with their crutches and walking sticks.
The BOB’s knew they had been in a game that’s for sure.
Today’s footballers,jeez you only have to look at them sideways and they pull a hammy.!!