Giroud Lifts Lacklustre Gunners
Nov 19th, 2016 by 'holic
Arsene surprised some by preferring Mohamed Elneny to Granit Xhaka alongside Francis Coquelin, and Aaron Ramsey to Alex Iwobi on the left. For United the fading Rooney was left on the bench.
There’s no doubt the hosts started much the stronger and their early pressing had Arsenal rattled. Herrera’s dive under minimal, if any, contact from Elneny gave Mata the chance to curl a free-kick just past the far post. Arsenal’s first chance came when Alexis had an effort deflected for a corner that pinged around the box before United cleared.
United threatened again when Valencia picked off an Elneny pass, sprinted to the line and cut the ball back. Thankfully the alert Coquelin cut out the danger. Pogba did likewise minutes later but this time Skhodran Mustafi was in the right place to clear. Alexis was the recipient of a rare yellow card when his challenge on Herrera brought another exaggerated display from the United man.
Another cross from the Gunners left flank by Rashford caused momentary panic but Martial failed to convert the chance and Pogba was flagged offside. A moment of light relief came when Koscielny shepherded both ball and assistant referee into the pitchside track. Arsenal were next to try their luck, but Coquelin is not a finisher and his long range effort sailed into the Stratford End.
Darmian was next into the book for an innocuous looking trip on Walcott as Arsenal settled into the contest. Jenkinson’s cross was hoofed desperately clear by Rojo. An almost suicidal back pass from Carrick just reached de Gea before Theo Walcott could intercept. Darmian’s awful challenge on Jenkinson should have resulted in a second yellow but Andre Marriner bottled an obvious decision. Perhaps he had been told by the fourth official that the first yellow was a tad harsh?
When Valencia tumbled dramatically in the box under a Monreal challenge Marriner played on, and in so doing drew more amateur dramatics from the not so special one on the sideline. That Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp didn’t think it was a spot kick was telling. Mata looked likely to open the scoring but was denied by a superb Pettr Cech save. Arsenal responded with an Elneny effort that just cleared the bar.
United were coming on strongly again as the half drew to a close, and Cech had to produce a good tip over when the lively Martial engineered an opening on the edge of the box. From the resulting corner Cech again denied Rooney’s young replacement. Arsenal would have been the happier side to hear the half-time whistle. Arsene had much to ponder, particularly with Rambo looking like a square peg in a round hole on the left flank.
The Gunners restarted more brightly but Elneny’s cross from a short corner routine with Ozil was comfortably clutched by de Gea. Martial again tried his luck from the edge of the box but hit his effort tamely straight at Cech. We could well have gone behind when Rashford shot from close range but Mustafi spread himself to make an impressive and important block.
A one-two between Walcott and Alexis resulted in a corner that Jones cleared from the head of Koscielny. The travelling faithful burst into a rendition of the Olivier Giroud chase as the pace slowed and few risks were being taken. Certainly the match needed an injection of something. United were first to act, and surprisingly introduced Rooney for the excellent Martial, and Blind for the fortunate Darmian. Even more surprisingly Arsene didn’t react immediately despite his midfield misfiring badly.
He paid the penalty for that when the visitors defence could not hold out under a wave of United pressure. Herrera picked out the unmarked Mata near the penalty spot and the simplest of finishes gave them a just reward.
Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal
Too late it seemed, in the 73rd minute, Giroud was brought on but surprisingly for Elneny. It made no immediate difference and when Rojo mercifully headed wide of the far post Granit Xhaka came on for Coquelin.
The final swap was made, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replacing Carl Jenkinson. It was very much an attack-minded eleven on now, but still progress into advanced areas was limited and muted. Mata came off to be replaced by Schneiderlin as United battened down the hatches. Ramsey’s frustration resulted in a yellow card for his second poor challenge.
The most frustrating of afternoon’s turned with just over a minute remaining the the Ox broke free down the right and crossed to the far post for Giroud to grab the unlikeliest of points for the Arsenal. Finally Arsene’s substitutions had paid off.
Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal
To say we were fortunate is something of an understatement, but this incredible unbeaten run since the opening day of the season goes on. There is something to be said about the heart and spirit in this squad at least. Perhaps Lady Luck looked favourably upon us today as well.
66 Responses to “Giroud Lifts Lacklustre Gunners”
I’d take a point especially after abysmal performance we were outplayed and I’m not sure why he played Elneny from the start two points lost.
I’ll take a point…..and a pint
Another quick lightning report guvna!
Great take on the match, thanks Holic. Nice Manure are feeling gutted after a draw which feels like a loss. Only the end justified the two hours spent watching the match. Our only shot on target went in, thankfully.
We are having a better November than usual on this evidence.
The draw was called ealy on the golf course this morning when I asked a golfing Gooner why he wasn’t in Manchester. “Not going all that way for a nil-nil, mate. Arsene doesn’t want to lose this one”. Perhaps a more attack minded formation, or attack capable eleven might have have put some more icing on the cake?
Speedier than any other blogger on the planet, Holic. Spot-on, excellent report.
Fast as lightning this report!
Wish same could be said about the lumbering team we saw..
Giroud.. secret to his success.. facial hair! (and time on the bench!)
😀
‘Holic, you’re much quicker than anything on display in an Arsenal shirt today. To repeat the gist of my post-chevron comment in the prior post, Cech is MotM for saving a point, and a point taken at the death from the crybabies Moaninho and Shrek always will feel good.
Funny how one goal can completely change the way you feel about the weekend 🙂
This draw will make them feel like shit so I am really happy about it… And it keeps the gap between us and them at 6 points which is a very good thing.
We were set up ‘not to lose’ today and that reflected in way we played deep and without our usual verve. I don’t think they were very good either even though they were on the front foot for most of the game. I personally would have preferred a Xhaka – Coq midfield and Iwobi on the left instead of Ramsey but the fact that we did not want to lose this one reflected in the first team. In a way it was Arsene mirroring Maureen’s thought process of getting draws against bigger teams in the away games. I don’t think this United side deserved that much respect but the fact that this game came right after the international break coupled with the absence of Cazorla and Hector forced the manager’s hand a little bit.
And I have to say that Giroud is a top top player. He always makes an impact whenever he comes on from the bench and he obviously looks disappointed at not starting games. Top marks to the Ox also for fantastic wing play and a beautiful cross. Sometimes it takes simple things to score goals and nothing too elaborate.
The unbeaten run keeps going so that is great and so is the fact that the team can rescue a point after not playing well.
To slightly edit my post-chevrons comment without changing the meaning, that was a massive result.
Faster than Hector on the burst, Guv’nor, and as well weighted as an Ozil pass.
A point away at the OT would usually be gratefully received, however ugly the winning of it. Given that we were second best for much of the game, there is a certain pleasure to be derived on this occasion from nicking it at the death.
One positive thing to be said about this team, is that it doesn’t fold easily.
Glad to see such positive comments in the bar. We were shite, we mugged ’em and came away with a point. On to PSG next week and no moans and groans!
BBC says that Giroud’s goal was the first Arsenal had scored against a Mourinho team in the Premier League since Gilberto Silva’s in May 2007.
Super quick, Holic !
Will read later – thanks !
All I would say for now is if you can play that badly and draw, we could and should have won.
When Ramsey starts, you know we are going to play square and backwards with no pace and very little movement. He unbalanced our attacking department. It’s not all his fault but I am sick and tired of these slow, timid performances in big games when we have a chance to go top of the league.
Play your own game with your best team. If it doesn’t work, at least you’ve given it a good try.
Great goal carved out by Ox and Ollie.
Funny what happens when you play a winger on the wing, innit ? ?
And that was a penalty.
Only Arsenal players to have scored against Mourinho teams, all competitions, in reverse chronological order:
Henry 2
Fabregas
Flamini
Walcott
Gilberto Silva (pen)
Oxlade-Chamberlain
Giroud
That is eight scored in 16 games, during which we have conceded 24.
Trev, have to agree with you that Ramsey unbalances the team when he is played on the wing. He also clogs up Sanchez’s space and the interchange of positions that you get with Iwobi, Ozil, Walcott and Sanchez isn’t there, which makes it so much easier to defend against us (hence the lack of shots today).
I think Ramsey’s best positions are in the middle of the midfield attacking three or as one of the defending pair ahead of the back four. In neither case is he a first choice.
So, back home after a walk to the next village along the ridgeway for a pub lunch. I haven’t seen the score or heard anything about the game. The pub (the Greyhound at Letcombe Regis) was on the fringe of mobile internet coverage, varying between 4G and no coverage; at around 1.45 I thought I’d have a look at the half-time score but it was a time of no coverage, which I took to be A Sign.
It’s the first big game I have kept out of touch with since the Cup Final against Hull City (2014?) which I hope if a good omen. We bumped into one of Oxonne’s friends in Wonntidge on the way home; he was wearing his Liverpool, 5 times Champions of Europe jacket (smug git) but gave no hint about today’s result.
Oh well, here goes; I suspect that there will be a new bar to post this in and I won’t be able to avoid deducing the result from its title. The tension, the tension.
COYG
PS “Giroud lifts lacklustre Gunners”. I haven’t been able to deduce the result, so will backdrink the previous bar before returning to read this post and drinks.
PPS Lunch was good, thanks for asking; slightly overpriced – enough that we won’t be going back again tomorrow or next week; not so much that we’ll never go back again, so probably about right.
Cheers H!
We were pretty terrible. Like others I cant understand shoe horning Ramsey into the team out of position. Ozil, Sanchez, etc., maybe but Ramsey does n’t bring enough to the party when selected out of position. Appalling we could n’t muster an effort on goal until the 89th minute. At least it went in.
And … pissing on Scrufy Moaning Lying Porto Cunt’s chips = FUCKIN’ EXCELLENT!
…and the backdrink didn’t take that long. Relieved to be returning from Old Toilet with a point and hoping that the Odious Portuguee is as unhappy as a very unhappy thing.
Forward to PSG.
COYG
I have yet to see the match but anticipated Ramsey because Wenger always plays him in games like these- to little effect- and without Cazorla we find it hard to control midfield. We need three good home matches now and November will be behind us
That has to be a point gained after an abysmal performance.
Giroud, Cech and Ox only players to emerge with any credit.
Theo did well aswell but let himself down on Mata’s goal.
Liverpool drew as well looks like City won @ Crystal Palace
Taken from Tim Stillman on Twitter
You’re not special you’re a cunt.’ Chant of the season IMO.
Good point
Well made.
Thanks for the speedy report Guvna. Not seen anything as I was in a class on the Upper Palaeolithic. Sounds like the team were concentrating on something else too. Delighted with the point especially with a last minute equaliser that will thoroughly cheese off the Mancs and their cuntish one.
Onwards.
Come on Hammers!
tiresome
baff on tour again
i have never been on holiday
as in
book somewhere
calculate underbag requirements
pay
and go
no
very early 70s
arse end o Donegal
so
fuck you wi yer entitlements
you normal person
Mike Dean is a spur’s supporter.
Window licker with a brace at the death at Shite Fart Lane to spoil a reasonably decent Saturday.
Havard Nordtveit, formerly of this parish, gave away the penalty for Kane’s winner. Football gods being particularly impish today.
We have the same number of points this season as Leicester did last after 12 games. It is a sign.
Just watching the game now. HT currently. I don’t think we were too bad in the first half. Couldn’t string enough together at the edge of their box but otherwise competent enough. With a bit of luck Sanchez could have headed us in front. Never a pen for Manure. Neville, Redknapp and Souness called it right. Giggs the one eyed Manc disagreed of course – no attempt at neutrality from that quarter whilst TH14 does his best to sit on the fence.
Set up not to lose is normally Maureen’s fail safe in big games,so to see us setup to do the same,was a bit strange.
But i get it,as does Arsene.
Without 2 of our most potent defensive/offensive options,and a full back who has played virtually no football for a year,and players scattered all over the globe during the week,we were vulnerable.
So i would have taken a point before kick off at a ground where our league record is bloody awful.
The Utd side that played today,was infinitely better than the side we lost to last season,yet we came away with a point.
Arsene didn’t want to go into the PSG game next week,with the team brooding over a defeat at Utd.
So late though the goal was,it earned us a point,kept the unbeaten run going,and the squad will have been on the Coach back to civilization,thinking,” Fuck me we were crap today,and still nicked a point,
i wonder if this could be our year.”
The sooner we get back to OG up front and Alexis on his wing the better.
And did anyone spot Mesut during the game? He didn’t play for Germany during the interlull, so can’t guess what his excuse was this time…
Finished the game here. We were surprisingly flat in the second half and allowed them to dictate play for 10-15 mins before their goal. What a lovely cross and header for the equaliser and I thought we were worthy of the point.
Without two of our key creative players in Santi and Hector, to have all our other creative players playing below par, we were never going to deliver the Guvna’s just deserts.
I think that Clive @33 has called the Boss’s strategy correctly. Of course he will be panned for it but it’s what many of us have called for him to do when facing the Portuguese reptile’s teams playing for turnovers and quick strikes on the break.
I agree with Chris that it’s time to let the HFB off the leash. I suspect he is frustrated enough and feels he has a point to prove. His exceedingly restrained celebration of his goal does suggest that he is an angry man.
Mesut was disappointing today without question. Can’t explain it. Maybe he has a heavy cold.
Plus a late, late equaliser is a pleasant thing. Especially when it curdles the Portuguese reptile’s nata.
We forced the cunt to drink some of his own medicine in that second half. Parked bus followed by sucker punch and he didn’t seem to like swallowing it.
Speaking of swallows, an audio-visual aid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZgaCo1-mkU
Moaninho looks in the mirror and despises the image he sees there. That fella has serious psychological problems. He needs help but few sensible people would piss on him if he was on fire.
LOL
I e seen the game now and am delighted with the result. United are disappointed as we were a fortnight ago having led. I also watched the game at the Lane and the Scum will never get a luckier win. They were very poor but West Ham were bad enough to hand them victory. Dean was not at fault both were penalties.
I think the title will be between the two top teams not in Europe, Poo and Chavski and the two sides who might push on in the CL, ourselves and Citeh. Our squad is the strongest it’s been for ages and Mustafi has yet to experience defeat while playing for us which is in itself interesting. Had he played on the opening day of the season we may not have lost then either. Giroud is very unlucky not to be playing but is channelling his frustration very productively. He is a great option away from home. I think Alexis is the one to start at home upfront but not necessarily away. We need to start winning after Boro, S***s and United. We have winnable fixtures and then okay Citeh just before Christmas as we did last year but at their place.
I worry that even in really big games and despite the rhetoric we can give such a flat performance as we did today but salvaging games as we did against PSG and today is a very important habit. I’m happier than I was this time last season but not convinced we have quite got what it takes. Interested to see if Wenger tries to buy in January. I don’t think he will and couldn’t really pinpoint an obvious signing but he is inclined to surprise us all.
Glad that we took a point but disappointed that we couldn’t put on a performance to take all three from a weakened United team missing virtually their whole first choice defence.
Ned @ 16 perfectly sums up my thoughts about Ramsey who, once again, unbalanced the team and was no help at all to Monreal.
Boro, Spuds and United – three games that should have seen at least seven, probably nine points in the bag. Instead we got three – not good enough to win a title.
Interestingly, Arsene spoke of an apparent “mental block” in playing at OT. Given the way we were set up I wonder whether that applies as much to him as it does the players. We needed to get at them today and never did.
UTA.
NG@41: As Clive astutely said @33, we were set up not to lose. To that extent, AW’s tactics and team selection worked.
Very good points from the Sweeper@33, first and foremost we were set up not to give away silly chances on the counter. That it didn’t quite work entirely as intended is another matter, but unlike many I don’t have any problems with selecting Ramsey. He had a stinker, yes, but then again so did a lot of players.
A word also for the Corporal, I thought he did really well. Again like Clive said, he’s barely played at all for the best part of a year and to then come into a high-pressure game at Old Trafford and not make many mistakes at all is very good. He is inconsistent, yes, but on his good days he is a rather good player.
Guv’nor: as for the Darmian yellow that he was given, it looked to me like that was for repeat offending and not the challenge on Theo per se. He still massively bottled the next one in any case, how that was not a yellow is anyone’s guess.
Overall our performance was not good enough but we nicked a point and in the league that is now five points (Sunderland, Burnley and yesterday) that we’ve won in the dying minutes of games. However, we now have three games that we, if we want to fight for the title, have to take nine points from so it would be nice if we could find some form again. We really, really miss Cazorla because without him opponents can afford to have two players try to take out Özil which is largely what ManU did yesterday, Carrick more or less man-marked Özil with Herrera close by to mop up and if we had had Cazorla on the pitch they could not have done that. We need a bit more creativity from midfield, we can not rely on Özil alone because it is too easy for opponents when they can focus on only him.
*”he” in my third paragraph refers, of course, to Marrier and not Darmian. I didn’t expect him to give himself a yellow card 🙂
Well we got the point I half expected but what a dreadful performance until someone actually ran at the United defence, crossed the ball where our old fashioned centre forward powered the header passed the helpless goalie. It’s what we used to do in the old days when we played wingers thank goodness for the late substitutions!
I agree with all that has been said regarding the playing of Rambo on the left and was surprised Mo was preferred ahead of Granit. What pleased me was the Corporal who did look nervous at the start but put in a decent performance. We were much more exposed on the left, Nacho was frequently under pressure due to Rambo’s positional play and lack of pace.
Well done the Ox and the HFB, let’s hope for more entertainment on Wednesday night.
COYRs
The Corporal did well. I know it was the first league start after a long spell out with a torn knee ligament, but he is no novice at this level. This was his 90th Premier League game.
..which is more than either Hector (67) and Debuchy (55).
On the creativity issue, I first heard last week that we are interested in the Roma midfielder Leandro Paredes.
That seems to now be hitting the tabloids at least – must be true then – but it will remain to be seen whether that is true, rubbish, or a decoy for another target entirely.
Paredes would seem to fit the bill – apparently a deeper lying creative passer, in the Pirlo role of latter years, which is exactly what we are missing in Cazorla’s ever lengthening absence.
Arsene to spend in January ? Unlikely, but maybe agent Szczesny has had a word. ?
Paredes is 22 years old, btw, so would make sense financially.
Jose Mourinho says Man U are the unluckiest team in the world.
Interesting, how last season Chelsea were the unluckiest team in the world until they sacked him.
United are the unluckiest team in the world to have Moaninho as their manager.
Trev,
I’m not sure how Paredes would get a work permit as I don’t think he’s a regular for Argentina. It would be a special talent job. I also think he is a defensive midfielder where we are fairly well stocked .
I’m not sure what Wenger might do but if we play Sanchez through the middle I think we lack a bit of quality out wide. The quality of Ox’s cross yesterday showed how good he can be but he is so inconsistent. If a world-class wide player was available he might be what we need. I think the loss of Cazorla is more keenly felt than many realise but we have the est playmaker in Europe in the side already.
TTG,
There was an Italian football expert on 5Live in the week who said that although Paredes is a deep lying midfielder, he is a creative player, much like Santi is for us. Hence the comparison to Pirlo in his deeper lying role of recent years.
Special talent ? If Arsene wants to pay money for him, of course he is !
Chelsea look terrific and are playing some great football. Since the tonking we gave them, they have won six straight and have kept six clean sheets. They appear to be the team to beat and unless we improve on our Manure showing we will be left fighting for a top four place. Hope Sakti and Hector come back soon. Without these two we look a very poor team. Hope we play better against PSG.
Ksn
I think a point at Manure is a decent return , it’s still a hard place to go, it was the performance that was disappointing. I will be interested to see the game at Stamford Bridge next week. I’d like to see the Totts derailed but that would mean Chavski winning.
We have to put in a good run now and if we win on Wednesday it means we can take the Basel game off. In fact we can if we lose too!
Most irritating at present is the spuds’ ‘unbeaten’ status. I won’t mind the chavs winning for that reason alone. And perhaps Costa can take Kane out at the same time.
Anyone heard from Impressive Failure since the quake? I wouldn’t want to lose someone I generally disagree with. Oh, wait, that’s most people…
Ned @ 42,
The notion that we were set up not to lose does suggest that Arsene’s tactics worked – if we were looking for a draw.
My belief is still that our timidity in team selection and tactics cost us a good opportunity to turn them over for three points. Draws at home to Boro and Spuds demanded that we set out for a win at Utd.
We never did.
UTA.
Finally managed to catch up with the MOTD highlights. There’s not much to add to the above. Terrible performance. Yet again a really poor shots on target stats. But a point at OT will always be a decent point. Coupled with heating Maureen crying into his tea cup and you can always find positives. All of that said, I’m not too sure tat PSG will be too concerned having watched that.
BtM on the golf course??? Possibly the only time he will get a round in????
Bring on the French.
Heh! @ Steve T
TTG
I would prefer a spuds win over the chavs because Chelsea are more consistent and good front runners. It will be difficult to catch them but we know that spurs will unravel sooner or later.
I agree that we were terrible against Manure, I still can’t believe we were so poor, and a point there was a great return. Mourinho’s disgusted look at the end of the match was a bonus. But we need to improve fast because this season the competition for not just the league title but also the top four places is really intense and we have dropped too many points (last three games drawn) and cannot afford to drop any more. n
The team selection suggested we were happy not to lose. It was a given that Ramsey would start and i wouldn’t have been surprised if he was even fitted at right back just to make him play. I find that incredulous for as good as Aaron is, he cannot play on the flanks and does not have the legs to play as a deep plying midfielder. He has to play either the number 10 role or in the pivot. Ideally it should have been him and Xhaka than Elneny and Coq. The whole game he was poor and he has gone back to his initial days mistake of trying to overdo things.
Not many covered themselves in glory except our CB’s and Cech. Ozil was average, Alexis exhausted and less said about the rest is better. The thing is why is it that against united at OT we just don’t release that damn hand brake. It is so infuriating to see us not being able to string 3 decent passes whereas we have outplayed teams more often than not. It is a mental thing and a failure of the boss and the support staff to get that out of the system. 10 years and we haven’t beaten them there is ridiculous.
3 points behind a resurgent chelsea is not a worry, unable to even muster a chance till the last minute is. This against an average united team. Onto PSG and hopefully Alexis is rested even though it is a key game. Giroud upfront, iwobi/Ox on the flanks and for heaven sake Xhaka to start.
https://twitter.com/HectorBellerin/status/800712706991017984
That’s one down.. now Alexis and Ozil, what’re you waiting for?
😀
Hector Bellerin’s contract is very good news. We need to hear the same re Alexis and Ozil now. Ramsey is in my view expendable as he doesn’t start in my first team or many others yet is considered a superstar.
Very good to see Hector sign. Hope it proves to be a contract worth the paper it is signed on.
Hope Ozil, Sanchez and Kos also sign extensions soon. Not too enthused by Ramsey’s contributions and wouldn’t mind if he moves on to Real or wherever, especially if Arsene wants him to play left winger. He is totally wasted in that position as he neither has the speed nor the skills to play there. His only chance is if he plays centrally and with the players we have for that position he doesn’t start.
Thrilled to hear about Bellerin signing, can’t imagine us playing effectively without him in the team.
Win a tee of your choice… >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>