The Arsenal Stadium Mystery – Where Did That Come From?
May 8th, 2017 by 'holic
Where did that come from? What a difference a week makes. Humiliated by the neighbours a week ago, an entirely different Arsenal turned up to end Arsene Wenger’s ‘never beaten Mourinho in the Premier League’ record.
This was a performance to savour too. A rare beast of late, and one that owed much to players who are used to being in the shadows. I was told that Aaron Ramsey won the ‘man of the match’ award, and impressive he was, but alongside him Granit Xhaka appeared to control proceedings from where I sat, ably assisted by a right flank pairing of Rob Holding and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The weakened United eleven promised by Mourinho was packed with experience, with the exception perhaps of Tuanzebe. Perhaps too much experience in Wayne Rooney’s case. I wonder if Rashford had started ahead of him if the visitors would have been so easily contained? Petr Cech was called upon to make a couple of saves in the first-half, but de Gea looked the busier of the pair.
United withstood our best efforts in the opening half, but were undone by two goals in three minutes in the second. True, there was an element of good fortune about the first, but sometimes you earn your luck and Xhaka most definitely did. When his long range drive took a deflection off Herrera and looped just under the crossbar it was the spark for huge scenes of joy and relief around the stadium.
That feeling was multiplied when Danny Welbeck, of all people, got on the end of an Oxlade-Chamberlain cross following a great challenge by Holding and headed home powerfully for the second. It was a moment the former United man enjoyed to the full. Particularly apt after the United fans taunt of the Robin van Persie chant was returned with gusto by Gooners singing Danny’s name.
The points were important, particularly after Liverpool dropped a couple in the early kick-off against Southampton. To be honest the gap still looks too big, We trail them by seven points, and Manchester City by six, with just one match in hand and only four to play for us. Whilst the performance yesterday provided a lift it has in all honesty come too late, but is none the less welcome for that.
The berating of this team for a lack of results against those around them in the top six was justified, but now in one season we have beaten Chelsea and Manchester United at home, and Manchester City in a Wembley semi-final. Hopefully this raises the level of belief in the squad ahead of the FA Cup Final. Few give us a chance against Chelsea, but it should come as no surprise if this inconsistent team does pull off the unexpected.
Few post-match celebrations have been as enjoyable as yesterday. Let’s hope there are at least a couple more to follow. This was a day when the poor performances in the second-half of the season became even more mystifying. The Arsenal still have something about them.
48 Responses to “The Arsenal Stadium Mystery – Where Did That Come From?”
Goal!
Good morning, Seawarrior. 🙂
Fine report, Sir.
Sorry my schedule didn’t allow me to join the official celebrations.
I posted this after the chevrons, so will take the liberty of a repost:
A most enjoyable day out. A fine lunch with an old friend, a win over the Portuguese worm by a team that out in a shift. Although we could have been 0-2 down at HT from two defensive gaffes, I thought we shaded the first half.
I’ve never seen a Manure team so badly shaken by going 1-0 down (lucky deflection but the shot was on target and that’s what can happen if you shoot hard and accurately against a massed defence) and the second goal effectively killed them followed by an excellent piece of game management which saw us run out well deserved winners in the end.
It was good to see that we have finally learnt that we can take the sting out of the game and don’t need to take risks to get a third – tho Holding did have a rush of blood taking an extraordinary run into their box. Our defensive work restricted them to a series of well managed corners and a couple of Rooney long distance pot shots that went over.
A good day all round. Extra marks for Rambo (is the real Rambo back?), Ox, Xhaka and Koscielny.
Cheers H.
Glad it was a good day.
As has been pointed out to me on Twitter, we have two matches in hand on Liverpool. We still need them to drop points, but that isn’t beyond the realms of possibility. More unlikely would be us winning those last four games?
A lovely day out in the sun. Two things I love, a fluky deflection and a thumping centre forward header were both delivered in style.
One important change to our pre match ritual – my son turned 18 in April so we can now include a pre match pint in the Tollie, which slaked the thirst nicely. Looked for you in what I think is your normal spot Holic, but didn’t see you. Perhaps another time. Can’t really do a post match pint as I drive to football.
Lovely to have the North Bank in full cry “F**k off Mourinho”. Sorry to have offended your tender ears Sky!
Sanchez was an odd one. Really good in the first half. In the second half, when he was right in front of me on our left flank he seemed to spend most of the half standing still and totally ineffective. Half time bust up?
Great games from Granit (his best in the shirt), Danny, Ramsey, Ox, Holding (apart from one moment), Kos and Cech. I prefer Nacho to Gibbs at LWB.
We’re not going to make top four (meh) but we are going to win the Cup!
Ah countryman, I was at a table watching cricket on a mobile before heading outside for a couple. Which reminds me. I owe someone a pint.
I’ll look for you next time (either Sunderland or Everton). Be nice to say hello.
An entirely different Arsenal or an entirely different opponent?
Both, Cynic @9.
I won’t be there for Sunderland, but I will be there after Everton. Before that match I will be with the grand’holics.
Glad you enjoyed the game Holic. I’ve been so down in the dumps about Arsenal but found this a really enjoyable and relatively straightforward affair . I was starting to doze off after the second half began at walking pace and was astonished that the Xhaka shot dropped in. I was delighted nonetheless. The Welbeck goal shows what a goal can do to the confidence of the side .
I think the next four games will tell us our best back three.I suspect Holding should feature in it and Mustafi shouldn’t Certainly Ramsey and Xhaka were much improved and worked hard. Xhaka is a thoroughbred but in playing in the Premier League may be performing at the wrong distance. I wonder if Oxlade- Chamberlain who is one of our few players who can claim to have moved forward this year might play on the left with Bellerin on the right? We probably have to go with Ozil and Sanchez but the Chilean should lead the line. Not only is he wasted on the left he can’t go past a defender on the outside because he has no left foot as the young United boy showed. I would like Theo to play against Chelsea. He gets goals against them and is a big game player and his pace might kill donkeys like Cahill and Luiz.
Welbeck and Giroud are different options off the bench and Elneny , Monreal and Coquelin give us decent squad cover . But I suspect we will get injuries ahead of the Final so this is all premature. Being an Arsenal fan keeps you cheerful doesn’t it! ??
Never give up on the good times, Holic.
Four more wins is a tall order but we have precedent.
You gotta believe H’! It’s not out of the realms of possibility. ?
The Remaining fixtures:
The Arse – Saints (a), Mordor (a), Relegated Black Cats (h), Toffees (h).
Red Scousers – Hammers (a), Smoggies (h).
Abu Dhabi Cite$h – Foxes (h), Baggies (h), Hornets (a).
ManUre – Lillywhite Cunts (a), Saints (a), Eagles (h).
UTA All Day & All Night
AFCOF!
Sept points – Soixante-dix points
Quatre points – Soixante-quatorze points
Sept points – Soixante-seize points
Quatre points – Soixante neuf points
Nous terminons cinquième
Jeudi soir BT sport
Cette boisson vous a été présentée par Katie Boyle
Huh?
Malheureusement, je crois c’est vrai, Monsieur Cynic.
Zut alors! La merveilleuse Madame Boyle.
?
My u23 watching mate said Cohen Bramall was brilliant tonight. Worth noting he is really a wing back and may be one for next season
Si vous pouvez recevoir les transmissions a Katie Boyle vous etes dans une place tres etrange Cynic. Elle est cent neuf ans.
They say Bramall is as quick or quicker than Hector, Ttg.
Evening H
I cannot get too enthused about beating a makeshift, not particularly interested Utd team,that was clearly set up to spoil/play for a point, and showed very little attacking intent.
I will however get marginally more excited if we beat the Saints and Stoke away back to back.
If that happens,and the Hammers can produce another performance like last Friday night against the Spuds,and deny Pool a victory on Sunday,then i might even wear my Arsenal cap when i go for my morning walk.!!
If we then manage to beat relegated Sunderland next Tuesday,to go above Pool on points into the CL 4th place,i might even dance around the lounge room.,knowing that a win at home in our final game against Everton will seal our rising from the dead.
Then again,when did anyone last see a Pig fly.
2 more things.
Excellent article by Amy Lawrence on Alexis ,on the Guardian website.
Explains a few things.
And one for Ned and the Monks,
Are there any records of how many Brothers have ever played in the same match together.
I know there are plenty of twos,like the Charltons/Comptons/Nevilles etc,but what about 3’s. ??
Just interested,as the 3 Wilcock brothers all played in the under 23 match between the Arse and Utd this evening.
Joe and Chris for us,and Matt for Utd.
I would have thought that was quite rare.
Of course the monks will probably tell me different.
Most seem to have given up on top 4, but I still think we have a shot. We need to get past two.
One is Manure, just 2 points ahead and we have a game in hand to pas them. Plus they have the neighbours to play.
Man City not so easy, 6 points ahead and a far better GD (and you wonder why I go on about GD when we bench or leading goal-scorers). The one game in hand won’t be enough.
Poo, otoh, could easily do a Spurs in their final matches. Consider their 6 Prem losses this season, all to teams in the lower reaches of the Prem … Crystal Palace, Leicester, Hull, Swansea, Bournemouth and Burnley … not mention also beaten in the FA Cup by Wolves and both legs of the EFL by Southampton. Hardly stellar results, suggesting a distinct vulnerability.
That said we still have to win our last 4, and I’m not going to look at who we’ve lost to this campaign… 🙁 But where there’s life etc etc.
Thanks GH and others, it was good
to read more cheerful match reports
after the grimness of the Spud game.
Saw an article in the Torygraph saying
we are interested in Zorc, the Dortmund
guy as Director of Football.
Also, that we’re looking for a GK,
CB, LB, Wide player and a Forward.
Best get on with it if we actually want
to get all that done.
Cheers H! Glad it was a grand day out.
Clive@23: Earliest case the monks can find of three brothers playing in the same match is Bobby, Danny and Alex Steel, who turned out for Spurs in a 1910 league game against Bradford City. But there were probably earlier examples, given the size of families in the 19th century. That said, in the modern age three brothers playing as professionals at the same time is unusual. Rod & Ray & Danny Wallace come to mind, as do Paul, Florentin and Mathias Pogba. Wesley Sneijder has a couple of brothers who played at Ajax though the eldest brother dropped out of the game early because of injury. There are a couple of examples at Celtic: Stephen, Paul and John McGinn and Paul, Willie and Raymond McStay. Four brothers, Billy, Adam, Ross and Robbie King played for Hearts, but not necessarily in the same game. However, Keaghan Jacobs and his triplet brothers, Devon, Kyle and Sheldon, all played in the same match for Livingstone in 2010, which is thought to be first time that happened.
The monks really knocked themselves out there, Ned! They all deserve longer lashes for self-flagellation and a rougher grade of hair shirts.
Thank the Monks for me Ned
Has the Monastery had central heating installed yet,or are the Monks still sleeping together to keep warm. ??
Old habits die hard.
in GAA ned
brothers are everyfuckinwhere
4 playing
more watching
all called Enda
including Big Enda
selling warm cans and chips
from a caravan on the back of a mark IV cortina
Seems Kos out and Xhaka available
for Soton tomorrow. We’ve got
a poor league record there recently
and are due a win. At the presser
AW said fairly clearly there’ll be
no Director of Football on his watch,
so much for the Torygraph piece on
Zorc. I’m not particularly fussed
about getting one but, for me anyway,
there must be some action taken to
break the current cycle and not
sitting on our thumbs and hoping it
all goes better next year.
Mr Corbyn told them “Wenger’s all right, give him a chance,”
after he had finished his speech at the Leamington Spa rally yesterday.
Kindred spirits. Has Wenger reciprocated yet at the Presser ?
including Big Enda
Was his brother Red there?
@27. No Brothers brothers then? 😉
So Wenger says he will not work with a director of football then.
CHEERIO!
What would Cesc Fabregas be called if he married Claude Puel?
“Hello , Sailor” ?
fuck off it’s a joke !
not acceptable ?
well , fuck you !
.
.
*flounces off*
Tit Features, bt8?
many correct answers coming in, i see …
If the stories are true, and I’ve no idea if they are there appears to be a power struggle at THOF between Wenger and Gazidis. I never imagined I would back Gazidis against anybody least of all Arsene but if Corbyn , sorry Wenger, refuses to accept the possibility of a change in structure I hope he loses. He has too much power and too little accountability and we need better recruitment. I think it may explain why we have this delay in Wenger signing a contract. It suggests he can renew for two years with a new structure and he is playing hardball in opposition to it .
Kroenke will decide who he backs. At least it means he will have to do something
Chris@28, Clive@29: the monks are made of sterner stuff than that. And their old habits go to the thrift store…
I don’t understand all this chatter about a Director of Football. According to the media and pundits, Arsenal need a Director of Football. Can anyone tell me the name of any Directors of Football currently at Premier League sides? Who is Chelsea’s D of F? Liverpool’s D of F? Spurs’ Dof F? City’s? United’s? You get the idea. There aren’t any and what the fuck do they do anyhow? It’s just another stick to beat AW and the club with.
It’s been a pretty crap season but I’ve known many worse and will judge it properly, as usual, when it actually finishes. In the meantime, I am still unashamedly a Wenger man and proud and grateful he is our manager.
Bournemouth, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester, Liverpool, Man City, Southampton, Stoke, Sunderland, Swansea, Watford and West Brom all have directors of football, sporting directors or heads of recruitment which do the same sort of scouting and signings that DoF’s do.
In his way, Dick Law is a sort of sporting director but Wenger has all the power.
As you asked…
Chelsea’s DoF is Michael Emanalo (technical director is his title though)
Liverpool’s is Michael Edwards (sporting director responsible for scouting, buying and selling players and developing the facilities)
Man City’s is Txiki Begiristain.
United and Spurs don’t have one.
Devon Stu
Cynic has done some excellent research but all the top foreign clubs have them too. Some of the overperforming teams in Europe like Dortmund have very good DOFs like Zorc who has recruited brilliantly for them given that all their best players leave for Bayern or other bigger clubs like Citeh.
Look at what they did last summer and what Monaco did and see how the combination of a switched on coach and good DOF can do. We of course arguably pioneered the model in England with Dein and Wenger. Dein was operating as chief negotiator for years. He bought an old lag called Bergkamp before Bruce Rioch joined the club and had set up the Platt deal. He persuaded the board to offer Sol Campbell a mega contract. Wenger has not recruited as well since Dein left.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>