Ozil Masterclass Seals Emphatic El Chapmanico Win
Nov 29th, 2017 by 'holic
There were no surprises when the teams were announced. Mesut Ozil was deemed fit to return to what the manager obviously feels is his strongest eleven right now. The visitors kicked off and forced a first-minute penalty which Petr Cech dealt with nervously under pressure. It was a false dawn.
In the third minute we were in front courtesy of a clinical Alexandre Lacazette finish when he was put clear by Aaron Ramsey’s clever flick. Just the start the doctor, and Arsene Wenger, wanted.
The Arsenal 1-0 Huddersfield Town
The Welshman looked keen to take responsibility and impressed as the opening half progressed. He did unfortunately rush an attempt when the Terriers defence coughed up cheap possession, and shot high into the Clock End.
On the half hour Lacazette was inches away from a spectacular second with a beautifully hooked chip from a Kanu-esque angle on the left hand side of the box. A desperate goal-line clearance denied him a wonderful moment.
A sloppy passage of play allowed Huddersfield an opportunity to equalize but Laurent Koscielny’s orchestras pulled off the block of the night from a drive by Quaner. A largely quiet half, despite the opening burst, limped to a close.
Lacazette too had been limping for much of the opening half and he did not come out for the second-half. Olivier Giroud was the obvious replacement from the bench. Alexis and Ozil fashioned the first chance in front of the North Bank, but the latter’s effort was deflected to safety.
The contest livened considerably on fifty minutes as Quaner galloped through the Gunners rearguard only to draw an excellent save from Cech. Arsenal broke with a pace and incision rarely seen in the opening half but Giroud’s near-post effort was blocked. Two minutes later Cech nearly made a hash of tipping a bouncing ball over the bar. Surely the Arsenal would heed these warnings?
It wasn’t that the hosts weren’t trying, but it was one of those matches where we huffed and puffed but rather wheezily in the cold winter air. The lack of a killer final ball made the match something of a sterile affair as the mid-point of the half was reached. That was about to change, and how!
Mesut Ozil teed up Giroud with a simple square ball and the Frenchman finished with precision at the near post. There was that killer ball at last.
The Arsenal 2-0 Huddersfield Town
Two became three within a minute and again Ozil was the provider and Alexis the emphatic finisher.
The Arsenal 3-0 Huddersfield Town
I was twenty-one minutes from landing the ‘holic pound. It lasted three, and creator turned scorer when Ramsey set up Ozil for a deadly strike for Arsenal’s third goal in four minutes. “We’ve got Ozil” filled the cold night air from thousands of happy punters.
The Arsenal 4-0 Huddersfield Town
The result assured, we withdrew Alexis and the excellent Ramsey. From the bench came Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck.
There was magic in the eighty-third minute when Wilshere found Ozil on the left, the German back-heeled to Sead Kolasinac, and his cut-back was unfortunately blazed over by the onrushing Giroud. What a goal that could have been. Herbert Chapman would have approved of the quality of the football.
The Frenchman did make the most of another moment of Kolasinac magic shortly afterwards when he whipped the close-range finish off his team-mates toe after Sead had danced his way into the box.
The Arsenal 5-0 Huddersfield Town
This was classic Arsenal. Making the opponents work hard for over an hour before finishing a tiring team. We don’t see enough of it these days, so let’s enjoy this night, and pray others will follow.
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62 Responses to “Ozil Masterclass Seals Emphatic El Chapmanico Win”
Foist!
Speed combined with quality, Guv’nor. Good stuff.
From my perspective, the only blot on an otherwise perfect night came in the fantasy league, where, spooked by talk of an injury, I brought in Xhaka for the incomparable Mesut. crewed over by te bloody Arsenal medical staff again. Bah! Humbug.
COYG
That’s “Screwed over by the bloody…” @2. Pesky keyboard.
As I said in the preview comments, 3-0 was always going to be a bit too conservative a forecast 🙂 🙂
Arsene Wenger tactical masterclass. They keep coming. Week after week.
Sterling 95′ 2-1 City. Damn!
BJ
Just saw that gutted!
For all those questioning the constant subbing of Laca,now we have the answer.
Gone from French strolling league,to toughest physical league in Europe.
We have been very careful with him,but to no avail.
Done his groin,won’t see him again till after Christmas i suspect.
Thanks, ‘holic for being my eyes and ears. Which the TV network refused to do. Extorionists, they have become.
Having seen the goals now I must say I loved the picture of Kola steamrollering through the box with the ball on his chest before laying it off for Giroud’s second goal. 🙂
The first half showed why I would have played the cup team and saved the first XI for Manure. The second half showed how well the first XI can play when booted up the backside at half-time. And OG showed how much a proper focus up front can influence a game, as opposed to having the two shortest players on the pitch as our central strike-force.
Lovely stuff to watch once the right gear was found, and how the confidence grew once it was.
Mesut motm, again. Why the fuck has he chosen now to play the best football of his Arsenal career? There’s a cynical answer to that…
Any chance he and Alexis (who was pretty awful today, bar his goal) could be persuaded to stay if we buy big in January and the summer? No, I don’t think so, but what do I know.
I’ve returned from a very cold night in North London . You describe the game very well Holic. We started very well, lost our rhythm and around the hour mark started to play and wiped them away in a few minutes.
Ozil was excellent as was Lacazette whose movement contrasts hugely with Giroud’s less mobile style. If Laca had played 90 minutes today he may have had four or five. Ramsey was enterprising and Kolasinac , Koscielny and Monreal were very good as was Mustafi although they were often three against Mounie who had a thankless task.
Less impressive were Sanchez and Xhaka who blows hot and cold. He is a very gifted player but makes far too many mistakes. Sanchez was better in the second half and finished his goal well and Giroud was able to benefit from a tiring Huddersfield side.
One thing I have noticed this season is that our fitness levels are excellent and at home the last twenty minutes are torrid for the visitors. In the Carabao Cup game it was noticeable how much stronger we were as the game went on.
I think Darren Burgess deserves some bouquets for his work with Shad Forsythe on the physical conditioning of the side
We will miss Lacazette he is an estimable player, much underrated , had he joined Citeh or United or Liverpool he would receive greater plaudits.
Kolasinac was a superb signing he gives the side both defensive and attacking power. On a day when it is probable that Santi Cazorla has played his last game for us our area for big improvement is in central midfield. Xhaka is too erratic for my liking. Ramsey is playing better than he has for several seasons but is bound to suffer an injury soon and we need a multi-purpose player in there although I would rotate Jack with Xhaka and Ramsey over the next few weeks.
One other thing- Cech is playing extremely well this season. My neighbour was at Burnley on Sunday and thought he was excellent and he made a great block at 1-0 tonight. Don’t write him off as some are. It’s the back -up to him that is a concern.
Fine report Guvna though your account doesn’t adequately convey how very cold it was. Survival was aided by ski silks, Icelandic knitwear (courtesy of 66 North) and a hip flask containing exotic spirit.
Apart from a period of sloppiness and complacency extending from the middle of the first half to the middle of the second half, we were in control and though Huddersfield had two excellent chances it didn’t feel at all likely that we would fail to go on to win this match.
As TTG observes, Sanchez (bar his well taken goal) and Xhaka were as poor as Ozil was excellent – Chris’ explanation for the upswing in Ozil’s performance may well be correct but I too would welcome him deciding that he wants to help this team win a top trophy next season.
Lacazette will be missed on Saturday and as a result we need even more that our refuseniks put in outstanding performances to compensate for the loss of his mobility.
COYG
Cracking stuff in the end, it feels
like a while since we could just
sit back and relax for the last 20
minutes.
Thanks for the reports Guvnor,
TTG, Bath – I hope Delia was
able to get along too.
Emphatic in the end with another “Fish-God” blessing! ?
Really fucked-off by Lacazz’s groin injury and his now likely miss of those Old-Toilet Manky Cunts at our place on Saturday! ?
UTAAD&AN!
Laca’s groin was the only blight –
already out for the Manure game
and may be a while. On the plus
side our squad strength to deal
with his absence is much improved
from a couple of seasons back.
Didn’t hear it on the TV but i read
the crowd were singing Santi’s
song, which is a nice thing to hear.
Sp*rs sinking rapidly as we speak … Burnley the latest club to rise above them in the table … Rumblings for Pochettino’s head expected soon as hearty laughter is heard in the Arsenal sector …
Sales of Poch’s autobiography must
be slow 🙂
Much useful travel information for all (any?) planning to travel by train to the World Cup in Russia.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42124234
But watch out for the 73 hour trip between Sochi and Yekaterinburg in the third class sleeper car.
Cheers H!
five
?
.
18 bt8
sweet mother of god ?
sweet mother of god
also applies to trump
holy fuck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_Kh7nLplWo
Good match report, ‘Holic. You call it as it appeared to play out: Quick goal, a meh hour then a goal burst. Of the many things this Arsenal side needs to be more consistent about it is ‘finishing a tiring team’. But props to them last night for doing so.
Chris and TTG: You are spot on about Lacazette. He is a player. And he will be missed for however long the inevitable three weeks out proves to be.
And TTG, a good observation about Cech. He has made a few critical saves this season to preserve a lead or stop us going behind.
Sanchez had one of those games where nothing much he tried came off except when it did, and then it was top-class. He made the volley for his goal look a lot easier than it was.
Mustafi has suddenly started looking like a German international centre back.
OM: World reaches Castle Ned that the Clock End at least was singing Santi Cazorla’s name. And taunting the nearby away support with ‘You’re just a small town in Bradford’.
Thanks Ned 🙂
They are just a small town in Bradford, aren’t they?
😉
Mustafi’s play gives me the most cause for optimism at the moment. The most positive development of an existing Arsenal player this season. Sad about Lacazette’s injury, but if he is missing three to six weeks it may give us the rotation Wenger should but wouldn’t have been making anyway. I expect Giroud will step up admirably as he did in the second half v. Huddersfield. Kolasinac and Lacazette are our best summer signings in quite some time, as they have given big contributions immediately. If Mustafi continues in the current vein of form we can add him and look back at a triad of signings who can form the rock of our foundation going forward. Cech has indeed been very good this season, but we need to be signing a new keeper soon as he can’t be expected to last forever and I don’t want to see Ospina as our number one. Maybe we are less far away than we thought a few weeks ago, but let’s see how we do in our next game.
cba @21 at the moment I am doing my best to oppose t…p as much as possible but apologies for my lapse in posting that link as it was not intended as an endorsement of his friend p…n.
jeez bt8 ye’ve enough on yer plate
worrying what donny is doing
without concerning yerself with marie
.
.
three days on the third class sleeper ?
ultra interesting
Closer to home the clubs in the Championship automatic promotion places are Wolverhampton (2 hours by train from Kings Cross) and Cardiff (2.5 hours). Shouldn’t be too bad.
Boy was it cold last night we needed some excitement to keep us warm and we got it in spades but had to wait until the final quarter.
I thought Huddersfield were competitive for an hour but as soon as we scored the second goal they capitulated . Cech made a truly great save with his legs in the second half when it looked as though the Terrier’s were going to equalise . There were times when both side’s passing went to pot and at one stage I thought we might have to work hard to keep our early lead.
Three goals in four minutes had everyone on their feet and yes we did sing Santi’s song and several renditions of Ozil’s chant as the maestro showed us all how to play football. Rambo put in a very significant shift and the 3 CB’s were superb with another clean sheet. Giroud could have had four, Sanchez yet again misplaced a number of passes as did Xhaka and the Bosnian. However when we changed gears after the second goal everyone seemed to follow Ozil’s lead and played to their potential.
A great pity we lost Lacazette to injury as he had looked up for it from the start. His movement is so good and his presence will certainly be missed on Saturday. Let’s hope his absence is only until the Liverpool game.
A smaller number of Gooners than usual made the 22.14 train home but for once there was no moaning on the long way home. See you all on Saturday.
COYR
train travel is wonderful
if you are in no hurry
and a fan of the cold
31 for 29
.
delia’s preference
train or heat
not my concern
.
apologies for not
not
or what
.
.
.
buncha WEIRDOS
Bless you Delia. I had a good night too.
is 32 invisible ?
.
.
s’like 25 never existed
*raspberries*
see 19
.
dots and full stops
.
.
what highlight yours
ya shower
If you’re at work and want to get fired, crank the volume up to eleven and click the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtuVBPwzstM
😀
childish cynic
cynic childish
.
?
nicked the big 4-0
while cba musta been snoozin
heavens to mergatroid.
?
bt8
even repetitive bullshitters snooze
unfortunately not for long
fuckin hate it
off out to the cold and dark morning
.
cheerio
fuck man ure
UP THE ARSENAL
(not ian)
Ian Ure, that’s a blast from the
past, bit before my time.
Although my Dad wasn’t very
complimentary about him.
Just big and that was it he said.
He thought Peter Simpson was a
definite step up.
But then Terry Mancini came
along and we had to change
the definitions.
Still, then David O’Leary came
along and what a player he was.
Anyway, I felt 4-0 wasn’t
commemorative enough of
our thrashing of a small town
in Bradford.
So 5-0 it has to be ?
bt8,
Agree with you @26.
Kos and Mus seemed to have
swapped positions recently.
Although Kos makes me a bit
nervous when he comes forward
on the right simply because he’s
our quickest defender and I’d
rather he was covering any break.
Quiet day in the bar. Apart from few drunks (no names) sleeping off last night in the corner, it’s like a morgue. Everyone must be out girding their loins for tomorrow’s challenge. Wouldn’t it be nice if Lacazette’s groin had a miraculous improvement. More power to the magic sponge I say.
Looking at the coverage of the world cup draw on the bbc website where they are proclaiming one of the groups to be the famous group of death. Theoretically speaking, could they give a world cup without a group of death?
England were drawn with Belgium. Cue the dirty rotten stinking jokes.
Belgium, Panama and Tunisia
for England – looks fixed to me.
Lineker must have bunged Putin
At least a final game in Kaliningrad for England means the shortest possible flight home for England after going out in the group stage.?
I am going to go out on a limb
and predict that even this poor
England side can qualify for the
last 16. Still, they might surprise
me and be even worse than last
time.
Habit Borguiba , Manuel Noriega, Robert Duran , Eddie Merckx, Rene Magritte, Audrey Hepburn, TinTin ….your boys are gonna take a hell of a beating !!! ???????????????????????????????????
Sorry it’s Habib Borguiba. As far as I know he didn’t have a habit.
??
and baff
don’t make me come over there
and beat ye goodlookin ?
been workin like a trojan since half six this morning
ye cheeky wee snotter
.
i am however now liver deep in joy
thanks for askin ?
(hope ye had a good st andrews day)
(deep frying stuff and throwing it over the border)
sláinte big man
herself is putting the decorations up
for next christmas too
it appears
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJUEV46n6yY
.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
Bless her cotton socks, cba. ? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>