Gunners Surrender In A Five Goal Thriller
Aug 18th, 2018 by 'holic
Unai Emery made one expected change for the visit to Chelsea with Nacho Monreal returning at left-back. He made one more controversial switch with Alex Iwobi coming in for the benched Aaron Ramsey. Chelsea once again left Eden Hazard on the bench with Olivier Giroud.
The first effort arrived in the third minute when Luiz was allowed to wander through the midfield unchallenged and a minute later Pedro was allowed similar freedom cutting in from the right. Fortunately both fired off target.
We almost found our cutting edge in the eighth minute when the overlapping Monreal crossed accurately for Mesut Ozil to volley narrowly wide. Seconds later we went behind when Alonso took advantage of Hector Bellerin’s lack of awareness to tee up Pedro unmarked in the centre. We appeared to be waiting for an offside flag that never came. Cech had to be quick off his line to defy the same player minutes later.
The Gunners obvious discomfort with playing out from the back was momentarily suspended when Mustafi sent Aubameyang scampering through for a fierce drive that Arrizabalaga saved at his near post. When Bellerin put one on a plate for the same player he lifted his head and his side foot effort over the bar. Again we paid the ultimate price when Morata outmanoeuvred Mustafi to slide a second goal for Chelsea with twenty minutes gone.
Xhaka’s crude lunge on Pedro rightly earned him the first yellow card in the twenty-seventh minute. The visitors were starting to show their frustration and Mustafi was fortunate to avoid similar when putting a ‘reducer’ on Morata. After Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Ozil had shots blocked the former fired yet a second clear opening over the bar.
Mkhitaryan made amends for his miss when despatching Iwobi’s cross underneath the right glove of a diving Arrizabalaga. At last the Gunners had a spring in their step and in the eastern end of The Shed the travelling Gooners roared their encouragement. Astonishingly we were level in the forty-first minute when Mkhitaryan returned the favour to Iwobi who finished superbly.
Arrizabalaga had to dive full length to deny Matteo Guendouzi, then Iwobi pulled a ball back from which again Aubamayang missed the gaping target. The transformation in fortunes was marked. Mkhitaryan teed up Iwobi again and again the opportunity ended up sailing over the bar. The Arsenal had been truly rampant for the closing ten minutes of the half.
At the start of the second-half the struggling Xhaka made way for Lucas Torreira, a sensible substitution most seemed to agree on social media. Less than two minutes in Aubameyang crossed the ball in front of the target which avoided defenders and attackers alike. A cross from Bellerin, displaying better attacking than defensive qualities, evaded the heads of Aubameyang and Monreal.
Chelsea were screaming for a penalty when Sokratis Papastathopoulos blocked and fell on the ball but clearly any slight contact with his hand was entirely unintentional. Cech was called to make another diving stop to deny Barkley when he made a yard of space for himself. Aubameyang was a whisker offside when he galloped through to finally hit the target in the fifty-eighth minute.
As the hour mark passed Chelsea moved to get Hazard and Kovacic on for Willian and Barkley. Cech made another excellent save from Morata completely unaware that the offside flag had been raised. He made another from a deflected Jorginho effort as Chelsea again exerted some pressure. The Gunners neglected the high press and dropped deep to deny Chelsea the space in which to play.
Unai Emery attempted to stem the tide by sending on Aaron Ramsey for Ozil, slow to walk the width of the pitch and evidently unimpressed at his withdrawal. When Torreira brought down Kovacic Cech dived to deny Luiz. Another fine save.
That was followed minutes later by the sight of two French international strikers being pushed into action. Alexandre Lacazette and Giroud replaced Iwobi and Morata. Lacazette immediately created a shooting opportunity for Monreal but Azpilicueta made the block. When Arrizabalaga spilled a Ramsey cross Lacazette was first to the loose ball but the goalkeeper recovered it.
Mustafi saw yellow for clattering into the back of Hazard. Not a bad card to take, that. Kante thankfully headed a golden opportunity over the bar, as the final ten minutes beckoned. Alonso was not as wasteful when Hazard too easily went past Bellerin and crossed to the near post for his left-back to sweep into the net. Could the Arsenal end the second-half as they did the first? The answer, sadly, was no.
We again had Cech to thank when he denied Hazard in a one on one. He didn’t deserve to have three goals against him today and he had every right to expect more from those in front of him. Alonso got in behind a static Bellerin and crossed for Giroud to draw another fine save from the Arsenal captain. At the other end Ramsey’s speculative volley went onto the roof of the net. Cech saved the last kick of the match from Giroud. He was probably our man of the match.
Defeats in the first two matches against quality opposition isn’t the end of the world but Unai Emery knows his back five is clearly uncomfortable with what they are being asked to do. Maybe a change in personnel might be an idea? When we get it right we will outscore most teams with the quality we have further forward.
Good luck boss.
77 Responses to “Gunners Surrender In A Five Goal Thriller”
Lightining quick and accurate liek usual ‘Holic
Those sitters in the first half prove costly and the third goal was preventable really, if only Laca did not jog and pressed more.
I don’t believe that Emery didn’t know that we already know, it’s up to the him and for the large part, the boys to make it click from back to front.
Onward and Upward to the next game.
COYG
It wasn’t meant to be. We could have been 4-2 up in the first half. Ozil awful. We look to be in the right path but leaking defence is an issue to attract most interest from the cache.
Coach not cache
Thankyou for a sane and measured report Guvna which summed up a bizarre game very well. I don’t envy Emery his job and we need to give him lots of time because this side are drained of confidence, especially defensively.
Before the window dropped I hoped we might do some more drastic surgery on players who are a real problem to us. The three biggest ones are Bellerin who hasn’t played well for a long time, Mustafi who underperforms regularly and Xhaka who is to my mind not suited to playing in the Premier League and not suited to the style that Emery has set out to play in with a high press and lots of support running from midfield. He decided that it was probably too much upheaval but to give Xhaka an improved contract was bizarre.
We need to have a better balanced side. Cech does not deserve to be dropped but Lichsteiner should replace Bellerin and I would replace Mustafi with a quicker , younger defender like Mavropanos. I’d keep Torreira and Guendouzi in midfield. Young Matteo is very raw but has huge quality and is already one of the strongest characters in the side.
The other problem is Ozil . I would be keen to get Lacazette and Aubameyang together next week and if we do that we need more legs in midfield. Iwobi and Mkhitaryan did well today ( except for some of their finishing) . We need to hammer the Hammers and move on from there.
The Chavs have a defence almost as brittle as ours and as for their goalie????
The brainless optimism of some fans really irritates me.
If being rock bottom of the league, six points behind the leaders (who happen to be Spurs) is being on the right track then I would hate to see Arsenal in crisis.
Arsenal are in crisis.
Arsenal are going backwards.
Playing out from the back against two of the best teams in Europe is NOT good tactics.
Even after just two games I can already see that the appointment of Emery is going to be a disaster.
You have to hit the ground running and NOT lose the first two games.
Useless….
Gutted by that loss especially because of those two missed sitters in the first half, and also the missed decent chances by Auba & Iwobi at the end of the first half. Emery got the substitutions spot on today. Ozil had a mare today with only 29 touches. Bellerin too was culpable for the first and third Chelsea goals. For the first goal he needlessly chased Willian near the half way line, and emptied his flank and despite Mkhi tracking back, Alonso with a headstart was always winning that foot race. For the third he simply allowed Hazard to pass the ball into the danger area instead of closing him down. Lacazette was the one who made the poor back pass but still it was a situation that the defenders should take care of. Bellerin is really worrying with his attitude towards defending nowadays. Just a few minutes before the eventual third goal, Bellerin had made a real pacy attacking run down the flank which was scuppered. Then Chelsea were building up play gradually through midfield going towards our right flank quite clearly but Bellerin just kept on ambling back casually seeing everything unravel in front of him. That play ended with a very good cross finding Kante who headed just over the bar. He just seems to find all his pace and energy for the attacking side of the game but not for defending which is his primary job. This is a guy who used to make up 15 yards on people and make last ditch tackles in his first couple of seasons. In away games against the top six, a safety first approach and start with Lichtsteiner.
Overall there were encouraging signs – Guendouzi had a cracker of a game and he seemed to have more personality than the other ten players put together. Torriera must start the next game alongside Guendouzi in midfield. Mkhitaryan had a good game too and so did Iwobi. We don’t have any naturally wide players and those two did well using the width of the pitch and were technically assured. Mkhitaryan especially likes to get stuck in unlike Ozil and if he finds form, he could score vital goals apart from the obvious candidates – Laca & Auba.
The draw was unkind to Emery with two very tough games against the last two league winners first up. But now we have two very winnable games coming up before the international break and we must ensure full points from them. Emery would know he has his work cut out. He could and should make a bold statement by leaving out both Xhaka and Ozil in the next game.
Nice report H. Work commitments mean I’ve seen a 3 minute highlights package only so not much to go on.
What is clear is what’s alluded to by many. Xhaka and Mustafi are still major problems. Some woeful finishing might actually have seen us take something from the game.
It’s clear that this isn’t going to be a quick fix. It may well be a rocky ride, certainly to start with. Time to buckle up.
Leon. Being able to judge Emery after 2 games is exactly the kind of knee jerk buffoonery that we really don’t need. After 2 games??? Seriously?
Onwards and upwards.
So Leon, what’s it going to be
Wenger out?
Ya prick.
Leon,
Its ridiculous to criticise Emery this early in his tenure . The Totts have played Newcastle and Fulham. We’ve played the last two champions. Yes there is a lot wrong but we don’t need people suggesting Emery’s appointment is a mistake. The first ten games is a very rough guide to what may happen…not the first two
Well said TTG.
Gutted by that loss especially because of those two missed sitters in the first half, and also the missed decent chances by Auba & Iwobi at the end of the first half. Emery got the substitutions spot on today. Ozil had a mare today with only 29 touches. Bellerin too was culpable for the first and third Chelsea goals. For the first goal he needlessly chased Willian near the half way line, and emptied his flank and despite Mkhi tracking back, Alonso with a headstart was always winning that foot race. For the third he simply allowed Hazard to pass the ball into the danger area instead of closing him down. Lacazette was the one who made the poor back pass but still it was a situation that the defenders should take care of. Bellerin is really worrying with his attitude towards defending nowadays. Just a few minutes before the eventual third goal, Bellerin had made a real pacy attacking run down the flank which was scuppered. Then Chelsea were building up play gradually through midfield going towards our right flank quite clearly but Bellerin just kept on ambling back casually seeing everything unravel in front of him. That play ended with a very good cross finding Kante who headed just over the bar. He just seems to find all his pace and energy for the attacking side of the game but not for defending which is his primary job. This is a guy who used to make up 15 yards on people and make last ditch tackles in his first couple of seasons. In away games against the top six, a safety first approach and start with Lichtsteiner.
Overall there were encouraging signs – Guendouzi had a cracker of a game and he seemed to have more personality than the other ten players put together. Torriera must start the next game alongside Guendouzi in midfield. Mkhitaryan had a good game too and so did Iwobi. We don’t have any naturally wide players and those two did well using the width of the pitch and were technically assured. Mkhitaryan especially likes to get stuck in unlike Ozil and if he finds form, he could score vital goals apart from the obvious candidates – Laca & Auba.
The draw was unkind to Emery with two very tough games against the last two league winners first up. But now we have two very winnable games coming up before the international break and we must ensure full points from them. Emery would know he has his work cut out. He could and should make a bold statement by leaving out both Xhaka and Ozil in the next game. COYG.
All the good things are happening because of the turn of the page, Leon. You can’t expect Emery to take over a squad that was woefully sub-standard and win matches with half the team made up of players from that sub-standard squad.
The bright spots are the new players, the manager looks to be far more engaged with what is going on than his predecessor as well.
To say after two games that this is going to be a disaster is a joke.
When he gets rid of the dead wood, some of which has been starting games, things will improve.
We do, however, have to beat West Ham next time out or he can feck off 😉
2 games to judge a manager? Give me strength
This could take 2 seasons to sort out. I’m sure the vast majority of fans realise that.
Fine report Guvna. Disappointing second half after the startling recovery in the last 15′ of the first half. There’s certainly considerable room for improvement. Unai now knows a lot more about his charges and the challenge. The season starts next Saturday. COYG
Brainless pesimism of some fans irritates me more than losing two matches in a row.
Pep lost 4-0 to Everton in his first EPL season, and pundits also criticized his penchant for playing out of the back. I’m not saying that Emery is as accomplished as Pep (he isn’t), but there is enough evidence to suggest that he will grow into the role.
Had we taken our chances today, this game would have been OVER by the half.
I had a note from a good friend of mine who has a Chelsea season ticket He’d come straight from the game and said he thought it was a brilliant match and Arsenal played superbly going forward in the first half. He was surprised how down I was.
Very good posts above apart from Leon ?
We desperately need to beat West Ham and Cardiff . Life would look much better then
Can we stop surrendering now, and give Xhaka the sack?
Never mind the result,what a cracker of a game.
End to end football,2 attacking Managers,loads of chances at both ends,good substitutions on both sides,with Hazard unfortunately being the catalyst for Chelsea to get the winner.
If nothing else,both Clubs are going to be giving their supporters heart failure regularly this season.
But it is a shame that the finger pointing and blame game against individual players has already started in the bar after only 2 games of the new season.
In the past if we had gone down 2 nil early doors against one of the top sides it would have been game over,and it’s worth pointing out that the majority of the players on the pitch today were party to that regular capitulation,so credit to them for the fightback that could and should,but for woeful finishing,have earned us at least a point.
I think it will take Unai at least half a dozen games or more, before he decides on a settled first eleven,and i don’t believe he will discard players on the basis of 180 mins of football against two teams with clearly more technically superior quality players than we have at the moment.
He is giving the players every chance to come to terms with a new system,and i think the first half against City and the first half hour today,clearly showed they are still not entirely sure or comfortable with how he wants them to play.
At the moment we are not the sum of all our parts,but that will come with time and work on the training ground.
I remain positive that the green shoots are already appearing,and with 3 very winnable games to come,I am sure they will keep growing.
Can’t judge the manager after 2 games.. but can definitely judge some of the players. Sokratis absolutely useless. Xhaka and Bellerin going from bad to worse. Guendouzi the only highlight but needs a lot more time. The West Ham game is huge now..
comfortable defeat ??? We’ll be bak.
UReDZ!
At wot point does one’s underperform regularly become one’s regular performance???
Pet insurance.
Thanks for the review guvnor.
Great post @18
Slow starts and poor finishing have cost
us so far. I’m wondering who will start on
the right flank next game, so far Ozil and
Miki have provided minimal protection to
Hector and we’ve been targeted on that
side. Hector hasn’t helped his own cause much
but its too early to drop him to me. If Auba
had taken his simple chance the narrative
would be more about how Hector got forward
well and pulled us back to 1-1. We need a
team solution to the right side issue – maybe
Iwobi or Welbeck will be tried their next.
Don’t know what the tactics were for the second half. Did Emery ask the players to play so defensive or did the players forget the game plan.
The lack of big game characters in the team is a big worry. And that can’t be fixed on the training ground.
At least we can only get better. Right?
blame game against individual players has already started in the bar after only 2 games of the new season.
If this had been their only two games for the club, instead of years of being awful, you may have a point but it’s just two more games in the demerit column for the one getting stick.
That column is far longer than the merits in their cases too.
If you haven’t had enough of Xhaka showing he’s not up to it, Mustafi being Mustafi or Ozil walking and shrugging his way through games you’re a more patient man than most.
On Oxil – how is it he never breaks into a proper run, wanders about like he’s permanently dazed yet always looks like he’s just stepped out of a steam room? He must be able to break into a sweat after opening a packet of crisps that guy.
And Ozil as well…
Some really superb Arsenal attacking moves, we looked good going forward and created some excellent chances. Our defending was poor but it was our inability to convert ‘big chance’ opportunities that ultimately cost us the three points – which despite all of the Hoddle/Maca twattery, were there for the taking yesterday.
Guendouzi and Torreira look to be excellent young signings and with AMN may well become foundation stones for a really strong midfield for the future. In the meantime it’s great to see them putting pressure on more seasoned campaigners (one in particular) for a starting berth.
Looking forward to my trip to see the Wet Spam game next weekend.
Might be back by game 8, 2 points out of 8 who you gonna call, the sweaty nights begin
Cynic
The players you have mentioned,have for years been playing unstructured football under Arsene,with no proper game plan.
I would prefer they be given the opportunity to play in a more structured setup with a clear game plan,before throwing them on the scrap heap.
If they cannot adapt,then the new manager will accept the inevitable and pick players that can.
Ozil i agree is an enigma,but again let’s see if Unai can find the key to harnessing his undoubted talent for the good of the team.
Wise words @28, Clive. I fully agree.
I think it’s inevitable that we will see some players rise to the new challenge and others fall by the wayside through this season. It’s virtually impossible to predict who will be in which group.
Interesting times.
Thanks for the report, ‘Holic. And for some sensible posts by many of the regulars.
Like Steve T, I have only seen highlights. The defence, to put it kindly, looks a work in progress. If Emery had inherited defenders of the quality Wenger did, I think we would already have some points on the board.
For the record, AW won only five of his first 10 games, drawing three and losing two (one of them against the previous season’s champions, the other Liverpool). Looking at the fixture list this season, Emery could well match or better that.
“Can’t judge the manager after 2 games…”
How about Sarri?
Could just be reading tea leaves again but on my Telly it looked like Emery was not too happy with Ozil’s dawdling stroll off the pitch yesterday after his substitution had been announced. Don’t think time wasting was part of Emery’s strategy.
Thanks Holic,
another fine report and one which somehow managed to make the second half sound a lot less dispiriting than it appeared on screen.
Excellent posts above from TTG, Cynic, Clive (twice), bath, desi, SteveT – actually, everyone except a strange chap @5.
No, strange chap @5, I do not like losing, or get involved with ridiculous unhelpful criticism, especially after playing the two previous champions in the first two games of the season with a new manager.
Where I would agree with you, is about playing the high press – when it is new to us – against those two teams.
It has to be said that we’ve lost to them both plenty of times while NOT playing the high press, but that all out press from the kick off against such quality opposition is suicidal.
It left us yesterday with a defence and midfield completely out of shape and, never mind old arguments about a back three or a back four, we finished up against Morata’s goal playing with a back ONE !
The fight back from 0-2 down though was creditable and, as mentioned above, we should have gone in 4-2 up at half time – somehow !
The second half was a huge disappointment after the last 15 minutes of the first half and, honestly, inexplicable.
Matteo Guendouzi though, is incredible. What a transition for a teenager from the French second division to top Premier League opposition in 180 minutes – and looking possibly our best player while he’s at it.
Rev AL – one thing I do not understand from yesterday – Pet insurance ?
See, I do read this stuff ?
North Bank Ned –
“For the record, AW won only five of his first 10 games, drawing three and losing two (one of them against the previous season’s champions, the other Liverpool).”
Yep, Wenger Ahhtttt!
What ? Has he …..?
Excellent Monky business, as usual ?
I would love to know what was said in the half time team talk. Did we take the field in the second half with the intention of holding on to what we had?
The momentum of those amazing 15mins was lost from the start. Chelsea put us under pressure from the kick-off and we dropped off allowing them to push us back even further. Cech kept us in the game but the moment Hazard joined the fray my heart sank. It was inevitable that he would find the pass from which someone would score.
It was the question “if only” re: the glaring misses of the first half. What was so disappointing was none of the three was on target , the keeper didn’t have to move.
Defensively we look all at sea. New partnerships need time to gel and learning a new formation and language add to the difficulties. I realise it’s going to be a long haul and not much fun from fans view point.
Let’s hope we can add to the Hammers’ woes next Saturday.
COYR
I would love to know what was said in the half time team talk. Did we take the field in the second half with the intention of holding on to what we had?
The momentum of those amazing 15mins was lost from the start. Chelsea put us under pressure from the kick-off and we dropped off allowing them to push us back even further. Cech kept us in the game but the moment Hazard joined the fray my heart sank. It was inevitable that he would find the pass from which someone would score.
It was the question “if only” re: the glaring misses of the first half. What was so disappointing was none of the three was on target , the keeper didn’t have to move.
Defensively we look all at sea. New partnerships need time to gel and learning a new formation and language add to the difficulties. I realise it’s going to be a long haul and not much fun from fans view point.
Let’s hope we can add to the Hammers’ woes next Saturday.
COYR
Sorry don’t know what happened there !
I had an interesting afternoon watching a game, during which the wife of a guy who’s been reffing, running the line, managing and coaching various teams for well over 30 years, and who has been accompanied by said wife for all that time, revealed that she hadn’t got a clue about football.
“I know what a corner and a throw-in is but please don’t expect me to know what you’re talking about when you say ‘the new player at the back is good’ because that’s just noise to me. What’s ‘the back’?”
And I’m thinking, “Have you been playing centre half for Arsenal for the last three years?”
Then I tried explaining offside to her. Just because.
Social media is, in some ways, a marvellous thing. Without it Goonerholic would not exist but it does facilitate twattery of the highest ( or do I mean lowest ) order.
If we’d won the two games we would either have everyone having us nailed on for the title or suggesting it is far too early to draw any conclusions. Two games is nothing and these were two very testing games which we have got out of the way. Yesterday had more encouraging moments than last week but Citeh are miles better than Chelsea and I think we could have got a point yesterday.
On the positive side I think Emery is a capable tactician and has a vision for the team. He is being fair with players giving them the chance to prove themselves …or hang themselves. Guendouzi has been excellent despite prats like Garth Crooks calling him out. Almost a badge of honour that . Cech has kept really well but doesn’t like this fannying around near the box and may not adapt to it. How important is it to Emery? Also I think we saw that Iwobi can be a very effective player .it might help if the homeb
fans showed him less animosity.
Dangling on the rope at present are Bellerin who has regressed a huge distance but does need better protection in front of him. I don’t think he will ever be a great defender but in a better side he can improve. Xhaka is to my mind a massive disappointment and has neither got the right stuff mentally or the quality of game to deserve a place in an Arsenal team. Jury is out but I’m concerned that we have extended his contract. Let’s see what Emery can do with Ozil. He was right to bring him off and he’s a complex character but I still think he will provide some fine moments for us more consistently. Wenger indulged him too much. I’m underwhelmed by the Centre backs. We need more pace at the back and more brainpower than Mustafi provides.
One last fear is that Aubameyang is a flat track bully. We need to see him producing in big games not nicking goals against sides we would beat anyway. Few of his goals have decided big games yet.
But I’m very positive about Saturday especially as the Hammers are in a mess. A couple of good wins will change the mood. Chins up Holics !
Well said, TTG.
After last week’s rant about playing out from the back ; I was pleased to see Cech mixing up his approach a bit more more yesterday ; well worth noting that for all their talent that even Man City scored a goal resulting from a long punt forward today.
Hazard made all the difference yesterday and stole what would have been a well deserved and hard fought point for the good guys. Hoping one or both of our new signings can turn games on their own in the fullness of time…
In Majorca for a family break next week so may not see the West Ham game. Hoping to at least catch some highlights with my sangria.
Adios.
Just saw Maureen’s comments
accusing Shitty of lacking
class. hahahahahaha
Manure getting beat was the only
bright spot of the weekend result
wise. No great hopes for Palace
but you never know I suppose.
I concur, really want to know what was said during halftime which resulted in us coming out so limp after being like wow towards the end of the first half. We looked completely off the boil and never looked like threatening chelsea again at all.
Guendouzi was excellent, Monreal was assured and Iwobi impressed but the rest left a lot to be desired. Whatever be the criticism of Xhaka( fair), the team tends to drift when he is not around, there is no urgency. Mhki for the first 20 minutes was horrible and the less said about Mustafi the better. We also can add Hazard to the group of players who just have their best games against us( Drogba, Skrtel, Rooney etc), we just run shit scared off him.
Arsenal have ” winnable” games coming up, it should not be winnable but won and then we can really say we are coming together, till then this is work in progress but we are at 0, the table does not lie.
Aubameyang has six goals and four assists in 17 games against Bayern Munich. Dortmund won six of those games and in four of them he hit the winner or equaliser, which suggests he can score in big games. Not sure those numbers dismiss the FTB case irrefutably but at least they question it. His nine goals in eight against Hamburg would be evidence for the FTB case. His four in five games against the neighbours is FTBing we could all get behind, however.
Thanks for your helpful research Ned. I don’t want to diss Auba he is a talent but I’d like him to reassure us about him against the bigger teams
I am sure like me,the old timers in the bar,will be sad to hear of the passing of Jimmy McIlroy,one of the finest footballers i enjoyed watching when growing up.
Class personified in that wonderful Burnley side from the 50’s and early 60’s.
He cost the club 7,000 pounds when he joined them from Glentoran in March 1950.
439 games for Burnley, including the title winning season of 59/60.
Scored 139 goals in his time at Turf Moor.
Also led Stoke back to the top tier helping them win the 2nd division title near the end of his career in 62/63,playing alongside the inimitable Stan Matthews.
55 Caps for Northern Ireland.
Had a good life, left great memories of his football career.
A gentleman on and off the pitch.
We look good going forward. Sort out the back and we’re in for a fun season!
I never saw Jimmy McIlroy in the flesh but I do remember him. I love the story that he got offers from clubs in Italy and South America but when he told his wife she said, “What do we want to leave Burnley for?” and he said he never regretted it. An entirely different age. RIP J. McIlroy Esq. A fine man.
Sad news about Jimmy McIlroy, the standout player in a very good Burnley team packed with internationals. It should have been it, not the neighbours, who won the double in 1962.
‘Holics of a certain vintage may remember that Jimmy McIlroy was on the very first Sunday Times Magazine cover in an unlikely pairing with Jean Shrimpton.
https://iconicphotos.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bailey_shrimpton.png
Sad to bid farewell to a fine player in Jimmy McIlroy. Thanks for those who have paid tribute already. I remember watching them play on ITV ( second half only) in the European Cup just as Wolves did before them. That was a good Burnley team- Adamson,Pointer, Pilkington and co. I believe Harry Potts was the manager and Bob Lord the Chairman!
TTG
Excellent news from the under 18’s with Per now in charge.
They have started the season in very positive fashion,beating Villa 4 -2 at home and Brighton 2 – 0 away.
Not so good for Freddie and the under 23’s,as you already know,losing
6 – 5 in a crazy game at City,and then conceding a goal deep in injury time to draw 1 – 1 with a very strong Brighton side fielding a lot of first team players.
Lovely interview with Freddie after the Brighton game on the Arse website,it’s very clear he loves the Club,and considers it an honor to manage the under 23’s.
Interestingly they play the Hammers this weekend as well,so hopefully a double win on the horizon.
I came across this link on Arseblog News – an interview with Arsene on holiday in Corsica. It reminded me of why I love him so much. He touches on the values important to him, such as respect and integrity. Values that seem to be becoming rarer by the day in this world. http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2018/arsene-wenger-i-promised-myself-i-wouldnt-make-a-decision-before-september/
Thanks Potsticker – An enjoyable article.
Nice to see AW seems happy. I read the
other day he’s off to Liberia as Weah has
awarded him Liberia’s highest honour now
he’s president.
I wonder if Sol Campbell will do the same
when he becomes Prime Minister
Potsticker@53: Thanks for an interesting link. Reading between the lines, there was, understandably, some lingering acidity in AW’s comments about his departure from the club. I suppose after so long at the club he must be somewhere along the five phases of grief and loss.
Why is Arsene so good and I miss him so much? the manager in him may not be missed as much for I accept he needs to have moved on but his presence, his humility, his smile, his sarcasm, his pressers, everything I mean everything is sorely missed.
It is worth reading the original interview in full.
https://www.corsematin.com/article/article/sejour-de-treve-pour-arsene-wenger-du-cote-de-saint-florent
A couple of interesting addition bits not in the translated version:
He describes himself as being in ‘rehab’.
He also describes the role of a coach to be a ‘guide’, ‘to help someone find the way that lets them express themselves’.
He also says he did not learn to speak French until he was six.
Nice to be able to feel the love for Arsene still. We are one of the few websites that is.
Interesting article by Matthew Syed in the Times today recalling how much Arsene dominated life within the club and the issues that gives his successor (s) . Allusions to Fergie and Busby. I can’t imagine how he is feeling. There must be some bitterness especially towards Gazidis which might be exacerbated when he leaves for Milan.
Clive
Yes I have been following the results of the younger lads but had not read the interview with Freddie. I think the opportunity presented by the Europa League will be a big incentive for these boys to keep playing well combined with the fact that Emery clearly isn’t frightened to promote young players as Guendouzi shows.
I expect to see particular impact made by Osei- Tutu, Smith- Rowe, Amaechi Nelson , Mavropanos and especially Nketiah and it is important the youngsters put pressure on the first team. It could make for an interesting season.
Pellegrini elegantly twising the knife in his press conference ahead of the weekend game;
My opinion is that you can see what happened at Manchester United after Alex Ferguson finished. They were so used to winning titles and when you make a change it is not easy. At Arsenal it is the same.
…twisting…
Not really twisting the knife as we’ve not been used to winning titles for years 🙂
In other news, Mustafi, who so often looks like he’s towing a caravan when he runs, was the fifth fastest in sprint tests at Arsenal this week.
Which is either surprising or worrying, depending on your glass being half full or empty.
Ned,
I’m surprised to find after 3 hours that no-one else has pointed out that “so used to winning titles” hasn’t really applied at Arsenal since building the new stadium/letting Henry leave/signing Özil/Wenger going off the boil/the new LBW law (delete according to choice).
COYG
Ah! The curse of the crossing post strikes again.
Pangloss,
How wise you are to cite the new LBW law. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back… yet when you cite it people think you are making excuses ?
I thought it was an April Fool ( in August obviously) . Koscielny is in line for a return. Possibly against West Ham. That might explain why we didn’t try harder to sign a CB. He would be a very welcome addition to the team
In another August Fool our third fastest player is…..Sokratis!
Literally unbelievable
Lolo’s out till november
at best
SSY
Not if you believe Goal.com…but I don’t ! Garbage journalism.
The real nightmare scenario is finishing seventh in the Premier League.
Burnley started their season in July and are looking like they won’t qualify for the group stage of the Europa. Down to ten men too
great then
goal.com?
never
my water is always clear and cool
(never tried it though)
ale & stout man meself
TTG
Whoever Goal.com is,they have done some homework,by reading the transcript of Unai’s prezzer on the Arse website,or followed it live on BBC sport online.
It would help if others did the same.
Kos is back with the squad and was according to Unai, training and running,but when asked if he could play this weekend,he didn’t know when he would be ready to play.
So Goal.com put 2 and 2 together and came up with 4 and a half.
Unai also confirmed he would not be playing with 2 up front anytime soon.
Much like Arsene’s prezzers,the new manager seems happy to answer any questions,and is clearly open about what he wants from the players.
Forgot to mention,
Smudger has written a book on his career,,and over on Arseblog there is a really good extract from it re the winning of the CWC against Parma.
If that extract is anything to go by,the book should be a cracker.
He does write some excellent football articles for one of the papers on a regular basis as well.
Clearly very erudite man.
Christ, I’ve read some bilge in my time but Jeff Powell’s piece about how Emery is going to win the sack race this season just about takes the cake.
Powell has always been a shit journo, but he’s outdone himself with this tripe.
Jeff Powell lives in the Venables / Graham era. I’ve seen them all dining at Langan’s with Pini Zahavi. He was close to the action then . But that was a long time ago.
It was utter bilge about Emery and typically caustic Mail shite.
I was once on a train leaving for Cheltenham races which Powell missed by the skin of his teeth. We toasted him with champagne as he cursed on the platform at Paddington . And he was soaking wet. That sustains me when I think of him,
The bookmakers don’t agree with Powell’s assessment. The odds suggest that a dozen Premier League managers are more at risk than Emery.
Evening all. Back from Cornwall, five hour mare of a journey. There will be a drunken preview at some point. Apologies for the blank week. Wifi signal more erratic than Cardiff City.
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