Lacazette Leads Gunners To Rare Away Win
Sep 2nd, 2018 by 'holic
Matteo Guendouzi held his place alongside Granit Xhaka otherwise it was the starting line-up I anticipated in the preview. Starting Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang together for the first time in the Premier League was a popular call.
The opening moments, however, highlighted that at the back we are still struggling to come to terms with the short sharp passing game and Petr Cech was close to being dispossessed. The accident that was waiting to happen arrived on seven minutes. Under pressure Cech passed directly to Arter who thankfully hit his effort over the crossbar.
Shortly after that we got our first meaningful attempts on goal. Etheridge denied Aaron Ramsey with a one-handed save and Skhodran Mustafi cleared the bar from the rebound. Shortly afterwards we were ahead when Granit Xhaka’s corner was met by Mustafi with a towering header. Cue “One nil to the Arsenal” from the away end. One could have become two but Nacho Monreal, perhaps surprised at being gifted an opening, fired straight at Etheridge.
We survived another scare when Ward just failed to get a touch on an excellent cross from Reid and Hoilett fired high and wide from the follow-up. Our attempted response saw Xhaka drive the ball wide from over twenty yards out. Back came Cardiff, apparently targeting our right flank as a weak point.
In the thirty-third minute Aubameyang and Ramsey combined to tee up Lacazette for a thunderous drive against the post. So close. Ozil and Lacazette drove at the heart of the defence on the break but the final ball of an attempted one-two was deflected to safety and the advantage remained at one. Cech’s concentration was tested by a curler from Ralls but the veteran goalkeeper claimed it comfortably.
An equaliser came in the second minute of added time when Xhaka misplaced a hopeful cross-field pass, Bennet was given acres of space by Bellerin to swing in the cross which fell to Camarasa at the far post and he lofted the ball high into the net. It was a goal that should be reviewed over and over again in the coming week.
We started the second-half as we had the first. Cech presented the ball back to Cardiff under pressure. He really isn’t comfortable the passing out from the back system. Surely it is just a matter of time before Bernd Leno gets his chance?
The marauding Nacho Monreal won us a corner forcing Morrison to put his cross behind to relative safety. After a game of head tennis Lacazette almost engineered a shooting opportunity but the ball wouldn’t fall in time for him. When Monreal won another Mustafi was denied a second goal by Etheridge.
Just past the hour we took the lead when Lacazette and Aubameyang combined for the latter to curl a perfect pass inside the far post. That was the perfect example of why these two have to start as many games together as possible. Cardiff responded with an aerial bombardment and were level when Ward won a second phase header from a disputed free-kick and finished via Cech’s right hand goalpost.
Matteo Guendouzi was immediately replaced by Lucas Torreira. Lacazette’s header from a near post corner was grabbed at the second attempt by Etheridge under pressure from Mustafi. The goalkeepers blushes were spared moments later when he misjudged a Bellerin cross. It wasn’t all one-way traffic and Cech was forced into a diving save by Reid.
Ramsey and Torreira combined on the edge of the box and the latter played Lacazette in behind to finish with a magnificent rising drive. It was no more than the Frenchman deserved. Could we hold on through the final nine minutes plus stoppage time? Danny Welbeck was sent on for Mesut Ozil. As the clock ticked down Henrikh Mkhitaryan was sent on for Aubameyang.
Four additional minutes began with another scare when Morrison headed over a gaping target. The high balls continued to rain in but the Gunners held firm. Man of the match Lacazette was denied by Etheridge in the last assault of the match.
Six goals and six points for The Arsenal in two matches. We are far from convincing defensively, but that should not be a surprise to anyone. Going in the other direction we have again been shown to be almost impossible to defend against when Lacazette and Aubameyang are in tandem. Slowly, but surely, things are taking shape.
83 Responses to “Lacazette Leads Gunners To Rare Away Win”
Malaysia 2
Rwanda 3
yeaH!
(rwanda’s defence is dreadfull though)
#freelacazette
Torreira has come on off the bench twice (today and last weekend) and made us better, not only defensively but he also set up the winner today. I think he deserves a start and it’s ahead of Xhaka. It will be brave to start 2 new young players in the heart of midfield but from what we’ve seen so far? If they are good enough, they are old enough.
Lightening quick, ‘Holic, and captured the game well. Top quality strikes from Laca and Auba dug us out of a hole.
SSY-Rwanda doesn’t do defence.
Laca was my man of the match. I would play Torreira over Xhaka every time.
What really worries me is out terrible defence. Every team in the league fancies playing Arsenal. Both Cardiff and last week West Ham lost to us but had a very good chance of winning it because of our bull shit defending. Lot of work for Unai and Bould ahead if we are to have any chance of a top four finish.
Very quick and positive too Guvnor.
I must admit I didn’t feel that
positive during the game but we
got the 3 points.
Wins for Watford and Burnley would
make it an even better day!
I think you saw exactly the same game as me Holic.
I don’t usually comment during the game but I did today and agreed very much with Delia’s view and Ksn’s.
I don’t think Emery has improved anything yet and has made us more vulnerable with the fannying around at the back with a goalie who can’t play that game. I accept that may need to happen but I’d like to see him digest the lessons everyone else can appreciate. We bought a keeper specifically because he has quick feet although I think it’s ‘ Emperor’s new clothes’ football. We don’t have the right players to do it and it’s a huge risk when pressed high.
The biggest problem is Xhaka.He got deserved plaudits today but he was really poor today and directly cost us a goal. Yes he 5ook a lovely corner but having to move around is his problem.
I would try Torreira with Guendouzi. The Uruguayan must play and Emery is badly at fault not starting him. But he did find a way of getting our best forwards onto the pitch and must keep doing this .
Sorry I meant Xhaka git plaudits last week which he deserved but got none from me today.
Great Test match at Southampton. I have tickets for Friday at the Oval but I think I’d like us to do it today
Aaah the joy of watching Spuds loose ?
Thanks H. A great report and a positive one which definitely reflects my mood.
Last year we would have lost this. Although we have a new manager we have team almost exclusively comprised of players who were a part of last year’s shocking away form. We were clearly not good enough in some areas today but after twice losing the lead we went on to win. I think that is a huge positive. Psychologically I think this win may be a lot more valuable than the poor defensive display will prove to be. We can improve the defence (possibly we can improve it a lot simply by starting Torreira) but we have got our first away points on the board and I think that is not something to be undervalued.
Lacazette is world class. He is different to Auba, who is also world class, but in many ways the more complete football player. I rate Laca very, very highly. (It would be my 3rd choice, but if Ramsey and Ozil are problematic for their different reasons I’d just play Laca at number 10)
I want Laca and Auba on the pitch as much as possible.
I’ve got loads of time and support for what Emery is trying to do. I think he is a cracking manager and will slowly mould a team which grows together into contenders. Whether we win any cups this year I can’t predict. But it is possible. And I do think we will get top 4.
Just to state the obvious, this bar is still the best place for a Gooner to be. Top man H.
Evening.
Good day,all told.
I’d like to send a big shout out to cba.
Despite his best self-deprecating efforts to convince us otherwise he is a bloody good man. Thanks for taking a hit for the bar. There is a large drink from me waiting any time you are in London. Daft bugger that you are.
For now… virtual drinks all round!
One of the problems with Cech’s passing out from the back is that he doesn’t hit his passes with the speed an outfield player would. And if anything he is slowing them down even more in an effort to be accurate. Which gives the opposition more time to close down the intended recipient. The logic of playing out from the back is sound; it is a better way to keep possession than hoofing a long-ball for a 50-50. It is the execution that is lacking.
I agree with all those who say we look better with Torreira on the pitch.
And what GSD@12 said about cba. Good man, but daft. Mark you, you could say that about anyone who jumps out of a plane in a dinosaur suit, too.
Glass half full over in this corner, despite my thirst being nowhere near quenched. Just a few days ago I looked at the same glass and thought it was half empty so we must be on the way back up, mustn’t we?
A splendid day out! Currently finishing off a ruby in Worcester. Full away day report on a nerve wracking day tomorrow.
Three cracking goals scored by the good guys.
Two shockers conceded by the good guys.
There are going to be allot of games like today’s this season.
All we can do is buckle up and enjoy it best we can until things settle down a bit at the back….
Today’s was only our 16th win in our last 50 away league games.
Great report Holic despite the shotcomings we got away with it….
Three points is all that matters…
At least the Tiny Totts lost today made my Sunday even better 🙂
Ned @13
I’m as daft as anyone!
It just so happens I went paragliding a couple of days ago. Not half as scary as that bloody skydive. But I was still glad I wore brown pants as I floated at 4000m above the ground in the Pyrenees.
For a bloke with no particular love of these ridiculous life endangering exploits I do seem to keep winding up in questionable scenarios! The story of my life… I just say YES to everything and deal with the consequences later.
Hmm. Perhaps I have the perfect attitude to play fullback for Arsenal!
If he wants to play out from the back, and his players can’t do that, he’s going to be very busy in January.
It’s not just the goalkeeper, you need midfielders who want the ball and defenders who can pass it.
Would I say am doubly glad today? 5pur2 loosing today is the icing honestly.
I think we need to try out the 3-5-2 with the crop of players we have now. That gives us 5 players when defending, besides the 2 ‘defensive midfielders’.
Very much the match I saw, Guvna. Thank you for the speedy report.
It is good to see Laca and PEA harmonising nicely. However it’s disappointing that we still look so fragile at the back particularly with the ball at our feet. Improvement is clearly going to take some time and it will probably require a change in personnel.
Meantime it would be nice to see more of Torreira who certainly brings a bit more calm to proceedings.
A good three points that as noted by GSD, we would not have gained last season and will definitely bring psychological benefits.
Onwards!
Mustafi in trouble for his pro-Albanian goal celebration on Sunday, apparently.
Might solve a few defensive problems if he gets banned for a few games (trying to be glass half full – and empty – simultaneously) 🙂
@20
Spot on. Imagine having Santi receiving the ball. Ho would make our back 5 look very good.
Remember how Per would be under pressure playing out from the back when Santi was sidelined.
Just who is Cech supposed to pass to? Xhaka? too slow.
Ozil? Doesnt like close attention and is easily dispossesed
Ramsey? Usually much higher up the pitch. And does not do well under pressure.
I think Torreira might work.
Great post as usual Holic!
Glad for the three points but I also fully realize that we have a long way to go and lots of work to do to get to our desired level. When we get there we will be very hard to stop I think.
8am on a pellucid Cambridgeshire morning and we’re on the road to Cardiff. My University student son has graciously cut short his Saturday night out, returning home at 1am rather than the usual 4, so getting him out of his bed was relatively straight forward. None the less he drops straight off back to sleep and I’m left to enjoy the glorious sunshine on my own. 200 miles each way awaits.
10am and it’s time for breakfast at a motorway service station. The place is full of Blackburn Rovers supporters on their way to Bristol City (they lost 4-1 after a good start to the season). Good lads, though one of them cheekily asks me how our existential crisis is going (clearly been reading too much Camus, who is very popular in Lancashire I believe). I couldn’t help but reflect that 22 years ago they were winning the Premier League, just as Arsene was getting going. Now they are down in the Championship 1, making the most of away days to Bristol City. One of my best friends is a Sunderland man moved south, and if I start moaning about the Arsenal, he sympathises, saying how awful it must be to support a team for whom a bad season is finishing 6th and losing a cup final and a European semi. Let’s count our blessings.
Down into Cardiff and it is clear that my satnav does not read Welsh, sending me round in ever decreasing circles. It turns out that there was a 10K fun run or some such which has resulted in a number of roads being closed. I am now available for tours of the Cardiff back streets, some of which will be seen several times. Anyway we eventually get to our booked parking spot, 10 minutes from the ground for £6.80 and hosted by the charming and very Welsh Carol.
Into the ground about 45 minutes before kick off. A decent and pretty big ground, all one tier and holding about 32,000 of which about 3000 are gooners in one corner wrapping around a corner flag. Inevitably we are on the very back row (it’s some of the best cardio exercise I get, at football matches), but it’s still a good view and, as always when you are under a roof, loud and atmospheric for singing. It’s also hot, about 25 degrees and definitely t-shirt weather.
The team is much discussed and I am of a mind with everybody around me. Great to see Laca and Auba start together but why isn’t Torriera starting? The game begins in the current fashion, with Cech poncing around in his own area trying to follow Emery’s new way and first of all almost getting tackled in his own six yard box (I remember Lehmann doing that at the Emirates – was it against Fulham?) and then giving away the ball to Arter on the edge of the area. If this goes on two things are going to happen a) we are going to give away a soft goal and b) I’m going to have to add spare underpants to my match day supplies. Grown men all around me have their heads in their hands, though the grumbling is restricted to multiple cries of “for fucks sake sort it ahht!” (ah that North London demotic. It’s one of the reasons I go to football, to remind me of my youth).
We get with it, go down the other end and Mustafi bullets in a header from a corner a la Bacary Sagna vs Spurs. That’s better. The singing gets louder and louder and a couple of old favourites split the Welsh air
One nil to The Arsenal
And a heartfelt
We’re winning away
We’re winning away
How shit must you be
We’re winning away!
But Cardiff, if truth be told, are not playing that badly in midfield and attack, though we always look liable to score. Their left back, Bennett, was giving Hector a torrid time, getting in cross after cross. Why can’t Hector block crosses? He seems to stand off about six feet. Following a trademark Xhaka pass to the opposition in midfield they score, via a Bennett cross. Fuck.
Second half begins with more fannying about in our box. But we get more into the game and, as we are now attacking our end, we can begin to see how well Laca and Auba are working together. Laca in particular makes great runs, either to get the ball himself, or to drag away defenders for Auba or Ramsey (who was far further forward than Ozil). Torriera makes a huge difference when he eventual comes on. A wonderful goal from Auba (set up by Ozil/Laca) and then, after they equalise again, Torreira plays Laca in in front of us and he (and I apologise for having to use technical terms, but sometimes only they will do) absolutely twats it into the roof of the net at the goalie’s near post. Cue complete pandemonium in the away end.
This was a happy Arsenal crowd (and, sorry for going all Guardian, but very diverse, black, Asian and white, men and women, grizzled old Londoners and sharply dressed young likely lads all brought together by love of The Arsenal) and apart from the goal box fannying about, they were generous all afternoon. We sang the whole game with the core rif, kept on for minute after minute being
Unai Emery’s red and white army
We hate Tottenham! (repeat again and again, al la Paddy)
But second half individual songs for Laca and Auba rang forth, and for Danny when he came on for a cameo. I think the team appreciated it, certainly the whole team came over to us at the end and I think a couple of shirts were handed to those in the front row. I certainly enjoyed this far more than the first away game last year at Stoke, where we again scored first but then looked hapless as we lost 2-1. Truly a great day out in the sun.
Back to the car, where we had England winning the Test series to entertain us before the comedy of Spurs losing to complete a treble. Super Sunday indeed.
A very pleasant ruby in Worcester (about half way) before finally getting home about 9, 13 hours and 400 miles after leaving.
Thanks Countryman, a cracking
read, greatly enjoyed.
Great write up, thanks Countryman (I was going to say C100 but that would have made you sound like a cheap blank cassette)
But you know that scene in Hancock’s ‘The Bedsitter’, where he settles down to a bit of Bertrand Russell and finds himself reaching for the dictionary every other word?
That was me in your first sentence, that was 🙂
Heh Heh Cynic. Pellucid I take it?
Working class London boy who got over educated, me. Though reading it back, the way I mixed my tenses was shocking. My old English teacher Mr McGauley would have bollocked me for that. Must do better.
Countryman.
Who could have predicted the charming Carol would be making a guest appearance?
Enjoyed every word, as it sounds like you enjoyed the day out. You have exceeded expectations. 🙂
I always enjoy your reports Countryman. My days of long- distance Goonering are behind me but I have tickets for Fulham and Palace next month.
Unai Emery should read Goonerholic. It would help his English but it also might persuade him that he is making some serious mistakes with the fannying around.Lehmann had us one down to Fulham in the first minute of one season doing exactly that . Not starting Torreira and picking Xhaka ahead of him is incomprehensible and anyone with half a brain can see how much the man well versed in the arts of Uruguayan shithousery ( I love that phrase!) improves the team at a stroke. I’m amazed that Emery can’t see it. At least he is combining the two strikers now- another key need and yesterday showed the benefit of playing them together.
I hope by the time we take in Newcastle that Mr. Emery has digested the lessons that most of the Gooner Nation identified a few weeks ago. I’m determined to be patient and proportionate in my analysis but the inability to learn simple lessons has perturbed me.Lets hope these problems will soon disappear
Sp*rs latest fixture rescheduling mess due to stadium construction delays puts their Man City match at Wembley one day after an NFL game has been played on the same turf. Did anybody consider the potential for multiple career ending injuries due to the torn up pitch? I am assuming not, but one never knows these things.
TTG @ 32 — I have the greatest respect for your opinions, insights and experience. And though I agree with your observations about what seems to be more obvious, I don’t think Emery not opting for those “obvious” choices is a sign of managerial weakness.
This is a manager who has built his career with minute details to every single tactical aspects of the game, but has not managed too many “big stars” in his career. And when he was first given the chance to do so in PSG, he learnt the hard way that keeping the seniors happy and on his side is the only way to get his way of playing translated on the field.
He has been given a squad that has glaring gaps in abilities for the kind of football that he would like the team to play. Instead of creating a dressing room disharmony by automatically disqualifying seniors who do not suit his style he made sure they bought his vision and are enthusiastic about executing it. He is giving the established players a chance instead of starting off by excluding them. I think it is a lesson he learnt well in PSG.
Unless Cech and Xhaka can transform themselves so late in their careers to be able to overcome their key limitations in playing the high-pressing playing-out-from-the-back style, they will have to eventually give way. But that transformation of the team composition will happen more smoothly. The most positive aspect of the team’s performances until now has been that they all seem to have enthusiastically bought in the new ideas, realized that if those can be executed consistently they will have a better chance of winning matches. Now they all need to learn to make changes to execute. Some will cut it, some won’t. But I think it is quite smart of Emery to give the established seniors a chance first.
I think we will end the season with Leno as the #1 and Torreira in the key deep lying MF role in the first eleven. But as that transformation happen the entire squad will be behind it, as we will still need the team to play a similar style even when the preferred first choices are not available.
I agree thoroughly with the Doc. Excellent post.
TTG puts across the other side fairly and well.
Countryman. Always a pleasure.
A great set of drunks so far.
(I tried to write ‘drinks’ but maybe autocorrect is onto something ?)
Dr.F
A very sensible post indeed and I absolutely take your point about Cech. I think Xhaka is only about 25 so the age thing is less relevant there but you make overall an important point. He is giving the established stars opportunities before making wholesale change although I think his selection of Guendouzi ahead of Torreira is also a bit strange. I’m being hypercritical in relation to Emery. It will take him several windows to get the team in the shape he desires and I’m prepared to give him that time but I’m surprised that he hasn’t seen just what a corker he has in Torreira.
Interestingly LA Rams are being widely tipped for this year’s Super Bowl and are I think number 2 in the rankings.Kroenke has just authorised a massive contract for their star player and this article explains the big investment in the Inglewood Stadium he is building.
https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2018/05/14/Facilities/Rams.aspx
I don’t know whether to be pleased he has invested this big in one of his franchises or offended that he has curtailed our budget at £70 million this year. Certainly globally Arsenal has much more resonance than LA Rams but I can imagine an American wanting his NFL franchise to be his jewel in the crown. Overall maybe Im encouraged that he wants to succeed on the field rather than make money. But if Arsenal becomes a cash cow financing his other operations he will reap a whirlwind
Sam The Walrus has made a career out of functional, quick fix tactics. Emery is completely the opposite. We all know the stick Pep got in his first season at City but his refusal to lambast players for costly errors that suited the style he was trying to build has allowed his team to grow into one of the most formidable in world football.
Emery is in the same mould. I honestly don’t mind the fannying about at the back, even when it inevitably costs us points. I think the best quality we could possibly have in a post-Arsene manager is a clear idea of how he wants us to play and the guts to stick to it, even during a tough learning curve. We all know that we won’t win the league this year. But if we stick to the vision of a gutsy and progressive coach we may well lay the foundations for a genuine tilt at it in the next couple of years.
These players need to believe in a new ideology and that will never happen if the guy in charge starts chopping and changing things in a way that shows them that he is not committed to the vision that he is selling them.
Unai Emery’s Red and White Army!
Very good chat going on here all, thank you.
Fabulous report, Countryman. I would have run with that. It would have made a great piece.
Good to see you back GSD. Paragliding? Are you mad! 😉
Thank you so much David. That means a lot.
When it comes to writing clear, vivid English, you are a role model. I sit at the feet of the master.
I can’t keep away H!
It’s all a matter of perspective. Compared to dangling above the world strapped to an upside down hammock watching our defence piss about like they all want to be Iniesta does not seem half so scary! ?
I’d recommend it to Gooners everywhere! ?
Delightful read, C100@27. You could hear the singing loud and clear even on my dodgy stream in a far-flung corner of the world.
Pellucid? You need to be a bit more demotic in this bar….
Ta a bunch Countryman.
And well played the other Dr. F; perspective & balance & that are fine fings, indeedeeeeee.
Up the ArseFootCorp & cba
Some good points made above.
My 2-cents on Torreira not starting is that Emery is blooding him judiciously, knowing that he will get a lot of game time once the Thursday/Sunday football starts. There is no need to run him into the ground early doors.
To repeat from earlier, there is tactical sense to playing out from the back if you want to build on possession, rather than hoofing it forward for 50-50s. You just have to play proper passes. It should not be beyond a professional footballer to do that.
My guess also is that Emery has started with his senior players at the back not so much to give them a chance as to ensure some stability during what it is a phase of great change for the club. Dr F makes a sound point that Emery has appeared to have learned a lesson from his time at PSG about handling the stars and seniors.
Agree with Soweto @3
Torreira 1 Xhaka nil
What a belter of an away day report Countryman.
I would have to give that a 12 out of 10.
You have set the bar very high.
The delights of Geordie land in 2 wks time await you.
Nothing to add to match day comments already in the bar,other than that patience will be the main commodity required by us in the bar this season.
The bulk of the players in Cardiff,were a major part of the same squad that performed like a limp lettuce way from home last season,so getting the monkey of the back early doors can only help going forward.
Laca in his interview after the game commented the players were
” learning like children ” under Unai, and mistakes are going to happen,but was very positive that they were on the right path and sounded very upbeat.
As H has commented,some excellent posts in the bar.
Long may it continue,in defeat as well as victory.
Nice one, CM100. Sounds like a good day out.
Hi GS54. Thank you so much for your kind words. Alas and alack, I won’t be going to Newcastle as we have to move countryman junior into his new shared house in Leicester that weekend, prior to the start of term. I have to say I won’t miss the 12 flights of stairs up to the away section at SJP. Not quite sure when my next road trip will be, but I’m sure it won’t be too long.
Keep it up, Holic, C100, NBN, GSD and everyone else. One reason I have been frequenting this establishment for years (although rarely posting) is that the discourse here displays a high level of erudition than found elsewhere. And then there are the other reasons…
Roger’s match about to start. Are you watching or sleeping, Delia?
Saw the last game of Sharapova getting knocked out by Suarez Navarro and now waiting for the start of Roger’s match with the unknown, to me, Australian.
Roger not sharp at all and his normal serve is on vacation
Roger couldn’t do it but Millman played very well.
Morning All
Many thanks to Holic for your rapid review of the game and to Countryman for your latest highly amusing away day report.
bt8 I didn’t fancy the 2am start, UK time, and went to bed. Sky have abandoned tennis so am now reduced to watching the Open on Amazon Prime on the laptop and hear that they are taking over the ATP tour from January on a 4 year contract . I am waiting for Roger’s match to be available on demand later in the day, sad that he didn’t make it through to the quarters. I am very surprised that Millman did so well as I saw Novak demolish him in less than hour at Queens in June.
Emery has had 4 of the back 5 since preseason started at the beginning of July and I would have expected more progress to have been made by now. These are professional sportsmen who have been in the game for years , most receiving coaching from a very early age. Am I expecting too much too soon from the bevy of new coaches I feel that there are scrambled minds out on the match pitch, confusion in the box with no one taking charge. What role, if any, is Bouldy taking in the new regime ?
Thank goodness Laca/Aba have found their shooting boots, their goals are going to keep us afloat until the defence is sorted, it’s going to take sometime if current progress is anything to go by.
Terrific set of drinks in here since the game. Slightly different opinions but expressed without the slightest rancour and abuse. As you can tell I’m in Delia’s Camp but absolutely accept the very sensible points made by the others , some composed while dangling in the sky.
My sympathies go out to you Countryman, the Uni flat-equipping phase is quite a wrench and quite an expense but very much a part of life.I hope it goes well. The natives are restless in Geordieland at present with good reason but Rafa is a shrewd cookie and will have them closing down our defence like every other team we meet this season .
Very good to read such patience and commonsense in here, makes the place a continual draw for sure. Kudos to all the regulars who keep the show on the road for us voyeurs (no reference to Wenger-Mourinho circa 2005 I hasten to add !). Of course UE is taking his time with Torreira, he’s a late signing, only 22 and absolutely critical to the new set-up. Quite right to take his time but, in giving Guendouzi so much game time he has indeed marked Xhaka’s card big-time – and others too. The fact that we’re even considering a midfield pivot of combined years 41 is only extraordinary to me and truly mouth-watering on a ten year view, given the early signs from the pair. Cech situation is fascinating but at 36 we know it’s only a matter of when. If outfield players can cope even reasonably with his frankly sprayed distribution (is the scrum cap too low ?) how they will flourish when Leno plays it to feet ! This is transitional man-management at play and you can’t go isolating senior pros left right and centre. Fire a few broadsides by all means (he has) but maintain harmony and cohesion throughout the entire squad. We have a lot of games and a lot of fronts to compete on. I think we need to listen to his interviews too, even as he still learns the language. He mentions the word “personality” continuously for a reason. We had very little, or it was jaded and suppressed. I see a good dollop of it emerging already and I see more grit and, for example, more clever little fouls. And with Auba and Laca together, I’m reaching for my shades, the future’s so bright. Two amazing finishes last week. Mustafi thumper wasn’t bad either ! Focus on them I say, not the odd dodgy pass at the back ! COYG.
Spanish authorities have agreed to allow Mourinho to cheat a little bit less on his taxes, and in an unusually lenient move, have allowed him not to go to jail.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45408351
Depends on how you read the story I suppose.
Delia,
Roger says he was just glad the match was over at the end, and seeing how many drop shots he attempted to play it looked like he was hoping it would end long before it actually did. The only lesson may be that 37 year olds don’t play as well as competitors who are 10 years younger when the heat/humidity index goes out of control.
Some interesting reading for the statistically minded in the latest CIES Football Observatory Monthly Report — and some mind-boggling numbers for the non-statistically inclined, not least of which is 1.47 billion euros, or £1.3 billion give or take the odd bob in the old money that Manchester City has spent on transfers over the past eight seasons.
Other top European outfits in the billionaires club are Chelsea, Barcelona, PDG, Man U, Juventus and Liverpool. We rank 14th among clubs from the top five European leagues, with a gross transfer spend of 671 million euros, roughly £600 million.
We are not so talented at selling as we are at buying. We don’t make the top 20 on that measure, unlike Liverpool, Barca, Real Madrid and Chelsea, all of whom made at least 500 million euros to offset against the buys.
Not one club currently in the Premiership sold more than it bought. Most profligate was Man City, with a 1.03 billion euro net spend in the transfer market. We were ninth in that particular ranking with a net spend of 286 million euros, topping Real Madrid incidentally.
So the cries from the stands to spend some money were met. (Whether we spent well is another story.)
http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/mr/mr37/en/
**tumbleweed**
Must be a Interlull.
Where’s cba? He’s a dab hand at clearing away the tumbleweed.
Interesting stuff @58, Ned.
Anybody see the picture of the arseblogdog? Quite the international sensation.
** tumbleweed ** doesn’t do the silence justice!
A nice piece I caught on ‘ Super Swede’ Anders , ahead of the Legends game at the weekend. A real favourite of mine, dismisses very hastily by George, in my opinion
http://www.gunnerstown.com/arsenal/2016/09/12/anders-limpar-the-original-super-swede-highbury-heroes/
Not the international sensation this dog is though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc9xq-TVyHI
Apologies for the lack of a post all. Now recording the ABW podcast tonight and out for dinner with my sister tomorrow night so Saturday likely to be the next.
One for Clive…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45336260
Full marks to Hendon for their mental health initiative. Different values at non-league level.
Brilliant idea from Hendon.
What do you think Stan would say to the notion of free tickets for potential fans with mental health issues?
Not that he ever says anything, of course….
Thnks for the link Dave,
Full marks to the Club from my old stamping ground for taking up the cause.
Fingers crossed they can knock off Harlow in the Cup and bring a little bit of cheer to those doing it tough.
On a lighter note,most of the supporters who have followed the Arse would have been on the brink of a mental meltdown at some of the abject performances by the team in recent years.
Can be soul destroying one game,and absolutely glorious the next.
For the faint hearted,it is certainly not a recommended pastime.
‘Old stamping ground’ would have a meaning all of its own when an ex-Golders Green Rambler says it. 🙂
Others might say that Ned
I couldn’t possibly comment.
🙂
Spurs will now be playing their home Carabao Cup match with Watford at the stadium of MK Dons. Seems like there could have been better choices. Like Peterborough. And Leicester.
bt8b: You have sent me on a voyage of discovery about Milton Keynes that has yielded some of the most useless fact I have ever come across:
If London was built to the same density as Milton Keynes, it would cover East Anglia.
That is No 20 of 101 facts about Milton Keynes published by its official tourism agency.
Wait there is more.
No 34. There are over 20,000 parking spaces in Central Milton Keynes.
No 101. Milton Keynes has 130 roundabouts but the number is growing all the time.
So a Carabao Cup tie will be quite the event.
Ned, there are very few things as ugly as an empty parking space, although some might say a filled parking space comes close. Envisioning 20,000 parking spaces brings a word to mind, wasteland. Making it a highly appropriate venue for Spurs to host a match.
Spent the day at the Oval today. Possibly the most turgid English batting display I’ve ever seen. Nice reaction to Alistair Cook though.
Did I read he was a Gooner?
TTG: From the horse’s mouth: https://youtu.be/6tzhbqfKX_U
Incidentally, Cook has a farm in Leighton Buzzard which is half way between Luton and Milton Keynes.
There is a mysterious karma to this bar that only manifests itself during Interlulls.
Well that was a bloody good morning in the cricket.
Countryman 100
Yes…a much better morning than I saw yesterday! And now we get to bowl at a much better total than we envisaged at close of play yesterday.
Now I do know that Jimmy Anderson IS a Gooner!
Interesting and slightly harrowing article about Santi in today’s Grauniad.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6143765/Santi-Cazorla-reveals-struggle-668-days-horror-injury.html
To me the humanity of Wenger is illustrated by his insistence that Arsenal extended his contract with the option they had. There are many clubs who wouldn’t do that . I’m proud that Arsenal are not one of them.
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