The Squad Shrinks On A Physical Night
Nov 8th, 2018 by 'holic
Ten of the eleven tipped to start in the preview were indeed selected. The surprise was the inclusion of Carl Jenkinson at left-back and not Sead Kolasinac. There were welcome returns for Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Emile Smith-Rowe.
The visitors started with two banks of four firmly ensconced  in their own half and made it clear they would do their best to deny us any space to weave our magic in. The front two for the visitors were picking and choosing if and when to apply the high press in the opening minutes.
As early as the eighth minute the tv cameras caught Unai Emery imploring his charges to up the tempo. The team that sprung a rapid break was Sporting and Stephan Lichsteiner had to react quickly to prevent Diaby’s cross from reaching Nani. It was another eight minutes before Emile Smith-Rowe wriggled into a yard of space outside the box for an effort that failed to dip in time.
A minute later Matteo Guendouzi’s excellent cross from the right was diverted goalbound by Mathieu but Coates spared his team mate’s blushes with a goal-line clearance. Danny Welbeck headed narrowly off target as we finally started finding ways of breaking down the Portuguese rearguard. In the aftermath Lichsteiner, not for the first time, clattered into Nani and saw an early yellow card from the referee, Gediminas Mazeika.
The former Juve right-back got forward to cross for Welbeck to win a header under pressure and a stretcher and oxygen was hurriedly summoned when the medical staff reached him. The look on Aaron Ramsey and Guendouzi’s faces told the story. It was a bad one. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came on as the substitute as the home crowd roared out Welbeck’s chant.
Jenkinson’s sprint of fifty yards deserved better than an overhit cross. The visitors were guilty of a number of sly challenges in the opening half. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Lichsteiner, Smith-Rowe, Ramsey, and Guendouzi were the recipients of what Ron Atkinson would have called reducers. The referee, worryingly, was turning a blind eye to all of them.
When a corner found it’s way to Lichsteiner hovering just outside the area in the inside left channel he drove the ball into the Clock End lower tier. Finally the referee carded a Sporting player, Gaspar, for a tug back and trip on Alex Iwobi. In the last of the four minutes added on for the treatment of Welbeck Lichsteiner, always involved, was a whisker away from a far post header. Would we raise our game in the second-half?
We certainly started the second-half brightly with Aubameyang just missing the near post after good work by Lichsteiner and Mkhitaryan down the right. Sporting responded with a volley from Diaby smashing into the ribs of Jenkinson.
A flowing team move ended with Smith Rowe curling a cross-come-shot wide of the far post. At the other end Nani outpaced Ramsey and Lichsteiner but Cech claimed his cross. Back we came with Iwobi teeing up Aubameyang to fire into the side netting. Carl Jenkinson was withdrawn on the hour and afforded a warm round of applause by an appreciative crowd. Sead Kolasinac came on. I might have been tempted to take the booked Lichsteiner out of the firing line but I’m just a bloke on a keyboard in Wiltshire. Perhaps Jenks was running on empty?
As the siege of the Lisbon goal became more intense Acuna found himself the recipient of the third booking of the evening for showing dissent to the assistant referee. Kolasinac teed up Iwobi for another wild shot off target. Acuna then cut down Smith-Rowe but Mr Mazeika did not produce what would have been a thoroughly deserved second card in quick succession.
A few seconds apart Lichsteiner pulled up with a hamstring problem and Guendouzi saw yellow for tripping a Sporting player who did not put the ball out to allow treatment. Ainsley Maitland-Niles slotted in at right-back. Luis then received the fifth booking off the night for scything through the back of Sokratis. With a quarter of an hour remaining Emery was exalting his charges once more. Faster, quicker, come on. That sort of thing. Could we find a late winner, as in Lisbon?
Diaby broke to relieve the pressure on his beleaguered defence and drew a brave block from the excellent Sokratis. He and Holding looked quite a pairing tonight. Iwobi found Mkhitaryan in a good position but the Armenian side footed it too close to the Sporting goalkeeper and Ribeiro saved comfortably. Aubameyang then tried his luck again only to be denied by a Coates block.
Aubameyang was brought down by Mathieu just outside the box and could have no complaints about the red card he received. With two minutes to go Aubameyang curled his free-kick over the bar. The Sporting supporters filling the Clock End lower tier were already celebrating their point. Up went the board indicating a further five minutes to be played.
Unai Emery, looking more and more like Bela Lugosi with every passing minute, bared his teeth in exasperation. We poured forward in wave upon wave, the wily Nani sat down with imaginary cramp, and Cech came out thirty yards to sweep as Sporting sprung a surprise break. One last corner was repelled and we were fifteen unbeaten, but not confirmed as group winners. A costly night in squad terms, and we will need to negotiate the two ‘easier’ games remaining with a little more respect than might have been the case.
34 Responses to “The Squad Shrinks On A Physical Night”
1st?
Now to read the post!
Get well soon Danny!
You get faster and faster with practice, ‘Holic. And with no drop of quality. Impressive.
Getting a bit concerned that while the unbeaten run continues, we are losing the habit of winning.
3 draws in a row. The bad, the good
and the ugly in order.
The ugly being our injuries in this
one. We played ok I thought but
the squad is going to be stretched
now – hopefully the likes of AMN,
Jenks and Eddie can step up.
A win against Wolves would be great
The Bela Lugosi face could be what’s getting the performances from the players.
Thanks for the report, maestro. 🙂
On the Spanish Station here, commentators were referring to #17 as Ibowi. Maybe that was the case, as that sure did not look like this season’s Iwobi edition.
Overall, just a night where nothing clicked. The guv pointed out the best performance, as the Sokratis Holding pair were very assured, though in truth there was hardly any threat from the opponents. In a players’ rating, would have to give Cech “not in long enough to provide a rating”.
Didn’t see anything and didn’t worry too much . We’ve concede two goals in four games so we are doing the necessary defensively. But we need to put the whole thing together . In January there is work to be done if the right players arrive. Do we expect Danny W to be out for some time?
TTG,
According to Emery something is broken in Danny’s
ankle and he’d gone off to the hospital.
I guess that’s as much as anyone knows at Arsenal
yet. I hope it’s a quick healing bone if there is
such a thing.
A chance for Eddie to get some games in
unfortunate circumstances.
I don’t really know the situation with Danny
and whether the club simply haven’t offered
him a contract or he’s turned it down.
Ankle bone breaks are nasty and there is the added complication of ligament damage. I am sure Trev can furnish an expert opinion.
Nice stuff H.
Not our greatest performance. I thought we looked a bit disjointed and were nowhere near clinical enough. It’s always likely to happen with all the changes.
I thought ESR was again very good and has grown as a player. Nice to seen Jenkinson get a run out. I don’t think he did much wrong. But the standout player for me was Guendouzi. He looks a great talent. Some of his passing and vision last night was quite exquisite. What a player he could turn into.
Final thoughts go to poor old Dead Shot. He really does not get too much luck. The injury did not look good and looked very painful. I wish him a speedy recovery.
Depressing to read that there is a possibility that Welbeck may never play again.
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1043062/Danny-Welbeck-Prediction-Injury-Expert-Horror-Arsenal-Scenes
Though he fell short in the scoring department he always gave one hxundred percent on the pitch. This season he had started to score regularly when the injury happened. Hope he recovers from his injury and plays again towards the end of the season. Another problem for him is that this is the last year of his contract with us. Things don’t look good for Danny.
Have we seen the last of Danny Welbeck in an Arsenal shirt? feel so. He did his best with the limited ability he had, never complained and he gave us an if only if moment when he scored against Leicester and we all felt that was the moment we will go on to win the league, oh the pain.
It was as insipid a game as we have had in a long time, we never looked like scoring and they did not even bother to try. Pierre had his half chances and that’s that.
Arsenal need full backs at the earliest, also these are games the likes of Mhkitaryan needs to grab hold off and win it on their own quite literally, he was poor; Ramsey was pedestrian and it makes me wonder if he left in jan than summer makes sense, I like him but he has done nothing this season except that stunning finish against fulham.
Onto wolves, a must win of course considering there is an international break coming up and then on united spurs etc. The welcome sight of AMN was sweet but really he at fullback is a waste of talent, can we have Monreal back, please.
I haven’t seen anything of the game, only the BBC news clip that showed Danny landing awkwardly and clearly in severe pain so I am even more than usually grateful for your fine report, Holic.
First thoughts go to Danny. He seems such a nice chap and is clearly a very popular member of the squad. Moreover he always gives 100% but he has had no luck since we signed him. I sincerely hope the injury is not the fracture-dislocation that I fear will give him the mountain to climb that eventually finished off Diaby.
I may watch the game on catch-up later though it doesn’t sound from the drinks or the direct report from BtM this morning that I have missed much (BtM, sorry for the haste but I did get the assignment in under the 24% extra penalty deadline by 16 minutes). Good to hear that Gwen and Holding continue to impress.
In truth I have a longstanding aversion to watching niggly nyaffs in green and white hoops diving and fouling their way round the pitch.
Get well soon Danny and Big Lichtie!
What a hawkish looking penalty that looks! Worse than the Sterling stumble award.
Typo alert:it should have read ‘under the 24 hour late 5% on top of 5% missed deadline extra penalty deadline’!
Nice read ‘holic 🙂
I’d read elsewhere, I think in the Guardian match report, a thought about how in the Wenger era there’d be no question of whether Welbeck would be given a new deal given the past loyalty the club has shown other players in time of crisis through injury and made me wonder myself what his chances are of playing for us again. I know he’s a lad that divides opinion somewhat but personally I think he’s really shone so far this season and is definitely a useful guy to have in the squad but under our altered regime you have to wonder whether they’d be as sentimental this time around.
Not only a horrible injury to suffer but at the worst possible time too in terms of his contract. Really feel for the poor lad.
Get back soon Danny.
ha ha ha bath
?
.
fuckin forget all the time
i post this shite here
(‘holic – fuckin saint – may all yer cod an chips be free in perpetuiteeeee)
.
.
many i’m sat
late one in the wee bar
adding pent up bullshit
to the bullshittery around me
or
in the back kitchen here
remembering how old i am
one record groove at a time
overhearing rowdy chitterchat
on my piss runs
.
.
with
little or no regard
for the not inconsiderable other 90% of the conversation
you in the ‘holicnation are mercifully un-privy to
.
.
.
i shall apologise unreservedly
here and now
and will strive to not take exasperation
concerning this on going brexshit bollocks
i fuckin can’t fuckin outrun
.
.
i fuckin escaped to the arse end of Donegal
to escape POLITICS with a big P
where even bin collection can be dependent
on where you went to school
.
.
and lo
some of my fellow high stool riders here
are brexitting the fuck out of it all the fuckin time
and to be patronizing to them like fuck
some o these boys still refer to their home
as the dwelling house
so
(cynic )
if ye have people like them
clearing their throats to spit anti english bile
i think it’s something to be concerned about
.
but
i appreciate i should shut up here
and i will
(try my best)
.
given the house is full of
o’er tha sea
vowel gargling relations
.
.
anyhoo
apologies
and
as ever
.
UP THE ARSENAL
.
.
ps bath
admit it
they glesga wans ?
(another fuckin language)
but
before i go
the fuckin lot of them
arrived back today
each pulling the equivalent of
a shitebag supper*
out of their various pockets
bacon here
half pounds of sausages there
black and white pudding everywhere
clearly to pretend to be bringing offerings
to the big grumpy fucker
(all the time knowing they know i’ll be frying the fuck out of it in the morning for the big fuckin jessies )
ahh
god bless em ??
*a shitebag supper
being the deep fried love token
a glasgow native brings home
to his missus after a day in the bar
herself
has just reminded me
of my indiscretions
“many and varied”
fuckin smart hole that she is
.
her favourite being
a feed i bought her which
i ett on the way home
but kept the wrappers
to show i was thinking about her
cos i don’t really like fish
and essentially i am wonderful
.
if indeed this did occur
(only her word)
i think it’s very romantic
.
indeed
herself become obsessed with
this tune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMXvr6uIynY
.
normally me fixates
on the 20 repeat
buzzcocks sabbath or da bruddas
.
.
.
i’m cool again apparently
despite my footwear
saying i always was
.
.
.
me and the eejits however just now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIkD0F8MrpI&feature=youtu.be&a
.
.
??????
.
fair play ????
herself in the back kitchen
her tune
which she now is calling it
.
though
we have our regular
argent v brass in pocket
discussion tonight
via nephews
it’s like repetition is even a thing
?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
her point being
i’d reroute any musical conversation
to take in
the sexiest woman that
ever breathed through a pair of leather trousers
.
.
oh
YEAH
????????
first enquiry
or inquiry
lack o swally
.
#Donald where’s yer home brew?
.
.
.
or at least i think that’s what he said
and he’s one o mine well plus one
drunken big lump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdp6iBgDUpM
i’m guessing this’ll be lost on himself
but still
VOLUME is key
and
in response to justified
smirking by a proud Scottish gentleman here
vis a vis cultural sensitivity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_PZmeicBg4
.
.
ya cheeky frock wearin fucker
(says internally – homer style)
.
“Simpson”
“I say”
“Simpson , that is ”
“Not none o your hifalutin”
“The boy’s loco , plum loco”
.
.
.
i will not say bad words about Scotland ever again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8aiUI0eyDs
.
i’ll leave that to the rest of the understandable world
was gonna say
“Burn!!!!!!!”
but
you’d prolly put yer thick skirt on
and stuff offal up a sheep
.
.
ps
yer previous tip
HIDE YER SPOONS
didn’t go unnoticed
xx love you
.
YA BASTARD !
.
.
.
gettin GOOD OLD ARSENAL
ready for
the rise and shine
in a few hours
it’s i’m sure we’re all aware
to the tune
rule brittania
which i know some will recognise
it not to be
but i’m hoping the few newbies
will shit their shit
through the walls and ceilings
all the jimmy hills are lost
?
soberest person in my house
doesn’t say much
but
to recap
in other news
i won’t waffle here anymore
for a while
at least
mmmmmmm
.
.
WAFFFFFFLES
One of the worst games I can remember for a long time. I cannot recall a single serious save by either keeper.
We showed no creativity or sparkle in midfield. Iwobi tried hard to little effect and Ramsey and Mkhi both had no end product – again.
Thank goodness for fast forward.
UTA.
Here is a bit of history trivia for tomorrow’s game. Our first First Division goal was scored against Wolves, by Charlie Satterthwaite on 24 September 1904 at the Manor Ground.
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