One Nil To The Arsenal Is Enough
Dec 13th, 2018 by 'holic
A surprisingly strong blend of experience lined up against Qarabag in the final game in the Europa League group phase. Emi Martinez was given a rare start in goal behind a back four of Carl Jenkinson, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Laurent Koscielny, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Mohamed Elneny and Joe Willock were the deepest lying of a very attack minded midfield. Eddie Nketiah and Bukaya Saka started either side of Mesut Ozil. Alexandre Lacazette started as the lone striker.
In front of a sparse crowd a slow burner developed. The first effort of any note came in the ninth minute from Saka, starting a first team match for the first time, and his curling effort from the edge of the box drew a full-length save from da Silva. Willock was unable to control the parry, unfortunately, and the chance was gone.
In the sixteenth minute Nketiah nicked a ball into Ozil who in turn sent Lacazette twisting and turning in the area before despatching a pinpoint finish across and under the unfortunate da Silva.
The Arsenal 1-0 Qarabag
The visitors forced a string of corners in response but we held firm defensively. The name of the game was possession and slowly but surely the ball was tapped forward and back with only the occasional break out into a canter. One goal leads are never comfortable but Qarabag did look as though they may tire in the later stages.
A training match was only notable for individual moments rather than collective excellence. Most of the first-half memories were created by the out of position Nketiah, responsible for the tackle back that led to the goal and that was just one of a number of good things he was doing.
Of course we turned up the tempo at the start of the second-half, a recurring theme of this season. Having said that eleven minutes in Jenkinson conceded a needless corner which Guerrier got to ahead of Martinez only to head over the crossbar. A warning that a one goal advantage was a nervous one.
Unai Emery’s response was an interesting one. Lacazette was replaced by the young defender Zech Medley who slotted in at left-back allowing Maitland-Niles to advance and Nketiah to lead the line. Minutes later Saka was denied by a last gasp deflection. He went on to tee up Ozil for a blocked shot. He was certainly giving an encouraging full debut.
The big defenders were sent forward for a corner midway through the second-half that was taken short and hit back, and back, and back. Why? Some mystical tactic to confound everyone, doubtless. You will have gathered at this point it is hard to pad out this match as it happens. Koscielny departed with one eye on Sunday, possibly, and Nacho Monreal came on to occupy the armchair next to Sokratis.
Fifteen minutes from the end a lovely Saka cross was headed home by Nketiah but the raised flag of the assistant-referee cut short the celebrations. Both players deserved a moment to cheer but the decision was a fair one. To add insult to injury Saka took a whack from behind by Medvedev, and then was chopped down by Qarayev who earned the first card of an otherwise tame affair.
Ozil was withdrawn to allow young Charlie Gilmour a seven minutes plus cameo. A less than half empty stadium was now host to half of those who had attended. I understand entirely. In the final minute of normal time Saka found himself one on one with da Silva but the goalkeeper’s save with his boat race denied the lad a goal he deserved. The fourth official indicated four added minutes.
Now it was all about not doing anything stupid and denying ourselves a 22nd match without defeat. Neither side had the sting in the tail and we duly obliged, despite a one man pitch invasion that appeared to have darker undertones.
Job done. Much sterner tasks await. Won 17, drawn 5.
42 Responses to “One Nil To The Arsenal Is Enough”
Top stuff.
1?
Great stuff ‘holic.
Saka the most impressive young dribbler I’ve seen since Quincy. Let’s hope he trains on a bit better.
Speedy GonzHolic again!
Great report.
It was definitely a match to watch from the sofa.
I’m very impressed with the youngsters. They’ll be knocking at the door of the first team before long. I hadn’t seen Saka before. Boy, is he a talent!
COYRs
From the sofa indeed bath.
What a bitter night.
Young Saka was the standout but Willock and Nketiah did well. Elneny was the most wasteful .
I’ve just heard Saka interviewed, what a lovely lad and he has real skill and flair. We have another real star in that position in Amaechi who has a bad injury but it’s great credit to the Academy that so many proper footballers are coming through . Medley always impresses me , he has a great left foot .
The game was one I’m glad I dodged on a cold night like this. I sold my ticket to a friend for £20. I hope he is still my friend!
Is Charlie Gilmour the first from that fine Nation north of the border to play for Arsenal since the departure of Champagne Charlie?
Enjoyed the report, Holic. Saw some of the game from my favoured stream source. Wifi dodgy on the beach though.
In other news, I bought a ticket for the 3.00 pm KO on New Years Day today. I’m hoping.
Thanks Guvnor.
All has been said already about
the game. Felt a tiny bit sorry
for Qarabag – it’s a long way for a
practice game.
BtM@6, there was a young CB called Scott Marshall who was around in the mid-late 90s. He made the bench on a few occasions. I’m not sure he ever got a start. His brother was GK for Celtic and Kilmarnock.
reply to iBtM, you (maybe understandably) have forgotten Paul Dickov
Roobz @9 ??
vacuous twaddle on telly
cloutless main men scarf wearing
incisive interviewers
.
.
.
thunder T – the DUP
the main part of the Irish problem
who won’t call themselves Irish
who sound Irish
.
.
i think
as i’ve always known
the PRECIOUS union
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
in the context of brexit
is making their bread and butter support
as in
(completely no disrespect)
people like you
show their true colours
.
.
No Surrender
as long as it doesn’t hit yer pocket
As an Ulsterman, cba, you have had to live through some terrible things and clearly carry some major scars. Is a football blog the place to expose them?
yes
and
I’m not an “Ulsterman”
I’m Irish
should i talk in corners
.
grass roots England is now being forced
to think about here
when
most are not politically aware enough
to think abstractly
or
in simple terms
why did we go over there
in the first place
and steal people’s daily lives
and
why should we care about
the noisy shower now
Word reaches Castle Ned that the one-man pitch invader was brandishing an Armenian flag, and that another such flag was seen in the stands at the same time. When the pitch invader was escorted out it was through the exit beside where the visiting fans sit. The Qarabaggies, if that is what they are called, gave him quite the verbals apparently. Nagorno-Karabakh. Need one say more?
in the decade
I lived in London
not a single person
said they loved northern Ireland
and thought
the future of BRITAIN
hinged on here
now
even monkeys
are thinking
they should give a
.
fuckin nonsense
democracy is a fine notion
have you met people ?
It was great to read Koscielny’s post match interview describing his rehab process and praising the people who helped him. He is a very likable fellow and must be one of my handful of Arsenal favorites of recent years. Santi and Nacho are in there too.
Sorry cba but this continual Brexit/Ireland/England stuff is really fucking boring.
Merry Christmas though
x
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YmoHqBGzNs
Kos return was the most welcome sight and he is one of our best signings in recent memory, definitely for me the best CB we signed after Sol, consistency, and loyalty being factors. It also asks the question as to how long can he play at the top level and will it be a mistake to believe he will perform at the highest level any longer? emotions apart, think he can at best be our back up CB and we need to reinforce our defense at the earliest.
Mesut returned and what a welcome sight it was, all this talk of him being offered to Inter etc must be thrown to the bins, we need him, he likes it here, end off.
Saints away on sunday and as ever expect them to turn up against us, we never seem to win there in recent times and shane long and charlie austin will have fond memories of playing against us. Not even sure if long is still with them.
We seem to be consistently good in getting results and if we can sustain this over the holiday period and beat that sick pool team, we are well in the reckoning for the top four for sure.
IBtM
We had Paul Dickov too but I think Bath is right that Scott Marshall was the last Scottish lad to turn out for us. Ned can supply the definitive word!
I’m indebted to Roobz and TTG. Paul Dickov. Legend! How could I possibly forget the great chieftain of the Dickov clan?
I shall sit here for several more years and watch in the hope that Charlie Gilmour exceeds even the dizzy heights achieved by the great Dickov.
Seriously though. What’s happened to the Northern sausage machine that used to provide the spine of the English first division? Is everyone of any capability now chasing the egg-shaped ball? Could Greig Laidlaw once have been Scotland’s answer to Santi Cazorla?
Oh, Gre-e-e-ig Laid-law. Nah, doesn’t quite fit. He would have needed his own song.
Ned,
Might I trouble you to refer to your book of facts one more time?
I met a chap in a bar last night who I couldn’t persuade that Arsene Wenger and Arsenal had been the only a) coach and b) team ever to qualify for the last 16 of the CL for 20 consecutive years. He was persuaded on a) but not on b).
What’s your take? I’ll likely bump into him again tonight.
If we really have won 17 and drawn 5 of our last 22 games then I’m not sure how much we should be talking about it in a public place. Somebody is bound to notice sooner or later.
I might have missed it but I haven’t
noticed any congratulations to
one Tony Adams on his new role
as Rugby League supremo.
Surely a first for The Arsenal even
in our long and storied history.
It’s been an up and down life for
him as we all know from his own
brutally honest telling but I hope it
brings him some joy.
iBtM@28: Real Madrid is at 21 and counting.
TTG@26: Bath is right. It was Scott Marshall. He played his last game for us in November 1997. Dickov’s last game was in August 1996.
Marshall made 24 appearances, 19 in the starting XI.
Excellent service, Ned. Very much appreciated.
At your service, iBtM.
New saints manager seems to be taking a great approach with the free drinks for the supporters
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46574673
Sorry to focus on a worrying note but I think Clive must be experiencing problems as he would have loved to see the young lads play on Thursday. I hope it is not serious.
Hello TTG, I have dropped Clive an e-mail and will report back. Everything crossed. ??
Not much chance but it would be
handy if Burnley can hold out
2nd half and take points off the spuds.
Sadly burnley clearly weren’t up to the challenge. Almost though.
Fingers crossed for Clive. ????
Add my best wishes to those be passed onto Clive, if you reach him, ‘Holic. Hoping that all is well with him. Ramblers are made of stern stuff.
Charlie Austin has scored in all four league games he has played against us (two for QPR, two for Southampton) but has never been on the winning side.
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