Gunners Draw Hornets Sting And Impress
Oct 17th, 2015 by 'holic
Arsenal arrived at Vicarage Road minus David Ospina and Gabriel. Early reports suggest the former will also not be available for Tuesday’s visit of Bayern Munich which keeps the Champions League goalkeeper issue bubbling under for another couple of weeks. With Laurent Koscielny back alongside Per Mertesacker and Theo Walcott preferred to Olivier Giroud the rest of the side virtually picked itself.
Arsenal looked to attack down the right flank early on and as early as the fourth minute Aaron Ramsey crossed for Theo Walcott to glance a header goalwards, only to find Watford’s goalkeeper Gomes more than equal to it. The contrasting styles of the two teams was evident from these early exchanges with Watford looking for their twin strikers at every opportunity.
In the tenth minute a wonderful bit of interplay between Francis Coquelin and Mesut Ozil teed up Alexis Sanchez for a twenty harder which Gomes beat away. That provoked a response from Deeney which Petr Cech was thankfully equal too despite a deflection off Koscielny. Ozil and Coquelin combined again to set up Walcott but he had made his move early and was ruled offside.
Laurent Koscielny came to our rescue twice in a couple of minutes, first as Deeney threatened to score and again when the same player broke free on the left and threatened a cross into the danger area as Arsenal were on the retreat. The Gunners response saw Nacho Monreal set up Aaron Ramsey but his deflected effort fell comfortably into the arms of Gomes.
It was heart in mouth time when Ighalo caught Koscielny with a swinging arm. Unintentional said Martin Tyler in commentary. “He saw him coming” was Alan Smith’s verdict, which was backed up by the replay.
As the half hour approached Alexis picked out the unmarked Ramsey at the far post but the Welshman’s volley at full stretch cleared the bar. At the other end Ighalo broke clear in the inside right channel but fired wide under pressure from Monreal. The same player had a swing and a miss at a cross from the right moments later. An intriguing contest was taking shape.
Eight minutes before the break Koscielny came close to volleying the Gunners in front as he attacked the near post area at a corner. Shortly after Cech had to be alert to snuff out the danger of a Watford counter.
Just before the break Bellerin crossed and Sanchez couldn’t quite get a clean header in, but again the Gunners were almost caught on the counter as Cech utilised a combination of chest and shoulder to clear outside his area following a mix up with Mertesacker.
In the one minute added on Ramsey again cleared the bar and the whistle sounded with the Gunners possibly shading a half where the match was certainly an end to end affair. Arsenal did not start with the urgency that Arsene had called for before the match, but to be fair Watford showed considerably more desire and effort than the Manchester United side we faced a fortnight ago.
The Gunners took a while to get going in the second half. Eight minutes in Mesut Ozil was freedΒ by Alexis but saw his attempt deflected for a corner. The home side were similarly rewarded when Mertesacker denied Deeney the opportunity to turn.
The game exploded into life just after the hour mark. Penalty appeals were denied at both ends but when Ozil appeared to be brought down in the box the ball broke to Alexis and the man who is on fire at the moment buried the chance. It was the culmination to a breathtaking break at pace. It was Arsenal at their best.
0-1
Arsene Wenger had already decided to send on Olivier Giroud for the struggling Walcott and made the change as the celebrations continued. Five minutes was all it took for the Frenchman to double Arsenal’s advantage, firing into the roof of the net from a sumptuous Ozil cut-back.
0-2
The Arsenal midfield were now running the show and Aaron Ramsey finally got the goal his efforts on the day deserved with seventeen minutes remaining, courtesy of a wonderful assist from the energetic Bellerin. Three up at a ground where the hosts had only conceded one goal so far this season, a message was being sent to the watching millions as the Gunners eased back into second place in the Premiership.
0-3
Alexis and Ozil were withdrawn for the final ten minutes, and hopefully will fully recover before Tuesday when they will surely hold the key to a successful outcome against Bayern. The control was maintained and Giroud was so close to a second but Gomes flew to his left to save the handsome ones powerful header.
Arsenal closed out the contest as Watford legs gave up the chase. Put simply, we earned the right to play in the first hour, and played the way only Arsenal can in the last half an hour. The home side had proved stubborn opponents early on but the lack of goals at home could hurt them (it certainly hurt the ‘holic pound!). At least their supporters have now seen five goals at Vicarage Road this season!
Asked if there is a different feeling in the Arsenal squad this season, Aaron Ramsey emphasised the growing feelgood factor in the squad.
“I think we took a lot of belief from last season, and the win against Man United reinstated that belief going into the international break.”
Arsene Wenger smiled contentedly as he gave his opinion post match.
” The first half was difficult. The second half was relentless really. They conceded only one goal before today and you could see why. They were very well organised.”
He also confirmed to Geoff Shreeves that he has not decided that this will be his last contract at Arsenal, putting an end to the misinterpretation of his remarks at the AGM.
All in all another good day at the office. I think I’ll have a little drink!
76 Responses to “Gunners Draw Hornets Sting And Impress”
No drinks it says….a large malt for the bartender for such a fulsome and quick report. π
Cheers Uply. A lovely bottle of Bass here and watching the rugby.
One of the good days. π
Tia maria and Lucozade for the Guv. It is the weekend after all.
A well earned 3 points even if not at our stunning best as shown against Yanited. Those type of performances are hard to repeat on a difficult away game. Kos was imperious at the back and Cech is proving what a top goalkeeper is all about – no doubt a level or two above what has come before him these past few years. We look like we are going on a roll ( domestically ), lots to look forward to.
Indeed H, the All Blacks look unstoppable. Thank fuck there’s more Rugby to look forward tomorrow rather than the unpalatable footie on sky tomorrow. π
Remarkably accurate and rapid report Holic, beautifully put together.
I had thought it might be 2-0 but early in the second half I would have been grateful for any sort of win. It was one of those games where the first goal was everything. Watford were breathing out of their backsides in the last twenty minutes.
It was in retrospect a game for Giroud upfront rather than Walcott and Ramsey still continues to tantalise. He worked his socks off today but was very frustrating and missed many chances. Perhaps the goal and impending fatherhood will restore his confidence .
Very impressed with our full backs , Koscielny and Coquelin who is great at putting out fires and starting ones in our opponent’s ranks. Sanchez and Cazorla were sublime and Ozil again had the class to set up the first two goals.
Encouraging but we are still a way off from where I think this team can be.
Extra ! Late Extra !!
The reports are coming out so fast these days, it’s like the old Evening News days when the papers were out by the time you got home.
Comprehensive write-up though, Holic.
Hope the clean sheet made up for the denial of the pound. I was one short of my 4-0.
Another good day at the office indeed, Guvna. A large malt of your preference on the bar for your prompt and accurate report.
Slainte
Holic, What TTG said in his opening remarks. Can’t wait to watch the 2nd half on player.
cba, hope your mate finds an answer so he can get better, real soon.
bt8, Your going to London? The holics will take you under their wing π
Goodnight everyone xx
A great win for the boys. Unable to snag a ticket with my <10 away credits I relied on Sky. I missed the first goal because I was so busy screaming at the screen for a penalty. Only my son jumping round the living room alerted me to the fact that we had scored. I saved my scream of triumph for the replay (much to the bafflement of my wife). Loved goals 2 and 3, both being monkeys off the back of Rambo and Oli. So many good performances, for me Bellerin (what a player), Coq and Kos were joint MoM.
Work being the curse of the football going classes I will be, of all places, in Barcelona on Tuesday night when we play Bayern. I'll be back on the North Bank next Saturday against the Toffees, one of my favourite clubs. Win that one and we go top with the Manchester Derby on Sunday.
Come on you Gunners!
Pretty poor game but a well earned win.
ta
nurse abb
hadnt seen the fella for ages
when i do
he slams me wi what’s
been goin on wi him
some garbled
some fake bravado
some bullshit
i dunno
but thanks for yer good wishes
for the wee nutter
i think he’s done himself
a bitta proper damage
π
I have one thing to say what a player Alexis Sanchez is!
Second thing to say and he plays for the Arsenal! π
Second thing to say and he plays for the Arsenal! π
Arthur. How are you doing? π
Hey ‘holic. π Super report on what was an evenly balanced game until Alexis struck. Defensively we bossed it in the second half when they never came close to scoring. Very important win.
Very good Holic hope you’re doing well? Was out tonigh during the game with the family recorded it so I could at least fast forwards half time which felt really good.
Hey three points is three points as bad as it looked on the first we made up in the second. Alexie what a player!
Yes! I hope to be in London next April 16th for our home finale against Crystal Palace. If it works out as planned I would be with my 11 year old daughter. Anyone have advice on my best approach to get tickets?
A few minutes before Alexis struck I was thinking about Wenger’s midweek comment that one of the keys to Arsenal winning the league would be to convert a few games into wins that had looked like ending in 0-0 draws. At that point I was thinking 0-0 was a real possibility today so thanks Alexis!!
Evening all.
A professional performance. I thought at one stage we were going to struggle to break down another well organised side. However, class told in the end. A good 3 nil win and an excellent 3 points.
On to Tuesday night. Bring it on.
TTG (#6) … I maintain that most games are made for OG upfront … with Theo on the wing. Allowing Rambo to play in the middle rotating with Santi and Mesut. I thought Rambo had a very industrious game, without much luck. Could be a sign his confidence is returning, and hopefully his touch in front of goal will follow.
Excellent rapid report from the guv’nor. Give that man a Guinness (or a Bass).
At least a three-goal margin I predicted, so happy to see that first goal go in (and the second and third). I reckon fitness was the difference. The last half-hour was notable for the amount of space we had to play in once they ran out of steam, like the pitch had suddenly grown by 50 per cent. Perhaps Shad Forsyth is having an effect after all.
Oskar
CBA
Good luck to your mate
This year has been a bad one for bad news from friends. Four friends have lost their wives this year.I guess it happens as you grow wrinklier.
Nice summary Guv’!
Top three points that and I don’t think many sides are going to win at Watford nevermind score three and keep a clean sheet!
I enjoyed the game immensely and the sublime performance of Santi in particular!
By the way, I have to disagree slightly with you and a few other drinkers about Feo Guv’, I thought he had a good game and always kept the Watford defence very honest with his pace and constant movement. Feo creates alot of space for all the forward players including the fullbacks. OG just doesn’t do that aswell with his hold up play. Feo’s now the number one always for me with OG a more then capable super-sub to finish roughin’ ’em up more once they tire!
Bring on the “must win” against the Bundeslega champs! Play your best 11 Arsene and keep the professionalism, belief and momentum going! No Tinkering Prof!
Up the Arse all day and all night!
COYBG!
Nice one, ‘Holic. Glad you highlighted the quality of Ozil’s cut-back for Ollie G’s goal. One touch but with the highest technique and vision. Sums up what he brings to the team. Even most good players would have taken a second touch or hit the ball across the face of goal, and the chance would have been lost. Two more good games for Monreal and Bellarin, who are now arguably the best full back pairing in the league.
We need to get Akpom back from loan next time Dean is scheduled to ref at the Ems: http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11714/10032856/watch-hull-citys-chuba-akpom-accidentally-injures-referee
Thanks for a great report ‘Holic, and for all the comments.
I’ve had a nagging question ever since the first goal – If Ake brought down Mesut why didn’t he get a red rather than a yellow? You couldn’t imagine a more obvious “denial of a goal-scoring opportunity”. Something to do with Alexis having scored? – but surely it’s the intent that matters.
I know in the context of the game it’s a bit irrelevant and perhaps, therefore, a bit pedantic – and I don’t want to get into the paranoid “there refs are all out to get us!” (Though we would probably have been top of the league with correct decisions.)
Do any of you have an explanation for me?
Now let’s go onwards and upwards, and completely wreck Bayern!
It’s not a red because those are the rules. We scored immediately after the tackle was made, so clearly the opportunity wasn’t taken away.
“We earned the right to play in the first hour, and played the way only Arsenal can in the last half an hour.” Concise, spot on and you need hardly have said any more. π
My mind was firmly on the Holic pound at 3-0. Dang!
In a season of SHOCKINGLY poor refereeing decisions (Ramsey ‘goal’ vs Liverpool, Koscielny shambles at the Bus Stop) the penalty award against Scotland a few moments ago without further review is right up there in the depyhs of the pits. I’m ‘doing a Holic’ and foregoing future expenditure on attendance. (Bah humbug).
I was, however, very heartened to know that Steve T was sporting his kilt and blue & white scarf and cursing as loudly as I was π
BtM @29,
That was indeed a shocking refereeing decision against our lads. The ref, knowing he’d dropped a huge clanger, couldn’t wait to get-off the pitch quick enough without even shaking any players’ hands! That says alot! It’s just not Rugby etiquette. He even had the Third-Match-Official available on hand! I’m now completely sick of arbitrary adjudication with its concomitant man-made errors. Anyway; very proud of the lads and just sad that they were cheated of a much deserved semi-final against the Argies! Well done lads! “Scotland the brave”, always!
Very,very good performance by the boys in dark blue. Widely written off before the game, they damn near beat the convicts but for that very dodgy penalty decision. He couldn’t wait to award it and as Dapper DanC observes scarpered like the felon he is as soon as he could. Larceny.
BtM, nice to know Steve T was supporting the lads by wearing the kilt. I assume that it was a Kentish tartan?
Seve never Kent whit it wis, Bath π
Some excellent stuff, DapperDan, well worthy of a double helping of hair pomade tomorrow :-). Bllody frustrating outcome though. The Sweeper has latitude to Paint It Black on my behalf.
Aye, the Scotland B team from our most southerly outpost has to win the thing.
My Scots half is with my cousins today, which would have been Mum’s birthday. The sense of injustice at that decision is very real.
Word is the referee ran off at the end to avoid a hail of bottles!
He has previous with northern hemisphere teams, including the 2011 Final.
mmmmm ?
*surreptitiously glues pound coin to bar floor*
*assumes communal pocket for sneaky orange peeling in situ*
*attenboroughs up in canvas hide*
*long lens at the ready*
*natural mchabitat behaviour the goal*
ahhhh
look!!!!
they’re out feeding
wonderful
I’m back from Twickenham a little while ago. The Scots were magnificent and were robbed. Apart from the penalty award Australia should have been down to fourteen because of the late tackle on Hogg. Scots should have had a penalty and effectively a line out out of kicking range.
Scotland don’t get much luck as a sporting nation do they?
Thanks Lars. I did a bit more research and found this on the FA website:
If the referee applies advantage during an obvious goalscoring opportunity and a goal is scored directly, despite the opponentβs handling the ball or fouling an opponent, the player cannot be sent off but he may still be cautioned.
So I need to congratulate Mike Jones, and remember to check out what the rules really are!
i do apologise
i don’t really π
rugby?
used to watch it
ollie campbell and such
but
i did find it obvious but ridiculous
that the best players a country
could field were doctors and vets
and
lawyers the size of a car
an exclusive inclusive game
mind you
we can’t even have a team
that can sing a singular anthem
ridiculous
anyhoo
where can i buy me scotland scarf?
you feckers are complicated sectarian free
π
ye are the new super-food
Bath, BtM, Guvnor, TTG,
Sickener! There’s gonna be a backlash against the English in the next Test Match! π
CBA,
You’re mad as a hatter! π
No nation does “we wuzz robbed”, near misses and romantic failure quite like Alba. Someone should tell Nicola and Alec. :0/
Egg chasing on the drinks? Where’s the bloody doorman gone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfsasAlICo8
46
fourty six indeed!
cynic
46
plus 1!
PLUS ONE!!!!!!!
i’m guessing its some feckin big eejit
reekun’ e haggis
permitting this fiasco
*hides*
aww big man 44 !!
mad is it ?
44
mad am i?
.
.
valid point
π
*resumes whittling*
is there any common fuckers drink here
seems humphrey rich
an
that there herbert poor
not that i give a monkeys tit
obviously i do
but interesting
have you by “stealth”
amassed this wealth of knowledge
with a view to conquering other planets?
hol?
Ou est Dr. Faustus and Pangloss? Is it my imagination or have they been missing for a while?
Plb
correct
m’lud
faustus a fine fella
pan G a fine fella too
and cheers for yer good wishes
about wee sean
further catastrophes have come to light
if it wasnt so serious
it would be funny
poached medical knowledge here
hoped to use my email address
so as not to pollute ‘hol’s bar
how appropriate “pollute”
if ye read this trev
i might email you
maybe pass it on to bath
he’s scottish ye know π
but i hear he has all his faculties
i do jest of course
the scottish and the irish
are intertwineably intwined
i have a lotta time for scottish people
as
i’m sure do you , m’lud
.
π
sorry baff π
terrible stereotypes
*pours swally*
quit while ye still have a head cba
i just mentioned meself
never gonna do that again
arsehole
except
maybe to say
what a complete balloon
bla bla
twat
Why are some of you
Up so fucking late?
Feeling shite today.
Sorry.
feck off
*mafuckinhoosiveraspberry*
π
PLEEEEZE stop it with the rugby talk. I come here (partly) to escape the wall-to-wall, 24/7 ALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACKALLBLACK wacking on that is everything NZ currently. Every news bulletin begins and ends with the latest minutiae of AB existence, whether they’re playing or not. And so does every conversation with Kiwis, if I’m daft enough to engage in one currently. Asked on Sunday (NZ time) what the score was in the big match overnight I naturally said 3-0 to the good guys, to be greeted with looks of horror and the kind of angst only Kiwis can express when worrying whether their heroes can get the better of a side they are patently 10,000 per cent better than.
I know nothing about rugby (so sorry to those here who do), and I don’t think I’d ever met anyone who’d been to a game of it before landing here 22 years ago. Rugby was a game you could play if not good enough to play League (which I became a fan of in Australia), League being what you played if not good enough to play football (ie, the real game, the one in which you kick the ball with your foot).
In fact I arrived assuming ‘The All Blacks’ were a Maori team, and was genuinely surprised to learn they were the national ‘football’ team. Which begs the question why everyone calls them ABs. I wonder if ignoring the AB tag and just calling them New Zealand wouldn’t be a good start to diminishing the thrall in which others apparently hold them. I mean who’d be worried about playing NZ at anything?
But I digress. Give me a break and stick to proper football, okay?
Thanks, rant over.
Oskar
ooooh!!!
get you!!!!
Not guilty of rugby talk.
Or of cricket talk either…
Innocence by ignorance sums up my case.
Dapper dan – i am with you on feo. Well said.
I wager He will get 20 goals this campaign. OG will get 20. Alexis will get 25.
Look out. This may well be our year!
Bath, BTM and other Jockaneese regulars. You would have felt the tidal wave of laughter heading along the M11 and M4. Just about to watch the highlights now.
For those still morning I think you will find that in that situation you can not refer the decision to the TMO as the pen was for an offside. Still, what would this bar be if you could not moan about officials? Some wouldn’t know what to do with themselves.
Do people really still have kilts?? Something else for BTM to own that doesn’t have pockets???
Steve @64, you’re a chanty rasstler!
Oskar just prevented me going gaga over the All Blacks and their display against the French.
Let me then stick to the game and the team i love the most. Arsenal were value for money and the 3 points. We played well enough and i wont wish to always have great performances, good is enough for end of the day they only give 3 points for a win irrespective of how impressive it maybe.
I do agree that if everything comes off, we are simply the best team in the league. City will run us close and i hope the league is decided between us and them and no one else. I think it is fair to say that we 2 play the best football and hence the title should be won by either of us.
A word on Ramsey. He is exasperating and brilliant. He does everything right and misses on the most simple one in the end. Not complaining but Aaron of 2 seasons before was keeping things simple and hence was magnificent. Nowadays i just feel he tries too hard. Keep it simple champ for you are that good to make the game simple.
Ozil and Santi along with Sanchez are dream players playing in flesh for us and it is just joyous to watch them. For all their brilliance the best player on the pitch for me was Bellerin. That kid is amazing and he continue to defy the odds and critics.
Out first team is excellent, worry is the backup, we will miss Jack, Danny and Rosicky for i do expect some of the players to be fatigued sooner or later. I just hope we are leading or within touching distance at the top before they or the jan reinforcements come.
Bayern on tuesday will again be a game for football fans. A win against them may just make the whole team galvanized but a loss may not be a bad thing either. Lose it, forget the UCL just focus on the league completely. No excuses. Win that and then lets go for it with full tilt. To win, we need to score first and cut out mistakes for that bayern team for all the talent they have is a machine, not many mistakes coming from that side and they will punish whatever mistakes we do.
It could all be irrelevant if Dinamo Zagreb or Olympiakos win both matches . That would give them nine points and if we don’t get any points from Bayern we would only be able to get 6 . If however both games are drawn we could qualify with two wins providing Bayern have a 100% record. I shall go along tomorrow cheering on the lads but won’t be as distraught about a loss as I would be if it were a league game.
The big problem is finishing third. We might have to throw the last game ( you know what I mean, not put our best team out) if we can’t qualify just to ensure we are last. The Europa League will be a nightmare. This would hit our and the English teams’ co- efficients but it’s a risk we have to run. Silent Stan might not like to pass up revenue that could fund next year’s consultancy fee( who said dividend?) but it would make our chances in the League much stronger.
If we do go into the Europa League we are likely to need reinforcements to rest our best players and this may cost us any money we might derive from the competition. Most of our best youngsters are out on loan.
Ttg, how about this for a Europa League team? Assuming Wilshere, Welbeck and Rosicky are unavailable injured, this would give a run-out to everyone in the CL squad who isn’t a first-team first choice:
Ospina
Debuchy, Chambers, OβConnor, Gibbs
Arteta, Flamini/Kamara
Reine-Adelaide, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Willock
Iwobi
This winning comfortably Lark is far more fun π Another well earned 3 points added to the Tally – Happy Days !
Cheers for the report H.
I was pretty impressed with Watford, they pressed and harrased us well and were well worth the nil nil scoreline right up until we scored, we took them apart after that. They hardly got a touch of the ball between the first and second goal, after that they were broken and we returned to second gear. All in all a professional showing, a few shaky moments at the back, apart.
Arsologist.
I think you’ll find that the foul on Ozil leading up to the goal wasn’t punished at all. It was Gomes who recieved the yellow, not the defender who made the “tackle”.
Time to turn things around against Bayern. We don’t have the greatest of records against them at home:
December 2000
2-2 (Henry and Kanu) after leading 2-0
March 2005
1-0 (Henry)
February 2013
1-3 (Podolski)
February 2014
0-2 with Woj red carded in 37th minute
Am not even going to lie but am more focused on the PL this year than ever. I just feel that this might be our best shot to win it in a long time. Even if we beat Bayern tommorrow, winning the CL is so much harder to win these days. One has to go through so many great teams to even get a sniff at it. I don’t think we are built for both the CL and PL at this same time, especially considering how we have started in this group.
Excellent report for a very encouraging win. Watford showed why they came into the game with the best defensive record in the league so far, very well organized and resolute.
IMHO Rambo really is improving on the right, hopefully his goal will give him back the confidence he seemed to lack this season and we’ll see him score regularly soon enough.
For those interested coaching now is nothing like 10 years ago, electronics and analytics are everywhere, this is a fascinating article about their rise: http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2014/01/features/the-winning-formula
Now we can only hope it won’t be too long before refereeing catches up…
Ned @ 68.
That’s a very sensible and credible team providing they’re all fit and we haven’t loaned anyone else out. The problem is the bench. It would be very inexperienced even if we get Zelalem back after Christmas. We might also have Welbeck, Rosicky and Wilshere available which starts to look a trifle sexier. Even better we might get Sanogo back! I’m frothing at the mouth with excitement now.
We don’t want to send first teamers to Kiev or Donetsk on a Thursday whether they play or not.
I just hope we can win tomorrow because it would lift the club and open up a possibility of qualifying. I can never watch Arsenal and want them to lose but if we might end up in third there will be a lot of people at the Zagreb game scrapping the habit of a lifetime and becoming more akin to people who read Le Grove!
Ttg: you’d have to turn to the U-21s for the bench, e.g., Macey, Bielik, Pleguezuelo, Moore, Mavididi, Hinds, Sheaf. All would benefit from the experience of a Thursday in Lviv (Shaktar aren’t playing in Donetsk for the duration because of the unrest in eastern Ukraine).
Have a preview >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>