Struggling Gunners Limp Over The Line
Dec 16th, 2017 by 'holic
Somewhat surprisingly the manager made just one change from the team that drew at West Ham. Alexandre Lacazette replaced his French international colleague, Olivier Giroud. That meant that Sead Kolasinac remained on the bench as Ainsley Maitland-Niles was rewarded for his excellent performance at the Hammers.
After a confident start the Arsenal may have been surprised by a relatively spirited response from the visitors who earned successive Geordie corners. Hector Bellerin had the best chance to put us ahead on eight minutes but was denied by an excellent block. Next to try his luck was Alexis with a wild volley into the Clock End from sixteen yards.
Newcastle clearly didn’t expect Maitland-Niles to turn up in the inside-right channel firing an effort a coat of paint wide of the post. Midway through the half Alex Iwobi presented Alexis with a chance to break the deadlock but the Chilean’s effort was blocked. The lead was secured in spectacular fashion when Newcastle couldn’t complete the clearance and the ball fell to Mesut Ozil. His spectacular left-foot volley from the near the edge of the box sailed past the rooted Newcastle goalkeeper, Elliot.
The Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United
Newcastle’s adventurous approach meant we were able to find unexpected space in between defenders. Bellerin and Granit Xhaka both missed the target as we looked to increase our advantage. Ozil and Lacazette were denied from tight angles. Isaac Hayden, once a club mate of Jack Wilshere, saw yellow for being the latest opponent to rake his studs down the back of Wilshere’s ankle.
We started the second-half determined to pin the Geordies back but the Magpies again showed a willingness to get men forward when the opportunity presented itself. Iwobi wriggled through to draw a double save from Elliot. Former Swindon player Matt Ritchie, dropped for the first time this season today, came on for Atsu just eight minutes after the break.
Alexandre Lacazette was the next to bring a save out of Elliot but Ritchie sounded the alarm bells hitting one just over before Murphy drew a sprawling save from Cech. At the other end Lacazette found himself clear through but he put too much on the chip and another chance sailed over the crossbar. Iwobi also shot over as the home crowd showed signs of frustration.
Newcastle’s second substitution midway through the half saw the dangerous Gayle replace Murphy. Credit the visitors for their ambition. Arsene Wenger’s response was to send on Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck for Lacazette and Iwobi. The decision to take Lacazette off early again drew jeers from the restless crowd but the player didn’t help his cause with his temperamental throwing off of his gloves in front of the under-fire manager.
Straight away Giroud played a glorious head down into the path of Wilshere but little Jack’s effort was too close to Elliot who made yet another save. Lejeune was fortunate that referee Atwell missed his knee into Giroud’s flank. With ten minutes remains our lead was a slender one and first Joselu then Perez tested our defensive resolve. Bellerin cleared another goalmouth scramble. We were hanging on by a thread. Perez headed wide when an equaliser seemed certain.
Less than five minutes remained when Nacho Monreal saw the yellow card for pulling back Joselu. We tried to break out and eventually Welbeck teed up Giroud, but his deflected effort was comfortably saved by Elliot. We made one last substitution the Francis Coquelin was sent on for Alexis and once again the boos rang out from a very frustrated crowd.
Xhaka was next in the referees book when he gave the ball away and clattered into Perez to prevent another Newcastle attack. The Arsenal were limping into festive period. December has not been a good month for us and the audible expression of exasperation was heard for a third time at the final whistle.
The report card right now reads, “must do better”.
85 Responses to “Struggling Gunners Limp Over The Line”
3 points, a great goal and a clean
sheet. To repeat myself.
Thanks for the report Guvnor.
Quick and fair I thought
Great report. Good three points.
Only saw the second half but our performance was none too inspiring
The average Arsenal game these days has about one goal between both clubs and a lot of ineffectual huffing and puffing filling in the rest.
Interesting take on the game Holic. I thought Newcastle were utterly useless and dropped far too deep. Man United showed the bflur of pressing Arsenal high up the pitch as we are prone to fannying around too much in defence.
Positives first – Ozil and Wilshere were very good and you sell the AMN effort a bit short . It was at least a Goal of the Month contender had it gone in. He had an even better game than at West Ham on Wednesday..
Lots of negatives the biggest of which were the performances of Xhaka who is an utter waste of space and Sanchez who continues to play on his own for himself. Bellerin was ok but Kos worries me with his risky passing and lapses in concentration
Still we won and I didn’t get wet coming home so the world is a decent place again
wallöp
?
Thanks Holic !
Only heard the commentary on Player but they, Dan Roebuck and Stephen Hughes, were not impressed.
Every attack seems to end inevitably in “over the bar” or “wide of the post”, while the last ten minutes of games frazzle the nerves of all but the strongest or least concerned.
Is Kolasinac injured ? A M-N has done very well but why was the Serb left out – he seemed to be doing well enough ?
Does Lacazette deserve to be subbed in every game, or is he suffering from a lack of service due to the selfishness of Sanchez ?
Has anyone at Shenley pointed out that square balls across the middle of the park are high risk – another one today that could have proved more costly than the yellow card incurred in retrieving it ?
Maybe that’s another thing we shouldn’t talk about in case we turn it into a problem.
My report card might be a bit sterner than “must do better”.
Trev
I’m guessing that the Tank is being given a rest I don’t think he’s been dropped. Your point about cross field defensive passes is germane. It’s become a disease and Kis and Xhaka are the most culpable.
Didn’t mention Nacho before but he was steadiness itself as usual .
When we introduce Giroud we need to vary our approach play and put in early crosses.
Had we played anything close to a proper Premier League team today we would have struggled
It seems like December is the new November. Take the points and move on.
UTA.
If Mmmmkaytaryan was to to leave United in January, and you accept the pairing of Ozil and Sanchez are off, would you go for him?
Having a double ‘Reading’ break on my way home. Usual excellent report, sir. Gonzalez has nout on thee.
Trev nails your characteristically generous report card. As a minimum ‘a damn sight’ should be inserted before ‘better!
I am 100% with TTG. The Magpies were awful and there for the taking. We had a few decent players: Jack, Ozil, AMN and Monreal. We had a few below par tho Hector’s par has crashed this season. The fella just can’t get a cross in. Xhaka was awful and did his best to help out the Mags and Sanchez is becoming a parody of himself, scuttling like a Duracell Bunny to no good effect whatsoever and I expect his turnovers to again reach 30. Frankly, I will happily drive him to the Etihad myself. It’s the only chance they might blow the league.
Meanwhile we are slow of thought, ponderous to the point that pedestrian is faster and I am amazed we are back in the top four, albeit probably briefly. I have no expectation that we will beat the Dippers next week nor that we will be in the top four at the season’s end. I think most of our players are capable of better but I wait with hope rather than expectation.
Three points. Unconvincing. Faster thought and movement please.
Cynic @10 Yes.
Ho hum Ho hum.
Could and should have put 5 past Newcastle.
They were woeful.
Lacking composure in front of goal,scoring only 3 in our last 4 matches.
That self inflicted defeat against Utd ,seems to have affected the confidence of the team with 3 lackluster performances since.
It just seems everything is a grind at the moment.
Interesting that our next 3 league games against Pool/Palace and West Brom,were all defeats last season,and i think the game on Friday is the crucial one,if we can dig out a win against one of our top 6 rivals it would do the confidence of the players no end of good.
Pool will play the same high pressing game as Utd did,so let’s hope we have learnt our lesson from that game and cut out the self inflicted wounds.
Cynic @10
No
OM@14: He’s a very good player, totally mismanaged by Mourinho. His morale is shredded; he hasn’t lost the talent that made us go for him before Manure gazumped us. Should be good value. I’d rather keep Mesut though but don’t believe the rumours that he’s thinking of staying.
I’d have Zaha too.
Cynic @10: A useful backstop if we can’t sign better.
Do we practice shooting at Colney? In particular the value of getting the ball under the bar and between the posts? Is the most likely place the opposing keeper will position himself ever considered when attempting a shot? Several of our wayward efforts today were replayed from a virtual striker’s eye view showing large areas of open goal and nothing but net.
Apropos Ter’s article (#9 in the last drinks) it confirms my belief expressed after recent games that the preparation our team gets in the sheds prior to starting isn’t 100 per cent as I would expect. Of course Hayden may have an axe to grind, but the way we approach some games does suggest others share his alleged degree of unpreparedness.
Can’t wait to see Mesut’s reaction when Maureen pressures him to join his parked bus crew. That’s if either are there at the Old Toilet next season.
There has been a lot of criticism of Ozil and Sanchez but their recent performances ( and by recent I refer back a couple of months) have been chalk and cheese. Sanchez is selfish, distracted and as Bath says the king of the turnover. He is also incredibly right-footed. He always comes inside and I think a lot of teams have worked him out. Is he fully committed to the cause? I find it hard to believe he is.
Ozil has been excellent for the last few weeks. He played deeper today and was always demanding the ball. It is hard to believe a team with creative midfielders of the quality of Ozil and Wilshere can struggle to score and thump rubbish like Newcastle .
I would keep this Ozil readily but feel we need to offload that Sanchez and if Citeh are offering the most money Id sell t9 them. No way will he get into their team at present ,
Couldn’t agree more, TTG.
Ozil is playing now the same way he played for the first half of the first season he spent with us. But will he revert if he stays? I wouldn’t bet against it.
Sanchez has certainly revealed a new side to his play since making it clear he was off at the first opportunity. And no reason to think he’s likely to change his mind, even if begged and offered squillions. On his current form he won’t be missed. Shame we didn’t take £50m, or whatever we might have got in the summer. You got that one wrong too, AW.
Bath,
Agree that Mikhi is a good player,
it’s just that he’s not what I want
even when Ozil goes (still think
that will be on a free at the end of
the season). We should spend
our limited petrol money on a
CM and a RWB.
Also, Mikhi is a bit of a risk now
after his unfortunate exposure
to Madfucker disease.
Saw Zaha play today today and I’d
probably take him. Another with
a shit time at Manure but he can
genuinely play wide and score.
Loses the ball quite a lot so he
should fit right in 🙂
Might be a small club player but
seems less of a risk than Mikhi
and we’re short of width.
Chris,
I was fine with the decision to
keep Sanchez – we had a better
chance to win the PL with him.
Any Arsenal board / manager
should make decisions with
winning the PL as the priority
and they did.
Of course it hasn’t worked out
but sometimes decision don’t
to state the bleeding obvious.
Now, I’d sell him for what we
can get in January as we can’t
win the PL and although I’d like
top 4 it’s not the most important
thing now.
I remember when we signed
Alexis and I read something from
an Udinese fan saying basically “you
love him now but after 3 seasons
you’ll want him to leave”
He described pretty much what
has happened with Sanchez –
fantastic impact, great goals,
steady decline, frustration and
impatience.
Anyway, perhaps it’s better we
didn’t offer him the keys to the
Piggy Bank
I still prefer Emil Forsberg as the Ozil replacement. https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/rb-leipzig-emil-forsberg-bundesliga-assist-king-445029.jsp
Not so effective this season, but that should make him more affordable.
It’s time to see AMN as our deep lying MF anchor.
Cheers H.
My first trip to The Grove of the season and nothing has changed. The totally inadequate and token effort at security is laughable and We still employ clueless buffoons behind the food and beer counters.
Taking my seat it was nice to reacquaint with the regulars in block 4.
The game that unfolded was so typically Arsenal. We huffed and puffed but with very little direction. I agree with TTG and Bath above. The Geordies were shocking. This is a game we should have won by 4 or 5. Instead we had to rely on a moment of class from Özil. What followed was laboured and incisive. We played with little penetration and whilst we had shots I don’t really remember their keeper making too many difficult saves.
Ozil and LJW were both real positives for the day. Despite only playing a few times together there seems to be a real understanding between the two. Those of us who have been lucky enough to have seen Ozil play in the flesh have realised how good he is. Like all great players it’s what he does off the ball as much as what he does on it.
Sanchez was again poor. His best work was when he was defending yesterday. The crowd reaction when Lacazette was taken off and Sanchez remained told its own story. The locals were not impressed.
As much as I don’t want to see Özil leave I really do not see any sense in letting both he and Sanchez walk out for free. If it means they go for big bucks in Jan then so be it. In an ideal world both Özil and LJW will sign new contracts and someone will pay silly money for Sanchez.
The highlight of the day for me was saved for The Tolly. It was great to bump into both Lars and Zico. Great to catch up after what seems like an age. It reminds you of what all of this is all about. Even better as whilst engaged, the comedy spuds were in meltdown on the big screen behind me.
Who knows, I might try and get to another game before the end of the season?
The totally inadequate and token effort at security is laughable and We still employ clueless buffoons behind the food and beer counters.
On the plus side, because of the former if you get too angry with the latter you can express your annoyance in multiple ways and not get thrown out? 😀
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/15/manchester-city-football-group-ferran-soriano
Football monopoly shaping up..!
Cheers ‘h. ?
Aside from Ozil’s good volley and performance (and another good one from Jack), the three points was the only up.
He (Ozil) has started playing of late for that big money contract (most likely elsewhere like Barcelona).
Sanchez already has his big money contract waiting for him next Summer (most likely at Cit$h) so there’s no need to bust a gut any more this season for the Arsenal.
Millions of Squids flushed down the toilet for a league-title-challenge that never ever materialised right from match day #1.
Probably gonna miss the CL too meaning even more Squids lost down the swanny.
Looking like a seminally expensive season for Arsenal unless one or two of the following happens within the next 6 months:
1. Ozil, Sanchez and Wilshere are resigned before June 2018;
2. The Club sells any of them that doesn’t want to sign a new contract before next month’s transfer window ends – selling them for at least some “small” money at Poundland prices;
3. Qualify for the Champions League to at least try to refill that fiscal deficit of this season, and hope to attract “Top Quality” new talent next Summer. What alot of avoidable palava. ?
It really gets my goat to hear Celtic described as Invincibles on Sky. Invincible apart from any time they play a decent team, then they get fucking battered
Although I wouldn’t necessarily call Hearts a decent team hah!
Cynic@29. All valid points and something I will more than consider on my next visit.
Dan. And to think that there were some in the bar last year thatbthought we had “dodged a bullet” by not getting Pep??? Oh dear.
33 ? cynic
more times than enough
i confuse/splice conversations here
with conversation s i’m actually really having
at the same time HERE
i stopped myself today
praise the lord
small contingent of caledonia moochin about
full onslaught next week
if another hoops jersey cunt
sings a song of dear old Eireann
i’ll bust his mickey taking hole
still drank me outta house an home
the fuckin tight shower o
walletless unintelligibles
anyhoo
the noo
.
UP THE ARSENAL
was a welcome
and not really needed
excuse for
Scotland related tooons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM3f-pRidnU
? Quite Steve T… ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q6iuW-P7xY
Here’s to you Peppy ? new flavour
of the season.
Alas Antonio your time in the sun
has come and gone. You poor
little conte.
Still, none of them are exactly poor.
Celtic invincible? Ridiculous. Man $iteh? Let them enjoy their magic carpet ride for now, and then we can pull the rug out from under them on 25 Feb.
@27
completely agree
there’ll be many a slip twixt cup
and lip until the end of the season
but we’re only playing for Top 4
in the PL so let’s have a good look
at AMN.
Scotland music, you say?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koKXL17VpVU
Spuds 7th and new owners of the
closer to bottom than top title 🙂
Not such a bad weekend really,
unless of course you follow
cricket and Saracens (sorry Steve T,
I couldn’t resist 🙂
And a Gooner is SPOTY for what
that’s worth
I reckon AMN is dead set right at LB, he looks a natural and much more at home than the occasions he’s played in midfield.
Scottish rock? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zboXNSXqOtE
cynic
nazareth were played
i am too accommodating
haaaaa
brilliant
timing chris
Nazareth?
Jesus…
Although this is easily the greatest piece of Scots music ever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FWovgOzmFU
Talking of Celtic – some Scottish
rock for them
https://youtu.be/9pkyZhlK8Q0
i will refer all my relations
to yer suggestion osaka M
but
I feel I can speak for them
in that that band are shitter
than the shit band they ripped off
and that’s sayin fuckin sumfin
the shits
Here’s something that will reinforce some opinions and undermine others:
The Unrealised Potential of Theo Walcott
http://eplindex.com/81217/the-unrealised-potential-theo-walcott.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo96vU8__2w
“Say Feo’s a man’s best Friend”
I must admit cba that when I
chose that one I did think
everyone would hate it 🙂
But i’ve a reputation for terrible
choices to keep up so here’s
another for your Scots kin
https://youtu.be/pNCFR8SqioE
I thought it was fair enough Ned
so I’m among the reinforcers for
that one…..
interesting thing
the
“we have to talk about Scotland”
debate here
the flow from here to there
and there to here
is a tricky one
if my relations of a Scottish persuasion
see a Scottish flag flying while crossed over the “border” here
they know they are in the wrong place*
*a danger stretched and spread and perhaps imagined
or maybe not
????
.
.
yet they still come
the thirsty freeloadin shower
mind you
i really ham up the ducking bullets HERE here
but nobody has bitten yet
probably all ex squaddies
bit fick innit
*dangles hook*
Your Theo critic chooses to rely primarily on Premier League stats, ignoring Theo’s cup performances. For example he scored 19 goals in all comps last season, not 10 as shown. And no mention of the 10 assists to add to the 14 goals back in 2012.
And I’d love to see how he justifies Welbeck being above Theo in the striking pecking order based solely on stats.
No mention of Scot’s music can be complete without … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7R33oBJwPQ
I’ve always been a sucker for grey eyed women, but this one is something plus…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25pdShyBhOU
amen chris
and
call it scotch music
THEY hate that
bless ’em
*taps old war wound*
HelLOU there cba.
They don’t like whisky with an ‘e’ either. 😀
“They don’t like e up ’em”
h now nuvva matta
.
.
terrible slur
.
.
.
There went the ashes.
Bashing the No 11 on the side
of the head seemed a touch
excessive but anyway we were
completely outplayed again.
A wonderful weekend of football in Scotland with both the ugly sisters getting hammered. Doesn’t happen often enough.
Matt@44. Thanks very much for reminding me of all that???
?
Oh Ned!!!! What have you done now????? Just light that touch paper and walk away. On a positive note we are only one week away from celebrating the birth of the baby Theo to the Virgin Mary.
Then there’s Bath outing himself as Cinderella??? Unlike some of our defenders, at least Cinders did actually get to the ball.
It really is the silly season.
?
72
amen baff
?
“They come over here !”
“They steal our sectarianism !”
CBA@36,
Please thank your relations for https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a6V6FhYyjw
Then ask them to explain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytii7-bUxuk
dorset M
a coming together of nations
if ever there was one
??
the man behind loadsa
Bee eh Why Bee eh Why
Bee eh Why See I Tea Why
with an Arr Oh etc …..
is from the north of Ireland
so for any blame to be correctly apportioned
look less towards Scotland
more to the shower o squawk accented bastards
of which i am one
the shower o cunts
he also wrote con-gra-tu-lations
sweet holy fuck ???
.
put corks on this clowns forks
afore he strikes again
Have we had enough of this struggling and limping yet? Romping and stomping would be nice.
sorry
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
*weeps*
There are rumours that Usmanov is trying to take out Kroenke again. That would be a wonderful Christmas present ??
Here is a story re Usmanov
http://arsenalfever.com/25062-2/
product placement
Have preview my friends. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
.
.
dorset M
the second wave has landed
(i love it)
further baths and zicos
expected tomorrow
(god bless em)