Mkhitaryan’s Hat-Trick Of Assists Lifts Gunners
Feb 4th, 2018 by 'holic
A day that made our away woes even more mystifying unfolded at the Grove as Everton were the first to discover that we have invested rather wisely in the January window. It was a day that will live long in the memory, from the pie, mash and liquor lunch, to just making it home for Match of the Day to witness it all again.
The match was effectively won in the first twenty minutes as the new boys settled into their new surroundings easily and with some style. Henrikh Mkhitaryan played like the talent we saw at Dortmund, not the tortured soul who struggled under Mourinho at Old Trafford. The Arsenal’s attacking midfielders were simply mesmeric, and tore into Everton from the off.
Mkhitaryan recorded his first assist in the sixth minute when he cut a ball back into the path of the unmarked Aaron Ramsey to glide home. It took just eight more minutes for the second to arrive when Skhodran Mustafi flicked Mesut Ozil’s corner into the path of a diving Laurent Koscielny to head the second. By the twentieth minute we had three. Alex Iwobi teed up Ramsey for a drive that took a deflection off the Everton debutant Mangala beyond the reach of goalkeeper Pickford.
An enthusiastic home crowd roared out their encouragement. This was definitely one of the good days. What of our most expensive signing, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang? He showed his pace when racing through for a one on one with Pickford, who managed to save with his legs. He would not be denied, however, when Mkhitaryan slid the ball through for the striker to lift a delicate chip over the goalkeeper for our fourth. Offside it may have been but we get enough bad luck to enjoy the slices of good fortune that come our way.
The team emerged for the second-half minus Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac entered the fray. That in itself should not have made much difference but for a spell Everton threatened to put a dent in our goal difference. The visitors too changed their set-up, abandoning the back three and sending on Davies for Keane. Calvert-Lewin was summoned on the hour to replace Theo Walcott who had seen Mustafi deflect his one effort of note high and wide. The home crowd gave him an enthusiastic rendition of his chant. Calvert-Lewin then got his head on the end of a Martina cross to reduce the deficit.
After Petr Cech departed injured to be replaced by David Ospina the Arsenal prepared to send on Jack Wilshere for Ramsey but the Welshman realised he had unfinished business. From Mkhitaryan’s third assist he completed his first hat-trick for the Gunners and the four goal cushion was re-established.
It was indeed a lot of fun to watch, but now we must carry this form and confidence to Wembley next weekend for the North London derby. There was a fluidity to our attacking play yesterday that hints at a successful run-in to the season, but the defensive frailties were never far from the surface. Let’s enjoy that performance and pray for a repeat next weekend.
A word too for the crowd for just about the loudest rendition of any song I can remember at the Grove when “We’ve got Ozil” reverberated around the stadium and drew an appreciative wave from the German international. It was that kind of day.
160 Responses to “Mkhitaryan’s Hat-Trick Of Assists Lifts Gunners”
Hopefully the start of great things to come, probably next season rather than this.
Blimey, I’m first!
And second!
Top four, Greedy !
Nice one, Holic.
I’ll be churlish and reiterate your defensive concerns of the penultimate last paragraph but one (@Coleman) but – and a huge but it is too – that was fun.
The first half attacking football was brilliant. Is there another team in the league that can do that. I don’t think so.
As enjoyable to read, H, as it was to watch. That Mkhitaryan is some player. Shades of TR7 and RP7. I feel that warm glow again.
Jesus.
H.
Christ.
https://twitter.com/TheArsenalShirt/status/767831343833161728/photo/1
Bath,
He must regret Man Utd nicking him when we were originally about to sign him as much as we do.
The playing style and being reunited with Aubameyang must feel like quite the homecoming.
Regarding PEA’s supposedly offside goal his feet were onside
Thanks for the report Guvnor.
Good to hear the support were happy,
it’s been a bumpy old season so far.
I think I’ll start predicting 2 scores in
future, one for Jekyll and one for
Hyde.
Excellent stuff. Great to watch.
Top summation ‘h! ?
Offensive Element ✅
Defensive Element ?
Onto those LWCs!
UTAAD&AN!
AFCOF!
Regarding PEA’s supposedly offside goal his feet were onside
If any part of the body that can be used to legally score a goal is offside, it’s offside.
Stupid law but that’s the way it’s framed.
Glad you enjoyed the day Holic. I did too but I also thought the Palace game presaged a change in our fortunes, we had a very similar first half and then came Swansea.
The difference is that we have definitely strengthened the squad , we’ve possibly got two quite brilliant new players and we have got Ozil , the man who was only playing well because he was in the shop window , to commit for the next three and a half years.
Perhaps most interestingly I posted my grandson a picture of the Arsenal players celebrating after Ramsey’s third goal . I compared it with a similar post I sent last season after Sanchez had scored against Hull. Sanchez is all on his own and the team aren’t really celebrating much. Yesterday all bar Ospina and Koscielny are together , united in happiness. I think the disappearance of Sanchez might bring real dividends in togetherness. .
Next Saturday is a huge test but we responded brilliantly against them at home and despite our away blues we haven’t lost away in London this season . Let’s keep the feel good factor going.
Will Kane be punished retrospectively for the dive??
F…ing cheat
Salah…wow what a goal wow
Divers, the lot (Spuds) hope they will get a huge ban
I believe I’ve just seen the worst refereeing decision, possibly in Premier League history. Sp*rs attacker was awarded a penalty when he both dived and was offside, after a lengthy discussion between the referee and the linesman.
Unluckily for us, the scousers got the winner after he missed.
Draw at Anfield. Spuds and Mickeys each drop two. Good stuff.
Refs are definitely pro Spurs as events at Anfield today show. Both Spuds and Scoucers drop two points which is good news.
Oh, they drew!
Good result for us.
The whole front line of the spuds are Fck*N divers!
We better watch out for those cheating tactics!
Both Kane and Lamela should be sent into the Kop for castration.
Unfkingbelievable..!
IF that was us against the spuds… I don’t know…!
A draw in that game is a great result for us. Spurs do dive around a lot to win penalties it has to be said but the commentators will never point that out. Even the penalty for their equalizer was won through a rather theatrical fall by Lamela although there was contact from 75m Van Dyk… Wanyama is fit again and it would not surprise me if Spuds played a midfield two of him and Dembele to stop us from playing and rotational fouling. The small pitch at White Hart Lane suited this tactic of theirs against us in recent games but the bigger pitch at Wembley and our excellent record there should work in our favor.
Look forward to Klopp visiting the officials room.. wager he won’t just call them a cheat..!
😀
I don’t understand why the referee did not use VAR for that kind if incident…
Draw is the best result for us. If we could win at Wembley we’d only have United away and Citeh at home to play among the top six ..but then we have the ability to lose to anyone! But Auba might kill the Spuds on that big pitch at Wembley!
As for our game yesterday, I have to agree with Bath – Mkhitaryan looked a different class yesterday. He also had a wonder strike from distance and it’s good to have someone apart from Xhaka who has that in his locker. The movement of Mkhitaryan and Ozil bamboozled the Everton defense yesterday – those two seem like a mouth watering combination. The presence of Mkhitaryan also makes us technically more assured unlike the erratic mercurial nature of Alexis. But apart from those obvious positives what I really liked about Mkhitaryan yesterday was the fact that he was feisty, got stuck in the 50-50 situations and was full of running until the end. Great signs indeed.
Stupid me, i forgot premier league does not use VAR…?
VAR was not in use in the game, Amby.
The linesman got everything wrong, but apart from that he had a great game.
Spuds one of the masters of the art of ” the trailing leg” penalty area contact syndrome.
Kane against Coq at the Lane a couple of seasons ago a prime example.
Ali booked for diving again at Anfield today.
They will be at it again next Saturday.
Arsene will need to sit his defenders down and watch videos this week of all the Spuds diving highlights,and there are plenty to choose from this season,and tell them it’s a months wages docked if they fall for the same old trick at Wembley.
Stay on your feet,should be the mantra all this week.
Hopefully we get a Referee who is awake and alert to their cheating ways,and acts accordingly.
They will be hard enough to beat as it is.
Good report, ‘Holic.
…we must carry this form and confidence to Wembley next weekend… is the money quote for me.
Liverpoo have had some serial
divers the last few years so no
sympathy for them.
2-2 was good for us and that’s
the important thing
just watched the last 15 mins
of the Spud game. To be honest
I thought the 2nd one was a
penalty, the defender just kicked
him in the calf. The 1st one – was
it bollocks a penalty.
I know we’ve a good record with
Moss but he’s not a good ref.
Anyway, I enjoyed Klippity’s
sulky face and the deeply gruntled
scousers, so alls well that ends well.
Ox caught napping defensively for
the Wanyama goal, he’s a bit unlucky
sometimes though as Wanyama would
miss that nine times out of ten. He’ll never
change no matter how much “coaching”
but fortunately it’s not our problem any
more 🙂
Onwards and upwards with The Arsenal.
The eagle-eyed linesman was superb in the Liverpool vs LWCs match! ??????
Clearly the only man on the day who actually knew what the rules of offside are?! He got both the decisions 100% correct; and even without VAR to help him out!
1st Decision – Lovren touched the through-ball before it reached Kane so it is deemed to have been a back-pass (in his case he miss-kicked it) by the Liverpool player, before reaching the LWC. A second phase of play then took place and Kane was fouled by Karius. The pen was saved any way if some still aren’t happy about the superstar linesman’s competency! ?
2nd Decision – Lamella was kicked by VVD as he got in the way of his attempted clearance. A foul in the box (for dangerous play) = Penalty Kick.
You gotta give the officials credit when its due. It’s hard enough a job as it is when you’re the only one who seems to know the proper rules too?! ?
Well I must admit, that was very enjoyable.
When I arrived at The Grove there was a positive feel in the air, despite the midweek shambles. It’s amazing what two Home debuts can do.
Lots has already been said above about the drubbing of a poor Everton side. Personally I always find it highly amusing when any of Fat Sam’s Sides pitch up at our gaff and then get a right old shoeing.
The transfer dealings have definitely made us stronger. Aubameyang may well take a while to settle, but his movement and pace were excellent. He was definitely offside for his goal but took it superbly.
Mkhitaryan looks a great addition to the squad. The first thing his addition has done is add both shape and balance to the side. He looked great going forward but was more than happy to do his defensive duties. He had an impressive work rate to boot. His ball for Rambo’s third summed up his entire performance. I’m quite looking forward to seeing what he can do when fully integrated.
Theo was quite rightly well received by the crowd. His early departure meant that he was also able to reciprocate. Hopefully he will be able to discover some form and consistency at his new club. If he’s looking for any tips he could do a lot worse than to watch Mkhitaryan’s performance back again.
The defensive frailties are still there but we will have to live with that until the summer. If we can keep scoring 5 every week then hopefully we won’t notice them as much.
Nice write up H. Next time hopefully.
Well said Dan.
I was waiting for the cast of thousands to assemble and call for a public execution of the officials after our 4th. Funny but we seem to have just brushed over that one???? It almost goes forgotten when it goes in our favour? No idea how or why.
?
A backpass to the keeper has to be deliberate before it becomes an offence for the keeper to pick it up, Dan. Lovren was simply trying to intercept the ball. Kane was in an off-side position when the ball was passed to him, so off-side should be called even after the ball is touched by Lovren. The offside takes precedence so it could not be a penalty regardless how you interpret Kane’s trailing leg.
I think the key is whether Kane (in an off-side position) was considered ‘involved’ at the moment the pass to him was attempted. I can’t see how he could be considered not to be since the ball was sent directly to him before Lovren’s attempted interception.
…and this image … https://1tvs492zptzq380hni2k8x8p-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DVNlZlIXkAAe-j3.jpg … shows Lamela in an off-side position when Lorente heads the ball towards him before van Dijk attempts to intercept and get Lamela instead.
Both penalties arguably wrong.
But the game could have been held up for ages debating the pros and cons if VAR had been involved!
Not for the first time I agree with Chris 😀
And that second penalty was the clearest bit of rewarded diving I have seen in a while. It’s that old thing of CONTACT = PENALTY that drives me mad.
Dick van Dyke flicks him as he’s trying to pull out of the challenge and it’s nowhere near enough for Lamela to go down like he’s been taken out by a high powered rifle.
Put it this way, if he does that at the weekend I look forward to all of you who think it was a penalty arguing the same position.
For you Chris. I hope this helps.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11237074/ref-watch-tottenhams-penalties
Regardless of whether Moss got
these 2 wrong he is still a poor
referee – and I still think the first one
is wrong and the second one is
right.
And I don’t see why I have to give
refs credit when they get decisions
right either – but that might be a
touch unreasonable on my part.
And to add a further tuppence
worth – as I remember PEA’s was
acknowledged as offside on the
blog at the time by a couple of
posters. No one is calling for
Moss to be publicly flogged,
(privately will be fine) just saying
he got it wrong
The worst thing about that first penalty, apart from the view that if a player is offside he ain’t (I mean if he’s not active, then the defender doesn’t need to try to intercept the ball, so the touch he gets is caused by the presence of the forward, therefore he is active so he is offside) is that the referee didn’t know there was a touch BUT GAVE IT ANYWAY, even though the lino told him that with no touch it’s offside (which is was anyway touch or no touch)
They made a right mess of that between them, got it wrong, and are getting praised from almost all sides.
Mental.
If it’s in the Laws of the Game that Kane standing in an offside position is transformed from offside to onside by the glancing touch of a Liverpool defender on the through pass TO the offside Kane then that particular Law is an anencephalic ass.
Meanwhile there is no discussion that Kane dived to initiate contact with the shoulder of the diving keeper to win the penalty. BTW in Kane’s world it’s not a penalty, nor even a penalty but a penettie.
Perhaps his feeble shot was ‘Diver’s Remorse’.
Likewise the second penettie was bought by the spud player backing into VVD as he was about to clear the ball and promptly dropping as if shot.
However the draw is the best result for our quest for a top four place.
Let’s go beat the divers this weekend.
Bath is absolutely spot on. The problem is that the law is a total arse. That however doesn’t change things in this case. Check out the link @43 for further explanation.
You touch, i fall, penalty!!!!! it is ridiculous how easily players go down at the drop of a hat or a whiff of air. Harry Kane is disgusting at that and makes me sick to the core, he and shrek look the same( yuck) and more or less play the same way, lot of hype little substance, though must say both have stats to back them up.
We played well, Mhki looked great, Mesut was Mesut and Ramsey got a hattrick. Defense still not convincing enough and Xhaka and Ramsey as a pivot will never work.
Overall i would say the way to beat spurs at wembley should be being compact and then hitting them on the counter. Now if only we had a Dembele in our midfield we could easily beat almost all teams in the league.
“I felt contact and went down,” says H. Kane.
Therefore in his universe, “I’m not a diver!”
VVD is absolutely correct.
Yes Vinay, the same technique as used by Diver Rooney.
Thanks Steve T @43.
Pen #1 was harsh, but it’s not the officials’ fault if a professional footballer can’t kick a ball properly into row-z, when he’s attempting to clear it out of his penalty area?! ?
The offside rule is stupid in that loads of people can be in offside positions when a ball is knocked forwards but if it is picked up by someone not in an offside position they are deemed to be onside. That’s a nonsense. I don’t always agree with Chris but although I’ve read the ref’s interpretation that Steve provided, when the ball is passed and leaves the foot of the Spurs player Kane is offside .
The second penalty was the sort that are currently given. I thought Van Dijk’s challenge was naive in the extreme.
I’m also amused that Guardiola only fielded six substitutes on Saturday. What about all these expensive Youth products getting a bit of experience . What a petulant tosser. Man injured for six weeks, let’s spend £60 million on a replacement. Madness.
Someone needs to hold a sign up asking for Harry Kane’s shirt on Saturday.
Then film themselves wiping their arse with said shirt and put it on YouTube. Watch those page views (and the cash) flood in
“…wiping their arse with said shirt…”
…and poor fella will catch ebola and (or) lamela
? Cynic ?
“I felt contact and I went down. I’m not going to jump out of the way because it’s football.” — H Kane.
To the point that bath makes @50, a clear admission of intent to cheat.
Law 11 on offside says:
A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by….. gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when it has:
• rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar, match official or an opponent.
A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who
deliberately plays the ball … is not considered to have gained an advantage.
So the only question is whether Lovren deliberately played the ball or whether it deflected off him.
Cynic@53,
I think that an exaggerated arse “flossing” motion would garner the most hits.
It always got a laugh when I did it with someone else’s towel after a match!
poor old giroud
bench for bench
Cynic @53??
I agree that referees are criticised unfairly on most occasions given that they have only a split second view from just one angle of an incident during a game.
But they need to take full blame for incentivising going down in the box. If they were awarding penalties to players who try to stay on their feet despite being fouled in the box – diving would not have become such a fashionable thing.
baka silly yoko
sniff
sniff
Much heart can indeed be taken from a convincing home victory.
Mika and Ozil seem to click too, both are quite capable of delivering the killer pass. Looking forward to seeing more.
I think even Lacazette will be getting on the score sheet more (if played of course) (has to in Europa really) with the Mika/Ozil combo of pedigree.
Penettie…. lol Bath 😀 Nice one
troy the deeney
conte the cunt
5 pints away
points
so watford have divers too. though “i’ve seen them given” will be mentioned.
makes watford 1-0 chel$ki a guilty pleasure.
Interesting Auba interview after Everton game.
On his friendship with Mikki,he said that ” he had been calling me asking if i was coming to Arsenal or not.”
Auba replied, ” you have to tell me if you are signing,”and when Mikki confirmed he had,Auba said it was a major factor in him signing up.
Fate moves in mysterious ways.
so
it was nothing mysterious about it
sven knows
Clive @66, I think signing those two is the best bit of business we have done in a long, long time.
It’s possible to see problems at Chelsea affecting their bid for the CL. We can also catch the Totts . My view is that the four best football teams are Citeh, Liverpool, the Totts and ourselves. Were we t9 win on Saturday we’d have a real chance of we can develop consistent momentum
Another drubbing for Everton from us – 4-0 at U23 level with Eddie getting three. Nelson also scored. Eddie is going to be in first- team contention next year
conte out!
!
Conte is sacked ?
Hey! Watford.
Watford tearing Chelski apart! ?
Watford 3 Chelsea 1 !
dew
le few
for f
sake
Totally agree Bath
And no coincidence that Mesut signed on for the journey at the same time those 2 were confirmed.
Mikki freed from the tyranny of Maureen’s stand over tactics,or what he laughably refers to as ” man management “,will be a revelation in the freedom of the Arsenal style of play.
Forget his first 2 assists on Saturday,and watch the 3rd assist for Rambo’s hat trick.
Only a seriously good footballer could have delivered that precision pass at pace,not too far in front or just behind Rambo,but on a sixpence,so all Rambo had to do was sweep it into the net.
Look at what Salah is doing for Pool,another player almost ruined by Maureen,De Bruyne at City to name another one.
TTG,
Have recently watched the under 18’s cup ties at Pool and Boro in the Youth Cup,and Norwich in the Premier’s Cup on Arsenal Player,and was impressed by the quality of their play under pressure.
Stuck to the game plan and got the rewards,and scored some very impressive goals.
Some very good young players in that squad.
They and the under 23’s are still in their respective Cup comps,so still plenty to play for this season.
ATG you mean 4:1 right? ?
Ha ha ha ha Chelsea on their knees!!! ???
massacre
G_KS
Too right!
Giroud’s like “This is normal for me, what’s everyone upset about” 😀
4-1!
Take Hazard out of that team and they are toothless
Cynic
What are you like ha ha ?
Giroud looking like a shadow of the man who used to sit on our bench. Conte’s coaching must be having the same effect that Klippety Klopp’s is having on Ox.
giroud in bloud
fuck m*
Poor BFG. ?
Looks like the new kid at a new school who’s missing his mates from his old school. ?
Clive,
Yes, I’m very excited about the young talent. The game at Liverpool was against a side who hadn’t lost all season . Nelson is eligible for the Youth Cup but hasn’t played yet.
I sense that they are playing in a discernibly Arsenal way , lots of movement and good passing and some excellent finishing. I’m not sure we have brilliant defenders coming through but maybe the whole club plays on the front foot.
I think young Nketiah is a wonderful prospect.
chavs are re-entering their
late Maureen blue period
🙂
Highlights to happily watch with
my morning coffee – poor OG
In regards to young talent coming through, six of our young bloods are in the England U-17 squad for the Algarve tournament, more than from any other club: Arthur Okonkwo, Vontae Daley-Campbell, Bukayo Saka, Trae Coyle, Xavier Amaechi and Tyreece John-Jules.
Seven words from cba, and we are at the ton.
Ttg@90: fast passing and movement is the Arsenal game at its best. I was struck by Fat Sam saying that Everton set up last Saturday like Swansea last week. But the difference was that on Saturday we had fast passing and movement, but against Swansea we did not.
Five words now.
So now we are five points off the top four with twelve games to go.
Three words now.
That makes it two?
Once the beautiful game returns at the very top of the Club; it invariably trickles down to the bottom! QED!
The excitement is now tangible! ?
Mkhi, PEA, Ozil, Jack, Rambo, Lacazz! ?
UTAAD&AN!
like a pachinko ball…
‘anencephalic’ … love it bath! My word of the week.
Steve T (and others) … Clearly the off-side rules need work. ‘Expert’ opinions for and against the two penalties seem equally divided to me. Here Clattenburg reckons neither penalty should have been given … https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/clattenburg-tottenham-liverpool-offside/ … Spurs off-side in both cases.
I still have a question mark against Laca, Matt, but Miki and O’Bang are great signings. I feel we are going to benefit hugely where other managers have had problems with them. They may even persuade Mesut to give his best more often and be worth their money for that alone.
Oops, that last should have been to Dan, not Matt. Sorry guys.
who’s miki?
miki sawaguchi?
Laca’ll come good Chris. Just let him have some more Miki & Cookies from a now staying Mesut! ?Wanna see him play with PEA at some point soon. ?
4.4.2. could suit Laca, Dan, but I can’t see us fitting all our best into that format unless we leave out a DMF. I would leave him out and play 4.1.4.1.
Um, Chris, we don’t have DMFs.
Chris,
Thanks for @102 – after reading that, Steve’s link and
a statement from the PGMOL I’ve changed my mind
and now think neither were penalties. Interesting
that the PGMOL said Moss was wrong to ask the 4th
official if he’d seen anything on the TV. Now I wonder
if that’s been happening before now.
I think it’s impossible to be sure either way, Matt. When there is such disagreement among ‘experts’ there is something wrong with the rules. I just don’t think either incident was worth giving a penalty for, whatever the rules say.
What do you call El Neny and Xhaka, ecg? I think we could do better, but DMFs are what they’re supposed to be. I’d like to see us replacing them with the likes of Bayern’s Kimmich or Jorginho of Napoli.
Chris
“The question is whether Dejan Lovren deliberately played the ball and has Kane, by being in an offside position, impacted Lovren. The issue is not whether it touched the defender, but whether he played it deliberately?” Clattenburg.
I’m not really sure how he’s trying to justify it not being a penalty? Is he saying that Lovren is only trying to defund because of Kane? It might not be true at Arsenal but surely the brief for any defender is to defend?
The rule, as pointed out by Ned above is not that complicated. The last seminar that I attended it was explained in some detail. If the ball is deflected by the defender then the player is offside. If it’s a deliberate attempt to play the ball then he is onside.
If the spud shoots and Lovren covers up, not wanting to damage a nail and the ball hits him to deflect into Kane’s path then it’s offside. There is no attempt to play the ball.
If, as in these circumstances, the defender makes a genuine attempt to play the ball and it ends up with Kane who is standing in an offside position, then because there is an attempt to play the ball, Kane is onside. The fact that Lovren is a buffoon and defended like a clown does not come into it.
My thoughts on Clattenburg is that he is just trying to earn more money by suggesting that a defender’s job is not to defend? Again, unless he’s been watching us too often.
Chris,
Any foul on a spud isn’t worth a
penalty 🙂
Talking of being impossible to be
sure…..
I don’t think Elneny or Xhaka see
themselves as DMFs, although
Elneny does at least seem to try
and do the job. Kante was a miss
although I don’t think we had
much chance of getting him.
And I’m definitely not sure yet
whether Laka, PEA or Mkhi will
work out – but the signs are good
for all of them I think.
Aubameyang. Not PEA.
Elneny or Winslet are the only players we have who you could call DMFs… and that’s a flippin major reason we get turned over so easily. How the manager has failed to address this is bonkers. Then again he likes to make do in unimportant positions… like goal keeper CB DM and C.F.!
Ffs! Ainsley not Kate!
Yes, you don’t want Kate as your DM when the
ship’s in trouble 🙂
I think AMN will be our defensive midfielder for the start of next season and I think he will be absolutely brilliant at it. We may not use him every game but away from home particularly against the better teams, he’ll be in. He’s very quick, tackles and intercepts very well, passes well and can bring the ball quickly out of defence. He has it all. AW has just been giving him game time at left back just to get him used to the step up. I think our biggest need in next summer’s transfer window is the left back/ left wing back position. Nacho is too slow now as a full-back and Kolasinac not good enough. He will probably get sold for a tidy profit. We could also do with more verve in midfield. Not sure really Jack has the legs to really cover the pitch and I think he will probably leave, unless he is prepared to be cover for Ramsey, Ozil and Mkhi.
Can we get Paddy back to play a few games???
How I would love a Vieira in that side.
Steve @120, that’s exactly what this side needs along with a top GK.
Along with a top centre half Bath.
We have missed a decent spine to this team for years now. Address those issues and add to what we have and who knows?????
How did people get on in the League Cup Final ballot?
Just got the notification. Lucky enough to be successful.
Fingers crossed for everyone.
How did people get on in the League Cup Final ballot?
In 1988 we picked Gus Caesar by such a method, I doubt anyone can possibly have done worse than that this time around.
Aubameyang. Not PEA.
Life’s too short to type Aubameyang, but not to copy and paste it. Hell, he’s PEA to me.
A short history of the penalty:
When the penalty was introduced in 1891, it was to address a problem of blatant goal-denying fouls, mostly handballs in front of the goal. One proposal made in 1879 was that the offense had to take place within 2 yards of the goal, but 12 yards was settled on in 1891 rules, viz:
If any player shall intentionally trip put on hold an opposing player, or deliberately handle the ball within twelve yards from his own goal-line, the referee shall, on appeal, award the opposing side a penalty kick, to be taken from any point twelve yards from the goal-line, under the following conditions:-All players, with the exception of the player taking the penalty kick and the opposing goal-keeper (who shall not advance more than six yards from the goal-line) shall stand at least six yards behind the ball. The ball shall be in play when the kick is taken, and a goal may be scored from the penalty kick.
It wasn’t until 1902 that the area in which a penalty could be awarded was expanded to an area extending 18 yards either side of the goal and 18 yards in front of it — the modern-day penalty box (though minus the ‘D’, which didn’t come until the 1937). The 12-yard line went and the penalty spot arrived also in 1902.
This picture of the 1901 Cup Final clearly shows the pitch markings then. Note the goal area, or 6-yard box, was then a 6-yard semi-circle. Its purpose was to define the area in which the goalkeeper could not be charged unless he was holding the ball or obstructing an opponent. Incidentally, until 1912, a keeper could use his hands (but not carry the ball) anywhere in his team’s own half, not just in his penalty area.
http://www.soccer.mistral.co.uk/pix/fac04x1.gif
Perhaps we should go back to the idea of penalties being restricted to offenses within 2 yards of the goal. At least that would minimise diving.
If they only allowed it for fouls in the chocolate box they could get it sponsored.
Today’s dodgy Spurs penalty was brought to you by Yorkie, and the shithead referee who doesn’t know if it was a foul but gave it anyway
Re: Ned @126. Seeing as there is a clear need to modernize the markings to keep up with the game as it stands, should we not replace the “D” with a profile engraving of the face of Mike Dean? 😉
Be careful what you wish for, bt8b.
“Anthony Taylor is the man in charge when the Gunners travel to Wembley on Saturday lunchtime”
mmmmm lunchtime
Anthony Taylor’s record officiating Arsenal games:
https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-tottenham-referee-anthony-taylor/
Doesn’t look too bad but his officiating at our season opener against Aston Villa in August 2013 does not inspire too much confidence.
Two good bits of news
Firstly, I’ve been lucky in the Carabao Cup ballot
Secondly, I had an update from a mate of mine who has been an Arsenal fan for even longer than me. He lives close to the ground where we play U23 fixtures and he claims that Mavropanos, Nketiah , Nelson and Osei- Tutu are all capable of playing first-team football this season if required. He is particularly impressed with the first two and feels that Mavropanos is one of the crispest passers out of defence he has seen
Nice to hear
Anthony taylor–“”” Harry kane- penalty” script is written and well rehearsed, now can we change the script please on saturday.
Ramsey offered 250k and captaincy??? i dont mind the salary part for obviously he has been very good for us but captaincy?? frankly i dont even know if we have even one player out there who is captaincy material. Per is done, Kos has his Achilles, Cech should retire and rest, least said the better. Ramsey did captain his national team but wasnt that great a success was he??? But then honestly, only one who wears his emotions on his sleeves is Jack but we are not even sure if he can last a full season. No Mesut aint and never will be captaincy material, so yes it looks like Aaron may wear the arm band provided he signs the thing, else it will be Kos till he stays.
What all this means a summer shakeup again and i do not see how we can fit in both jack and ramsey in the same playing 11 which could mean either one leaves. Tough choice to make if i were Wenger for each one is unique. If only either one had a defensive bone in them.
TTG
Both Eddie and Reiss – Nelson are clearly first team bound,but i doubt too many in the bar would know much about the other 2 unless they followed the highlights of the under 23’s and 18’s on Arsenal Player.
I don’t think the 23’s have lost a game since Mavro joined us,and it clearly reinforces Wenger reversing his original quote when asked,that Mavro would go straight out on loan.
I seem to remember it was less than a week after he joined that he changed his mind quick smart,so the guy can obviously play.
Osei – Tutu form what i have seen of him,is very quick,and could be long term back up for Hector.
There are a few other very promising young ones coming through the 18’s as well.
After a few fallow years,we look as though we have got some cream coming through the ranks again.
Clive
You’re absolutely right , it is a much more promising crop of players than we’ve had for a while. The Academy went to seed under Joncker but it’s looking very exciting now.
At U18 level I hear that Emile Smith- Rowe is very promising as is the boy Amaechi who signed professional recently.
I was speaking a few years ago to a taxi driver who coached at Hale End and he predicted that a lad called Danny Ballard would be a big star. I notice he is now skipper of the Youth Cup team .
Silly Second – Yella
DMF
(don’t ask)
TTG
Worth mentioning also that the under 23’s are now only 1 pt behind Liverpool at the top of their league,so the Title is still in the balance.
Under 18’s are also 2nd in their league as well,so the improvements ar ethere for all to see.
Just watched highlights of under 23’s against Everton,and like the first team we could easily have scored 6 or 7.
The 23’s also have a Europa league tie against Dinamo Zagreb to look forward to as well.
All good experience for the future.
See my @92: Six of our young bloods are in the England U-17 squad for the Algarve tournament, more than from any other club: Arthur Okonkwo, Vontae Daley-Campbell, Bukayo Saka, Trae Coyle, Xavier Amaechi and Tyreece John-Jules.
Mark those names now.
Ttg@132: all four (Mavropanos, Nketiah, Nelson and Osei-Tutu) are fine prospects. My only worry is Reiss Nelson in so much as he seems ready to move clubs, perhaps thinking he is more advanced than he is. His absence from the first team bench of late is telling.
Ned
I think Nelson’s agent may be seeing pound signs. He was a big friend of the lad Sancho who went to Dortmund and is refusing to sign a new contract. I guess he’s been tapped up probably by clubs who never give Youth a chance themselves.
He’s had a lot of game time this season and with Theo gone is in a great position but he may have the wrong voices in his ear .
A lot of rubbish is being talked about Petr Cech. A couple of mistakes and he’s being written off? He’s been one of the best for more than a decade and if he’s made mistakes recently I put it down to the odd lapses in concentration you get when you start working on auto-pilot. If anyone learns something from those lapses it will be the man himself. I expect him to refocus and be with us for several more seasons yet.
Bloody strange names they have these days … Vontae, Trae, Tyreece…
Kris is better…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzfBirQfabE
good…night
Dwight is also a good name…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04UTFg4t8Ag
goddamn
I bet you love both forms of music … country and western, right SSY?
As for names I prefer Mose … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHmUfCOOe4o
PS: Nothing personal intended with the song. 😉
Another legend … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TegLTsuvzXQ
TTG@139: You are probably correct on all those points.
Hard to be patient when you’re young as I recall and
I can’t blame any of the young lads who leave to get
more of a first team chance but it would be great if
one or two came through to the first team over the
next couple of years.
We have had loads of “first team ready” kids over the years and approximately none of them has made it here, or anywhere else really.
I’m curious to see how the lad whose just moved to Barca does. He looks a tidy player but then many have. I don’t really think we’ve lost any that we missed out on. Most are decent pros but not of the level Arsenal need.
I’ve lost count of youth players I had high hopes of progressing to the first team. And when they are given a chance our lovely fans are all too quick to get on their backs or write them off.
I wonder how Lupoli is Doing?
The willingness of fans to accommodate young players is lessening but I sense that proper Arsenal fans , not Internet trolls’ are more willing than most to back youngsters who come in.
Maitland- Niles has been accorded a lot of support , quite rightly , and clearly has a lot of ability, before him we’ve seen Jack embed himself into the team . It seems highly unlikely that a ‘Class of 92 ‘ situation will ever occur again which has implications for youth programmes everywhere. Ironically we are seeing age- group English teams doing better and better in international competitions. This suggests that the level of coaching is excellent but so few get blooded in the first team of the club that breeds them.I’d love to see a young set of Gooners make it through to the first team.
What’s this, a player who is not gratuitously self-assisting?
hopefully AMN will get more chances but he
can just ask Iwobi if he wonders how long the
support will last.
Maybe it’s a little easier in midfield or defence?
I dont know, but I honestly can’t remember the
last forward / wide player we developed
to be successful in the first XI. Stapleton?
ps obviously I added successful to rule out TGSTEL
unless you count Van Persie I suppose
Dexter@149: Lupoli turns 31 this year, He is currently with Fermana in Serie C-B. He has had half a dozen loan spells, three free transfers and two more for not much more, which has taken him through at least a baker’s dozen of clubs since leaving Arsenal in 2007.
Perhaps the ‘one that got away’ was Gnabry, now playing in the Bundesliga for Hoffenheim on loan from Bayern, and with a hat-trick for the German national team under his belt.
Thanks Ned.
AMN seems the obvious choice to step up next. But then I remember Gilbert looked awesome at RB for a spell. Stephen Hughes in midfield. And more recently Holding in defence. Now there’s talk if him being sold. I hope that’s just paper talk. Same with Chambers.
Given the ridiculous costs of players there’s never been a better time to blood the kids.
39th straight start in the Premier League for Granit
time flies, eh?
SSY@157: And if you take out the five games he was unavailable because of suspension, it is actually 55 straight league starts. September 10, 2016 was the last league game he was available for that he wasn’t picked to start.
Oops. My bad. It was November 19, 2016 that was the last league game for which Xhaka was available that he did not start. So it is 49 straight league starts when available.
In the 64 league games since he joined, he was suspended for five, started 54, was on the bench in five, coming on as a sub in four.
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