All things end of course and sadly our excellent winning run and clean sheet bonanza both ended away at Sunderland yesterday (or about 4.30AM today if you happened to be in Japan) as we drew 2-2 after conceding two goals for the first time this season. It was not the end of the world, though it stung at the time as late, late goals against always do, especially against limited opponents playing what was basically punt and hope football. I really don’t intend that to be disrespectful – Sunderland worked very hard in defence and did very well off the 0.5xg scraps that fell their way – but for our players I am sure there will be some disappointment at not taking home the three points. In the end some perspective might be best – we took 7 out of 9 points from three consecutive away trips in a week and with a squad short of several great players. Let’s put the doctors to work during the damned interlull and move on!
The 1st half – Sunderland 1 The Arsenal 0
The day had started with an XI pretty much as expected (a nod to Ned for the correct XI) and a bench full of the young and the very young (another nod, this time to the more experienced Kepa, White and Nørgaard). The game itself kicked off with the usual frenetic first 5 minutes as Sunderland put themselves about a bit (and yes Ballard’s elbow on Merino was a penalty to my mind and more importantly according to the rules of the game as well). Anyway, that point aside, I must admit that It was not a particularly entertaining watch as very little actual football was played, an “accidental” elbow here, a late foot there, basically dragged us down to their level.
When we did get some play, we were much like a tired team on their third away trip in a week, not quite the sharpness of pass or zest that was needed. We did make a couple of chances, the best of them falling to Saka, I thought, until just after the half-hour the ref suddenly remembered he had some of those brightly coloured cards in his pocket and decided to book Zubimendi so he could share the yellow one with the crowd. I am only assuming that must have been the reason because there certainly wasn’t any footballing one. From the free-kick Sunderland went ahead as basically the ball ran their way, there was a nod down and Ballard blasted it past Raya. Could we have defended it better? I am sure we could and I am equally sure MA and the coaches will be pointing to some actions we could have taken but personally I felt we were a little unlucky. The ball bounced for them and Ballard did well when it came to him. If only William had done the same about 10 minutes later when he put an excellent chance into Row 20!
The half-time whistle went and Sunderland took an undeserved lead into the break. Could we raise our game 2nd half?
Half Time: Sunderland 1 The Arsenal 0
The 2nd half – Sunderland 1 The Arsenal 1
As we all know now, yes is the answer to the question. I felt that we started the second half with more determination and, in fact, it was Rice’s determination that got us going when he won the ball back from Le Fee in the Sunderland half, it was fed quickly via Eze and, I think, Merino into Saka. The Sunderland keeper had obligingly left a tiny gap at the near post and Bukayo drove it unerringly through the gap and into the back of the net, very good finish.
Sunderland 1 The Arsenal 2
After that our best period of the match followed, we played some nice football, made some good chances and really could and should have been ahead already by the time Leo Trossard took matters into his own hands and blasted home a very fine shot from just outside the area. Their keeper, I think I will call him Mr. Nearpost, had again obligingly left the door open a tad and it was more than enough for Leo. A great goal to cap off an excellent performance on the day from Leo. By this point, the travelling faithful seemed in fine voice and all was well in the world. I suspect I was one among many expecting us to see it out in our usual style and go home with the points but it was not to be, for once. Raya was called into action more in the last 15 minutes than the preceding 80 and did well not, once, twice but three times to deny Sunderland until finally we made a substitution on 88 minutes and brought Mosquera on for Eze to give ourselves some extra insurance at the back.
Sunderland 2 The Arsenal 2
Unfortunately, it didn’t work this time as another cross was aimed at Ballard who nodded it down for Brian Brobby to flick it acrobatically past the onrushing Raya. Again, could we have done more defensively? Yes, sure. Could Raya have stayed on his line? Yes, sure. Will Brobby get that flick wrong nine times out ten? Yes, sure. However, we are not going to win every header and Raya does get off his line, quickly and aggressively and it often works to our advantage. I see no point in whining when it doesn’t and if your name is Brian Brobby you probably need a bit of luck sometimes. There was still time for Ballard to display a complete lack of gratitude for the fine upbringing we provided by getting out well to block a last chance for Merino after Mr Nearpost finally remembered he had one and did well to block a Cala header, and that was that.
Full Time: Sunderland 2 The Arsenal 2
I can’t say I enjoyed this morning’s rewatch of an early evening robbery any more than I did first time round and suppose it is natural to ask what went wrong after a long winning streak comes to an end. However, as I read round the media and the Goonerverse to get a feel of how others saw the game I was quite surprised at the Plucky Little Sunderland Deserved A Draw narrative in several papers. They have a large stadium and 45,000 plus crowds! They are certainly not little and in all honesty I cannot see how they deserved a draw either, it’s their choice to play the way they do and that’s up to them but I see no reason to pretend it’s good football that merits any particular praise. Sure, they give 100% but then so do most teams in the Premier League and some smaller clubs than Sunderland play nice football too. However, I will try not to be sourpuss and grumpy face and at least some of our “special” supporters made me laugh this morning as I read the armchair criticism of Raya, Gabriel, Rice and Arteta for the goals, substitutions and only getting a draw. Any awareness of the role of Mikel and those players in our longest clean sheet run in more than a century and 10 wins on the trot had faded more quickly than a Leo smash into the top corner. 😊
On we go then, unbeaten run intact, top of the league and top-class reinforcements on the way, it’s good to be a Gooner!!
A very fair report, OM. A disappointing outcome to a pretty dismal game, made so by the hit and hope football of our limited opponents and a malkeabke referee who didn’t give a penalty for an obvious penalty offence. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose, as Ollie might say.
Thanks Matt – I do enjoy your humour and irony – much like I try to include in my own efforts as I am quite incapable of producing the kind of detail regularly supplied by our Master of the Monks. In my defence I don’t have an abbey stuffed with otherwise idle dependants to call on to do it all for me.
Anyhoo, an accurate report which I wholeheartedly (please note the all important ‘w’ at the beginning of that word ) agree with. Ballard could and should have gone for that early elbow. Can you imagine him getting away with that when regaled in the colours of the team that brought him up – the ungrateful wretch. Still, Mr Pawson has history with us playing against teams sporting – well, not really – Stoke colours. Cast your mind back to early Klopp at Liverpool. We drew away there 3-3 a few days before travelling to Pulis’s Stoke who were given free reign to absolutely kick us off the park by a referee who was either bent, inept or in some way otherwise intimidated. His name ? Craig Pawson.
Sunderland did apply themselves massively to the task and I guess you can’t blame them for trying to get away with playing to whatever strengths they have. Does this really look like the work of a reportedly clever, potentially top, young European coach ? Lump it in the box and fight like hell. Oh, and don’t forget to fall over whenever you’re challenged. We’ll all have our own opinions on that.
On the positive side, when we changed our MO (no, not him) after the interval, we played some lovely, quick passing, forward looking football which did get us back in front. It did then all slow down again but some of our players looked absolutely exhausted. That wasn’t a huge surprise given three games in a week including one away in the Czech Republic. Plenty of ifs, buts and maybes around our substitutions but I’m happy to leave all that to the manager who is doing a magnificent job.
Hopefully, a change will prove as good as a rest for some of our internationals and they will return fired up for Tottenham on the 23rd.
Great report Matt, especially as the game kicked off after midnight your time.
I’ll share my thoughts to what was an interesting and emotional visit to the North East maybe tomorrow. Today I want to take issue with the statement I have seen in a number of places that Sunderland play “hit and hope football”.
I thought Sunderland were excellent yesterday. Yes they played direct and physical football. So what? They did it with a plan and with a commitment and energy that meant they were, especially in the first half, first to most second balls. We’ve played this sort of football before, not least at Prague in midweek and succeeded. In the second half we upped our intensity and thrived until the last ten minutes when we were out on our feet.
Physical and direct football is allowed. We got very snobbish about this in late Wenger period and ended up with some superb easy on the eye technicians who could be bullied. That’s not the case now.Stop trying to suggest that they are lesser footballers because they play physical football! And stop blaming referees. I’m bored with it!
Stood in the Gods at the Stadium of light I was very proud of our second half comeback. The goals were fantastic. If we had managed to hold on we would’ve been looking back on this game in a different light. Sunderland are unbeaten at home this season. Wonder why?
Excellent report, OM. I’ve only seen highlights so far, so you have filled in a lot of detail and provided a level-headed perspective to make the Guv’nor proud. An away win against a top-four side would once have been considered a good result. As you say, on we go, unbeaten.
Sorry but the day we stop calling out referees for ignoring blatant elbows the head we might as well abandon rules altogether.
Stokederland.
C100 – I quite agree that “physical football “ is allowed and I said above that Sunderland can’t be blamed for playing to whatever strengths they have. I have no problem with any team beating us fair and square in any way they choose.
Where I do blame referees is for not keeping it fair and square – and for not being consistent with their decisions.
Ballard led with his elbow into Merino’s head. Had he not recovered we would have been a man down, virtually from the off, and Sunderland would’ve had no sanction at all. Compare with Saliba vs Brighton last season. Saliba heads the ball and his natural direction of travel results in a contact with the Brighton striker – red card Saliba.
Yesterday Saka was fouled repeatedly, as usual, but play was waved on time and again. Ok, if there was a high bar set on physicality, let’s get on with it. But don’t then give free kicks to Sunderland players for repeatedly throwing themselves on the floor at every touch.
If Ballard on Merino was adjudged no foul by the referee, why did VAR not intervene ? It was a clear and obvious elbow. And what did Zubimendi do that warranted a yellow card? Supposedly something worse than Ballard’s elbow.
Trev
Thanks for that. I think we’re in agreement on the physical, direct football.
I don’t disagree on the refs. I’m just bored sick of talking about them.
You’ve hit the nail perfectly on the head with that report, Matt. I hope we are in a position to look back on this as a useful point in our drive to the top rather than, as it feels at the moment, a sickening late loss of two points after a superb second half recovery.
I did think that we looked to be running on fumes in the last ten minutes which is hardly surprising given that most of the team had played three tough away games in a week. Our results in the last ten games have been truly astonishing given our catalogue of injuries over that period. The critics of our players need to remember the physical and mental toll that schedule has to take. The injuries finally also exacted their toll through the lack of experienced game changers on our bench to add fresh legs and nous to the midfield and attack. It was not a game in which to ask an 18 year old to influence proceedings let alone a 15 year old. Although I would have preferred substitutions that maintained our dominance, given the exhaustion all over the pitch and our recent defensive excellence, I can understand Arteta’s decision to bring Mosquera on to hold what we had. Sadly it didn’t come off.
Onwards!
I also don’t think we would have been shown such leniency had a directed elbow to a centre forward’s head been perpetrated n our box by Saliba or Gabriel given the decisions we have seen awarded against us.
I think that we are perfectly entitled to comment on the inconsistencies we have seen from the muppets with a whistle or a monitor whose cronies persistently assert their omniscience.
Small picture frustrating disappointment, bigger picture OK, though 115 look a bit more ominous again now.
Yeah inconsistency is still there and so annoying, but I’m with C100 on not particularly blaming the ref there, we’ve had a lot worse last season in particular (and many others).
Zubi’s card was ridiculous.
I thought Ben White could have come on to shithouse the last few minutes away but we were indeed unsurprisingly running on fumes at the end.
Frustrating conclusion but far from catastrophical where we stand at the interlull before hopefully getting some players back.
Thanks for your report Matt which describes the game well and has ignited an interesting debate on the merits of Sunderland’s approach. I must admit to being in C100’s camp in that they were pragmatic , well- motivated and determined.
When C 130y came to play us this season they played similarly to Sunderland. We do that to other teams even the very best .
IMO Ballard should have been sent off and we should have had a penalty . But whatever we showed real character in the second half and scored two fine goals and went close several times . It was a decent point at the end of a tough week .
I think Odegaard and Gyokeres would have been very useful but they will soon be back and we are four points clear at the top
The new GHF Predictathon leaderboard and five-week form guide for Matchweek 11 have been posted. Your jaw will drop when you see who did well this week, as they say in the best click-bait circles, so head over to you know where, now!
Blimey. Nosebleed here.
Thanks Matt
Not an easy game to watch. I’m with Ollie in that I was surprised we didn’t use some defensive substitutions earlier to see out the game.
Pawson is weak and carries no stature or authority which is why players get away with stuff they really shouldn’t. They show no respect.
Good time now for an interlull, if there ever is, to reset. We trust in Mikel.
UTA.
Pawson was also the ref at Wolverhampton in Covid times when he gave a soft penalty AND a red card to David Luiz and later sent off Berne Leno transforming a dominant 1-0 into an unlucky 1-2 defeat . Watch out at Molineux- we had Martinelli infamously given two yellow cards in 7 seconds and MLS sent off last season .
Pawson is no friend to us. Interesting to see that the useless Chris Kavanagh now gets elite PL games . Compare him with the ref who oversaw our game in Prague in midweek to gauge the quality of PGMOL refs .
Thanks all for the kind words.
It’s always nice to have some debate!
And thanks for the predictathon update Ned,
one step forward this week………
This morning Blogs provided some excellent context to assuage any remaining gloom over the Wearside result:
Comprehensive review, Matt. Nothing missed there.
I went through quite a few emotional stages over 90+ mins. The first half was a hard watch with the handbrake on, poor defensive work for their goal, some careless passing and two golden chances missed. No one appeared willing to try to run through Sunderland’s defence and neither Saka nor Tross sought to get behind their full backs. At 1-0 I feared a banana skin, not eased by a row of five behind a row of four in Sunderland colours as the second half kicked off.
We were now much better though. Two superb goals and after the second, our opponents were rocking. It looked like a ‘hammering’ might be on the cards. At that point Sunderland looked like a much lesser, recently promoted team. We decided, or weren’t able because of tiring legs, to go for the jugular. Then we conceded and, at the time, that felt like a very big reverse.
On reflection, an away draw against a very competitive, aggressive eleven wasn’t a terrible outcome, particularly after a tough midweek CL game.
Regarding the elbow incident, I didn’t expect it to result in a penalty, although I think a comparable incident at the other end of the field might well have done. I can tolerate that kind of decision, last season’s red cards I can’t.
@17 I thought that was excellent too, Bath.
I can strongly recommend Le Grove’s piece today (I know, I know – but it really is a much, much better site now). This is a call to arms for Gooners with a strong spine, an ‘Agincourt Speech’, if you like (sorry Ollie)…
https://www.le-grove.co.uk/p/beware-phase-5-catastrophizers-are
Another ACL for the women’s squad:
https://www.arsenal.com/news/injury-update-katie-reid
A couple of intriguing stats from the Sunderland game:
1. They gave away only two corners, which is the fewest corners we’ve had since the Leeds game in August.
2. We hit only five fewer long balls than they did (50 v 55).
If we’d scored a goal like Brobbey’s, I wonder if VAR would have chalked it off for a high boot. Just asking.
Another random stat: Leo’s goal was, I learn, the first he has scored for us from outside the box.
Arsenal’s game v Everton has been moved from Sunday 21 December at 2pm, to Saturday 20 December at 8pm. Much as I enjoy my away days, there’s no way I, in my late sixties, am going up to Liverpool for an 8pm kick off a few days before Christmas. Good luck to those that do.
A bit more on our fixture change, it was a difficult situation but I thought
a 17:30 kick-off would have been better
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c17pyreljvqo
In other news it seems we are recruiting Napoli’s head scout.
@24
It seems 8pm was Sky’s choice as it was the only slot available.
I suppose I could moan about Sky but without their money we
wouldn’t have this team.
Matt. 5.30pm on which day though?
Saturday? As I thought straight away on reading the one-sided Arsenal statement, and as blog highlighted this morning, with 8pm Saturday, Palace will already fall short of the recommendations we so saintly claimed in the club’s statement we wouldn’t break as one of the reasons for moving the fixture. (and we are not shy about mentioning it having to be a broadcast slot).
So I’m sure they’ll be thankful for the extra 2 1/2 hours rest already…
@26 yeah, it’s a fair piece by Blogs , it’s bad for all the players involved no matter what work around is finally agreed.
My 17:30 @24 was just from our away support point of view but Palace’s away
support have been just as shafted by 8pm at Leeds.
Here is something to wile away the interminable interlull hours.
The statistical modellers at CIES Football Observatory have come up with a list of who they say should be the 100 highest paid footballers based on performances over the past year plus factors like playing time, level of matches and rate of games in the starting XI. (That last one might explain why Saka doesn’t make the list, whereas ten of his teammates do).
Ignoring other clubs’ players, because, well, why wouldn’t you, ours come out in the order below. The most deserving of the biggest pay cheque is at the top. The first number in the brackets is what CIES’s model reckons the player deserves to be paid, and the second is what the player has to scrape by on each year. The number outside the brackets is the player’s rank in the top 100:
Raya (£12.8m v £5.2m ) – 24
Ødegaard (£12.8m v £12.5m) – 25
Merino (£11.8m v £6.8m) – 34
Martinelli (£11.4m v £9.4m) – 41
Saliba (£10.8m v £13.0m) – 46
Trossard (£10.8m v £4.7m) – 48
Rice (£10.0m v £12.5m) – 56
Gabriel (£9.0m v £7.8m) – 78
Timber (£8.8m v £4.7m) – 81
Gyokeres (£8.6m v £10.4m) – 85
Performance isn’t the only determinant of a salary, of course. But what do you think of the list and the relative order?
Before you dismiss the whole thing as poppycock, CIES sells its salary modelling to clubs, players and their agents as the basis for real salary negotiations.
https://football-observatory.com/WeeklyPost521
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