First, an apology for the tardiness of this report. I volunteered to fill this gap in the schedule and due to some work confusion completely forgot about it. However … enjoy … I hope!
A Tuesday evening trip to Suffolk for the 3rd round of the Carabao Cup saw Mikel Arteta ring the changes from the team that had won away at Sunderland just 72 hours before. Nine of them altogether with sone positional novelties among them.
The Gunners lined up as:
Kepa;
Zubimendi, Salmon, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly;
Guimarães;
Merino, Dowman;
Madueke, Gyökeres, Eze.
That was the best I could make of the formation, and it included 16 year old Max Dowman, 17 year old Marli Salmon and, lest we forget, the still only 19 year old Miles Lewis-Skelly.
Our replacements included a Brazilian international and two Spanish World Cup winners, such is the strength of the current squad.
While 15 year old “phenomenon” JJ Gabriel is apparently demanding to leave Manchester United due to limited opportunities, Max Dowman, 16, has waited quietly for his first minutes of the new season and what minutes they were. As the nights slowly but surely draw in towards autumn, the lights were on at Portman Road for the eight-o-clock kick off and were augmented by a dazzling display by the just-out-of-school boy.
The game was only 7 minutes old when he exchanged passes with Eberechi Eze and ran straight at the heart of the Ipswich defence. That run included what I will call the “Kanu feint” – the one that left a number of Deportivo defenders on their backsides in a Champions League tie at Highbury as he walked the ball into the net. Max’s feint left 29 year old, 6’3” Ipswich defender, Cedric Kipre, on the floor – similarly to the the Everton defender he sent sprawling at the Emirates – before he nudged the ball onto his ‘weaker’ right foot and fired in at the left hand post past a helpless Christian Walton.
Not a bad night’s work for a 16 year old. But it was only half done. Two minutes into the second half, Martin Zubimendi pushed the ball into the Ipswich area where Dowman, back on his left foot, calmly curled the ball past the keeper and inside the far post to complete his first senior brace and put the Arsenal 3 – 0 to the good.
In between those Dowman strikes, Noni Madueke had doubled Arsenal’s lead after a Bruno Guimarães tackle freed the ball which found itself with Mikel Merino. His chipped pass found Madueke on the right hand side of the area and the winger adjusted his body position before driving the ball past Walton with the outside of his left boot. So 2 – 0 after 16 minutes. The handbrake was well and truly off and Set Piece FC were in full flow. I have to admit at this point, utterly spoilt as I am, that I was disappointed with our corners. Is anyone else feeling slightly disappointed that we haven’t scored from a single corner in our first six games!
After Dowman’s second goal, Arsenal continued to probe until Merino picked up a pass from Guimarães and struck from just outside the area. It was a lovely strike with his left foot which cannoned in off the left hand post to make it Ipswich 0 – 4 Arsenal.
Anis Mehmeti pulled one back for Ipswich from a driving assist from substitute Clark. Ex-Arsenal Hale End graduate Chuba Akpom – can you believe he is 30 years old? – grabbed them a second consolation in added time with a neat turn and shot from 12 yards. He had fouled MLS in the build up which I’m sure VAR would have spotted had it been employed. Oh yes it would!
Mikel Arteta had been able to leave Bukayo Saka on the bench and Declan Rice at home, such is the strength of the squad. None of our full backs was risked either with a tricky game scheduled for Brighton at the weekend. Marli Salmon gave an impressive display at centre back and 18 year old Theo Julienne came on as a late sub at right back.
The night, though, belonged to Max Dowman, of whom Mikel Arteta purred, “He’s an unbelievable player because of the character that he has and how much he loves to play at the biggest stage and still handle the situation so naturally. That’s his biggest quality. At 16 to already do what he does, it’s just incredible.”
And isn’t it great, as fans, to see that despite the depth and quality in our squad, there is still a pathway into the side for the incredible youngsters the club is producing.
Finally, a word for the loud and proud travelling Gooners. I’m sure there will be an on the spot report to look forward to from C100 if he hasn’t already beaten me to it.
Thanks for that lovely report Trev. As I said briefly in the last drinks, this was a stress free, fun evening in Suffolk. You’ve described the game very well so just a few points about the match experience. This is our closest current Premier League ground so as you’d expect, the journey was a doddle. 85 minutes was all it took to trundle along the A14 and to our parking space just off Portman Road, a five minute walk from the stadium. I had arranged to meet up with CER and a couple of North Bank buddies but unfortunately they were caught up in traffic on the M25 so my son and I had to consume a beer and a pie (a rather tasty steak and ale) by ourselves.
Into the ground and up to our seats, right on the half way line with a splendid view. Our last game at Portman Road I complained bitterly about the non stop Ed Sheeran music pregame. Well fancy that, not a single track from the ginger one was played. Cancelled by his boyhood club and recipient of his financial largesse. Never mind the politics, a triumph for musical taste. Sitting right behind me was a very nice guy called Trev (not our correspondent) who was born in the same year as me and the Guvna. A fine vintage. When he retired he invested part of his pension lump sum in a club level seat at the Emirates where he sits next to Clive Palmer. He also frequently travels away and I was highly impressed to hear that not only had he been to Sunderland, but also to Napoli. We whiled away the Sheeran free minutes before kickoff with a very pleasant natter. Two old gits of the same age united in spending our pensions on following the Arsenal.
We drooled over the skill of Super Maxie Dowman, at the nutmegs from our captain for the night Mikel Merino and at the calmness of Marli Salmon. Noni played well and scored. The much maligned (not least by me) Kepa actually had a near faultless night. Unfortunately big Vik had an absolute Weston. Hopefully three weeks of playing up top for Sweden alongside Isak will jump start his season.
The away fans were a joy. Covered by a crinkly tin roof (like in the Putney end at Fulham) reverbed the noise beautifully and this was one of the loudest travelling contingents I have ever been in.As well as reminding the locals who the Champions were, every players’ song was sung. Every time the ball bounced off Vik we launched into his song. Old favourites like “So Paddy got up” and “She wore a yellow ribbon” filled the Suffolk air. Wonderful stuff.
In the last ten minutes Gooners began outing themselves in the home end. “Stand up for the Arsenal!” we roared. And then the song last heard at the London Stadium in May rang out.
We sit where we want!
We sit where we want!
We are the Arsenal!
We sit where we want!
Great evening. Home by 11.30. I’m missing Brighton because I’m off on holiday (although my son is going). The next game I will be at seems an eternity away, Leeds at home .
Sorry forgot the funniest song of the night.
At 4-0 up we were singing
“Are you Tottenham in disguise?”
Then they scored. 4-1. Immediately we started singing
“You’re NOT Tottenham in disguise!
You’re not Tottenham in disguise!
God I love football banter.
Excellent report, Trev, and wonderful colour commentary from C100.
It’s good to be a Gooner these days.
Fleetwood town away in round 4!
Wonder how manyticketswe’ll get!
Evidently their ground is called Highbury and holds 5300. We’ll get 500 tix.
Bit of a kit clash too ! 🤣
Isn’t that where Jamie Vardy started ?
And they’ve got a midfielder called Cannon 🤷♂️
Lovely match report from Trev and super match account from C100.I’m happy for us to do well in this competition if we play our alternate eleven which we largely did here Dowman is a delight , Madueke had an end product and Merino is a super acquisition.
I have to address Gyokeres who was shocking . Fresh from playing in a game where we had 4xG in Naples and not having a shot he played upfront in what was a one- sided cakewalk and scarcely touched the ball. He hasn’t been able to adapt to the sophistication of our buiid up and he looks like a donkey in a field of thoroughbreds
Eze disappointed. He never looks confident playing for us and he’s not a left winger
But overall it was a nice night spoilt only by the absence of the talented and charitable Ed Sheeran
Thanks Trev an enjoyable and in end timely report, just
right to see we’d got Fleetwood away!
Other than they play at a Highbury in The Arsenal colours and the
chairman is a crook I don’t really know anything about
Fleetwood, but looks a good draw.
Let’s batter the Cod Army!
Batter them, Matt ? Is it on a fry day night ?
Not sure the date, just know it’s
at their plaice….
No need to carp on about it @Trev, @OM
Good stuff, Trev but you were far too diplomatic in omitting any comment on Gyökeres’ embarrassing performance. I’m in agreement with TTG. Despite his important contribution to last season’s triumphant return to the title, he just can’t adapt to the way Arteta’s team plays. Whether rumours of his nose being out of joint about our pursuit of Alvarez are true or not, he needs to sort himself out if he is to get a move to another top club. I don’t see him lasting long at the Arsenal if he can’t find his mojo. In short, a square peg in a round hole and his days must be numbered. Eze needs to sort himself out too.
Lot of negativity around in here chaps. Guess 7 out of 7, scored 16, conceded 3, teenage talent coming out of our ears, new signings fitting in well not good enough for you. God knows what you’ll say if, God forbid, we lose a game.
We’re not all happy bunnies about to go on holiday and singing coom by ya like you C100 @15. Critical analysis and legitimate criticism is permitted in non-authoritarian circles, you know. I can only speak personally and I am delighted with our start to the season but concerned about Gyökeres’ form, and, to a lesser extent Eze’s. Is that negative? Stifling legitimate observations leads to only one outcome – to find out read Miloscz’s The Captive Mind.
Colour me very unconvinced Bath. Get out of bed the wrong side this morning? Your only contributions to Trev’s review of a top class performance were negative. No words about Dowman, Merino, Noni (another victim of ire), Kepa (ditto) or others. Praise first criticism second praise last. That’s the way I prefer to see it. Coom by ya indeed.
This is a glorious time to be a Gooner. I suggest you enjoy it instead of muttering into your coffee.
I don’t think I’m the one who got out on the wrong side of the bed.
I didn’t think I needed to add to the praise that Trev had already lavished upon several of our outstanding performers but I did observe that he had failed to comment on Gyökeres whose involvement in the game was disappointingly minimal. A game in which I was hoping that he would rediscover his goalscoring skills against a much rotated defence.
If you must have my observations on the team as a whole, I thought Dowman’s performance quite extraordinary for a youth, matched only by Salmon whose calm efficiency belies his youth. Both will be key players in the foreseeable future. Kepa looked assured and dealt with his challenges competently, Zubimendi was a very secure emergency RB and moreover, managed to support Madueke well and get an assist. Gabriel guided and encouraged Salmon well and made his usual rock-like contribution while MLS continues to provide high-level performances at both LB and MF. Guimarães continues to show the drive and vision that may make him the buy of the summer while Merino, as ever, reads the game superbly and knits the team together both with and without the ball and he thoroughly deserved his goal. Madueke had one of his best performances, took his goal well and flashed a superb ball across the 6-yard box that a decent centre forward should have netted. Gyökeres looked thoroughly out of sorts and looked like a fish out of water all night. Eze worked hard but was less involved than he should have been and not much that he tried came off. I’ll spare you my thoughts on the subs.
Enjoy your holiday. Your querulousness suggests you may need it.
Excellent atmosphere piece btw.
@1 C100 – many thanks for your ‘atmosphere’ piece from a Gooner from afar.
I do miss the match-day shenanigans from live matches; not much is heard
over broadcast tv audio (not that I listen to the audio – best to get online audio from the Gunner’s excellent online commentary team)
Boff @20. Many thanks. I never forget how lucky and privileged I am to see so many games live. My respect for those in far flung places who still follow The Arsenal so closely despite the damage to their sleep patterns is huge.
You summed it up beautifully, Trev and you very colourfully, C100.
Hale End Academy is doing a superb job of providing a constant flow of young talent, many of whom look like they will manage to meet the challenges that football at the very top level brings forth.
Trev@7: That nice Mr Vardy started out at Stockbridge Park Steel, a descendant of a greater Sheffield steel mill works team, before moving to Halifax Town and thence to Fleetwood, still a non-league club then. He had 125 senior games under his belt at that point. Thirty-six more for Fleetwood (in which he scored 31 goals) and then off to Leicester City. The rest, as they say, we couldn’t give a tinker’s cuss for.
Pleased for Kepa that he played well, back-up keeper isn’t the easiest role
as Karl Darlow is the latest to find. Of course some would say sitting on a
bench for a lot of money is a great gig so I suppose you pays your money and
you sings your hymn.
Speaking of hymns, Mr Bradford, our kindly middle school music teacher, was very fond of kumbaya, and we had to sing it most mornings at school assembly. The school was
in Mitcham, a noted shithole in those days, and I can’t think of a less naive and idealistic bunch of 12 year olds, one of life’s little quirks for me that the sing has come to embody those two concepts.
Poor Mr Bradford would be very unhappy.
Matt
I lived in Tooting . I’m glad I don’t still !
@25 😂 yeah, Broadway or Beckhampstead neither were a good option
On Gyökeres I think the criticism (shocking, square peg, nightmare) is
not unfair as he was hopeless but the assumption in many quarters that
we should hastily move him on seems a bit precipitate to me. Yes, he has started
the season slowly but then he has barely played. He did ok last
season, chipped in 21 useful goals and led the line reasonably well at
times. He’ll never suit this team in the way Kai does of course but he may
be useful as the season wears on and it’s too early to write him off
Matt, TTG- A youth spent the wrong side of the river – you have my deepest sympathies. Although some of the finest Gooners have also been Deep South – I give you Messrs Davis, Rocastle and Thomas.
C100@21- good point. I don’t get to anywhere near the number if away games you do, but thank you for reminding me how lucky I am to get to these I do, let alone having a season ticket. The Far Flungs in here are a continual source of inspiration, getting up at daft o’clock to watch The Arsenal. Drinks of your choice are on the bar.
Enjoy your break, C100
3 weeks without proper football after tomorrow. I may sue the powers-that-be for mental cruelty.
Cheers Trev.
Didn’t get to see the match as I was at a gig, so couldn’t possibly comment on the performance. I enjoyed seeing the result on my way home, and got to see the goals the next day, a pleasant experience.
Brighton away next, it’s going to be a different test.
C100 @ 2 : hahaha, superb banter that!
Cheers Trev & C100 for the very enjoyable report and paintig the atmosphere perfectly such as the night was.
The team was a joy to watch and it is true that school gives you better education than tractor. 🙂
I feel sorry for Gyokeres. He is so determind which is enough to be a good striker in a lesser league but not in the PL. You just can’t compare him to Havertz. Sadly, I doubt that there would be an article about Gyokeres like this:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7599764/2026/09/17/kai-havertz-arsenal-positioning/
It’s behind paywall.
COYG
Hello all. I’m pretty irregular in my visits at the moment, but it’s good to know this place is here when I need it. Huge thanks as always to everyone who writes, posts, reads and is involved in any way.
Not related to anything in the bar… I cannot express deeply enough how much I loathe MLS being referred to as ‘Skelly’. His surname is Lewis-Skelly. It is a double barrelled name. They are not some alien concept. We are all familiar with them. Has any ever called Catherine Zeta-Jones ‘Catherine Jones’?
Daniel Day-Lewis is an enigmatic actor who wins oscars. Daniel Lewis? I’m not so sure.
What about the well-known Leeds striker Dominic Lewin? No? Cos no-one has ever called him that, it being obviously wrong and inappropriate.
So how is it so common that people do it to MLS? It’s shabby, disrespectful and lazy to call our Myles ‘Skelly’.
If you catch anyone doing it, I highly recommend that you give them both barrels.
You’ve got a point there, Gunnersaurus Double :-D.
>>>>>>>>>>>>