The compressed time schedule we developed because of the Double features meant that I was required to produce this report shortly after the match. So in the interests of expedition I decided to think before the game about the issues that would probably concern us after the game…if we could bother to be concerned at all.
The apathy post-Thursday night has been almost tangible.
It was not a good week to celebrate a huge past achievement which has served for many of us to highlight the difference between a heroic past and a very problematic present and future. 50 years ago today a crowd of around 750,000 people thronged Islington Town Hall celebrating a huge achievement of skill and resilience.
That sort of joy seemed a world away tonight as an almost audible groan echoed across the Goonerverse when the Arsenal team was announced. A midfield two of Ceballos and Elneny with Willian wide presaged little but at least Martinelli started upfront through the centre. Saka returned to left back.
My musings pre-match were along the following lines.
How engaged were the team after a massive disappointment, at the end of a ghastly season in an empty ground against a team we thrashed 4-0 just after Christmas? They were likely to be much more motivated than us. Could we play positive front-foot football, something which has largely eluded us this season? In the end we could, but only for about fifteen minutes, and tonight it was enough.
Could we relegate the odious Fat Sam Allardyce, a man who in the past has presided over several assaults on Arsenal teams, most notably at Bolton in 2003 when three Arsenal players were kicked off the pitch in twenty minutes, arguably costing us the league title? That would be some scant consolation. I vowed never to watch an England game when he was made the national coach but thankfully his naivety and keenness to supplement his income led to his early demise. We did indeed send Sam down, and it was a cause of some celebration for most right-thinking Gooners.
Finally could the team ignite some passion among an understandably apathetic fanbase? I feel, and I know a number of you do too, that there is a potentially exciting nucleus here, young players that could presage a better future. Could we end the season on an upbeat note starting today? Tonight we saw the immense potential of Saka, the drive of ESR and they showed up in stark contrast to an otherwise pedestrian display although Pépé, as ever, played in flashes.
About an hour before kick off a scurrilous rumour circulated, spread by Countryman that the teams were in the bar. Maybe, I thought, the managers are looking to relax the teams prior to kick-off?
The report from here was written in real time and reflected my thoughts as the game unfolded.
We started kicking towards the North End. We have started really slowly in most home games, and we weren’t exactly quickly out of the blocks tonight. We took five minutes to get into their half and then Pépé fired wildly over. The early play was fairly moribund with West Brom looking the more assured side, and a Pereira drive on 12 minutes was narrowly wide of Leno’s left-hand post. Robinson was adjudged offside when hitting the bar minutes later. Pereira then speared another longshot wide. Saka was thwarted by a brilliant tackle by Furlong, and was looking our best attacking weapon. Diagne then failed to turn home a low Pereira cross as West Brom attacked with an incisiveness Arsenal only showed when Saka was on the ball. Willian continued to look utterly pedestrian, possibly the slowest wide player in the Premier League. Whatever possessed us to sign him on a three year contract? A swap with the excellent Pereira seems a deal worth doing.
Then on twenty nine minutes a more penetrative move saw Saka get to the byline and cut the ball back for ESR to produce a beautiful volley for his first Premier League goal. It was beautifully worked and completely at odds with what had gone before.
Arsenal 1 (Smith Rowe 29) West Brom 0
Ceballos was growing into the game and we then saw the brilliance of Pépé, who on 34 minutes cut in from the right and hit a beautiful left-footed drive into the top lefthand corner.
Arsenal 2 (Pépé 34) West Brom 0
Martinelli was dropping deeper to receive the ball and had not figured until on 38 minutes he hit a dipping shot narrowly over. West Brom could not handle the runs of Saka on the left and he threatened danger every time we attacked. Fat Sam shifted uncomfortably in his seat. It was good to see. The seat may have been too small. That must happen to him a lot.
Willian then set up Chambers on 41 minutes for a fierce drive over the bar. Willian then put in Saka yet again, and his near-post drive was blocked by Johnstone in the West Brom goal. The half ended with Arsenal completely in control and Fat Sam with one foot and one of his very large buttocks sliding through the trapdoor into the Championship.
Half-Time – Arsenal 2 West Brom 0
The second half began with Pépé testing the keeper with a low snorter, and then ESR hitting a swerving drive at Johnstone. Martinelli was looking a little lost through the centre partly because Arsenal tend to move the ball wide at every opportunity.
Twelve minutes into the half we survived a series of corners but on 59 minutes we broke slickly again through Saka, but Martinelli and ESR failed to turn it home. It was Martinelli’s last action as he was hauled off to be replaced by Lacazette, a frustrating night for the young Brazilian who failed to grasp the opportunity he was given as a striker. Kieran Tierney arrived on 62 minutes as ESR was subbed off after a fine display. Saka moved into ESR’s role. Lacazette’s first action was to fail to touch home another brilliant Saka cross, although he was judged offside.
Arsenal seemed to find it hard to connect with a series of left-wing crosses, and then they were punished: Pereira carried the ball from his own half and drilled the ball past Leno in off the far post. The ease with which he made ground was ominous. That swap deal looks increasingly attractive.
Arsenal 2 West Brom 1 (Pereira 66)
Arsenal’s inability to control midfield was starting to cost them and give hope to West Brom. Fat Sam flashed a smile, not a pretty sight, but evidence that we weren’t able to dominate the game as we had in the latter stages of the first half. Furlong headed wide on 73 minutes and I made a note that Partey for Willian might be a good idea. Arteta heard me but took off Ceballos, who had a decent game. One wonders if Willian has a minimum minutes to be played clause in his contract? He had started slowly and faded. After 78 minutes Willian went down and required treatment but came back on – cue sighs from Gooners everywhere.
The feeling was that West Brom’s substitutions were significantly more effective than Arsenal’s who had lost all rhythm. A better left-wing move saw the ball sit up for Chambers who blazed over on 84 minutes. Fat Sam masticated in the stand but the camera mercifully panned away rapidly.
Then on 89 minutes the brilliant Willian, so vilified by so many cruel Gooners, fired a superb free-kick into the top lefthand corner to settle the argument and restore a two goal lead. Arsenal haven’t scored three at home very often this season and all three tonight were excellent strikes.
Arsenal 3 (Willian 88) West Brom 1
I’ve nothing against West Brom except that I intensely dislike their manager and he looked unhappy as the realisation of relegation started to dawn on him. That soothed my mood like a nice glass of Merlot as the referee blew time on Albion’s Premier League campaign.
A strange game in which we played sublimely for around ten minutes but otherwise showed all the frailties and insecurities that have plagued our season.
Final Score – Arsenal 3 West Brom 1
THE CONVERSATION: EPISODE TWO
And again…the second part of the conversation, and the second part of our Double Celebration!
GHF.com are pleased to release this, especially considering the Arsenal events of these past couple weeks. Lift your spirits by watching the second episode of two video conversations with Bob Wilson and Pat Rice about Arsenal’s 1970-71 Double year, on the 50th Anniversary of our FA Cup win over Liverpool at Wembley. Remember to donate to Willow, or bid on the GHF.com Auction!
Click on the image below (or on the Youtube link below that) to watch
“Episode Two: Double Glory — The 1971 FA Cup Run”
Or, watch here: “Episode Two: Double Glory — The 1971 FA Cup Run“ (on Youtube). This is especially helpful if you’re having any loading issues with the link to the one the site is serving above.
Let us know what you think in the “drinks” section below!
THE AUCTION: NOW ACCEPTING BIDS
We are also pleased to remind you that our auction of signed 1970-71 Double memorabilia is now open for bids! For full information, please visit The Double/Willow Auction tab above.
Just a taste…the lots offered are as follows:
Lot 1: A 1971 Cup Final replica shirt signed by Bob Wilson, Pat Rice, Frank McLintock, George Graham & Charlie George.
Lot 2: A 1971 Cup Final programme signed by Bob Wilson, Pat Rice, Frank McLintock, George Graham & Charlie George.
Lot 3: A second 1971 Cup Final programme signed by Bob Wilson, Pat Rice, Frank McLintock, George Graham & Charlie George.
Lot 4: Bob Wilson’s autobiography, ‘Behind the Network’ signed by Bob Wilson & Arsène Wenger.
All proceeds from the auction go to the Willow Foundation.
Evening all, actually watched the match, but had a feeling all through that I needed to get a life……..no worries, a valve amp warming up with a Telecaster tuned in open G, volume up too loud, ready to show the neighbours I’m still alive….. 2nd part of the interview with Bob and Pat was great! Well done the team!
Super speedy report TTG. To paraphrase the Bard
“And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That saw Willian score against the Baggies”
Me bloody fat ?
No way , I lost 3 ounces last month
Nice review, TTG.
A fairly typical Curate’s Egg of an Arsenal pperformance. It was lovely to see some great goals scored. But that is tempered by the poverty both of the opposition and the “defending” for the WBA goal and ensuing minutes as we all wondered whether we might witness an Arsenal capitulation of the kind that once upon a time would have been inconceivable.
Excellent and speedy report, sir, shot through with a welcome vein of humour. It was good to hear Arteta’s dissatisfaction with the performance despite the three excellent goals. As you observe we have the nucleus of a talented team but the deficits are worrying.
I have only seen highlights, so I will take your word, TTG, on the 10/80 ratio of sublimity to insecurity. The goals were indisputably good. The last two were finishes of individual quality that has been so sadly absent in our shooting in so many games. The first, though, was an excellent team goal. Who knew that the combination of making runs, getting behind the opposition defence and having midfielders make late runs was how you could score?
Thanks TTG, amusingly written report though 10 / 80 was a touch harsh 😁
I enjoyed the game myself, though to be honest I stayed off social media for this one to avoid some of our gloomier brethren and that probably helped.
@3
On her bike fatso
Yer not her spillchuck
A lady would certainly not want fat Sam in the saddle I am sure
>>>>>>>>>>>>>