‘The best laid plans o’ mice and men are gang aft a-gley,’ Rabbie Burns
This quote from a man who is privileged to share his birthday with me occurred to me on the way home. Whether it was the effect of dining with two proud Scotsmen after the match or my natural poetic bent, it appeared an appropriate commentary on the ‘Holicverse today. Ostensibly a 12.30 kick-off, the game began half an hour later than scheduled because Arsenal’s ticketing system broke down before the match. My proudly proffered digital membership brought up the ‘Access Denied’ sign at gate D. One imagines the problems encountered by Pangloss in validating his ticket a couple of days ago were a precursor of the IT problems ahead. The fates had clearly decided that it wasn’t a match that he should see because his car broke down en route to the match. He has our sympathies as has C100 who was taken poorly during the match and had to return home. He has our very best wishes for a speedy recovery. I’ve heard from him while writing this report and he appears to be feeling very much better. One hopes the Pangloss vehicle can also be made whole very swiftly and inexpensively.
These absences had the effect of decimating our first ‘Holic gathering of the season which was confined to Ollie, Bathgooner , BtM and myself but a pleasant and lively time was had by the survivors. So, what did we have to discuss?
Firstly, and vitally we had an Arsenal win, a deserved victory but one that was much harder earned than appeared likely at the interval. The season began with a win but our performance created as many questions as answers. Pre-kick off (for those allowed into the stadium), the big question was not what would our side be – we thought we knew that – but how would we line up? Arteta’s first league selection of the season was a very intriguing one and I would venture it caused Steve Cooper, the Forest manager, much vexation.
Three obvious defenders were named – White, Saliba and Timber. Havertz and Nketiah both started. We had no clearly identified full-backs and Declan Rice made his league debut. When the game began we had partial answers. In defence, we were a four defensively with Partey pulling wide to right back but offensively we were a fluid three while Partey inverted.
It was a three that was almost penetrated catastrophically by Johnson early doors when a fortunate bounce put him through between Saliba and Timber. Ramsdale handled the situation well, standing up until the last minute and psyching out Johnson who sliced wide. It was Forest’s best and almost their only chance of the first half. While we took time to hit our stride we played some increasingly delightful and intricate football and we received our reward on 26 minutes with what I deemed to be our first shot. It owed much to Martinelli’s delightful control on the left wing. His penetrating run enabled him to set up Eddie Nketiah with a back-heel and Eddie’s opportunistic low shot from wide of the left-hand post took a deflection and beat Matt Turner making a quick return to the Home of Football.
Arsenal 1 Forest 0 (Nketiah 26)
This gave us increased confidence exemplified by Bukayo Saka who receiving from Saliba twenty yards out arrowed a superb, curling drive into the top left-hand corner.
Arsenal 2 Forest 0 (Saka 32)
From there towards half-time we exerted almost total control. Rice had a more than satisfactory debut. His intelligence, poise and accuracy enabled him to shield the back three and start positive attacking moves. He has the hallmark of top players in his ability to screen the pitch before receiving the ball. Ødegaard seemed to be everywhere and buzzed around to great effect and Saka and Martinelli worked very hard going both ways. At the interval we looked very comfortable.
Half-time Arsenal 2 Forest 0
Jurrien Timber who had an excellent first-half, looking cultured and assured defensively, sustained an injury in added time in the first half. He returned after the break only to break down early in the second half. He was replaced by Tomayisu and we seemed to lose some fluidity after this. Forest were more direct, more robust and more competitive and fittingly for a team who signed thirty players last season, brought on a stream of substitutes. Their best hope of a goal appeared to be a set piece and in the second-half there were strong appeals for a penalty for handball from a corner when Rice appeared to be culpable. The footballing Gods smiled on us.
Just when it seemed that we would preserve a clean sheet, two of Forest’s never-ending stream of subs combined to thwart us. An Arsenal corner on the right was recycled to Elanga who left Rice and most of the Arsenal defence in his wake and squared the ball to Awoniyi who touched the ball home. It was belatedly ‘game on’!
Arsenal 2 Forest 1 (Awoniyi 85)
Tension crept into the game and Arsenal who had subbed on Trossard for Nketiah now had to revert to a less sophisticated defensive model bringing on Gabriel at centre back for Martinelli. This was a frustrating and nervy ending and one sensed it was unnecessary without appreciating quite why this change had taken place – Ødegaard still bossed midfield, Saliba was commanding and Ramsdale relatively untroubled but when Michael Oliver blew eight minutes into added time it was more of a relief than a triumph!
Result Arsenal 2 Forest 1
Nevertheless, there was much to be encouraged about. Rice had an excellent debut and was foiled twice by Turner from crowning his debut with a goal. Saka received a heavy knock early on but was still able to create havoc and Ødegaard produced a captain’s performance.
If I had two concerns, one would be how seriously Timber is injured and the other would be how to integrate Havertz into this team. In two major games he has shown encouraging touches but an ability to be peripheral in a way that, for example, Trossard never is. Gabby Agbonlahor is apparently ‘not having him’ as I heard on TalkShite as I was driving home.
There is also one other general concern.
Could it be that, despite the innovation of Arteta’s coaching, might I suggest that our style and our interchanges are so complex that some players seem to struggle to understand them? This will hopefully be a temporary problem and should become a permanent strength but one senses there will be a period of bedding down before our playbook is fully integrated into our way of operating. A point to consider and to discuss but at least we can do so with the comfort of a winning start behind us.
Home and still no drink? Cheers TTG! Many points/questions to debate/ponder but I’m just going to go to sleep.
Thanks TTG, an excellent summary of an odd game. Glad to hear C100 is feeling better.
I thought we’d get 5 or 6 after that cracker from Saka but that was in fact the high point.
As you say TTG it is going to take a little time to embed the new boys and the team felt a little shoehorned yesterday. Touch wood, Timber is ok.
Top job, TTG – nice balance of social and match report.
I’ve been ordered to go – on a plane right now.
Back later 👍🏻
Good piece from Amy Lawrence in The Athletic. Basically she’s predicting that the unexpected team selection will be the new normal and is the next step in MA’s mind.
Very different from last season when barring injuries it was fairly obvious who would start every week. I can see MA’s reasoning along the lines of his post match comments about causing problems for the opposition, though I must admit I always liked the we play how we play, fuck ‘em attitude of AW.
Congratulations on a very swift production of the report, TTG and a typically spot on review. Good to hear that C100 is feeling much better.
First things first, the IT debacle is pretty unforgivable. Systems Implementation 101 is test, text and test again before you go live. If entire blocks were not enabling access, as has been reported, then that rather suggests that little or no testing took place. I imagine the touts are laughing up their sleeves. 2 weeks to sort this out, Arsenal. A repeat is not acceptable. All a bit Spursy.
I very much liked Arteta’s tactical switch up in adding an additional midfielder for a defender in a game where the opposition were almost certain to Newcastle. I think we will see more of this kind of change all season as the manager seeks to make us unpredictable. Rice is, to my mind, still getting used to his teammates and what is expected of him. Once he has found this feet , he will be quite the asset in tandem with Partey and the now metronomic Odegaard.
I couldn’t make the game as it was my daughters 25th, but 21CG had a pass from She Who Must Be Obeyed and very much enjoyed the game, sat next to Bath. I hope your ears have stopped ringing, Sir……
Thanks for a speedy, accurate and thought-provoking report, TTG. Unsurprisingly, we saw the same game. I wonder how long this Rubik’s Cube approach to team structure will continue. I did think that a selection to play on the front foot against lastseason’s worst travellers was not unreasonable but we did look defensively somewhat short when Forest discovered they could simpy run past our stretched midfield and sparse last line in the late second half. The re-appearance of Gabriel was essential to holding onto thhe three points. I can’t see that team starting against stronger opposition myself, but who am I to argue. However, as you observed over the late lunch, unquestionably, constant mutation of the team positions will confuse the opposition but may confuse some of our lads too!
Here’s hoping C100’s revival by rehydration (proper rehydration not his usual kind) is complete and Pangloss’s charabanc has also been revived to normal service.
Fast, crisp and accurate, TTG. Very nice job. Great to catch up post match.
When Saka scored our second, our dominance of the ball was such that my mind went to “Forest aren’t going to survive in this League this season.” There was very much to like about this early phase of the game and that extended to half time. I suspect MA8 demanded more of the same “and more goals will come”. Unfortunately they didn’t and as time wore on the pace and crispness of our play lessened.
I think, in retrospect, that the loss of that goal was a good thing. It will provide the primary (and much needed) focus for improvement during training this week.
Other than that, three points from the first game of the season. What’s not to like?
Bath – how very dare you!
For those who don’t know I was forced to leave the game after 25 minutes as I was feeling sick, dizzy and faint. I was so bad that I was forced to sit down – which is when those around me on the North Bank knew something was wrong! My son got me back to the car and thence home. It seems I was suffering from dehydration – I’ll spare you the gory details but I think it was the effects of a dodgy burger at Wembley that affected both my son and myself. Should have followed TTG’s advice and found an Indian restaurant! After my wife fed me lucozade, sweet tea and chicken soup I’m feeling much better.
My thanks to all those who expressed concern, not only fellow holic’s but also neighbours on the North Bank.
I’ll be back for the next home game against Fulham!
Good to hear C100 appears mended ? What news of the Pangloss charabanc?
My Spud grandson is flying back from Majorca today but good old BA have cancelled the flight and he has to duvet with Lufthansa via Frankfurt . My daughter said he would have flatly refused to travel via Munich . Still it’s good to see Bayern going all Spursy as soon as Harry took his tracksuit off !
Good to see you back up and running, C100 !
Pangloss’s Charabanc sounds like something Tony Hawkes would have written. I do hope the old chap and his old banger are ok …?
Good to hear from rehydrated you, C100! Keep well.
First, good to hear that C100 is rehydrated and revived. Never underestimate the restorative power of chicken soup.
Similar good news of Pangloss’s charabanc to come, one hopes.
Thank you, TTG, for your typically perceptive and thought-provoking match report.
My two cents on the formation is that Arteta is using a conventional 4-3-3 when we don’t have the ball, and a 3-2-2-3/3-1-3-3 when we do in order to solve the problem of how a team dominating possession for long periods can break down an opposition disciplined in keeping its shape while defending deep, i.e. parking the bus.
The intention is not just to overload one side of the pitch so that the opposition must shift its defence across to cover, thus leaving the opposite flank less well-defended, which is a fundamental precept of Guardiola/Arteta positional play, but to use the additional forward midfielder simultaneously to overload the middle thus disrupting the structure of the defensive shift, and creating gaps to exploit.
You saw Man City operating this way at times last season, with Stones moving out of the back four to become the single pivot DM in a 3-1-3-3, pushing Rhodri forward, whereas against Forest, Partey moved out of the back four to play ahead of Rice. The net effect is the same.
The approach requires outside centre-backs that can play as wing-halves (White and Timber, possibly Tierney and Tomiyasu, but not Gabriel). Saliba and Gabriel can play centre CB, but Saliba would be most ‘holics first choice, especially as the tactic is vulnerable to the long ball hit over the defensive line, and Saliba is the better defender of those.
Arteta may be overcomplicating things by trying to play more than one variety of 3-2-2-3/3-1-3-3 within games. Against Forest, sometimes we had the front five/six in a diamond shape and sometimes in a box. TTG may be onto something in saying that may confuse the opposition but also ourselves.
I would guess that Arteta will pick a 3-2-2-3 team to start against opponents he expects to defend deep for long periods, even if it lines up as 4-3-3 to start or on the teamsheet, and a 4-3-3 team when he expects possession to be more evenly divided, even if he will still aim to mutate into 3-2-2-3/3-1-3-3 in possession.
Many thanks TTG for a speedy yet comprehensively match report. I saw the same game as you and other esteemed drinkers here. In my view the fall off in performance in the 2cnd half was somewhat tactical in that Forest pulled two men to cover their full backs who were getting roasted in the first half. This resulted in much less space for Saka & Martinelli to attack with the resulting drop off in chance creation. It will be interesting to see how much Mikel tinkers with the formation as the season develops. It was a very welcome 3 points to start the ball rolling.
Good to see that C100 has made a fast recovery – let’s hope Pangloss has equally good news to report.
My car is currently at the local garage while they decide how many zeroes to stick at the end of their estimate. Fingers crossed it won’t be too many.
I was very upset to miss the first game of the season and a convivial lunch. I hope I will be able to take advantage of another opportunity soom.
Last season was the most exciting for me for a long while now……so here is to wishing for even much more this season…cheers Holics 🍺🍾🥂..a win is a win is a win…😎
Mike McDonald is back on form:
@12 Insightful as always, Ned.
My waters tell me that for the most testing games our default will be a spine of Ramsdale, Saliba and Gabriel, Partey, Odegaard, Jesus unless player fitness precludes.
Chuba Akpom sold by Middlesbrough to Ajax for 10.4 million. Sell- on clause? I doubt it but Good luck Chuba and see you in the Champions League.
Cheers TTG!
Thanks for the link Bath, positive stuff from Mike.
In other news Neymar seems to have gone from semi-retirement
to actual retirement.
bath@16: Thanks for the Mike McDonald link. His observation that caught my eye was elite coaches’ preference to alter games through changing tactics rather than players, and Arteta’s inconsistency over how and when he makes substitutions when he does make them.
Pangloss@14: I hope your garage’s felicity in repairing vehicles matches that of its ability to insert zeros to the left of the decimal point.
OM@20: Al-Hilal reportedly will pay Neymar £130 million a year, which works out to £2.5 million a week, presumably tax-free, too. That is the sort of retirement I could live with.
Poor old Ox will have to get by with barely £2 million a year at Bestikas.
I can’t help but feel that Caciedo’s agent pulled a fast one over the Scousers in getting them to bid £111 million for the player, just to get the Chavs to up their offer, knowing full well that Caiciedo only wanted to go the Bus Stop. All’s fair in love and transfer wars, I suppose.
Lots of rumours on twitter, so the club had to put out an update…that doesn’t say much but is not particularly reassuring.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/update-jurrien-timbers-injury
Very good report from Mike McDonald. I don’t always agree with him but he has original ideas . Saka culpable for their goal ? I’d just seen him chase back seventy yards to left back. I’d prefer us to have defenders who don’t have 5o bust a gut making the key challenges .
Havertz is rightly being cut a lot of slack . What else can you do? Mike is seeing things in his play that I don’t but clearly Arteta does . I’d like him to show more overtly rather than expect people to find him . Good comments about Rice . It will be interesting to see us away next week
Speaking of the Chavs is the overrated Poch going to get a tune out of Mudryk?
@25 TTG, I was pleased throughout the game by both Saka and Martinelli’s efforts to defend high and win the ball back when we lost it – this is a particular strength of Martinelli’s, very noticeably effective at Wembley v Cheaty last weekend.
Saka culpable for the goal? Clearly he wasn’t but it’s interesting to watch his, Rice’s and White’s respective roles immediately after Kavertz is head-butted. Bukayo lets their winger past him, starts to chase belatedly and then turns on the after-burners (ultimately to no effect as he doesn’t make a tackle or block the ball). Rice is either tired or doesn’t’t have the pace to cover the run. White has the pace and is initially well-positioned, but at the last minute he loses his attacker who gets inside him and finishes the move. That last lapse by Ben changed the last ten minutes of the game.
I think the whole episode will have been reviewed to the death in Colney today. Hopefully lessons learned.
We have the first Leaderboard of the Predictathon. Check the GHF Contests tab to see who has bolted out of the gate.
@28 Thanks Ned, mid table mediocrity for me but as you say it’s a marathon.
Our other marathon, The HolicsRopeyLeague is also underway with a
bakers dozen casting off into the wild blue yonder this season.
TTG, sporting his new gothic look, has rampaged to an early lead.
But has he gone too early? Time will tell……..
@26
No 😉
To be honest I think Mudryk was a wild punt who could be anything. Caicedo too, though not to the same extent but one good season at Brighton and that’s 100m. Cucurella was bought on the back of one good season at Brighton….. There are obvious similarities with the Soton sell-off and if I recall correctly many of them like Schneiderlin, Wanyama et al didn’t work out well.
Of course we tried to buy both, and other clubs wanted to buy one or the other so what do I know.
@22 Ned,
Talking of wild punts in the previous post, the best of luck to The Ox as he could certainly do with some.
Like the monks I don’t need or want the House of Saud’s money 😂😂
Good work Ned. I have a premonition of a relegation battle looming!
Practically neck and neck, Bath – great minds and all that ….
All the flaky sprinters are early leaders but this is, as said above, a marathon. Even Tottenham have been known to top the table early doors, Brian ….
Bath@33 and Trev@34: Patience will have its own rewards.
David Raya announced
Good situation for us
Excellent graph, Ned, for numerous and various reasons. As a matter of fact my assistants are busily at work at their task of laminating it.
Ned @28. So my cunning plan to lull you all into over confidence begins.
bt8@37: 👍
The news on Timber’s injury is concerning. Knees are not a good part of the body for footballers to injure.
Well according to the table je suis Everton. Happy with that.
OM@29: I see you have started the Predictathon considerably better than I have the Ropey League. I will have to adopt C100’s cunning plan.
Man City reportedly will get £10.6 million of the £53 million the Chavs are paying the Saints for Lavia because of a sell-on clause when they sold him to the Saints for £10.5 million, and have a buy-back option from next summer on terms unknown. I hope Edu is taking notes.
Well done to the England Women, great result to win against the hosts.
Timber is an ACL then, it’s a real shame for him and us as he seemed to have settled in well. Fingers crossed for his full recovery.
OM@44: That is very bad news and throws a wrench into Arteta’s plans for flexibility at the back.
I’m very surprised that KT3 is not seen as part of the solution. Sounds like Cancelo is back on the agenda.
bath@46: I wonder if that is because Arteta has KT3 down as one of his key ‘closers’, and having him play as a starting inverted left-back, role that does not come naturally to him, just shifts a problem from one place to another.
In other news, two of our old boys are on the move: Ajaz has bought Chuba Akpom from Middlesborough and dear old Santi Cazorla is re-joining the club where he started his career, Real Oviedo in the Spanish second division. Good luck to them both.
And Neymar is having to slum it in Saudi Arabia reportedly:
Brazil forward Neymar, 31, requested a 25-room mansion, swimming pool and sauna, eight workers to keep his house tidy, nine cars and all expenses paid for travel, restaurants and hotels when he signed for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
It’s funny how our stress levels can influence how we think a game we are watching is going or might end up. As I watched the England game in the dentist waiting room with the sound off I was feeling particularly stress free. I was able to appreciate Sam Kerr’s spectacular goal and at the same time know the better team would eventually come out on top. And that is exactly what happened after my hygienist visit was over.
Neymar must be seen as a bit of a peasant by the person actually paying the invoices and bills for all his ludicrous requests.
@48 I think you got to the root of the matter SP
And 50 not out for you OM. Denture know.
You guys! Filling the drinks with dental puns. You’ll no doubt be extracting the micturate next. Drinks on the bar. Just swill them around then spit.
Thanks for the advice Bath but I know the drill, it’s good we can bridge
the gap between games with some biting humour
The Dailly Fail headline: “David Raya makes Arsenal debut in behind-closed-doors friendly after his loan move from Brentford… with Leandro Trossard scoring a brace in a 3-0 win over Luton”
Well in for the half-ton, OM. Gumming up the drinks, though…
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/18/theo-walcott-retires-football-arsenal-england-southampton-everton
Best of luck to you Feo, we’ll always have that 2-0
OM @52, I bow to a true master.
bt8 @54 – I assume “Trossards brace” was an unintended pun given that it came from elsewhere in the cyberverse.
They did, however, fail to mention the incisive pass …. or maybe he even made his own assist, you never know with such a mercurial talent.
Off now, don’t want to get boring
Splendid puns. Well done Matt!
I see we’re filling time before the next game with an amalgum of toothy puns.
TOOTHLESS THE LOT OF YA.
Come on you Gummers!
‘Holics mouthing off again!
And I am waiting for Trev to ask why dentists always seem depressed.
Why do dentists always seem depressed, Ned ?
Blimey, Ned’s given you the brush-off Trev. Must be reading George Eliot……
The U21s beat Leicester 4-1 tonight , their second win of the season. Ethan Nwaneri hit a hat-trick in front of the watching Mikel Arteta
Because they always look down in the mouth, Trev.
I’ll get my coat…
Good timing, Ethan. 👍🏼
The fault in The Charabanc has now been diagnosed as having been caused by the disintegration of a valve in the emission control system which prevented exhaust gases from being expelled from the cylinders which in turn meant that the engine wouldn’t go!
This is a slight relief as the previous, popular, explanation was that I had yet again put petrol in the tank (a Bad Plan as the car has a diesel engine) but had managed to get home and leave the car parked outside for long enough to allow the petrol to float to the top of the tank; the remaining diesel at the bottom of the tank had been enough to get me to SLough where the engine had started sucking petrol and given up the ghost. This would have done significant damage probably requiring a replacement engine and a hefty bill. Now all I have to worry about (ha ha) is the significant bill for troubleshooting.
à suivre…
Good luck with the bill, Pangloss.
Is that where one has to remind people that ducks have no teeth?
Pangloss – are those the EGR valves – Exhaust Gas Return valves to you and me, Squire !
My Mazda has two of them at £600 EACH ! Luckily my garage, where I’ve been a regular for many years, out the elbow grease into cleaning mine which reduced my bill to £150.
The trick is apparently, as with the older particulate filters on Diesel engines, to blast the car up the motorway for 10-15 minutes every now and then.
I hope this provides you with an exhaustive explanation ……
I’m fuming as I missed the boat as we moved on from the dental puns.
Feel I must let off some steam now…
A disintegrating valve? I thought they made valves from hard metals. Perhaps that was in the past though, as thankfully your motoring troubles seem to be, PG. 👍🏼
>>>>>>>