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Let’s Get Together and Do It Again!

Oct 15th, 2020 by

That superb first goal at Wembley. Let’s do it again! From givemesport.com

On Saturday, our Premier League campaign restarts with a visit to the blue side of Manchester, just the same game as our restart in June after the Lockdown. These master versus pupil contests have become a regular feature of 2020 with yet another lined up in the League Cup quarter final later this year. Hopefully Mikel can continue where he left off and establish a run of pupil dominance.

Our last visit to the home of the Oilers ended in a 0-3 reverse for a young team with a starting midfield of Willock, Guendouzi and Xhaka. The Arsenal went toe to toe with Shitteh, pressed high and held their own for the first half hour despite losing both Xhaka and Mari within the first 20 minutes. Thereafter, despite superb goalkeeping from Leno, almost constant pressure from Shitteh, abetted by two major errors and a red card for Luiz, resulted in defeat for a team that was outclassed, overrun in midfield and lacked midfield steel, creativity and an offensive threat.

In the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, Shitteh started as they had finished but after 15 minutes on the back foot, a far more assertive first half performance by The Arsenal produced a different outcome, vividly reported on this blog by OsakaMatt (https://www.goonerholicsforever.com/?p=1101). After Aubameyang gave us a first half lead with a superb goal, Matt described a second-half involving a modicum of good fortune and much stolid defending that would have had Adams et al purring. The result was ensured by Aubameyang’s second goal after 70 minutes and we saw out the match with bravery, organisation and skill with David Luiz to the fore. Matt also gave call outs to Xhaka and Tierney whilst many remarked on AMN’s fine contribution with Aubameyang as outstanding as he was anonymous in the previous game.

Our historical record against the blue side of Manchester is good. We have played them, initially as Woolwich Arsenal vs Ardwick, on 200 occasions since November 1893, winning 98, drawing 45 and losing 57. As observed by a fine correspondent in the current issue of the Gooner, we used to relish our trips to the blue side of Manchester racking up high scoring wins in the noughties before their massive injection of oil revenue. However, prior to July’s FA Cup semi-final we had lost 7 in a row in all competitions to an aggregate score of 2-20 since November 2017. Our total Premier League record at their place is 11 wins, 3 draws and 9 defeats. The shift in dominance took place in the 2008-9 season before which we had 10 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat out of 12 PL visits with an aggregate score of 24-7. In the 12 PL visits since November 2008, we have won only 2, drawn 2 and lost 8 with an aggregate score of 16-28. It’s high time we restored our traditional relationship.

Huge investment by the ruling dynasty of the United Arab Emirates has transformed the fortunes of our previously somewhat flaky opponents. It helped them amass a collection of fine players whose efforts and trophy haul have been enhanced by Pep Guardiola and his erstwhile assistant. Having pulled off a treble in 2018-19, they had to content themselves with the League Cup and Community Shield in 2019-20 though they still finished 25 points above us, scoring 46 more goals and conceding 13 fewer. It’s fair to say that while their attack has remained deadly with de Bruyne pulling the strings for Aguero, Sterling and Mahrez, their defence has looked more vulnerable since the departure of Kompany particularly during Laporte’s long injury lay-off. More recently, they have had problems finding a reliable partner for Laporte, hence the summer purchase of Ake and Dias, also adding Ferran Torres to replace Sane. However, Shitteh haven’t yet replaced the energy and guile of David Silva who has returned to Real Sociedad.

Their form has been unspectacular so far this season. After a delayed start they have played three times and sit 14th with 4 points and a minus 1 goal difference. A slightly fortunate 3-1 away win against a flat Wolves team suggested normal service might have been resumed but a 5-2 home thrashing by a rampant Lesta showed unexpected vulnerability to pacey forwards. This was followed by a 1-1 draw at Leeds where the home team merited at least a point. We must hope that rather than getting back on the right track, their wheels come off properly in their fourth game.

I expect Shitteh to field Emerson in goal, Dias and Laporte as their first-choice centre back pairing and Walker and Mendy at full-back. In midfield they have a wealth of options (literally) but I expect a three of de Bruyne, Rodri and Bernardo as Pep goes for The Arsenal’s throat with Fernandinho, Gundogan and Foden very able alternatives from the bench. Upfront we can expect to face Mahrez and Sterling on their flanks with Gabriel likely to lead their line unless Aguero has recovered from injury.

What of the good guys? Given the challenge of a trip to the Emptihad, I don’t expect Mikel to start with the 4-3-3 formation that he is said to favour. At the time of writing, the possible absence of KT reduces our flexibility in morphing between 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 as possession changes. Although Kolasinac offers similar flexibility between left-sided centre back and left wing back, he plays both roles with markedly less security than KT. Fingers crossed that The Arsenal can make the case for an immune individual with circulating antibodies not requiring 14 days quarantine following socially distanced exposure to a Coronavirus-positive Scotland team-mate. I am led to believe that the PL recommendation would be 7 days quarantine rather than 14 days as prescribed by the SFA though neither recommendation is rational for an immune individual. Given that this is a PL match, it should clearly be played under PL rather than SFA rules. Perhaps Mikel’s responses in his pre-match presser were deliberately Delphic. A reported outbreak of Coronavirus-positivity in the Ivory Coast squad also raised anxieties about Pepe’s availability. Hopefully he has been wearing his mask and keeping his distance from infected compatriots!

Subject to others falling foul of Coronavirus-related sanctions, Bernd Leno is clearly our number one ‘keeper and will hopefully again excel at Saturday’s venue. In the absence of KT, Holding, Luiz and Gabriel are our strongest available back three though may lack the shape-shifting potential KT brings to the party. To date, Gabriel has been very impressive on the right and centre of a back three. Perhaps he is capable of shape-shifting versatility on the left side? Bellerin is nailed on at right wing back and in the absence of KT, I would choose AMN at left wing back over Saka and Kolasinac because of his excellent performance against this opposition in the FA Cup semi-final. AMN will also be doubly determined to get over his disappointment at his attenuated first start for England.

I hope Mikel will have no hesitation in starting Thomas Partey at the right side of central midfield and although I would pair him with Ceballos to his left, I expect Mikel to start with Xhaka. I fully expect Partey to make a paradigm-shifting contribution to this Arsenal team and the club’s future and it would be wonderful if he could make a landmark statement in this game. Given the opposition, I think Mikel will go for experience and  start a front three of Willian, Lacazette and Aubameyang with Laca dropping back into midfield to link up play and the wide pair tracking back when required. Personally, I would surprise the Sky Blues with a mobile and pacey front pair of Pepe and Aubameyang with Willian playing an advanced central midfield/’Number 10’ role behind them. Alternatively, Ceballos or Saka could play that ‘Number 10’ role whilst Willian and Saka both offer an added metamorphosis to a wide left position. This would allow Aubameyang to move into the central striking position that he exploited successfully to facilitate the opportunities for our goals against Sheffield United.

In summary, I expect Mikel to choose a starting line-up of:

Leno

Holding, Luiz, Gabriel

Bellerin, Partey, Xhaka, AMN

Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang

The Holic Pound

Whatever the challenge we face, I cannot bet against an Arsenal victory, though pre-match, given recent history, I would be content with a point. The value bet is 40/1 for a repetition of the 2-0 victory we achieved at Wembley. This will require top performances from every player selected, the creation and clinical execution of chances, stolid defending and another slice of Lady Luck’s benevolence at the back. Let’s do it again! Go win, Arsenal!

Enjoy the game, Holics.

COYG.

Posted in Match Preview | 87 Drinks »

Supporting Arsenal in Turkey

Oct 13th, 2020 by

I moved home in the same year Arsenal moved away from their spiritual home in Highbury, not that they or I had particularly planned it that way; while Arsenal’s move involved a mere hop and a skip over the Drayton Park railway lines mine took a massive leap over longitudinal lines to move to a house I had purchased a couple of years earlier in Turkey.  I had previously rented it out to holidaymakers but now felt that it was my turn to enjoy the sun, sea and sand that Bodrum had to offer.

Initially, I was mortified that things did not get off to the best of starts with my Turkish neighbours.  Silly disputes (they always involve swimming pools in these sort of places) were being fuelled by neighbours on the other side.  They were from Leeds employing, needless to say, dirty tactics!  However, we soon put ‘dirty Leeds’ behind us to become the best of friends and football (or should I say Arsenal) played a big part in it.  I was and am still thankful that they are staunched followers of  Fenerbahce as I am not sure things would have turned out quite so well had they been fans of Galatasaray.  I still have raw memories of the Battle of Copenhagen in 2000 that contrasted so sharply from the Parma Festival in the same city in 1994 for more reasons than what occurred on the playing field.

The Turks, women as well as men, are obsessed with football and the behaviour on the terraces here provides a throwback to the times fought out on the terraces in the 1970’s and 80’s in England.  I have watched Turkish matches on television here with crowds of 57,000 ‘women only’ in attendance because previous trouble resulted in the Turkish football authorities banning men and children over ten years old from being at the game!  The sight of 15,000 and more Turkish men congregated behind the locked gates – presumably wondering where their dinner was – was a funny sight to behold.  I was delighted that I could follow all the Arsenal matches on TV and, keen to learn the language of my new home, the football commentaries gave me my first lessons at learning a notoriously difficult language.  I quickly picked up ‘penalti’, ‘gol’, ‘ofsayt’ and I even heard one commentator refer to ‘Arsenal showboating’ in the days when Arsenal could and did.  One of the amusing ways in which Turkish incorporates English words and phrases into their vocabulary is the way they still refer to ‘gol averaji’ to mean ‘goal difference’ as if nobody bothered to alert them to the change in the law back in 1976!  Learning the language became much more tricky outside of football commentaries.

I knew for sure that all hostilities had ceased with my neighbours when on an early visit back to England I asked them what they would like me to bring back as a gift.  I had expected a request for  a sneaky pack of bacon or a slab of Cheddar Cheese but was rather shocked when Suphi asked for an Arsenal shirt.  Didn’t he know the cost of such things in England?  On the one hand, I felt rather proud he had asked for such a thing, on the other hand I knew they didn’t know how expensive authentic Arsenal shirts cost, particularly when ‘genuine fake’ shirts are available for pennies at the local markets here – even if the badges do fall off with the first wash!  Like the swallows and storks here, my neighbours migrate back and forth from Istanbul according to the seasons and the next April I was proudly presented with a genuine Fenerbahce shirt.  I know it to be genuine as the badges are still in tact all these years and several washes later.

In 2011, they were to come with me on a trip to England which was to be their first trip ever away from their homeland.  Any special requests, I asked?  Yes, came the answer; they especially wanted to visit Greenwich and have a tour of the Arsenal Emirates Stadium.  I am pleased to report that they were markedly underwhelmed by the arbitrary looking mark on a brick wall to denote the meridian line, but the Arsenal Stadium tour did not disappoint and they talk about it to this day. A ritual has now been established over the years – Suphi wears his Arsenal shirt when he comes to me to watch a match on the TV and I reciprocate wearing my Fenerbahce shirt when I go to them.  The exception to this was when we watched Fenerbahce v Arsenal in the Champions League in August 2013 when we we decked out in our own colours.  They were, however, appreciative of me not over-celebrating as I struggled to contain myself while watching our three nil thumping of them from my vantage point on their ‘away’ sofa.

Besides going to watch my local amateur team, Gumusluk, where the referee and other match officials regularly have to be escorted off the pitch by the Jandarma, I have only been to one proper match.  In August 2014, I went to Istanbul to watch Arsenal v Besiktas in a Champions League qualifier.  I had stumbled across an English teacher on Facebook, via a connection with a Turkish student of hers, and it was clear from her postings that she was a fellow Gooner.  She was quick to accept my offer of tickets in exchange for a posh ensuite room in her house for the night so off I set with details only of the bus-stop at which I was to meet her.  Sadly, that year, Besiktas were having their stadium redeveloped, so rather than attend the match at their usual home ground boasting commanding and glorious views over the banks of the Bosphorus near the Dolmabahce Palace, we had to settle for a grey, faceless, austere concrete stadium, built in anticipation of an Olympics that never happened, situated in an urban wasteland reminiscent of the old Wembley with its surrounding trading estates.  Having collected our tickets from an Arsenal steward that somehow managed to find us, we welcomed the multiple coaches of Bulgarian Arsenal fans bused in for the match where we were greeted like celebrities with questions such as “Are you really from London?”  We appeared to be the ‘real deal’ to them!

The usual waft from burger bars outside the Arsenal was replaced by the smoke of more nutritious looking BBQd home-made kofte served up with fresh tomatoes and parsley by women in headscarves.  At the turnstiles, we were searched and all metal objects including loose change were unceremoniously removed from our beings.  In the typical Turkish way of things not quite making sense, the stallholders selling tea (no beer!) and snacks would not accept Lira notes for payment – only small change!  A kindly Arsenal steward came to our rescue emptying his pockets of Turkish Lira for us.

The match itself was a dull, lifeless nil nil draw and not something to remember.  The 500 or so Arsenal fans present had come from Bulgaria or Cyprus or just about anywhere other than England and one of the main highlights was Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, skirting over the large running track to acknowledge our support by throwing their shirts into our small crowd at the final whistle. The lasting memory of the match is that of the Besiktas supporters.  An incessant cacophony of noise that not only made it hard to concentrate on watching the match but caused me to marvel at how the players could manage to actually play.   While the match itself was not one to remember, breakfast overlooking the Bosphorus the next morning certainly was.

I watched the return leg in my local bar in Gumusluk.  The bar, normally full of ex-pats of an evening, was packed with Turks and the tension before the match was palpable.  I had got there early to get a front seat view of the screen and found myself seated next to a young lad decked out in his Besiktas colours, flanked by his mother and father.  His mother turned out to be the vociferous and potentially volatile one, and, I felt, likely to turn hostile at any moment. I felt myself on my guard as the sole Gooner in the bar.  Thankfully, the usual Chelsea and Manchester United fans from Devon and other far flung corners of the UK were not there.  The match did not make comfortable viewing; we had survived an obvious penalty in the first half when Jack Wilshere had fouled Ramon Motta and I seem to recall another shout for a penalty that had not helped to placate the mood in the bar.  Alexis Sanchez provided the goal that would see us squeeze through the qualifying round – again in the quirkiness of the Turkish language they refer to ‘elimination’ rather ‘qualifying’ – and we managed to hang on and underdeservedly win the game despite going down to ten men after Mathieu Debuchy was sent off 14 minutes from the end.

At the final whistle, the young boy, under the influence of his mother, was particularly agitated although even I thought I would be safe squaring up to a lad of no more than ten years old.  I draped my ‘half and half’ Arsenal/Besiktas scarf, bought at the Istanbul tie, around his neck, murmured some consoling words that I did not really mean, and made a bee line for the exit.  I was intercepted by the bar owner who thanked me for for my gesture reckoning I had prevented trouble breaking out.  We have laughed about this so many times subsequently.  She hates hosting Turkish football matches in her bar – fights regularly break out after screening local derbies and that’s after consuming fifteen glasses of tea rather than the fifteen pints of lager favoured by the British.  Hardly profitable for a bar!

Whilst football rivalries can bring the worst out in people it is also a force to bring people together and I remain grateful that it is a subject that enables me to connect with local people in my assumed home.  Especially, as so many of them turn out to be Turkish Gooners these days!

Posted in Interlull, Waffle | 54 Drinks »

Arsenal in the Market Place

Oct 9th, 2020 by

Photo by Alejandro Rios/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Several months ago I wrote a post, Loans, Moans & Groans, reviewing our then situation with regard to 10 players we had out on loan. Time now thanks to the Interlull to look briefly at how those loans went, or didn’t go as it turns out, and although there is still a week or so for further business outside the PL it’s time to take a look at the ins and outs of this transfer window as well. Finally, a personal view on what issues have been left to address in the January window, or one step beyond in the case of the ongoing Özil madness.

Welcome to The Arsenal

Our initial business was the largely expected signings of Cedric Soares and Pablo Mari, who were already with us on loan, and soon followed by the signing of Willian from Chelsea on a free (I know, I know, it certainly isn’t free but that’s what they call it). We also had the arrivals or returns of Saliba, Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe from the lovely locales of France, Turkey and Huddersfield respectively. No big surprises so far as the Willian move had been mooted for some weeks in advance. However, we then signed another centre-back in what I thought was a rather gutsy move considering how many we already had and Gabriel Magalhães joined us from Lille. We next brought in young Runarsson from Dijon as either 2nd or 3rd choice keeper following the departure of Emi.

To much wailing and gnashing of tweets that had looked to be it for this window until we stepped up and amid much excitement paid the release clause for Thomas Partey. Our excitement was of course given a little extra epicaricacy by Atletico’s dismay at losing him and subsequent whining at our supposed discourtesy in not informing them in advance. However, that is the risk you take when you play hardball on a release clause and I have no sympathy for them – he’s our Partey now, so cry if you want to lads.

Only time will tell if this was a good summer’s work of course, and I suspect that as usual about half those deals will turn out well, but for the moment I think we are all looking forward to an injection of the midfield oomph that we have been lacking for several seasons now. If I had to sum up the window in a sentence? We have strengthened the squad with a good blend of youth and experience in defence and midfield but probably taken a step back in terms of keeper quality. I had to add the “probably” there as I have never seen Runarsson play (much like Mikel I suspect) but I do doubt that he is at Emi’s level. We have also spent money we did not have and if the stories are to be believed Mikel has spent his goodwill capital from the FA Cup win in ensuring we got the Partey deal done. A tip of my hat to you for your courage Mikel and, in what I must admit is a first for me, an appropriately voiceless nod to the silent one for recognizing that Mikel was owed the trust. A heartening end to the window and overjoyed as I am at the arrival of Partey, I must admit to being just as pleased with the arrival of Gabriel. I know it’s much too early and we have been here before with young centre backs but I have been pleasantly surprised and very impressed with what I have seen so far. Though not new signings Luiz, Auba and Saka were all signed up this summer too. Busy days for the transfer and commercial teams and mostly successful.

A fond fare thee well

This window has seen the actual departure of only two senior players – Emi Martinez to Aston Villa for a fee around 18m and Henrik Mkhitaryan to Roma on a free. Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira are of course both out on loan, to Hertha Berlin and Upsetico respectively, so it is possible they will return to the club one day but we will cover that a little later. Although we wish Mkhi all the best I think it’s fair to say that the departure of Emi has been the more painful for many supporters. It may become even more painful if Leno gets injured between now and January. We have taken a major risk and unless we sign another keeper from outside the PL in the next week or so we are only some Maupian oaf away from Runarsson as our No 1 keeper. Mikel has been an excellent General to date, let’s hope he is a lucky one as well.

Lend us a player Guvnor?

Dani Ceballos. Although it’s a loan I suspect it is actually more expensive than all bar two of our new signings. However, it is a sign of the progress Dani made that we were keen to continue the loan. Or…alternatively, reflects the dearth of talent in our central midfield if you prefer your glass half-empty. A blend perhaps although I prefer single malt myself, however with the arrival of TP the competition for places just got a step tougher in our midfield as it should be. Dani’s relative versatility compared to Xhaka and Mo may serve him and us well this season.     

Who’s halfway out?

Guendouzi, Torreira, and Mavropanos from the first team squad to the aforementioned Hertha and Apopletico with Mavro joining Sven Mislintat at Stuttgart in the Bundesliga after a decent spell in Bundesliga 2 last season with Nuremburg. Nothing is impossible but I would be surprised to see any of them playing for The Arsenal again, but then I did say that about Mo Elneny last season. However, it benefits us as well as them if their loan spells go swimmingly so I wish them all the best at their new clubs.

But think of the kids…..

And it appears that we have given some thought to our development approach. A total of 11 Academy players, plus Deyan Iliev (who oddly was named in our Europa League squad the day before), have gone out on loans this season…so far that is. The club, somewhat inconsiderately given I was halfway through this review, sent out two more yesterday. It marks a more modern aggressive use of the loan system and though I am somewhat dubious of an endless stream of buy lo lets in a sales machine that is probably harsh and I will trust that Per and the boys will manage in way that helps our young players to build their career under The Arsenal’s large and protective umbrella. It is worth pointing out that after a few wilderness years the 1st team squad now boasts Saka, AMN, ESR, Eddie, Nelson and Joe W who have come through the Academy so the previous approach was not entirely worthless.

The new approach has also led to an influx of new young players over the past few months – too many to mention I’m afraid but I will give you a brief rundown of those out on loan. Apart from two players to Championship teams Jordi Osei-Tutu, who had a good game for Cardiff this weekend I hear and Ben Sheaf, who is at Coventry with an option to buy it is rumoured, most of our young starlets are in League One this season. Trae Coyle and Zech Medley are at Gillingham, Mark McGuiness at Ipswich, Tolaji Bola at Rochdale, Matt Smith of FA Cup fame is at Swindon, Tyreece John-Jules is at Doncaster, Daniel Ballard at Blackpool and Dejan Iliev is at Shrewsbury, where according to a Shrewsbury local he will not be the 1st choice. It is honestly difficult to see many or even any of them returning to the first team squad next season but I believe we are still hopeful of John-Jules, Smith and possibly McGuiness. The others seem to have been around for a while without making a breakthrough but of course they are young and there is certainly time for them to turn things round. No doubt some of the drinkers in this fine establishment will have seen more of the youngsters than I and will firmly contradict my somewhat tentative prognosis. The remaining two players Zak Swanson and Joseph Olowu have gone to MVV Maastricht in the Dutch 2nd Tier and Cork City respectively. Busy days for Ben Knapper too.

How did our garden grow?

Far be it from me to be contrary but not a great result from the loans I reviewed back in February.

Some were rotational and some developmental but of the 10 players reviewed only Mhki has been moved on and that was for free. The majority of them are on loan again. Emile Smith-Rowe has returned to us but due to injury we have not seen anything of him yet, Mo Elneny has also come back and is back in the squad but seems destined to be a back-up for the foreseeable future. Mavro, John-Jules, Iliev, Osei-Tutu, and Sheaf are all back out on loan again. Not much rotation or development, though some have joined clubs at a slightly higher level to be fair. And what of William Saliba? There was a snippy press release from St Pettienne that I found somewhat annoying to be honest (hence the cheap jibe) but it does seem to be something we did not get done. The coming days may possibly see him join a Championship side for a few months but you’d hope we are talking with him right now to explain exactly what happened. It has been a difficult few months for him privately and professionally and I feel for the kid, I only hope he comes through strongly and will one day form a stalwart CB partnership with Gabriel.

What’s in the transfers and loans inbox?

If we think about what needs to be done now or in the next few months then there are still a few things for Mikel and Edu to get sorted out and so I have looked briefly at those by position

Keepers

As I have already said we are taking a risk in this area and if we don’t get someone in now then we must look to give Runarrson experience in the Europa League games at least as soon as possible. If he looks capable of playing in the PL at a pinch or even a strain, pull or break then that is fine and dandy but if not we must add another keeper.

Defence

We have ended the window top heavy with CBs and at least one, Sokratis seems first in line, will need to be moved on in January, probably two I would have thought. I expect we will also look to move Kola on too though selling anyone has proved easier said than done. I suppose it made sense at the time to give Soares a four-year contract when we probably thought AMN would be moving but not so much now, it would be a little odd but we might think of loaning him out in January.

Midfield

We’ve addressed one need and I suspect finances dictate that will have to do for now. Özil will have to wait until the end of the season to leave our house.

Attack

Make them score more goals please Mikel. And resist efforts to sell Laca, there are clubs enough and time to sell him next summer if we’re sure about Eddie.

Well, that is about it for this review. All in all it wasn’t a bad window, I’d give it a B and while I am handing out grades it would D for last year’s loans. Room for improvement as always but for now let’s forget about Özil, PR disasters and failed loans, it’s time to look forward to next weekend at the aptly named Emptihad and Thomas Partey’s debut. Let’s squeeze ‘em till the peps squeak lads.

Posted in Interlull, Waffle | 117 Drinks »

Blades Blunted in Second-Half Purple Patch

Oct 4th, 2020 by

We welcomed Sheffield United to the Grove this afternoon eager to regain league momentum after Monday’s setback at Anfield. Our team selection was a slight surprise. Granit Xhaka who quite undeservedly receives dogs abuse from some posters (😃) was left out and Nketiah replaced Lacazette upfront in the centre.  It looked as if we were playing four at the back in something close to a 4-2-3-1 but the switching of Tierney and Saka made it hard to determine this. Sheffield United’s new signing from Liverpool, Rhian Brewster was not signed in time to play.

The game kicked off in a drizzle that created a midwinter scene and the pitch was clearly sodden. This created the first incident when Gabriel arguably underhit a ball back to Luiz and Burke robbed the dilatory Luiz who was slow to react and tugged the striker’s shirt. Leno had a superb starting position and sorted out the problem with a clearance and may have diverted attention away from greater scrutiny on Luiz. Certainly his slowness to react put one in mind of the disastrous Kola passback at the Lane which he failed to deal with. Luiz was lucky and his first half performance was riddled with casual body language and slowness to react to danger.

Most of Arsenal’s dangerous moments (and there were precious few in the first half) came down the left where Tierney and Saka combined well and the Scot was always keen to swing in a cross. Aubameyang played a delicious pass to Nketiah after five minutes but the young striker’s control was disappointing and the chance passed.

Sheffield United are not easy on the eye but grew into the game largely because Arsenal did not impose themselves at all. We moved the ball slowly in midfield almost as if it was a homage to Xhaka (who may after all be acting under orders!)   We have added the long throw to our armoury (at least from the left) where young Tierney hurled in a couple of dangerous balls and this was our primary attacking move in the first thirty minutes.

Sky graphics showed a very left-sided bias in our build-up and although we saw a couple of relatively timid efforts by Nketiah we weren’t building any pressure and although the Blades were just as stilted in their build-up Leno flapped unimpressively at a left-wing cross under pressure and was in this old-timer’s view lucky to see a Sheffield United player penalised.

The highlight of a horrendous first period was Aubameyang pouncing on a poor Ramsdale clearance and firing a great shot which the keeper just tipped over. A scissor kick from Auba aside the half spluttered to an end with Sheffield United much the happier side.

Half Time — Arsenal 0 Sheffield United 0

The second half opened in much the same way as the first ended but on 53 minutes an incisive pass from Ceballos in the inside left channel just evaded Aubameyang .Whether that galvanised Arsenal or whether it was the introduction of Pepe for the subdued Nketiah on 57 minutes we saw a complete and decisive change in the game.

On 60 minutes Elneny broke forward for the first time and Aubameyang’s return pass was picked up and crossed by Bellerin for Saka at the far post. There was little pace on the cross but Saka produced an excellent and precise header into the top left-hand corner despite the cover on the line.

Arsenal 1 Sheffield United 0

Having waited an hour for some attacking quality we waited only three more minutes for some more. Pepe ran at the Sheffield defence from the right wing going past two defenders and at full speed placed a precise low drive in off the left-hand post.

Arsenal 2 Sheffield United 0

 It was exactly the sort of quality goal Arsenal signed him to produce and very good to see. Having played twice since Sheffield had last turned out the Gunners understandably took their foot off the gas but looked relatively comfortable as they passed the ball around in midfield and regularly turned it back to Leno in goal. I suspect Leno touched the ball as much as anyone in the Arsenal team.

Chris Wilder who had  brought on McBurnie for Burke went for broke and introduced Billy Sharp giving them effectively three big strikers supplemented by Fleck whose defelckted goal (geddit) had  brought them a lucky equaliser in January.

Their physicality and effort and Arsenal’s relatively defensive approach enabled them to apply some fairly unsophisticated pressure. McBurnie produced their first effort of the match , comfortably saved by Leno in the 77th minute but with around five minutes to go a determined run by Baldock allowed him to feed the ball to McGoldrick and he hit an excellent left-footed shot past Leno.

Arsenal 2 Sheffield United 1

That cued a degree of panic in this viewer especially as we had to endure a number of corners and long throws from the Blades but we managed to keep our goal intact despite Ramsdale coming up for the last couple of set pieces and the game ended with Arsenal breaking on a Sheffield goal without a keeper in place . Lee Mason, no fan of us in the past and exceptionally lenient in his treatment of the persistent fouling of McGoldrick pissed on our chips by blowing the whistle. The goal we may have scored could have given us the title at the end of the season!

So we go into the blessed interlull having secured 9 points from four games and this season have only lost once at Anfield on Monday against a brilliant Liverpool side. Satisfactory progress particularly as we have also eliminated Leicester and Liverpool on their own grounds from the Carabao Cup.

So are we happy? Are Arsenal fans ever completely happy? What happens in the transfer window before 11pm tomorrow will determine our mood. On the positive side we are much better organised and much harder to beat but we struggle against the low block at home and in four halves at home we have only played remotely well in one. Concern has been expressed about Arteta’s mindset accusing him of dull football and there is certainly a lot of handbrake being applied at the moment but I have enormous faith in the Spaniard tempered only by concern that Edu shows little sign of being able to sort out the balance and composition of the squad and we desperately lack creativity in our midfield.

But there are many plus points. Those who say that we are totally dependent on Aubameyang’s goals might care to note that he has only scored once so far and I will be calling him into my virtual  office tomorrow to discuss his continued presence in my Fantasy League team! We are sharing the goals around and we are much better organised in possession and defending set pieces. Gabriel is calmness personified and Tierney is, in my view, one of the very best left backs (wing or full) in the Premier League. Leno would not have been my choice as goalkeeper over Martinez but he is a fine keeper and Saka is a gem (albeit one who is still relatively unpolished)

If Thomas would come to the Partey tonight I would be much happier because our midfield is pedestrian and Willian has only impressed against Fulham but we have started soundly and as Arteta’s coaching impacts more on the team we should improve. But that improvement without better quality in midfield will have a ceiling that is probably below where we would expect it should be.

Football is changing this season. It is much more attacking, defensive mindsets are eschewed and games are much more open. Given this situation our better organisation should stand us in good stead but we may genuinely compare poorly to our rivals in terms of flair and attractiveness and we can expect that the hypocrites in the media who criticised us in the past for our fragility may soon be bemoaning our dullness. It is a price I am quite prepared to pay this season particularly as I have so little respect for the pundits!

Posted in Match Report | 308 Drinks »

Let’s Have Gunners Who Are Too Sharp for the Blades!

Oct 3rd, 2020 by

That save against Sheffield United! From David Seaman’s Twitter page.

A Sunday post-prandial delight may be an inappropriately delectable way to describe the forthcoming visit of Sheffield United to the New Home of Football. I expect a torrid physical challenge from determined, muscular Yorkshiremen as we attempt to get the fusty aroma of two consecutive visits to Anfield out of our hair.

Talk of a match against Sheffield United brings a memorable moment to mind – from the 2003 FA Cup semi-final in which, in his 1000th senior game, 39 year-old David Seaman pulled off a wonder-save late in the game to ensure that Freddie’s 34th minute goal took The Arsenal through to win the cup final against Southampton. An unforgettable moment from an otherwise forgotten game.

The Blades have so far made heavy weather of their second season back in the big time having failed to score any goals in their first three PL games against the might of Wolves, Villa and Leeds. However, they did score one goal against Burnley in the League Cup. In fact, Sheffield United made plenty of opportunities in the Yorkshire derby, had 15 shots on goal and were denied a goal by poor finishing and world-class saves by the Leeds keeper. I hope that their poor goal-scoring record continues and that The Arsenal’s habitual generosity to struggling opponents is withheld.

Last season the Blades looked odds on to finish above us as we struggled to claw our way towards a place offering European competition but they faltered, as of course did we, in the final furlong. They finished a place below us in ninth, a very good season for a newly promoted side. That place was obtained through defensive resilience rather than offensive brilliance and their concession of 39 goals was bettered only by the top three whilst their identical tally of 39 goals scored bettered only four clubs, two of whom were relegated. The Blades average of nine shots per game last season was the worst in the PL, below even The Arsenal‘s paltry eleven.

Our re-introduction to the Blades last season took place at Bramall Lane on a bleak Monday night in October and ended in a 1-0 defeat during the downward spiral of Unai Emery’s team. It was described by the Guvna, in one of his last match reports, as “Punchless Gunners Humiliated Again” (https://goonerholic.com/2019/10/punchless-gunners-humiliated-again/). The game turned on Mike Dean’s decision at 0-0 not to award a penalty when Sokratis, goal side of Egan, was blatantly pulled back in the opposition box. Our performance was so flat that Dave observed that he “tire(s) of a team that isn’t playing a style of football the sum of which its individual parts should most certainly deliver much, much better”. That sums up where we were a year ago. How he would have relished the improvements since Mikel Arteta took over the reins.

There is a cautionary warning to that historical note. Sheffield United came into that game after three consecutive defeats with the label of “Relegation Candidate” hanging over them. On the other hand, The Arsenal, despite several disjointed performances, could have regained the top three place from which we had just slipped. As the Guvna aptly observed, “Welcome to a struggling side, The Arsenal, let’s gift them an opener!” Over recent years we have indeed regularly shown an inappropriate degree of generosity to teams on a bad run of form. Let’s not do that again, please!

Our opponents’ last visit to our place was in January during Mikel Arteta’s first month in charge. This was expertly described by Countryman100 in one of this site’s early match reports (https://www.goonerholicsforever.com/?p=159). That game was dominated by the defensive resilience of the Blades. We fought out a 1-1 draw taking the lead just before half-time through Martinelli after a move involving Laca and Saka. However, the Blades were yet again assisted by Mike Dean’s decision not to award a penalty for a clear trip on Pepe and the game finished with an 83rd minute equaliser for the Yorkshiremen to which we failed to respond. MA8’s teams have certainly shown much more resilience since the lockdown as his work on the training ground and on their psychology has sunk in.

We last met United in June in the FA Cup Quarter Final at Bramall Lane, a hard-fought match, well reported by Countryman100 (https://www.goonerholicsforever.com/?p=982). He described us as playing a fluid 3-4-3 with Saka moving between a midfield of Xhaka and Willock flanked by AMN and KT as wingbacks and a front two of Pepe and Lacazette. The Arsenal took the lead against the run of play, from a Pepe penalty on 25 minutes and dominated the rest of the first half but we were second-best throughout the second with high balls raining into our box. We were finally undone by a long throw and a fluffed clearance by Kola from which the Blades equalised on 87 minutes. The Arsenal defence then had to withstand a battering and rely on two good Martinez saves before Ceballos popped up in the opposition box to smash the ball into the goal with his right foot from close range in added time.  This may give us an inkling of the nature of tomorrow’s game.

Against Leeds last week, the Blades lined up with three at the back, martialled by the able Ampadu with wing backs Baldock and Stevens thrown forward to pin their opposite numbers back. The former in particular regularly pops up in the opposition box. They have replaced last season’s excellent loan keeper from Manure with the so far equally competent Ramsdale, signed for £18m from Bournemouth.

Will the Blades be as offensively inclined on their travels or revert to a low block hoping to catch us on the break through Burke, McGoldrick, McBurnie or their shiny-new record signing, the former Liverpool and Swansea loan striker, Brewster? Sheffield United tend to flood midfield with hard-working scrappers like Osborn, Lundstram, Berge, Sharp and Fleck, several of whom have a modicum of skill. When they defend set-pieces we can expect a strict tight man-for-man approach with much grappling. They are hard to break down, as that goals against tally from last season attests. On the basis of precedent, we can expect a scrap with a well organised defence, few chances and an aerial bombardment when they venture forward, as they will.

What of The Arsenal’s worthy warriors? I find it difficult to predict our formation confidently, given that we have started with a back three for months but predominantly played a 4-4-2 in our most recent match and started with a flexible 3-4-3 that was pushed back into a 5-4-1 in the 3-1 defeat. I suspect Thursday’s flexible 4-4-2 is closer to MA8’s desired style of play than the 3-4-3 that he has used as a way of stabilising a ragged and demoralised group. In our last game, I particularly liked the way Willock and Saka got forward from ‘midfield’ positions to aid the attackers as we really haven’t seen nearly enough of that from our midfielders recently, and added muscle to the midfield duo when Liverpool had possession. I suspect MA8 values the ability of KT and Saka in particular but also AMN, Kola and Willian to move between positions as possession switches or as the games tactical priorities evolve as the game develops. I suspect it’s about players for Mikel, not formations.

The victory on Thursday will have helped to heal any psychological wounds from the ravaging by the champions last Monday and the change in personnel will have allowed some weary limbs to recover. Monday’s team may not have set the heather on fire but the players who lost 3-1 worked their socks off to try to get something from that game and will have benefited from the break. On the other hand, several of those who put in a full shift on Thursday will no doubt be knackered. Considering performances in those two games (the second for several reasons, not least the quality of the opposition, was clearly better), the players who played in each and the relatively short interval from Thursday to Sunday, I expect a team close to that outlined below, illustrated as a 3-4-3 but expected to play flexibly between that and 4-4-2 and all permutations between.

Leno

Holding,          Luiz,            Tierney;

Bellerin,           Ceballos,         Xhaka,             AMN;

Willian,           Lacazette,         Aubameyang.

Key decisions will be whether Gabriel who was outstanding on Thursday and combined well with Holding, gets the nod over Luiz or Gabriel retains his place with Holding dropping out for Luiz having played 90 minutes in both midweek games. I would be surprised if Ceballos dropped out for Elneny given how he re-energised the midfield as an attacking force when he replaced Elneny on Monday and I suspect that’s why he wasn’t asked to play the full 90 on Thursday. AMN gets the nod over Saka despite the latter being the more potent attacking force because Saka looked knackered and cramped up badly from 80 minutes on Thursday. Lacazette gets the nod over Nketiah because the latter played most of Thursday’s game and he will be keen to make amends for his miss on Monday. I hope he succeeds!

The Holic Pound

Much as I would like us to keep a clean sheet, sadly I don’t expect us to achieve that. In part because of our remaining defensive frailties but also because of our traditional generosity to struggling teams and the fact that despite failing to score in any of their three PL games this season the Blades were only thwarted by an excellent keeper on their last outing. We also have an excellent shot-stopper but we still have vulnerabilities elsewhere in our defence and on the law of averages the Blades are bound to score eventually. Nor do I expect us to find scoring easy against this team against whom we have hitherto struggled to score. Thus, I will lay the Holic pound on 2-1 to the good guys, currently available at 31/4 (bookies have clearly been working on their fractions since I was last in their shops). If you are more optimistic about our defensive capabilities, you can get 1-0 at 21/4 or 2-0 at 25/4.

Go blunt those Blades, Gunners!

Posted in Match Preview | 118 Drinks »

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