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Changes, Finishers and Hideous Jumpers

Oct 29th, 2025 by

Hurzeler models The Jumper That Style Forgot

Arteta surprised most of us by making wholesale changes from Sundays team, 10 in fact. Dowman became our youngest ever starter, with Harriman-Annous, also starting, an older, wiser head, at 17. 

Kepa

White Mosquera Hincapié MLS

Nwaneri Nørgaard Merino

Dowman Harriman-Annous Eze

Arsenal started brightly. With the first effort from Merino on 3 minutes.  Quickly though, the relative lack of understanding between our much-changed team allowed Brighton to gain the upper hand. On 7 minutes, Rutter received the ball in space wide on the right, but a poor first touch saw him push it too far towards Kepa who saved comfortably.  Shortly after, they managed a fast break from an Arsenal corner and Tzimas struck his shot wide. The Arsenal midfield was looking pretty ragged at this point, with Nørgaard struggling. Arsenal calmed the game for the next 10 minutes.  

One concern I had in the first half was that as a result of the Brighton press, Kepa kept hitting his long passes out to Dowman who, with the best will in the world is not going to beat a full-grown man in the air.  MLS was having trouble with the physicality of Rutter.  Dowman got into the game as the first half progressed and started doing his trademark jinks past defenders. Beautiful to watch, but not coming to anything as we were pretty disjointed and I thought curiously enervated. Arsenal still looked susceptible to quick breaks straight through the midfield as the half continued. On 39 minutes, Brighton had a corner, Kepa leapt but got nowhere near it, and Brighton should have scored. As half time approached, Dowman and White combined on the right, the former making a superb run in from the right-hand side, reverse passing to White who hit a poor cross.  

The first half was much the same as Palace – pretty low energy and ponderous and on another day we might have conceded 2 or even 3 goals. That said, Dowman was a real shining light. Nobody else was, although with just the 10 changes from Sunday’s line up, including 2 youngsters, it was perhaps unsurprising. 

Half Time: Arsenal 0 Brighton 0

The second half arrived with no changes from Arsenal in terms of personnel, but certainly in terms of approach and energy. Dowman slaughtered the left back for the umpteenth time, ran into the box and was taken down, arguably, but no pen given. It was superb skill and preceded by another wonderful flick on the touchline, taking out his marker.  Watch the highlights. He is going to be some player. At the other end, the unimpressive Nørgaard gave the ball away and only Mosquera’s excellent defending stopped a shot on target. It had become an open game now, with both sides attacking and going for the win. Nwaneri was coming more into the game and on 57 minutes he broke the deadlock with a superb strike from the left-hand side of the box, following a whip-smart move down the left involving Eze, Merino and MLS. 

Arsenal 1 Brighton 0

On 68 minutes, dilly dallying in the midfield saw us being robbed up the pitch in our half, but they couldn’t capitalise. At this point, Brighton made a raft of substitutions and Arteta answered, with Dowman, White and Hincapié off, Saka, Timber and Gabriel on. After only a few minutes, the wisdom of these subs became apparent, as following an amazing run from Timber, fully 50 yards, followed by a perfect pass behind the Brighton defence, Harriman Annous ran onto it and shot but the keeper saved and the rebound came back to Saka to slam home. 

Arsenal 2 Brighton 0

Arsenal played the game out with the only highlight being a thirty yarder from Trossard which beat the keeper and bounced back off the post. 

It was nice to get one over on Hurzeler after repulsive post-match comments after the league game at The Emirates last season.  I thought the crowd chant describing Brighton as just a not-so-good Crystal Palace was very funny. And for future reference, Fabian, just because your mum bought you a jumper for Christmas, you don’t have to wear it on TV. 

Posted in Match Report | 22 Drinks »

Shoot Those Seagulls Down

Oct 28th, 2025 by

As games begin to come thick and fast, next up is a home tie in the Carabao Cup (it’ll always be the League Cup to me) against Brighton and Hove Albion. This is not a competition, in any of its incarnations, in which we can boast a proud history. We have won it only twice, in 1986-87 (Gorgeous George’s first trophy as Arsenal manager and Kenny Sansom’s swan-song as captain) and 1992-93 (when Steve Morrow’s arm was broken after Tony Adams dropped his celebratory hoist) and been beaten finalists a record six times! Part of the reason for our lack of success in this competition was Arsene Wenger’s early decision to use it merely to blood the kids and as a result it was the only domestic silverware to elude him. It would be nice if Mikel could upstage him though we do still have bigger fish to fry!

Brighton is clearly a well-run club and has been able to maintain its Premier League status despite regularly selling top talent every summer. Its record of finding and buying talent in the darker corners of Europe, Africa and South America has been extraordinary. The Seagulls used to be quite a ‘cuddly’ club but the arrival of Fabian Hurlezer in June 2024 has changed all that, with his inflammatory antics on the touchline and snide post-match interviews. Yet, the event that changed my perception of the ‘Seagulls’ was how Van Hecke contrived to engineer Declan Rice’s sending off last season which, while largely the responsibility of a numpty referee ‘who had no choice’ but to brandish a second yellow card for touching the ball to the side, was still the consequence of gamesmanship by the Brighton defender which was applauded by their coach in his post-match interview. Hurlezer has transformed Brighton into the football equivalent of its ‘Seagull’ soubriquet: nasty, noisy, aggressive, sharp-beaked, keen on scraps and looking to steal your lunch.

In the last round, Brighton won handsomely at Barnsley, beating the Tykes 6-0 with four goals from Gomez, a Paraguayan midfielder of whom I had never previously heard, until sitting down to research this piece. In the previous round they beat Oxford United by the same score. Hurlezer fielded largely a reserve team against Barnsley including only Welbeck, Baleba and Kadioglu whose names I recognised. I suspect he will choose a stronger line-up against Arsenal and I expect to see the likes of Verbruggen, van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper, Rutter, Ayari and Minteh added to strengthen his side. I can’t see him not ‘going all in’ for this match in the hope that they can recover from their disappointing result at the Old Toilet in the first half of which, their previously assured play out from the back was tentative and occasionally suicidal. Nonetheless, they still represented an attacking threat with brisk and clever interplay and really should have scored before Manure opened their account. Brighton fully deserved their second half recovery from 3-0 down and for a brief period at 3-2, after an excellent free kick from our old boy Danny Welbeck, it was squeaky bum time for Manure until they scored a late fourth. Hopefully, Danny won’t go on a run of scoring against former employers. The Seagulls will be optimistic in this game as they beat us in the third round of this competition at TNHOF 3-1 in November 2022.

Although the Seagulls currently sit in thirteenth place in the PL after 9 games, they present a far greater obstacle than Port Vale whom we beat 2-0 in the last round with an early goal from Eze (his first goal in red and white) and a late goal from Trossard. Mikel Arteta made nine changes to his starting XI for the Port Vale tie bringing in Kepa, in goal, behind a back four of White, Saliba, Mosquera and MLS. Nørgaard was given his full debut alongside Nwaneri, Eze and Merino with the latter pair alternating the ‘left eight’ and ‘false nine’ roles and joining Saka and Martinelli in the attack.

The knocks sustained by Saliba, Rice, Calafiori and Martinelli against Palace and the illness that blunted Saka in that game will clearly influence Arteta’s choice of team. Without those injuries, I would have been confident that either Saliba or Gabriel would provide defensive continuity and experience as Arteta likes to have one of them at the heart of a changed defence. However, it seems likely that both will be ruled out. Gabriel was a doubt for Palace and sustained a couple of heavy crunches – one from a collision with a post – and I expect prudence to prevail. Likewise, but for illness and injury, I expected either Saka or Martinelli to start in attack to add experience and threat. Mikel Arteta was, as ever, Delphic in his responses to questions in his pre-match ‘presser’. However, he confirmed that Saliba and Martinelli are definitely out, Gabriel is ‘touch and go’ and Rice, Saka and Calafiori are available. He also suggested that Hincapié was short of match fitness.

I am certain that Kepa will start in goal again and that Arteta will probably select three of the back four that started against Port Vale: White, Mosquera and MLS. Without doubt, Arteta would have preferred to add the experience of Gabriel but as this may risk long term fitness, he will probably have to employ a novel central defensive pairing. Mosquera has made himself a clear starter in this situation and the $64,000 question is with whom to pair him in the absence of both regular starters. The young Spanish centre back has looked top class alongside either of our regulars but it will be a big test for him if he has take the lead in the centre of our defence. Arteta has declared Calafiori available for selection and the HIB (handsome Italian bloke), if he is indeed fully fit, would be my first choice at left centre back as he is clearly familiar with the Arsenal’s defensive ways and has often played that position for Bologna and for Italy. Timber is another possible option at centre back alongside Mosquera as he has experience in that position but he is a regular starter whose legs need resting. In my opinion, despite its popularity in the Goonerverse this week, a central pairing of Mosquera and Hincapié would be a risk, given how little the latter has played recently and his relative inexperience of Premier League opposition. MLS is a shoo-in at left back if Arteta thinks Hincapié is not yet match-fit. Having said all that, if Gabriel make a sufficient recovery, I expect him to start alongside Mosquera in the heart of the defence. I would certainly not bet against Gabriel declaring himself fit and ready!

Before this flurry of injuries we were certain to rest our first-choice midfielders and I expected to see the same quartet of Nwaneri, Nørgaard, Merino and Eze as started against Port Vale, with the latter pair again alternating ‘left eight’ and ‘false nine’. Should Gabriel not be available to provide experience and leadership in our central defence, we may see Zubimendi selected as a second holding midfielder alongside Nørgaard to provide an experienced screen for a novel central defensive partnership and add ‘nous’ going forward. That would enable us to rest Eze after his emotionally draining performance against Palace and employ him in the ‘finisher’ role to add late ‘chaos’ to proceedings.

Up front, I originally expected to see Martinelli on the right in the absence of Saka as I, personally, think it’s too early for Dowman to start against such feisty Premier League opposition, despite widespread calls for his inclusion. However I would certainly start Dowman in this game if both Saka and Martinelli were ruled out, and I do expect to see him join the fray on the right as a ‘finisher’. As Martinelli is definitely ruled out, I expect Trossard to start on the left but to give way to Eze as the game progresses to spare both sets of legs. I anticipate we will see Merino reprise his alter ego of striker as Gyökeres has run himself ragged throughout the last few matches and clearly needs a break. We cannot afford to gamble with Gyökeres’ long term fitness by starting him in this game as we currently have no fit back up other than Merino. The Swedish striker may possibly be another to join the fray late on but only if needs must. 

Thus, in this unexpected injury-blighted scenario, informed by Arteta’s ‘presser’, my XI is:

Kepa

White, Mosquera, Calafiori, MLS

Nwaneri, Nørgaard, Zubimendi

Saka, Merino, Trossard

We must avenge that bitter and costly draw in the league last autumn and I don’t think that Mikel Arteta will readily treat this as quite the disposable competition that Arsene Wenger did. I know many Gooners dismiss this tournament but that doesn’t seem to be Arteta’s style. The team that started against Port Vale didn’t obliterate the lower division outfit quite as well as expected and if this particular opponent proves as difficult as they have been of late, I expect any available, fit, first team regulars to join the fray as ‘finishers’ later in the game. However, it does seem likely that the bench will also include a few Under-21 hopefuls.

The score? I think the game will be scrappy and tight and a hard won 2-1 to the Arsenal.

Enjoy the game, Holics, wherever you’re watching.

Posted in Match Preview | 21 Drinks »

An Eze Win But Not An Easy One

Oct 27th, 2025 by

Arsenal consolidated their hold on top spot with a hard won 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Ashburton Grove yesterday. As so often happens the defining moment of the match involved a player who had worn the colours of the opposition when we last met, Eberechi Eze scoring a spectacular scissor volley a few minutes before halftime to settle the game. That must have been a bitter pill for Palace fans to swallow.

May I begin with an apology. I have mislaid my contributions schedule and didn’t produce the report as quickly as I would normally wish to do. This report will be a little more reflective rather than a blow by blow account and will also examine the contrasting opinions that people have expressed to me about the game.

Arsenal made two changes from the team that put Atletico to the sword on Tuesday night with Trossard replacing Martinelli and Calafiori regaining his place at left back from MLS. Palace had amazingly lost to the fifth best team in Cyprus on Thursday evening and had started a very strong team in that game. They were at full strength for this one too and set up with their customary three men at the back and two raiding wing backs. 

I watched the game on television, Sky attempting to show all of the games kicking off at 2pm and not giving this one the main event treatment. I found the first half a trifle tedious notwithstanding the fact that Palace are an extremely difficult side to play against but the game seemed attritional and we weren’t able to make any serious headway against a very solid Palace side. 

A couple of sloppy passes by Zubimendi were uncharacteristic and put us under pressure and Saliba failed to shepherd Mateta to safety resulting in attacks that saw Raya save from Sarr who was then ruled offside and then our defence blocked a speculative drive. We didn’t generate a goal attempt ourselves until after the half hour when Trossard saw a low effort well saved by Henderson but we did not have long to wait for the defining moment of the match. Pino gave away an unnecessary free kick on the right about thirty five yards from goal. Rice floated it in, Lacroix headed it away from Gabriel to the edge of the area. It came at an awkward height to Eze who executed an acrobatic scissor volley getting over the ball and smashing it into the right hand corner. His celebration was understandably subdued but the Arsenal players mobbed him enthusiastically, realising what a significant strike this was likely to be. 

Arsenal 1 Palace 0 – Eze 

When you are a counter-attacking team like Palace falling behind changes their perspective on the game. They set up with a low block, a five man defence and looked to catch Arsenal on the break. Now they faced a rejuvenated Arsenal side, a noisier crowd and had to find a way to get a grip on a match that had taken a negative turn as far as they  were concerned. Despite a subdued Arsenal performance several players stood out. Timber was continually pouring forward to help Saka and on one occasion to retain possession against four Palace players. He was also his usual conscientious self from a defensive point of view. He is a quite outstanding player. Rice was industrious and able to  vary play with long passes to the wing, Eze looked increasingly dangerous although the absence of Ødegaard robs us of a hugely effective midfield link man. Gyökeres worked extraordinarily hard but was often isolated from colleagues.  At the back Gabriel was his usual imperious self. The goal came at a very good time and we led a tight game at halftime. 

Half-time Arsenal 1 Palace 0 

When the teams re-emerged Mosquera had replaced Saliba and Arsenal were much more assertive and took the game to Palace earning their first corners of the match. Gabriel thumped the bar with a header and Trossard showed some tricky footwork down the left in one of his more lively performances. We couldn’t add a second goal and eventually Palace who had brought Nketiah on to support Mateta carried  more threat but we managed the game pretty well.

It was disturbing to see Saka and Rice removed. Saka had seemed under the weather from the start but occupied two Palace defenders while  he was  on. Martinelli who came in on the right had suffered a pre- match knock apparently and Rice was replaced by Merino with what appeared to be a combination of calf and Achilles problems. Let us hopes these knocks aren’t significant .

The game ended with Palace applying some pressure and Arsenal looking to find Gyökeres on breakaways. It gave the impression that we were holding on to a certain extent but I preferred to view it as Arsenal shutting down the Palace attack in what was a natural consequence of the rhythm of a tight game.

Full Time – Arsenal 1 Palace 0 

After the match it was interesting to hear from several people who were at the game who regarded it as an enthralling encounter and those who had watched on television where it came across as a much flatter, dour affair. 

I would have nominated Gabriel as Man of the Match but Timber, Rice and Trossard did well, Eze improved as the  game went on and Gyökeres toiled manfully upfront.

One thing that heartened me was that Eddie Nketiah was given a fine welcome by Arsenal fans when he came on and Eze was similarly applauded by Palace fans when he was substituted near the end. Contrast this with the recent mean-spirited response of West Ham fans to Declan Rice who led that benighted club to their only success in aeons and behaved impeccably when leaving the club. 

It was another excellent weekend. We did not expect our nearest challengers to be Sunderland and it was heartening to see C130y and Liverpool fall to defeats, after Chelsea had capitulated to the Mackems. The first quarter of the season has gone very well. Fingers crossed we can continue to play with the control we have exhibited so far.

Apologies to end this report on a sad note but I was so sorry to learn of  the death of Steve Ashford ‘The Highbury Spy’, a long-time Gooner contributor and a controversial one. Steve had been fighting leukaemia for a while and dragged himself to games for a few months after his treatment. I often disagreed with him but never doubted his love for the club. Rest in Peace, mate! Let us hope we can win the title for him. A lot of us in this bar will drink to that! 

Posted in Match Report | 23 Drinks »

It Could Have Gone South

Oct 25th, 2025 by

Another obstacle in our quest for the league title awaits us in N5 on Sunday, this time in the shape of Crystal Palace of Thornton Heath located in the London borough of sunny Croydon. Otherwise known as “the gateway to the South”.

I jest of course. Anyone who has ever been unlucky enough to find themselves in the vicinity of Croydon should probably locate the nearest gate, door or some sort of trans-dimensional portal that will take them as far away from Croydon as possible. In fairness to the residents of Croydon this goes for most of South London as well. Always go North of the river. Every day I wake up and thank the higher powers that good old Sir Henry Norris had the sense to do just that back in 1913. Otherwise, we would currently be preparing for a South London Derby, and we’d also be dangerously close to Millwall. 

Unless of course our attendances down in Woolwich continued to dwindle and the club we all came to know and love eventually disbanded, meaning we would’ve all grown up in an Arsenal-less universe forcing us to support one of London’s many perennial also-rans like West Ham United of Stratford, otherwise known as “the Gateway to Southend on-sea, where all your hopes and dreams go to die.” 

I think we can all agree Sir Henry made the right choice there!

In fairness to Crystal Palace, despite the fact they are located in London’s answer to Omsk, I have always had a bit of a soft spot for them. For me, Palace have always come across as a likeable club with a passionate and loyal fan base. They have given us two particularly tidy players over the years, some fella called Ian Wright who might have gone on to score a few goals for us, and more recently Eberechi Eze who came dangerously close to signing for the Dark Side before Kai Havertz decided to sacrifice his knees for the cause forcing us to swoop in and save Eze from a career of mediocrity at the hands of Mini Me. Palace are good chaps despite their unfortunate geographical location. 

Right now, The Eagles are enjoying their most successful period in the club’s history. Whilst they have been a solid mid table outfit for several years now, last May they experienced their finest hour in beating the law abiding, financial fair play compliers Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley with the winner being scored by a certain Ebere Eze. Palace also beat Liverpool in August to win the Community Shield and until a last gasp defeat away at Everton, they were enjoying the longest unbeaten run in their history. Since then, they’ve suffered a slight dip in form drawing 3-3 at home to Bournemouth last weekend and, on Thursday night losing 1-0 at home to AEK Larnaca in the Conference League. Now there’s a great place to put a football club! 

We can expect a tough afternoon at THOF. Oliver Glassner has done a remarkable job since taking over from Roy Hodgson and he will set his side up to be very difficult to break down. The good news is our boys are no strangers to a pesky low block. 

Regarding team news, Arteta revealed yesterday that Gabriel is a doubt. If that’s not just mind games, we have Mosquera or Hincapié waiting in the wings for some minutes. Not bad options. It is certainly a far cry from going to the Etihad with Rob Holding in the starting 11. Sorry Rob! 

Elsewhere could we see MLS get a first league start of the season following his swashbuckling assist in the demolition of Atletico Madrid? We might, we might not. I’m not in Mikel Arteta’s head; he’s not in mine. He is in Jamie O’Hara’s head though. It’s just as well there’s not much else in there. I knew I could fit in a dig in there somewhere!

In midfield we will surely see Zee line up against his old side alongside Declan and Zubimendi. 

In attack, I think Martinelli ought to start after his TH14 finish against Atleti and Gyökeres will hopefully get another couple of Danny Welbeckian finishes against the Eagles. In fairness to Welbz, he’s still knocking them in for Brighton. Doesn’t matter how they go in the onion bag as long as they go in. As far as I’m concerned, I’m happy for Gyökeres to knock in another 30 goals with his gonads if it wins us the title. 

I will be in the Norf Bank for this one and I’m looking forward to it. 2-0 to The Arsenal, Gyökeres brace. Gonads and right nipple with a goal apiece. 

COYG!!

As a sidenote, on Friday evening I was lucky enough to attend a fundraiser event for the Kevin Campbell foundation which was set up by Kevin’s family and friends following his tragic passing last year. In short, the charity aims to support children and young people gain opportunities and aid their development often through sports in addition to other avenues. More info can be found on their website. 

The event was graced with the presence of four Arsenal legends: Martin Keown, Paul Davis, Perry Groves and Nigel Winterburn. It was a great chance to meet some of the best players to wear the red and white whilst raising money for a great cause and also honouring the life and continuing legacy of Super Kev. 

If you wish, feel free to donate to the charity online. It really is a great cause. 

UTA

Posted in Match Preview | 46 Drinks »

FOUR Heavens Sake! Arsenal blow Atletico to Smithereens in Second Half Salvo

Oct 22nd, 2025 by

Arsenal underlined their credentials as a real European force with a scintillating second half display tonight to devastate one of the most consistent and obdurate European powers in Atlético Madrid. Mikel Arteta picked a side with only two changes from the win at Fulham, MLS coming in at left back and Martinelli taking over the left sided attacking role from Saturday’s scorer Leandro Trossard.

The evening began most agreeably with an early dinner with the Countrymen in Holloway Road at a packed eaterie which we frequent regularly. During the meal we had a very pleasant conversation (in English!) with two extremely nice Atletico supporters delighted to be in London even if their early CL fixtures threw up two English heavyweights.

The first half was a fast moving chess game with both sides probing and closing down effectively. Atletico’s tactic was to impose a mid-block giving Arsenal more space than they usually enjoy to build attacks from the back. Saka was particularly dangerous on the right flank, combining well on several occasions with Eze and Timber. Arsenal employed a high press looking to restrict Atletico’s ability to move the ball swiftly and Arsenal had the lion’s share of possession in a first half that was tactically fascinating if perhaps not quite as aesthetically pleasing as we would ideally have liked. Aside from Saka, Arsenal were very well-served by Gyökeres who proved a powerful, mobile and very hard-working fulcrum upfront. He looked more at home in this company than he often has in the Premier League and he was one of the standout players for Arsenal tonight.

The game almost began with a sensational early goal from a deflected Eze shot which hit the bar. Saka was just foiled when through by a brave piece of goalkeeping from Oblak and Arsenal continued to take the game to Atletico who looked organised and resilient and almost took the lead midway through the half. Raya, as is his wont took something of a risk in running out to the left wing to foil Alvarez, slide-tackling him on the touch line to put the ball out of play. Simeone recovered the ball quickly and threw it to Alvarez who threaded a shot just wide of the vacant goal from the right wing. Atletico then produced a sustained attack following a break from Alvarez but Arsenal eventually smothered the danger. Zubimendi was then booked rendering him unavailable for one of the gentler ties they face against Slavia Prague. That felt to me like a convenient and pragmatic booking but it rendered Zubimendi vulnerable to a second yellow against volatile and theatrical opponents. Gimenez then showed Atletico’s brutal side with a blatant body check on Gyokeres resulting in a deserved yellow card. 

Arsenal thought they had broken through close to halftime when Martinelli turned a cross from Saka on the right wing into the goal at the far post but he was judged narrowly offside. Half time came with the deadlock unbroken. I had found proceedings fascinating but there was little indication of the thunder that Arsenal were to unleash. 

Halftime – Arsenal 0 Atletico 0 

A conversation I overheard at halftime made me despair, one Gooner saying to another that he had found proceedings boring. If you find high octane, technically precise football at this level boring you need to find another pastime. I found it enthralling despite being goalless. Arsenal were mixing it very effectively with a European powerhouse who had recently thrashed Real Madrid 5-1. 

When the second half began Alvarez hit the bar with a spectacular effort and a beautiful improvised chip by Zubimendi, a trademark move of his, almost set up Gyökeres. My bladder told me that I needed to take a loo break and while I was there a beautiful delivery from a free kick on the left by Declan Rice found Gabriel who he headed decisively home. 

Arsenal 1 Atletico 0 – Gabriel 

Atletico came back with a flurry of attacks and a raft of substitutions but in the 64th minute a sinuous and determined dribble took MLS deep into the centre of Atletico territory where he set up Martinelli for a curling drive across Oblak and just inside the right hand post. 

Arsenal 2 Atletico 0 – Martinelli 

Arsenal were rampant now. In the 67th minute a sustained piece of pressure saw the ball  fall to Gyökeres in the 6-yard box and his shot deflected into  the corner wrong-footing Oblak. 

Arsenal 3 Atletico 0 – Gyökeres 

Three minutes later a long Rice corner  from the left found Gabriel whose header back across goal was turned in with his lower abdomen by Gyökeres.

Arsenal 4 Atletico 0 – Gyökeres  

Arsenal brought off Eze, Zubimendi, Gyökeres (to a standing ovation) then Gabriel (likewise) and Timber replacing them with Nwaneri, Nørgaard, Merino, Mosquera and Ben White. Arsenal were determined not to yield their clean sheet and flattened the game very effectively amid an atmosphere of unalloyed delight.

This was a statement performance by an Arsenal side who are beginning to look as good as we have hoped they might be, taking on and crushing one of the most difficult sides to beat in Europe. It was a night when we could have picked any number of candidates for Man of the Match. I found it impossible on what was a night to savour and enjoy. I am starting to feel that we will have many more days and nights to savour this season. 

Posted in Match Preview, Match Report | 47 Drinks »

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