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A Frustrating Afternoon at the Cottage

Dec 9th, 2024 by

Fulham away, every travelling fans favourite fixture of the year. Sunshine, beers by the river, a stroll to the ground through Bishops’ Park, the singing echoing down from the crinkly tin roof of the Putney end. So I was there right? Wrong. Tickets sold out on 35 credits and I have 31. So it was the sofa, Sky Sports and Chris Sutton for me. It was a filthy afternoon, with Storm Daraagh throwing its final fling at the whole country. Wind and rain lashed around SW6.

The early team news showed that big Gabi and Calafiori were still not fit to play. Thomas Partey lined up at right back with Timber switching to the left. Zinchenko was not on the bench. Our defensive resources were getting thinner. Jorghino, Rice and Ødegaard formed the midfield, with Trossard, Havertz and Saka up front.

We started very well and confidently and dominated the first ten minutes. Then a through ball on the Fulham right bypassed Kiwior and Jimenez ran on and scored brilliantly from just inside the area. It was the first time Fulham had been in our half. 

An excellent ball from Trossard found the end of a superb run from Rice but he steered it just wide. All the verve and panache of the first 10 had vanished but instead we were playing far too slowly and predictably and after 35 minutes Leno had not had a save to make apart from dealing with corners. Then Saka got one on one with Bassey, jinked to his right and fired in a clever shot, well saved by our former glove butler. 

At half time it was 1-0 to Fulham, who had defended well and who had been robust physically (but I think fairly). Our only creative spark had been Saka. Ødegaard had been double and triple teamed, giving him no room for his usual creativity. 

We started the second half poorly. Trossard let the ball run though his legs (did he get a shout?) to Iwobi on the half way line. Nothing came of it but we were in danger of sleepwalking to a 2-0 deficit. But on 53 minutes we won a corner on our left hand side. Declan’s usual laser guided in swinging corner was whipped in to Havertz who guided it back across to Big Willy who smashed it in. After an anxious delay for VAR, he was ruled onside and the goal stood. The Putney end roared its approval. 

Set piece again!

Set piece again!

Set piece again Ole Ole!

On the hour Martinelli came on for Trossard. ESR and Traore were hooked for Fulham (neither had contributed anything of note). Martinelli won another corner. It reached Partey, five yards out and completely unmarked. He had to score. Dearest reader, he put it well wide, just as he did with a similar golden chance in mid week. The air turned blue in a Cambridgeshire living room.

On 73 minutes we made another two subs, Jesùs for Havertz (who, unusually had had a largely ineffective game) and Merino for Jorgi. I was calling for Nwaneri and on 78 minutes my wish was granted as he came on for Ødegaard, who had taken a couple of crunching tackles. Immediately Ethan made a lovely dancing run which ended with Saka being hacked down by Robinson, who was booked. 

Then came the creative moment. Arsenal played the ball around. It reached Martinelli on the left wing who conjured a beautiful cross to the back post where a clearly onside Saka cleverly headed it past Leno. Pandemonium in Cambridgeshire and in the Putney end. But wait! A VAR check was going on for Martinelli who was deemed just, marginally offside. To be fair, it looked the right call on replay. But that moment being taken away from us was the cause of the deep frustration of most of us straight after the game. There is nothing in football like a late winner. Think Henry against United, Vermaelen against Newcastle, Welbeck against Leicester, Nelson against Bournemouth. 

We tried to go again but couldn’t. So frustrating! The Partey miss, the marginal offside call! Unlike December ’23 we were comfortably the best team. Two thirds possession, 12 shots vs 2. But we couldn’t close the deal. 

So, having slept on it, what are my thoughts? Well, channeling my inner Mike McDonald, I have positives and areas for improvement.

As I say above, we dominated the game but just weren’t clinical enough in the six yard box. However we have scored 15 goals in our last four games. Saka was terrific. We just didn’t get the breaks today. But drastic surgery is not required.

But some tweaks are. Playing Partey at right back does not work in an attacking sense. The usual Saka- Odegaard- right back triangle is denuded by one and makes it much easier to double team them. Play Timber on the right and, if Calafiori or Zinchenko are not available, play Lewis Skelly on the left. 

A few weeks ago, I suggested that Jesùs is a busted flush and was roundly castigated in this forum. No, give him more time I was told. Well, he had over 20 minutes yesterday and was utterly ineffective. One out of 6 passes successfully completed. A late half chance where he hesitated instead of throwing his foot at the ball. He is no longer good enough for this team. We need another player in January as an alternative to Havertz as a rotational option, or a sub for days like today. At the same time we must find replacements for the chronically injured Tomiyasu and Zinchenko.

I wish we would shoot more from the edge of the box. That applies particularly to Martin, Rice and Havertz. 

So is that the title race blown? Stuff and nonsense. There are 23 games still to go. Liverpool will have their wobble. Does no one remember 1998? We are, fundamentally, playing well. 

One last thought. I saw some Gooners cheering on Spurs yesterday. Go and take a bath with carbolic soap. Mate. 

Monaco on Wednesday. Let’s thrash them and cement our place in the CL top eight. 

Posted in Match Report | 29 Drinks »

A Better Performance This Year, Pretty Please, Lads!

Dec 7th, 2024 by

Geraint Watkins live at the Half Moon in Putney – poorly taken image courtesy of my brother

Who is it this time?

After ruthlessly despatching old enemies mid-week, it is time for, hopefully, more of the same with a few old friends on Sunday.  We visit Craven Cottage this weekend to play a Fulham side that has just moved up into 6th place with a 3-1 win over Brighton. It was a game I watched in the wee small hours of an Osakan Friday morning, dedicated as I am to my scouting duties, and after taking detailed and highly strategic notes I can report they played alright. However, let’s park Fulham and their fulsome quota of Gooners past and present for now.

How’s things down Arsenal Way?

The Arsenal have played far better than alright recently and will be going for our 5th straight win since the last period of international dullness, having knocked in 15 and conceded only three. Why the upturn? Well, the return of Øde, the special new scoring boots that the boss got for the squad wholesale, and the consistent brilliance of Bukayo Saka have seen the return of the smiley, happy Goonerverse that we all prefer to its grumpier, fractious cousin. That we have done so while making forced changes / resting players in defence, midfield and attack is also a good sign. Rotation is more important than ever, I believe, as there will be no winter breaks in the sun this season. MA hasn’t always used the squad widely during his tenure, for good reason in the past, but he has been like a ‘changes man’ recently. He has also been quick to praise some of the squad players coming in. Kiwior and Zin being the most recent duo to bask in the warm glow of MA’s love after the canter against Man United – admittedly the worst Surrey Wanderers side since, well actually, only since last season’s shower but then you can only beat what’s planted in front of you. Yes, both Kiwior and Zin made mistakes that put us at risk (as by the way at times do Gabriel and Calafiori), but in what was a rare start at this level recently they both did many good things as well, everyone remembers Zin’s mistake but few mention the important and well-timed interception he made two minutes earlier to stop a break. I have no idea if Gabriel and Calafiori will be fit but if they can’t make it then I am quite happy to go with the same XI against Fulham. Fulham are, if my eyes and the league table are to be believed, a better side than Man United (I enjoyed writing that immensely, especially as it’s true) but I can’t see any reason why we shouldn’t continue on our merry way with another win. 

Who will deliver the three points?

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, MA has been making changes while winning the last four games and only five players have started in every game – although I am sure you just rattled them off in your head I will list them up anyway – Raya, Timber, Saliba, Øde and Saka. I am not sure that going away to a team currently in 6th is the place to rest any of them and so would expect all to start. I assume the recently resurgent Rice as well as Kai will also start, which leaves TP / Jorginho and Leo / Gabi M who have alternated across recent games. I have no idea how MA will look at it but I would prefer the slightly more press-resistant TP5 at DM for this one and the quicker Gabi to exploit a potential Fulham weakness at full-back. 

 My XI

Raya

Timber Saliba Gabriel (Kiwior) Calafiori (Zin)

Partey Øde Rice

 Saka Kai Gabi M

What about Fulham?

Firstly, it must be said they are not at our level. However, secondly it must also be said that they weren’t at our level last season either and we dropped 5 points via a disappointing home draw against 10 men and then slightly under a year ago, on New Year’s Eve, things went even more pear-shaped with an away defeat that was so bad even the normally smooth waters of the Holic pond were a tad agitated (read the report and drinks of 1st January 2024 if you don’t believe such a thing to be even possible!). Fulham have started well enough this season though I think the fixture list has been kind and, of course, they now have the services of Bernd Leno, Alex Iwobi, Reiss Nelson (on loan) and one of our favourite sons, Emile Smith-Rowe. I generally wish them well but sentiment be damned and I hope we give them a good stuffing this time round. MA was asked about ESR at his presser and spoke of his real gratitude for ESR’s contribution over several months at a difficult time for the club. They were undoubtedly ESR’s finest hours for us and many believe they were instrumental in saving MA’s job. We will never know the truth of that of course but it’s certainly true that I was very grateful too at the time!   It was a joy to see such a great Arsenal lad and a cracking player get his moments in the sun. 

However, that was then and this is now, so how will Fulham line up? Generally, 4-2-3-1 in front of Leno. This season has regularly seen the three to be Iwobi – ESR – Nelson and with some degree of success. The last game against Brighton saw Iwobi further back with Pereira rested (dropped?) and he had an excellent game scoring twice and generally Iwobi-ing around to good effect. ESR on the other hand was very quiet and looked slightly out-of-sorts. Nelson did a hammy during the game but, of course, couldn’t have played against us anyway. I imagine Adama Traore will take his place. However, Silva takes off all the front 4 in almost every game regardless of who starts so other familiar names like Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenz will appear at some point. Their defence has looked suspect to me whenever I have seen them and I hope Saka will have some joy against Robinson (he has scored in the last two against Fulham) and either Martinelli or Trossard against either Tete or an aging Castagne on the other wing. Probably Bassey and Diop will start as CBs, they look somewhat loose to me and Brighton wasted several good chances to get back in the game. Opportunities will certainly come our way unless Marco Silva decides to shut up shop and go with a 5-4-1 formation. In that case, step forward the best set-piece team in Europe. 

Oh! I almost forgot, a quick run-through of Fulham’s history. They have never won anything worth noting though they did get to the FA Cup Final in 1975 with Bobby Moore and Alan Mullery but lost to a West Ham side that had also, annoyingly, knocked us out in the quarter-finals.  Fulham are however the oldest club in London, having been founded in 1879, and have played at Craven Cottage since 1896. Before that they had used a variety of venues including The Mud Pond in Fulham and The Half-Moon in Putney on what I assume was a football pitch, or perhaps another pond, next to the famous old pub. By quite an astonishing coincidence my brother watched Geraint Watkins and the Mosquitos live at the very same pub last week – photographic evidence above. I honestly cannot imagine what else anyone would want to know about Fulham after reading that exclusive. However, I can share that the one and only original Guvnor and many other Holics have often enjoyed visiting the ground, quite startling in its difference from the unpleasant atmosphere at the nearby bus stop. Let’s hope it’s an enjoyable visit this time too, which brings us neatly to the score. 

Given our current return to robust good health, I expect us to stick at least three past their suspect defence. It would be a fitting atonement for the sins of the past season and exactly the sort of better performance requested in the headline to this piece. 

Fulham seem to almost always score at home so 3-1 would be my prediction for this week. 

That’s about it for now, as ever thanks to all our readers, hope to see you at the drinks in the bar and enjoy the game wherever you may be.

Posted in Match Preview | 46 Drinks »

Set Piece Again, Olé Olé

Dec 5th, 2024 by

Arsenal welcomed, if that is the right word, the latest unfortunate to hold the poisoned chalice of being United manager, in his first major challenge since taking over from the hapless Ten Hag. United had a number of injuries, particularly in defence forcing them to have to play Maguire. Arsenal, as has become customary this season, also didn’t have a full squad with White out for a while and both Calafiori and Gabriel failed to make the squad as well, meaning Zinchenko and Kiwior started in the left sided defensive roles. Pre-match conversation revolved around how this could be the area United choose to target, with wingers like Garnacho and Diallo in particular licking their lips at the prospect of exposing the defensive frailties down the left.

The game started with Arsenal hoarding possession and United seemingly happy to press and harry seemingly more in a controlled way as opposed to with a view to genuinely winning the ball high up the pitch. We quickly had the ball in the back of the net but Havertz was clearly offside when laying the ball neatly back to Martinelli to slot home from 12 yards. In the 8th minute we won the first of a large number of corners (13 in fact). Prefiguring the excellent delivery which would be a feature of our set pieces for the rest of the game, Rice arrowed in the corner from the left side of the Clock End and somehow Partey contrived to miss his header from around 4 feet, the ball cannoning off his shoulder and wide when it seemed easier to score. The fact that he was entirely unmarked at the near post ought to have been a warning for United. 

Around this time, United in general, and Onana in particular started time wasting pretty obviously. Oh how are the mighty fallen – United looking to run the clock down with 80 minutes still to play. The referee did what you would expect, engaging on frivolous conversations with United players, turning his back on the keeper so that he could claim not to have seen what was going on. Standard fare for PL referees, apparently the pinnacle of their profession. 

United continued to be happy simply to jockey Arsenal, mostly as a result of the fact that we were moving the ball around quickly and they couldn’t get terribly close to it. At the same time, most of this possession was in front of the United defence and it felt as though we were using the time to probe rather than go all out for victory. Given our history of conceding fast-break goals to United in particular, I was happy to see pragmatism on our part rather than gung-ho attack. On 21, we had another corner, this time delivered from the other side by Saka resulting in Onana rather oddly choosing to punch out rather than catch, perhaps a sign that he in particular and United in general were nervous at our prowess from set pieces. A pattern on the set pieces was beginning to form with a group of 6 Arsenal players gathering beyond the back post and then sprinting into the spaces allowed by the United zonal defending just as the ball was about to be delivered. On 23, another corner delivered by Saka fell to Zinchenko to hit, the resulting block falling to Martinelli who was a little unbalanced and screwed his shot wide. 

The game continued to follow the same pattern, with Arsenal controlling possession, but United successfully keeping them at arm’s length and half time came, offering an opportunity to Arteta to reinvigorate the team and perhaps change a few things tactically.

Half Time – Arsenal 0 Man United 0

Perhaps surprisingly, it was United who made a change for the second half, with Malacia who was being given the runaround by Saka and had picked up a booking in the first half, being replaced by skilful, nippy winger Diallo. It immediately became apparent that Arteta had instructed the team to move the ball quicker. 

On 47 minutes, Martinelli was put through one on one with Maguire but he seemed to lack confidence and rather than taking on the human obelisk, chose instead to shoot, succeeding only in having his shot blocked and falling harmlessly to Onana.

United’s time wasting reached its nadir in the 50th minute when De Ligt was injured and rolling around off the pitch. For some reason, the referee chose to stop the game and this, erm, weakness, was pounced upon by Onana who went over, like some modern-day Florence Nightingale, to deliver such sweet succour as only a non-medically trained 6 foot 4 inch goalkeeper can. While the referee made pitiful attempts to try to get the keeper to restart, The Obelisk decided to come over and waste time by collecting another ball from beyond the dead ball line and throwing it onto the pitch, ensuring that the restart couldn’t take place, as two balls were in play.   Even this referee saw that he had to do something and the world’s only living Easter Island statue was given a yellow for his trouble.

This performance served to rouse Arsenal, both fans and players, and another corner ensued on 53 minutes as we cranked up the pressure. The six-man back post routine was in play again, with Rice delivering expertly to the near post this time, for Timber to get a touch and direct the ball into the net. Cue delirium in the North Bank. 

This inspired Amorim to make 3 further changes on 55 minutes with Rashford, Zirkzee and Yoro coming on for Garnacho, Mount and The Obelisk. United now had to try to attack. Curiously, the formerly languorous Onana found that if he really tried he could restart much more quickly. Well done, you!

By now the Gunners were firmly in charge and frankly the substitutions United made had no impact whatsoever. Arsenal continued to press and a raft of corners followed, putting pressure on the United defence and shaky keeper. 

On 65 minutes United had by far their best chance, in fact their first on target when a well delivered free kick from the right-hand side of the box by Fernandes was met with a good header by De Ligt, requiring an athletic full stretch diving save from Raya. From my vantage point at least 150 yards away in the North Bank, it looked for all the world destined to hit the back of the net. Super save.

Arteta saw that he needed to inject more energy and made some well-timed substitutions with the always available Martinelli coming off for Trossard and somewhat more surprisingly Merino for Zinchenko who had just been skinned by Diallo and picked up a yellow card. Pretty aggressive subs, with Timber now moving to left back and there was the required energy surge from team and fans. Ødegaard pressured Rashford into giving away yet another corner which Partey met at the back stick, nodding back to hit the well-formed rear end of William Saliba and into the net. VAR tried in vain to construct a reason not to give the goal but even Liverpool fan Jared Gillet couldn’t justify it and the goal stood. Gillet appeared to be looking to rule it out for offside. How can you be offside from a corner, from which the ball is played back from the dead ball line and by definition has to go backward?

By now, United’s defence was in tatters and the corners just kept coming, with Merino heading unchallenged from 8 yards just wide of the post. Amorim took off the hugely ineffective Hojlund for the hugely ineffective one-trick pony Antony. It all smacked of desperation and the easy start to the manager’s United career was well and truly over. Arsenal continued to get stronger and United to wilt. Huge credit must be given to the set piece coach for picking up on the United frailty. This was acknowledged by the crowd with shouts of “Set piece again, ole ole” ringing out as the game came to its inevitable conclusion.

With Chelsea unsurprisingly winning and Liverpool dropping points at Newcastle, this game really was a must win and despite the absences and the potential banana skin of the new manager bounce, Arsenal negotiated it admirably. 

Posted in Match Report | 40 Drinks »

Newest Remake of an Old Classic

Dec 4th, 2024 by

La Rochefoucauld, the peerless master of world-weary aphorisms that cut your hand when you try to hold them close, had remarked, “We always have enough strength to bear the troubles of other people” (Nous avon tous assez de force pour supporter les maux d’autrui). If he knew about footballing rivalries among people who otherwise would find it in them to feel sympathy, if not genuine compassion, for each other’s pains, he would likely have added a further refinement or two to his pithy observation, noting that in certain cases the troubles of other people are what gives us strength.

I am absolutely certain that the Arsenal fans of otherwise impeccable character (or not) would have no reservations admitting that the pleasure of looking down at the old enemy, eight positions below us on the table, has a degree of glee associated with it that we would otherwise find unseemly in our daily lives. Especially those Arsenal fans like this scribe, who was introduced to the club in the heyday of our rivalry, with the opponent of the midweek fixture in the match week 14th of this 2024-25 Premier League season. That glee, I am equally sure, must also be mixed with more than a healthy dose of humility in recognizing that our current stability and footballing excellence are hard-earned, precious, and not to be taken for granted. And given that we Arsenal supporters – unlike supporters of some other clubs in English football – are much more interested in climbing the summit ourselves (and not looking upwards from our tattered base camp tent to vicariously find pleasure in seeing other climbers fight it out), we approach this matchday with our eyes fixed intently on reducing the gap on the top of the table.

And speaking of eyes staring at you with the searing intensity of steely determination, I find the way our Basque manager looks at the world, especially when he wants to convey his uncompromisable conviction, is inevitably going to become a template for some enterprising acting teacher to add in their Meisner technique class. The uncompromising fierceness that has characterized his transformative leadership in reestablishing the team as genuine title contenders renders a weighty gravitas to that outward demeanor. I find one of the most impressive aspects of his leadership has been the ability to transmit that intensity into his team. The Arsenal of current incarnation may not always win, or even play very well, but they never lack either the will or the discipline to be the best of the best. We Arsenal fans in recent times have suffered through teams where it was easy to spot lack of either or both, and that’s all the more reason for us to not take the qualities of the current team for granted, but cherish and celebrate those.

That intensity and discipline will be instrumental to control the tempo and ball possession in this Wednesday’s match against Manchester United. It is too early to say what lies in future for their new Portuguese manager, but Anorim comes to PL with a couple of years of superlative results in Portuguese football, and we should expect an opponent who are considerably revitalized, and prepare ourselves for an encounter where we would need to be at our best to make the relative gulf in quality count. Our recent record against them has been good – in last ten matches in PL, the record is 6 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, with the last three matches all yielding victories (1-0, 3-1, 3-2 in reverse chronological order) – and if we play to our full potential, cheered on by a vociferous home crowd, we should be able to continue that run. Given that we are chasing the league leaders Liverpool who are nine points ahead of us, we have very little margin of error at this stage and all three points in a home match is, to quote one of Mikel’s favorite phrases, non-negotiable.   

Last weekend’s team selection away at West Ham may have been made with this fixture in mind, and I expect Partey and Martinelli to return to the starting eleven (assuming Thomas is back fit). Merino, even if fit, will likely start from the bench, which will also include the experience and nous of Jorginho, Trossard, Jesus, Zinchenko and Sterling. Young Ethan Nwaneri has been impressive each time he has been given a chance, and towards the end of this match he might be brought on to give a tiring United defense a different kind of examination. Hopefully, by then the game has been wrapped up convincingly. While Arsenal’s right side is unquestionably the primary source of our attacking verve, with Ødegaard and Saka reestablishing their telepathic understanding and being ably supported by the impressive technical and physical qualities of Timber, Partey’s passing through the lines and Martinelli’s tireless workrate on and off the ball can be two other key attacking outlets. Hopefully Gabriel has fully recovered from whatever that was bothering him last weekend, for not only he and Saliba together are central to our defensive solidity, but he has now become also an extremely effective weapon in our set-pieces and instrumental in executing the variations on our corner kick routine theme.    

Considering everyone is fit, this in my opinion is our best eleven for this match:

Raya
Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Calafiori
Partey
Ødegaard – Rice
Saka – Havertz – Martinelli

We really must win this one. And I think we will. There have been a few 3-1 results lately so the temptation is to predict one more 3-1 victory for Arsenal, but I think a solid, dominating 2-0 win at home will be perfect as well.

Come on Arsenal! 

Posted in Match Preview | 25 Drinks »

We’re Forever Bursting Bubbles

Dec 1st, 2024 by

After some Friday speculation that honesty left nobody in any doubt, Gabriel Magalhäes was passed fit to start in a side that showed two changes from the team that thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5-1 four days previously:

Raya
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori
Ødegaard, Jorginho, Rice
Saka, Havertz, Trossard

The first half hour saw the Gunners in total cruise control and two goals to the good almost inevitably from a Gabriel orchestrated and converted corner – his fourth of the season – and a beautifully crafted pass move and dink from Ødegaard that left Saka to slide the ball to Trossard who netted with a tap in from two yards.

If it had been a FIFA game you would have suspected that West Ham’s controller had broken, so totally uninvolved were they. The West Ham captain at this point actually asked the referee if they could have another ball. “Certainly not!” said Anthony Taylor, “you already have a perfectly good ball.” “I know,” said the West Ham captain, “but Arsenal are playing with that one!”

On all the 3s 33 mins Arsenal made it 3-0 – bingo! Saka was felled by Paqueta and Ødegaard took the spot kick in Saka’s place, putting it exactly where Saka placed his on Tuesday evening in Portugal.

On 35 minutes it was 4-0 and for the second year running the home fans took to the apples and pears and an impromptu East End fire drill was underway when Flappy Handski became Stretchy Groinski as Havertz slid the ball past his extended right foot following a brilliant through ball from Trossard, hit with fade from his sand wedge of a left foot.

Two minutes later Wan-Bissaka got one back for the Spammers after a sloppy Calafiori pass ceded possession and the full back ran on to the through ball to convert. It was actually a repeat of exactly the same situation twenty minutes earlier when Somerville’s chipped finish was chalked off for a clear offside.

On 39 minutes Emerson scored direct from a free kick in off the bar from 20 yards. Raya’s start position was curious – too far to his right for my liking – but it was a very accurate free kick.

West Ham did what West Ham do before half time – they got scrappy and physical, Timber was kicked, Saka rushed in to help his mate, Emerson kicked off a melee and he and Saka were both booked by Anthony Taylor.

Somerville hacked Saka down and earned himself a yellow card and his team the opportunity to defend another corner from the resulting free kick.

Flappy was booked for a left hook on Gabriel’s head that Oleksandr Usyk would have been proud of and Arsenal had their second penalty. Bukayo Saka stepped up to take it and became Arsenal’s fifth different scorer of the half. A little fortunate as Saka went to the keeper’s right this time who did get a touch on the ball but not enough to keep it out.

West Ham then got another dangerous free kick from nearly thirty yards which Raya tipped over the bar for the corner that brought a mad first half to a close.

Half Time
West Ham 2 – 5 Arsenal

Arsenal replaced Gabriel with Kiwior at the start of the second half – maybe he really was carrying an injury after all – and West Ham brought on Alvarez for Somerville who was a risk on a yellow card. Alvarez was potentially a risky replacement as he has already earned two red cards himself this season.

I scribbled four pages of notes during the second half but reading them here would be as tedious as it was to write them. West Ham managed to increase their share of possession through increased aggression and a succession of fouls they got away with, but they still only had the ball for 39% of the time and Arsenal continued to look the more likely side to score again. My notes became a catalogue of Arsenal players getting hurt, West Ham bringing on goodness knows how many substitutes, and “leaving one on” any Arsenal player they could get near enough to kick.

Zinchenko replaced Calafiori who retired with a fairly heavy strapping above his right knee and Wet Spam brought on Ings and Coufal who genuinely professes to be a professional footballer. It was on 72 minutes that Danny got his first shooting opportunity for the Irons but, sadly for him, Ings ain’t what he used to be and the ball ran safely out of play.

We saw the changing of the Øde-gaard when he and Bukayo Saka were replaced by Sterling and Jesus whose first involvement was to carelessly give the ball away. Kiwior tussled with Bowen before being clattered by Coufal, and the danger was thankfully cleared. West Ham replaced Paqueta and Soler with Rodriguez and Irving – if anybody cares – and a great first half had degenerated into a procession of fouls and substitutions which must have robbed West Ham of as much fluency in their play as Arsenal’s.

I was surprised to see Ethan Nwaneri sent on at 84 minutes as one might have expected Arteta to want to protect him from this kind of nightly, nasty stuff but the lad got ten more minutes to add to his tally. Irving cleaned out Jesus before he and Sterling worked a good shooting opportunity, and Ings still wasn’t what he used to be as he dragged a shot wide of an open goal after a defensive slip in added time. Soucek, to no-one’s surprise was carded for a foul from behind on Jorginho and Anthony Taylor put one and all out of their misery after five minutes of added time.

Full Time
West Ham 2 – 5 Arsenal

After a brilliant first half Arsenal did well to manage a scrappy, disjointed second half which was characterised by the nasty tactics of Soucek and Coufal, playing the East End’s ugly sisters as we head into panto season once more. The Arsenal move up to second in the table. We’ve scored 13 goals in the last 3 games while conceding 3 and are in contention on the two biggest fronts in European football. What a shame the limit of West Ham’s ambitions was to wreck the second half of a decent football match.

After the game Man of The Match, Bukayo Saka, on 15 goals and assists for the season, was his usual smiley, modest self and was all about the team, as ever.

Mikel Arteta was clearly frustrated at conceding twice but very proud of the ten goals in the last two games. He flatly refused to discuss our tactics at corners or what Gabriel might have said to Saka before he scored. All clear then!

This title challenge is still on.

Posted in Match Report | 45 Drinks »

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