{"id":10950,"date":"2025-03-17T19:50:50","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T19:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=10950"},"modified":"2025-03-20T11:25:44","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T11:25:44","slug":"solidity-through-solidarity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=10950","title":{"rendered":"Solidity Through Solidarity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Arsenal\u2019s recent record against our traditional heavyweight opponents has been extraordinarily impressive, and I think it is one of those areas where the upward trajectory of Arsenal\u2019s evolution under Arteta has been most steadfast and yet, somewhat underappreciated, underappreciated maybe not so much by the astute among the Arsenal fanbase, but by the populace outside of those cognoscenti.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The solidity of our recent performances and results against Chelsea have been particularly pleasing in that respect. In the second half of Ars\u00e8ne\u2019s time with us, we have suffered painfully in matches against Chelsea. In between some notable wins \u2013 5-3 away at Chelsea being a particular high point \u2013 we were dominated by an (unlawfully) expensively assembled squad who more often than not won by the virtue of their physical strength, defensive solidity and tactical know-how against a group of technically talented young players not quite up for the boxing ring match-ups. Since Arteta took over, we have been steadily becoming a team that relishes the muscular and tactical battles of football as much as its technical and creative sides. Our recent run against Chelsea is a clear demonstration of this growing solidity \u2013 only wins and draws in matches in PL since 2022,  2-4 away, 4-0 home, 0-1 away, 3-1 home, 2-2 away, 5-0 home, 1-1 away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the run of positive results, we approached the 29th matchday against Chelsea last Sunday with a sense of uncertainty primarily because of our recent dip in league form, caused mostly by the vicious circle of injuries causing fatigue to overworked players causing injuries, and a decimated forward line that has lately been relying on the intelligence, hard work and heading ability of a midfielder who most likely hasn\u2019t even dreamt of playing as a central striker since he was six years old.  One loss and two draws in the last three matches before the weekend had seen us falling behind significantly in the title chase, and if the experts are to be believed we have no chance of catching up, and the league might as well hand over the trophy to the great quadruple-chasing Liverpool side managed by a generational managerial genius. I myself believe nothing is certain until it actually is certain, and just because something hasn\u2019t happened before is not a reason for it to not ever happen in the future. But keeping all that aside, we needed to approach the match simply focusing on the match itself, and with all thoughts of league positions or recent form wiped away from our thought process. Every match is its own universe, and deserves its own laws of physics to be discovered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arteta chose a side that carried the promise of rediscovering our league form, and to ensure we retain all three valuable points against the west Londoners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raya <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Lewis-Skelly <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00d8degaard- Rice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martinelli – Merino – Trossard <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I myself would have preferred a slightly different team. Leo has been blowing hot and cold all season, especially when he starts, and I think going back to his original model of contributions coming off the bench might help him to refocus. I would have preferred Gabi on his more natural left side, Ethan on the right, and Merino retaining his central role given his moderately effective impressions of Kai Havertz over the last few weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We started well, with purpose and a characteristic high press. The deers-in-the-headlight frozenness of the Chelsea backline helped us too, and Martinelli almost benefitted from the press as the Chelsea keeper Sanchez passed straight to him. I am sure that the confident Gabi of a season or so back would have put away that chance. His shot this time was too easy for Sanchez. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timber was playing with his trademark confidence on the ball at both ends of the pitch. And he seemed to be relishing the opportunity of combining with Gabi to expose their left side using Martinelli\u2019s drive with the ball. From one such run we should have been awarded a penalty, as the ever irksome Cucurella blatantly leaned on the ball with his arms to defend against Gabi\u2019s attempt to cut back in. I was under no illusion that the VAR would make the correct decision, and they proved me right. I think we Arsenal fans can better enjoy the VAR if we take that as a performance art called \u201cA tragi-comic demonstration of incompetence or a dedicated effort at bias masquerading as inconsistency? You decide!\u201d It becomes significantly more tolerable that way, and you can then preserve your angst for even more heinous things out in the wonder world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leo was playing cleverly, and positioning himself well. From one such position he should have scored as Timber\u2019s excellent cross dropped close to him. He miscued. His pained expression of self-recognition generated an equal mixture of empathy and annoyance in this viewer. After a while Rice had a chance to power a shot through \u2013 we all remember his flawless finish against them at the Bus Stop a couple of seasons back \u2013 but his attempt flew wide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the goal came. In the last couple of months Mr. Corner, one of our most potent attackers this season, has lost some of his goalmouth efficacy. Gabriel, Saliba, Timber, Merino \u2013 all have lately outjumped their markers only to head the ball wide. But this time Merino \u2013 meeting a not-too-extraordinary delivery from our captain \u2013 finished with a flicked looping header that would have made Olivier Giroud proud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal 1 (Merino 20\u2019) \u2013 Chelsea 0 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal should have given us a bit more confidence in scoring one or two more. And in that first half we really should have. There were quite a few opportunities where just the coordination, movement, pass, finish etc. were missing in the final third. In between, Wesley Fofana decided to take out the frustration about his team\u2019s pathetic display on Declan Rice and stamped deliberately on his leg. I applaud Declan for his self-control. How was that not a red card post a VAR review?  I respectfully refer you to my previous suggestion about the performance art on display \u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Late in the first half, David Raya had an Almunia moment, the ball rolling through his arms and just past his far post. “Wow!”, he said. Maybe it was his respectful homage to the first Spanish goalkeeper to have played for Arsenal. Thankfully the ball decided to spare him the blushes of conceding from a Cucurella volley. He would not have survived the teasing from his teammates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second half continued in much the same vein. Enzo Maresca chose to have multiple conversations \u2013 especially a suspiciously prolonged one with our young left back \u2013 with Arsenal players at every opportunity he could get. I guess he was trying to learn the art of solidarity from players who seem to know how to play for each other. The game was becoming shapeless, tetchy, incoherent. Gabriel and Saliba handled the expensively assembled forward line with the consummate ease that has become the signature of their truly remarkable partnership (young players growing up in different parts of the world now look at these two and think that well, being defender can actually be quite an attractive way to play football). We took an inordinately long time to take a free-kick from a very promising position, only to have Rice hit the ball against the wall. Our recent execution of direct free-kicks has been surprisingly underwhelming given the technical excellence of this team. Now where is Nicolas P\u00e9p\u00e9 when you need him? (Just kidding, no need to hurl such words at me.. :-))  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Merino almost scored another goal. Following a fine run and even a better cross by Martinelli, our Basque midfielder-playing-as-a-striker put in a lovely side footed volley that Sanchez saved acrobatically on the goal line. David Villa would have been proud\u2026 (no, I am not sure either). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nwaneri came on for 10+ minutes, and so did Kieran Tierney for just the last few minutes. I know KT is going to go back to his beloved Celtic, but I cannot thank him enough for what he represented and how he played for us. A combination of injuries and our tactical shifts have made things difficult for him to flourish in red-and-white, but I think he will always get a warm welcome from all Arsenal supporters. It seems likely that both he and Zinchenko will leave at the end of this season, and we will go into next season with Calafiori and MLS as our two primary left backs, both the Scorsman and the Ukrainian have been exemplary professionals. It would be great if they can leave with a fond memory of this season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which is to say, this season is not over yet. Yesterday\u2019s lacklustre match saw us do just enough to stay on track for finishing the season in top two. The Champions League is still very much to play for. While Real Madrid may feel like a formidable opposition, because they are a formidable opposition, I think it is also fair to say that Real themselves are apprehensive about playing Arsenal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We may not yet have the swashbuckling, high octane, goals from all corners, attacking team that we would like to become. But we have a team capable of seeing out results even when things are not going well, a team that knows exactly how to follow a tactical blueprint, and a team where the solidarity and professionalism stand up to lead the way when creativity and flair find it hard to bring their mercurial nature to their command. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy the international break everyone! And let us hope everyone returns fit and firing after the break. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Arsenal\u2019s recent record against our traditional heavyweight opponents has been extraordinarily impressive, and I think it is one of those areas where the upward trajectory of Arsenal\u2019s evolution under Arteta has been most steadfast and yet, somewhat underappreciated, underappreciated maybe not so much by the astute among the Arsenal fanbase, but by the populace outside […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10950"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10950"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10950\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10960,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10950\/revisions\/10960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}