{"id":3503,"date":"2021-05-24T12:40:43","date_gmt":"2021-05-24T11:40:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=3503"},"modified":"2021-05-28T16:52:04","modified_gmt":"2021-05-28T15:52:04","slug":"five-in-a-row-but-st-totteringham-misses-her-cue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=3503","title":{"rendered":"Five In A Row But St Totteringham Misses Her Cue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/1319636268\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:66.66667% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/1319636268?et=XtxFGQfWSHF-JqtCfl8wxA&amp;tld=co.uk&amp;sig=CTNt8yPJI6sA_Cj-kP9nJJ0oIeHFBrAUDnTOPq11VAs=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I eagerly volunteered for this match report because I was hopeful of getting a ticket in the ballot and returning to the ground for the first time since March 2020. I wanted to write about the pub beforehand, how the organisation of getting into the ground worked and the protest outside as well as the game itself. Sadly it was not to be and I ended up on Sky Sports Arena listening to a lugubrious Scot with an agenda against Arsenal together with a commentator who had a PhD in stating the bleeding obvious. One thing I will not miss is watching every game on TV and I have every sympathy with those of you who have no other way of following The Arsenal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Josh Kroenke decided to grace the game with his presence, as well as turn up at the training ground to speak to the players and staff (haven\u2019t they suffered enough in this awful season?). Periodically through the game you could hear anti Kroenke chants and there was a small protest outside with maybe 200 good folk according to Twitter, but in all honesty it was far smaller than last time and not a patch on what\u2019s going on at Old Trafford. It feels like the initial momentum has gone, but the grumbles will continue for some time. There was lots of moaning on social media about a technology failure (ability to read tickets on phones and e-wallets) making it a bit shambolic getting into the ground with long delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The match situation was well explained by Ned in his excellent preview. Brighton were safe, come what may. Arsenal needed to win, and Everton and Spurs to lose, to gain seventh place, St Totteringham and the debateable trophy of participation in the new Europa Conference League.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Time for team news:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leno, Chambers, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, P\u00e9p\u00e9, \u01fedegaard, ESR, Aubamayang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Subs: Runarsson, Saka, Ceballos, Lacazette, C\u00e9dric, Mar\u00ed, Elneny, Nketiah, Martinelli<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fans sounded right behind the team as they ran out (although Sky did their best to miss this moment). As the game developed it was fantastic to hear the 10,000 fans chanting and singing again. Truly football does not really exist with no fans. Let\u2019s hope this is now realised and some fan friendly policies are introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the opening half an hour, there was some good lively stuff from the Gunners with ESR, KT3 and \u01fedegaard showing well. Thomas Partey was shooting frequently and shooting somewhere near the goal \u2013 a positive development! A corner saw Holding collect a flick on and force it over the line, but he was (correctly) ruled offside. Just before halftime Xhaka pumped in a clever cross. It was met by Gabriel who put in a clever looping header which hit the bar before being scrambled away for a corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>HT Arsenal 0-0 Brighton<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some pretty stuff but no cutting edge from the Gunners, with Brighton, though having to defend most of the time, looking dangerous on the break.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No changes at the break, but three minutes into the second half a quite brilliant goal. A series of slide rule passes from our own penalty area ended up on the right side of Brighton\u2019s box where Calum Chambers hit a first time pass to P\u00e9p\u00e9. He took one touch and then slammed it in with his right foot. A lovely goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Arsenal 1-0 Brighton (P\u00e9p\u00e9, 48)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just a few minutes later Auba was put through by \u01fedegaard. He squared it back to the Norwegian who had continued his run. Just as he was about to pull the trigger he was pushed in the back by Lallana and \u2026 no penalty. Arguably the worst referee in the Premier League and unarguably the fattest, Jon Moss, had struck again.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the hour and it\u2019s that man again! P\u00e9p\u00e9 was played in by \u01fedegaard on the right but there was a lot to do as he had three Brighton defenders around him as he dribbled into the box. Nutmegging one of the defenders he played a precision pass\/shot into the far corner of the goal. Wonderful stuff!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Arsenal 2-0 Brighton (P\u00e9p\u00e9, 60)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your correspondent has gone on record, to some debate in the bar, in saying that P\u00e9p\u00e9 will be a 20 goal a season player. This year he has scored 16, with 10 in the Premier League and here was more evidence. As he has played more and more, he has looked better and better. Playing Willian ahead of him in the early part of the season now looks like Arteta\u2019s worst selection error of the season and one that may have cost us a European place. P\u00e9p\u00e9 will never be the silkiest player and he can give the ball away easily or miscontrol badly. Yet, he carries an undeniable goal threat and a willingness to push into the box that few others do in this team. I have huge hopes for him next season.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thomas Partey came to this game determined to score and he came so close when Xhaka (who had a fine game) laid him in with a pinpoint and fiercely hit pass. Partey controlled the ball and then hit a thunderous volley that crashed into the bar. So unlucky!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That really was that as we played the game out easily. Saka came on for ESR, Laca for Auba and Martinelli for the excellent \u01fedegaard. Will we see him in red and white again? It depends on Real Madrid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>FT Arsenal 2-0 Brighton<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In truth and despite the goalless first half, most of our players were very good in this game. The whole back four looked assured, Xhaka and Partey ran midfield. Up front, the excellent P\u00e9p\u00e9, \u00d8degaard and ESR looked lively quick and creative. Only Auba, who clearly needs some downtime and further treatment for malaria, was still wading through sand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Everton were being buried at the Etihad, but with ten minutes to go at the King Power, Sp*rs equalised against Leicester. Our attention was rather diverted from our game as we prayed for the lady of St Totteringham to make an appearance for the first time since 2016. Sadly it was not to be as Sp*rs scored twice more to win 4-2 as Leicester collapsed like a souffl\u00e9 not brought to table quick enough. We had done our bit, but finished eighth and out of the European positions. Since Boxing Day we have been the third best team in the league, but we could not overcome that dismal run in the autumn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many Gooners, whilst wanting us to finish above Sp*rs were more ambiguous about going into the new third tier Euro competition. There are both pros and cons. Not having constant mid-week football for a season can allow us to concentrate on a real effort in the league and the domestic cups. On the other hand we damage our European coefficient (which may prove important) and lose an opportunity to blood our young talent in Europe. For myself, I regret the opportunity missed, but it is what it is, and we must make the best of it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll be having much more analysis of this season\u2019s performance in this blog over the next few weeks. In the meantime I am very encouraged by our good finish and the spine of top talent we have. A good summer and we may be competitive again next season. And, most of all, those of us who are lucky enough to have tickets will be watching our football live again. I, for one, can\u2019t wait.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Embed from Getty Images I eagerly volunteered for this match report because I was hopeful of getting a ticket in the ballot and returning to the ground for the first time since March 2020. I wanted to write about the pub beforehand, how the organisation of getting into the ground worked and the protest outside [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"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\/3503"}],"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\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3503"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3516,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3503\/revisions\/3516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}