Our Cup Runneth Over

Arsenal continue on their merry way.

A professional, no-nonsense performance and ultimately comfortable win over West Ham means 40 points out of 45 so far, and now a 7 point lead at the top of the table (notwithstanding that City are still to play). And despite going in at half time a goal down - to a somewhat soft penalty - I was never worried about the final result. And there was plenty to like about the performance, and the way that Arsenal went about their work.

Now, having been looking forward to returning to the stadium for weeks now, I was unable to go. I have Covid; as has my son - we both missed out. So we'll have to go 'cold turkey' for another week. Very frustrating. However, I'm a public-minded chap, so I was never going to risk spreading it around. But I wasn't impressed with Santa this year, when I woke up on Christmas morning feeling flu-ey and took the fateful test. Awkward, when preparing to cook for 12 people! So it was the sofa for me instead.

And at half time I had a WhatsApp conversation with a (Liverpool-supporting) friend of mine, which went as follows (here's a screen shot: and the last line was sent straight after the equaliser...):

Was I right? Or was I right?

Because for all that Arsenal went in a goal down, there wasn't too much to criticise. No real World Cup hangover - a little rustiness I guess - but with Odegaard orchestrating matters, Partey looking typically solid, and Eddie Nketiah filling Jesus' massive boots most admirably, it really did feel like just a matter of time. Three goals in the space of 15 second half minutes put the game to bed swiftly and decisively.

Saka, expertly controlling Odegaard's scuffed shot for the equaliser and, in acres of space, rolling the ball past the helpless Fabianski

Martinelli exposing the Pole at his near post

And Nketiah applying a gloss finish to both his own performance and the score line with a fine turn and no-look cross shot into the far corner - much to the delight of his team-mates and the crowd

All of those at the end of some delightful moves, full of hard pressing, sharp passing and incisive movement from - well - everyone, really. It was, thankfully, as if the World Cup hadn't taken place.

And it would be remiss of me not to mention Odegaard’s late ‘double reverse nutmeg’, which took place almost exactly in front of where I’d have been sitting. If you haven’t seen it, seek it out.

And all this in front of Arsene Wenger, finally back at the 'house' that he designed and built for the first time since he left at the end of the 2017-18 season. And, because nobody outside of a small inner circle of people knew that he was going to be there, the outpouring of joyful song from the crowd was all the more beautiful for being completely spontaneous. 'One Arsene Wenger!' How wonderful!

Things are going to ramp up now, with a difficult run of fixtures on the horizon. Brighton away; Newcastle at home, Tottenham away and United at home. That 7-point buffer is going to come in useful, I would imagine. And we have to temper expectations. Sure, Arsenal are in a strong position, but Top 4 was the first aim, so we shouldn't be dreaming too much yet. Let's hope that the rearranged game with City in mid-February has a ton of meaning. After that we can start getting excited, I hope.

On top of all that, Arteta and Edu should be looking at getting up to three players in over the next month. Strike whilst the iron is hot. Arsenal should be a 'project' to excite any ambitious young footballer anywhere in the world. Let us see.

I remain 'cautiously optimistic'. But City are sure to come on strong, and Newcastle are looking quite relentless too. 

Meantime, all that remains for me to say is COYG! Happy New Year, and I'll be back on New Year's Day.

Meaningful Football Is Finally Back On Monday

Well, that's the World Cup done with. So it's back to proper football on Monday.

I thought I'd share some of my thoughts about the whole World Cup shebang (but in something of short form, or we'll be here all night) before coming to the matter at hand - which is of course The Arsenal. Here goes:

That whole 'holding a World Cup in Qatar' thing

One does of course need to show respect to the Laws of any country when one is a visitor (is there any point risking a jail term?), but all in all this World Cup was the manifestation of some of the most iniquitous 'sport washing' we've seen so far - and that includes the ownership of clubs such as Manchester City, PSG and now Newcastle United. To be fair, sport washing has been going on for years - the 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin, remember... but this time it's been given the full support of the iniquitous organisation known as FIFA. Infantino is merely a caricature of his predecessor. Meet the new boss - same as the old boss.

Let's face facts - there was corruption involved in the tournament being awarded to Qatar (it was bad enough that the previous one went to Russia). Add to that the controversies regarding slave labour and deaths of dozens, if not hundreds, of migrant workers; and the fact that Qatar - alongside many countries in the region - is completely out of touch with what the term 'human rights' means. Then,there was FIFA's kowtowing to the host nation regarding such as the rainbow armbands. The fact that it's been held in mid-season. And on top of that the fact that there'll be little or no 'legacy' of this tournament in the country in which it was held. All in all, it's been an absolute travesty.

Of course, the football was always going to be great. Football never ceases to surprise and excite. But that's not the point, is it?

The football itself - Shocks and Awe

We've seen shocks. We've seen the end of several illustrious careers. We've seen some bloody good - and extremely exciting - football. We've had VAR controversy, of course. A good deal of sh*thousery on the way. We've seen some fairy tales almost come true.  And one that actually did...

Qatar were, as expected, the worst team in the tournament. Although Canada - and Wales! - ran them close. Argentina opened their campaign by meekly losing to Saudi Arabia. The supposed European powerhouses Belgium, Germany and Spain looked pedestrian and devoid of ideas compared to some of the vibrant football being played by the most unlikely of countries; Morocco the most outstanding of those. France and England met too early in the piece. Brazil believed their own publicity. And Heung-Min Son cried.

 

We saw the end for a petulant and graceless Cristiano Ronaldo, and for the infinitely classier Luka Modric. Both giants of the game (notwithstanding Modric's inexplicable spell at Tottenham). And a different sort of end for Lionel Messi - and if there was ever a debate about who's the GOAT, I believe that these past few weeks have settled it. He's not the player he was - we Arsenal fans have nightmares about what peak Messi did to us - but boy; has he still got it!

One can debate whether he's the greatest player ever (personally I prefer Maradona, who could make a ball do pretty much anything but talk), but I've seen Pele and Cruyff too and I'd put Messi above those two. As for any debate as to who is going to take over the mantle of world's best player, I believe that Mbappe has blown Neymar out of the water.

It was a great World Cup Final (from the 80th minute onwards, at least). Some of the most scintillating football you're ever likely to see. Of course, we can have no time for Argentina - apart from the presence of Messi. They are the ultimate sh*thousers; cynical, dirty, and capable of gamesmanship of the worst kind. Particularly in the case of ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez; an excellent goalkeeper, but a really nasty character. His antics during the shoot-out were a disgrace. He has Neil Maupay to thank for having the opportunity to help Arsenal win the 2020 FA Cup to help launch his career properly, but - with Arteta preferring Leno - left Arsenal for a solid £20m, and was replaced with a loveable rogue in Aaron Ramsdale; as opposed to the goalkeeping equivalent of a Peaky Blinder.

Why do this...

...when you can do this?

England

They thrashed Iran, as expected, but were very poor against the USA. Really quite pedestrian. But Wales are pretty awful, so qualification in top spot was pretty much a formality. Senegal were ultimately seen off comfortably, despite a dodgy 20 minutes or so. And then they met France... too early in the piece, as I mentioned. A quarter final match-up that would have frankly been worthy of even a final. 

If Kane puts that second penalty away, I'm pretty sure that England could have gone all the way. If... a very big word for one with only two letters... Whilst I have zero time for Kane when he's wearing the shirt with a chicken on, I always give him my full support when he's got the Three Lions on. And frankly, who else would you have wanted to take that penalty? It would have looked bizarre to have had someone else take it with him on the field.

As for England's successes and future prospects, I believe that we can firmly place both Jude Bellingham and our very own Starboy in the top bracket of footballers on this earth. Those two can anchor England for the next dozen years, all being well. And there's plenty of talent coming through. The latest 'golden age' is by no means over.

Proper football

And so, remarkably, Arsenal go into the 'second half' of the season no less than 5 points clear of Manchester City; and perhaps more pertinently 11 points clear of Manchester United, who occupy 5th place. One thing at a time... 

I've realised that I forgot to hit the Post button on my Wolves blog, but it's too late for that, and circumstances have very much changed since then.

It's worth examining how the World Cup has affected the Arsenal squad. And it's been something of a mixed bag for the 10 Gooners who've been away in Qatar.

Aaron Ramsdale will have come back relaxed and with a lovely suntan, with Southgate preferring Pickford. Matt Turner enhanced his reputation with some very solid performances for the USA.

It's been a mixed bag for the defenders. Ben White's alleged 'bust-up' with Steve Holland meant an early departure from the England squad, but he's been back where he's loved for three weeks now. He's the type of character who will put that behind him, I reckon. Takehiro Tomiyasu hasn't been properly fit for months now, and wasn't able to do himself justice in Qatar. Arsenal need to get him properly fit ASAP, because he offers solidity and versatility. And William Saliba's 20 minutes in a meaningless game was disappointing - quite how the likes of Upomecano get into the French team in front of him only Deschamps can explain. But he's 21; his chance will come in 4 years' time.

As far as our midfielders are concerned, it was quiet. Ghana went out in the group stages, so Thomas Partey hardly over-exerted himself. Granit Xhaka lasted just one extra match. 

Up front, Bukayo Saka had a very decent tournament and enhanced his reputation. And Gabriel Martinelli's time will come too. Brazil have several inter-changeable wide men, and I believe that Gabi did more in the tournament than the likes of Rodrygo and particularly the disappointing Rafinha. Arsenal dodged a bullet with the latter in the summer, if you ask me.

But the big issue is Gabriel Jesus. Used extremely sparingly, and then suffering a serious injury that's going to keep him out until March, I reckon. As if it wasn't bad enough that the thoroughly dislikeable Richarlison hogged the Brazil headlines along with Neymar...

So what should Arteta do? We know that he's after another wide man, with Mudryk currently in pole position. 

But for me it's too much of a risk to ignore that fact that he may have to rely on Eddie Nketiah for up to 20 matches between now and when Jesus returns. If Arteta believes that Eddie can put in a shift like Jesus does, and can maybe rotate Martinelli in there - but only if ESR is close... - then perhaps he'll think he can get away with it. But for me he has to get another striker in ASAP. 

Arsenal have looked quite toothless in the last couple of friendly matches, and goals will be needed. 5 points clear means a great opportunity to kick on. Arsenal must not waste it.

Anyway, it's back to proper action, with West Ham the visitors on Monday. And after that there's a very tricky run of games. It would be nice to think that they can kick back straight into the old groove, but that remains to be seen. All extremities are crossed here.

Anyway, I'd like to wish you the Compliments of the Season; whilst I take a pickaxe to my Fantasy Football squad. And leave you with the traditional year-round greeting - COYG!!!