Saturday Night Is Party Night!

Arsenal, if anything, took their domestic form up yet another notch with a totally dominant victory over Newcastle United on Saturday night. Mikel Arteta had requested it loud, and following a 20-day gap since the previous home league game we were certainly up for it from long before the first whistle. The light show, the flags and North London Forever set the scene as Arsenal tore into Newcastle from kick-off.

Revenge was, of course, in the air. This wasn't just about putting right Wednesday's wrongs, but about putting straight the feelings of injustice from the reverse fixture; you remember, of course, a goal that could/should have been disallowed for any of three reasons being allowed to stand! Martin Odegaard touched on this post-match, but it was clear that Arsenal were going to have an extra edge against a club against whom there is extra recent antipathy. The very sight of the baby-faced (don't let that fool you!) Eddie Howe and his demon sidekick Tindall are enough to set me off, I can tell you!

And then, of course, there's Bruno Guimaraes. An unpleasant presence in Newcastle's midfield; always up for a snidey or over-the-top challenge. Should have taken an early bath on the reverse fixture following an assault on Jorginho. And, by the way, he attempted a 'reducer' on the same player early on during Saturday's game; what a scumbag!

And here's a thing; it's well-known that Arsenal were interested in him before he signed for Newcastle, but I've put 2 and 2 together after listening (back) to Edu's pre-game interview on TNT Sport, when he referenced that it's as much about the character of the individual as his ability when it comes to signing players to add to this particular group. Because Bruno, by the way that he conducts himself, doesn't strike me as somebody who would fit in with the current group; in the same way as the likes of Moises Caicedo may well have fallen by the wayside too (by the way, didn't the club dodge some bullets when they were unable - for whatever reason - to sign Caicedo or Mudryk, judging on their pitiful showings in the Carabao Cup Final!).

I for one was concerned about the mental scars from Wednesday - as well as the physical effects compared to Newcastle, who'd had all week to rest and prepare for this match - but Arsenal came flying out of the blocks from the first whistle, and pushed Newcastle back throughout a high intensity initial half hour where it was clear that Newcastle had no response whatsoever. In the first half hour, over 50% of the game had been played in Newcastle's final third; let alone half!

Arsenal were simply irresistible. With Odegaard, Havertz and Rice leading the press and blocking the out balls, the unpredictable movement of Saka and Martinelli, the high starting points of both full backs, and Jorginho oiling the wheels, Newcastle were reeling. That the first goal should have come from a corner, however, can be no surprise on current form. Gabriel's powerful flick from Saka's flat delivery had the away side at 6s and 7s - one almost felt sorry for poor Karius in the Newcastle goal; what a venue to play your first PL game for 6 years! - and at some point the ball/pinball crossed the goal line for an own goal.

Some of the combination play being put together was sublime. Odegaard and Saka have a wonderful mutual understanding, the movement all over the pitch was superb, and once Jorginho's clever vertical passing is added to the mix I defy any side to cope. Chances were being created at will, and the second goal was a work of art. Jorginho's lobbed ball the meet Martinelli's clever and somewhat unexpected and unusual run into the right-hand channel, an intelligent pull back into the 6-yard box, and Kai Havertz, showing great anticipation, was there to pass the ball into the almost unguarded net. Beautiful.

 

Newcastle were all over the shop. Whatever plans they'd had, Arsenal had blown them out of the water. They looked jittery in possession, and lost it continually; even arguing amongst themselves. Only when Arsenal eased up a little - taking a breather - before half time did they manage to get any sort of foothold in the game. But they went in at the break without having had a single shot on Raya's goal.

Early in the second half we saw the other side of Kai Havertz, and following a sweeping move that started with David Raya and ended with a really clever reverse pass from Martinelli, the German contrived to drag the ball wide from 15 yards with only Karius to beat. I had been up in an act of premature celebration; I'd have been embarrassed, but I was hardly alone. Despite all the goals that are raining in, I still feel that Arsenal need to be even more clinical.

Whilst Jorginho rightly took the Man of the Match plaudits, I have to spare a few words for Starboy. His form has gone up a few more notches over the past few weeks, terrorising full backs and showing not only great strength and skill, but unpredictability. Add to that his phenomenal recent scoring form and we have a player in the form of his young life. Goodness knows how much more there may be to come from him, but I don't want to hear any more of this 'He's not World Class' nonsense. I keep casting my mind forward to the summer, by the way, and can't wait to see what an England side that includes Saka, Rice, Bellingham, TAA, Foden and Harry Kane might achieve at the Euros.

And it was Saka who single-handedly put the result beyond doubt, when at the end of an incisive move he first tormented Livramento before finding some extra space and curling the ball into the far corner of Karius's net. Glorious. 

And this photograph sums his relationship with the club and the fans up perfectly.

Moments later, another corner. And this time it was Kivior on the end of Rice's near post delivery to bury the ball, via a deflection, in the back of the net for 4-0. Well-deserved, from a young man who has really grown into an unfamiliar left back role from rocky beginnings. True, Arteta has simplified what he wants from the Pole compared to what he expects of Zinchenko; but he's done a superb job over the past few weeks.

Some sloppy and perhaps slightly tired defending allowed former Arsenal player Joe Willock to claw a consolation goal back late on. But there was still time for an ESR shot to be cleared off the line by substitute - and I'll give him his full name here - Big Dan Burn At The Back. 4-1 will do very nicely, and we maintain the pressure on our rivals. In fact, with the fixtures falling as they do it's likely that by the time that Liverpool and City face off against each other in a couple of weeks, Arsenal will be above them. Nothing less than their scintillating form deserves, as more Premier League records fall to the mighty Arsenal. 12. More. Games.

A quick word about the Carabao Cup before I go. And whilst it was VVD who, by force of his presence and personality won the cup for Liverpool, I have to say that I completely agree with Gary Neville's assessment of Chelsea. Faced in extra time by a Liverpool side with 4 teenagers and a 20-year-old, their over-priced and over-rated bunch of misfits disappeared further and further into their shells; unable to impose themselves. They're an absolute joke of a club at the moment; badly run, badly coached and with little apparent pride or motivation. An absolute laughing stock. Long may it continue.

As for Liverpool; well done - you've won the Carabao Cup; now get down the tunnel! Or, in Klopp's final season, keep going in the cups until late on, maybe win another one, but fade out of title contention please. With the number of injuries they currently have, that's a highly likely scenario.

And so to Monday evening, when no scenario that I can think of lends itself to anything but a thumping win for Arsenal at bottom of the table Sheffield United. COYG!

Bump In The Road

When I wrote in my last blog post that I anticipated that there would be setbacks before the end of the season, I wasn’t expecting one to arrive this quickly. But if you wanted to see an illustration of the difference between a Premier League game and a European one, this was it. Chalk and cheese.

Whereas Arsenal are one of the very best teams in England, and are generally able to bully inferior English opposition much of the time, this game seemed to be played to a different set of rules. Cagey. Tactical. The sort of encounter that sets your teeth on edge in frustration.

Not that I’m knocking how Porto set up and played. They have every right to play how they want, and by the end of the match, the end justified the means. Horrendous watch though it may have been. And amongst all the clever blocking off of Arsenal’s attacking lines, and exploitation of wide areas that enabled them to relieve pressure and hit Arsenal on the break, came all the European trickery and gamesmanship that so differentiates the EPL from the UCL. 

Diving at every piece of contact. Staying down longer than necessary. Loads of arm-waving and anguished facial expressions. And they soon realised that they were being officiated by a referee who was prepared to fall for all that nonsense; there’s no way that the likes of Taylor, Oliver or Atwell would have bought that nonsense. In total, the ball was only in play for 50 minutes of the 90, and 36 fouls were committed (or blown for, I should say). Ref, they saw you coming!

Nowhere was this better illustrated than at set pieces. Wary of Arsenal’s burgeoning reputation, Porto sought to disrupt on the very edge of the Law. And got away with it; even, at times, impeding each other in their desperation to disrupt Arsenal! Here, for example, do not focus on the goalkeeper, but instead look at what's being done to Kivior.

Although, as I say that, I can recall two missed far post headers that could easily have changed the course of the game, and a volleyed opportunity for Trossard that would have been a contender for Goal of the Season! 

Nonetheless, the sight of bodies littering the goalmouth at corners was reminiscent of a battlefield at times! Yet, when all is said and done, the statistics show that despite dominating the ball Arsenal failed to have a single shot on target - and could/should have conceded more than the one they did.

So where did it go wrong for Arsenal? I'd mainly put it down to a form of naivete. The strting XI featured a sole player with any Champions League knock-out phase experience; Kai Havertz with 16 appearances. None of the other 10 had played a single game of this magnitude in Europe (and yes, I am including Declan Rice's Europa Conference League Final). By contrast, Pepe alone had 47 appearances before last night, and has won the trophy three times!

Arsenal sought to impose themselves from the start, but Porto played to a different rhythm; cutting off the passing lanes, and disrupting as much as they could. This is what playing in this sort of tie is like, and we were soon reminded quite how tough it can be. From the moment that Rice was booked for an over-exuberant challenge in the third minute, I could sense that Arsenal weren't going to be allowed to roll all over this lot.

For all of their dominance of the ball, Arsenal did little constructive with it, and looked most dangerous at the afore-mentioned set pieces. Martinelli and Saka were kept surprisingly quiet, Odegaard couldn't find the decisive passes he's becoming known for and dropped deeper and deeper, Trossard struggled to find space, and Havertz looked timid. Behind them, Saliba had an uncharacteristically nervous time of it, and made several unusual errors. Rice, however - and especially bearing in mind the early booking - was diligent in his work, and has yet another 8/10 game.

But something was missing. And I'll tell you what I think; a lack of experience - both on the coaching side and on the field - prevented Arsenal from dealing with what was an entirely alien challenge compared to what they've faced recently. It feels easier to play against the likes of Liverpool than a team like Porto, and the loss of the missing Zinchenko and - particularly - Jesus was keenly felt. Jorginho's presence may also have been useful.

It was all so very frustrating, but there was - of course - no need to force matters. It's a two-leg affair, with the second leg at home. Under normal circumstances - and barring mishaps - the task ought not be/have been beyond Arsenal. With the crowd behind them in the second leg, it's likely to be an entirely different game at The Emirates. Which made the last minute concession of a goal doubly or triply frustrating.

And the goal illustrated that naivete about what's needed at this level. Arsenal had several chances to clear the ball from Porto's final attack, but failed once, twice, and finally a third time as Martinelli's highly optimistic raking cross-field pass towards Saka (had it reached him, to be fair, Porto were outnumbered), was intercepted by Borges, who swiftly located Galeno. The striker dropped his shoulder and cut inside Rice (who was slow to close him down) before hitting an unstoppable curling shot into the very far corner of Raya's net. 

I'm not having it from critics of the goalkeeper, who claim that he was out of position.  Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say that it was unsavable; I'm not sure that it mattered where Raya was positioned, as the ball curved from well outside the frame of the goal into the corner of the net. It was, frankly, the least that Galeno deserved, having come so close to giving Porto a first half lead when he hit a post and then failed to bury the rebound that landed at his feet.

So where are we now with this? Well, Arsenal contrived to lose 2-1 in Lens in the group stages, yet won the return game 6-0. Could history repeat itself? It would be nice to think so, but I'm certainly not expecting a rout. What I am expecting is a white hot atmosphere, and Arsenal to offer up a different and more effective challenge to Porto. They'll be content to sit back and suffocate Arsenal - it's probably their best hope, and they now have something to cling to. I'm not as confident as I was, but I still think we'll do it.

Meantime, it s quick turnaround to Newcastle on Saturday. Minds, as well as legs, will be fatigued. Arteta will need to make changes, so let's hope that we get some injured players back. We owe Newcastle, but what went on yesterday will inspire some ideas in Eddie Howe. Lest we forget that he, his obnoxious assistant Tindall and the team itself are master shithousers at the best of times. Expect more of the same, and a struggle; unless Arsenal get an early goal. 

Let's make sure we get behind the boys on Saturday night. COYG!!!

A Bunch Of Fives; And Porto Preview

Arsenal continued their rich vein of form over the weekend with a comprehensive thrashing of hapless Burnley. 

In truth, there probably wasn’t much to worry about pre-game. Burnley are 19th, and have a horrendous home record. But there’s always something historical in the ‘this could be a tricky game’ theory when it comes to Arsenal. Our hearts maybe had us worried, even though our heads thought otherwise. But on the back of Liverpool’s win earlier on the day - it’s easier to play first, in my opinion, and put the pressure on the opposition - there was never a moment's doubt as Arsenal continued as they had left off against West Ham.

No changes to the starting XI, with the only injured player recovered enough to make the bench being ESR. And no real need to change the line-up, I guess. Arsenal are better than Burnley, and brim full of confidence. And it went to plan. More of the same, please!

Burnley tried to press from kick-off, but that was already wearing off after just 4 minutes as first Rice, then Martinelli, carried the ball long distances before the latter’s cross found its way to Martin Odegaard. One touch to control the ball, and a second to half-volley it home from the edge of the area. End of contest, frankly; and whilst it look a little while for Arsenal's domination to turn into further goals there was a total inevitability about where the points where going.

A penalty late in the first half after Trossard was brought down meant a further goal for Bukayo Saka (Trafford got close to saving it, actually), and Starboy put the game to bed early in the second half with a sublime feint and hammered right foot finish. 

Trossard finally got his reward when he slammed a left-fotoed shot into the far corner, and Havertz wrapped it all up late on (waka waka) with some quick thinking and footwork before applying the coup de grace.  By which time Arteta had rested several key players - including, much to my annoyance, both Saka and Trossard; thus costing me potential further Fantasy points. And so Arsenal march on.

A few quick points before I move on:

1,    Arsenal are brim full of confidence and new-found belief since they returned from Dubai. The break has done them a world of good; and that's what a holiday - albeit a working one - is all about. There seem to be closer connections all over the pitch, and it's up to both players and Management to keep up this mood - especially when they hit an obstacle or two (as they are sure to do) on the elongated run-in

2.    There's been loads of talk in the media about whether Bukayo Saka is 'world class'. Apparently, Phil Foden is, but Saka is not. Yet... All nonsense; except for one thing: Foden has played in a title- (indeed, treble-) winning side, but Saka has not. Yet... And in the same way that the likes of Pep and Klopp are given a free pass to 'over-celebrate' but Arteta is not, that's where we are in this debate. Winning something is what changes the perception. 

The fact that Saka's goal/assist stats are better than Cristian Ronaldo's at this stage of their careers - and, remember, Starboy started out as a full back! - probably counts for nought:

But he deserves to be in that conversation. I personally believe that Saka is one of the Top 10 players in the world, but my opinion of course counts for little. He'll become more universally recognised as such when Arsenal finally have a big trophy to show for their undoubted quality. It's within touching distance, and let's hope that Arsenal get there this season in order to put all this nonsense to bed

3.    It's funny, but I get the sense that despite a glut of goals Arsenal are being profligate in front of goal. Despite doubling their xG on Saturday, I believe that 5 goals under-played their superiority. Don't get me wrong; successive 6-0 and 5-0 away wins will do very nicely. But it's when it comes to bigger and better opposition, and finer margins, the type of chance that is still being missed needs to be put away. I'm never satisfied, am I?

And so on to Porto, and the return of the Champions League. Followed swiftly by tough opposition in the form of Newcastle United just 72 hours later. A proper test for the team and squad, with a big warning sign hanging over it. It's been one game a week for a while now. Two games in the space of three days brings an entirely different challenge; and especially with the squad remaining depleted and the possibilities for rotation similarly affected. ESR is back, and Partey and Vieira are close, but the absence of Jesus, Zinchenko and Tomiyasu (and the continued absence of Timber) means that the squad isn't fully equipped for an enlarged workload. 

It's perhaps a 'blessing' that Arsenal are fighting on just two (massive) fronts, whilst City and Liverpool have bigger workloads. But we can't worry about the opposition; Arsenal need to take care of their own business!

There were certainly more difficult potential last 16 opponents than Porto. Winning the group at least prevented Arsenal from having to go down the late Wenger era old dead end - suffered season after season - of finishing second and inevitably drawing peak Bayern or peak Barcelona in the last 16. I personally still bear some of the scars of those maulings! And Porto are eminently beatable. They're a distant third in the Portuguese league at the moment and not in the best of form. Their best known players are the Portuguese national goalkeeper, Costa, and the veteran thug of a centre back, Pepe, who hits the ripe old age of 41 between the first and second legs of this tie. 

Under normal circumstances, Arsenal should have too much for Porto. And the ideal scenario is a swift three goal lead and the ability to rest players for Saturday. I'm probably dreaming... but Arsenal are in scintillating form, so it's not out of the question. Hopefully we'll see a Partey cameo, because a fit and available Thomas Partey will be 'LANS' going into the run in. 

Saturday - Newcastle at home. At the ludicrous time of 8pm. Good of the Premier League and the television companies to think of the travelling supporter, methinks... Still, I personally haven't got far to travel. Newcastle are definitely missing Joelinton and Wilson, and probably Isak too. They're out of form - and we owe them, big time!, after their travesty of a winning goal earlier this season. And I'll think we'll give them precisely what they deserve. 

Liverpool play this evening, and City play before Arsenal too; we're last on next week as well, so the pressure will remain on, and there's no room for error. The week after, it's Liverpool vs City; and it's after that when we'll know the scale of the task ahead. But in the meantime we can - quite rightly - dream. COYG!

Arteta's Coaching Reaches New Heights

I'm not sure how much introspection there was in the Manager's office at London Colney since the three-game sticky patch that Arsenal went through over Christmas and the New Year, but I have a sense that the level of coaching being delivered - whilst already high - has gone up a notch since then.

Unfortunate defeat at home to West Ham, followed by what was frankly Arsenal's worst performance of the season at Fulham, and then home FA Cup defeat to Liverpool in extraordinary circumstances, caused us all consternation. And whatever we were feeling would have been multiplied considerably within the club itself. But a warm-weather break has led to 4 successive victories, achieved with levels of comfort varying from 'occasionally concerning' to 'a stroll in the park', have served not only to steady the ship but to bring Arsenal right back into the title conversation.

I've personally noted a jump in the quality of coaching. A jump that has led to levels of control and dominance over the opposition only previously seen in Pep Guardiola sides. The 5-0 thrashing of a frankly dreadful Crystal Palace. An ultimately comfortable win in Nottingham (bar a somewhat fraught final 5 minutes) - at a ground that holds bad recent memories, lest we forget. And then the step up...

We witnessed as dominating a performance as one could possibly expect against a title rival in Liverpool. And then, last weekend, came the 6-0 revenge mauling over West Ham that could, frankly, have easily reached the heights of Arsenal Vision's (@ArsenalVPodcast) Elliott Smith's fabled 10-0. The sight of thousands of West Ham supporters streamng towards Westfield Stratford during the first half was a joy to behold, and testament to how good Arsenal were.

Both tactically, and in the way these most recent two results were delivered by the players, Arsenal have been quite magnificent. Due to the way that the post-Liverpool 'celebrations' were greeted by the media, insufficient praise was heaped on the side for the manner of the victory. As regards last Sunday, I've decided that I've had enough of qualifying thrashings by saying how bad the opposition were; they were bad because of the way Arsenal set about them. And that, my friends, is both the starting and finishing point of it!

Looking back to Peak Wenger era, the footballing map was a lot different to what it is now. As we know, Arsene revolutionised football in England, but at the time it was for the most part either of Arsenal or Manchester United for the title. There was generally a gulf to the rest of the league, tactics were less sophisticated, and it was simply down to who had the best players - and the best moments - as to who won the title. 

Arsene recruited superbly from areas hitherto untapped by English clubs, and so it was down to how well his superb players could match the British core of United. Tactics were less important. Arsenal and United had the best players and invariably fought out the title. And this didn't change until the arrival of Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho, who altered the landscape of English/European/World football and finally gave rise to the bloated, financially doped behemoth that is Manchester City. It was a far simpler world in those days.

With the changed technical landscape pioneered by Mourinho arrived the era of coaching, which is where we are now. These days world class coaches such as the afore-mentioned Guardiola, plus Jurgen Klopp and the likes of Ancelotti and Simeone dominate both their leagues and European football, whilst the likes of Mourinho and Conte have almost certainly been bypassed now, with their best days behind them. Bubbling under are the likes of Nagelsmann, De Zerbi, Alonso and even (dare I whisper it?) Postecoglou. But this high-flying group has recently been infiltrated by Mikel Arteta.

Arteta appears to have taken all he has learned from his playing days under Wenger, to his apprenticeship under Guardiola, and has begun to elevate that to new levels. Which, with the ambitions he has for the club, he has to do in order to get anywhere close to breaking up the City/Liverpool duopoly. For such a young Manager, in his first job, to be doing what he is doing, is quite remarkable. Arsenal, whilst a wealthy club, have nothing like the resources of Manchester City, and are many years behind the Klopp project (which is, as we know, soon to come to an end). To be keeping up with these two giants is, frankly, remarkable. And I maintain that but for the injury suffered by William Saliba last February that duopoly may already have been broken.

Arteta was fully aware over the summer that Arsenal needed to start playing more with the head than the heart this season. The effort and emotion that went into last season finally overcame them, as they found themselves running on fumes in April and May. More control was required; at the cost of some excitement, of course - but it's as much about the journey as it is the destination. And that explains the squad evolution this season. Raya for Ramsdale is becoming clearer now. Havertz for Xhaka is beginning to bear fruit; for all the former's peccadillos. But the icing on the cake has been the arrival of the magnificent Declan Rice, who has added a new dimension to this Arsenal side. He had to throw in excess of £100m at West Ham to get him, but we can see why money was no object. An absolute colossus of a player.

This Arsenal squad, and first team, are something to behold. No, they don't have the depth of Manchester City. And no, they don't necessarily have the explosiveness of a Liverpool squad built in its coach's likeness. But they do have excellent - and even world class - players all over the field. Saliba is complemented by Gabriel. Rice has Martin Odegaard in front of him. Saka on one side; and Martinelli on the other. White, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Trossard all capable of doing key jobs. Gabriel Jesus drives the team on from the front. Thomas Partey still to come back. 

Yes, of course they can do with a 20+ a season striker; but their goal tally isn't too shabby considering that they don't have one. If they fall short, that may be cited as the reason why. But for the moment all the metrics point to them being in the fight to the bitter end. 

They are underperforming xG - and if that turns in their favour it's all for the better. xG against is the best not only in the Premier League, but in any of the top European leagues. They dominate the opposition, and Arteta and his coaches continue to innovate ways to outfox opposing coaches. It has required swifter passing than earlier this season, and different angles of penetration. But I sense a sea change. Arsenal are going to a different level now. 

The Dubai break has been really beneficial. The likes of Saka, Martinelli and White have come right back to their best. Injured players are about to reappear - at the perfect time - But I particularly want to single out skipper Martin Odegaard, who has been quite magnificent; leading by example with no only boundless energy but boundless vision and skill. At £30m from Real Madrid, he has turned out to be an absolute bargain.

Arteta is quoted as saying that if you want to be the best, then you need to be the best at everything. That's what he's striving for, and he's on his way. He is coaching to higher standards than the club has ever seen. He is motivating the players to greater and greater levels of performance. Chuck the brilliant approach to set pieces into the mix - one that places Arsenal above every other side - and he seems to have all bases covered at the moment.

Of course, all this is no guarantee of success. Every game as it comes. And whilst Arsenal are currently, by the metrics, probably the second best club side in the world, the problem is that the best team is in their league; and that's the measure of the task confronting them.

City have still to go to Anfield, and to entertain Arsenal. On the assumption that all three sides are going to win the vast majority of their remaining matches - there is little or no margin for error even this far out - the destiny of the title will surely be determined by those two matches. But it's three points for any win, and the next three points are what matter today. Whilst Arteta can look to navigate his way past Burnley, Newcastle, Sheffield United and Brentford - plus Porto home and away in the Champions League - before the confrontation with City, it's the next game that's the most important. 

However, Liverpool are still in all 4 competitions that they entered, and City also have the FA Cup too. Maybe this will work in Arsenal's favour. Who can tell? But what I can say with considerable certainty is that Arsenal - thanks to their Manager and coaching staff - will be ready for whatever is thrown their way. 

Burnley away next. COYG!

It's Definitely Not A Fair Cop!

A Comedy of Errors at Emirates Stadium on Sunday; only this time, for a change, despite their well-known capacity for shooting themselves in the foot, Arsenal didn't come out on the wrong side of it all!

I'll get on to the Celebration Police nonsense later on, but to be frank I'd rather analyse the actual football than get caught up in other peoples' pathetic attempts to undermine Arsenal at every given opportunity. And so I'll begin with my thoughts on the tactical battle that shaped the game.

I have to say from the outset that this was comfortably Arsenal's best performance of the season so far. Whilst I - amongst others - was more than a little unsure about the selection of Havertz in attack prior to kick-off, I have to give props firstly to Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff for formulating plans to negate Liverpool's strengths, and secondly to the players for not only carrying them out so precisely, but for playing with such commitment and passion throughout. 

Against many sides who sit back and wait for Arsenal to take the bull by the horns, the pattern of games tends to be predictable and, at times, quite pedestrian and boring. But there was no danger of that against a team that were obviously going to turn up and try to play. And whilst Liverpool had key players either out or not completely fit (as, of course, did Arsenal), they certainly had more than enough about them to hurt any opponent. But Arsenal pretty much negated any threat throughout the entire game, showing the football world that they realised how important this contest was.

It's worth noting at this point, by the way - although you may be aware that I'm not always a big fan of statistics - that Liverpool conceded their highest ever recorded xG in this game. And that between them Liverpool and City had a combined xG of less than 1 over two full games at Emirates Stadium this season. Arsenal have a hell of a defence.

Make no mistake, Arsenal are a very good football team. They have gifted players all over the pitch, and are generally well-coached. And whilst it's sometimes difficult to warm to the constant 'umbrella passing' forced upon them by the negativity of many so-called 'inferior' opponents, this game was the real deal; and it gave Mikel Arteta the chance to show his worth as a tactician.

The loss of Jesus to injury was something of a surprise, and it meant resorting to a similar line-up to the one that had dominated Liverpool for the first half of the FA Cup tie only a month prior, but had failed to take a multitude of highly presentable chances in the first half and who had then succumbed to an own goal and a late breakaway winner in what was admittedly a much more equal second half. The concern was, I guess, not that Arsenal wouldn't create chances. More that they wouldn't be capable of putting them away. 

Whilst there will be those who always want to criticise Kai Havertz, in this game he did a fine job; engaging the centre-halves when he could, dropping into cover to make life difficult, and generally putting himself about. He did miss a very presentable chance, as we know, and sometimes looks a bit too languid, but I'll still give him at least 7 out of 10 for this particular performance.

And it was Arsenal's shape that helped them dominate. Havertz played as more of a 'false 9' than a traditional centre forward, and assisted by Odegaard helped form the front pair of a box that was completed by Jorginho and Rice behind. This pressing box gave whoever was on the ball for Liverpool little or no time to play the mid- to long-range passes that characterise this Klopp side. They are the most 'long ball' of the three title contenders, and whilst MacAllister occasionally had some space to drive into - often to be fronted up by Rice - there was little of what makes Liverpool so dangerous. 

Interestingly, one would perhaps have expected Rice to be the further forward of the 'double pivot' selected by Arteta, but it was more often than not Jorginho - a big game player if there has ever been one, and who had his best ever game in an Arsenal shirt - who pressed on; thus giving him a more decisive passing role and leaving Rice, with his extra physical capabilities, to mop up behind if required. We often see Odegaard leading the press, but it felt on Sunday that it was Jorginho who was doing all the vocal prompting. And, either side, Saka and Martinelli kept the full backs on their toes.

Jorginho and Rice; the Dynamic Duo

Jorginho is an interesting player in this Arsenal squad. More often than not, his 'particular set of skills' are not necessarily required on days when Arteta can afford to play a more progressive midfield. And had Partey been fit I'm pretty sure that he'd have been more likely to start in this one. But on days like this his experience is invaluable. Chelsea fans weren't that sorry to see him go - how they must long for him now! Because on this day he was imperious.

We can see from these photographs - lifted from 'The Breakdown' on arsenal.com - how the pressing box stifled Liverpool. 

And how the brilliant move that led to Arsenal's opening goal was put together. A series of one-touch passes, a cut infield from Zinchenko, and suddently Odegaard was able to split the Liverpool defence (in the first of a series of horrendous errors from a usually thoroughly reliable individual, where on earth, one must ask, was Van Dijk?) with a through ball to Havertz. As he went through, I can remember thinking: 'He's got too much time to think about this. He won't score.' But fortunately Saka was Johnny-on-the-spot to tuck away the rebound and put Arsenal into a thoroughly deserved lead. A super goal, on the whole.

And it was frankly all Arsenal for almost the rest of the first half. Until... well, we've all seen it. I'm going to apportion most of the blame for it to the otherwise mainly immaculate Saliba, although others were keen to blame David Raya. But if in doubt, get rid!  

And the worst thing about it was the immediate change of mood inside the ground. It was like a gigantic balloon had been pricked, and levels of both noise and expectation dipped dramatically. How, we were all thinking, can Liverpool have been so completely outplayed but be going in level?

A half-time change, with the apparently injured Zinchenko replaced by Jacob Kivior (a defender with completely diffferent qualities to the Ukrainian). And for the first 5 minutes of the second half it was all Liverpool. Everything felt like it had been turned on its head. But they failed to score - they had three shots, including their only one on target, in this period - and Arsenal soon began to reassert. Things were at least back on an even keel. Until...

And if Liverpool's equaliser was a bit of a farce, Martinelli's goal to retake the lead for Arsenal was hysterically funny. If you're not a Liverpool supporter, that is. Again, you've seen it, of course. And with grateful thanks, Martinelli tucked the ball into the totally unguarded net. How we laughed!!!

And from then on Arsenal were in control. Although it was slightly surprising to see Martinelli, who had sprinted himself to a standstill, replaced after 70 minutes when he'd been absolutely key to Arsenal's dominance. He must have been exhausted, to be fair.

For all of Liverpool's huffing and puffing, they created practically nothing. And whilst the belated introduction of Nunez gave them extra power and physicality, it was nothing that Arsenal couldn't handle. For all that, Gabriel was probably fortunate not to receive a second yellow card following a tangle with Nunez on halfway; this not long after Konate had seen a second yellow and then red for two clear offences on Havertz. Liverpool felt hard done by on the officiating front, but so did we - especially at half-time, when we'd sensed that Anthony Taylor had given Arsenal nothing all half. The incompetence at least levelled itself out on this occasion.

The game ended as a contest with a futher 'semi-assist' from Virgil Van Dijk. He was slow to come across to meet Trossard, who had tricked and skipped his way clear of Elliott and Diaz before bearing down on Allison's goal. And his half-hearted attempt to block the Belgian's shot only served to deflect the ball away from the keeper's hands. 

Interesting to see two centre halves of such quality as he and Saliba make the types of mistakes as they did on this day. It's not arrogance, I'm sure. Although on each occasion there was an element of over-confidence. They'll both learn from this, I'm sure - although Van Dijk is nearing the end of the type of illustrious career that we can only hope Saliba ends up having.

And now I have to address the Celebration Police. For whom I have no time. Because pundits have no right - no right whatsoever! - to criticise so called 'over-celebration'. And they love to pick on Mikel Arteta and Arsenal above all others.

And here's why. This was a massive game. Arsenal absolutely had to win it, or they'd have been out of the running for the title. That they did so in the manner in which they did was totally worthy of big celebrations. It's not as if Jurgen Klopp doesn't behave in a similar way - all that orchestrated triple fist pump stuff at the end of every home win for starters. Guardiola does it too. And we cannot forget the antics of the so-called Special One, can we? Yes, Arteta has won just a single FA Cup in his fledgling career. So perhaps having won more titles gives one the supposed 'right' to behave like that. But the guy lives, loves and breathes Arsenal, his job is on the line if he doesn't deliver, and what is football if it's not about moments?

Same for the players. Let them enjoy the moment. And - especially - let them come together with the supporters in the ground and rejoice. We fans go to escape the humdrum; to have a bit of a break from the harsh realities of life. We deserve moments like this. North London Forever. Voulez Vous. Move On Up. Whatever it takes. 

I'm with Ian Wright on this. Not the likes of Neville, Sutton and Carragher - along with Commissioner Keys. They can all f*ck off! 'They're celebrating like they've won the league' is the usual line. Well, just you wait until we do! And even if we don't, why shouldn't we take our enjoyment where we can? Killjoys...

OK - we're now just two points behind Liverpool, and very close to the bloated, unchecked City juggernaut too. Anything can happen between now and the end of the season. But for me it's absolutely key for Arsenal to take maximum points before the return game with City in a few weeks. Starting with taking revenge over West Ham for defeat just a few weeks ago. We're back in form, and they've fallen out of it, and are suffering without Pacqueta. This is the first of a number of winnable games on the horizon.

So COYG!