Lacklustre Arsenal Get Exactly What They Deserve

When I made my long-awaited podcast debut on The Arsenal Opinion -  

https://x.com/legrove?s=21&t=RVkTQ3uz6TV3CJ8TyJwaBg - 

(you will be able, if so inclined, to listen to my dulcet tones at  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arsenal-opinion-by-le-grove/id498781996?i=1000672317140) a full month ago my friend and podcast co-host Matt Kandela - @mattkandela on X - asked me to start with my Hot Take of that moment; which is how The AOP always begin their recordings. 

Arsenal had just beaten Southampton (slightly unconvincingly), and my Hot Take was off on a little tangent; that the team were missing Martin Odegaard a lot more than people were aware or prepared to admit. This was quite contrary to the views of many Arsenal fans - especially on social media - at that time; people who had looked at the results since he’d been injured and felt that Arsenal weren’t missing him. Indeed, that his scoring and assist stats weren’t up to scratch, and that maybe Arsenal didn’t need him at all!

Well, I’m sorry to say that I have been proved 100% correct. It hasn’t helped that having lost the skipper in the first Interlull, the team then lost the services of its Starboy in the second. But what is quite clear to anybody with any understanding of the way Arteta likes the team to play is that the loss of Odegaard had completely altered the balance of the entire side. Havertz has been tasked with working out to the right, and that has meant that he hasn’t been engaging opposition centre halves as previously, and the focus of the attack has shifted. 

Add the loss of Saka to that of Odegaard; plus that of White, Timber and Calafiori on various occasions, and that of Saliba for one crucial game. Then there’s the integration of Merino into the side, which has shifted the focus somewhat and, with that, the lack of creativity in midfield has made Arsenal look ponderous. With the left side still mainly dysfunctional, and midfield currently lacking in creativity, it has been easy for teams to deal with whatever threat there is. Gang up on Saka, and the current version of Arsenal is largely impotent.

And finally the clamour to play Nwaneri; and it’s a big jump up from under 21 or League Cup football for anybody, as his inability to make much impact against a Newcastle showed. And here’s where it’s easy to criticise the Manager. He thrust Nwaneri in on Saturday at a moment when he needed him to have a major impact, but the short-sightedness of not giving him time when he could have done - against the likes of Leicester and Southampton - has come back to bite him. The kid was almost invisible; just 6 successful passes in half an hour, and his performance summed up by his failure to read White’s through ball late on - a pass that Odegaard (or anyone who’s spent sufficient time on the field with White) would have been expecting.

In short, it has been impossible to gather any rhythm or momentum for weeks now. Performances, and results - one point out of the last 9 - have frankly been dire. Well below the standards we should expect. Perhaps with the exception of 20 first half minutes at home to Liverpool, with the crowd driving the team on. 

Central to that has been the loss of the man who oils the wheels and drives the pistons of the attacking engine; arguably the best passer in the side (Partey would be the other main candidate) and certainly the cleverest. It is absolutely crucial to Arsenal’s season that Odegaard comes back into the side as quickly as possible. Before it’s too late!

I’m not going to go into too much detail about the Newcastle loss. It’s too depressing. I can sum it up by saying that Arsenal started ok, but then conceded what was a very good goal - although Gordon was afforded too much time, and the failure to anticipate or pick up Isak’s run was a collective error - but the team were then simply unable to respond in any shape or form.

Where was the urgency? Where was the drive? Why didn’t they try anything different? Same old patterns. Lack of any form of movement in attack to try to draw them out of their shape. It was all so pedestrian and predictable. The sight of the smug Howe on the sideline, with his irritating grinning and perma-tanned sidekick Tindall at his side, made me sick. We owed them big time from last season, yet the team could not rouse themselves. 

Two decent chances in 90+ minutes was all that Arsenal could muster. One shot from Merino from point blank range blocked by Hall, and Rice’s inexplicable inability to head the ball on target from inside the 6-yard box in the 93rd minute - although a goal at that point was more than Arsenal deserved.

What I am seeing is that the shape and emphasis of the team is all wrong at the moment. And it shouldn’t be like this due to the loss of a single player. Odegaard has been out for weeks, and yes, we can acknowledge that the loss for a game or two here and there of Saka, White, Timber, Calafiori and Saliba hasn’t helped; but it’s clear to me - and surely you too - that the answers haven’t been found.

There’s a knock-on effect all over the field - and yes; the makeshift defence that the team ended up with at the end of the Liverpool game exaggerated the problems. But the solutions that Arteta has tried have now clearly been seen to have failed, and he must try something different. There is a more than sufficient body of evidence to show that.

What has bothered me is that the decision to pull Havertz out to the right to link with Saka has affected the whole attacking front. I wish I’d have mentioned it before on here; but the sight of the German pulling out wide beyond Saka as the latter cut inside was something I could not fathom. Of all our players, Saka is the one that needs the least help! And this has been going on for weeks!

The issues for me are: 

• Havertz’s game has been affected. He’s been taken out of the role he’s been doing best at - occupying the central defenders or rolling out left to overload that side of the field
• Using a flatter midfield three of Partey, Rice and Merino has failed. There’s not enough creativity in there - and even when Partey was ostensibly selected at right back on Saturday he was consistently inverting. Alternating Havertz and Trossard as the front two, and first line of the press, has also failed as they’ve not taken up correct positions on the field
• Martinelli has been disappointing. His effort cannot be questioned, but he is currently lacking in confidence, and his decision-making is suffering as a result. There’s no sense of serenity with him; contrast that to what Saka delivers on the other side of the field (even when double- or even triple-teamed)
• The failure to give Nwaneri minutes in the Odegaard role in recent ‘easier’ home matches was frankly negligent. The kid is 17; he has massive potential, but it’s a lot to ask of him to impact a game at Newcastle coming in from ‘cold’ (it’s a gigantic step up from Bolton and Preston to Newcastle United away)
• I don’t understand Arteta’s unwillingness to trust Zinchenko any more. Sure, he has a mistake in him; but if playing him means that more players - specifically Partey - can be put in their best positions then that should be done
• Is Mikel Merino the player we hoped he would be? He lacks the necessary creativity that a number 8 requires. He feels like more of a 6 to me; and, frankly, I prefer 2022/23 Granit Xhaka to him
• Arteta was wedded to 4-1-2-3 when Odegaard was available. If he’s not willing to use Nwaneri there, then why not drop Trossard in to right 8 - and leave Havertz up top? Alternatively, get Jesus into the team!

As a result of the Newcastle defeat, Arsenal are in danger of losing touch at the top of the table. Thank goodness that City finally lost a PL game on Saturday. But it’s Chelsea - above Arsenal on goal difference now - away next. Preceded by a Champions League game against Inter at the San Siro. There is no let-up, and it’s not as if the home game with Nottingham Forest that comes up after the next effing Interlull is looking like an easy game!

Talking of Nottingham Forest, news has broken of the impending departure of Edu from his role as Sporting Director at Arsenal. Head-hunted by Forest, apparently… does he really regard that as a step up? 

More to the point, this weakens Arteta’s position at the club at a time when his reputation has dipped a bit. I for one am not advocating that he leave - far from it - but his now legendary stubbornness must surely change. With the departure of Edu - preceded by that of Jack Wilshere a couple of weeks ago - that leaves just Arteta and the BFG as the last two former players at the club. 

Between them, Arteta and Edu have neglected the forward part of the pitch over the past couple of years. What Arsenal need is a viable alternative to what they have to offer at the pointy end; neither Havertz nor Jesus is what anybody can possibly call prolific. That needs to be priority number one - and not in the summer; but in January. A goal-scoring centre forward, and probably a left winger, are vital now. My Wish List is Gyokeres and Williams - fat chance tbh!

In the meantime, Arsenal need to cling on to Liverpool’s coat tails. Somehow. They cannot afford to lose at Chelsea; indeed, they can barely afford to even draw! And  they must equally get something out of Wednesday’s trip to Milan. Otherwise the season is in danger of falling apart in November! 

Yes, I and many others are being critical. But it doesn’t mean that we don’t support or believe in the team any less. We’re criticising out of love for them. So COYG!!!

PGMOL strike again - And Ethan Excels

Arsenal 2 Liverpool 2. Firstly, I must state that from my seat in Block 17 this was an absolutely superb game of football. The best I've seen for quite a while, with two top sides battling it out. But...

...I should also add that - biased as I may be - I felt that Arsenal deserved to win (despite everything that went against them during the game), but that it's really difficult to witness the fortunes of the team I love being constantly hampered - week after week -  by playing against not only the 11 opposition players, but  also against officials who seem hell bent on perverting the course of Justice.

I'll get to my views on the officiating in a moment, but I need to say that whilst I hate suggesting that there is something funny going on, there surely is. To follow up the THREE red cards already given to Arsenal players this season with a man who is allegedly the very best referee that England has to offer performing as he did... well...

And to the team news for a start. Such a relief to hear that both Jurrien Timber and - particularly - Bukayo Saka were fit enough to take their places in the starting line-up. And which point the rest of the side picked itself, with Thomas Partey asked to cover at right back as Ben White moved across to replace the suspended Saliba. Quite how long the two of them might last, we couldn't be sure, but there was something of a sense that they'd been rushed back for this game.

In the first few minutes, Liverpool made things difficult for the home side, who couldn't get past the first line of the press. But in the 9th minute Ben White found a little bit of time and decided to go long; isolating Robertson with Saka. A foot race, which Starboy won easily, a chop back and and quick turn to finish Robertson off, and with the next touch the ball was in the back of the net. Three touches and Boom! I recall my thoughts as the ball headed over the top towards Saka. 'Go on B', I said under my breath as I sensed a big opportunity. And a second later we were on our feet. Never in doubt...

Not long after, Havertz tussled with/was assaulted by Van Dijk. I'll cover this below when I rant about the officiating, but having seen the replay I simply have no idea why the referee took no action.

Soon, Liverpool were level. Arsenal had had an earlier warning when Van Dijk flicked on a TAA free kick at the near post, and this time some clever movement from Diaz gave him the space to beat Havertz to the ball at the near post, and Van Dijk bundled the ball in from close range. Annoying; and more worryingly that this was the second week in a row that the set piece masters had been beaten at their own game. Perhaps Mr Jover needs to pay some attention to defending at set pieces over the next week or so?

However, the equaliser appeared to kick Arsenal into a gear that we frankly hadn't seen from them all season. It was as if a switch had finally been turned on, as up until half time they played their best football for months. And Liverpool responded by some Dark Arts of their own - against Dark Arts FC (I'm taking the mickey here; any suggestion of Arsenal being Dark Arts masters is shallow punditry). Diaz kicked the ball away; ignored by the referee. MacAllister spent a minute rolling around on the floor whilst Arsenal played on, and then miraculously got to his feet and started running. Liverpool challenges all around the pitch, intended to slow Arsenal down, went unpunished. 

Merino nearly scored from a beautifully weighted Rice free kick. Martinelli - who had TAA on toast all afternoon, but who couldn't deal with Konate at all - fired in a cross that neither Havertz nor Saka could quite reach. Saka curled a shot wide. And then Martinelli went down under a double challenge from TAA and Konate. It looked like at least one of the defenders had caught him - Konate went right through him - but Taylor gave nothing. Stonewall penalty, if you ask me; see my rant below... To be fair, that could all have been rendered moot had Havertz, to whom the ball broke, not knocked the ball over the bar instead of hitting the target.

MacAllister was finally booked for yet another assault on Starboy; it's the only way anyone can stop him. Martinelli shot over from a decent opportunity following a piece of skill from Merino reminiscent of Dennis Bergkamp's statue on the concourse (the great man was in attendance, by the way; greeted by rapturous applause by the faithful). Havertz failed to react to a cross that Van Dijk failed to clear, and the Dutchman cleared another away. Then it was Nunez's turn to assault Starboy. It was frantic - and Arsenal needed to take advantage of their superiority.

Which they finally did. Partey was fouled 30 yards out on the right, and yet another sublime Rice delivery was headed home powerfully by Merino. It looked tight for offside, and it took almost 5 minutes for the VAR to finally give in - despite concerted attempts to rule the goal out, I'm sure - and the goal was awarded. Still, we got to celebrate twice, I guess. And so the first half ended with Arsenal firmly on top; although we expected a reaction from Liverpool in the second half.

Early in the second half, things started to go wrong. Gabriel was pushed in the back by Nunez as they chased down a long ball, and the King of Brazil went down holding his knee. He struggled back on, but could not continue, and the makeshift look of the Arsenal defence became even more rickety as he was replaced by Kivior. 

No Saliba or Gabriel for the first time in the Premier League for over a year. A central midfielder at right back. The right centre half playing in a position he had barely played for two years. The fourth choice left centre back now on. And a half-fit Timber soldiering on at left back. Against a front line of Diaz, Nunez and Salah. Trepidation in the stands... and the team started to ease back too; what we have, we hold...

But Liverpool were now on top. And the nonsense punditry later on  about time-wasting and feigning injury was pure drivel. There's a fine line between Game Management and time-wasting; and it would appear that it's only Arsenal who ever cross it...

And so Raya was booked as early as the 66th minute. Taylor couldn't wait to do it. Soon after, Timber went down with what was hopefully only cramp (remember, he has barely trained for two weeks) and finally had to leave the field. To my eyes, he'd done a marvellous job at keeping Salah quiet, but it was now the turn of teenager Miles Lewis-Skelly. Partey, White, Kivior, MLS - could they possibly hold on? And was the choice of MLS over Zinchenko the right one? We'll never know, I guess, but I do have bad memories of the Salah/Zinchenko match-up from previous encounters. At that point Liverpool's triple substitution was already having an effect on the other side of the pitch.

And the answer was No. MLS fed Martinelli, who  naively ran into the man mountain Konate for the umpteenth time. In the blink of an eye, TAA sent a missile over the retreating left hand side of Arsenal's defence (both of whom who had been caught slightly ahead of safety by the speed of the pass). Nunez beat MLS t the ball, and Salah criss-crossed with him in front of the struggling Kivior to crack home the equaliser. To be frank, a superb goal, but could Arsenal (particularly Martinelli) have done better?

85 minutes gone, and finally the ineffective Martinelli (who'd spent the second half running down blind alleys when he wasn't supporting Timber) and the exhausted Saka were replaced by Jesus and - at last! - Ethan Nwaneri. The latter had little time to impose himself, but Jesus had two difficult half-chances (the guy was desperate for a goal!). 

Yet the excitement wasn't over. And nor was the influence of Anthony Taylor. A bouncing ball was won cleanly by Kivior as he jumped over the top of a static Szoboszlai. The ball broke to Havertz, whose shoulder deflected the ball over Konate and, as he prepared to lob Kelleher, Taylor blew his whistle. Literally. At the very second that he realised that Arsenal might score. Forget the instruction to allow these moments to play out; he blew the play dead, long before the ball hit the back of the net. No chance of it going to VAR... and people want to know why Arsenal supporters think that there's something dodgy going on. 

And as if that wasn't enough he failed to give an obvious corner in the final minute of extra time.

Before I complete my rant, a few thoughts on how the players performed:

• Partey - sensational at right back. Dealt with Diaz really well. Man of the Match. He is having a remarkable season
• White - super reliable as usual
• Gabriel - noticeable by his absence when he went off. Say no more
• Kivior - not up to the level, unfortunately. Found out at a crucial moment
• Timber - a beast! Dealt with Salah superbly. He can do it all; and bearing in mind his lack of fitness that was an immense performance
• MLS - he's young. He is therefore forgiven for any transgressions
• Rice - his best game of the season so far
• Merino - apart from one horrible moment in the first half, extremely solid
• Trossard - decent
• Havertz - everywhere as usual. Really needs to brush up his finishing!
• Saka - excellent first half. Faded as the game went on due to lack of fitness
• Martinelli - must improve his decision-making and final ball. His growth is stagnating, and if it wasn't for his defensive work he'd find himself out of the team
• Nwaneri - not on long enough to rate, tbh
• Jesus - did enough in the short time he was on to suggest that he's on his way back

And now for more of the promised rant about Anthony Taylor - and PGMOL:

I have a mate who was a Sunday League referee for the best part of 30 years, and who advised me just after the game ended yesterday that 'overall, Anthony Taylor had a good game and there was nothing in the slightest bit controversial'. I should add at this point that he is also a Liverpool supporter... 

But personally, I - and those around me - thought that Taylor had a shocker. 

There was the Van Dijk assault on Havertz.   https://x.com/Mo_Arsenal9/status/1850831280125993083 (apologies for the Arabic commentary)

Constant fouling by MacAllister and particularly Diaz (who also showed petulance and threw the ball into the ground at one point, and at another point kicked the ball away a good 10 yards from the scene of a free kick). Nunez? - all elbows; pushed Gabriel in the back early in the second half, leading to the latter's knee injury. Salah had one nastily-timed push in Timber's back while he was in the air. Little or nothing given.

The penalty incident. https://x.com/EminentGooner/status/1850627194524983749 

Blowing up for a foul after almost every Arsenal tackle in the second half - a guy behind me shouted out: 'That's it. Keep giving them everything... until they equalise!' 

And then the icing on the cake of blowing up in the 90th minute when he could see that Arsenal were about to score the wining goal. https://x.com/EGTVEgal/status/1850643031479013399

This guy and Michael Oliver (architect of an even bigger farce than any of the above earlier in the day at West Ham) are supposed to be the best we've got in England. So what the hell is going on? 

Yes, I know that it's ludicrous to suggest that there's an anti-Arsenal agenda - and I'm sure that every club can do the same (with the exception of Manchester City, of course) - but these first 9 games have taken things to a new level of... well, let's call it incompetence, shall we? In the circumstances, it's remarkable that Arsenal are so close to the top of the table, and these were the first points they've dropped this season whilst keeping 11 men on the pitch.

Anyway, we move on. To yet another Week From Hell, but preceded by a trip to Preston. At which Ethan Nwaneri announced himself (again) with a sublime goal; all in a performance in which Arsenal completely outclassed their Championship opposition. Into the quarter finals, and with City going out - although it's always a shame to see Tottenham fans happy, this may be an opportunity for Arsenal to win their first League Cup since 1993.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqp1ojx1DQU

The Week From Hell starts at Newcastle on Saturday morning. And we owe them one after last year's biggest slice of injustice. 

They're not in fantastic form, but it's a difficult place to go. Depending on players' fitness, I'd be tempted to give young Nwaneri a start. Give Martinelli the day off, move Trossard out to the left wing, and play the boy at right 8. Which would also give Havertz the opportunity to play more centrally than he has been able to do in the continuing absence of Odegaard.

Anyway, we'll see. COYG!

Trossard’s Trying Week - And Time To Show Some ‘Smarts’

It has been a difficult week for Arsenal on several fronts. A chastening defeat at Bournemouth. A struggle to get over the line against Shakhtar. Wracked by injuries; and additionally by a key suspension. Luckily, we’ve got an easy game coming up!

Liverpool preview to follow lower down the page. But I first want to discuss the latest two results/performances. Then the raft of injuries - which is in complete contrast to last season’s plain sailing. The individual errors that continue to both plague and cost the team. Arteta’s conservative team selections. And then finally whether Arsenal are being refereed differently to other teams.

Bournemouth away. Not a venue where Arsenal have traditionally suffered. But with no Odegaard, no Saka and no Timber the team looked out of kilter from the very start. The midfield that Arteta selected was - how can I express it - ‘functional’ - Partey, Rice, Merino does lack flair, but it was clear that the Manager wanted solidity. 

I was disappointed not to see Ethan Nwaneri given the opportunity to start a game. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough; but it does seem that Arteta - hopefully not repeating the type of mistakes of 2020 that led to a run of 7 successive defeats (a sequence that very nearly cost him his job) until he finally had no choice but to pitch ESR into the side - prefers to select his teams in a hierarchical manner. More experienced players first… and I don’t like that.

The first of Trossard’s two major errors of the week occurred when he attempted an ambitious, but ultimately dangerous, first time lofted cross field pass from the wing to Saliba. The pass lacked any form of control and the normally unflappable defender, caught on the wrong side of Evanilson (who was technically standing in an offside position; although not, obviously, if he received the ball from an opponent - I do understand the Laws!), panicked and brought him down. Two individual errors in the space of three seconds;... and the yellow card came out. Which was perhaps understandable - after all, the incident took place fully 45 yards from goal, the forward wouldn’t have found it easy to get the bouncing ball under control, and Ben White was technically on the cover; although a fair distance away.

I instinctively felt that we’d got away with it when the yellow card appeared, as it could easily have been red, but what transpired over the next couple of minutes angered me greatly. Jared Gillett, the (Liverpool supporting) VAR, decided that the incident needed further consideration. Of course he did; Arsenal play Liverpool next. And, despite the brandishing of the yellow card not being a ‘clear and obvious error’, decided to re-referee the incident. And we all know what that means. Yellow upgraded to Red. And with this image popping up on our television screens just beforehand... again, I reiterate, I'm not one for conspiracy theories…

The frustration of that decision was not only felt during the game itself, but also the next day when in a virtually identical incident Tosin of Chelsea was given a yellow card for a carbon copy foul (probably a worse one, in fact), in almost exactly the same place on the field.

The Arsenal fans started a new song at that point; showing a macabre sense of humour: '10 men again Ole Ole'. And Arteta reacted to the loss of Saliba by bringing on Kivior - the last fit centre half - for the largely ineffective Sterling (now there’s a guy struggling to find his feet in the side), and things stabilised for a while until a minute’s play that formed a microcosm of the game, and of how a side can get punished. First Martinelli, released by Merino and through on goal, failed to make the most of his opportunity and shot directly at Kepa the keeper. From there, Bournemouth made their way up field and won a corner from which Christie lashed home a half volley that I defy him to manage to do ever again. Nice routine - one that Nicolas Jover would be proud of - but distinctly unsatisfactory and frustrating from an Arsenal point of view.

At which point I sensed that it was going to be a long evening. And so it proved as Arsenal - lacking in creative quality - struggled to produce a worthwhile opportunity. The game was crying out for the introduction of Nwaneri, and perhaps on reflection dropping Rice back into central defence to allow that to happen may have been a viable alternative (thank you, Captain Hindsight). 

Arsenal created little from then on as the 10 men were largely pinned back (not Man City style, but difficult). And then followed a further individual error, as Kivior’s under hit back pass under pressure from Evanilson led to Raya giving away a penalty. 2-0, and 'that was all she wrote'. Too late to bring on Nwaneri then, Mikel… and, irrespective of the rights and wrongs of the Saliba incident, Arsenal got all that they deserved from the match.Nothing.

So that was that. A first defeat of the season, followed by the usual media - and fan - pile on. Arsenal’s first defeat since February, and the reaction was ridiculous. The thing is this; it’s so rare for Arsenal to lose a game that it becomes big news. If you’re a supporter of Man United or Tottenham, it happens almost every other week. But an Arsenal defeat is News. And no; it’s not terminal from a ‘title-winning chances’ point of view. But you wouldn’t know it from the press they got.

On Tuesday, Arsenal had the opportunity to change the mood with the visit of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. Not the most challenging of opposition in Champions League terms, so perhaps an opportunity for Arteta to finally start Nwaneri. 

But not a bit of it. Same midfield as before; and that lack of creativity was quite evident as they struggled to a 1-0 win. Gabriel Martinelli was the difference-maker; he had the Shakhtar right back on toast in the first half, and it was his shot that - amusingly - deflected off the post and then the keeper’s backside for the only goal of the game. 

And as the game wore on and the opposition were quite clearly seen not to be the pushovers we’d hoped, things got rather tense. Especially when Trossard heaped further pressure on his team-mates with his limp effort from the penalty spot following a VAR-awarded penalty. Finished off his week, did that. It's not been a good week for the Belgian, and he perhaps needs to start on the bench for a game or two now, but he has plenty of credit in the Bank. Although, if he'd have allowed Havertz to take it, the German may have set a new record for scoring in successive matches at the stadium…

Arsenal held on, though, but at a further cost; Riccardo Califiori limping off with a knee injury to further exacerbate the defensive crisis. And to dismay my wife, I must add!

Goodness knows what the Manager is going to do with the meagre defensive resources that remain. No Saliba; very likely no Califiori; doubts over Timber; Zinchenko half fit; no Tomiyasu (injured following a comeback that lasted a full 6 minutes). What a mess. And with Odegaard definitely still out, and Saka’s fitness a matter of guesswork, squad depth (such as it is) is going to be sorely tested against an almost full-strength Liverpool. For those of a certain age, you can almost hear Captain Edmund Blackadder pronounce that: 'This is a crisis. A large crisis. In fact, if you've got a moment, it's a twelve-storey crisis with a magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24-hour porterage and an enormous sign on the roof saying This Is A Large Crisis'

Before I get to the Liverpool game, I’m going to have another go at examining how Arsenal are being refereed this season. And it’s been harsh, to say the least. The standards against which Arsenal ‘transgressions’ are being judged do seem to be at a considerably higher bar than other clubs are getting away with. The Rice red card; letter of the Law, but harsh. Trossard’s exactly the same. Both costly in terms of dropped points. Other clubs being seen to be treated more leniently. Same issue for Saliba; on balance probably a Red; but once the Yellow had been shown… and we saw the contrast to the Chelsea one the very next day. 7 points gone… and that’s a lot in the context of the oppositions' pace at the top of the table. As regards the next match; one defeat is careless, but two would be a disaster.

And so to Liverpool. Who knows who may or may not be fit, but if it’s all bad news I can see Arsenal lining up as follows:

Raya, Partey, White, Gabriel, Kivior, Jorginho (surely needed this week), Rice, Merino, Jesus, Havertz, Martinelli. 

And that’s not going to strike fear into the opposition. Partey up against Diaz. And - worse - Kivior versus Mo Salah. Close your eyes… If the Manager wanted to be brave, he could chuck in Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly. But if Bournemouth and Shakhtar weren't deemed the right games to do that, what are the chances of that in this one?

It hardly feels right to be typing that I’ll take a draw now. Because we really have to beat them. I just can’t see how - unless Arteta has a pleasant surprise or two for us on the injury front. Come on, Bukayo!

Let’s wait. And hope. And if you’re going to the game make plenty of noise! COYG!

Just before I go, I'd like to wish Arsene Wenger a very happy birthday for earlier this week. No matter the rights and wrongs of how long he stayed at the helm of the club, he gave me some of my most enjoyable moments as an Arsenal supporter. Who can deny that? Bonne anniversaire, Chef.

Back soon...

The Cavalry Ride To Arteta’s Rescue

To rotate or not to rotate? That is the question? Although if there ever was going to be an opportunity to do so, then Southampton at home ought to have been it. And so Arteta twisted instead of sticking (one cannot expect him to select essentially the same XI 55+ times in a season); but I sensed pre-game that perhaps he had overdone it with three personnel changes, plus one positional.

And so it proved to be. Despite collecting full backs as if he’s expecting a world shortage, injuries forced the manager to drop Thomas Partey in to right back with both White and Timber unfit, Tomiyasu barely back training, and young Josh Nichols deemed not ready for the Premier League despite a promising runout against Bolton. Califiori was the natural choice at left back; he'd looked somewhat uncomfortable and unfamiliar at right back in the latter stages of the PSG game - to my eyes, anyway - and so Kivior stayed on the bench.

Whether Arteta needed to play Rice and Jorginho as a ‘double pivot’ is open to debate - it would have been nice to see Nwaneri get a Premier League start - but it was further forward, with Jesus and Sterling coming in to the side in place of Trossard and Martinelli, where Arsenal struggled for cohesion. Saka always plays, of course…

It has been interesting to see how Arteta has compensated for the loss of Martin Odegaard by asking Havertz to play more on the right (he's everywhere; popping up wherever he needs to be to be honest), and I've been fascinated to see him often appear on Starboy's outside on occasion as 'B' picks up the ball and drives inside. The downside, of course, is the loss of the German's presence in the penalty area on those occasions, but Trossard and Martinelli have been making up for that.

But with Jesus and Sterling in there instead, the balance on the left hand side changed on Saturday. And took some getting used to, as Arsenal essentially lacked cohesion. I thought that Sterling did ok, without looking anything like the player he used to be, and we have to hope that after the mauling his confidence took at the Cobham Madhouse he can regain some of that form. He's an entirely different player to Martinelli, and Arteta will surely have a plan to play to his strengths as the season goes on. Jesus, for the most part, looked like a man who has forgotten how to play. He hasn't been the same player since he picked up a knee injury at the last World Cup, and as a result has struggled for fitness and then form; and now he's fit it's clear that he has lost his place to Havertz - Arsenal's undisputed Number 9. 

As Arsenal's style of play has become more and more structured (and yes; there’s loads of fluidity within that!), it has felt to me that there isn't a place in the side for somebody like Jesus, who lacks positional discipline. Sure, opponents don't know where he may pop up next; but I suspect that often his team-mates don't either! 

Arsenal started the game very quickly, as one would expect, and despite the personnel changes looked likely to overwhelm Southampton. But, frustratingly, and much like the previous week, the breakthrough goal did not come. And as the half wore on it felt that players and fans alike both felt that it was only a matter of time before it did, but there were few clear cut chances despite Arsenal's control. There wasn't a huge amount for the returning Aaron Ramsdale to do as last ditch blocks and interceptions meant that the ball wasn't getting through to goal, and the crowd was quiet. Both Jesus and Sterling had chances, but Arsenal looked disjointed, despite retaining control. 

There was a moment when Arsenal won the ball back after a rare Southampton foray into the penalty area when Sterling, had he been more alert, could have created separation from his marker and given Raya a chance to find him in acres of space, but he could not, or would not, put on the afterburners in the way that I suspect that Martinelli would have done. As for Jesus, he really needs a goal or some sort of goal involvement. He looks a little bit lost, and devoid of confidence. There were one or two flashes, to be fair, but he didn't do enough in the hour or so he spent on the field.

Southampton's attack is quite powder puff, frankly, and the busy Cameron Archer (relegated with Sheffield United last season) looked their main threat - along with young right winger Dibling. Indeed, Dibling caused Califiori one or two problems as the game wore on; the Italian looks tremendous going forward, but does appear to lack a little pace when forced back towards his own goal - an upgrade on Zinchenko in many ways, but with similar defensive issues. It does feel strange to me that despite accumulating defenders as if they're going out of fashion, so many of them (Saliba and Gabriel being the exceptions) are 'hybrids' - not a traditional full back in sight. Still, we have to assume that Arteta knows what he's doing.

It was Archer who, completely against the run of play, gave Southampton the lead 10 minutes into the second half. Sterling lost the ball in the Southampton half, and one ball over the top and one twisting run later the ball was nestling in the far corner of Raya's net. That certainly wasn't in the script!

But it was almost as if a switch went off for Arsenal at that point. The level of intensity rose, and they were level within three minutes. Saka intercepted in the Southampton half and played an instant pass to Havertz - who had immediately got on the run - one touch to set the ball, and a clinical finish from 17 yards, off the far post, gave Ramsdale no chance whatsoever.

At that point, Arteta had already been planning changes. In the aftermath of the equaliser, three took place. Martinelli, Trossard and Merino on for Sterling, Jesus and Jorginho (I had already called these exact changes; although I was once again disappointed not to see Nwaneri out there). At that point the intensity went up several notches - it really shouldn't be like that - as Martinelli and Trossard began to put the Saints defence under extra pressure. And from then it was only a matter of time before Arsenal took the lead.

And so it came to pass that Arsenal quickly went ahead; with a goal we've seen before. Saka driving in from the right, defenders lured into crowded areas in front of goal, and Martinelli totally unmarked at the back post to volley Starboy's inch perfect cross home past a bewildered Ramsdale. Glorious. There was a VAR check - and Merino was marginally offside but not deemed to be interfering with play - and following a three minute check the goal was finally awarded. Double celebrations... the second set tinged with relief!

Arsenal pressed for more, but Southampton - and in particular young Dibling, who looks to have a bright future - showed a bit more on the break. The youngster's shot had Raya at full stretch, and from the resulting corner Raya flapped, and the ball cannoned off a Saints player onto the crossbar. Nervy times, and the game not feeling quite settled; until Trossard broke forward, then lost the ball in the penalty area. Sugawara looked to clear the ball, but hadn't noticed Saka coming in from the right and a neat side foot right foot finish made the points safe at 3-1.

Saka's 49th Premier League goal, and his stats over the last two home games have been spectacular. 7 shots and 8 chances created versus Leicester, and 7 plus 7 in this one. Two assists and a goal in this game - thus justifying my decision to captain him in Fantasy Premier League! Additionally, by the way, his assist for Havertz meant that this was the seventh successive home game in which the German had scored. £60 million down the drain? I don't think so! Waka waka! And finally on the statisitics front; this was Arsenal's 400th Premier League home win. only Manchester United (almost entirely down to Sir Alex Ferguson) have more.

And so that was that. But Arsenal are by no means at their best yet this season. Especially at home. It's interesting to see how much more switched on defensively they are away from home, and the concern for Arteta and all of us is that there may come a time when instead of conceding early in the second half, they concede late on and simply don't have time to put things right. These past two weeks they've had plenty of time, and they're done what needed to be done, but they must tighten up. The cavalry came to the rescue; but another time they might not have time to do so.

One big issue for Arteta is how to handle his squad. As I've said, there were perhaps too many line-up changes in this one, but he has to be able to handle his 'alternates', and to expect them to contribute a bit more than they did here. Arsenal don't have the depth that Manchester City have, which increases the pressure. 

Talking of Manchester City, it's going to take some time to understand the implications of the Associsated Party Transactions ruling just made. And despite them claiming some sort of victory, I reckon that it's a pyrrhic one. Whilst the Premier League have lost out regarding some details, I believe that on the whole its more of a win for the PL than for City. And this, of course, is just a small part of what City are having to fight. With 30 charges relating to 'failure to cooperate', they do appear to be in quite a bit of trouble. But I'd rather win the league this year irrespective of points deductions, please...

Just a quick mention of Tottenham here. Banter Club extrordinaire. Comedy value 10/10. Nobody has blown more two goal leads than Tottenham Hotspur in the history of the Premier League. That's 10 times now - three more than any other club. The very definition of Spursy. Special thanks to ex-Gunner Danny Welbeck for sticking the final knife in. Long may the Spursiness continue; everywhere they go.

And so to another Interlull. How I hate them. So now we'll be checking how Ghana are getting on, and what time Brazil are playing. Ridiculous. Still, I guess that these two weeks are going to take Odegaard two weeks closer to fitness, and we may be getting close to seeing the Rice, Merino, Odegaard midfield that we've been craving.

Here's to an uneventful fortnight. COYG!

 

Trossard Again Ole Ole!

A curate’s egg of a match. Full of crazy statistics and ‘sliding doors’ moments, but ultimately revolving around the physical and mental effort that Arsenal put in (or failed to at times) at various stages. In the end, the score line makes it look like a comfortable win for Arsenal, but for a lot of the second half it was anything but. And for that…for me; blame the players for switching off at half time, thinking that they could coast through the rest of the game. 

Arsenal were on top for pretty much the entire first half, and deservedly went in two goals ahead. But, for all that, there were moments of concern. Jamie Vardy, bane of our lives for several years in the not too distant past, is still quick and tricky enough to cause even the best of defenders problems, and managed to upset even the almost unrufflable Saliba on occasion. 

If you go back to how the move for Arsenal’s first goal started, Saliba clearly held Vardy back in order for Calafiori to win the ball and start the move. Fortunately, it is clear that the VAR check didn’t go back that far. Vardy was even booked for complaining about it. 

In truth, the first half was pretty much all Arsenal, and the scoreboard was given a more realistic feel in first half injury time when Trossard turned in Martinelli’s cross to make it 2-0. This followed the earlier finish from Martinelli, from Timber’s low cross, which will hopefully help to kick-start the young Brazilian’s season. It all pointed to a pretty routine home win - easy, even - but Arsenal came out for the second half apparently believing that - and playing like - the match was as good as over; whereas Leicester had certainly not given up.

Within 5 minutes of the second half starting, Arsenal had given up half of their advantage, and also had two men booked. Vardy’s sharp movement finally got Saliba a yellow card in the very first minute of the half, and Arsenal conceded from the resulting free kick as Justin’s header was inadvertently deflected by Havertz, wrong-footing David Raya and giving him little chance. It didn’t feel quite as rosy at that point, and the home team were finding it difficult to break out of their half-time lethargy. For me, there were flashbacks to occasions when Arsenal sides of the past 20 years or so had blown opportunities to take advantage of rivals’ slip ups; due to their collective mental weakness.

Indeed at 2-2 - Justin’s second goal a finish of great quality and one I doubt he'd ever hit as cleanly again - it all felt a little rocky. The Leicester fans were making a lot of noise, and the Arsenal crowd were shocked into silence. As, for a while, were the team. 

But for the last 20 minutes, as Arsenal became more and more frantic in their search for a winner, the game was back to being one-way as they pummelled Leicester again and again, with only goalkeeper Hermansen preventing the raising of a cricket score. The lethargy of the previous 20 minutes or so was replaced by an onslaught, with the keeper saving the away side again and again. Saves from Havertz and Trossard, in particular, were exceptional. 

Raheem Sterling replaced Martinelli, with his neat footwork causing the Leicester defence a different set of problems, but the introduction of Ethan Nwaneri on the other side of the pitch was far more notable. With his very first involvement, he beat three men and forced Hermansen into a full-length save. I’ve been telling people to watch out for the boy for a few weeks now - that Match Of The Day should devote a section to him at the end of their coverage of the game would suggest that we’re all on the right track with him. I wouldn’t start him in midweek, but Saturday looks like an ideal opportunity to let him loose on another promoted team in Southampton.

At the other end of the field Calafiori was fortunate not to be the third Arsenal player sent off this season as, having been carded earlier, he tripped Buonanotte. The referee instead chose to book the Leicester player for waving an imaginary card at him! I must admit that nobody around me noticed much of that at the time; but having seen it back on the television the Italian can count himself very fortunate indeed!

As the game moved into injury time, things were looking bleak as the spectre of points dropped to a considerably inferior team grew. But, finally, a corner routine paid off. Leicester had been presenting a different problem to Arsenal from corners compared to the previous two weeks, and so Jover had been instead looking to free a man up beyond the far post with many of the routines. And it finally paid off as Saka’s delivery eluded all but Leandro Trossard in that very spot. His side foot volley back into an incredibly crowded six yard box led to the unfortunate Ndidi deflecting the ball past Hermansen off the inside of a thigh. Cue massive relief all round.

Kai Havertz put the icing on the cake very late on - the linesman’s flag being overruled by the VAR - and so in the end the points were comfortably secured. But despite Arsenal having by far the better of the game statistically - 75% possession, 656 passes, 36 shots (in the top 10 of all Premier League matches), 17 on target in total, 63 clearances by Leicester players and 17 corners to 0 - there was a good portion of the game when the home side’s physical and mental effort could be questioned. And if I were Arteta that’s just what I would be doing. You simply can’t let up. And that’s precisely why - despite those extraordinary statistics, the teams were level going into extra time.

Anyway, hopefully that’s a lesson learned, and we have two more home games this week. First the enticing thought of PSG (regrettably Mbappe-less, of course) and then Southampton (with Aaron Ramsdale in goal) on Saturday. With Manchester City still trying to work out how to replace the injured Rodri, Arsenal must continue to take advantage. 

COYG!

The Great Siege Of Manchester

2-2 doesn't tell the whole story, does it? So much to discuss. So much to unpack. So much to be proud of. So much to be angry about. So let's just crack on. 

The whole world was watching, so I won't go into too much detail about the game; except in the context of the points I have to make. And I don't really know where to start! But let's have a go:

Firstly, City had to step up to top gear to get anything from Arsenal. Which they don't often need to do. They started very quickly, and it's difficult to do anything but admire Haaland's goal; scored so early, and so brilliantly, especially as Arsenal hadn't at that point quite got to grips with the way Pep had set his team out. The goal had everything to do with how Pep's tactics exploited the space between Arsenal's centre backs and full backs by using the full width of the pitch, thus allowing the twin Number 10s to get closer to Arsenal's defence than was comfortable. For the goal, the movement of Gundogan and Savinho (plus the latter's exquisite pass) freed Haaland in acres of space. After that, the timing of the run, the first touch and the finish were quite magnificent. Neither Saliba nor Raya had any chance.

But Haaland, for all his undoubted footballing prowess, is a nasty piece of work. When things got tight towards the end he had no compunction with throwing his weight around - illegally - as well as resorting to taunts and abuse. There was the ball-throwing incident in the aftermath of the equaliser. The shoulder charge on Gabriel. A 'Who the f*ck are you?' to Miles Lewis-Skelly. And the supposed 'banter' with Arteta and Arsenal players at the end of the game. 'Stay humble, eh', he had the audacity to tell the opposing manager... Classless.     

Talking of throwing one's weight around, I should now mention my complete lack of sympathy for Rodri. In the first few seconds, he deliberately blocked off Havertz; and then did his best to get the German into trouble. Later on, his attempt to block Partey off at a corner, trying to win a penalty off of it, in fact - led to a self-inflicted injury - possibly even an ACL tear. Here is yet another world-class City player, used to bullying the opposition, rotational fouling and generally getting his own way at all times, who received his comeuppance. Karma. As my much-missed dad was wont to say: 'I hope it's nothing trivial.' 

City will certainly miss Rodri while he's out injured; 8 months should cover it, please... City simply never lose when Rodri is in the team. Let's see how they cope.

It was Rodri who questioned Arsenal's 'ambition' in an interview last season. In the aftermath of this match, John Stones and - especially - Bernardo Silva did the same. They are rattled; and it's only the mutual respect between Pep and Mikel that stops this from bubbling over into something very unpleasant. The return game, in February, will be a doozy!

And so to Arsenal's two goals, which turned the match on its head. 

There's lots to pick out with the equaliser. 

1. Where the initial foul occurred, compared to where the free kick was taken from. No biggie, frankly.

2. The fact that following the whistle for the foul Bernardo Silva carried the ball 15 yards away - was that a yellow card offence? 

3. Michael Oliver calling the captain's together to try to calm the game down, and then allegedly allowing Arsenal to restart before Walker was back in position (red herring; he WAS back in position). 

4. Gabriel Martinelli - was his assist the lighting of the blue touch paper for his season? 

And 5. What a finish from Riccardo Califiori! Reminiscent of Saliba's sublime effort against Bournemouth in its execution, but with the stakes so much higher here. What a way to announce yourself onto the scene!

And to see the City players whinge, and Pep lash out at his own chair - magical...

For the go-ahead goal... well, we shouldn't be surprised any more, should we? City had had a warning just a few moments before, and despite changing the marker on Gabriel it was so well-worked that it was frankly inevitable. Stick it on a loop; clever blocking-off in the 6-yard area; runs from back to front; Saka's delivery on a sixpence; and Gabriel thumping the ball into the roof of the net. Rinse and repeat. The only difference between this week and last was the colour of the shirts.

And then... and haven't we been here before? Haven't Arsenal - and only Arsenal - been here before. Of all the incidences of kicking the ball away so far this season, which team have been most severely punished; by, say, the awarding of second yellow cards?  

Trossard had already been booked for a shirt pull; and quite rightly. He then barged into Bernardo Silva, and as the ball ran loose - and Oliver's whistle blew - booted the ball into the path of Gabriel Martinelli, who was in tons of space. All within a second of the whistle sounding; and reminiscent once more of Robin Van Persie's sending off in Barcelona all those years ago. As with Declan Rice against Brighton, by the letter of the Law it's a bookable offence (whether it ought to be is another matter entirely), and thus by the letter of the Law he had to go. But...

We had the earlier incident with Bernardo Silva that I referenced above. And another involving Doku. No action taken. And I should mention an incident the previous week involving Dominik Szloboszlai of Liverpool, who did something remarkably similar, but more blatantly, and was not punished for it. The referee that day? Michael Oliver. 

This is the same Michael Oliver who decided not to send Matteo Kovacic off at The Emirates last season for two vicious tackles from behind (on Rice and Odegaard) because - and I quote Howard Webb here - 'Michael doesn't like to have a negative impact in a big game'. With it being an Arsenal player, he couldn't get the cards out quick enough!

Regular readers of this blog will know that I don't go in for conspiracy theories... I'd really prefer to regard all referees as suffering from various stages of incompetence. But here are a few facts about Michael Oliver and his relationship with Abu Dhabi.

1. He was paid £20,000 in 2023 to go out to the UAE to referee a match in a tournament sponsored by The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company - owned by the owner of Manchester City. Accompanied, by the way, by both of yesterday's linesmen.

2. Subsequently, he failed to punish Kovacic (as mentioned above). He also failed to penalise Jeremy Doku for a chest high assault on Liverpool's Alexis MacAllister towards the end of last season, that would have meant a late - and in my eyes stone bonk certain - penalty to Liverpool. He also failed to award Chelsea a penalty for a pretty clear handball by Jack Grealish in last year's FA Cup semi final.

3. It's probably mere coincidence, but the Manchester City Director of Football is Ferran Soriano. I am pretty sure that he was Director of Football at Barcelona - who of course were found guilty of bribing referees - when RVP got his marching orders. Pure coincidence, of course...

As I say, no conspiracy theory. But even if there's no skullduggery going on - and the game would be finished if it were - there's surely some unconscious bias affecting the man's judgement? I'll leave it at that. And I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

What it did mean, of course, was that the second half was virtually unwatchable as a spectacle. The biggest game in the biggest competition on world football ruined by the decision to send Trossard off. As Mikel Arteta described it: Michael Oliver's decision 'forces you to play a game that nobody wanted to watch'. Nailed it. Nobody wants to watch 50 minutes of attack vs defence.

And it was, inevitably, a siege. It's difficult enough to play against that lot with 11 vs 11, let alone a man down. Arsenal had very little choice but to go ultra-defensive and try to hold on to their lead. Perhaps they could have attempted to have an outlet, but it's difficult when the opposition are suffocating you. Ben White, despite nursing an injury, replaced Saka and Arsenal went 5-4-0, which soon became 6-3-0. And they hung on, And hung on. City could do very little more than take pot shots from outside the penalty area, as space was at such a premium. David Raya made save after save. Saliba and Gabriel organised and organised. Thomas Partey, contrary to all expectations as he played his third game in a week, was magnificent in his shielding work. Arsenal tried delaying tactics; everything they knew.  

And it almost paid off. It was only in the 8th minute of 7 added that City finally equalised. Arsenal legs had finally gone, as they reached the last throes of the third of three intense away games in a week (City had had three home matches, and a day more to prepare for this match). A short corner had defenders on heels, City worked it around for the umpteenth time, and following some pinball the ball reached an unmarked John Stones 10 yards out. 2-2... cue home delirium, and Haaland's disgraceful behaviour. Who's celebrating a draw now, Rodri?

So near, and yet so far. An Arsenal win would have been seismic for the Premier League. And yet... I am sure that we're all supremely proud of the effort put in by the players. And what this illustrates yet again is that the gap is continuing to close. The reason that City are trash-talking is that they are extremely concerned. Arsenal are becoming elite; they just need the trophies to show for it. We cannot doubt their 'cojones', nor their quality. 

If only we could get through a game, or a series of games, without any controversy. Arsenal have the 11 points I predicted were the minimum they needed after this stretch of games. But it could so easily have been 15. And for a little while now it does get easier. We're right in this, I suspect that we'll stay right in it, and there's still the matter of  the 115 charges... 

This is Arsenal's year. I can feel it. COYG!