Long read - sorry, guys; lots to cover...
It's been a couple of weeks of mixed emotions for Arsenal fans - from the communal outrage at the nature of the defeat to Manchester City, to communal anger at the nature of the performance at Nottingham Forest. But these last few days have been quite something else! However, what one can definitely say is the for the first time in many years the fanbase are united; it's us against the world - as we always knew it was. We all know the old song, don't we? The one that ends: 'We are The Arsenal and we are the best! We are The Arsenal so F*** O** the rest!'
I've covered everything up to Forest, but the two matches since then - one that did take place and one that did not - bear a deal of discussion. I'm going to take them in chronological order, starting with the First/Second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool.
Both sides went as strong as they could for this one. And I'm sure that we were all pleased that Granit Xhaka had recovered from his latest bout of Covid to take his place alongside Sambi Lokonga in the centre of midfield (little did we know...). Elsewhere, Odegaard was the latest Covid victim, Tomiyasu and ESR remained out, and Eddie Nketiah kept his place up front (in the absence of any viable alternative).
It was fairly even for much of the first 20 minutes or so - although there was little or no sign of any goalmouth action - until... well, we all know what happened. Xhaka sent off for a challenge on Jota as both chased down a lofted ball from Robertson. Xhaka's attempt to beat Jota to the ball was reckless and clumsy, and I'm afraid that a red card was inevitable.
Several things to discuss here: firstly, one can't knock Xhaka for a lack of effort as he had to sprint back fully 60 yards with Jota - and he stayed with him. But then, as so often happens, made a wrong decision on how to deal with the danger; this, combined with his inherent lack of flexibility, led to the inevitable. Michael Oliver couldn't wait to get his card out! For a moment, I thought that Xhaka was hard done by; he only had eyes for the ball, I thought. But on seeing the replay I couldn't think of a single reason why it wasn't a sending-off.
Secondly, we should probably look at how Xhaka was left in that position in the first place. But it's purely down to how Arteta wants his team to play - which is press high and hard. So Tierney was bypassed halfway inside the Liverpool half, and then Gabriel also, close to the halfway line. Xhaka was alert to the danger and sprinted to cover, and perhaps could have been saved if Ramsdale had been in a better position to deal with the high ball (I should point out that in my view this was Ramsdale's least effective day in goal for Arsenal so far, despite keeping a clean sheet). Jamie Carragher analysed this well at half time.
Thirdly, where does this rate on the ITWGX - If That Was Granit Xhaka - Index (©@gunnerblog). Well, this was Granit Xhaka, and some might say that he is refereed differently to most players in the Premier League, and therefore receives harsher treatment than most. But I think that anyone - except Harry Kane, obviously - is going to walk for that.
And yet again this was Xhaka at the centre of things. And as I and many others have mentioned before, he's a really decent and solid player; around 98% of the time. But it's that 2% that kills Arsenal again and again - that's 5 times he's been sent off in an Arsenal shirt now - and so I think that this needs to be the last of last chances and as soon as Arsenal are able to they really should be moving him on and upgrading.
By this time, Arsenal had already lost Cedric to injury - he'd managed to do damage to himself in the very first minute - and had been replaced by the lesser spotted Calum Chambers. And Arteta had to reshuffle when down to 10, with poor Eddie's latest chance to impress taken away as Rob Holding took his place and Arsenal went to a back 3/5, and a very, very 'low block'. And from then on, inevitably, it was all Liverpool.
Now I'm not going to dwell too much on what went on for the rest of the game, except to say that it was heroic and memorable, as Arsenal withstood tide after tide of attacks. But without Mr Dive and Mr Elbow (both, like Partey and others, away at AFCON), and with TAA and Robertson short of their best, there were few opportunities for Liverpool. Minamino missed the very best of them, late on - much to the delight and amusement of Ben White (see first photo above).
If anything, the very best chance fell to Bukayo Saka following a rare Arsenal break. However, I don't suppose that it was a surprise that his legs betrayed him at the vital moment., and his usually reliable touch was a bit off.
Arteta had redeployed both Saka and Martinelli in midfield, and they both worked their socks off -as did every one of the 9 remaining outfield players. Heroes to a man, and when the final whistle went several of them simply collapsed with exhaustion.
Afterwards, Arteta praised them to the heavens, using words like 'emotion', 'commitment', 'fight', ‘brotherhood’ and 'desire', and the expression 'go to war'. Difficult to argue with that. And he gave special praise to the travelling Arsenal fans, who were magnificent throughout; their non-stop vocals must surely have additionally inspired the team.
So it's 0-0 going into the second leg. And make no mistake, it'll be just as hard - even if we're at home. Liverpool, even without Mr Dive and Mr Elbow, are a top, top side. There's plenty to be done yet.
And so to the North London Derby. However, it wasn't that simple, as Arsenal requested a postponement. And here's the thing - or many things actually:
Arsenal's first leg Carabao Cup game had been postponed when Liverpool claimed a Covid outbreak. Arsenal fans were up in arms, but the club simply accepted the ruling. This was the first time that Arsenal had requested a postponement, although they had some grounds earlier in the season; but did not meet the criteria. And this was the 21st game to be postponed due to Covid and other related reasons. For none of the others, had anybody kicked up a stink - including Arsenal when they'd had matches called off late. Yet as soon as Arsenal asked, there was outrage.
And here's where it's important to examine the current Premier League rules regarding Covid postponements. Click this link to read them: https://www.premierleague.com/news/2426753
The key part of the guidance, when assessing Arsenal's request for a postponement - which was lodged on Friday - is this (and I've put what I regard as the most relevant sections in Bold):
'When making an application, clubs must provide the Board with the following details, together with clear reasons why they believe the match should be postponed:
- Players and staff who have returned a positive COVID-19 test, their vaccination status and, if known, the source of their infections
- Players and staff who are self-isolating
- Players who are unavailable to play through injury or illness
- Players listed on the club's squad list who are still available to play in the match, including appropriately-experienced Under-21 players (which includes Under-21 players who have played for the club, another Premier League or EFL club, or an overseas club in the current season. However, any Under-21 player who participates in a club's FA Cup Round Three match and has not played in any other first-team competitions for the club this season will not be considered by the Board as appropriately experienced)
- Supporting medical information to verify the status of each unavailable player, which will be reviewed by the League's medical advisers
As the guidance shows, the Board will consider the following principal factors when making a decision:
1) The impact of COVID-19 infections on a club's squad, as well as injuries, illness and those isolating, and the number of players available on the squad list and any Under-21 players with appropriate experience. Where a club cannot field 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper either from its squad list or its appropriately experienced Under-21 players, the match will be postponed
2) The status of any COVID-19 outbreak within a club, including the number of individuals affected, the sequence and source of infections and their proximity to the match in question
3) A club's ability to safely prepare its players in the lead-up to a match
4) Medical advice as to whether there is any unacceptable risk to the health and safety of players and staff by playing the match
I also want to add a bit of extra context and background here:
1. Arsenal went into their very first game of the season with 4 cases of Covid, including both of their first choice centre forwards (and the next in line injured). The rules didn't permit a postponement, so they had to play, with an out of his depth Balogun up front, and duly lost. They still had Covid issues in their next game, against Chelsea (difficult enough with a full strength team) and lost that too. And then got slaughtered at Manchester City. Cue much hysteria from all and sundry as Arsenal found themselves in last place after three games, with no points and no goals
2. Arsenal have also been on the other side of this particular coin, having played - and easily beaten - weakened Leeds and Norwich sides. Again, if the absences didn't meet the criteria, it's end of discussion
3. Arsenal have had a total of 12 cases of Covid in the First Team squad since December 21st. This sort of things has an impact on being able to rest and rotate. Arsenal haven't moaned about this at any point. At least one more player is now isolating following tests made just after the match was called off
4. Arsenal didn't kick up a stink when Wolves requested a postponement just after Christmas, when it was evident that this was almost exclusively down to injuries and not Covid
5. Arsenal fans - but not the club - were unhappy with Liverpool having the semi-final first leg postponed with a huge amount of 'false positive' tests. The outrage appears justified when all bar one player were available for a match just three days later!
6. There's no mention of AFCON or loans in the Premier League criteria. Why should there be? These are side issues and part of everyday life for a top level football club. And the absences could all be accounted for, and left them short of the requisite number of available players. Here they all are:
27 man squad: Comprised of 3 goalkeepers. 4 players at AFCON (Partey, Elneny, Pepe, Aubameyang), 2 out on loan (AMN, Balogun), 1 with Covid (Odegaard), 3 on the treatment table prior to the Liverpool game (Tomiyasu, Kolasinac, Smith Rowe), 4 suffered knocks/injuries during the Liverpool game (Cedric, Chambers, Tierney, Saka) - plus of course Xhaka now suspended, but that fact is discounted from any calculations. Leaving available just 9 outfield players (White, Gabriel, Holding, Tavares, Mari, Lokonga, Lacazette, Nketiah, Martinelli). And as for Under-21 players with appropriate experience as per the Premier League criteria... well, there are none.
Now, any ludicrous comment like 'play the kids!' needs to be treated with utter disdain. Firstly, Arsenal are already playing the kids. They have the 17 youngest starting XIs in Premier League history, and 19 out of the youngest 24 - all this season! And secondly, do you think that being obliged to field 3/4 teenage debutants in a North London Derby is fair to the rest of the Premier League? Especially those clubs hoping to challenge for Champions League spots? No, of course it isn't. Let's face it - the 'salty tears' of T*ttenham and their supporters are down to a perceived missed opportunity to pick up an easy win; after all, a midfield comprising Lokonga and Patino is going to end up making even Harry Winks look like a decent footballer!
And this made me laugh!
You are so biased
ReplyDeleteI’m a perfectly impartial Arsenal supporter. I report it how it is.
ReplyDelete