Arsenal Make Heavy Weather Of It in Manchester

Old Trafford was bathed in sunshine for the visit of Arsenal. 'Arsenal Weather', as my dearly-missed father used to describe it; although to be fair he described all weather as Arsenal Weather... and Arsenal were rocking up for what on paper looked like a pretty simple task. United's Monday night thrashing at the hands of Crystal Palace suggested that they were in disarray, and the continued absence of Old Weasel Face Bruno Fernandes, and of a single centre-back who was more than half-fit, all added up to what we hoped would be a relaxing afternoon.

Sure, with a win an absolute necessity, there was pressure. And that place doesn't hold too many fond memories; I recall two absolute thrashings (8-2 and 6-1), and that appallingly refereed game that stopped The Invincibles unbeaten run in its tracks. Although there were also 1998 and 2002, of course...  but that's history, and Arsenal had big fish to fry in May 2024.

Another unchanged squad from Arteta, whilst United had McTominay back, but again selected Casemiro at centre-half. To his and their cost, as we know... and for the first few minutes Arsenal were camped in United's left back corner of the pitch and looked likely to utterly dominate proceedings.

United finally got out of that corner, and as Arsenal retrieved the ball following the home side's first foray at goal Thomas Partey turned into trouble. And for me - and this was in just the 5th minute - this seemed to change the way the game played out. It was clear that, for a change, Ten Hag had actually thought about tactics. A different set up, block and press and - until Arsenal scored - a reasonable amount of discipline that stopped Arsenal from doing their best work by cutting off many of their favourite passing channels. 

Odegaard and - particularly - Rice were stifled. There was space wide out but it wasn't really exploited. Partey looked leggy in the face of pacy counter attacks. On the whole, not a brilliant performance. But there were two keys. Firstly, Arsenal got their goal; as early as the 20th minute. And secondly for all their huffing and puffing United rarely looked particularly dangerous - Hojlund had an early chance, and Garnacho very much flattered to deceive. Gary Neville, the most biased of pundits, correctly pointed out that he often doesn't know what he's trying to do, so how can his team-mates? 

Yes, it was tense. But it was only tense because the lead was a single goal, and just one slip could have been fatal. It did feel that the only way United would score would be down to an individual Arsenal error, because they created very little. The Arsenal centre-halves almost always looked comfortable.

And so to the crucial goal. And you've of course all seen what happened. Intelligent play from all the Arsenal 'pressers' forced Onana, for once, to go longer than he wanted, as passing channels were blocked off. Casemiro never recovered from having to drop very deep from the previous phase of play, and never got out in time. White's clip over the top found Havertz, who had taken up a position that under almost any other circumstances would have been well offside. He then drove into the penalty area, where Casemiro made a second mistake by not covering the near post, Wan-Bissaka failed to see Trossard's clever dart inside, and Trossard did what Trossard does. This was intelligent off-the-cuff play from Arsenal, taking advantage of a scenario that could hardly have been envisaged. And it proved crucial to where the points ended up.

At the other end, my main concern was the amount of possession that United were afforded. But looking back I personally believe that we fans were probably more concerned about that than the Arsenal players were. They let United have the ball, knowing that they really didn't have the wherewithal to do anything constructive with it. Just the odd flash of danger, mostly centred around Garnacho, but Raya was rarely tested and Saliba made one awesome tackle at one point, as you'll recall.

I must admit to pacing around my lounge as injury time started. But in truth United had very little to offer, did they? Perhaps after their previous result the almost felt relieved to escape with a 0-1 defeat, and not get the thrashing that Arsenal could have given them?

The match, of course, ended in 'heavy weather' as a massive storm hit Manchester. Ten Hag's ludicrous linen suit was surely ruined,as biblical rain hit Old Trafford. All of which would have been of great interest to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who could see at first hand how much disrepair the ground has fallen into. I'm aware that Emirates Stadium has had its own roof issues over the past few years, but this was something else. Water pouring off the roof and forming streams in the lower tier, and by all accounts a number of leaks sprung up in the away dressing room. What with the state of the playing squad, the ground and the training facilities, there's a massive job required to start to return United to former glories. If there's any proof as to the damage the Glazer family has done to that club, those images of veritable waterfalls summed it all up.

Still, that's hardly out problem, is it? Our main problem is mathematical. Manchester City can guarantee the title with two more victories. Away to Tottenham this evening (as I type, we're hours away from that), and then a simple home game against West Ham United.

And it's all a bit complicated; psychologically at least. City have failed to register a single goal at Spurs' new ground in 4 PL attempts (admittedly against Mourinho and Conte sides; this Tottenham side will be set up completely differently). But there must surely be something in that for Guardiola and his players to overcome? On the other hand, they are a much better side than Tottenham, so they can probably only beat themselves. Still, the longer the game goes on without a City goal, the tenser they'll become.

From Tottenham's point of view, Villa's result on Monday means that they need two wins in order to have any chance of qualifying for the Champions League, so they have to try to win the game. Villa have a very tricky final game, and the gap is 5 points. The fans may hate the thought of it, though. Spurs beating, or even getting a draw, would probably hand the title to Arsenal. I honestly don't believe that this will have much effect on the players, and the supporters should, frankly, grow up and worry about their team's progress above and beyond anything else.

As for West Ham; if it comes down to Sunday we can forget it. They are as 'on the beach' as any PL club can be. Everton, our last day opponents, will be trickier opposition - they have 5 successive clean sheets behind them. But if Arsenal need to beat them to win the title, I'm sure they will. 

Meantime, let's hope for a miracle. So it's COYG, and (one time only) COYS!

We Got Him Half Price!

Not without some hint of jeopardy - something that the final 3-0 scoreline wouldn’t necessarily suggest - Arsenal took the required three points at home to Bournemouth on Saturday lunchtime. Thankfully, there weren’t quite the theatrics of Reiss Nelson’s 97th-minute winner the previous season, but there were plenty of moments of concern along the way - and not a small amount of ‘the rub of the green’ going Arsenal’s way. Still, as I’ve said before and I’m sure we’ll all agree, the three points is all that matters.

So, to nobody’s surprise, Arteta selected an unchanged starting XI (and bench) to the one he put out in the NLD. A week between matches certainly helps - I’m not sure that the current squad could have coped with a midweek CL semi final with Real Madrid sandwiched around this game, and I’m also sure that it would have helped Arsenal’s cause had Manchester City beaten them and found themselves embroiled in a two-legged semi-final instead. Both sides exiting at the same stage - well, I suppose that keeps it a level playing field (on the field, at least)…

Arsenal absolutely dominated the first half. 16 shots to one. Most saved; or blocked. But, as the half wore on, more and more nerves became evident in the crowd. It felt like only a matter of time before Arsenal took the lead, but the longer the deadlock continued, the more the feeling of jeopardy grew. Certainly in block 17, anyway.

The second most controversial moment of the first half took place as early as the 11th minute. Ryan Christie went in hard and high, studs up and with outstretched boot, on Bukayo Saka. See below for images. Result - barely looked at by the referee or VAR, and not even a yellow card. So if Bournemouth have any complaints about later decisions, perhaps they should consider that they ought to have played 80+ minutes with 10 men... a horrendous assault.

When Arsenal finally took the lead close to half time, there was more than a hint of controversy about that too. Havertz, bursting into the penalty area to meet Odegaard’s incisive (aren't they always?) through ball, appeared to be brought down by Travers in the Bournemouth goal. Penalty? Yes, but… and for those who read this blog regularly you’ll know how I feel about ‘initiating contact’. He'd unquestionably dragged his left leg in the keeper’s path in order to initiate contact with him. 

This is what I wrote subsequently on one of the WhatsApp groups I’m in (a group over-populated with Spurs fans, by the way):

“I’ve now watched it back and seen all the angles. Yes, he left his leg there purely to initiate contact. But the way the Law is written he’s allowed to do that. Kulu and Trossard last week was a different scenario - an accidental coming together. Contact was made; but by neither player’s design. 

The problem is the Law. The Law is an ass. That’s why I NEVER give penalties when I’m refereeing and a forward initiates contact - even though I probably should according to the letter of the Law. Because I HATE that Law! It ought to be changed. But as the Law is written it’s a penalty.”

So yes; it was a correctly awarded penalty. Because that’s what the Law says. But it’s not at all fair on the goalkeeper. And the Law needs to change; as much as the handball Law still needs to, by the way (remember the penalty conceded by Saliba at Stamford Bridge? Ludicrous).

Anyway, at this stage of the season, we were obviously going to take it. And, whilst it wasn’t his best penalty ever, Saka buried the kick; much to everyone’s relief.

Bournemouth came out with renewed intent in the second half, preventing Arsenal from exercising the control that the score line required . And whilst they hardly created a chance they certainly kept Arsenal on their toes, with the game resembling a basketball game at times. More jeopardy; and they’re a decent side in good form. 

It wasn’t until Arsenal’s second goal that the crowd could start to relax. Yet another opportunity expertly taken by Trossard; but really the product of the anticipation, strength, vision and athleticism of Declan Rice. The guy’s an absolute powerhouse - more of which later when I discuss the third Arsenal goal.

There was, of course, a further moment of controversy when Bournemouth had a goal chalked off. A bit of pinball in the Arsenal box, including one shot that rattled the crossbar, saw two concurrent fouls take place. One saw Saliba drag Billing down; at exactly the same time as Solanke eased Raya off the ball. What an American Football referee would describe as ‘offsetting fouls’, I guess. But in ‘soccer’ the goalkeeper is a protected species - a perceived foul on the keeper is more harshly judged than one on an outfield player. Rightly or wrongly, anyway… and so Coote blew his whistle, the goal was disallowed, and there was no way that the VAR was going to over-rule that. Another stroke of luck for The Arsenal, I should say, as there wasn't much in the challenge. Although he did prevent Raya from getting a punch on the ball, with his hand on his back (and perhaps even under his armpit); and that's why it's a foul.

From then on the match was as good as over with (although I did get into trouble from some around me when I proclaimed that it was 'done and dusted' in the 81st minute). We nonetheless still had time for a couple of treats. Firstly, Gabriel's sweetly hit cross-shot volley found the back of the net, only for it to be ruled out for a marginal offside on Kai Havertz. A great pity, as it was a thing of beauty. 

And very late into stoppage time came the final full stop on the game as Rice made it three. But that doesn't tell the story, by any means. Arsenal retrieved a loose ball deep in their own half; and at that point Rice was around 25 yards from his own goal. As the play progressed down the right - the ball making its way up to Jesus in the right 8 position - Rice speeded up from a gentle trot to a sprint, flashed into the penalty area, signalled to Jesus where he wanted the ball played, rounded his defender, and then hammered a cross shot underneath the goalkeeper. In the 97th minute, and with the result already long settled! Remarkable.

Which sums the man up. He's on the go from start to finish, playing with the same intensity from minute 1 to minute 100. He reads the play, tackling and intercepting. He carries the ball forward in 10 to 20 yard bursts. He has a vast array of passing skills. He is one of the rocks upon which this incredible Arsenal team is built. If anything can be called a bargain at £105million, it's him. As the crowd sang lustily: 'Declan Rice - we got him half price!'

Of course, Rice can only have the freedom to be as attacking a midfielder as he can be in this role depending on what's behind him - even though I'd probably say that the number 6 role is his best position, and he's still learning how to play as an 8. He gets the cover he needs from Jorginho, but he gets it in Spades from Partey (who I discussed in my last piece).

And at this point it's perhaps worth diving into the decisions that are going to have to be made regarding Arsenal's midfield next season. Because for all that Partey adds something Jorginho does not have - that willingness and ability to drop a shoulder, turn out of trouble and beat the press, and then find Havertz or Odegaard - there is a similar element of 'risk and reward' as there is when Zinchenko plays. With Partey, we saw that very early on in the NLD, when he was robbed from behind after just a few minutes, but  that time Arsenal escaped with no damage done. 

Does Arteta want to go down the 'control' route, or go for something more daring; more maverick? Plus, of course, the big question is whether he can rely on Partey's fitness - on all known evidence, he cannot. Big decisions there. But, back to Rice; he can be as good a player as Patrick Vieira or Steven Gerrard going forward, and we should be delighted that Arsenal pushed the boat out to £105million. One only has to reflect on David Moyes' words about the reason why West Ham have taken a few hammerings (unintended pun) this season. No Declan Rice leaves a big, big hole.  Rice can be a focal point of this young side for many years to come.

And so, with City also winning - against a Wolves side who looked like they were already on holiday - the percentages are less and less in Arsenal's favour. They've got Fulham away, Spurs away, and finally West Ham at home. The latter two sides lost 4-2 and 5-0 at the weekend. They're also the only two teams that Fulham have beaten in the past two months. We're counting on a miracle now, to be realistic. Nonetheless, if Arsenal manage 49 points out of 54 in 2024 and still fall short, you just have to hold up your hands. I said two months ago that there was no margin for error; and I've unfortunately been proved right. So far... and goal difference is highly unlikely to go against Arsenal at this stage.

I'd expect Arsenal to do the business themselves in their final two games. For all that Spurs have some sort of 'Indian sign' over City - no goals scored by the latter at The New Toilet Bowl in 4 PL visits - form tells us something else. Spurs have now lost 4 successive matches, and seem powerless to stop the rot. Arsenal, on the other hand, might under normal circumstances treat an impending visit to OT with trepidation. But United are in complete disarray. They've got a load of injuries, and a single half-fit centre-half available (Casemiro is a disaster in that role). They look badly coached, and bereft of any structure or confidence. Without the injured Bruno Fernandes, they have literally nothing to offer going forward; as well as being unable to defend. They're an abolute Sh*tsho*w..Arsenal are assuredly going to tear them apart, and put another nail in the Ten Haag coffin, on Sunday afternoon.

But we'll stick to the 'one step at a time' scenario. Come On You Gunners, and Come on Fulham; you owe us a favour. Where there's life, there's hope...