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...