Here's an idea: Wenger tells the team to start playing at the opening whistle. I don't know why the Gunners seem to be at 3/4 speed early in games. The game was lost in the first quarter hour to a bunch of guys who simply worked harder and paid attention for 90 minutes, not 45. This game shows why Arsenal is a long shot to win anything every year.
It's also why Alexis is not keen on staying at Arsenal. It burns him to see teammates coasting when there is a game to be won and goals to be scored. No one was backing Watford to get anything out of this game except for Watford. They lost to Millwall over the weekend because Millwall came to play. They won today because half of our team figured showing up was enough.
...and that's enough about this mess. Thanks to draws in LIV-CHE and SUN-TOT, we lost a point against the leaders and the teams closest to us. But we should have gained two, because damn it, the men on the field in red and white had more talent than the men in yellow. But some thought and effort was required too, and apparently that was too much to ask.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Southampton 0 - 5 Arsenal (FA Cup)
You never know what you're going to get in these cup games. (Liverpool definitely doesn't.) On the one hand, Southampton hasn't been great this season and is coming off a hard fought midweek EFL win at Anfield. On the other, this team eliminated us from the League Cup without much trouble in the Fall. And complicating the picture is the fact that managers will rest some of their stars and give youngsters a run out. So I was hopeful, but not brimming with confidence.
The lineup was exciting: Welbeck up top, with Perez and Walcott on the wings; Ospina had Gibbs (that's Captain Gibbs to you!), Holding, Mustafi, and Bellerin in front of him; and the major gamble, as I saw it, was the overhyphenated midfield triumvirate of Maitland-Niles, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Reine-Adelaide. I know he's played there before in the youth setup, but I don't think of the Ox as a holding midfielder; and I had my doubts about The Jeff in Ozil's spot. But (spoiler alert) they did great. I was very impressed with all three of our mids. They got back when they had to (Ainsley mostly stayed back) and played about as well together as you could possibly have hoped from guys who don't normally play in those positions at all, not to mention together.
I don't have any criticisms of any of our players, actually. They were switched on all game, even when way ahead, and looked to go forward. The passing was pretty good. Obviously, there will be giveaways when these makeshift lineups play, but it was the Saints who were coughing up the ball with regularity. Ox, in addition to controlling things in the center of the pitch, made at least three fantastic passes to release our front three. He's always had that in his locker, so on days like today when his shot was not there he can still do a lot of damage to the opponents. Lucas Perez didn't have a goal (he should have had one), but I thought he was excellent all game. He and Ox made a good case for more playing time.
It was the goalscorers who will grab the headlines, though. Every goal was really well taken. Maybe their GK could have done better on one or two of them, but there was some excellent finishing on display today. Welbeck looked as good as I've ever seen him, and Theo was up for it every minute (as you might expect at his youth club). When Alexis came in for Danny, he was fantastic, and got the assists on Theo's second and third goals. Iwobi had some quality minutes too.
Hector is getting back to 100%. He needs to work on his crosses. Gibbs was solid. Holding was plenty good enough--I really like him. He may push ahead of Chambers and Gabriel next season if he improves as with top flight experience. Mustafi was the rock, though. He took command back there in Koscielny's absence and was imperious. Ospina keeps having shaky moments, but today none of them hurt him. He made some smart stops and was in charge of his area more than usual, grabbing corners and crosses instead of punching them or flapping at them.
Yes, the Saints looked quite poor at times, but they went after us all game and I think our guys made it look easier than it was by some sharp play and clinical finishing. The fifth round draw is Monday, I believe. I was hoping for Tottenham to go out or at least get a replay, but an own goal at the death bailed them out at home against League 2 Wycombe, 4-3. Wolves knocked out 'pool, but there are plenty of heavyweights left in the draw.
The lineup was exciting: Welbeck up top, with Perez and Walcott on the wings; Ospina had Gibbs (that's Captain Gibbs to you!), Holding, Mustafi, and Bellerin in front of him; and the major gamble, as I saw it, was the overhyphenated midfield triumvirate of Maitland-Niles, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Reine-Adelaide. I know he's played there before in the youth setup, but I don't think of the Ox as a holding midfielder; and I had my doubts about The Jeff in Ozil's spot. But (spoiler alert) they did great. I was very impressed with all three of our mids. They got back when they had to (Ainsley mostly stayed back) and played about as well together as you could possibly have hoped from guys who don't normally play in those positions at all, not to mention together.
I don't have any criticisms of any of our players, actually. They were switched on all game, even when way ahead, and looked to go forward. The passing was pretty good. Obviously, there will be giveaways when these makeshift lineups play, but it was the Saints who were coughing up the ball with regularity. Ox, in addition to controlling things in the center of the pitch, made at least three fantastic passes to release our front three. He's always had that in his locker, so on days like today when his shot was not there he can still do a lot of damage to the opponents. Lucas Perez didn't have a goal (he should have had one), but I thought he was excellent all game. He and Ox made a good case for more playing time.
It was the goalscorers who will grab the headlines, though. Every goal was really well taken. Maybe their GK could have done better on one or two of them, but there was some excellent finishing on display today. Welbeck looked as good as I've ever seen him, and Theo was up for it every minute (as you might expect at his youth club). When Alexis came in for Danny, he was fantastic, and got the assists on Theo's second and third goals. Iwobi had some quality minutes too.
Hector is getting back to 100%. He needs to work on his crosses. Gibbs was solid. Holding was plenty good enough--I really like him. He may push ahead of Chambers and Gabriel next season if he improves as with top flight experience. Mustafi was the rock, though. He took command back there in Koscielny's absence and was imperious. Ospina keeps having shaky moments, but today none of them hurt him. He made some smart stops and was in charge of his area more than usual, grabbing corners and crosses instead of punching them or flapping at them.
Yes, the Saints looked quite poor at times, but they went after us all game and I think our guys made it look easier than it was by some sharp play and clinical finishing. The fifth round draw is Monday, I believe. I was hoping for Tottenham to go out or at least get a replay, but an own goal at the death bailed them out at home against League 2 Wycombe, 4-3. Wolves knocked out 'pool, but there are plenty of heavyweights left in the draw.
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Arsenal 2 - 1 Burnley
After all four top six teams who played yesterday dropped points, I should have expected that Burnley might be a banana peel for the Gunners, but no--I figured this was going to be an easy three points. It should have been, too. But it took a long time for us to go into the lead (off Mustafi's excellent header on a corner), and then potential disaster struck when Xhaka switched off and gave the ball away, then tried to get it back in the most stupid way imaginable. The tackle might not have drawn a red from some refs, but he didn't try to pull out of it and I can see why it was given. It was a very dumb move, and as smart as Xhaka probably is, he seems to do a lot of moronic stuff. Fortunately, Coquelin is healthy again. But Xhaka was playing really well today, I thought. How is Wenger going to lecture him on self-control after getting sent off himself? But someone has to. This is getting ridiculous.
The referee (Moss) had a bad game, didn't he? He missed the penalty earlier when Mustafi was tripped from behind, then his linesman missed Koscielny being marginally offside on the play leading to the final pen. You might say the errors cancelled out, but a two goal lead would have been a whole different proposition, and I don't think the sending off happens.
My comments of the players:
Cech was solid.
Gabriel did fine. Mustafi and Kos were excellent. And I loved how Monreal played today.
Like I said, I though Xhaka was really good until he made that idiotic double error and was ejected. But how can Wenger trust him? He gets sent off or concedes a penalty every fourth or fifth game. Ramsey did well but he seldom can finish. His shots are far off target or straight into another player. He hit Giroud today on a great chance. Ozil seems to be improving every game since he recovered from illness.
Iwobi keeps getting better too, but he's not the finished article yet. It was not Giroud's best game. Alexis was frequently dangerous-looking but his shots from decent areas were poor. Nice penalty though.
It was great to see Coq and Hector back on the field. We'll need them. I'd like to see Welbeck score sometime; we can use some production from him.
Chelsea's easy win over hapless Hull meant this was not a perfect weekend. We're still eight points behind them and they don't look as though they're going to be caught. But we're in second place now. Maybe Hazard will go off-form and Costa will pick up some red cards.
Juve, Roma, and Fiorentina also won today, so it was a good day.
The referee (Moss) had a bad game, didn't he? He missed the penalty earlier when Mustafi was tripped from behind, then his linesman missed Koscielny being marginally offside on the play leading to the final pen. You might say the errors cancelled out, but a two goal lead would have been a whole different proposition, and I don't think the sending off happens.
My comments of the players:
Cech was solid.
Gabriel did fine. Mustafi and Kos were excellent. And I loved how Monreal played today.
Like I said, I though Xhaka was really good until he made that idiotic double error and was ejected. But how can Wenger trust him? He gets sent off or concedes a penalty every fourth or fifth game. Ramsey did well but he seldom can finish. His shots are far off target or straight into another player. He hit Giroud today on a great chance. Ozil seems to be improving every game since he recovered from illness.
Iwobi keeps getting better too, but he's not the finished article yet. It was not Giroud's best game. Alexis was frequently dangerous-looking but his shots from decent areas were poor. Nice penalty though.
It was great to see Coq and Hector back on the field. We'll need them. I'd like to see Welbeck score sometime; we can use some production from him.
Chelsea's easy win over hapless Hull meant this was not a perfect weekend. We're still eight points behind them and they don't look as though they're going to be caught. But we're in second place now. Maybe Hazard will go off-form and Costa will pick up some red cards.
Juve, Roma, and Fiorentina also won today, so it was a good day.
Monday, January 16, 2017
Not a Bad Weekend
I did not expect the Citizens to lose by 4 at Goodison, but that was delightful. Everton scored on all four shots on goal. Then our other two top six rivals each dropped points against each other. It was a great game to watch too. So we're in fourth place, in the pack chasing Chelsea. It's more comfortable when only one team ahead of us has to drop a lot of points. That can certainly happen. We still need to step it up, though. Maybe Welbeck can add something.
Green Bay won a really good game over Dallas a few hours later too. That's entertainment!
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Swansea 0 - 4 Arsenal
Poor Swansea. They looked woeful today. After a lively display for the first few minutes, they settled into a pattern of high pressing, which did discombobulate us, but when they won the ball they generally lost it again promptly. Giroud managed to get hurt (ankle?) in the buildup to the first goal. In the second half, there were two wicked deflections from an Iwobi shot and an Iwobi cross for our next two goals, and Alexis potted the fourth after more relentless pressure--nice finish. Ox got some quality time when he came in for Giroud; Perez and Welbeck got some garbage time late on after the scoring was done.
I was not impressed with the defensive effort and organization. I saw Ramsey, Ozil, and Alexis all trotting back on several occasions, leaving us at a disadvantage. Once Ozil gestured to the rest of the team to join him in what he seemed to think was a press, but looked more like a leisurely jog. No one was interested. Gabriel sent a pass straight across the field in the last minute of the first half--the score was 1-0--and it was intercepted. Dumb. Particularly after we went up a few goals, the defense was slack. I don't blame our backs. Nacho was inspirational. Kos was his usual magnificent self. Mustafi didn't play as well, I thought. Gabriel did a decent job again for Bellerin, who'd gotten hurt in training.
I liked Xhaka's commitment to defense. Clearly, Ramsey was the DM with the license to roam. His license may be revoked when Coquelin's hamstring heals; I may have gotten the wrong impression, but I thought he misplaced a lot of passes. His one good chance was foiled when he put his shot too close to Fabianski. Iwobi generated energy and looked dangerous. Alexis was a little less involved than usual. Ozil seems to be getting into the flow. Giroud did a lot of work up top as an outlet for long kicks from Cech; I thought he had a good spell until he had to leave.
We didn't learn much today, but the three points were crucial, and the +4 goal differential was nice too.
Spurs looked great in the early game, with England's new action hero Harry Kane potting a hat trick. Chelsea is cruising against Leicester without the petulant Diego Costa (I turned the game off at 2-0). We need to improve.
I was not impressed with the defensive effort and organization. I saw Ramsey, Ozil, and Alexis all trotting back on several occasions, leaving us at a disadvantage. Once Ozil gestured to the rest of the team to join him in what he seemed to think was a press, but looked more like a leisurely jog. No one was interested. Gabriel sent a pass straight across the field in the last minute of the first half--the score was 1-0--and it was intercepted. Dumb. Particularly after we went up a few goals, the defense was slack. I don't blame our backs. Nacho was inspirational. Kos was his usual magnificent self. Mustafi didn't play as well, I thought. Gabriel did a decent job again for Bellerin, who'd gotten hurt in training.
I liked Xhaka's commitment to defense. Clearly, Ramsey was the DM with the license to roam. His license may be revoked when Coquelin's hamstring heals; I may have gotten the wrong impression, but I thought he misplaced a lot of passes. His one good chance was foiled when he put his shot too close to Fabianski. Iwobi generated energy and looked dangerous. Alexis was a little less involved than usual. Ozil seems to be getting into the flow. Giroud did a lot of work up top as an outlet for long kicks from Cech; I thought he had a good spell until he had to leave.
We didn't learn much today, but the three points were crucial, and the +4 goal differential was nice too.
Spurs looked great in the early game, with England's new action hero Harry Kane potting a hat trick. Chelsea is cruising against Leicester without the petulant Diego Costa (I turned the game off at 2-0). We need to improve.
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Preston North End 1 - 2 Arsenal
28 minutes in, the mid-table Championship side is completely outplaying and outhustling the Gunners in every area of the pitch. It's 1-0 and should be worse. We're getting sliced open repeatedly. The chances finally come for us after the half hour mark, but the finish is lacking. It's a wide open game now, with plenty of penalty area action, but neither side cashes in. We really look bad. PNE has it in the net, but only because Ospina was taken out by an attacker. As the half winds down, I'm actually hoping to get to halftime down just one. For us, it's been a cavalcade of awful passing, poor decisions, and failed offside traps. Gabriel is smashed with an elbow, and bleeding. A foul is given, but no more. Three additional minutes, with Arsenal down to ten men so Gabriel can get stitched up.
All the other big teams handled their lower division opponents easily. They were playing at home, though, as I recall. We've got a strong team out there, but it's as though there is no game plan. If Giroud is in, then put some crosses in to him! He got his head on one in the half. I'm not sure who I'm most disappointed in, but I'll pick on Ramsey for some wastefulness in possession, though he had a lot of company there.
Well, 48 seconds into the second half, Ramsey totally redeems himself with a fantastic shot that rockets just inside the right post. The commentators said the goalkeeper was unsighted, but I don't think it would have mattered had he seen it. As dominant as Preston was in the first half, Arsenal was more dominant in the second. Why Wenger can't send them out to start the games with that much urgency is a mystery. The Lily Whites defended stoutly, but there was a sense that it was only a matter of time until Arsenal got the next goal, and it would be the winner. It took another 42 minutes of relentless pressure, but finally it came via a Perez backheel to an onrushing Giroud, who was matched step for step by his marker but still stretched to hit a shot that took a deflection that fooled the keeper at his near post. Welbeck got ten minutes (on for AOC) and Holding and The Jeff got a few in injury time.
We miss Ozil. His defensive commitment is poor and he's stopped scoring, but he does not give the ball away and keeps attacks going. This was not one of Xhaka's better games, so we didn't get a lot of good attacking passes. Ox may have been our brightest player, with several dangerous runs and a couple good-looking shots that got blocked; but he holds on to the ball too long. Lucas Perez is starting to integrate with the offense, and he helps out on D, which was vital in front of Maitland-Niles, who was quite poor when it came to preventing crosses. Iwobi still looks confused a lot of the time, and did not fill his Ozil role well. Mustafi and Gabriel were good enough, and Monreal played pretty well too. Ospina did fine. But I love Giroud. Another late game-winner, after scrambling up (to pressure deep) and back (to harry their attacking mids) all game. He held the ball up well too when it mattered. I could swear I saw him wearing the captain's armband, too.
The Cup dream lives on, for another round anyway. I saw nothing today that convinces me that Arsenal will win anything this year, but they turned this one around while resting their three most valuable players (Ozil, Sanchez, Koscielny). If Welbeck is really back, he'll add a goal-scoring threat. I don't expect any additions to the squad this month, and we may in fact lose a couple. But this group can play better.
All the other big teams handled their lower division opponents easily. They were playing at home, though, as I recall. We've got a strong team out there, but it's as though there is no game plan. If Giroud is in, then put some crosses in to him! He got his head on one in the half. I'm not sure who I'm most disappointed in, but I'll pick on Ramsey for some wastefulness in possession, though he had a lot of company there.
Well, 48 seconds into the second half, Ramsey totally redeems himself with a fantastic shot that rockets just inside the right post. The commentators said the goalkeeper was unsighted, but I don't think it would have mattered had he seen it. As dominant as Preston was in the first half, Arsenal was more dominant in the second. Why Wenger can't send them out to start the games with that much urgency is a mystery. The Lily Whites defended stoutly, but there was a sense that it was only a matter of time until Arsenal got the next goal, and it would be the winner. It took another 42 minutes of relentless pressure, but finally it came via a Perez backheel to an onrushing Giroud, who was matched step for step by his marker but still stretched to hit a shot that took a deflection that fooled the keeper at his near post. Welbeck got ten minutes (on for AOC) and Holding and The Jeff got a few in injury time.
We miss Ozil. His defensive commitment is poor and he's stopped scoring, but he does not give the ball away and keeps attacks going. This was not one of Xhaka's better games, so we didn't get a lot of good attacking passes. Ox may have been our brightest player, with several dangerous runs and a couple good-looking shots that got blocked; but he holds on to the ball too long. Lucas Perez is starting to integrate with the offense, and he helps out on D, which was vital in front of Maitland-Niles, who was quite poor when it came to preventing crosses. Iwobi still looks confused a lot of the time, and did not fill his Ozil role well. Mustafi and Gabriel were good enough, and Monreal played pretty well too. Ospina did fine. But I love Giroud. Another late game-winner, after scrambling up (to pressure deep) and back (to harry their attacking mids) all game. He held the ball up well too when it mattered. I could swear I saw him wearing the captain's armband, too.
The Cup dream lives on, for another round anyway. I saw nothing today that convinces me that Arsenal will win anything this year, but they turned this one around while resting their three most valuable players (Ozil, Sanchez, Koscielny). If Welbeck is really back, he'll add a goal-scoring threat. I don't expect any additions to the squad this month, and we may in fact lose a couple. But this group can play better.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Resign or Resign: Wenger In or Out? ...And What It Means for Ozil and Alexis
Arseblog has a story today that's evergreen. Ozil and Alexis have told Wenger they want to stay. But as he says, "It always starts with money, it ends with money and inbetween the players want to stay." Okay, it's better when the player wants to stay than when he says he wants to move on, but he has a family, an agent, and an ego to feed, so money and silverware are always a consideration. All things being equal, the best players would like to live in a world class city (like London Paris) and work for a classy manager who treats them with respect (like Wenger), and also win a lot of titles (like Barca or Bayern) and make obscene amounts of money (look what Wayne Rooney is pulling down for his indifferent work). Careers are short in athletics, and every great player wants to be remembered as a winner for club and country. Sadly, Arsenal is not the likeliest club to add luster to a player's legacy by capturing a series of major trophies; and it is a club run as a business rather than a hobby, so there is a salary structure which is resistant to change. And complicating everything is the fact that this is Wenger's final year on his current contract. Stan and the board love him, of course, but he's in his late 60s and the last decade or so has seen just two trophies (not counting the Charity Shield exhibitions), neither of which were for winning the League or the ECL.
Would Ozil and/or Sanchez be more likely to sign if Wenger stays, or less likely? I don't know. On the one hand, I have to believe they like and respect him. On the other, he may be seen by them as an obstacle to Arsenal's winning a major trophy, and a roadblock in the way of a bigger payday (he is reputed to resist having any player paid more than he is). But worst, I think, would be their uncertainty as to whether he will stay. So, if Arsenal are serious about retaining the services of our Dynamic Duo, they ought to reach a decision on whether the boss comes back next year. They don't have to announce it publicly, but it ought to be something that the players in question can have confidence in so they can make an informed decision. [On Jan 8, Ozil said he wants "clarity" on Wenger's future, stressing that he came to Arsenal because of Wenger.]
Should Wenger stay? I've always resisted the calls for him to go, but my opinion at this time is that this should be his last year at Arsenal. My preference would be for him to have announced that earlier, but now is better than next month. Would it unsettle the team? Sure, but in a good way. Too many have become a trifle complacent. I know they all work hard in training and on the pitch, but I believe that some guys have come to believe they're part of the furniture at the club, and see no good reason to doubt that they'll be back next year whatever they do on the field. Theo Walcott may be Exhibit A in this regard, but there are a lot of others who seem to be relying on sentiment rather performance to keep them on the roster. That goes out the window the minute Wenger announces his retirement. I predict a renewal of urgency and enhanced focus from quite a few players this season. They'll want to make a case for staying, or at least for a high salary at a big club if they're sold.
Will Wenger stay? There are good reasons to think Arsenal have contacted top prospects, so he may be on the way out. Unless something unusual happens this year, he's likely to finish trophyless once more. If Arsenal finish in fifth place (where they are today), it would be a massive blow to the club, financially and in prestige. It's not how he'd choose to go, but it wouldn't be his choice then. My uneducated guess is that he'll announce his summer retirement soon. But I don't have a lot of confidence in that hunch.
If I were Alexis or Ozil, I'd want assurances that the team would be strengthened next season as well as their own (admittedly huge) salary demands be met. With or without Wenger, that may not happen. Kroenke wants to make money; he is not one of those owners whose sense of self-worth is dependent on the number of trophies his properties win. He's probably pretty happy with his investment so far. But it could all go sour rather quickly if he doesn't keep investing. It's a balancing act. It would not surprise me at all if both our stars were sold for huge paydays this summer, and the profits invested in an array of players identified as targets by the new manager. What that means for longtime squad members like Ramsey and Ox is a subject we can discuss if this comes to pass.
Would Ozil and/or Sanchez be more likely to sign if Wenger stays, or less likely? I don't know. On the one hand, I have to believe they like and respect him. On the other, he may be seen by them as an obstacle to Arsenal's winning a major trophy, and a roadblock in the way of a bigger payday (he is reputed to resist having any player paid more than he is). But worst, I think, would be their uncertainty as to whether he will stay. So, if Arsenal are serious about retaining the services of our Dynamic Duo, they ought to reach a decision on whether the boss comes back next year. They don't have to announce it publicly, but it ought to be something that the players in question can have confidence in so they can make an informed decision. [On Jan 8, Ozil said he wants "clarity" on Wenger's future, stressing that he came to Arsenal because of Wenger.]
Should Wenger stay? I've always resisted the calls for him to go, but my opinion at this time is that this should be his last year at Arsenal. My preference would be for him to have announced that earlier, but now is better than next month. Would it unsettle the team? Sure, but in a good way. Too many have become a trifle complacent. I know they all work hard in training and on the pitch, but I believe that some guys have come to believe they're part of the furniture at the club, and see no good reason to doubt that they'll be back next year whatever they do on the field. Theo Walcott may be Exhibit A in this regard, but there are a lot of others who seem to be relying on sentiment rather performance to keep them on the roster. That goes out the window the minute Wenger announces his retirement. I predict a renewal of urgency and enhanced focus from quite a few players this season. They'll want to make a case for staying, or at least for a high salary at a big club if they're sold.
Will Wenger stay? There are good reasons to think Arsenal have contacted top prospects, so he may be on the way out. Unless something unusual happens this year, he's likely to finish trophyless once more. If Arsenal finish in fifth place (where they are today), it would be a massive blow to the club, financially and in prestige. It's not how he'd choose to go, but it wouldn't be his choice then. My uneducated guess is that he'll announce his summer retirement soon. But I don't have a lot of confidence in that hunch.
If I were Alexis or Ozil, I'd want assurances that the team would be strengthened next season as well as their own (admittedly huge) salary demands be met. With or without Wenger, that may not happen. Kroenke wants to make money; he is not one of those owners whose sense of self-worth is dependent on the number of trophies his properties win. He's probably pretty happy with his investment so far. But it could all go sour rather quickly if he doesn't keep investing. It's a balancing act. It would not surprise me at all if both our stars were sold for huge paydays this summer, and the profits invested in an array of players identified as targets by the new manager. What that means for longtime squad members like Ramsey and Ox is a subject we can discuss if this comes to pass.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Bournemouth 3 - 3 Arsenal
I'm starting this in the first half with the Gunners two goals down, and deservedly so. After 15 minutes, Iwobi failed to track back on left back Charlie Davis, who was all alone in a lot of space. Bellerin had followed hid winger way inside and couldn't get over effectively, and Davis did really well to finish expertly and beat Cech. Four minutes later, it was Xhaka's turn to be stupid, pushing/tripping a Bournemouth player barely inside the box who was going nowhere. PK, and Callum Wilson's scuffed roller beat Cech straight down the middle when the goalie dove to his left. While Arsenal had plenty of possession, they didn't have a shot on goal in the first half. Bournemouth really was a lot better. The sorry display contained a few desperate yellow cards too.
Ozil is still sick, but Mustafi started; Coquelin went down with what looked like a hamstring injury after the goals were scored. We just plain stank. Yes, the Cherries played well, but at their best they shouldn't be bossing Arsenal all over the pitch the way they did. This game is Exhibit A for why Arsenal is once again going to be scrambling to win a Champions' League place and nowhere near the championship conversation. Time after time, we drop points because some players switch off and don't do their jobs. Iwobi seems very coachable, but someone isn't coaching him properly. Whenever I've seen him, he doesn't pay enough attention to his defensive duties. Today, it cost us the opening goal.
Bournemouth continued to press and play aggressively as the second half began. The Gunners should have eaten this up, but instead they looked very shaky. Giroud had his ankle stepped on and looked hobbled for a while. Bournemouth had it in the net again, but only because Wilson handballed it in; then they went 3-0 up after Ryan Fraser shoved Bellerin to the ground from behind--foul not called!--and then took the ball and stuck it between Cech's legs. Ugh. More Bournemouth dominance as they got a few corners. Our guys were all over the place. Kos taken off for Gabriel; no obvious injury. In the 70th minute, Alexis heads it in at close range with our first shot on goal. Lucas Perez volleyed magnificently to make it 3-2 five minutes later, as Bournemouth looked to bunker in. Now it's the Cherries' turn to look shaky. Credit to them though; they continue to play, and move it effectively. They should have scored with ten minutes left but Gosling bottled the shot. Francis was given a straight red for a silly lunge on Ramsey and he takes two minutes to leave the field. Boruc yellow for time wasting. Mustafi trying to play offense, incompetently. Arsenal does pose a threat now, but not enough of one. Last Cherry substitution is to take off their only striker. The equalizer came from a Giroud header off a Xhaka assist. Ten man Bournemouth on the offensive! Cech makes a smart save. The whistle was blown precisely at the end of the sixth minute of extra time, with Arsenal on offense; why wasn't there more time?
I suppose I should feel good about rescuing a point, but aside from taking heart at the willingness of our guys to fight to the last minute, I feel this was a game we should have won easily, and two points dropped. Mental errors put us in a deep hole, and lack of urgency from some of our guys kept us there too long. And we needed a sending-off to get the draw, and still allowed ten men to nearly win in extra time.
How can a man like Xhaka, with such a brilliant array of shots and passes at his command, be so terrible at corner kicks? This is the second game in a row I've seen him screw up every single attempt. This was not one of his better games. Coquelin was fine before his injury.
Ox definitely helped himself with an energetic performance, and he got back on defense too. Perez was also very good as a sub for Iwobi, who should have done better with the few chances he got and didn't seem to know his position. Gabriel was fine.
Cech could have done better on that third goal for sure, but he was the busier of the keepers and made some fine saves.
Koscielny looked fine; I hope he isn't seriously hurt. Mustafi did well, and made one fantastic recovery tackle that may have saved a goal. Monreal looked a little off today but he wasn't the guy who got torched. That would be Bellerin, who still isn't getting his crosses in and who was beaten badly on the first and third goals. Yeah, he was fouled on the third, but he was first to the ball and should have dealt with it before getting barged into.
Ramsey had plenty of energy, but made a lot of bad decisions and had better improve if he's going to continue playing. Alexis looked the brightest but as usual held on to the ball too long several times. Giroud's holdup play was not up to his usual standards, but he had a goal and two assists. He has to start!
Very, very annoying.
Ozil is still sick, but Mustafi started; Coquelin went down with what looked like a hamstring injury after the goals were scored. We just plain stank. Yes, the Cherries played well, but at their best they shouldn't be bossing Arsenal all over the pitch the way they did. This game is Exhibit A for why Arsenal is once again going to be scrambling to win a Champions' League place and nowhere near the championship conversation. Time after time, we drop points because some players switch off and don't do their jobs. Iwobi seems very coachable, but someone isn't coaching him properly. Whenever I've seen him, he doesn't pay enough attention to his defensive duties. Today, it cost us the opening goal.
Bournemouth continued to press and play aggressively as the second half began. The Gunners should have eaten this up, but instead they looked very shaky. Giroud had his ankle stepped on and looked hobbled for a while. Bournemouth had it in the net again, but only because Wilson handballed it in; then they went 3-0 up after Ryan Fraser shoved Bellerin to the ground from behind--foul not called!--and then took the ball and stuck it between Cech's legs. Ugh. More Bournemouth dominance as they got a few corners. Our guys were all over the place. Kos taken off for Gabriel; no obvious injury. In the 70th minute, Alexis heads it in at close range with our first shot on goal. Lucas Perez volleyed magnificently to make it 3-2 five minutes later, as Bournemouth looked to bunker in. Now it's the Cherries' turn to look shaky. Credit to them though; they continue to play, and move it effectively. They should have scored with ten minutes left but Gosling bottled the shot. Francis was given a straight red for a silly lunge on Ramsey and he takes two minutes to leave the field. Boruc yellow for time wasting. Mustafi trying to play offense, incompetently. Arsenal does pose a threat now, but not enough of one. Last Cherry substitution is to take off their only striker. The equalizer came from a Giroud header off a Xhaka assist. Ten man Bournemouth on the offensive! Cech makes a smart save. The whistle was blown precisely at the end of the sixth minute of extra time, with Arsenal on offense; why wasn't there more time?
I suppose I should feel good about rescuing a point, but aside from taking heart at the willingness of our guys to fight to the last minute, I feel this was a game we should have won easily, and two points dropped. Mental errors put us in a deep hole, and lack of urgency from some of our guys kept us there too long. And we needed a sending-off to get the draw, and still allowed ten men to nearly win in extra time.
How can a man like Xhaka, with such a brilliant array of shots and passes at his command, be so terrible at corner kicks? This is the second game in a row I've seen him screw up every single attempt. This was not one of his better games. Coquelin was fine before his injury.
Ox definitely helped himself with an energetic performance, and he got back on defense too. Perez was also very good as a sub for Iwobi, who should have done better with the few chances he got and didn't seem to know his position. Gabriel was fine.
Cech could have done better on that third goal for sure, but he was the busier of the keepers and made some fine saves.
Koscielny looked fine; I hope he isn't seriously hurt. Mustafi did well, and made one fantastic recovery tackle that may have saved a goal. Monreal looked a little off today but he wasn't the guy who got torched. That would be Bellerin, who still isn't getting his crosses in and who was beaten badly on the first and third goals. Yeah, he was fouled on the third, but he was first to the ball and should have dealt with it before getting barged into.
Ramsey had plenty of energy, but made a lot of bad decisions and had better improve if he's going to continue playing. Alexis looked the brightest but as usual held on to the ball too long several times. Giroud's holdup play was not up to his usual standards, but he had a goal and two assists. He has to start!
Very, very annoying.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Arsenal 2 - 0 Crystal Palace
Fat Sam hasn't had enough time to transform Palace into one of his typical stubborn Arsenal-frustrating pits full of quicksand that are desperately trying to avoid relegation. So we had some space and time, and that led to one moment that transcended time and space. Giroud has his detractors, but I was never one of them. He has the right attitude, he's made of iron, he plays 90 minutes of every game, and he scores goals. I don't know what else you could want. (I do have one complaint: he picks up the occasional cheap card for dissent.) Theo's speed is nice, but he doesn't produce enough on offense or defense to justify his playing ahead of Giroud. And Alexis is a better winger than he is a forward, as great as he is there. If we had two of him, I'd say leaving Giroud out was right; but we don't. The handsome Frenchman is our best forward.
You can find better recaps of the game elsewhere. Suffice it to say that Arsenal dominated just as you'd expect them to at home against a struggling team. Palace wasn't as suicidal as Watford was earlier against Spurs, or it would have been 4-0 or 5-0. The Gunners still spurned several respectable chances, which is worrying, and of course Palace had a few opportunities. On balance, though, it was almost all one way traffic. Some player-specific comments:
I am incredibly impressed with Monreal's desire. He kept a few moves going with his intelligent pressing and deft passing. He knows his limitations, and usually makes the man he's marking do something extraordinary to beat him. He never switches off.
Bellerin loves games like this where he has so much freedom to go forward. Unfortunately, his final ball is usually poor. I have to believe this is something he'll improve on.
Gabriel was strong behind Bellerin, and Benteke seemed to want to face up against him. The Brazilian handled it well.
Kos is always great, isn't he?
Cech had a few harmless lapses, but earned the clean sheet by knowing when to be active and when to stay on his line.
Xhakelneny worked well today. They tracked back when it was required. High marks.
Iwobi took full advantage of the opponents and made a statement today in Ozil's position. He was pretty good, and his header for the second goal was very well taken. Yes, it should have been cleared, but it beat the goalie and was a fine header. He did himself some good today.
I thought Lucas Perez had a good game. I'd like to see him start on the right wing for a run of games. He gets back on defense, too.
Alexis is an incredible player. His finishing is off recently, but he's not the sort of player you'd ever sit down. Fabulous effort, really good game. He deserved better luck.
Giroud was self-effacing in the post-game interview, putting his goal down mostly to "luck." It was anything but. The whole game, he got back to clog things up for Palace in the midfield, and participate in the defense on set pieces (he's valuable there). He wins a lot of headers when we're forced to launch the odd long ball; he just keeps competing for everything.
Subs: Ox tried very hard to make an impression and could have had a goal and an assist. He made a case for playing more often. Ramsey looked at home out there; he'll get his first goal soon. Coquelin was excellent.
The referee (Marriner?) had an easy time of it, only reaching for his cards twice (once each way), late. He blew a couple calls, letting quite a few fouls go and getting the occasional inbounds ruling the wrong way. But this was a game few refs could have made the difference in.
The top six teams are winning reliably (except for us vs Everton) lately except to each other. We can't afford any more slip-ups if we're going to be in the conversation late in the season.
You can find better recaps of the game elsewhere. Suffice it to say that Arsenal dominated just as you'd expect them to at home against a struggling team. Palace wasn't as suicidal as Watford was earlier against Spurs, or it would have been 4-0 or 5-0. The Gunners still spurned several respectable chances, which is worrying, and of course Palace had a few opportunities. On balance, though, it was almost all one way traffic. Some player-specific comments:
I am incredibly impressed with Monreal's desire. He kept a few moves going with his intelligent pressing and deft passing. He knows his limitations, and usually makes the man he's marking do something extraordinary to beat him. He never switches off.
Bellerin loves games like this where he has so much freedom to go forward. Unfortunately, his final ball is usually poor. I have to believe this is something he'll improve on.
Gabriel was strong behind Bellerin, and Benteke seemed to want to face up against him. The Brazilian handled it well.
Kos is always great, isn't he?
Cech had a few harmless lapses, but earned the clean sheet by knowing when to be active and when to stay on his line.
Xhakelneny worked well today. They tracked back when it was required. High marks.
Iwobi took full advantage of the opponents and made a statement today in Ozil's position. He was pretty good, and his header for the second goal was very well taken. Yes, it should have been cleared, but it beat the goalie and was a fine header. He did himself some good today.
I thought Lucas Perez had a good game. I'd like to see him start on the right wing for a run of games. He gets back on defense, too.
Alexis is an incredible player. His finishing is off recently, but he's not the sort of player you'd ever sit down. Fabulous effort, really good game. He deserved better luck.
Giroud was self-effacing in the post-game interview, putting his goal down mostly to "luck." It was anything but. The whole game, he got back to clog things up for Palace in the midfield, and participate in the defense on set pieces (he's valuable there). He wins a lot of headers when we're forced to launch the odd long ball; he just keeps competing for everything.
Subs: Ox tried very hard to make an impression and could have had a goal and an assist. He made a case for playing more often. Ramsey looked at home out there; he'll get his first goal soon. Coquelin was excellent.
The referee (Marriner?) had an easy time of it, only reaching for his cards twice (once each way), late. He blew a couple calls, letting quite a few fouls go and getting the occasional inbounds ruling the wrong way. But this was a game few refs could have made the difference in.
The top six teams are winning reliably (except for us vs Everton) lately except to each other. We can't afford any more slip-ups if we're going to be in the conversation late in the season.
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