Watching yesterday’s efficient despatch of West Ham in the gentle Spring sunshine of North London it occurred to me that we definitely have our swagger back, domestically at least.
The Appy Ammers arrived with few expectations of a victory after a 14 game run against the Arsenal with not one win but hopeful of making us work, clinging on and eventually stealing a point. Sam has form for this type of result. Never pretty but Sam would never claim to be pretty. Like dogs his teams take on the characteristics of his misshapen bulldog skull.
Alas within a short while it became clear even to the visitors’ noisy contingent that the best result they might hope for would be a respectable defeat rather than a definitive shellacking.
Our midfield movement from the first whistle opened the Ammers up. Players moved not as independent and disconnected units but in sequence, joined in a collective mind to look for the space, the opening, the weak link to exploit. Song to his credit battled hard, too hard once or twice, and Adrian was a warrior between the sticks. But the power was all one way, the force bearing down on the claret and blue goal. Oh yes, the confidence flowed through my system as the ball weaved and span across the baize, stroked, caressed and eventually potted by our finest crop.
And eventually it came, the hammer blow into the top corner just as the half time oranges were being cut. I share below a snap taken by excellent AFC photographer Stuart MacFarlane – if you don’t follow the man in Twitter you should.
I did not realise the cod-piece was making a come back in modern sportswear but you have the evidence.
So 1-0 at the break and cruising, it should have been more.
And then the opening ten minutes of the second half ? Not good, not switched on when we came out and a better side than West Ham might have taken advantage. Fortunately while they had possession and pressed us back, and we appeared unable to keep the ball, they had no sharpness in the box to take advantage. The cloud passed over, the sun shone on. And so, inevitably, we started to control the game again. Santi and Danny came on, and our control developed into total domination. The next goals came, inevitable and very tidy they were against a team who, with ten minutes to go, had clearly nothing left to contribute but were out on their feet.
There may be those who tell you that West Ham, at just 0-1 down were “still in the game” to the 80th minute. Don’t believe it, They were never, ever in the game.
It finished 3-0, a distinctly unflattering score given our dominance. I did however have my fingers firmly crossed during that last few minutes for that third goal to go in, because of Tuesday. The third goal seemed important, a portent of future events, because of Monaco. And the man from Marseilles duly obliged. You know what I mean.
For all the patterns and systems it is about players and I thought Mesut was magnificent yesterday. A superb contribution with the ball, exquisite movement off it, and great energy. Kosc was a yard faster and a thought ahead of anything West Ham may have had up their sleeve. And le Coq is gradually becoming more creative, not just the “midfield beast” that the experts demanded.
So enjoy your Sunday. Two interesting games later. I think we set off with great heart to Monaco after one of the best footballing weeks in a long time.
Positively Arsenal 
I’m glad you highlighted Coquelin’s development on the creative side, I just wish the AAA would stop their hypocritical nonsense at him. When Arteta plays they say he passes too short, too sideways, too backways, when Coquelin sprays the ball about and it fails once or twice in a game, they say he should keep it simple and pass short, sideways and backways. Lets not forget the latest gem, “Coquelin is playing outstandingly but it proves we need a better, bigger, stronger and blacker replacement for him”
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Lovely stuff Andrew.
Aaron was also exquisite.
Santi is just a force of nature.
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I think it may be sensible to explain to the ‘experts’ Eddy that Arsene does not follow fashion when it comes to defensive midfielders – players who play that holding midfield role for AFC have to be good footballers as well, not just leaden footed brawlers unable to pass forward.
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Good job AndyNic highlighting the main themes of the game. My only quibble is while correctly observing “For all the patterns and systems it is about players”, you fail to mention the role of Giroud and Ramsey particularly their exquisite combination play, assists and ultimately their goals.
As for the continued whinging and moaning by the AAA as highlighted by Eduardo, I attribute it mainly to the media and the pundits. Unfortunately, I get a lot of TalkSport on my phone, via digital broadcast, and post-game the manner of our victory and City dropping points have forced the dumb asses to admit that on current form we could overhaul City. But we have neanderthals like ex-Stoke Danny Higginbottom, who is now a resident expert, maintaining the mantra that what will make Arsenal better is a defensive midfielder or a defender. In other words Arsenal must become just as negative as his ex-boss Tony Pulis or his idol Jose Mourinho would have us play. This negative philosophy is the scourge of the modern game due to the success of Mourinho in getting the best players in the world to play negatively, eschewing possession and hitting their opponents on the break. The poverty of this type of football was exposed last Wednesday when PSG embarassed them. I believe entirely that Wenger will build us into a progressive attacking team that will eventually annihilate Chelsea and the advocates of negative football.
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Ah I could have mentioned every player Shotts so smoothly did the machine run – even Theo !
Jose is on the end of plenty of stick in the Sunday Times this morning for those who like their broadsheets chunky. Souness rings the bell for round three of his bout with Jose, in fact titling his piece round three and the grand old man of sports journalism Hugh McIlviolence follows it up with the old one-two on the back page.
Jose better hope his boys don’t let him down later or there will be a lot of crowing in the farmyard.
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@ anicoll5 – An absolutely sublime write up. I note you chose to veer away from the penalty incident at 0-0 & Theo’s misplaced shooting boots though. If Song had had an amazing game yesterday, then the press would of let us know by drawing up a short list of managers a section of fickle fanbase would of been screaming for. However unlike Gus Poyet, as it turns out our manager does still know what he’s doing.
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Great write up A5, I have a particularly life is half-full mate who was happy slagging Aaron and Oli just before they linked so brilliantly for the second goal life is sweet sometimes. Le coq has always been a technically gifted player but has not really had the chance to show it for the first team and again show song how to to it. Which is great for all those people who think any player leaving ARSENAL is brilliant like I say life can be sweet lets hope the weekend carries on that way
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anicoll….sorry dude…i made it there at 14:40….and still recovering…
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I will be monitoring the Chelsea Southampton game with interest, Maureen would of earmarked this game as a simple win at the start of the season, but as it stands you never know.
Yesterday’s win and ManC’s loss has narrowed the points deficit, but Chelsea fans and their fanboy media people would have everyone believe Arsenal are fighting to stay in the top four rather than closing down the two teams in front of us. In some ways this is actually quite good as there is no pressure on us as we’ve been completely ruled out of the title race – even though it is at this stage mathematically possible. Only the game of immense magnitude then on Tuesday to concern ourselves with then.
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kos was brilliant
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Shotta,
Higinbottom is yet another one of Slurgus’ brood polluting the game with his gibberisims. He even refered to his former lord and master as “the Don”, live on air upon one ill-advised occasion, shortly before some former officials mentioned that they used to talk to their Don on the old phone. I assume that he is too stupid to have realised that many football fans had and have referred to Slurgus as Donny Ferguson for a long long time. Not an act of flattery.
There’s a benefit to having so many Sons of Slurgus saturate the extremist media: it makes it easy to highlight how awful, talentless (as in not very good at Football – please refer to P.Neville etc.) and stupid these lame brains truly are.
All I have to say to these fans of Ferguson is:
*doot doot doooot dooooooot Danny Welbeck…”*
*there was some ire towards his teammates with his celebration at OT. No bad thing for me. He wants the ball!
It’s going to be tricky to squeeze both Walcott and Welbeck and Alexis into the starting eleven for Monaco, but the same eleven as at OT could be interesting. The gaffer has some options. We shall see. Can’t wait.
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Koscielny is always brilliant.
Didn’t watch too much of Baresi, but I’ve always seen Kozza as a modern day more technical more complete Des Walker (he can pass!…). I say that because although he does occasionally see red, spectacularly in Ukraine for France almost as if he was possessed by some demon or a vision of the future, he is not really a master of the dark arts like Baresi. Baresi would’ve eaten Costalot for breakfast with his pinches, tickles etc.
Kosciely is my favourite defender of all time. His performance in the home game against Barcelona was one incredible. He might not be a hundred per cent in every game at the moment but I think with Gabby and Chambo there is good cover.
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true….where the fuck did he find him in ligue2? …. l’orient?
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@ Fins, Kos has been the best defender in the league for a while now, even when many were saying it was Vidic for some reason.
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Fins @ 12:27 pm – Didn’t Higinbottom started off at United as a trainee? Yes he is another Ferguson acolyte who stains the media with their doctrine of anti-football. Like most of that lot, given a job in management, they fail miserably as they have no idea how to develop a team to play progressive, attractive football, slinking back into their comfy media jobs to poison the airwaves.
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Shotta, you’re bang on.
A sneaky point or 3 for the saints today would be lovely, if they overtake the spuds that would be good too.
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Danny Higinbottom, Robbie Savage, Phil Neville! your boys took one he’ll of a beating last Monday. Without the ‘keeper it could easily have been four for the Arsenal. Away. At OT.
To beat the evil cheatin’ Mancs Away with four goals scored would’ve been very special but I like to think that they’ve been saving those goals for Tuesday. The warm up in the first half yesterday tells me that they will peak at the right moment. I hope. In one recent West Ham home game we saw this new team score bundles of goals in spells of high intensity and high pressure, Giroud and Cazorla’s first season. The burst that led to five goals was the performance that gave me hope in the then new players and squad and spirit. We were witnessing them settle down and the birth of a new team at that time. Watching Giroud copy Cazrola’s back heel over the line for a goal, in the same game, told me that he had some “proper” footballers in the squad.
Nevermind all that Proper Arsenal bollocks pumped out by the self-obsessed unwell, as we have come to understand. These self-declared experts can be observed to have taken their eye off the football. I wouldn’t worry about scapegoating from people who believed/believe that Fellaini was the answer. Nevermind!
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Wonderful stuff, excellent summation and without the whiff of misery other blogs still somehow manage to insert after two fantastic results. Thank you.
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One warning from yesterday’s game – Per is getting into the habit of joining in the attack play in the opposition half, leaving just Kos and Chambers on the half way line to deal with counterattacks. It’s easy to get sucked into pushing forwards when the opposition stick all 10 of their players on their own 18m line.
the team is still vulnerable to fast paced 1 man counterattacks down the middle, it’s something Per and Kos need to keep switched on for.
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I’ve just read this article about Maureen not comparing himself to others – when he absolutely does and doing this is his main source of confidence/arrogance. It won’t be a surprise to many that he mentions Arsene Wenger in this article, as he has an unaddressed inferiority complex.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9760274/jose-mourinho-above-comparing-himself-to-other-managers.
I’m not sure if this link will work, but Maureen reminded me of this:-
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Great post Andy,
The Arsenal have their moxie back.
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DC, Once Per has ventured out of the box, he may as well join in the attack, because he is not getting back anyway. Swings and roundabouts my good man.
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Listen its all well and good praising Stew and Andrew for their wonderful writing , but its me who asked them to write. I deserve the credit, I’m the special one, I am in a class of my own. Its all about me,me,me.
P.S. Jose is a twat.
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always nice to have the media bias reaffirmed, even with a gooner contacting them about not talking about arsenal v west ham motd2 still failed to cover it
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I see our man Dean has the whistle at the Bridge – your week just got worse Jose
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First choice midfield starts for the Saints today, Long gets the nod over Pelle.
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Our old friend the ring wraith Gollum was in charge for the Gazprom defeat to Sunderland at home.
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Harry Enfield is magnificent. I discovered him via his videos about women knowing their place, then I saw his hilarious 30’s Arsenal skit and the one about the Scousers going to London.
Wenger nicked Koscielny from under the noses of everyone in Europe. If our opponents had a scouting department even a quarter as good as ours, they would’ve snatched him up.
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Attaboy Mike
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Well, that midfield was AWOL as Hazard strolled across the pitch. Two decent chances for the Saints since and the always dangerous Mane earns a penalty for the saints to equalise.
Matic? Meh, he’s no Coquelin.
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Yeah, Mourinho doesn’t think about anyone else, but he rattled off everyone else’s stats with studied precision.
Mane is up for this game. He’s playing like a player who knows they’re watching him back home.
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Never been any doubt that Deano knows the rules better then most of his peers.
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Following Hackett’s repeated attacks on Riley and the PGMO I simply assumed the Webbalty would be studiously promoted but perhaps Dean has other ideas.
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Long is someone I thought would make a good player for us. He’s quick as shit and he has work rate. And he’s what, 25? He’s a very underrated striker, as far as I’m concerned.
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Mane causing Gazprom more problems then caused for Bellerin in the league cup game so far. Rosicky gave away the pen in that game but I felt the then very green but very quick Hector would’ve got back into position in that incident.
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I’m loving Lee Dixon’s analysis. He says that Ivanovic is the best right back in the league and Chelsea’s most important player, and I concur. He also says Ivanovic is a cheating bastard who always looks to go down whenever he comes into the box, and I also agree.
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And, right in queue, Mane gets booked for the softest of fouls.
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30 minutes gone at the Bridge and Chelsea getting a lesson here – Jose stares uncomfortably at events (again )
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OptaJose @OptaJose · 36m 36 minutes ago
19 – Only Carlos Vela (25) has provoked more yellow cards from their opponents than Wellington Silva in La Liga this season (19). Hammer
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Extraordinarily low pain threshold Hazard
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Top writing, top comments. George is nicking a living.
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Not long into his first season Santi won a penalty. A charitable analysis might have concluded that he was evading the foul he knew was on its way. But since then I can’t remember a single piece of simulation from us, which suggests that AW is determined that his players buy into all of his philosophy. But of course there would be those that point to that philosophy as a lack of desire, an unwillingness to do whatever it takes. I hope we never go back to those principles.
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Mike giving Matic enough rope
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Gary Lawrence @garythegooner56 · 3m 3 minutes ago
Mike Dean reaching in his pocket realised he’d already yellow carded Matic then bottled out of giving him the red
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Had to take him off – shrewd from Dean
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Don’t make things difficult Ffs Schneinderlin
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Mane returns the favour and Ivanovic is booked.
Tadic & Long almost increasing Jose’s pain. Come on Southampton, they don’t call you the saints for nuffink.
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gains, hope youve seen Harry Enfields ARSENAL supporting kebab seller if not well worth checking him old its classic and also the forgetful pub landlord Maureeeen!
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Gains,
Those incredibly well balanced hack dwarves may adore Jose but we note that no admired British comedians have been inspired to satirise Arsene Wenger or even Don Ferguson when compared to some of their peers:
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Schneiderlin has had Cesc in his pocket all game. He’s been impeccable.
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