So it’s nearly over. The colonists have celebrated their annual feast of thankfulness and the retail addicts have fought in the car park of the shopping mall. The dreaded dark month of November of which many were, just a few short weeks ago, so scared, has nearly passed. The disastrous run of unbeaten games which everyone predicted has happened and we have only two fixtures left to get through before we can all sigh with relief and enjoy the downhill toboggan run that is December, January and February.
Sarcasm aside and trying to look at the thing objectively, we dropped two points at home to Spurs, otherwise nothing to be embarrassed about in the other results. A return to winning ways today and the start of another winning streak would of course be the perfect end to Black November and that’s exactly what I expect.
I do not say this from an emotional, hopeful perspective. I expect it because seldom do we go on a long run without a win. As Shotta will no doubt confirm very rarely do we play four games and not win at least one of them. We did once manage six draws on the trot – a club record in fact – but that was way back in 1961. We ended the sequence with an emphatic 4 – 2 defeat of Fulham and in case you were wondering Barnwell and Henderson both scored twice.
I don’t see our recent results as a problem because the squad isn’t suddenly altered in any way just because of a few drawn games. The players are precisely as talented and skilful as ever they were and the manager as wily and experienced as at the start of the season. If I have any sort of concern it would be more about the patchy nature of the performances. This must in some part be down to the ever changing make up our first eleven. Disruption to the line up is seldom ever conducive to consistent displays on the pitch. We have lacked a settled deputy for Santi and have seen several players tried next to Francis Coquelin. Aaron is the latest to attempt not to fill the Spaniard’s boots but to bring his own style to the position.
Like anyone else, and especially given his recent return from injury, he needs time before we can judge him. Personally I prefer to see him there rather than anyone else. He has the ability to tackle, the nous to keep the ball, a range of passes, can run with the ball and is deadly when he does get forward. Is it his best position? I don’t pretend to be sufficiently knowledgeable to answer that one.
We have also rotated on the flanks, at full back and up front. I entirely support the manager in this as only he has all the information on fitness levels, and only he knows his own long term plan for the season. To second guess him on why certain players are rested for certain games is an exercise in futility. You had just as well tell me I should have killed off a character in the first chapter of my book without knowing that he is pivotal to the plot in the final pages.
However I have eyes and they occasionally function reasonably well and I can clearly see that a game built around fast, instinctive, flowing football is disrupted and can stagnate into blunt predictable patterns when players don’t anticipate each other’s movements. I’ve always believed the game is about partnerships all over the pitch. Certain players bond better with some team mates than with others. Also there are some players who have the kind of influence on those around them that can change a game. Gerrard did it famously for Liverpool on many occasions, Vieira has done it for us and I would argue Aaron, when he hits form and confidence is that type of player.
Regardless of the formation or personnel around him he has the ability to take the game to the opposition, to open up space for others and to score important goals. If he gets a run alongside Francis I think we’ll see evidence of this and the weight of expectation on Mesut and Alexis will diminish as a result thus freeing their games to the benefit of everybody on the team.
Today we face Jack Wilshere’s Bournemouth. He has answered the question as to who he wants to win in the only way he could. His team mates would surely look askance at anybody in their own dressing room who publicly called for them to be defeated. Arsène brushed aside the attempt to squeeze some controversy from this and I believe we should do the same.
In any case Jack’s temporary allegiance to his rehabilitation team won’t be subjected to public scrutiny as he can’t play against us today. I might have been blissfully unaware of the ludicrous ‘head to head’ goal rule in the Champion’s League but I’m up to snuff on Premier League loan regulations. It’s section 7.2 of rule M.6 if you’d care to have a look yourself.
Bournemouth like to play the game in what we consider to be the right way. It must have been a factor in Jack’s choice to go there. They are finding it hard going though and while they haven’t endured the kind of Novemberus horribilis which so many were predicting for the Arsenal they did lose to Sunderland and that takes some doing. They sit a mere four points from the relegation zone but this simply illustrates why I care so little for league tables this side of the new year. Four points from the gallows they may be but they’re also only four from sixth place. Given the quality of the five teams above that position it must be the high water mark for every other side in the league.
I’d like to see a settled line up today, yes even the same team that duked it out on Wednesday night, but as I’ve said before I won’t carp whatever team sheet Arsène pins up because he is the only one with sufficient information to understand the decision. Our job isn’t to manage the team it’s to cheer them on. I’d have loved to have been there to do so in person today and thanks to splendid PA regular Steve, that nearly became a reality but circumstances conspired against me. I shall therefore be watching from the armchair and will see you here at a quarter past two. If, like Steve, you are at the match then why not sing a song for the folks back home? I’ll listen out for you.
Positively Arsenal 
Poor bloody Debuchy – he must be deeply fed up
LikeLiked by 3 people
Jack keeping his head down to hide his smile
LikeLiked by 2 people
isn’t is wrong for the stats to say only 1 of arsenal’s 3 shots have been on target, both of elneny’s shot were on target, as well as alexis’s goal.
LikeLike
Love the way Theo exocets in to those defensive situations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
penalty to bournemouth, all came from ref not giving ozil the most clear of free kicks
wilson scores, 1-1
LikeLike
You won’t see a ‘softer’ penalty decision than that. Utterly contemptible. Surely even you Andy can’t agree with that
LikeLiked by 2 people
looking at the actual foul for the penalty, it would not be given in our favor that is or sure.
LikeLike
smith with an open goal heads over
LikeLike
we have got ourselves in a tizzy
LikeLike
mike jones looking to be the star of the game.
LikeLike
Pity no one else is
LikeLike
Come on – it’s Bournemouth
LikeLike
arter should have been booked for that lung
LikeLike
Even the Sky commentary on mobile saying their Pen was unbelievably harsh, Wilson just threw himself at Nacho. Something seriously up with these Refs
LikeLiked by 3 people
oh so close from alexis, hits the crossbar
LikeLike
HT: 1-1
the lack of composure from arsenal after it went 1-1 was staggering, after having been playing well and being 1 up, panic seemed to set in, got back into it late in the half.
LikeLike
One of the worst refereeing performances ines seen for a while.
LikeLiked by 2 people
He’ll be getting a well done keep it up my Son text from that arse Riley no doubt
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Tim I was beginning to believe it must be something wrong with me. Never in a million years a penalty, two clear hand balls in their area and Sanchez trodden on just outside the area, dreadful lunging challenge on Nacho and somehow people don’t want to blame the ref for the disruption to our game.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Lost our way for about 15 minutes there which no doubt surprised Bournemouth as much as it did me. Back into gear by the half time whistle though. A couple of wild tackles flying in – this won’t end 11v11
LikeLike
Gift goal for us and they do say never look a gift horse in the mouth. I’d agree Jones certainly missed a penalty for us, I thought Nacho penalty was right. Kosc and Arter both deserve cards. Did not see any handballs ?
LikeLike
Sanchez looks in the mood today – does he not realise how tired he is supposed to be ?
LikeLike
theoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 2-1
after some trickery from ozil, monreal puts his cross back to theo to head in
LikeLiked by 1 person
Theo – with his HEAD (swoons)
LikeLiked by 1 person
alexis mucks up a good breakaway
LikeLike
ozil almost in from an alexis pass
LikeLike
nasty tackle by alexis rightly sees him booked
LikeLike
ex arsenal player benik afobe on for afcb, wilson off.
LikeLike
ball to hand, or hand to ball, monreal might have got away with one there,
LikeLike
need to put away one of our good breakaway chances
LikeLike
Ramsey on for Oxlade-Chamberlain
Giroud on for Walcott
assume its ramsey on the rigth, with alexis on the left
LikeLike
afobe straight at cech from a corner,
LikeLike
ozil gone wide right, ramsey in the middle, with alexis out left
LikeLike
5 minutes – time for another
LikeLiked by 2 people
some good moves in and around the afcb penalty area from alexis, ramsey and others
LikeLike
✔️Well done
LikeLiked by 3 people
wenger ball at its best alexis taps in from giroud cut back after ozil sent him in
LikeLike
5 minutes injury time to be played
LikeLike
Another one in 5 added on ?
LikeLike
Bit scruffy but a good three points – well done all
LikeLike
FT: 3-1
3pts off top spot
3 goals off most goals scored
3 goals off least goals conceded
novemeber crisis
arsenal regained their composure in the second half and got a deserved win.
Gabriel impressed me in the second half. No one told Alexis that he is supposed to be out injured for six weeks, and also badly in need of a rest. Some of the interplay from alexis and ozil was a joy. theo got a goal to celebrate the birth of his second child. Would be interested to see the stats for ground covered by elneney, as he just kept running and running. Kos boss man in defense again.
LikeLiked by 2 people
JB™ @gunnerpunner 2m2 minutes ago
Put Talksport on. They’re fuming that we won.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ozil with two pre-assists today.
LikeLike
It really cheeses me off that we show the class to look after that Durham Character when he comes to The Emirates to report. Their fishing for callers is so obvious. The other day Alvin Martin managed to go on about ‘The Big or good teams like………. (Guess which team he didn’t mention) or ‘The great coaches like……. (Again, guess who never got a mention)
LikeLiked by 2 people
OptaJoe @OptaJoe 2h2 hours ago
2 – Arsenal have conceded a penalty in consecutive home games for the first time ever in the Premier League. Clumsy.
LikeLike
Positively Arsenal @Blackburngeorge 4m4 minutes ago Blackburn, England
So Henry admits it was ball to hand, but thinks it was a pen? He isn’t the sharpest knife.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ö @OliPriceBates 1h1 hour ago
Granit Xhaka vs. Bournemouth
Most #afc passes (90.4% accuracy)
9 tackles
3 interceptions
Most #afc touches (76)
LikeLike
It is difficult to know if Southampton are good or Everton are utter, utter rubbish.
LikeLike
was the mouthy one sent to the stands at ot, he will be demanding he be shown respect next.
LikeLike
Wenger: “Debuchy thinks it’s a severe one,” “I have to speak to medical people.”
On Giroud he said, “The only worry we have is Giroud – he looked a little bit to touch his hamstring. He felt a twitch. We have to see what the damage is.”
LikeLike