Good morning Positive Arsenal fans,
I thought I would feel better in the morning after yesterday evening’s disappointment, and I do. The elixir of rest and time passing. It must be magic.
Part of the improvement in my mood comes from the realisation that our casting away three points that I had assumed that all we had to do was collect at the gate has not done us much material harm in the Premier League. With Chelsea losing we effectively where we were in the table among the big boys in the competition. A chance to make progress spurned. Citeh’s demolition of Stoke an unwelcome reminder of goal scoring at its best. What we must do is ensure that when Mansour and his 40 thieves stumble, as they surely will, we are close enough to take advantage.
Of yesterday’s game ? A fairly even first half with us just shading possession and ahead through the most unlikely of scorers. They all count etc. and Per absolutely hammered the ball with the force and direction that left Gomes static. My feeling at the time was that there was a lot of possession, but much to much sideways passing. The only real creative effort came from Alex Iwobi who took the opposition on with the ball at his feet. Or young dynamo even managed to stamp on Richarlison’s hand – pity it had not been his head but hindsight is a great thing.
Our second half display to the 71st minute carried on in the same vein, keeping ahead in the possession statistic and ensuring that when Watford crossed the half way line with intent then were forced to play in long speculative balls or try to shoot from way out. With Mesut’s arrival we opened the Hornet’s defence up twice and but for some good wok from Gomes would have had at least a decisive 2nd goal.
And then the PENALTY (see previous post for details and discussion).
Now with 20+ minutes left and having created a couple of highly score-able opportunities in the preceding few minutes before the setback my assumption was that we had more than enough time, and certainly the playing resources to put things right. We had not lost at Watford for 30+ years for goodness sake.
But No. Now since 7.24 last night I have seen and read the full range of accusations against individual Arsenal players individually, and I have seen then harangued collectively, Arsene, Bouldy and Vick Akers have been in the arrested and charged for their criminal incompetence.
It seemed to me, reflecting and rerunning that final phase of the game in my head in slow motion we could not decide what to do. In terms of attacking or “chances” the assault I anticipated on the Watford goal never even started. Our game without-the-ball disintegrated. We could not get control of the damn thing for more than one or two passes. When Watford had the ball then it seemed they had time and space to ass and open colleagues to choose from. For us we scuffled, seemed to have no time and picked the wrong pass. We found ourselves pinned back for long periods and when our defence managed to clear the ball it would come straight back with menaces. Under this barrage I make no complaints against the back three (including the surprised Rob Holding) or Cech, or even Hector or Kolasinac. The defence battled manfully as wave after wave battered our defensive wall. Eventually though the weak point was located, the sea rushed through.
We slunk away in defeat. While the devious penalty earned by the young Brazilian was responsible for us not earning at least a point it was the final 20 minutes that defined our evening.
Anyway we move onward to Red Star and thence to Goodison on next Sunday lunchtime. I shall make no predictions though Everton away has been a happy ground for us for most of Wenger’s rein. We could certainly do with one of our strikers scoring away from home, and I don’t care who. I shall keep my eye on the game from the Amex with more interest this afternoon as Koeman’s number may be up.
It is Mesut’s 29th birthday today so I trust he will enjoy his day, a I do all of you this sunny Sunday morning up in Norfolk.
Positively Arsenal 
Alex was failing to track back long before the third sub, it’s not the first time this has happened and it’s something he needs to work on. I’m sure there are people in the coaching staff that are reminding him of his responsibility.
A problem maybe when he looks around and sees more experienced players not working in a disciplined manor.
In the past Arsene has got rid of players for just this reason as do all good managers.
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You have answered my question Fins before I asked it — took me some time to work out what I was asking (!) — but I still don’t understand — guess I better go and apologise to my Chinese girlfriend — and go and lay down and rest my brain!
Arrivederci.
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We don’t take ourselves too overley seriously here Henry and even if we don’t agree that does not mean that we have no humour (no “lols” or other required) and can’t laugh at ourselves, or the horror of Partdrige and all the lesser Partdrige’s on BT and Sky.
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Tomorrow I will be back advising buisiness in n17 on how to deal with a local authority and a local football club that have been breaking planning laws and guidelines (such larcenous stories are more common stateside where conversely they do have VARs on the pitch, unfortunately under the pgMOB we’ve evolved to point where we can witness the worst of both worlds)
These buisiness’ won’t lose as much as they would’ve otherwise to the friends of the local authority, think of the Millwall story from last year, but on steroids. And involving one of the medias most popular clubs.
Of course we couldn’t afford the wire taps to prove that they’d broken the law. But once someone made the comment, got the story in the media, well, surprise surprise these people who were being ignored previously found themselves being invited down to the town hall. Ho. Ho. Ho.
(Given the desperation to get the Olympic stadium, the problems with that project, this is the inverse story of what happened in n5)
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Dunno, we got away with lots of borderline/favourable decisions last season. It evens out. The penalty yesterday needed a couple of views before anyone could tell that he went down easily. And if there is an inquest Watford can do what we did with Eduardo, and prove there was contact on the knee and back.
Yesterday was tired, post-international break stuff. Same thing happened to Chelsea. Watford had two weeks to plan, with only a couple of internationals in that side, and clearly a lot more energy going into the last 20 minutes or so.
We can get Koeman sacked next weekend. And in the meantime pljeskavica on the Danube. Actually, Minsk, Belgrade and Cologne is a decent trio of away days if you have a day or two to spare.
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Sorry, Finsbury,
I did not realise you were in charge of the blog, otherwise I would not have dreamt of signalling that I meant no offence by adding the suffix ‘lol’, without your approval.
You will understand that I am, at the moment, both pixilated and rather thick, but I cannot always tell when you are being ‘humorous’ and I feel more comfortable by signalling my intent with the occasional ‘lol’ in case of it being misinterpreted.
If you are politely telling me to take a hike from your blog — your wish will be my command. lol — oops.
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Hi BK,
Just before I get my marching orders – thought I would say I agree with you, on all aspects.
I am hoping to get to Cologne, if my business activities can be sorted out in time — if others are going and can bear a fat 6’7″ hooligan to tag along let me know — that’s if you are going. [ssh – lol – taps snitch – say no more]
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BK
If you refer to the Arsenal commentator sat up in the stands who called it as it happened without any doubt or hesitation. Libeywt at a distance and he was confident of calling the dive before a replay. Perhaps he (Dan I think) should apply to be one of Riley’s crows, nope he comes from London and incongruous as it sounds that rules him out of the running!
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< Live and at a distance
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Hello HB!
I’m in Paris that week. Not that I’m a globetrotter; it will be my first trip abroad this year (thanks Brexit!)! Cologne deserves a lot of time if you can spare it. Churches, Roman stuff and shit.
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FP, I know he’s generally pretty even-handed. I needed a closer replay because there was no daylight – the TV angle makes it impossible to tell. I think it’s a very good dive because he initiated contact like more subtle Vardy. Genuinely can’t blame the ref.
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That’s fine, BK.
I know Köln pretty well, as I lived nearby for a while. I am really hoping I can get back there for the game. ***
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HB, oh, then you didn’t need me, er birdsplaining it to you!
I lived in Hamburg for a year. Obvs nowhere near.
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BK,
I think I have been banned, so I better go. Hamburg is great too, by the way.
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Evening BK – I am against the scattergun approach that all referees are crap and/or corrupt – like any trade there is the occasional bodger and even the best surgeon has a bad day. At games I am invariably surprised at what they get right which at first sight I have got totally wrong, not their errors.
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What a nice chap;
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Hi Andrew, same here. I mean, I’m not going to start praising them. I think they’re reliable enough, and would be even better with some technology to back them up. It’s hard to be objective about it.
Not to patronise people who feel there are sinister forces at work. But as I’ve pontificated on twitter (to a tiny group of followers), if I thought the refs’ integrity was in doubt I wouldn’t watch. The spell would be broken. It would be like athletics or the TdF.
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I liked Tim Parks’ description of the view of Verona fans on footballing conspiracy in Italian football. They are, to a man convinced it exists, is all pervading and the work of sinister forces determined to crush Verona. What they cannot comprehend is why this evil web not just causes them to lose as a result of corrupt referees and bribes to their own players, but why they are allowed to win games (?)
Truly sinister
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Wwwb
You recognize the impact of that wrong call, but still try to justify it by saying we could have done this or that better etc. Every team misses chances, but that does not then excuse the official for rewarding cheating.
You keep saying we should be used to it by now but do you know how despiriting it is to lose a game because the other team were allowed to cheat?We are fans and we’re losing our shit, just imagine how the players feel. I have been in that position before and I can tell you it’s very hard to take especially during a game. I even wonder how Arsene is able to remain that calm, our coach wanted to beat up the ref and his assistant.
What am trying to say is it doesn’t matter how good a team you are, or how good you are at finishing off chances, when your opponent is allowed to cheat, you’re going to lose. Our invincibles can attest to that.
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i dont excuse referees who give penalty when its i not. i can excuse ones who do not give when it’s penalty. the rule is to give it when you are certain it is.
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jeri
every team misses chances but the most clinical win games. no player want to miss chances and the clinical you are the valuable you are. you dont win games by chances created but by ones taken
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Regarding penalties,,here are some raw stats of penalties, pre and during Mike Riley, many interpretations, though of the teams on here, U.S. And Spurs the only ones with a negative balance
http://untold-arsenal.com/archives/61726
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Bill Dithers @WengerBoy1 14h14 hours ago
Sanchez and Ozil’s combined contribution to our league season so far is one assist
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I don’t follow eddy – is he saying that is better than anyone else or worse ?
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I think he is just pointing out that our two biggest name players have so far not contributed the goals and assists that we would expect from them.
Of course both have so far had very stop start seasons, Alexis 3 starts and 2 sub, Ozil 4 starts and 2 sub, I think they have only started one game together this season. Both have had injury problems.
I’m not sure, but I think that we have yet to have Ozil, Alexis and Lacazette on the pitch as the same time so far in the 8 games.
These two are seen by many as our two best and two most important players, and 8 games in, one assist between them, and not a goal, that is not what would be expected from them. So when we get them fit, sharp and firing on all cylinders it should make a big difference to us.
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Have a feeling this is a season to adjust expectations and back the guys on the pitch, it might be a difficult few months.
We have some excellent players, but we are not resourced , financed or structured to compete with clubs financed by oil rich countries or long term marketing strategies. Stan, love him or hate him , his clubs do not function at this level.
Arsenal will not win this league , there are many reasons why, pgmol, owners, management structures, some would say lack of accountability. Arsenal do things the right way, some do not, some,are backed by countries, some resort to dark arts, some lesser teams seem to drill their far lesser players better than ours.
Not even sure what I am asking, just back a very good team, who played badly and did not get the rub of the green this weekend
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My feel exactly. Such a thing happened to us many times. We overcame it some times, managed to have a draw in some other cases or just lost the game because of it. That’s normal to me and totally understandable.
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Jeri Moses
At no point do I justify the Ref’s action, I am pointing out what I believe to be obvious. Everybody in football believes they have a chance against Arsenal, if they stay in the game ‘something’ will go their way, normally a bad or very bad decision.
The players know it, they need to own it, execute at the big moments and take those opportunities out of the Referee’s hands. We as fans can complain all we like, about the bad decisions, but that style of ‘calling the game’ by the ref’s is not going to change under this management.
That does not mean I want Mr Wenger to leave, but this is my point of view, we have all seen enough games and I have looked through enough data, to be convinced.
I do not know if the situation will change when Mr Wenger leaves, but I am confident while he is at the helm, this patteren will of refereeing will not change.
I believe if the players embrace it, they will become liberated it will became an extra bit of plate in their armour, if they continue to cower from it , it will break them like it broke The Ox and spoil the ending of a great man’s legacy.
Mr Wenger has done everything for these players and they are letting him down,the manager can tell the players but the players cross that line.
These players by and larger have been since they were 11 years old the best players in their school,youth group,age group, street, borough,county and country. They have had to leave behind brothers,cousins , close friends and family for this dream a dream they get well compensted for.
To embrace this challange should not be their zenith but another step on the road to their developement as players and men.
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Managed to get 5 minutes of internet access. I wish I hadn’t bothered.
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I am a bit cautious about the statistics for goals scored and assists marked down to individual players. Apart from the numbers of games played which skews any figures I don’t think we have been firing particularly well in the final third since August so I doubt any players statistics are going to stand out.
The other more general point is that it is a team game, and if striker A happens to score more than striker B it can be because striker B has worked his arse off and battered the defence into submission that then allows his partner to pick up the goals. Same with assists, if the opposition have three players on top of midfielder C every time he touches the ball then inevitably there is more space for midfielders D and E.
I really hope that the injury to Danny allows and/or encourages Arsene to experiment with Lacazette and Olivier starting together – we just have to find a way to start scoring goals again.
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New post is up
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anicol I doubt we will see Lacazette and Giroud as a two up top, if both in the team I would expect it would see Lacazette wide left in the Alexis role.
What I am interested to see is Ozil, Alexis and Lacazette in the same team, with Ramsey also in midfield.
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