@LaboGoon – he’s working like a dog, not sleeping like a log
Good morning one and all…
Unai Emery kicked off his Arsenal reign with a pair of defeats against Premier League title contenders Man City and Chelsea. Following that the team went on an eye-popping 13 game unbeaten run in all competitions and now comes another test against high flyers, with the benefit of having worked with the team a bit longer to drive home his vision for the club and toward finding a more settled matchday XI.
Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates tonight in what is billed as the PL clash of the weekend, so hopefully we will get to see a real cracker with plenty of fireworks (get it?!) with both teams coming into it off the back of a good run of form.
Last Sunday at Selhurst Park our winning streak came to an unexpected end via a draw, to serve as a timely reminder that in a league where teams are separated by fine margins we cannot afford to get too comfortable, because being 2 points off the PL leaders less than a week ago could turn to 7 with defeat before the end of this day.
The Reds haven’t done much wrong this campaign and very fine margins separate them from Mancity at the summit of the log. Compared to the Gunners they scored 20 PL goals to our 24, conceded 4 goals to our 13 and kept a respectable six clean sheets. They don’t seem to shy away from the big occasions either as they came through almost unscathed against Mancity, Chelsea and Spurs with 1 win and 2 draws, conceding just 2 goals.
Scoring goals haven’t really been a problem for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, putting a lid on things at the back is where they improved. So if we want to give ourselves any chance of victory we will without doubt have to be at our best and pull together as a team. Our “second half” performances drew many admiring glances and if we can turn that on from the outset, then it could well be the chisel to chop away at a stubborn Reds defence.
It’s hard to ignore our defensive issues, which hasn’t improved much since Liverpool put 7 goals past us last season, and if we aren’t switched from the start we will simply be asking for trouble.
The last time these two sides met though we play out a pre-Xmas 6 goal thriller at the Ems and there is every chance we could see something similar. Aubameyang has been in scintillating form of late to find himself joint top of the PL goalscoring charts after a slow start. With 9 goals in all competitions this is a fixture he is looking forward to. Lacazette will be disappointed with himself for missing a few recently too and will want to step up in this big one.
With two extremely attack minded teams going head-to-head, we can expect a game high on entertainment value from end to end, because both sides know the importance of getting a result.
The trip to the Emirates will not only be a measure of whether Liverpool can go all the way, but also whether Arsenal have indeed closed the gap between them and the ‘big clubs’ after dropping outside top 4 the last two seasons.
Who knows… a win and we may even be seen as bona fide title contenders by the press corps.
Good luck to everybody going to the game and fingers crossed we give Unai the cherry to put atop his birthday cake.
Positively Arsenal 
we need to get the ball to ozil more as he has been involved in all our best moves
LikeLiked by 1 person
Arsenal having a good spell, need to score now when on top
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lacazette goal ruled out for offside
LikeLiked by 1 person
we just got lucky, Leno came for a high ball and got no where near and vvd header hits the post with the goal unguarded
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad we didnt let one in just before HT. We certainly had our moments though.
COYG!
LikeLiked by 1 person
HT:Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool
its scoreless but it really could be 3-3, LFC with a goal seemingly wrongly ruled out for offside, also hit the post late on for the second time and had another great chance, whilst AFC also had goal ruled out for offside, and came very very close on 2 or 3 other occasions.
I’m a bit disappointed by only one of our players performance so far, Mkhitaryan, I feel he is off the pace so far, and been lazy to get caught offside a couple of times.
as I said earlier, we need to get the ball to Ozil as must as possible, he has been very involved in most of our best attacking moves.
Torreira and Xhaka very good, Mustafi and Holding also top notch so far.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Entertaining game so far. Arsenal have been playing well though Liverpool have hit the post twice. Plenty of good chances for us too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliant game – I may not last full 90
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some half that, entertainment wise
Thought we played with a lot of skill and a lot of balls.
Torreira and Xhaka very good.
Was gonna say we definitely deserved lead, but that last great chance for them made three so perhaps drawing fair. We edged it on all around play though..
Was a horrible ten mins in there when they were well on top, but we had a longer period of being well on top.
LikeLiked by 1 person
very poor there from Mkhitaryan, a simple square pass on for a great chance, but he tried to beat his man and failed
LikeLiked by 1 person
ball would just not fall right for us there
LikeLiked by 1 person
bugger.
LikeLiked by 1 person
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
LikeLiked by 1 person
almost total control for the first 15 minutes of the second half but fall behind to a Milner goal after Leno made big mistake with a cross,
LikeLiked by 1 person
poor shot from Torreira when in there
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have the time to come back. Plenty of chances to do so as well. We deserve to win this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Iwobi on for Mkhitaryan who for me had a poor game
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ramsey on for Aubameyang with about 20 minutes left
LikeLiked by 1 person
Leno tips over a free header from vvd, kolasinac had lost him at the corner
LikeLiked by 1 person
we are wobbling at the moment, subs on has broken our rhythm, 15 minutes left
LikeLiked by 1 person
80 minutes and its Welbeck on for Kolasinac
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lacazetteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 1-1
LikeLiked by 1 person
get in there!!!!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Come on you Arsenal we can win this!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
poor shot by bellerin, it was on his weaker left foot
LikeLiked by 1 person
5 minutes of stoppage time to be played
LikeLiked by 1 person
FT: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool
a frantic game, could have been 5-5, keeper error led to lfc taking the lead just as we were dominating, Lacazette done great to get our goal,
Mustafi and Holding were great, as were Torreira and Xhaka, while ozil involved in most of our best moves,
LikeLiked by 2 people
Really enjoyed that. We deserved to win that. Bodes well going forward. Lacazette was really good. Xhaka and Torreira too. Mustafa also I thought has a good game along with Rob. Well played all around.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bloody hell that was a game. So so glad we didn’t get an undeserved loss. Not cheered a goal like that in some time. Lot of pluses.
Ed picked out those who impressed me most in the centre backs and central midfielders.
Pity the feeble-minded fucks who think Xhaka is a bad player. My God, they don’t see him as someone with a ton of strengths and a few weaknesses (which can be largely mitigated with the right people around him), they see him as bad player. Insane.
Not that much different with Mustafi, to be honest. The same chumps think he is awful, dire. The reality is obviously different.
Still, if we have a spare 75 mill around, I wouldn’t mind one of those aerially dominant top class cb’s, though a bit shitty to mention it on a day when our two did so well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rich you will not find any of the knobs on twitter who were predicting that Lverpool’s high press would destroy the awful Xhaka, admit that they were totally wrong and know sweet fa about the game.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jake Entwistle
@JakeEntwistle
29m29 minutes ago
Granit Xhaka vs. Liverpool:
• Most passes on the pitch
• Most recoveries on the pitch
• Most tackles on the pitch
Immense. Absolutely immense.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ed, interesting stats because according to all those who know Torreira had the better game of the two.
on the ref (once more) in the first half when Miki just headed wide allison followed through and took him out is that allowed I dont think so, yes I know Leno did something
similar latter on but at last he was close to the ball not half an hour late.
On the mane offside, firstly he made a move towards the ball offside, secondly if one player plays the ball forward the player receiving the ball has to have two opposition players between him and the line. It doesnt matter if hes behind the player who played it thats rugby offside so hes offside again.
Shotta was right again there is no way marriner was going to send anyone off for two bookable offences today. Then there was my pet hate, taking throw ins from anywhere you like. Van dick nearly scored in the first half from the scoucers nicking ten yards on a quick throw. The lino was standing right next to the throw, If that was a free kick the play would be brought back to where the incident took place so why can you take a throw from anywhere.
Anyway I thought we played really well matched them stride for stride and never gave up. It looked like we were getting on top when they scored and we were rocking a bit for the next ten minutes so we done excellent to get back into the game and then nearly win it. I thought Rob was excellent today and all the subs again made an impact.
We seem to be improving all the time and when players are coming in for injured players they are still doing really well.
We really have a squad ere!
LikeLiked by 1 person
a_o_b interesting on the offside call, the moving towards the ball no longer applies, its play the ball now, has been for couple of seasons now. But yes you are correct about the two defensive players needed to not be offside, so the whack jobs at the PGMOL who told the broadcasters that the goal should have stood haven’t got a fucking clue about the simplest part of the offside rule, as I have stated many times, VAR will not impact Arsenal in a good way, the PGMOL game managers looking at the replays will make up the rules as they go along.
LikeLiked by 3 people
can anyone tell me what Lacazette done in his goal celebration that earned him a booking
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought you need to be ahead of the ball when it is played to be considered offside. So he probably was inside. With numerous benefits they’ve got from calls over the years I couldn’t care if they lost out cuz of it. Foul on Mikhi should have been a penalty anyway.
No idea why Lacazette got a card. Looked like it was for going into the crowd.
We pretty much reduced them to set pieces and long balls over the top. Salah hardly got near the box
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ed, Laca scored an obscene goal and embarresed liverpool worth a booking in anybodys eyes
LikeLiked by 3 people
That was the best game I have seen so far this season….
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was the best game I have seen this season……
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought it was as long as you’re behind/level with ball at moment of contact you’re onside.
Still, it was hardly that one Ramsey had chalked off at Ems against them in about 2nd game of season bout three years ago when he was good few yards on when ball slid through. Pundits didn’t give a third as much of a fuck about that one in the analysis.
What’s more, law’s an ass if Mane wasn’t considered to have gained advantage with the offside a second before.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was the best game I have seen this season….
LikeLiked by 1 person
rich doesn’t there have to be two defending players between attackers and the goal to make the attackers onside, maybe I’m wrong on that but
According to the FIFA rulebook, a player is in an offside position if:
He is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent.
A violation will occur when he is in an offside position (previous bullet point) at the same time the ball is being passed forward to him.
A player is NOT in an offside position if:
He is in his own half of the field of play.
No part of the attacking player (head, body, or feet) is closer to the opponents goal than the final defender (not including the goalkeeper) .
He is receiving the ball from a throw-in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not sure Ed
Had a few beers but not sure I could interpret that FIFA wording on a good day.
Happens reasonably often doesn’t it when player gets to byline and cuts back or squares to a teammate who is ahead of last defender when ball played? Long as that teammate level or behind him it stands, I thought. Not 100% though. Thought I was but you got me wondering now.
Just watching MOTD, and what there’s no doubt is the bigger offside mistake came in the Spurs game, in Spurs favour. Seemed a definite difference in the heat brought to talking about it. Gentle and jovial, with no Wrighty bowing his head like a penitent
LikeLiked by 2 people
rich cutting the ball back or squaring it is not same as playing the ball forward, which is what Firmino did, but I really don’t know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Get French Football News
@GFFN
Thierry Henry says post-match that his Monaco players “are refusing to play [how he wants]” because they lack of confidence. Haven’t won in 14.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sunday papers
Man Utd plans for new contracts for DeGea and Martial are hampered due to the £400K a week Alexis is on.
Bayern Munich looking to sign Aaron Ramsey next summer on a Bosman
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds an impressive performance, the new manager has a very difficult job, perhaps more difficult than we know about, but he is settling in well.
It seems the atmosphere was great at the game, and long may that continue.
Apparently some great performances against a difficult opponent, glad Xhaka is proving a few of us correct. Torriera really is helping his game.
Going back to the Ramsey issue, sad to see him just getting the end of games, he deserves better. If someone decent comes in for him in Jan , whatever has, or hasn’t gone on, maybe the club have a duty to at least look after him?
LikeLiked by 1 person
The boys played well and a hard fought draw with some luck as well. We kept procession but cud only score 1 goal at home which is not a championship winning form. If we need to be champions we should be winning at home against the top 6.
We are still 5th in the table with quarter of the season gone. Will the WOBS celebrate if we finish in the top4 this year?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is it still premature speculation to think of Torreira as a great signing?
Xhaka enjoying himself during that match, the tackle on Salah, alas Mane managed to wriggle free of his markers on just one occasion to set up their goal.
I could be wrong but it felt like the stadium caught it’s breath and the ground was silent as Lacazette drew out the keeper before his finish.
Would’ve liked to have seen Rambo on the right as Özil having to cut back onto his left can slow a move down, still feel at some point Unai will experiment with the ‘Napoli’ formation, same formation as yesterday (whisper it softly as we don’t want to upset any confirmation bias fetishes or diminish any click baiting Patreon content ) just with Rambo on the right instead of Miki
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rosicky, would be very unfair to judge them as a championship winning prospect at the moment, the manager himself says they are a work in progress.
There has been so much change, sometimes seems to me that they are deliberately wiping the slate clean of the previous regime, perhaps to give the new bunch a platform,not just the manager gone, but virtually his entire backroom staff , Raul, Sven and co running things, Ivan, then there is the Ramsey situation, whatever it is, but he is a player UE went on record says he wanted to build a team around him, amongst others.
Many teams chop and change managers regularly, but plough money in, sometimes successfully, sometimes not but this club are not taking that money road.
We are also up against teams who have not only spent a lot , but are further down the road on a project, faced one of them yesterday.
Don’t know about the bunch you refer to, but I believe most will be extremely impressed if we get into the top four, it will be a real achievement, as it always was. Yes, we have had some luck, for a change, but if luck is to be mentioned, take a look at Utd and Spurs this season, I expect at least one of them to seriously falter with external factors not helping. Seems like Levy may have fooled the players as well as the FA over the truth of the Tottenham stadium mystery
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know it’s the Daily Heil, but paints a depressing picture of the game, those who run it, and why money talks
Why if infantini siding with clubs who break one of their main rules?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-6347551/Leaked-documents-claim-Manchester-City-hid-30m-UEFA-FFP-investigators.html
LikeLiked by 2 people