Good Morning Positive Arsenal fans,
The game was billed a “pivotal” and “season defining” in some quarters for the club and if that was the reality then it was a test passed. And we passed in the way that I want an Arsenal team to win a local derby, playing football, scoring goals and in displaying 90+ minutes of concentration and energy.
A roaring first 15 minutes saw us overwhelm Chelsea. Slow starters ? Not us, not last night. Whether the Blues had in the back of their mind that a draw would “do” I don’t know but during that opening they found it difficult to get out of their half. Our tackles were crisp, interceptions tidy and when we moved he ball it zipped across the turf. Kepa was busy, the Blues were rattled. Our opener came from a dead ball move, after staying on his feet when most strikers would have hit the grass, rifled his shot into the top right hand corner. Another excellent finish from Alexander. Unstoppable.
We then had a short phase of panic as Chelsea surged forward. It was not pretty to watch as for two/three minutes our defence wasn’t up to speed mentally. When the system clicked into place the panic subsided. Good players take charge, and Kosc is a very good player. Sokratis was all over Hazard like a swarm of angry bees. With Torreira/Hector on one side and Guen/Xhaka/Sead on the other we forced Chelsea back and away from the danger area.
The second goal from what was out third free header on Kepa’s goal brought a gasp of relief from the tense home crowd (well me anyway). The decisive moment of the match, as it turned out. We went in at 2-0, it could have been more.
Second half ? They came at us but were held back by a screen of defenders, who were organised. We smothered them. One shot on target all night ? What we did to Chelsea clubs have done to us in the past, with them passing the ball on the final third but never quite getting into a position in the box to score. Good defending is not spectacular to watch, but if you have to then an evening of observing Hazard, Willian and Pedro run time after time into a wall of Arsenal defenders and never testing Leno is a good episode in the box set to start on.
I see Sarri launched into his players last night;
“This defeat was due to our mentality more than anything else, our mental approach. We played against a team more determined than we were. And I can’t accept that.”
He is right. We were more “determined”.
Congratulations to the Emirates home crowd yesterday for reducing Oli to an emotional wreck before he even set foot on the pitch. He really was welling up. Much better than booing him. A favourite with Arsenal fans and with Chelsea fans, and he barely got a kick in the half hour he was on.
Hector? Sigh – it is a bad ‘un. I have no idea what sort of bad but his reaction was immediate. The only blemish on a good evening. We will find out tomorrow.
I pondered the MotM this week; Kosc ? Laca ? Ramsey ? Guendouzi ? Torreira ? On another day the performance each put in would have earned the prize.
In the end it had to be Sead Kolasinac though. His body check on Pedro was a thing of beauty, and a job forever.
Enjoy Sunday.
Positively Arsenal 
Sums it up very nicely, a very decent performance, and some great defensive work, cannot always say that! Perhaps the presence of a leader like Kos is helping the defence.
Brilliant to see Papa Sokratis do to Hazard and co what he recently did to Kane, reducing the latter to a dishonestly claimed penalty and very little else , let’s hope Rashford / Lukaku and that bunch are next for his pocket.
As you say, a number of contenders for motm.
Real shame about Bellerin, top guy on, and seemingly off the pitch, look forward to him coming back. Hopefully most of his pace will remain? And good luck to the Bellerin backstops, Bellerin patrols that whole flank, not an easy job. Not only will they have to carefully select a RB in place, but will have to pay a lot of attention to players further up who will be helping the RB out. Wonder how Emery will set that up
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Top report. Thanks. The ball zipped across the turf and watching us last week when it kind of trundled makes me wonder how much slow pitches blunt our purpose.
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One helluva evening Andrew to make this a damn good morning indeed. What a game; early goal to settle the nerves and not giving Chelsea a look in thereafter.
Eddy asked in the comments last nights why we can’t put in such performances against “weaker” sides too. It seems as if such games are used to try out certain plays, fast track Guendouzi’s development, who know what else.
That needs to end or Ro won’t give Emery another chance. Going forward each game is an important as the last and one can only hope we don’t take our foot off the paddle now.
Ramsey doesn’t fit Emery’s system they said?! Ramsey was the fucking system last night. Marking Jorginho, who tops the passing charts, and by extension Chelsea’s midfield out of the game finished Sarriball. My MOTM in a match where others made a good case for themselves.
Now to end Ole’s honeymoon.
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Sead came into the game marked by plenty, probably including Chelsea, as a weak link and a position they could exploit. He was constantly in the thick of the action and played his natural exuberant (cough) game.
One odd thing last night though. I’ve not checked any stats but I’d guess that is the first League game for a very very long time no AFC
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….player has been booked v Chelsea. Compared to some games with half a dozen cards I have seen we were exactly right with our choice of fouls, and working with Taylor.
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Fabulous stuff Andy.
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Actually, they gave us a good kicking!
Watch again on the ArsPlaya.
There’s hardly been a game this season where the opposition hasn’t KTSOOA (kicked the shit out of Arsenal). I’ve had to accept that many don’t (want to) see it.
Barkley has a reputation, is English, and fkd up Hector, then tried to Fk up our no 29.
Alonso and Luiz weren’t alone in deserving red cards, though I’d not’ve expected the robust Aston Taylor to have acted differently.
I’ve seen virtually nothing since watching Southampton KTSOOA.
How many injuries have we had this season from our opponents violence this season? Unpunished. Ah well.
I heard and saw only brief singing towards OG12 when he warmed up, so I didn’t realise the effect that had on his game, and therefore that’s a brilliant observation.
I’ll accept any ridicule coming as a result of my post.
Well done Arsenal. I pray enough of your limbs remain intact.
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Apart from the occasional “you bald headed c***” the crowd seemed in a congenial mood with Mr Taylor yesterday. I may well look again as I did not realise Barkley was responsible for Hector’s injury. The bloke shouting “murderer” every time Alonso touched the ball raised a laugh though.
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I was going to do a joke about Kante fouling Xhaka right at the end. Our lad went spinning across the turf. Something about a “Swiss roll” – but the moment passed.
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well last time we put in as good a performance las that it was the home game v spurs and we’ve had 8 bpl games in between, seeing us win 3, draw 2 and lose 3, we can but hope that yesterday’s result is not a false dawn like the NLD performance was.
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as I was out for a walk this morning a thought occurred to me, with Mkhitaryan back in full training and Denis Suarez looking likely to join us, isn’t it likely that we will see less and less of Ramsey and Ozil in our starting 11, and Iwobi might find it hard to get game time too.
As someone mentioned above, think it was labo, Ramsey showed yesterday that the excuse that he does not fit Emery’s system is balderdash, and the lad has been criminally under used this season.
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Ha, I wasn’t 100% sure who had written the report (thought Andy said something about not being available for couple of games), but all doubt evaporated when it got to the part about Kola’s MOTM-earning body check on Pedro.
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Another splendid write up Andrew, and no surprises there but hands up who WAS surprised, not so much by the win, but the manner of victory? Our dominance of an increasingly troubled team – with an owner in exile – was as unexpected as it was welcome and suggests we have as good a chance of a top four finish as anyone.
I’d argue that finishing in top four is of crucial importance to The Arsenal, this season. Other financial forces will work in our favour in the summer but the absence of CL football will do us few favours, quite the reverse in fact. Achieve top four and we will genuinely be back on the launch pad.
As six-pointers go, this result was pretty epic and the reaction of Sarri is very telling. Sarri may be sorry he laid into his players so publicly but morale in red London could hardly be higher. With Spuds losing two of their key divers for five + weeks and a resurgent Manure riding the crest of a new manager bounce, the second half of the season is set to be as intriguing as it could possibly be.
Let’s hope Arsenal fans everywhere hold their nerve and get right behind the side until May.
I include myself in that as anyone else I can think of.
I confess I find Emery enigmatic and the internal machinations of the club as impenetrably puzzling as they have probably ever been. As fans we need to try to rise above the disappointment of the loss of favourite players (I know, virtually impossible) and with a leap of footballing faith, assume there is some kind of method in the madness that is appearing to unfold in front of us.
Ultimately, it’s games like yesterday that really matter.
There’s everything to play for.
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He did play well yesterday did Aaron, and he generally turns it on in big games. Not sure captains the side at Anfield was his finest hour though, not in recent weeks though. I’d guess he’d be back Friday with his withdrawal through injury at HT at Trafford Park another slight disappointment in his final year.
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I couldn’t be sure of any contact from Barkley on Hector in the replays. Would make sense if there was an unexpected knock from way Hector seemed to lose balance just before it happened.
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I thoroughly enjoyed game. Kos putting in a performance like that was a joy. Good performances all over the park, with everyone working hard as a team, good discipline, tenacity, fight.
Think I have a slight preference for Laca over Auba, as the Frenchman is better at hold up play and has a broader repertoire of classic striker touches, twist and turns in box (echoes of Wright?), and then a thumping shot at the end of it. Glad to have them both at club though.
Not sure what exactly it was that made Guendouzi stand out so much to me yesterday, but I was highly impressed. Concentration was high across the board in what was truly a team performance (maybe great defensive efforts make team aspect more prominent than a good attacking performance), and him playing his part fully in that at his age might have been what stood out.
Ramsey, ah Ramsey, was very good. Diligent in his work on Jorginho, and plenty besides.
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Sarri’s after game comments will have done Arsenal no favors, the media reaction to his comments has seen the old soundbite that aided and abetted the assaults on Diaby, Eduardo, Ramsey and Jack and others has reared its ugly head again, namely, to stop Arsenal you have to get in their faces, let them know you are there, etc etc etc. Watch the cowards in the PGMOL stand idly by as the good old boys get in Arsenal’s faces in the coming games and weeks.
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Eduardo @12.55 pm, as mentioned by Rantetta earlier, they are already employing that particular tactic as we seem to have been getting more than our fair share of kickings since the game against man utd.
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The one who was getting in people’s faces yesterday was Kolasinac from what I saw – good – tired of the “poor little Arsenal” theme
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Thanks Andy,
Ramsey was the fans player of the season last season and judging by the reception he received yesterday, matching his stats per minute this season, likewise again.
Though Aubamayang is trying his best to win that accolade this year!
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Pass
The instructions on game mannagemnt were apparent in the Southampton fixture
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–
It’s a double act between Kolasinac and Sokratis.
I especially enjoyed the tantrum by the Greek veteran following a tumble by Pedro that could’ve been seen as a dive, then an exchange of words followed by a hug with an opponent that he had clumped in pre-season but weirdly did so, somehow without endangering their career! Proper defender IMO
I’m sure the Dortmund fans are not missing him looking at their GA column but the Arsenal, undeniably, needed more CBs on the books then last season! No need to bite off one’s Arsenal as they say…
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Perfect opportunity on Friday – Marcus Rashford- Michael Holding sends his regards
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…Chambers would be flattered to hear a shout out for him at RB but I think we all know that he’d prefer to see a footballer who played RB for a World Cup winning squad ahead of himself in that role!
I don’t think the gaffer is thinking of Mustafi at RB. But now is the time hehehe! He’s not gonna start ahead of the two CBs who played yesterday if they’re match fit.
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It is Callum’s birthday today Fins so let’s hope he has three points to celebrate tonight
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We competed hard for everything Anicoll, but with very little dirt involved.
Chelsea were very dirty- mostly off ball- for a team later called out for lacking ferocity.
Luiz got weird at a corner and was pushing his elbow into Bellerin’s face, then moved around box walking up to and shoving a couple more players trying to start something.
Rudiger had already caught Iwobi once in face before grabbing him around throat/ head and catching him again in face.
Alonso put his hand in Maitland-Niles face with ball gone. Either just a push and so nothing too much or he was aiming for eyes. Looked like probably latter but we didn’t see replay from behind goal which would have cleared it up.
Torreira angry early on after kick off ball I think from Luiz.
Aubameyang also angry about kick or push way off ball which ref told him advantage played for.
Lots of it only evident on replays so unlikely to be seen in stadium.
Then the tackles from Luiz and Barkley, both with a lot of force and dangerous to opponents. Strong yellows at least but either could be a red.
We stood up brilliantly to it al,l but they were dirty and the real worry is the injury risk too high if teams always play like that against us. Offended almost that we are getting better of them in the fair fight stakes.
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Michael Holding AKA Whispering Death.
His intent was not get in his opponents faces but to endanger their lives! Which is all within the rules and laws of that sport.
The officials introduced some controversial rule changes in later years, the one bouncer per over rule, etc. Controversial yet understandable because the officials one job in a sport is to: protect the players. It’s simple stuff to get your head round.
Think Taylor had forgotton all that basic stuff that even kids know as a part of the obligatory contractual lobotomy he had to sign up to with some chap called *gollum gollum*
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Andy
I don’t think his current team or coach are as good as the Boro team where Chambers did fine.
Crazy loan move…made/makes no sense for any party but we’ve already ascertained that fact, whilst observing the carnage during the fixture crunch when there was one match fit CB. Back to three now!
And as predicted with two actual CBs on the pitch we saw better football then with one!!!! Who could have imagined that?
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I’m grateful the Arsenal didn’t get more yellows with less fouls then the opponent. In a Home fixture…
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Boro had a decent defence but could not score goals. Fulham are not too bad going forward but amateur at the back. Ranieri has his work cut out to stem the deluge of goals against. A clean sheet this afternoon would help.
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If Kos, can put the performance of last night for the rest of the season and UE can play Ramsey Ozil Laca Auba as one unit top 4 will be within our grasp for sure.
Dennis Suarez is a project for next season I believe.
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A clean sheet for Fulham would be a grand way to round off a beautiful sunny Sunday in January for the Arsenal faithful!
Come on Fulham!
(It’s very very unlikely but fingers crossed!)
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Nearly two for the home team. Great chance and then offside in the follow up. A chance created by Chambers, good impersonation of Desailly at his best in that move heh in the DM role.
Almost a goal for him too but a defender deflects his shot from a corner to the keeper.
Fulham like any team not at full confidence could do with that second goal as it’s only natural they’ll want to hold on, a bit like Arsenal yesterday I guess. Hopefully half time did not come at the wrong time for them!
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Unai’s Ode
When you want something bad enough
Go out and fight for it
If you want to smile, but have to sigh
When tension is pressing you down in the s**t
Take a breath, if you must, but don’t you quit.
Success is only failure turned inside out
Dark tints of the clouds of doubt;
Stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit
It’s when things go wrong that you mustn’t quit
Remember, YOU are the Arsenal
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Tottenham not playing their best football without their two best attacking footballers on the pitch or bench?
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I know – pathetic excuses for a substandard performance all over the pitch (bar Lloris)
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A little bit jittery after the restart as you’d except.
If they can hold out or better for the next five to ten minutes, get their rhythm back, I’ll be optimistic!
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Nope.
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Wasn’t an excuse Andy but an observation!
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Green misses an easy clearance and Odoi decides to crouch down in front of Delle Ali – ridiculous
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Lloris is lucky that wasn’t Kane or another favourite who just went over!
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Hopefully Fulham can still hold out for a point.
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League cup second leg also coming up. Moura out means little rotation, hopefully we’ll see some stuttering form from Tottenham if not today in the weeks to come.
With players back and players like Ramsey and Ozil now clearly avaiable to the gaffer I remain optimistic Arsenal can challenge the teams just above them. I am choosing to ignore the Bellerin injury for now!
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Mitrovic really does ‘stroll’ round the pitch – none of this pressing the ball, defending from the front cobblers
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After Sarri’s outburst yesterday it will be interesting to see how his players react on Thursday. Hopefully they will go out to tear the Totties to shreds.
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Fouls not called against the away team, hopefully the Fulham striker can run of the resulting limp and steal a winner for his team.
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The two players involved in the missed fouls now arguing and tussling. Both booked. Another Fulham player deciding to get a yellow and clean out a Tottenham player. Official losing a little bit control of the football match after the uncalled fouls.
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He’s a lad that Mitrovic – not what you’d call elegant but I bet he’s handy in a brawl
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Rose chucks himself onto a yellow card – good work from Pawson.
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He’s highly rated but he’s got a long way to go before he can be compared with the legendary Giroud’s legacy at Montpellier, Arsenal, his brief fa cup winning spell with Chelsea and not forgetting France too.
Llorente was once a pretender to the top targetman crown, hopefully he doesn’t remind us why in the next few minutes!
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