Good morning all.
That my fellow positives was, as they endlessly say, was a massive win. Humongous even. We went there short of two of our most important and consistent players, and came away with all 3 points. Marvelous. What more could we ask for?
Well, funny you should ask that, because that question confuses me no end.
I mean I know what I want, that’s expansive entertaining attacking football, and what we saw was not that, and it is not normally that either. In fact, it’s rarely that since Arsene left. On the other hand, Mikel as build a functioning machine that can defend as well as , if not better than, any Arsenal team I can think of. It can also score plenty of goals and accumulate a whole heap of points.
The thing is, I’m never going to get what I want again, because the game has changed. The machine only functions if all of the cogs stay in their places and preform their function. So now we are basically watching a machine, I may as well sit watching my tumble drier for 2 hours. The irony is that if it meant getting 3 points, I’d do just that. It’s a conundrum. Every week I want my beautiful football, yet when the game starts, the winning becomes more important. Then when the machine wins, I go back to wanting the lovely stuff again.
Do I want to go to Spurs and allow them twice the possession we have, while sitting in a 4 4 2 semi low block wating for a breakaway, or more likely a set piece goal? Well before the game I would say “hell no”, but after, with the points in the bag? Dammed right I would.
I used to record the games and watch them back, sometimes several times, win or lose, but now I’d rather watch Mrs. Brown’s Boys and I think we all know how awful that is. But as the Mandalorian would say “This is the way”.
Next week we go up to Manchester to play the default league winners and at the final whistle, we will be either 5 points behind them, or still 2 point adrift, but…………. if our machine functions we might just be a point in front of those cheating Mancs and if we are, I don’t care if they have had 90% possession and 50 attempts at goal, because my hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Pedantic George.
Positively Arsenal 
Morning George! Great review, good to be honest, many thanks mate.
Much more interesting and down to earth than the bags of wind I’ve been listening to this morning ridiculing Arsenal for celebrating (they can do what they like)and that Arteta should potentially get the tin for coming second. Bye
Hoddles speculative comments about who does or does not feel ‘passion’ playing in the NLd seemed a bit off the mark and unverifiable or mistaken( ask Poldi etc etc)…
Seemed like a game of missed chances for both sides? I thought Timber! might get sucked in the Spud wind-up vacuum and get sent off, but he rode the storm pretty well. Some great defending by Saliba yesterday…I’m sure Real Madrid are watching his every move and getting the cheque-book ready.
Off to Italia next,it might not be as easy as it looks on paper but hopefully we can do the same before going up to the Blue Refinery. Thanks again. COYG!
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Yep great review George, absolutely spot on this was a game all about the result. Next weekend’s game will be the same all about the result.
However when we come against smaller sides, of course we have to be professional, we have entertain.
Football is an art and the sides that are remembered are the special, enjoyable sides who just make you smile.
I can’t remember neutral games which involved Maureen’s chelski or inter cause they had you putting your head in the oven.
The Brazilian sides, the Dutch sides and yes Arsene’s sides those are the ones you want to watch all day long.
The attritional way we won against the spuds was fantastic, not only without two of our best players but without the new signings which were supposed to be the replacements to bolster the side.
Last season we would have been able to call upon Emile, Eddie and Reiss from the bench to scare them shitless and push them back but of the three attacking subs that came on yesterday only Nwaneri was able to hold on to the ball.
The way the fixture list has strangely fallen, playing our local rivals, away in Europe a day later than city and then playing them away with them playing their CL game at home has all conspired against us once again so we will need to be prepared.
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Good post George.
I just enjoyed the drama of the occasion especially as we got the 3 points
Haverts, Saka, Martenelli defensive performance was phenomenal and it’s great to see the team has got the ability and the mindset in a very hostile environment, to do a job and do what’s needed for the results.
The whole team was immense for me yesterday, the work rate and willingness to cover for each other and their decipline has to be given credit.
Let’s see what happens but they looked good out there.
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New post bis up.
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