After the first half I was looking forward to writing a glowing report, but after the second half a was less enthusiastic .

In the first half we were completely dominant and were 3-1 up, we could easily have been 5 or 6 up. I thought Jack had scored a beautiful goal that was oddly ruled out for an offside that was nowhere to be seen. There had been some glorious play with Jack pulling the strings in a way that suggests he is not going to be kept away from the first team for long. The lads star looked to have faded, but last night was a reminder why he was seen as a star in the first place.  Wonderful stuff.

The second half was more of an even affair with the home team throwing caution to the wind and displaying that they are a decent side. Despite Theo’s brace in the first half, I felt he was selfish in the second and could have played his mates in on a couple of occasions , for easy chances.

ElNeny was his usual effective self and Giroud ,as ever, put a good shift in. The youngsters were great until they seemed to run out of steam, but that is to be expected.

All in all, a good night and the first eleven basically rested.

We march on.

Good morning Positively Arsenal,

A genuinely good contest last night, which is unusual for Monday night. Very much the “game-of-two-halves” for Arsenal.

The first 45 we played in patches and, for my second surprise of the evening, the visitors set about us with a bit of quality. For various reasons that were debated to death last night we may have been slightly lucky to go in with a 1-0 lead at half time. “I’ve seen ’em given Ron, I’ve see ‘em given” et cetera. If it had been Deano rather than Bobby Madeley last night the penalty count might have been 4-2 (to the Arsenal obviously). If I was looking for a decisive moment in the half it was Nacho’s kung fu clearance from Rodriguez’s header. If the Baggies had gone level at that point, and they were playing well, it would have rocked us hard.

The second half there were no patches in the Arsenal display. Cech barely touched the ball and Mustafi and Kosc had a leisurely time at the back. We controlled the ball and pinned the Baggies back. The second goal seemed a long time coming despite our dominance and until it arrived the visitors were still in with a slight chance. From the 67^th minute however the points were assured. I was hoping for one more but we slightly eased off the tempo, perhaps with Thursday night in mind.

For us as has been said elsewhere on here Nacho was in his element last night. Decisive in defensive and on two occasions he could have scored, with only a bobbling ball and the grasp of Nyon defeating him. His left side partner Kolasinac also had another good evening, an uncompromising physical first half and a much more fluid attacking second. And finally on the podium this week I place Alexander Lacazette. Two chances, two goals. The first a classic ‘predator’ six yard line finisher goal. If you look at his penalty thought it was even better. Foster dived the correct way and any less power or careful placement of the shot he would have had a hand on it. An important penalty, and they all count.

For West Brom I was impressed with Krychowiak and Rodriguez. Both were at the heart of the expansive first half effort were they attacked us hard and in numbers. It is interesting that the Baggies have the profile to attract a player as good as the Pole on loan, and Rodriguez I have always liked. Nice to see Kieran get in 90 minutes last night too. Good lad. Whether it is the influence of the new Chinese owners or Pulis has seen the light I don’t know. Watching two quality ball players must be a tonic for the Hawthorn’s regulars though who for years have had to put up with some dull stuff. I can see a top eight finish for WBA if that progress continues.

Anyway that is me done this morning. I will be missing on Thursday evening, and on my way to Wroclaw (Ryanair permitting), but back on Sunday so if anyone fancies a little post match delight from Byelorussia speak now !!

Enjoy your Tuesday.

We constantly hear pundits commenting on the “balance” of a team. But how does this state of balance come about? How is it developed, nurtured and maintained?

Where is the centre of balance in a team, and what is the perfect balance? I suspect Pep sees the balance of a team very differently to Jose, and yet both have produced very balanced teams in the past.  Arsene, Klopp and Pep favour an attacking style, whereas Jose and Conte favour a defensive setup (despite Jose’s protestations to the contrary) and  Pochettino seems to have found a very good spot in the middle.

Guardiola point blank refuses to compromise his attacking style. Why should he? It’s brought about unprecedented success and made him the most sought after manager in the world. Yet as soon as it doesn’t work, expert are suggesting he should?

Arsene is the same, achieved the impossible, playing with a style and panache never witness before, and yet he should change? I can understand if people don’t like a managers style, but to ask him to change? Do me a favour.

I see three ways of finding a good balance. It can be developed, bought or stumbled across. It think Arsene developed the Arteta/Ramsey partnership,has bought Xhaka to recreate it and stumbled across the Santi/Coquelin pairing. It would be lovely if he could just nip out to the CM shop and buy a Vieira/Gilberto pairing, but that ain’t happening.

We saw last week that the team looked better without Sanchez (and perhaps Ozil too?) but surely the answer is to find a balance that can include our star players. But its not inconceivable that the best balance does not include the best players.

The easiest way of building a balanced team is to identify what and who you need, and go out and buy that player. However, if you are Arsenal, rather than United or City, this is not a realistic option. So we can buy second shelf players and accept being second best, or we buy the best players we can, and try to find a balance with them. We have to accept though that this is a more difficult way.

Then there are players like Theo, that on the face of it don’t fit into the overall playing style of a possession team, yet his skill set brings a balance to the team. His constant runs off the ball are mostly unseen and unappreciated, but he gives a balance that isn’t quantifiable.

What seems easy for fans is in fact the most difficult of tasks in football.What we do know for certain is that when Arsene gets the right players, he can put out a balanced team, getting those players in today’s market place may prove impossible, but then again……..????

No Andy this morning , so it was on me to do the review, fortunately Passenal did a great job in the comments section last night. 

Don’t listen to the ASB on Twitter . The game was fine. I think some people are just annoyed that we didn’t put a hatful past The Donny’s, but sometimes it’s just fine margins that stand between a win and a comprehensive beating. A few inches and Giroud’s 100th would have been a goal to remember. Bearing in mind this was another mix and match team with inexperienced youngsters, players who spend more time on the bench than the pitch and some on the long road back from injury I thought they all did well.

For me Elneny was the stand out performer. Reiss Nelson looked like a fish out of water as a wing-back, but he did grow into the game. I think some of our youngsters found it hard to maintain focus for the full 90 minutes as they are not used to playing at this level of intensity. Jack is showing promising signs of getting back to his best. I wonder if Giroud’s quest for his 100th goal is inhibiting him somewhat? He was much more involved than in the Europa league game, but he gets no protection whatsoever from the man in the middle – he is constantly dragged down and fouled with little consequence for the opposing CB’s.

I was pleased that despite their public proclamations there was little evidence of Doncaster trying to win through foul play. Maybe the officials had a word prior to the game. I understand they are struggling in their league, but maybe going toe-to-toe with The Arsenal and only losing by one goal will give them a kick-start – they were not terrible. Their goal keeper made a few good saves. And let’s say a word for our much maligned number 2. He had little to do, but did what was required when called into action. As for Alexis, I actually thought he was better than in the EL game, but he does hold onto the ball too long and fails to make the simple pass when it’s on in his desire for the spectacular or personal glory.

So My Positive Friends,

It is the Carabao Cup tonight with our lads pitting their wits against Fergie Junior’s side, a team currently suffering a run of poor League form as they sit 19^th in League one with just one win from eight matches. They did manage to put away Hull in the last CC round however. Talk of 5,500 Donny fans in the Clock End. Given Spurs poor turnout last night I hope the Ems is at least half full and we manage to match them for volume.

Our Team ? We know it will be a very different starting eleven from that which marched into the arena to do battle with Chelsea on Sunday. I fancy we shall have an experienced core of 4-5 including Jack, Olivier, Per and Elneny and the remainder will be youngsters. Beyond that I shall leave it to Arsene and Bould to sort out. Clearly it is a night to blood a few new faces, but we want to progress into the next round. While the Carabao Cup is not the Champions League by the time the semi finals are in sight with Wembley to follow it is a trophy worth competing for and, hopefully, winning.

Their team ? I know nothing of our opponents’ playing personnel, other than they are led by a 36 year old striker, James Coppinger. Mr Coppinger @Coppinger26  is well known as a Doncaster “legend” so I hope if our young lads find themselves marking the old codger they treat him with due respect. Given their League difficulties and seven goals in their eight league games they will not expect to outscore us. They will however be on the big stage for once and will work hard.

No doubt our visitors are hopeful that they will enjoy the evening, even if they are spanked. And why not ?

I see in the media there is talk of Arsene accommodating ol’Bluenose himself at the stadium. After years of what seemed like real dislike between the two best managers in PL history peace has broken out, it is said that there is mutual respect bordering on affection. Aye – In time all things must pass.

Good luck with the streams tonight – I suspect we shall all need it. And for those attend the game enjoy your evening.

I attach below a link to the last time we took on Donny in the FA Cup in January 1953, a year we won the Cup. Mr Cholmondley-Warner commentating;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AesrP43kXo4

Good evening Positive fans,

I watched the best performance of the season we put together over 90 minutes. Very few clubs put together such a thorough defensive performance at the Bridge and our game without the ball was excellent today. Mustafi did not put a foot wrong all day and left Morata a petulant heap, Kosc was tidy and rarely under pressure and Nacho cleaned up whatever crumbs his partners dropped. A well deserved and hard earned point – more satisfying because the scarfists and the ‘experts’ had marked us down for a Good thrashing – idiots one and all.

Looking slightly forward and across Hector’s return to his position as the best young full back/ wing back in the PL takes  another step. It was at this ground his progress was derailed. And the Bosnian eh ? First name on the team sheet at the moment.

Congratulation to Alan Smith for the most inane comment I have ever heard, to the effect that he hoped “someone had had a word” with Aaron and Xhaka After the Anfield game because if no one had “it’s criminal”.

No Alan the players and the coaches and the manager sat round in total silence for 3 weeks. Very energetic from both, controlled the midfield after the first 20 minutes.

Up front two first half chances, Danny’s header and Laca’s rebound,  both difficult but on another day …..?

For a manager who I think is very good at his job Conte allows his players to plead insanity for too often. Luis is a f******* liability.

No complaints with Oliver – always a tricky game to control and at times the home side tested his good nature.

Overall a point was a fair result.