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MATCH REPORT: WBA 0 – 6 Arsenal

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West Bromwich Albion (0) 0 Arsenal (3) 6

Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) Second Round

The Hawthorns, 9 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich B71 4LF

Wednesday, 25th August 2021. Kick-off time: 8.00pm

(4-2-3-1) Aaron Ramsdale; Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, Sead Kolašinac, Nuno Tavares; Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka; Nicolas Pépé, Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Substitutes: Bernd Leno, Pablo Marí, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Emile Smith-Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli, Alexandre Lacazette.

Scorers: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (17 mins, 45 mins, 62 mins), Nicolas Pépé (45 +1), Bukayo Saka (50 mins), Alexandre Lacazette (69 mins)

Yellow Cards: Rob Holding, Sead Kolašinac

Arsenal Possession Percentage: 75%

Referee: David Webb

Assistant Referees: Andrew Fox and Mark Pottage

Fourth Official: Sam Allison

Attendance: 26,850

After our dreadful start to this season, tonight’s match against West Bromwich Albion is truly a “must win” for the club. Leaving the competition at the second round stage is almost unthinkable for a club of our stature, but as we have seen over the past few weeks, nothing is a given for Arsenal anymore. All we can hope for tonight is an exemplary performance from the boys which leads to a much-needed victory. Fingers (and everything) crossed. By the way, please remember that there is no VAR in this competition until the semi-final stage.

The match started in a frenetic manner, with both sides making their intentions clear to end tonight’s game as the victors here at The Hawthorns. Our debutant keeper Aaron Ramsdale was called into action twice within a few minutes when Kenneth Zohore pressurised him, but thankfully, he was able to clear the danger fairly easily. As expected, the match became physical with some fairly heavy tackling from the home side’s defenders which started to take their toll on some of our players; after some clumsy defensive play on the edge of the box, Bukayo Saka lost his marker, and his accurate strong shot was pushed into the path of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang by goalie Alex Palmer, who made no mistake in opening the scoring for us. Of course, there’s nothing like a goal to inject some confidence into the team, and a few minutes after the goal, Martin Ødegaard was unlucky not to score when his sterling effort hit the outside of the post from a difficult angle after Bukayo Saka’s shot was deflected into his path. Rob Holding was booked for a clumsy tackle on Kenneth Zohore after twenty-six minutes, and as the match went into the last quarter of an hour of the first half, Arsenal looked in control. The match was held up for a while when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, goalkeeper Alex Palmer and defender Cedric Kipre collided, with the latter needing on-field treatment. Sead Kolašinac was booked for a heavy tackle on Ethan Ingram seven minutes from half-time, and the resulting free-kick was cleared confidently by the defence. Just before half-time, a superb shot by Nicolas Pépé hit the post, and our man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was on hand to place the ball into the net; just a mere minute later, our third goal of the night was chalked up when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ran in from the halfway line, and had a shot saved by Alex Palmer; he then acrobatically volleyed the rebound but instead of hitting the back of the net, it landed at the feet of Nicolas Pépé, who simply slotted it home. Three up at half time!

Five minutes after the restart, we grabbed our fourth of the night when Bukayo Saka ran down the left-hand channel and found Martin Ødegaard, who simply backheeled the ball into the path of Bukayo Saka, who coolly cracked the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the penalty area. The home side came back at us after the restart, and Aaron Ramsdale made two fantastic saves, but unfortunately he injured himself landing awkwardly, but after some attention by our medical staff, was able to continue. On the hour, Martin Ødegaard was replaced by Ainsley Maitland-Niles and a couple of minutes later, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got his hat-trick when he received a ball from Nicolas Pépé, cut inside the WBA defender, and scored a truly fabulous right-footed shot from just inside the penalty area which curled around Alex Palmer and into the net. Superb. Now, our confidence was there for all to see, and as Granit Xhaka was being replaced by Alexandre Lacazette with twenty-five minutes of the match remaining, the Arsenal supporters in the stadium sensed that even more goals could be scored tonight. Indeed, just after Nicolas Pépé’s twenty-yard chipped shot bounced off the crossbar with only Alex Palmer to beat, Alexandre Lacazette nabbed our sixth of the night when he scored with a firm shot after receiving a pinpoint pass from Nicolas Pépé. We had a penalty appeal denied when Nuno Tavares was tripped in the box, and with fifteen minutes of the match remaining, Gabriel Martinelli replaced our hat-trick hero of the night, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with an eye on the Manchester City match on Saturday lunchtime, no doubt. Bukayo Saka was the recipient of a heavy tackle in the eighty-fifth minute, and although he went off for a while after treatment, he returned and thankfully looked okay. The rest of the match was a mere formality, and going back to London with such a large winning margin, certainly put a smile on everyone’s faces at last.

A great result, and congratulations to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a well-deserved hat-trick in a match that we were the dominant side almost from start to finish, and of course, it’s fantastic to chalk up our first win of the season, even if it is in the Carabao Cup. A true reflection of our status will come on Saturday lunchtime of course, when we meet the current Premiership champions; although tonight’s result was important, Saturday’s will be more so, of course. By the way, we meet AFC Wimbledon in the third round at the Emirates on Wednesday, 22nd September.

Remember everyone, keep the faith, get behind the team and the manager, as this season is going to be crucial for our future success in all competitions. Stick with the winners. Our next match: Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday, 28th August at 12.30pm(Premier League). Be there, if you can. Victoria Concordia Crescit.

Steve

Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless (Rangemore Publications, ISBN 978-1-5272-0135-4) is now available on Amazon.

Man City to turn to Aubameyang with Harry Kane set to stay at Spurs?

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So today’s big football news is Harry Kane announcing he had decided to remain at Tottenham next season.

Well when he says it was his decision, it was not really. If it was up to him he would have left but:

  • Man City did not want to pay what Daniel Levy was demanding
  • PSG had signed Lionel Messi
  • Real Madrid are chasing Kylian Mbappe
  • Chelsea had signed Romelu Lukaku
  • Manchester United are waiting for Erling Haaland next summer
  • Barcelona are broke

So it was not really that Kane wants to stay, more than all doors have shut on them.

But with Manchester City still needing a replacement for Sergio Aguero, what could the repercussions of the Kane deal falling through?

Aubameyang to Manchester City

Could Arsenal’s captain find himself playing up front for the Premier League champions?

It is a deal that could certainly happen in the closing days…

Man City need a striker

With Aguero’s departure, it left Man City with Gabriel Jesus.

Chelsea have signed Lukaku and the Belgium has transformed them.

The feeling is that with Lukaku upfront, Chelsea are favourites for the title. But if Man City signed Kane the pendulum would swing back to them.

No Kane leaves Man City still n the hunt for a front man. And it could end up costing them the title.

The club will remember when in 2012/13 Manchester United pipped them to Robin van Persie.

It was van Persie’s goals that drove United to the title. The 66 goals scored by Man City that season is their lowest in the last decade.

Man City would have learned their lesson and will know to harbour hopes of the title, the need a striker.

Arsenal are open to selling

Speculation has increased in recent days about Arsenal being open to selling Aubameyang.

The striker was hopelessly out of form last season having just signed a new £350,000 a week deal.

In the last 12 months he has appeared moody, disinterested and disruptive. There have been reports of disagreements between himself Mikel Arteta. There has also been a couple of discipline problems.

There is a feeling Arsenal could have another Mesut Oil on their hands – you most highly paid player, the clubs talisman, underperforming to the point that he does not even command a first team start.

You do feel that if an offer comes in for Aubameyang, he could be off.

Wages

The big issue for most clubs is Aubameyang’s wages – £350,000 a week. But this would not be a problem for Manchester City.

This was similar to what Aguero was on, and what they were reportedly willing to offer Harry Kane.

Man City have a bottomless pit of money so offering Aubameyang a 3 year deal (so a 1-year extension on his current Arsenal deal) would not be an issue.

It would be a deal just like that which took van Persie to Man U.

The club would know they are getting him for one, maybe two seasons, and would just have to absorb those wages for another year or two. But if his goals fired them to the league title next season the move would be a success.

No one talks about van Persie’s two average years at Man U; they only speak about the year he won them the title.

Transfer fee

I would imagine an offer in the region of £20million would be enough for Arsenal to part ways with Aubameyang.

That would be money instantly available to help Arsenal finance a replacement – whether it be another striker of a winger.

Getting his salary off the wage bill is the most important thing.

At £350,000 a week, Aubameyang costs the club £18.2million a year. We are already committed to spend that over the next 2 years.

We could go out into the market and spend £50million on a left winger and pay them £150,000 a week on a 5-year-deal.

That would cost us £7.8m a year in wages and £10million a year in amortised salary.

The total deal would cost Arsenal £17.8m a year – £400k less than Aubameyang currently costs.

Who would replace Aubameyang at Arsenal

The headache for Arsenal would be who to replace Aubameyang with.

An argument could be made that Arsenal could play Alex Lacazette upfront with Gabriel and Folarin Balogun backing him up. But then Lacazette has just 1-year left on his contract.

In this scenario, we would therefore need Lacazette to sign a new deal – but how of the Aubameyang saving would then need to go to keeping Lacazette?

On a side note, Willian expected to leave us as well, that is another huge chunk of wages gone. Lacazette’s new deal could come from the savings made from the Brazilian leaving.

So instead of replacing Aubameyang the striker, we could look at replacing Aubameyang the winger and strengthening the left hand side.

Long term target Houssem Auoar could play out there with the freddom to cut inside ala Robert Pires. Alternatively the club have been looking at Marcus Thuram if they want to go down the pace and power route.

Both of these players would cost Arsenal significantly less than the £50million mentioned above, and certainly would not break the bank in wages.

You could even bring in Raheem Sterling in a Alexis Sanchez / Henrikh Mkhitaryan style swap.

Summary

It is a deal that I can see happening, but has a lot of factors:

1) Man City need to be in a position where they have no other options

2) Arsenal need to secure Lacazette to a new contract

3) Arsenal need to have a replacement lined up

Keenos

League Cup, Micah Richard, Willian, Kolasinac and more…

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League Cup

For the first time in god knows how long we enter the League Cup at the 2nd round stage.

I see plenty of mocking from Tottenham fans; but I remember when they had the “perfect season” a few years ago. 38 league games, knocked out in the 2nd round of the League Cup and 3rd round of the FA Cup. Just 40 games played.

So how seriously should Arsenal take the League Cup?

Without Europe we do not worry about fixture congestion, so no excuse not to play a strong team.

But also without Europe we have less games to keep those fringe players match sharp.

The reward of winning the League Cup is an ugly trophy; but nevertheless a trophy. But it only gets you qualification into next seasons Europa Conference.

Personally, I would like to see Mikel Arteta go all out and win it.

Winning breeds winning and a third trophy in 30 months after the FA Cup and Community Shield would be a good return when we have been in such a huge crisis.

But realistically I think we will rest and rotate.

Expect Aaron Ramsdale to get his first start. Maybe a run out for Hector Bellerin.

Gabriel will return to the defence following his lay off, probably partnering Rob Holding; whilst Nuno Taveras will get his first start at left back.

Midfield will probably be Mo Elneny and Granit Xhaka whilst Odegaard and Aubameyang will get their first start of the season up top.

Who plays wide right and left will be interesting. We might stick Reiss Nelson one side to try and get him in the shop window. That will leave Saka, Pepe, Willian and Smith Rowe playing on the left.

So it will still be a strong team, but one very much of fringe players and those coming back from injury.

WBA have started the Championship season well and have scored 11 goals in their first 4 games.

A defeat will only pile more pressure on Arteta.

Micah Richards

Micah Richards has joined the large group of pundits to sit and bash Arsenal from an uneducated stand point.

On Radio 5 lives, he said “Arsenal can’t attract the top top players” and “They’re buying second tier players”.

Lets take both stat

“Arsenal can’t attract the top top players”

Now I would class “top top players” as those amongst the best in the world. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin de Bruyne, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, etc.

Arsenal have never attracted this level of players.

We have always bought the level below that.

When we signed Thierry Henry in 1999, he was not amongst the best strikers in the world. That was Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Andriy Shevchenko, Christian Vieri, Gabriel Batistuta.

Robert Pires was not on the level of Zinadine Zidane when we bought him. Or Luis Figo, Francesco Totti or David Beckham.

Some might argue that Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were “top top players”.

Ozil has the best case that he was, but Sanchez was clearly never on the same level as Messi and Neymar; and was often competing with Pedro for a place in the squad.

The saying used to be “Arsenal do not buy superstars, they make superstars” and most Arsenal fans are delighted that we are returning to buying younger, talented players rather than senior, established players nearing the end of their peak.

“They’re buying second tier players”

It is interesting to see what Richards is calling a “second tier player”.

Is he classing the likes like Messi, Ronaldo, Lewandowski, de Bruyne, Salah, etc as top tier? And then the level of players below that as second tier?

Or is he saying that “2nd tier” is Championship players?

If he is talking the former, than that links in to what we have discussed above.

Arsenal’s transfer policy should always to be buying players at the 2nd or 3rd tier and improving.

Look at Liverpool.

Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Andrew Robertson, Joe Gomez, Fiminho.

These were not “top tier” players when they signed them.

Salah was at Roma, van Dijk and Mane at Southampton, Robertson at Hull City and Gomez at Charlton.

3 or 4 years ago would Richards have criticised Jurgen Klopp for buying “2nd tier” players? And look how that turned out…

If Richards is saying that White, Odegaard, Ramsdale, Lokonga and Taveras are “championship level players” then perhaps he is not the good pundit he thinks he is.

Arsenal are an easy target at the moment. So many pundits are talking about us without engaging their brains.

We have never signed the top top players of world football; we have always bought younger, 2nd tier players.

We make superstars; not buy them.

Willian, Kolasinac and Torreira

Looks like we might be finally getting rid of the 3 over the next 48 hours.

Will be interesting to see who actually goes; and it will show each players mentality.

If they decide to turn down Corinthians, Fenerbache and Fiorentina it will show a lack of drive and want to play football.

All 3 know they will remain unregistered at Arsenal this season; so they would basically be choosing not to play for the next 4 months rather than seek first team football elsewhere.

Hopefully all 3 go. And a few more.

Enjoy the game tonight.

Keenos