Author Archives: keenosafc

Rare Early North London Derby

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29th August 1925.

It was the opening day of the 1925/26 season and the first day in the job for a certain Herbert Chapman.

The opponent that day was Tottenham Hotspur, who won 1-0 with a goal from Jimmy Dimmock.

That was 94 years ago and is the earliest Arsenal and Tottenham have ever played each other.

The last time Arsenal and Tottenham faced each other in August was back in 1997. It was a dull 0-0 draw. This weekends fixture is the earliest between the 2 sides since then.

In recent history, fixtures between Arsenal and Spurs have followed the same pattern.

They play in Middlesex in November before the return game in North London in March or April.

The fixture is also unusual due its 4:30pm kick off.

Usually, under police orders, games between the two sides happen around lunch time, previously as early as 11:30am. To have an early evening kick off on Sunday will be odd.

It will enable fans to get in a good few hours drinking prior to the match (unlike the hour or two we usually get) but will cut short the evening (unless you have the day booked off work on Monday).

Arsenal will be looking to return to winning ways following defeat to table topping Liverpool, whilst Spurs will be attempting to reverse their relegation form.

LLDLLWWLWLLDWDL is not the name of a Welsh town but Tottenham’s Premier League form over their last 15 games.

That form over 38 games would see them pick up just 38 points. Could Spurs really be in for a relegation battle this season?

Regardless of the result, North London is Red.

Keenos

Gentleman’s agreement opens door to Monreal exit from Arsenal

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The news that Nacho Monreal is off to Real Sociedad is a surprise for many after he started all 3 of Arsenal’s Premier League games this season, but there is a clear and obvious explanation in his departure this summer.

Monreal quietly renewed his contract for an extra year earlier this year. There were rumours that it was done, but no announcement, no fanfare.

It was only really confirmed on the last day of the seasons when the club said goodbye to Pete Cech, Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck. Monreal did not get the big goodbye.

There seems to be an agreement between the Spaniard and the Arsenal hierarchy when he signed on for another year.

Arsenal were targeting a new left back, but wanted Monreal to stay on just incase they could not secure their man.

Monreal was happy to stay, but also wanted to play. If a new left back came in he would be 3rd choice, with Sead Kolasinac staying at the club.

So an agreement was struck.

Monreal would sign a new one year deal, but if Arsenal signed a new left back, they would accept any reasonable offers for their loyal servant.

Once Kieran Tierney was signed, time was ticking down on Monreal’s Arsenal career.

At 33, the curtain is clearly coming down on Monreal’s career. But he still wants to play football.

The easy option would have been to stay at Arsenal for another 1 or 2 years, not playing and banking millions. But Monreal is a proper professional.

Signed from Malaga in January 2013 for £8.5m, Monreal quickly became a fan favourite.

A defensive full back in an era of attacking players, did not have the pace of a Gael Clichy. However he was a better defender and put in a better cross.

He saw off the challenge of Kieran Gibbs and has played 250 times for Arsenal.

Even when Kolasinac came in, he never complained. He raised his game, regained his place and even reinvented himself as a central defender on the left of a 4 as Arsenal won the FA Cup.

He returns to Spain knowing that he made the most of his talent. He leaves with his head held high knowing he was heavily involved in 3 FA Cup wins and 250 games.

The fact he agreed to a new deal despite knowing Arsenal were trying to replace him shows his character.

He was willing to sacrifice a move to Spain to help the club out. To delay things for a year just in case Arsenal couldn’t sign a defender. It would have been easier to turn that contract down and move.

I wish him well in Spain in the twilight of his career and he leaves knowing that he has contributed to The Arsenal and is always welcome back.

Nacho, thanks for the memories.

Keenos

Unai Emery’s rope -a-dope tactics nearly pay off

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1974, Rumble in the Jungle, Ali v Foreman.

George Foreman was considered by many to be the favorite to win the fight due to his superior punching power.

Instead of coming out to fight fire with fire, Muhammad Ali went on the back foot, encouraging Foreman to come at him.

By lying against the ropes, much of the Foreman’s punch’s energy was absorbed by the ropes’ elasticity rather than Ali’s body.

Despite seemingly taking a pummelling, Ali won the fight when Foreman became tired from the beating he was delivering and rope-a-dope was born.

Against Liverpool, Unai Emery attempted to reenact one of the greatest fights of all time on the football field.

Liverpool are the European champions. They finished 2nd last year with a points tally that would have won the league in almost any other season. They lost just one game and finished the season with the two of the three league’s top scorers. They are better than Arsenal. They are stronger than Arsenal.

Emery knew that his Arsenal side could not match Liverpool man for man. Especially with Mesut Ozil, Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney all out. He had to come up with a tactic that would see Arsenal sacrifice going toe to toe with Liverpool and take advantage when the opportunity arose.

And it so nearly worked. Emery was let down by his players who, when the opportunity arose, failed to take advantage.

For the opening 10 minutes Liverpool were getting in behind Arsenal and peppering balls into the box. The Gunners were under the cosh.

Out of nowhere, Arsenal had the chance to take the lead!

Adrián came racing out of his area to clear a forward pass, he slide in and succeeded only in deflecting the ball into Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s path and the Arsenal striker went for the lob but it landed just wide.

8 minutes later Arsenal had another great chance.

A strong break by Dani Ceballos lead the charge up the pitch. On the edge of the box he found Nicolas Pépé, who could only shoot straight at Adrian. Clearest chance of the match.

Despite being under the cosh for the first 20 minutes, Arsenal should really had been leading but failing to take 2 great chances.

Emery’s tactics were becoming clear. Sit back, defend, absorb Liverpool’s attack and look to counter punch when the opportunity arises.

It was working, but then 4 minutes before half time Arsenal concedes from a corner.

Arsenal has been doing so well to hold out, so to concede from a corner would have frustrated all.

2 minutes into the second half, a moment of madness from David Luiz as he pulled Mo Salah’s shirt in the penalty area giving away a penalty.

In the space of 7 on-field minutes, Emery’s best laid plans had been ripped up as Arsenal found themselves 2-0 down.

You can not adopt rope-a-dope tactics if you are behind and the game eventually finished 3-1.

Emery got a lot of criticism from many fans after the game for being tactically naive. But he got his tactics spot on. What he could not count on was Aubameyang and Pepe not taking their chances; and David Luiz giving away a silly penalty straight after half time.

When the goals Arsenal conceded are reviewed, there is little Emery could have done about them.

The 1st was a from a corner where Matteo Guendouzi was fouled, the second a penalty, the 3rd a fabulous finish by Salah. The game was not littered with the defensive errors caused the demise of Arsenal’s recent trips to Anfield.

Sport will always be a game of what ifs.

What if one of Frazer’s booming punches knocked out Ali? he would have been criticised for his rope-a-dope tactics.

What if Aubameyang or Pepe scored their chances within the first 18 minutes? We might have been sitting here this morning talking about an Unai Emery masterclass.

The reality is Arsenal lost 3-1 and another defeat at Anfield.

Still 2nd in the league though.

Keenos