14 days to set the tone for the busy festive spell
Over the next 14 days, Arsenal will face title-challenging Liverpool at Emirates Stadium, and if that wasn’t a stern-enough test, The Gunners also have away trips to Newcastle and Inter Milan before facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Following that, the next international break. It feels like a make-or-break period. To me, it’s more about keeping our head above water rather than being Michael Phelps.
The mood around the club has been high spirited for a good couple of years now. The Emirates has had consistently great atmosphere over this time, but this is one of the rare periods where we need the crowd to be as positive and as excited as they have been for the last couple of seasons.
Liverpool will be tough. Liverpool without multiple key players will be tougher. Liverpool after defeat to Bournemouth will really test the home support. And I hope they stick with them throughout the match. We will lose possession more with Ødegaard. We will be less exciting down the right without Saka. But we are good enough to take a result without them – it just needs a combined effort from both the team and the crowd to do so. To create that buzz. To give the team all the resources needed to bring a result to the table.
Manchester City have consistently worse results without Rodri. Liverpool fell off a cliff without van Dijk a couple of seasons back. Teams losing their best players will make it harder – especially while we’re without two of our biggest ball retainers going forward. And it will prove to be tough for the next couple of games too.
No matter the results, we just need to remain within touching distance. Our early-season fixtures have been hard. After 11 matches in the Premier League season we will have faced Villa away, Spurs away, City away, Liverpool at home, and Newcastle and Chelsea both away too.
Now, it will not be a nice feeling if we lose further ground this weekend or indeed over the next couple of game weeks. But, as eye rolling as it sounds, it is important to not drown completely. After the next international break our remaining fixtures in 2024 are Forest H, West Ham A, United H, Fulham A, Everton H, Palace A, and Ipswich H. A batch of games where we could suddenly get up a head up steam with a nearly-fit squad again.
To add to that, our final FOURTEEN fixtures are Leicester A, West Ham H, Forest A, United A, Chelsea H, Fulham H, Everton A, Brentford H, Ipswich A, Palace H, Bournemouth H, Liverpool A, Newcastle H, Southampton A. There’s real potential that our season rests on a vintage second-half of the season.
In 97/98, we had 10 wins, 8 draws and 4 losses after 23 matches. We were 5th. Then we won 13 of our next 14 and the rest is history. In 01/02we had 13 wins, 9 draws and 3 defeats after 25 matches.
With those two title-winning campaigns mentioned I want to know your favourite match from any title-winning season, or a match that made you think “this might be the season after all”.
End of the day, teams do have down periods, and while the margin for error is smaller in the Man City era, they will drop points too. They’ve not had a convincing result since West Ham away on Matchday 3, and even Liverpool have a Home defeat to Nottingham Forest on their record despite the positive start from Arne Slot.
This season will be a long one yet, and let’s still with the boys all the way.
We return tonight in the Champions League as we look to face Shakhtar Donetsk. After a disappointing result on Sunday against Bournemouth Arteta will be looking to bounce back.
Saliba is still eligible to play in tonight’s game however, is still suspended for the next game meaning he’ll miss Liverpool.
We are still missing the likes of Odegaard, Saka and Timber which have put us under the cosh for the game on the weekend but hopefully our squad can get a result tonight and build some confidence.
Shakhtar kicked us off and we managed to carve out our first chance as Martinelli broke away winning a corner. Rice swung in and the keeper managed to half-clear as the ball fell to Trossard who got past the defender with some nice skill however, his cross came to nothing. For the next couple of minutes, we held possession.
Another chance then came as Havertz won us a corner. This time Trossard took but his cross was cleared for another corner. He put the ball in again as the ball fell to Calafiori who blazed over from close range. The next few minutes were quite cagey as we were not able to create any opportunities.
Shakhtar then had their first chance as Egunaldo’s strike was blocked by Gabriel as the ball went out from the corner. Shakhtar played the corner short and crossed but we were able to clear. We then got a chance as Rice intercepted Riznyk’s pass and headed to Havertz who knocked over to Trossard however, he fired wide.
Rice then had a shot from far which rolled past Riznyk’s post. Another chance came again as Havertz held the ball up and laid it off to Martinelli who took the ball to the byline and crossed into Trossard who poked wide. Another tame effort came as Calafiori struck straight into Riznyk’s arms.
We then broke the deadlock as Martinelli cut in and fired his effort against the post as it rebounded back off the keeper and in. Martinelli broke away again and tried to squeeze the ball through to Trossard however, his ball was cut out.
Ben White was then shown a yellow card for pulling back Egunaldo. Shaktar then had a half-chance as Zubkov put the ball straight in Raya’s hands. We nearly got our second of the night as Martinelli swung the ball to the back post towards Jesus who headed back towards Havertz who was just beaten to the ball by Matviienko.
Jesus was then denied as Havertz played him through as his effort was saved by the feet of Riznyk. Shakhtar then went up the other end as Egunaldo fired wide. Jesus was denied again as he cut back and fired his attempt at a
Shakhtar body. The referee then blew the half time whistle.
Half time views:
A very dominant first half, without any opposition threat. Arteta will want his players to be more clinical as we’ve had quite a few chances.
I would like to see Nwaneri come on soon to give us a bit of a spark and more composure in and around the final third.
Going into the second half, Merino replaced White. We nearly got our second goal early in the second half, with Martinelli whipping the ball across the box to Trossard who couldn’t get enough on his header to direct it towards goal.
We continued to keep pressing as Martinelli forced the Shakhtar goalie to clear out for an Arsenal throw. Martinelli then had an effort saved and out for a corner as Havertz played the ball across the box. Rice put the corner in however, Riznyk claimed easily.
A minute later, Trossard then advanced through the final third and unleashed an effort from outside the box which went just past the post. Shakhtar then had their own effort in the box as Egunaldo’s shot was blocked by Gabriel and safely into Raya’s gloves. Shaktar then enjoyed a spell of possession for a few minutes before we regained control.
However, we began to let Shakhtar into the game as we allowed them to have more space and time on the ball before they made their first changes of the night with Kevin replacing Sikan and Pedrinho replacing Zubkov. We then made our second change of the night with Sterling replacing Jesus. Calafiori also went down however, was able to continue. Although, a minute later Calafiori had to come off being replaced by Lewis-Skelly.
For the majority of the next few minutes we held the ball and were able to win a corner as Martinelli’s cross was cleared. However, VAR had checked for a handball during the clearance and the referee went to the monitor. The referee re entered the pitch and gave a penalty. Trossard stepped up to take and his penalty was saved by the Shakhtar goalkeeper. Shaktar then had their own attempts with their efforts striking the Arsenal defenders. Martinelli was then booked for a flailing arm striking Konoplya.
A few moments later Trossard was replaced by Jorginho. We then won a corner as the ball was hit to the far post towards Martinelli who couldn’t connect as the ball came back out to him where he crossed in to Rice who was unable to bring the ball down.
6 minutes were added and Shaktar had another chance as Pedrinho forced Raya into a save. Shakhtar came again as a looping ball into the box was nearly headed in but Raya stood strong and claimed. As the game came to a close Henrique flew in on Havertz receiving a yellow card and a freekick for us near the corner. We took it and then the referee blew the full time whistle.
Full time views:
A very unconvincing win and strange performance. It seemed as in the latter stages of the game we allowed Shakhtar to get back into the game.
However, a win is a win and that’s 7 points from three Champions League games. Arteta will be disappointed and will want our attackers to be more clinical infront of goal.
Anyhow, onwards and upwards as we look to face Liverpool on Sunday.
We return from another long, pointless international break which again has injured another one of our players, as this evening, we look to face Bournemouth.
With both Ødegaard and Saka out for today’s fixture Arteta will have to mix up the side playing Sterling instead of Saka aswell as bringing in Merino as Havertz will have to go up top with Trossard on the left as a result of Martinelli picking up a small injury leaving him on the bench.
Bournemouth, despite being relatively midtable, have put in some good performances this season under boss Iraola, with their most recent result being a 3-1 win against Southampton. It will be a tough test for us with our injuries however, hopefully the boys can do a job.
As we kicked off at the Vitality, with 1,000 Arsenal fans packed into the away end, we maintained the ball for the first few minutes. However, Bournemouth matched our possession with a high press keeping us at bay for the majority of the first 10 minutes.
Bournemouth made the game very scrappy for us as Saliba played another long ball. The Cherries were forcing us to kick it up long to Havertz who made no real threat. The first half-chance fell to Bournemouth through a big error from Raya as his ball for Moreno was intercepted by Scott on the edge of the box.
He played over to Semenyo who fired his effort over. We had our first surge towards goal as Sterlings cross was blocked as Semenyo beat Sterling to bring it clear and relieve the pressure to move them up the pitch into our half. Rice then won a free kick which was played to Gabriel who swung in a cross which was partially cleared out to Sterling whose cross sailed over.
The first major moment then came as a very sloppy pass back from Trossard towards our centre backs went through our half as Evanlison looked to chase, but he was brought down by Saliba. With the Bournemouth players rushing over appealing, the referee tissues Saliba a yellow card. However, a VAR check was ongoing as they deemed Saliba to have denied a goal scoring opportunity.
The referee went to the monitor and then changed his decision to a red card. For me yes it is a harsh red card considering how unpredictable it could’ve been if Saliba had beaten Evanilson to the on running ball, but I am not going to be against the VAR decision. I think that there needs to be a lot more consistency between all the referees for these kind of incidents as some referees may stick with their initial decisions and some may just see it as a foul.
Anyway, with Saliba off Gabriel was able to clear the free kick. Moments later a ball in from Sensei found Semenyo whose effort was blocked brilliantly by Gabriel.
Our best chance came a minute later as Trossard bring the ball forward and found Sterling, who went on the outside before finding across. The cross was headed away but only to Merino just inside the box. He got a shot away but dragged it wide of the near post. Semenyo then went on the outside before shooting with his left foot. His shot was straight at Raya who pushed it behind for a corner.
Sterling was then replaced by Kiwior following Saliba’s dismissal. A big chance then came for Bournemouth as Semenyo crossed into the box as Raya spilled the ball to Scott whose shot was saved brilliantly through quick reactions from Raya.
We then began to slow the game down as we approached the half time interval. White then had to watch the run of Semenyo as he made it In front before being clipped by the winger as he won a foul. A wayward cross from Bournemouth then brung the half-time whistle from Rob Jones.
Half time views:
A very disjointed first half as a result of the sending off. However, we weren’t creating much when Saliba was on.
Arteta will be disappointed with Trossard’s lapse in concentration and Saliba’s misunderstanding, but will still want a reaction from the other 10 on the pitch.
Hopefully we can stay strong defensively and play our game.
With the return of the second half, Adam Smith replaced Araujo. Bournemouth had an early chance as Outarra put in a cross to Semenyo who smashed over . Havertz then held the ball up superbly and managed to find Rice whose cross was awkwardly headed over by Havertz. Both sides had two spells of posession with nothing coming from it.
Outtara then delivered a dangerous ball in but Calafiori cleared. Moments later Semenyo delivered an inswinging cross from the other side that Tavernier headed wide of the far post. Outtara then beat White again however, his cross again went to the back post where no attacker was.
A triple change was then enforced for Bournemouth as Kluivert, Christie and Sinisterra replaced Outtara, Scott and Kluivert. We also made a change as Trossard was withdrawn in place of Martinelli. Instant impact from Martinelli, who crossed in towards the far post , but his header was cleared behind for a corner. The corner was met by Merino but went over. Kepa then made a huge mistake gifting the ball to Merino who played in Martinelli’s whose effort was saved by Kepa who read where the ball was going.
Bournemouth then broke the deadlock through a well-worked set piece. The ball was played along the floor into the box to Kluivert who flicked back to Ryan Christie who finished beautifully into the top corner. Bournemouth continued to push on as Kerkez’s cross was accidentally cleared behind for a corner by Calafiori. The resulting corner was cleared.
Moments later, a sloppy back pass from Kiwior played the ball into the path of Evanilson who looked to slip past Raya and was brought down as the referee pointed to the spot. Kluivert stepped up to take a sent Raya the wrong way slotting the ball home. Substitute Kiwior was then taken off after his error, being replaced by Jesus while Nwaneri replaced Merino. Meanwhile Unal replaced Evanilson.
We looked to push however, nothing came as a harsh free kick was given against Nwaneri. Rice then worked well to get the ball to Calafiori whose cross was cleared. Jesus then danced forward into the box and appeared to fall over with the referee waving away any penalty claims. Time was running out as Jesus won a foul from Sinisterra.
We took it quickly but the following delivery searching for Havertz went into the arms of Kepa.
Unal then went down. Semenyo was then dispossessed as we looked to mount one last attack but it comes to nothing as Rob Jones blew the full time whistle.
Full time views:
A very poor second half performance despite the red card in the first half. We looked very sloppy and not up for it apart from a few players such as Rice and Gabriel.
With Saliba now out for Liverpool we can only hope that Saka will be back as we missed his spark today. Not much to reflect upon the game apart from not reacting to the first goal.
Anyhow, onwards and upwards as we look to face Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday in the Champions League.
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 