Category Archives: Arsenal

Match Report: Sporting 0 – 1 Arsenal

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Sporting Club of Portugal (0) 0 Arsenal (0) 1
UEFA Europa League, Group E, Matchday 3 of 6
Estádio José Alvalade Stadium
Thursday, 25th October 2018. Kick-off time: 5.55pm
(4-2-3-1) Leno; Lichtsteiner, Holding, Sokratis, Xhaka; Guendouzi, Elneny; Mkhitaryan, Ramsey (C); Welbeck, Aubameyang.
Substitutes: Martinez, Mustafi, Jenkinson, Torreira, Iwobi, Özil, Lacazette.
Scorers:Welbeck
Yellow Cards: Mkhitaryan, Holding
Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
Attendance: 47,331
If we all believe in omens, then tonight is going to be a classic case. In the season that we won the Fairs Cup (1969-70), Arsenal beat Sporting Club de Portugal en route to the final, so let’s hope that tonight, history (which can be fickle) repeats itself and we shall be starting on our journey to glory! One of the big three of Portuguese football (along with Benfica and Porto), Sporting Club de Portugal, at the time of writing, are currently fifth in Primeira Liga, a league that they have won 18 times; last season they finished third, behind champions FC Porto and Benfica.
A strong Gunners team lined up here for the early kick-off at The Estádio José Alvalade Stadium, which also included, amongst our substitutes, the return of Carl Jenkinson, which I must say was a surprise (but welcome) addition to the bench tonight in Lisbon. True to form, and true to our season, the first half of tonight’s match was lukewarm by anyone’s standards, let alone Mr. Emery’s. With just two shots on target, it was looking like we were all careering towards a dull-and-dreary goalless draw, with the Arsenal machine creaking down and punching through the gears into a pitiful crawl. The one and only incident of note was when Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s free kick was punched away by the Sporting Lisbon goalie almost on the stroke of half-time; by this time we were all starting to wonder if Arsenal’s talent had been impounded at Portuguese customs upon landing.
However, the second half started, and the Arsenal model of 2018-19 started to look like the team that we have known for most of this campaign. We picked up the pace quite early, and the on-form Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang led the charge with two chances which were denied that on any other day would have ended up with a goal for him. Time for a change, time for fresh legs; just before the hour, Mohamed Elneny made way for Lucas Torreira, and suddenly everything started to move up a notch. Passing became more accurate, tackling was precise and crisp, and more importantly than all of these things, players started to run into space and find their renewed hunger for the game. Out of nowhere, the goal appeared, like a welcome genie out of the bottle. A clever back-heel from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, which the Sporting Club defender failed to address, and Danny Welbeck capitalised immediately on the error, striking a perfect ball through the goalie’s legs and into the corner of the net; from that moment onwards, the match was truly ours. As Mr. Emery is prone to do in these situations, more substitutions became paramount. Danny Welbeck left the pitch in favour of Alexandre Lacazette, and six minutes later, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang followed him into the dressing room, to be replaced by Alex Iwobi; and apart from one or two chances here and there, the match was ours, even after a mysterious five minutes of injury time.
Not wishing to rain on anyone’s parade, our defence is still problematical at times; it’s not just the centre backs either, the full-backs charge up the field and don’t recover quickly enough – they lack awareness at times and get caught too many times out of position. These problems, which may seem minor at the moment will return to haunt us in the future when we meet teams in the Premier League that can (and will) punish us badly for these indiscretions. But eleven matches undefeated speak for themselves, and the stats that state high percentage possession are always welcome to see, of course. Next match is Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this Sunday, and the expectations are growing ever higher with each game. Remember everyone, keep the faith, get behind the team and the manager, as these early days are going to be crucial for our future success in all competitions. Stick with the winners.
Victoria Concordia Crescit.
Steve

Rob Holding, Ben Chilwell & Hector Bellerin

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Rob Holding

On the journey home from the game on Monday night, I was following the fall out from the game and the main discussion point was surrounding Rob Holding and a blatant handball in the area.

If given if would have meant a penalty to Leicester and surely a second yellow card for the Arsenal centre back.

Whilst it was a hand ball, it should not have been a penalty.

Everyone is focusing on what Rob Holding did, and not what the Leicester City player did in the lead up when jumping.

In the above still, it is clear and obvious that the Leicester player has his arm on the shoulder of Rob Holding.

The ball is not yet in frame, and the Leicester player has his arm across Holdings neck.

This in turn pulls Holding towards the Leicester player. His arm then bounces off the head of his opponent and towards the ball.

This is an obvious foul. And it is the weight he puts on Holding that unbalances him in the air, causing him to make contact with the ball with his hand.

https://twitter.com/daf2511/status/1054641453169815552?s=21

Ben Chilwell

Arsenal have been linked with the young Leicester left back for a few uses now. He turns 22 in December and his progress from potential to starter has been a little slower than expected.

But against Arsenal, he showed everything he needs to become a full back in Islington.

Quick in attack and capable of putting in a good ball – no Premier League player has put in more crosses this season – he can also defend.

If Monday night was a trial for him to show what he can do, he passes with flying colours.

Would not be upset if he was on our left flank next season.

Hector Bellerin

Talking about full backs, Hector Bellerin has returned to form on the other wing.

Yes, he was caught on his heels a little bit for their first goal. With him being very unlucky with the deflection. But he has looked more solid in recent games.

And that comes down to Alex Iwobi playing ahead of him.

Bellerin at the back looks a different player with a winger in front of him.

More space when going forward, and cover when he is defending.

No longer constantly left in 2 on 1 situations.

Iwobi has grown into the right wing to the point where he is now first choice winger.

Pace, strength and skill put there. Also puts a shift in, covering his full back.

With Reiss Nelson doing bits in Germany, our right flank looks solid for a few years to come

Keenos

https://twitter.com/shewore/status/1049278433749073920?s=21

Match Report: Arsenal 3 – 1 Leicester City

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Arsenal (1) 3 Leicester City (1) 1
Premier League
Emirates Stadium, Drayton Park, London N5 1BU
Monday, 22nd October 2018. Kick-off time: 8.00pm
(4-2-3-1) Leno: Bellerín, Mustafi, Holding, Lichtsteiner; Torreira, Xhaka; Mkhitaryan, Özil, Iwobi; Lacazette.
Substitutes: Martínez, Medley, Guendouzi, Smith-Rowe, Ramsey, Welbeck, Aubameyang.
Scorers: Özil, Aubameyang (2)
Yellow Cards: Holding, Xhaka
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Attendance: 59,886
On this chilly October night, we welcome to our stadium the 2016 Premiership champions, Leicester City, who lifted the much-coveted trophy after a hard-fought season in which many observers felt that they did not have the credentials to see the job through, which they did of course, to the surprise of just about everyone both inside and outside the game. In the past, we have done some excellent business with The Foxes; Alan Smith, who became known as the striker that always seemed to pop up and score an important goal for us when it was needed the most (Anfield ’89 and Copenhagen ’94) who came to us from Filbert Street (their old ground) back in 1987. Also, our 1970 Fairs Cup and 1971 “double” winning captain, the legendary Frank McLintock, who joined us from LCFC in 1964 and became one of our six truly legendary skippers, along with Tom Parker, Eddie Hapgood, Joe Mercer, Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira. Many can be a club captain, very few are leaders of men; he wore that thorny crown with true panache, courage and honour in an illustrious nine year career before leaving us for Queens Park Rangers in 1973.
Here we again, almost straight from the kick-off, we remain in first gear for the early period. LCFC put us on the back foot and pressurised the boys, keeping us in our own half. The worst moment came when Rob Holding handballed in his own penalty area, moments after being booked for a minor offence; thankfully the referee didn’t appear to see what everyone else in the stadium did, and we all breathed a collective sight of relief. Now the inevitable. Just after the half hour mark, The Foxes scored when Hector Bellerín was outpaced by the Leicester full-back, and although he got his leg in the way of the shot, it only served to redirect the ball into his own net. As we have seen before in other matches this season, being one down (particularly at home) suddenly wakes us up, and right on the stroke of half-time, our captain for the night, Mesut Özil, redressed the balance with a wonderful goal. He passed the ball to Hector Bellerín, who quickly managed to return it to our captain who finished the job off with a a perfect, yet silky left-footed shot that went in off the inside of the post.
The second half, as we have seen constantly this season, started with Arsenal powerful, in command, and confident. We played as if there was no other team on the pitch, and on the hour, Mr. Emery put his master plan into operation, starting with an inspired double substitution; Mattéo Guendouzi for Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on for Stephan Lichtsteiner – now the fun began. Mesut Özil, undoubtedly the man-of-the-match, now really came into his own. He totally orchestrated proceedings in midfield, and our second goal was the hallmark of genius, courtesy of the skipper. He released Hector Bellerín who returned the ball quickly for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score our second of the night, and just three minutes later, he did it again, brilliantly dummying the ball before slotting it to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for his second goal (and our third) of the night. Fifteen minutes later, Mesut Özil was himself substituted for Aaron Ramsey, and it was heartening to see the crowd give the little man a well-deserved standing ovation for his tireless and selfless work on the night. By the now the stats told the true story, we had 81 per cent possession, and for the rest of the match, it was ours all the way, even despite The Foxes rattling the crossbar from a corner close to the end. A job well done, fourth in the Premiership, undefeated in ten matches across all competitions, and two points away from the leaders. Who would have thought it a few months ago?
Despite a slow start, we recovered extraordinarily well, and at times our football was truly breathtaking and a sight to behold. We still are porous at the back, and we need to work on that quickly, especially with some of the matches that we have in our calendar in the next month or so. Remember everyone, keep the faith, get behind the team and the manager, as these early days are going to be crucial for our future success in all competitions. Stick with the winners. Victoria Concordia Crescit.
Steve