Category Archives: Arsenal

Broken by the emotional rollercoaster of Spurs away

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That was horrible.

At half time, Sunday was quickly turning into one of my greatest non-trophy winning days at the football. By full time it nearly became one of the worst.

To say I was an emotional mess would be an underestimate.

At 3-1 the nerves got the better of me and I could take no more. For the last 20 minutes of the game I could be found in the concourse walking from end to end. When the final whistle sounded, I was unable to celebrate. My legs gave way and I was frozen. It took a mate to pick me up, give me a hug in celebration and assure me that everything was going to be OK.

The stress levels of this game are what caused me to have a mini-mental break.

To go 3-nil up, see us get pegged back to 3-1 (and then 3-2), against that lot, in a must win game for the title. I could see the headlines, hear the mockery if we threw it away. I just could not cope.

Two days on and I am still not as happy as I should be having just seen us go top of the table beating Tottenham on their patch. I should be on cloud nine, in a celebratory mood. But I actually feel down. It feels like we lost.

At half time when 3-nil, I made the point to my mates that we had not actually played that well and, that like Chelsea mid-week, Tottenham had their chances. But I could never have predicted how close we would come to chucking it away.

We came out for the second half in second gear, but never really looked troubled and actually had the best chance of the game. It felt like only a matter of time until we got that 4th – and Bukayo Saka really should have ended all hope of Spurs.

Then David Raya inexplicitly kicked the ball straight at Cristian Romero.

I thought the Match of the Day analysis of what happened was fairly accurate. There is no blame to Raya as he is asked by the coaches to play that way and had the chip over Romero worked, Arsenal would have easily beaten the press and be facing Tottenham with one of the central defenders up field.

Mistakes happen. We have seen both Ederson and Allisson miskick it to an opponent over the years and it is part of the risk / reward of not simply hoofing it forward and creating a 50/50 challenge in the air.

As for the penalty, the incident highlights the inconsistency in VAR decision making.

Earlier this season we were denied a penalty against Aston Villa when Gabriel Jesus had his ankle booted by a Villa defender whilst trying to control the ball. Jarred Gillett was the VAR at the time and made the decision that it was not a penalty, and not a clear and obvious error.

At White Hart Lane, the referee waved play on having decided it was not a penalty. Declan Rice was attempting to clear the ball and had his eyes on nothing else when he caught Ben Davies. Gillett was once again on VAR and this time decided the ref had made a clear and obvious error and a penalty was awarded.

The same referee, sitting in their portacabin, making two different decisions for very similar incidents. I have always said the issue is not the technology but those who operate. The inconsistency is frustrating.

As for everything else, Gillett got the offside decision correct, even though Spurs fans have questioned it, and it was never a penalty on Dejan Kuluveski in the lead up to Saka’s goal.

A play running and his heel clipping an opponents knee can never be a freekick or penalty. It is clearly just a coming together and it would be impossible to determine who had made contact with who.

Tottenham fans cryarsing has got me out of my slumber a bit. the way they have moaned about the weekends result shows they have well and truly bought into Ange Postiwhatshisname’s “greatness”. The fact is they are 20 points behind us and 8th in the form table since the turn of the year. The longer they continue to back a man clearly out of his depth tactically the better!

We move on. 3 games to go we are in the title race, although Manchester City are favourites.

Up next is Bournemouth who are clearly not in beach mode having thrashed Brighton on Sunday (Brighton themselves clearly are already on the beach!). Win that game and it is basically than a “rivals” shoot out.

Manchester United v Arsenal
Tottenham v Manchester City

Will we get a favour from Spurs? Will City get a favour from Manchester United? Either way, the title race is going down to the last week of the season and that is all we could ever ask for.

UTA.

Keenos

MTCH REPORT: Tottenham 2 – 3 Arsenal

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Tottenham Hotpsur (0) 2 Arsenal (3) 3
Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 782 High Road, London N17 0BX
Sunday, 28th April 2024. Kick-off time: 2.00pm

(4-3-3) David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Takehiro Tomiyasu; Martin Ødegaard (c), Thomas Partey, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard.
Substitutes: Aaron Ramsdale, Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith-Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Jakob Kiwior, (Jorge Luiz Frello Filho) Jorginho, Fábio Vieira, Oleksandr Zinchenko

Scorers: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (o.g. 15 mins), Bukayo Saka (27 mins), Kai Havertz (38 mins)
Yellow Cards: Thomas Partey
Arsenal Possession Percentage: 38%

Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistant Referees: Stuart Burt, Dan Cook
Fourth Official: Andy Madley
VAR Team at Stockley Park: VAR Jarred Gillett; AVAR Darren Cann

Attendance: 61,554

With regards to this North London derby this afternoon, we have to go into the stadium and be focussed, dynamic, single-minded and professional; in other words, score the goals and do the job. Worry about the bragging rights, the hubris, even the rhetoric for another day. Three points are what is needed today, preferably with a clean sheet and no cards handed out by the referee. Let’s go!

In this white-hot North London derby day atmosphere, the home team started things moving, and right from the start, both teams felt the importance of this game today, and every ball was being fought for, every tackle was firm and deliberate. Thomas Partey lost possession and suddenly the home side were on the charge being led by Son Heung-min, but they were far too slow, thankfully, and their effort went nowhere, so we were able to clear the danger.

A superb Kai Havertz cross into the box was headed clear before Thomas Partey won a free-kick just outside the penalty area following a poor foul by James Maddison, but Martin Ødegaard smashed it into the Tottenham Hotspur defensive wall.

After just fifteen minutes, we took the lead when a corner from Bukayo Saka met the head of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who tried to clear it but only managed to send it past Guglielmo Vicario in the Tottemham Hotpsur goal.

In response, a Christian Romero header hit the outside of David Raya’s post, and then, a couple of minutes later, Micky van de Ven blasted the ball past our goalkeeper, but VAR deemed it to be offside, which was a huge let-off.

Everything was focused at the other end, and sure enough, three minutes before the half hour mark, Dejan Kulusevski lost his footing inside our penalty area and we managed to catch the home side on the break. Suddenly, Bukayo Saka found himself in acres of space and simply cut inside before putting the ball away neatly past Guglielmo Vicario for our second goal of the afternoon.

The home side started to capitulate, as we moved forward with growing confidence today. Seven minutes before the half-time break, from yet another Bukayo Saka corner, Kai Havertz scored our third goal from close range in the six-yard box.

Following a Son Heung-min shot that flew right over the crossbar, six minutes injury time was awarded by referee Michael Oliver, and in that period, Bukayo Saka almost grabbed his second goal of the afternoon, but his close range attempt was somehow kept out by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario; and so we went into the break three goals to the good. Are we in dreamland?

Declan Rice kicked off second half proceedings in this incredible North London derby today, and within a minute or so, our captain was fouled, but from the resulting free-kick, a header from Takehiro Tomiyasu (as he was falling), went over the crossbar.

A Christian Romero header went over David Raya’s crossbar, and then the home team were denied a penalty when Dejan Kulusevski went down in our penalty area after a good tackle from Gabriel, but the referee correctly called it out as a dive by the Tottenham Hotspur forward.

Almost immediately, Bukayo Saka was desperately unlucky not to score at the other end, when Guglielmo Vicario saved his shot with his leg. So close.

The home side were putting pressure on David Raya’s goal, but our defenders were holding them out expertly.

Pedro Porro somehow managed to deny Leandro Trossard scoring, and just after the hour mark, Gabriel Martinelli replaced Leandro Trossard, probabaly to get fresh legs into the attack.

Shortly afterwards, David Raya made a terrible error in clearing the ball to Christian Romero who obliged by slotting the ball into the net. Of course, the home fans felt something was in the air and have changed the atmosphere in an instance, thanks to the nature of their goal, scored in such ridiculous circumstances.

The match has woken up now, with both teams putting in a shift, looking and searching for another goal. We looked a wee bit nervous at the back, but we managed to clear the ball well.

Declan Rice and Takehiro Tomiyasu looked like they were going to get booked by referee Michael Oliver, but he decided quite rightly so, that their challenges were not worthy of a yellow card, unlike Dejan Kulusevski who cynically tripped Gabriel Martinelli out on the left wing, as well as Ben Davies, who fouled Bukayo Saka out on the other wing.

The resulting free-kick was nervously punched away by Guglielmo Vicario. However, Thomas Partey received our first yellow card of the afternoon when he tripped Son Heung-min; minutes later, the home side were awarded a penalty when Declan Rice fouled Ben Davies in the penalty area, and Son Heung-min duly scored.

The remaining five minutes or so of the match will be a tough test for us. Jakon Kiwior replaced our captain in the last minute of normal time, and Bukayo Saka took a superb corner, which was cleared for another one by Micky van de Ven.

In the six minutes of injury time, the tension was unbearable, as the action was going from end to end.

As the clock was running down, the home side put us under pressure from a various strikers, and literally at the death, we managed to clear a corner as referee Michael Oliver blew the final whistle.

Phew. A real nail biter, this North London derby was today, especially the last twenty minutes or so!

Although the records will correctly state that Tottenham Hotspur scored two goals this afternoon, in reality the first goal was a silly error by David Raya, and the other goal was an accident that led to a penalty. Under extreme pressure, the boys did well, despite the thirty-eight per cent possession ratio.

At the time of writing, we are still top of the table, and Arsenal remain the team to beat. That Tottenham Hotspur match is now done and dusted. Let us now focus on the AFC Bournemouth match next Saturday afternoon at the Emirates. Well done, chaps!

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: AFC Bournemouth at the Emirates on Saturday 4th May 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

Champions League football secured – now for the title (and finishing above that lot)

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Well here we are.

Had we been offered at the start of the season that we would be heading to Edmonton with 4 games to go and in the title race, we all would have taken in.

Our little wobble over Christmas saw us go 5 points behind Liverpool, level on points with Manchester City (with them having a game in hand) and 1 point above Tottenham who were 5th. At this point there were worries that we might not even make the top 4.

Our form in 2024 has been nothing short of remarkable.

14 games played, 12 wins, 1 draw and just 1 defeat. It is title winning form and no other side has more points this calendar year.

That form has seen us leapfrog City (who still have their game in hand), and swing the gap behind to Liverpool from 5 behind to 2 in hand, with us having a game in hand.

Meanwhile, that lot from Middlesex have shown mid-table form and gone from a point behind us to 17. They have only won 1 more point than Chelsea in 2024, which is incredible when you consider how poor the team from West London have been and how great Ange Postiwhatshisname has been.

Following results over the weekend, Champions League football is now guaranteed for The Arsenal next season.

What has made me happy so much this season is not only the way we have fought our way back in the title race, but how we have maintained title chasing form whilst also playing in the Champions League. Many pundits expected us to struggle with the higher intensity games.

It also makes Tottenham’s position more laughable – they have had no mid week football and have played just 3 cup games. They look knackered despite being set for a 41 game season – just one more than the minimum. But they will always have thrashing the Lion City Sailors 5-1 in pre-season.

If we avoid defeat today, then we will secure finishing above Tottenham for the 23rd time in 29 seasons. Has their ever been a “hotly contested local derby” where one side has been so dominant?

However, as Everton showed a week ago against Liverpool, form can go out of the window in these local derbies, and Tottenham only need to play for a draw to spoil our party.

We basically need to win all of our last 4 games. We can not afford to drop any more points. Spurs will know that and set up accordingly.

In a little more than 8 hours time, we will either be ecstatic or miserable whilst waiting to get on a train at Northumberland Park.

Get the win, than it is head back to Islington to catch the Man City game. I do not expect them to drop points this weekend. Lose and it is head back to drown our sorrows.

And then it is a weekend off (for once) before Bournemouth.

UTA.

Keenos