MATCH REPORT; Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace

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Arsenal (2) 5 Crystal Palace (0) 0

Premier League

Emirates Stadium, Drayton Park, London N5 1BU

Saturday, 20th January 2024. Kick-off time: 12.30pm

(4-3-3) David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Martin Ødegaard (c), Declan Rice, Kai Havertz; Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard.

Substitutes: Aaron Ramsdale, Emile Smith-Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Jakob Kiwior, Cédric Soares, (Jorge Luiz Frello Filho) Jorginho, Reiss Nelson, Reuell Walters

Scorers: Gabriel (11 mins), Dean Henderson (37 mins o.g.), Leandro Trossard (59 mins), Gabriel Martinelli (90+4, 90+5 mins)

Arsenal Possession Percentage: 61%

Referee: Paul Tierney

Assistant Referees: Scott Ledger, Dan Robathan

Fourth Official: Andy Madley

VAR Team at Stockley Park: VAR Stuart Attwell; AVAR Steve Meredith

Attendance: 60,284

After the disaster surrounding the Christmas 2023 fixtures, we are back to Premiership action today, in a hotly contested London derby against Crystal Palace. It goes without saying that we need to get back to winning ways now, especially after the mid-season break, in which we sincerely hope that the lads return rejuvenated and inspired to start the second half of the season in fine fettle in the only way we know how, with a victory this afternoon.

The match started quickly with our chaps pushing the ball around with confidence and positivity, although as early as the third minute, Eberechi Eze managed to get the ball to Joachim Andersen whose header went wide of David Raya’s post, which was a near miss in anybody’s book. Their early attempt appeared to spark us into life, and over the next few minutes, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz came very close to opening the scoring. However, our joy was obvious in the crowd when, on the eleventh minute, we took the lead when Declan Rice crossed the ball for Gabriel to head the ball into the bottom right corner of the net. We continued to pressurise the visitors very well, and Gabriel almost grabbed a second goal when Bukayo Saka crossed a beautiful ball from the wing, which found our man’s head perfectly, but unfortunately the ball went wide. Despite some interesting midfield play from both sides, it was us that provided the more concrete chances to score out of the two teams. Martin Ødegaard slotted the ball to Leandro Trossard, whose right-footed shot from outside the box was blocked by a defender, and despite the visitors doing their best to make a difference, it was us who had the better chances to score. Thirteen minutes from half time, we grabbed the second goal of the game when Palace goalie Dean Henderson scored a ridiculous own goal, and shortly afterwards, Oleksandr Zinchenko’s left-footed shot from the left hand side of the penalty area flew past the right hand side of the goal, and during injury time, Gabriel Jesus slotted a superb through ball to Leandro Trossard, whose left-footed shot from the centre of the penalty area went very high and wide to the left of the Palace goal.

We started the second half in the same manner that we finished the first, with lots of pressure on the visitors’ goal. Declan Rice’s right-footed shot from outside the penalty area was saved in the top left corner by Dean Henderson, following a superb pass from Bukayo Saka, and then Leandro Trossard was unlucky not to score with a strong shot from outside the penalty area, which was blocked by a Palace defender. Attempt after attempt by our players to score was met by clearances and blockages by the Palace defenders, but they could not keep us out forever. A minute before the hour, we scored our third goal when Gabriel Jesus played provider for Leandro Trossard, whose right-footed shot from the centre of the penalty area ended up in the top left-hand corner of the net. Now we were truly coasting. Have a cigar, chaps. Although to be fair, the visitors were trying to make an impact, but we managed to stifle their attempts quite easily. With twenty minutes of the match remaining, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith-Rowe replaced Leandro Trossard along with Kai Havertz and the pressure continued. About five minutes later, Declan Rice looked like he picked up an injury, and to be on the safe side, he was replaced by Jorginho, and we managed to consolidate, pass the ball better and advance up the field on the hunt for yet more goals. Bukayo Saka was desperately unlucky not to score when our captain set him up perfectly to shoot for goal, and then, within the space of two minutes, both Jorginho and Martin Ødegaard’s attempts to score our fourth were stymied by the Eagles’ defenders, and with nine minutes of the game left to play, Mikel Arteta decided to make two final substiutions, Eddie Nketiah, who replaced Gabriel Jesus, and because of injury, Jakub Kiwior took the place of Gabriel with just minutes of the match to go. In the seven minutes injury time awarded, we still had time to score a couple more; firstly, we broke out of our half, and Eddie Nketiah deftly slotted the ball to Gabriel Martinelli, whose right-footed shot from the left-hand side of the penalty area ended up in the bottom right-hand corner of the net, and just a minute later, the same man grabbed our fifth goal of the day when, after another smash’n’grab movement, Jorginho passed the ball into the path of Gabriel Martinelli again, whose exquisite right-footed shot from the centre of the Palace penalty area ended up in the bottom right-hand corner of the net, to finish the match perfectly. What an afternoon for the Gunners!

A superb victory, just what the doctor ordered. Obviously, as expected, the winter break invigorated them, and they cruised to victory today against a demoralised Crystal Palace side, who to be fair, were never at the races at any point in this game. This much-needed win moves the boys up to third in the Premiership table, two points behind the leaders Liverpool but having played a game more than Jűrgen Klopp’s side, but all in all, a grand return to action for our team. 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: Nottingham Forest at The City Ground on Tuesday, 30th January at 7.30pm (Premier League). Be there, if you can. Victoria Concordia Crescit.

Gunners look to shoot down Eagles

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Shorter blog than normal today due to the 12:30 kick off. Still need to smash a couple more coffee’s and have a fry-up before I head out to todays game.

The early Saturday kick off is easily my least favourite over the weekend. It is just shit having to wake up, get dressed and head straight to the game. Will be lucky to get a couple of pints in before the game, which often explains why the atmosphere in these early games are subdued.

Mikel Arteta’s pre-match interview was a day later than normal due to the trip to Dubai, on which he said:

“We worked really hard on things that we wanted to do, and we recharged our batteries. The context and the change in environment in beautiful weather helped, and the togetherness and the moments that we shared together were great. We feel fully recharged.”

What is now important is that the fans also used it to reset their brains.

Before the break, some of the old boo boys and moaners had begin sharing their views again. Today we all need to get behind the team and allow our behaviour to positively impact the players. not negatively.

On injuries, Arteta said “we are touch and go with a few”. Those few will be Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus. I would not be surprised to see both start.

One interesting quote to come out of the press conference was Arteta speaking about how it is important not to overreact after a run of defeats: “defeats cannot make you lose who you are because if you do that, then you were never who you said you were.”

He is spot on with this.

You can not keep chopping and changing tactics after a few poor results and expect to consistently perform. Liverpool are the perfect example of this.

Jurgen Klopp teams have played pretty much the same way throughout his management career. Even last season when times were tough, he stuck to his principals.

Football is becoming a lot more “formalised” on the pitch, with more set plays in open play. Players know where they need to be before the ball is passed, and this gives sides a huge competitve advantage. 7 tought games does not make Arteta a bad manager, nor does it mean that he should undo the great work he has done over the last 18-months.

In other news, we were approached yesterday by West Ham United for Emile Smith Rowe. Both player and club rejected the deal.

Arsenal would have rejected the deal because it was a loan offer. The door is open for Smith Rowe to leave on a permanent transfer. Probably anything north of £30m. We have learned from the Ainsley Maitland-Niles saga that loan deals only devalue a player.

West Ham fans have been up in arms saying “Smith Rowe thinks he is bigger than us” and then thrown abuse at the young England international. Lets get things right, ESR does not think he is bigger than West Ham, he just wants to have one more opportunity to resurrect his Arsenal career.

Smith Rowe joined Arsenal at the age of 10. He finally had his breakthrough season in 2021–22, and what has followed is 18 months of injuries. He clearly wants to give it another 6-months of trying to make it at Arsenal rather than be loaned out.

If Smith Rowe fails to make an impact in the 2nd half of the season, he will know his time at Arsenal has come to an end. Then I expect him to join someone like West Ham permanently in the summer.

We all know West Ham fans are a little fragile, but them abusing a player for trying to make it at a higher level, for the club he has been at since he was 10, just shows they are knuckle draggers.

Little over an hour before I need to get on the Central Line. Time for coffee number two and to stick some sausages and bacon in the air fryer.

UTA.

Keenos

Dubai return, Injuries, Ivan Toney and more

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Dubai return

I am not a fan of the winter break. It feels pointless. But it also came at a good time for The Arsenal.

We felt like a club under pressure. Struggling for positive results with a missfiring forward line. Spending 10 days in Dubai has been an opportunity for players to unwind – both physically and mentally.

Tomorrow we need to get behind the lads. They would have shaken the negativity off, so it will be important that we the fans do not pile it straight back on.

A big enough win tomorrow (8 goals!) and we go second…

Injuries

With the team out in Dubai, we have not had the usual thursday pre-match Mikel Arteta press conference. That means we have no idea if any of our walking wounded will be back fit.

The lads out long-term – Jurrien Timber, Fabio Vieira and Thomas Partey – will almost certainly not be back.

Some were hopeful that Timber would return in February, but with the type of injury he had this was always optimistic. I would be surprised if we see him until April.

Fabio Vieira and Thomas Partey were both out in Dubai training, but the Crystal Palace game will come a little early whilst they continue to rebuild their fitness. With another 10-day break before our next game, expect both to be held back.

Olexsandr Zinchenko is currently 50/50 to start against Palace. The expectation earlier in the week was that he would be back, but the Evening Standard are now reporting that he might not be fit enough.

It is better news for Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian has looked fit, sharp and ready in Dubai. Expect him to be straight back in the first XI tomorrow.

Ivan Toney

I have always been concerned about Ivan Toney’s attitude.

Those Snapchats from a couple of years ago where he abused Brentford never sat well to me. Then you had the gambling ban. And more recent the interview where he openly discussed leaving the West London club.

Btrentford recruited Toney from League One. They supported him during the gambling issues and his ban. He has shown them so little respect and clerarly believes he is destined for bigger things than them.

Compare Toney to Ollie Watkins (who Toney replaced at Brentford). Watkins gets his head down, scores goals, and is never in the press for the wrong reasons. There is a reason why Watkins has now become an England squad regular, whilst Gareth southgate was always reluctant to pick Toney.

I am not sure that I would want someone with Toney’s attitude at the club, despite the goals he might score.

Tottenham transfers

Spurs fans are all a little giddy right now after news broke that they will (potentially) be signing 18-year-old Norwegian forward Antonio Nusa.

“Ange has transformed us”
“Paratici doing bits”
“Levy backing Ange”
“So exciting to be a Spurs fan right now”
“We are back as a serious club”
“Ange success rewarded”

Let’s get a few things right.

They have signed a Romanian central defender that no-one had heard of 6 months ago.
They have signed (on loan) a past-it forward who was dumped by Chelsea, and has now been dumped by RB Leipzig
They are potentially going to sign an 18-year-old forward with 5 goals in 52 games that no one had heard of yesterday morning

This will not be the first transfer window Tottenham have “won”. Infact, by my math they have won more transfer windows than league titles.

As for Spurs being back and brilliant Ange, Tottenham are 5th, behind “found out Mikel Arteta” and “struggling Arsenal”.

Give it 18 months and the tactically inept Australian will be at Fulham.

Jordan Henderson

Joke of a man.

Went to Saudi Arabia for the money, pretended he was going to “achieve something special and build a club and build the league”, and then within 6-months he is out of there.

Everyone knew that the Saudi Pro League was a huge sports washing experiment, and all those players that took the money to promote the nation in a positive light are complicit in the Human Rights atrocities that are carried out at the demands of their pay masters.

One reason I chuckle when football wear rainbow laces or take the knee is because you know the majority of them can be bought. They will all go to Saudi Arabia for £500k a week, despite the “Kingdoms” stance on slavery and sexuality.

Henderson was one of the most prominent voices during the “we will promote any cause” era of the Premier League. He then showed his true self by going to Saudi for the money.

He should never play for England again.

Keenos