It feels odd sitting there on Sunday evening watching a crap film, feeling disappointed that we have extended out league at the top of the league.
It is now 7 points. But it could have been 9. Or even 11. And I get the disappointment.
But what has happened at the top end of the league in the last 5 games is incredible, and not sure I have seen it before:
Arsenal: 11/15 points Man City: 6/15 Aston Villa: 7/15 Liverpool: 7/15 Man U: 9/15 Chelsea: 5/15
The top 6 in the Premier League averaging 7.5 points from 15. That’s 1.5 points a game. On for a 57 point season.
So what is happening? The only thing I can think is that most of the teams have payed 8-9 games in less than 30 days. For Arsenal it was 9 games in 27 days. A game every 3 days.
Are we now seeing the additional games from the Champions League and the shorter season due to the World Cup taking its toll?
Some will say “we shouldn’t celebrate being the least worst”, but if we maintain that position for the rest of the season, we win it.
Yes, be disappointed about the draw against Notts Forest. But we are still outperforming those around us. Back the boys.
The haters are out in force this morning trying to do everything they can to derail our four-front trophy challenge.
This morning it seems the pile is in aimed at Bukayo Saka.
Whilst almost every left back to have faced him as labelled him as “their toughest opponent to play against”, media pundits and Arsenal fans have decided to dig the knife into him.
The put up screenshots in an attempt to highlight situations where Saka has not played in Gyokeres. As if they have played football to anywhere near Saka’s level and could have made the pass themselves.
“Saka doesn’t lie to pass to Gyokeres” really is a crazy conspiracy theory. As if when on the pitch players refuse to pass to teammates to the detriment of team when chasing trophies. It does not happen.
From claiming his is overrated to trying to create a narrative that he does not like Viktor Gyokeres, it is the latest in a long line of attacks on Arsenal dating back as long as I can remember.
Our haters, of which oddly many claim to be Arsenal fans, will always find something to dig us out. Whether it is our red card record, our lack of Englishmen, our 8-year trophy drought, or now Bukayo Saka and our set piece prowess. There will always be something.
Meanwhile we have played 32 games this season. Lost just 2. A 78% win rate.
Haters will always hate. They do not tie honest commentary on the game. They will always just to find a narrative to suit their agenda. And right now that narrative is attacking Bukayo Saka.
After a bright opening 30 minutes, Arnie Slott changed his tactics and basically bought everyone behind the ball, moving to a 5-5 formation.
This allowed Liverpool to double up on our wingers whilst not sacrificing defensive solidity behind them, and also crowd out the midfield, leaving us with no space to play and nullifying our press. These tactics were also detrimental to Liverpool as, playing without a striker, they failed to muster a shot on target all game.
In the second half, Liverpool basically passed the ball for passing sake. Hey had no intention of moving the ball up the pitch towards our goal, and where more than play in safe passes in heir own half to kill time.
The only time they looked a threat was whe a chance to break appeared, with their right back being their most attacking forward. Their only chance came from our mistake.
Slott’s aim was very much not to lose the game. An odd stance considering a win would have kept them on our coat tails (just) in the title race. Had they been braver, they could have finished the day 11 points behind. Instead they are still 14 behind and now almost certainly out of this title race.
Mikel Arteta is spot on with his assessment. We created opportunities but could not get that final pass, whilst Liverpool created nothing.
This game was almost a mirror of the match in Anfield, with the only difference being no moment of magic.
As for the two lots of shenanigans during g the game, players only really have themselves to blame.
Players go down too easily, crying injury in the attempt to get the game stopped. Instead of Virgil van Dijk whinging that we did not put the ball out when Frimpong went down, he should she be screaming at his right back to get up and get back. There was clearly nothing wrong with him as he ran off the pitch.
And at the end, I am not sure how Liverpool can complain when the bin dipper rolled back on the pitch in the attempt to waste time. Gabriel Martinelli was correct in trying to push Bradley back off, and I would expect Liverpool players to do that to ours if we did the same.
Before the Christmas break we were 4 points clear. Going intl the 3rd round FA Cup weekend we are now 6.
I would rest key players (Rice, Saka, Saliba, Odegaard, Zubimendi) for bother the FA Cup and League Cup. That would give them 10-days without a game before the match against Man U.
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 