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Match Report: Arsenal 3 – 0 Bournemouth

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Arsenal (1) 3 AFC Bournemouth (0) 0
Premier League
Emirates Stadium, Drayton Park, London N5 1BU
Saturday, 4th May 2024. Kick-off time:12.30pm

(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: Bukayo Saka (45 mins, pen), Leandro Trossard (70 mins), Declan Rice (90+8 mins)
Yellow Cards: Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz
Arsenal Possession Percentage: 50%

Referee: David Coote
Assistant Referees: Tim Wood, Mark Scholes
Fourth Official: Darren England
VAR Team at Stockley Park: VAR Peter Bankes; AVAR Stuart Burt
Attendance: 60,348

Matchday Thirty-Six, three matches to go, with today being the penultimate home game, of course. This afternoon’s opponents, AFC Bournemouth, are currently mid-table, but that does not mean that they could be dangerous on their day.

To stop today being “their day”, we have to bring the match to them, and finish them off as soon as possible. No room for complacency now, boys.

Almost immediately after kick off, our Premier League Golden Glove winner David Raya had an early shot to save from Dango Ouattara and he quickly distributed the ball out to Martin Ødegaard who tried to pick out Bukayo Saka but the ball went straight to Cherries’ goalie Mark Travers who easily scooped it up.

Soon afterwards, Ben White scooped the ball into the penalty area for Kai Havertz, who tried to lay the ball off to Bukayo Saka but it was intercepted by a visiting defender who stopped our attack in its tracks.

Our raids on the Bournemouth goal started to become more frequent with Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz all getting close to scoring.

On the fourteenth minute of the match, there was a huge round of applause in the stadium for fourteen year old Gunners fan Daniel Anjorin, who was sadly killed in the sword attack in Hainault last Tuesday, with a huge banner which said “R.I.P. Daniel” printed on it, which was a touching gesture by fellow Arsenal fans. Shortly afterwards, Takehiro Tomiyasu had a shot which was cleared off the goal-line, and our pressure on the visitors’ goal was relentless at this point of the game.

On the half-hour mark, Thomas Partey was nicely teed up on the edge of the penalty area and although he tried to place it into the left hand corner of the net, goalie Mark Travers somehow got across the goal quickly to push the ball behind for a corner.

The match started to calm down and level out for a while, until six minutes before the break, when Bukayo Saka drilled the ball across the face of the goal and it bounced off Kai Havertz to simply dribble harmlessly wide of the post, even though Ben White was adjudged to have been in an offside position.

Declan Rice had a couple of goalscoring chances, both of which, to be fair, were good enough to have been goals. Just before the break, Kai Havertz was played in behind the Cherries’ defence, and he then successfully went around goalkeeper Mark Travers and his trailing leg made contact with him.

After the usual VAR check, we were quite properly awarded a penalty and Bukayo Saka slotted it away with some aplomb to open the scoring this afternoon, which was the score at the half time break.

A couple of minutes after the restart, Ryan Christie curled in a dangerous cross from the right wing but fortunately, there was nobody in our penalty area to connect with it, which was a huge let-off (and a wake-up call) for us.

And wake-up we certainly did, as a few minutes later, Thomas Partey slotted the ball to the feet of Kai Havertz on the edge of the penalty area. He spun around smartly and hit a superb shot towards the right hand corner of the net with Mark Travers stretching to get to it, but he did somehow.

We started to ramp up the pressure and everyone in the stadium thought that Bukayo Saka was certain to score from close range, but incredibly defender Lewis Cook went to ground and merely pushed the ball away from our man, which was a piece of excellent defending, it has to be said.

On the hour mark, Thomas Partey accidentally caught Dango Ouattara a wee bit late and unjustly received a yellow card from referee David Coote for his trouble.

The visitors then attacked our goal, but Ben White did very well to sprint back into his defensive position to close down Justin Kluivert just as he threatened to get in behind our defence, and then Antoine Semenyo received a long pass and started to bear down on our goal, but fortunately William Saliba was on hand to neutralise the Cherries’ goalscoring threat, thankfully.

With twenty minutes left on the clock, we grabbed our second goal of the afternoon when the ball was superbly held up by Bukayo Saka, got it to Declan Rice and he slipped it cleverly to Leandro Trossard on his left, who coolly introduced the ball to the back of the net to give us a comfortable two-goal cushion.

A few minutes later there was drama at our end when Antoine Semenyo managed to get the ball past David Raya, but fortunately VAR cancelled the goal out when it became obvious that Dominic Solanke fouled our goalie in the build-up to the goal, so despite protestations from the Bournemouth players, the goal was rightly cancelled out.

With nine minutes of the match remaining, Leandro Trossard was replaced by Gabriel Martinelli, and the pressure for us to get that elusive third goal of the afternoon continued. Just after Bukayo Saka was replaced by Gabriel Jesus, shortly afterwards, Gabriel hit an absolute screamer that hit the back of the net, but unfortunately Kai Havertz was deemed to have been offside in the build-up to the goal which was a terrible shame.

Literally, in the eighth minute of injury time, Gabriel Jesus held the ball up on the right, waited patiently for Declan Rice, who was running in like an express train, beautifully slipped it to him in the Cherries’ penalty area and he fired it into the far corner of the net. Game set and match to the Arsenal!

A superb win today, with everyone playing their part in front of a capacity crowd, with Mikel Arteta using the same starting eleven as he picked against Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday afternoon.

Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard, Thomas Partey, Martin Ødegaard and Takehiro Tomiyasu were absolutely fabulous today, and although there were times in the first half where frustration set in, as soon as the penalty was scored by Bukayo Saka just on the cusp of half time, the Cherries’ fate was sealed with a sublime second half team performance.

Today’s victory was our fourth win on the bounce as we kept up the pressure on Manchester City and we just hope that the Champions drop points in the title race against Wolverhampton Wanderers this evening at Molineux. 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: Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, 12th May at 4.30pm (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

Arsenal forever – Declan Rice and the ironic dream

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As a die-hard Arsenal fan, the thought of my beloved team winning the Premier League
sends shivers down my spine, I still hold the memories of past years winning the league.

The passion, the emotions, the sheer excitement of watching the Gunners lift the trophy is a dream that every Arsenal supporter cherishes at this moment in time. But is this dream really possible? Can Arsenal overcome the odds and emerge victorious in
the highly competitive world of English football?

The Irony of Fate could possibly come true?

Picture this: it’s the last day of the season, and Arsenal find themselves still in a
neck-to-neck race with Manchester City for the title.

The Gunners need to win their last game and hope Man City come un stuck, that’s if both teams keep winning till the last day, hoping, praying they do and our Arsenal clinch the premiership on the last day, and that’s where fate steps in….

West Ham, a team often overshadowed by the big guns of English football, is set to face off against City at their home ground. The irony lies in the fact that West Ham, a team with a loyal following but not known for its consistent performance, could be the unlikely heroes in Arsenal’s quest for glory.

A Gift to Remember

If West Ham manages to pull off a stunning victory or draw against City, it would be
nothing short of a gift to Arsenal. The scenes of jubilation at the Emirates Stadium would be unparalleled as fans celebrate the long-awaited triumph. But the irony doesn’t end there.

Declan Rice, a former West Ham player turned Arsenal star, and his former club would be the one delivering the final blow to City.

A gift from West ham or fate that it would end like this?

West Ham getting the result for our Arsenal and Declan Rice scoring the winner against
Everton?

The same team that had once sold Declan Rice to Arsenal and helped no end in performances week in week out had now unintentionally propelled them towards
Premiership glory.

Could it be a beautiful display of irony in the world of football, where allegiances and
outcomes can change in the blink of an eye.

Where a team’s victory against all odds turned out to be a blessing in disguise for their
former player’s current club. And amidst the chaos of the final day of the season to unfold, the true magic of the beautiful game may just shine through in all its ironic glory.

It would be a poetic end to a season filled with drama and suspense.

It’s also ironic that after the game with Spurs and The failed attempt in derailing our season their fans are hoping for their own team to lose against Man City, oblivious to the fact that our Arsenal will also have to play Man Utd.

And with Man U out of the Champions League spots, do their fans really want Man City to win the league? Can you see them doing a favour for their rivals, I highly doubt it! So that’s ironic within itself.

Typical Spurs fans, living in their own bubble of delusion and pity.

The Power of Belief

For Arsenal to win the Premier League, belief is essential. The players, the manager, the
fans – everyone must believe that the impossible is possible. It requires sheer determination, unwavering commitment, and a never-say-die attitude. The journey to the top is never easy, but with the right mindset and a bit of luck, Arsenal can rewrite history and claim their rightful place as champions.


In the world of football, anything can happen. The underdogs can emerge victorious, dreams can turn into reality, and heroes can be born. As an Arsenal fan, the thought of my team winning the Premier League again fills me with hope and excitement.

The irony of fate, the gift of victory, and the power of belief – these are the ingredients
needed for Arsenal to lift the trophy and etch their name in footballing folklore. So, is Arsenal winning the Premier League a dream to come true?

Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure – as long as there’s hope, there’s a chance for
glory.

No matter the result – whether we win the premiership or come in second place – one thing remains true: our team has instilled in us belief, passion, love, and a sense of winning and loyalty that we truly cherish. So, from the depths of my heart, I want to express my gratitude to Arsenal for the incredible journey you have taken us on this season. Thank you for everything.

North London forever, forever RED

Oh yeah .what do you think of Tottenham!

PcB

Jorginho, Declan Rice, Arsenal WAGs and More

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Jorginho

I for one am delighted that we are offering Jorginho a new contract.

Jorginho is a leader on and off the pitch in this squad, and it is important we keep these sort of players around.

Where I sit in the Emirates is behind where the subs warm up. Whenever we are chasing the game, Jorginho “warms up” when in truth he is actually coaching close to the opposition box. This is a tactic that has been used by Mikel Arteta a few times, and one which goes relatively unseen.

On the pitch, Jorginho has had accusations that his “legs have gone”, but can your legs go if you never had them to begin with?

He is like a Xabi Alonso or Luka Modric. Never been blessed with pace or physical ability, but blessed with a brilliant footballing brain. The first 5-yards are in your head and all that.

Jorginho offers an alternative option to the hustle and bustle of Thomas Partey and Declan Rice. His calming effect in the ball is a positive from both an attacking and defensive stand point.

I expected one of either Jorginho or Partey to leave this summer, with a new central midfielder to come in. My expectation was that it would be Partey to go, with Jorginho staying on for an another year.

A new 12-month contract with an option for another 12-months. That feels fair for a man who is still only 32. Jorginho could be at Arsenal for some time to come (and I would not be surprised to see him managing or coaching us at some point in his life).

Declan Rice

There is a fabulous interview in The Athletic with Declan Rice. For those without a subscription, just search his name on Twitter and you will get almost every quote.

The interview really highlights how much Rice has grown as a player and man in the short time he has been at Arsenal.

No longer does he look to just play long balls to the wings in the hope a team mate gets on the end of it. He talks about learning that playing a great diagonal ball is pointless if it will leave his team mate isolated. And this is the difference between a good player playing for an average team and a top player in a top team.

A poor player plays the Hollywood ball and then thinks his job is done. A top player realises that the pass might look good on his showreel, but it does not benefit the team.

To highlight further, you often see on Match of the Day a player for a lower team put an aimless cross into the box. Commentators then celebrate the ball in and then criticise the strikers for not getting on the end of it. When you watch a top team, their wingers (such as Bukayo Saka), recognise that an attacker will be unable to get on the end of the cross so look to keep hold of the ball and recycle rather than play it into the box and lose position.

Rice has now realised it is not all about him. That top teams get to the top by recognising what their team mate will be able to do with the ball when they get it.

The interview is a worthwhile read to understand just how much Mikel Arteta’s coaching has influenced his thinking, and just how much he has grown as a player.

Arsenal WAGs

It had not gone unnoticed how Arsenal players wives and girlfriends were socialising together. And not the “falling out of nightclubs” and wanting to be famous themselves socialising of England’s Baden Baden era.

Partners of the players watch games together in eachothers houses, look after eachothers dogs and are often seen dancing in a box at the Emirates together.

Arteta has built a squad of players who are all in and around the same age, which in turn means their partners are. His players are humble and not interested in the celebratory life, and they have wives and girlfriends to match.

A happy wife means a happy life. And if a player’s partner is comfortable in the presence of a teammates partner, then it will naturally lead to less anomoisity on the field and players also getting on better.

Arteta has spoken in the past about how the “Arsenal family” is more than just the players. It is the coaches, the backroom staff, the guys and girls that work in Highbury House, players partners, children and parents.

I have never known an Arsenal squad to be so much as one and with no cliques. Arteta should take credit for that.

Five players to leave Arsenal

Just read a clickbaity article from the Express (sorry, I know I should do better) which talked about 5 players that might never play for Arsenal again.

Four of those 5 players were Mo Elneny, Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavaras and Cedric Soares. Two players with their contracts ending and two players out on loan. It really is not a hard hitting piece of investigative journalism and just highlights that the media now care more for clicks than actual stories.

The fifth player oddly was Fabio Vieira. I would be surprised if the Portuguese midfielder is going anywhere.

The journalist clearly does not realise Vieira has been injured for much of the season (he fails to mention any injury). Vieira is a technically very good player in the same mould as Bernardo Silva. He will grow with more playing time, and if he does not get that playing time it just means other players are performing (Martin Odegaard is an unbreakable force. He never seems to be injured or fatigued. A blog for another day).

Enjoy your Wednesday.

Keenos