Tag Archives: She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

Match Report: Arsenal 2 – 0 Chelsea

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Arsenal (2) 2 Chelsea (0) 0
Premier League
Emirates Stadium, Drayton Park, London N5 1BU
Saturday, 19th January 2019. Kick-off time: 5.30pm
(4-2-3-1) Leno; Bellerín, Sokratis, Koscielny, Kolašinac; Xhaka, Torreira; Guendouzi, Ramsey, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Substitutes: Čech, Elneny, Özil, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Monreal, Mustafi.
Scorers: Lacazette, Koscielny
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 59,979
A split second before kick-off in such matches, there is always an audible pause that surrounds the stadium, almost as if everyone is in a form of silent prayer to the God of their understanding that maybe, just maybe the pundits and ganblers would be wrong here, and we play the way that only we know that we can, and send the red half of The Emirates home with a smile on their faces and a warm glow in their hearts. Today was truly that day in question. There is no substitute for paying attention, and there is no greater reward in life for those that accomplish their homework on the training ground prior to the match either.
Perhaps it was the preparations for today that fired us up straight from the kick-off, or perhaps it was the horrifying thought that Manchester United would overtake us by default today if we lost; either way the speed of Arsenal’s beginning certainly took the West Londoners by surprise. Indeed our first goal that was notched up just a quarter of an hour after the start showed intent and reason that we were not going to be a guest at our own party against one of our rivals. Héctor Bellerín delivered a cross into the Chelsea penalty area, and the swift reactions of Alexandre Lacazette were there for all too see as he mercilessly drilled the ball into the roof of the net after twisting and turning away from the opponents’ defenders. The red areas of the stadium erupted with elation as if this was a goal that secured a trophy; and in many ways it was surely good enough to be one too.
Now the real Arsenal started to show their mettle, by pinning the visitors in their own half and not allowing them the luxury of space and time to break out and attack our goal. Just six minutes before the half-time break, we struck again, only this time in controversial circumstances somewhat.  From a free kick superbly dispatched by the excellent Lucas Torreira, club captain Laurent Koscielny launched himself at the ball only for our spherical friend to fortuitously bounce off his shoulder and into the back of the net. Amazingly, nobody saw it but the television cameras, which was a real blessing. Either way, we went into the interval the happier of the two sides.
Chelsea appeared to wake up in the second half, but although they did indeed play some interesting football at times, they never threatened the home side at all, with the defence holding firm throughout. Tired legs became prevalent throughout, and in true second half form, Mr. Emery made three substitutes; Ainsley Maitland-Niles for Aaron Ramsey, Alex Iwobi for a weary Alexandre Lacazette and Mohamed Elneny for an injured Héctor Bellerín five minutes after the other two. Unfortunately full-back Héctor Bellerín collapsed with an injury which appeared to be a knee problem after twisting his left leg awkwardly whilst running to win the ball back from two Chelsea players; we await with interest the report from the medical team of this latest addition to our injury list, another one that we could well do without. Although Chelsea had 64% possession, the Arsenal defence were so efficient that they never had a shot on goal until eight minutes from the end of the match. When referee Anthony Taylor called proceedings to a close after six minutes injury time, a sense of elation and relief swept through the Arsenal supporters that were fortunate enough to witness this important victory in North London today.
After the disappointment of the last match, who could surely have predicted such an outcome today? Although it was a well-earned victory by us today, we were never really threatened that much by the visitors, who certainly gave the impression that all they would have to do was turn up and three points would surely be theirs; they certainly paid a high price for their conceited attitude with an Arsenal who were determined to put a victory on the scoreboard and three points on the Premiership table tonight. Manchester United in the FA Cup are the visitors on Friday, and after this win tonight, who knows?  Eleven days and counting until the end of the transfer window for loan deals. 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

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.

Should Unai Emery put more trust in talented youngsters?

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Last night Arsenal beat Spurs 5-2 after extra time in the FA Youth Cup. A write up of the game can be found over on Jeorge Bird’s Arsenal Youth Blog. The win saw Arsenal progress to the fifth round of the competition – in which Arsenal made the final last year.

Arsenal’s victory in the competition over their North London rivals is even more impressive considering the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Zech Medley were not involved despite being eligible.

For some time I have been thinking that during the sticky period, where Arsenal have struggled for a consistent line up and tactics, should Unai Emery have had faith in some of the youngsters, rather than swapping and changing his tactics to fit in whatever first teamers he had available.

We have struggled with width this season, due to a lack of natural wide man. In Xavier Amaechi and Bukayo Saka Arsenal have two teenagers with pace to burn and talent in abundance.

Amaechi was out injured until November, and Saka is just 17-years-old, but both could have contributed in recent weeks.

If the talent is there, age is nothing but a number, just like Matteo Gunedouzi has shown.

Could both have offered something out wide? Or at least been an option coming off the bench? I look at the West Ham game when we were crying out for width and pace. Had we bought the pair on in the 70th minute, I am sure they would have contributed.

Moving up a little older, Joe Willock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have both spent a lot of their youth careers playing out wide. Could they not have been an option to offer us width on the wings?

And with emery struggling to play either Mesut Ozil or Aaron Ramsey for whatever reasons, could Willock have been given a shot in behind the striker? He offers the running from deep and goals that we have missed this season.

At the back we have seen Grant Xhaka and Stephan Lichsteiner both fill in at centre back. Why were they selected over Zech Medley?

Medley is raw at 18-years-old, but he is 6 4, quick and good on the ball. Alongside a senior partner (either Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi or Sokratis has always been available), Medley could have been guided through the game.

Would it have been a better option to play a proper central defender at centre back even if he is raw? I think yes.

With Arsenal set not to buy anyone in January, Emery surely has to consider playing some of the youngsters who are natural in their positions, rather than continuing to chop and change and put square pegs in round holes?

Keenos

The white noise surrounding Sven Mislintat’s impending departure

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Yesterdays Twitter rumours over Sven Mislintat’s future at Arsenal became a bit more real overnight with the ever reliable David Ornstein reporting on the situation for the BBC.

We were very much fence sitters yesterday. There seemed to be plenty of evidence that the rumours were true, but also enough question marks over the rumours to doubt them. It is now quite clear, Mislintat is leaving Arsenal.

What is now swilling round are the rumours as to why he is leaving. Every story in the media gives a different reason:

  • David Ornstein reports it is due to him being over looked for the Technical Director role
  • Miguel Delaney of the Independent says it was a breakdown of relations between himself and Raul Sanllehi – that Mislintat put forward some strong recommendations for players that have not been followed up
  • Over at the Express, Matt Law writes that he is unhappy that Unai Emery is taking a much more hands-on role to recruitment
  • We then have the handful of outlets that are running with the Bayern Munich story. That the German giants have approached him to head up their recruitment team
  • Ralph Honigsten of ESPN go’s similar to Delaney, that Mislintat is unhappy Sanllehi wants to use his network of contacts while Mislintat prefers a data/stats approach
  • There is another story that I read that Mislintat  found Arsenal’s existing network of scouts hard to work with
  • Finally some have gossiped that there has been a big falling out between Mislintat and Emery – similar as to what happened with Thomas Tuchel at Dortmund

The truth is, no one really seems to know why he is leaving and the gossip is more damaging to Arsenal than Mislintat leaving.

Arsenal fans have a habit of trying to create sides. From Wenger to Ozil, Ramsey to Emery, there seems to be a group of fans constantly talking about the extremes, not understanding that there is a middle ground where the majority sit.

We have just got through one civil war, if fans do not behave themselves we could go into another.

People blaming Emery or Sanllehi for Mislintat’s potential departure need to stop. aiming anger at the men who are remaining at the club is just damaging. Especially as that anger is based on rumours, not fact.

Lets remember that Sven interviewed Emery, so they all knew where they stood when it came to hierarchy and dealing with transfers. Likewise the rumours about him being passed over for technical director in favour of Edu are just rumours.

it also needs to be remembered that Mislintat and Sanllehi have a history of working at different ends of the market.

Mislintat unearths gems. The likes of Shinji Kagawa and Ousmane Dembélé, whilst Sanllehi  is comfortable dealing with the biggest names, their egos and their agents. There clearly is space for both of them to operate within the club, working different ends of the market.

My theory on the reasons behind Mislintat leaving are simple ones. they are human ones.

Mislintat was employed by Borussia Dortmund for 12 years. He had lived in and around the city all his life. At the age of 45, he left the city of his birth for a new job, a new country. This is a huge challenge.

I work in recruitment. You would be surprised how many CVs I see for senior staff who have been at a company for over a decade, and then have had 2 or 3 jobs in the next 2 or 3 years.

They left their life long company for whatever reason, and usually find that the grass is not greener at the new company. that the culture is not for them or the job not exactly what they wanted.

It is not unusual for new hirers to quit within their first year. It often happens a lot sooner than that. Hence why recruiters have rebate schemes for if a new hirer leaves within the first 6 months.

So would it be too much of a stretch to think that Mislintat struggled to settle at a new club, in a new city, in a new country? That perhaps he “gave it a go”. Was unhappy middle of last year, decided to give it to the end of the year and has now decided to move back to Germany.

He would not be the first person to try out working in another country, only to realise it is not for them and move back home.

Working at a football club is no different to working at any other company. It happens all the time. A company employs a new Sales Director from a rival firm where they were successful for 10 years. That new employee lasts barely a year before moving on again.

Look around you this morning. At your colleagues. At your friends. How many jobs have they had? How many moved job, only to be moving again a year later.

It happens regularly in the world of work.

I would be disappointed if Mislintat left. I really bought in to the trio of management. Mislintat leading the recruitment, Emery the coaching and Sanllehi the commercial and overall club vision. It would be a kick in the teeth after everything that has gone on over the last 12 months to lose a key man before the new era has properly got started.

However we move on. He is one man. One man who has been at the club for a little over 12 months. Arsenal were a success before Mislintat, and will be a success after.

We as fans have a habit of making a bigger deal out of things than they are. Only Arsenal could make headline news out of the Head Scout leaving.

After recent poor results and the news that “we have no money” it will feel to some fans that the club is a mess. That the bad news keeps coming.

My advice – take a step away. Remember that it is the football on the pitch, the beers with your mates that matters most. We do have an obsession with what is happening off the pitch.

Keenos