Tag Archives: She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

Match Report: Cardiff 2 – 3 Arsenal

1 Reply

Cardiff City (1) 2 Arsenal (1) 3
Premier League
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Sunday, 2nd September 2018. Kick-off time: 1.30pm

(4-2-3-1) Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Ramsey, Özil; Aubemeyang, Lacazette.
Substitutes: Elneny, Mkhitaryan, Torreira, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Welbeck, Leno.
Scorers: Mustafi, Aubemeyang, Lacazette.

Yellow Cards: Bellerin, Guendouzi, Monreal, Xhaka.
Referee: Anthony Taylor

Attendance: 32,316

The last occasion that we were in South Wales for a Premiership match was back on 30th November 2013, when two goals from Cardiff City alumnus Aaron Ramsey (along with Mathieu Flamini) sent The Bluebirds packing with a confident 3-0 victory to the Londoners; of course, as we know, history has also linked our two clubs because of the incident in our first FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on St. George’s Day 1927. If you can stand the angst of a painful Arsenal cup final defeat, the grainy footage is available on YouTube; be my guest. In modern times, however, the city has been kind to us; out of four cup finals at the Milennium Stadium we have lost only once, so the omens for today are good.

With the sprightly and youthful Alex Iwobi absent through illness for this Sunday lunch-time kick-off in sunny Caerdydd, we applaud the return of Mesut Özil finally reclaiming his rightful place in the midfield area, and also the appearance of our top bandits for the first time in this campaign, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette which certainly had the necessary ingredients to whet the appetite of our travelling band of loyal and enthusiastic supporters.

In the explosive cauldron of Cardiff City Stadium, the first half started in a very lively manner indeed with the home side attempting to capitalise on one or two early errors from Petr Cech which thankfully came to nothing. After eleven minutes, a superb Granit Xhaka corner was powered into the back of the Cardiff net by Shkrodan Mustafi – a well-taken header that obviously had its origins on the training ground last week. Now the rollercoaster starts. Both defences were found wanting, none more so than the home side’s. Alexandre Lacazette hit the post on 33 minutes, and before half-time we were quite wasteful at times when we should have been more clinical in front of their goal. Such frustration leads to mistakes, and in injury time of the first half, Cardiff City equalised after a series of dreadful errors in our defence.

After the break, we came out fighting, and we gained control of the match. After a Shkrodan Mustafi header that was brilliantly saved by the Cardiff goalie, a moment of true brilliance happened. With 61 minutes on the clock, Mesut Özil slotted the ball through to Alexandre Lacazette, who flicked it on to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored with some aplomb. A contender for goal of the season already! Our joy was short lived, when eight minutes later, they equalised when confusion reigned yet again in the Arsenal six-yard box. The last twenty minutes of the match was a frenetic dash for another goal by both sides; the matter was decided by an incredible solo effort by Alexandre Lacazette nine minutes from time that saw all three points go back to North London on a day that was truly a breathtaking contest between two very entertaining sides.

A corner was definitely turned today, with some remarkable performances, none more so of course, than Alexandre Lacazette, whose intelligent and unselfish play was at times, unbelivable. Our defence, individually, is okay; but collectively, is shaky at best. Mr. Emery needs to dedicate time to ensure their cohesion, as this will be a problem area when we play our rivals over the course of the season. Mesut Özil, it has to be said, played very well today, and was conducting proceedings in the manner that we all know that he can; let’s hope that he grows under the new regime and he finds confidence in his role in midfield. The unsung hero in our team is most definitely Mattéo Guendouzi; this 19-year-old midfielder is a confident, pivotal player who has a bright future at the club, and like 22-year-old Lucas Torreira, will propel Arsenal Football Club to greater glories over the next few years. Exciting days ahead for us all. 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.

Cricket the order of the day for The Arsenal

Leave a reply

Good morning to all and especially good morning to the fantastic September sunshine we have.

With Arsenal not playing until tomorrow – a lunch time trip to Cardiff, today is one of those days where you are often lost as to what to do.

An early start tomorrow means you do not particularly want to spend all day today in the sun drinking. Today is the perhaps a day for sitting watching the cricket in the garden.

Yesterday Moen Ali made a mockery of the England selectors by taking a 5-for. It still baffles me that the selectors caused so much fuss picking Adil Rashid when at test level Ali is the better spinner.

An stylish 40 also makes you question why he was dropped when England have struggled with their batting in the last 12 months.

The dates for the tour of the West Indies tour have just come out for 2019. Anyone who has been on an England away cricket tour, it is something you have to experience.

Yesterday there were three bits of Arsenal news.

The first was the Europa League draw.

A fairly uninspiring draw.

Lisbon in October is a tempter, especially as I realise that I have already got the week booked off work.

Vorskla is in the middle of no where. A 3 and a half hour trip to Kiev followed by a 3 and a half hour train to Poltava. By the time you add getting to Gatwick and changing from plane to train you are looking at 10 hours. Fair play to all those that go.

Then you have Qarabag; as it stands Arse al are advising fans not to book the trip to Baku, Azerbaijan.

Arsenal playing the long game with Qarabag and Baku

With the final being there we need to make it clear that Henrikh Mkhitaryan must be able to play

We bow down to their politics now and we have no choice when it comes to the final

If UEFA force the game to be re-venued, they will have no choice but to do the same if we make the final and Mkhitaryan can’t go

The second bit of news was Reiss Nelson

Firstly the above picture began circulating. Indicating that the rumours during the week about him joining Hoffenheim were true.

A few hours later Arsenal announced that the 18-year old had signed a new long term contract with the club and all parties had got what they wanted.

Finally last night I was at the Emirates for the U23 game against Tottenham.

Using the ground for the Premier League 2 games is a brilliant idea.

With free tickets it enables those who can not afford, or are unable to get to senior games to see The Arsenal at home.

Yesterday there were plenty of dads with their sons and daughters. With fans becoming disillusioned with senior football, I can only see U23 becoming more popular.

Arsenal won 2-1 and missed a penalty. Tottenham has a man sent off near the end of the game.

I was most impressed by young centre back Daniel Ballard.

He was released by the club by Liam Brady as a 14-year old, he was resigned by the club in 2016 under Andres Jonker. Last year he signed a professional contract and captained the squad that made the FA Youth Cup final.

Now 19 I was hugely impressed of his performance yesterday.

So today it is cricket and gardening. Have a good Saturday.

Up The Arsenal

Keenos

We’re all going on a Europa League tour

Leave a reply

Despite it being Europe’s second competition, and the poor “banter” we have received from Spurs fans for not being in the Champions League for the second time this millennium, I ma buzzing for today’s Europa League draw.

As a travelling fan, I became bored of the Champions League. Bored of facing the same old teams. Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Barcelona. Been there, done it.

The competition became predictable, not just in Arsenal’s quarter final exits, with who we would play. Rarely did we get a trip that we had never done.

Then we get into the Europa League last season.

Whilst we revisited Madrid (to face Atletico) and Milan (to face AC), our run to the semi-final threw up some ridiculous trips.

The likes of Moscow (CSKA), Östersunds, Belgrade and Borisov were stars on the map that very had ever visited. Some nightmares to get too, others in the freezing cold and deep snow. The highlight for me was the trip to Cologne not too long before Christmas.

Arsenal might have lost 1-0, but it was a trip where the 90 minutes got in the way of a good trip abroad. It was a top trip with plenty of top people. Hardly any attention seekers or weirdos recording themselves. It was a proper Euro away.

So today it begins again with the Europa League group stage draw. As the highest ranked team, Arsenal are in pot one. But who else can we get?

So who do I fancy?

From Pot 2 a cheeky trip to Celtic is the stand out tie. A train up on the Thursday morning, watch the game, over nighter and then a train back Friday.

Real Betis are the best side in Pot 3, but they are also the side with the most enticing trip. An away game to Seville in September when the temperatures are in the 30s will give a good opportunity for some final beers in the sun before winter draws in.

Finally from pot 4 it has to be Slavia Prague. Prague is a great city, the beer is cheap. That’ll be a top away day.

It is gong to be another great season for the Arsenal away fans in Europe.

Keenos