We’re back to Premier League business, with yet another London Derby. Our final of the trio that we’ve had, back-to-back.
The last time we hosted Crystal Palace at the Emirates, we drew 2-2. We dropped some much needed points, at the business end of the season, and we need to get them back for that.
I hold malice in my heart towards them, so our revenge tour, MUST continue.
Palace drew their last Premier League game 3-3, with Bournemouth…After coming back from 2 goals down.
Their in form striker, Jean-Philippe Mateta, bagged a hat-trick.
Our last Premier League game, was a 1-0 win over Fulham.
I’m hoping our defence will be as stingy as ever.
In case you’ve lost count, we’ve conceded 3 goals, in 12 games, across all competitions.
In Europe, we’ve just beaten Atletico MEH-drid, within an inch of their lives… with a 4-0 walloping… and Crystal Palace lost 1-0 to AEK Larnaca, in the Europa Conference League.
Palace losing will have no bearing on this game. I’m STILL expecting a full blooded, crunching tackling, uncompromisingly chaotic…London Derby.
Okaaaaay, so team news… I’m not going to lie, I was concerned, because there had been murmurs leading up to this game, that Gabriel, AND, Saka…were injured. Yes, we have a deep, DEEEEEP, squad…But missing two players of THAT calibre, in a game of THIS magnitude… is unsettling, to say the least.
I breathed a HUUUUGE sigh of relief, when the team-sheet was confirmed.
The back four was… Calafiori at left-back, Saliba & Gabriel, in central defence… and Jurrien Timber at right-back.
Midfield was… Rice, Zubimendi, and Eze. Eze was playing his first game against Crystal Palace, since leaving them, so his emotions must’ve been all over the place.
Up top, it was… Trossard on the left, Gyokeres through the middle, and Saka on the right.
We would’ve been desperate to win this game, because of our last result at home, to Crystal Palace. (A costly 2-2 draw! Yes, I’ve mentioned it AGAIN.)
The Arsenal players would’ve known before kick-off, that Liverpool lost to 3-2 to Brentford, and Chelsea lost 2-1 to Sunderland.
This added EXTRA pressure to the game, because we simply HAD TO capitalise on our rivals slipping up.
The game started at a casual pace… and it looked like there was a little hangover, emotionally, and physically, from our demolition of Atletico Madrid.
Legs looked heavy, and our play looked laboured.
Palace sat deep in a low block, and teased Arsenal into breaking them down.
The fact that we saw Palace in their low block, and we just continued to stroke the ball around, with ZERO urgency… makes me think that this is something Arteta has instructed the players to do.
Now, the reason why I think this, is because we’ve done this in the last three, to four games.
I’m wondering if Arteta is telling them to slow the tempo down in the first half, so the opposition are chasing the ball, while we conserve energy.
It’s not necessarily something that I agree with… but, I understand the thinking behind it. It makes sense. (I could be wrong though)
The play was bitty, it was scrappy, we battled, we tackled… But we were unable to really dominate the game, and that was due to how well Crystal Palace were playing.
They were closing down the space quickly, and they consistently disrupted our attacking phases.
In the 9th minute, a ball was played over the top, to Mateta… who was closely marshalled by Saliba. Mateta brushed Saliba off, like an unwanted piece of lint, on a fine suit… and powered towards our goal. Thankfully though, Timber, and Gabriel… combined, to clean up.
Danger averted.
It was a warning shot from Crystal Palace, and we didn’t manage to return fire, until the 33rd minute… when Timber played a great ball down the right to Gyokeres… who held the ball up, awaiting more support. He found Zubimendi, who passed first time to Rice, and he laid it off to Trossard in the box… who had a decent right foot shot, but the keeper saved it comfortably.
I started to feel that if we didn’t get a goal before half-time, against this well drilled, well organised, Palace team… It’ll be ten times harder, in the second half.
Cue Eberechi Eze, who must’ve somehow read my thoughts, and agreed.
Saka earned a free-kick in the 39th minute, which was taken by Declan Rice.
He put great ball into a dangerous area, which was partially cleared with a defensive header… but the ball broke to Eze, and sat up perfectly… Eze connected with the ball on the half-volley, with a scissor-kick, turned kung-fu kick, generating tremendous power in the process. The ball flew in past the keeper, before he even knew what was happening. Incredible technique!!
What a fantastic goal, by Eberechi Eze, against his old club. He didn’t celebrate, and almost looked apologetic, for his moment of magic. It just had to be Eze… it was written in the stars.
1-0 to the Arsenal!!
The first half finished 1-0, but it most certainly wasn’t straight forward. We hadn’t been dominating the game, the way we would’ve liked.
There was no William Saliba for the second half, he went off with an injury, and was replaced by Cristhian Mosquera. (Let’s hope Saliba’s injury is nothing serious)
In the 49th minute, we won a free-kick on the edge of the box, on the left side.
Declan rice took the free-kick… and by the way, I may have to start calling him “Royal Mail” because of all his special deliveries. (HAHA!)
Anyway, Royal Mail put a great ball into the box, after a one-two with Eze… which was aimed towards Gabriel, at the far post. Big Gabby rose the highest, and guided a powerful header goalwards… that rattled the crossbar. So unlucky not to score there. It should’ve been 2-0.
Palace couldn’t clear the ball, and it was passed to Saka on the right. He cut in on his left, and let fly, but his shot was jusssst wide of the target. (Unfortunately)
More scrapping, battling, grabbing, pushing, and shoving, followed… as we tried to keep possession, and break Palace down.
Space was still a scarce commodity, but in the 58th minute, Trossard managed to find some, after a wonderful ball over the top to him, by Zubimendi. Trossard got to the byline, and squared the ball towards Bukayo Saka… but he couldn’t quite reach it, and Palace survived again.
In the 66th minute, Martinelli came on for Saka.
Saka had a decent game, considering he was triple marked for most of the game, and was fighting illness. As we all know, “Man Flu” is the worst strain of the flu.
Get well soon Bukayo.
Spaces began to open up, as we increased the pressure on Palace, in search of that illusive second goal.
We earned a corner in the 68th minute, which was taken by Royal Mail (Declan Rice)… and his special delivery, was signed for by Gabriel, at the back post…but he couldn’t quite hit the target, and collided with the post, and hurt himself. He was able to play on, the colossus that he is.
Crystal Palace found their way back into the game, but still not really threatening our goal, as we prevented them from having clear cut chances. They had a couple of corners, that we defended comfortably.
We were the better team, but were unable to create nothing more than a couple of… nearly, should’ve, could’ve, would’ve, moments.
Piero Hincapie was brought on for Riccardo Calafiori, in the 82nd minute, and Mikel Merino was introduced for Declan Rice.
Both Calafiori, and Rice, had suspected knocks, and I’m hoping that them going off was just precautionary.
Myles Lewis-Skelly came on for Eze, in the 88th minute.
Considering Eze must’ve been going through a wide range of emotions, I think he handled himself, and the occasion, BRILLIANTLY!
Even though the referee tried to add extra, EXTRA TIME, onto the extra time…we managed to see the game out, and it finished… 1-0 to the Arsenal.
A hard fought 3 points.
A deserved, 3 points.
Pundits like to talk about how heavily reliant we are on set-pieces, and how boring we are, but they neglect to tell the WHOLE story.
Every team we play defend deep, and sit in a low block…and because of that, when we put pressure on these teams, we get more corners, and free-kicks.
It’s makes sense for us to work on our set-pieces, as we force so many of them. Arteta recognised that, and the rest is history.
Teams defend in a low block, to stop us playing football, and we have ensured we’re deadly from set-pieces, to counteract their low block.
Cause, and effect.
Up next, is Brighton at home, in the Carabao Cup… The Seagulls will NOT be taking flight at Emirates, and they’re definitely not, stealing our chips! (I hope)
Players will no doubt be rested, but whatever team Arteta plays, the focus, defensive stability, and will to win… will be the same.
COYG!!
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