The Premier League has resumed, ladies and gentleman… and for the long time readers, I know you’ve heard it all before… but for the newbies… we’re BACK to the bread and butter.
We’re back to the competition, that I want us to win the most!
There’s NOTHING like being crowned champions, after being the best team, over a 38 game period. I don’t tire of saying it.
We host Manchester United. We host YANITED. We host The Red Devils, at the Emirates Stadium.
The Arsenal have to make devilled eggs out of The Red Devils, and then use their own pitchfork, to eat them.
Manchester United haven’t beaten us for a while, but that doesn’t mean they’re not capable of doing it. We’ll need to have our wits about us, and will need to be at our sparkling best, to get the result we desire… especially as The Red Devils are on the back of a 2-0 win, over Mancheatster City.
We’re on the back of a 3-1 win over Inter Milan, AND, we’re at home… so we’ll be supremely confident too.
Our rivalry goes back to the Fergie vs Wenger days, when Arsene Wenger was new to the league, and dared to have a brand new football philosophy…and then dared still, to challenge Alex Ferguson, and his Manchester United machine.
There’s no love lost, there’s no love found, there’s no love up, and there’s no love down.
I want us to batter them, like they were a savoury food, in a chip shop.
First things first though, the lineup.
David Raya in goal, Hincapie at left-back, Gabriel, and Saliba, in central defence, and Timber at right-back.
The midfield was Rice, Zubimendi, and Odegaard.
Up front, it was Trossard on the left, Jesus through the middle, and Saka on the right.
I’m sure you’ve noticed, that I never do the lineup for the other team…and that’s because… who cares! This is an Arsenal blog… the rest, are insignificant! (HAHAHAH)
The Arsenal faithful were in full voice, and their vocals boomed through the Emirates Stadium. Their roars, shaking the very foundations, of this footballing colosseum.
The stage was set, for a gladiatorial encounter.
We started the game tremendously, and the Man United players, had the deer caught in headlights look, etched all over their faces.
The Gunners meant business, and I leaned forward in my chair, eager to witness their business model.
We were in complete control, and our quick, incisive passing, and elusive movement… reminded the Red Devils, that they were facing a proper team.
In the 29th minute, we got our just rewards… when a ball into the box from Hincapie, was touched on delicately by Saka, and Odegaard’s miss-kick, fell to Timber… who appeared to put the ball in from close range.
Upon closer inspection though, it was deemed to be an own goal from the Manchester United defender, Lisandro Martinez. 1-0 to The Arsenal!!
Our jubilation was short lived though, because just 8 minutes later, Martin Zubimendi made an uncharacteristic mistake… when he passed the ball across our goal, and directly into the path of Bryan Mbeumo… who sickeningly, slotted the ball in, with great composure. It was 1-1.
Now, I didn’t expect an easy game, but I didn’t expect the Arsenal foot, to be riddled with bullet wounds from our own guns, either.
The first half ended honours even… and 1-1 didn’t feel like a fair reflection of the game, but that’s on us, because our dominance in the first 30 minutes, should’ve meant more goals.
Should’ve, could’ve, would’ve… I guess.
When we came out for the second half, it looked as though we were still reeling, from the mistake which led to the YANITED equaliser.
We needed clearer, cooler heads, to navigate our way through the remainder of this game.
It was time for mentality to take precedence, over physicality.
The Arsenal players seemed to be giving nervousness, and doubt, a piggyback, at the same time… and it was borne out in our play.
Simple passes were being missed, tackles weren’t being made, our movement became static… and our energy seemed to dissipate.
The Red Devils started to look like the better team, and they confirmed it in the 50th minute, when Patrick Dorgu blasted a left foot strike, from the edge of the box, past David Raya. 2-1 to Manchester United.
I expected a positive response, but quite frankly, our play became much worse after that… and too many of our “Big players” made themselves small. They were just not visible, to the naked eye.
Mikel Arteta made changes in the 58th minute, and in my opinion… he should’ve made them sooner.
Ben White replaced Piero Hincapie, Gyokeres came in for Jesus, Merino replaced Odegaard, and Eberechi Eze, came on for Zubimendi.
Full credit to Arteta, for the number of substitutions he made, in an attempt to regain control of the game, and to reignite the fire we showed in the first half… but I feel the players were letting him down in this match.
Nothing changed in our play. We still lacked belief, we still played within ourselves, and The Red Devils, still looked like the better team.
In the 75th minute, Madueke replaced Trossard, and I, like Arteta, was hoping his introduction, would cause chaos to the opposition’s tired legs. It didn’t.
A corner in the 84th minute, taken by Saka, caused a bit of a goalmouth scramble, and Mikel Merino, poked the ball home from close range. 2-2 now.
Again though, cheers quickly turned to tears, when Matheus Cunha picked up the ball in the 87th minute… and unleashed a ferocious shot, from waaaaay outside the box, that flew past Raya.
It was a fantastic goal from Cunha, and I wish I could say that YANITED didn’t deserve that, but I’d be lying. 3-2 to The Red Devils… and it felt like, we let evil win.
I thought we’d make devilled eggs out of them, but instead… WE cracked.
The match finished 3-2 to them… and it was another unacceptable performance in the league, for us. On the back of two consecutive 0-0 draws, it’s concerning yes… but disastrous, no. An emphatic, NO!!
Perspective is needed, and reactionary, PTSD takes, need to on the back burner.
That’s only our third league defeat of the season, we’re still top by four points, we’re top of the Champions League, we’re still in the FA Cup, and we’re in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.
The season is a long one, and the journey to success, is even longer. There’s going to be bumps in the road, and we’ll change our tyres, and keep on driving.
Accept it was wasn’t a good performance, but also accept that we’ve had, and are STILL having, a good season. We’re still fighting for silverware in all competitions, and we STILL have a chance to turn a good season, into a GREAT season.
BELIEVE!!!
Next up, we have a Champions League game against Kairat, at the Emirates Stadium.
This is the perfect game to bounce back, as Kairat are bottom of the Champions League, and haven’t won a single game, in the competition.
We need to rack up the goals against them, boost morale, and dispel all thoughts of Manchester United.
Do you think we’re succumbing to the pressure?
Do you agree that the players let Arteta down, in this game?
Are we going to win the league?
What would you change, to get more from our attackers?
As usual, let me know in the comments. COYG!!!
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