Under the lights at the Amex Stadium, The Arsenal take on Brighton. A game that’s never easy for us, but few games in the Premier League are.
There’s 9 league games remaining for the Gunners to play, and this is just another difficult one that we must tick off the list.
At the business end of the season it’s not about performances, it’s irrelevant how we look stylistically… It’s just about finding a way to win. No losses, no draws, just … WINS!!
We have to assume that Mancheatster City will win ALL of their remaining games (Apart from the game against us of course) and we HAVE TO win all of OUR remaining games.
It’s still in our hands, and we want to keep it that way. We don’t want to be relying on other teams, to help us win our first Premier League title in 22 years.
Brighton are on the back of a 2-1 home win over Nottingham Forest, and The Arsenal are on the back of a vital 2-1 win, over Chelsea.
Leading up to this match, there were unnecessary, overly elaborate, nonsensical discussions… about The Arsenal scoring from set-pieces, like we’re somehow cheating, and it’s suddenly not part of the game.
What made matters worse, is that most of the noise was coming from ex-players, ex-managers, and so called “Respectable” pundits.
Our style of football was put under the microscope, and dim-witted analysis followed.
For the previous 2-3 seasons, we’ve played glorious football, and came close to winning the league, but finished those seasons trophyless. We were ridiculed, and labelled as “Bottlers” and accused of lacking the required mentality, to get over the line.
It’s Arteta’s job to find another way to win more games, and ultimately, win the league… and he’s found a way, and he, and the Arsenal team… are being criticised for it.
I don’t even know where the goalposts are now, they’ve been moved so much. The movers must be exhausted.
This’ll make our league title win, all the sweeter. I will quench my thirst with naysayer tears.
Aaaanywooo, where were we… ah yes… The Gunners’ starting 11 was Raya in goal, Hincapie at left-back, Gabriel and Mosquera, in central defence… and Timber at right-back.
William Saliba picked up an ankle injury… hopefully it’s nothing too serious, but we’ve been dealing with injuries to key players well, since the start of the season.
In midfield it was Zubimendi and Rice… just in front of them, was Martinelli, Eze, and Saka.
Viktor Gyokeres started up front on his own, in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Eze given a licence to roam.
The Seagulls play quite open, expansive football, and I think this may suit us… as we can exploit the space they leave in behind, and catch them on the counter.
Accurate passing, and good decision making in the final third, will determine whether we get the win or not. I’m hoping for a couple of early goals, and then complete control of the game… but The Arsenal like me to shout at the television, and increase my heartrate to dangerous levels, so I won’t hold my breath. I can’t afford to! (HAHAHA!)
There was a good atmosphere at the Amex Stadium, and we needed to start the game well, to silence their fans. The Gunners can’t give them encouragement, or anything to sing about… and we DEFINITELY can’t feed The Seagulls, as they’re perfectly capable of taking food, all on their own.
Seagulls are just basically pigeons anyway, but with a nice suit on. (HAHA!)
The Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, was crying, whingeing, and moaning… about our alleged timewasting, during his pre-match press conference. I guess it was an attempt to get the referee on side, as ANY false narrative where The Arsenal are concerned… is taken as gospel.
Hurzeler is the youngest manager in the league, and it showed… as he spat his dummy out, knocked everything off the table, and started crying LOUDLY, for no reason whatsoever. PATHETIC.
Aaaaanywhooooo…. We started the game a little cagey, a little unsure of ourselves… and were looking like because we’re close to the finish line, the pressure is weighing heavily. We were overthinking the things that we’ve been doing naturally, throughout this season.
Case, and point, was David Raya misplacing a pass in the opening minutes… when he was outside his area, and then getting chipped by Baleba. Thankfully though, Gabriel Magalhaes was on the goal-line, to clean up the spillage in isle 13… and head the ball clear.
The Gunners settled into the game better after that, but The Seagulls continued to look for any unguarded snacks, that they could swoop in on.
In the 9th minute though, we let them know how serious we are, about protecting our food.
Timber passed the ball to Saka out on the right, and Saka casually cut inside the two players attempting to marshal him… and he fired a left-foot shot through the keeper’s legs. It was an excellent finish, but admittedly, the keeper should’ve done better. 1-0 to The Arsenal, and another reason for Fabian Hurzeler to cry. He probably needs changing now too! (HAHAHA!)
Our Starboy gets the goal, on his 300th appearance for the Gunners. An incredible achievement, for one so young. Hopefully, there’s another 300 games AT LEAST, to come. A truly magnificent player for us… and I struggle for superlatives, to accurately describe his importance, to Arsenal football club.
Brighton responded well, but our defensive solidity, prevented them from shining bright-on like a diamond… they were instead, reduced to dull, tacky, costume jewellery.
Yes, they put us under some pressure, and we rode our luck at times… but they just couldn’t break us down.
We needed to increase our potency in attack, and we did try, but couldn’t find that killer pass.
It got a bit scrappy after that, and silly fouls, and play acting, prevented the fluidity to the game.
The first half finished 1-0 to us, but I’d have Brighton as the better team, in that half.
We had another 45 minutes to put that right, and the second half started A LOT better, from an Arsenal perspective. There was no sign of nerves, our passing was better, and we began to exploit the spaces better… by our own high standards though, we didn’t create enough in front of goal.
Arteta tried to change that in the 60th minute, when he introduced Havertz for Gyokeres, Trossard for Martinelli, and Calafiori for Mosquera.
The changes gave us more control of the game, and we seldom gave the ball away cheaply, which was imperative to us seeing this tricky game out, and taking all 3 points.
Havertz had a great chance to make it 2-0, after being put clean through on goal… but the keeper saved it.
Norgaard replaced Zubimendi in the 80th minute, just to sure things up… and sure things up he did, as the match finished 1-0 to the Arsenal.
It was far from a vintage Arsenal performance, but who cares… at this stage of the season, it’s about the wins, and win…we did.
It was a gritty, battling, defensive display… and Gabriel Magalhaes led the charge. He was imperious, he was immovable, he was gladiatorial, he was colossal. Gabriel embodied what Arsenal football club, is all about… and so did Piero Hincapie.
It filtered through to the Arsenal fans in the Amex stadium, that Mancheatster City had dropped points at home to Forest, and the roar from the Arsenal faithful could be heard for miles, and miles. It felt significant. It felt like a …”That’s when we won the league” moment.
Titles aren’t won in March, we know this… but we’ve put ourselves in a position where we can afford to drop points, and STILL be in a great position. We’re 7 points clear at the top, after all.
Fabian Hurzeler was STILL crying in his POST MATCH press conference. He was snivelling about the football we played, the non-existent “Time wasting”… and how we make our own rules, when we play football. (HAHAHAH!!)
Hurzeler needs to make a bottle of sour wine, with all those sour grapes. PATHETIC!!
Aaaanywhoooo… we now turn our attentions to the FA Cup weekend. The Arsenal face Mansfield Town, at Field Mill… which is widely recognised as the oldest ground in football. It’s stood since 1861, and I’m sure it’ll stand for many more years to come.
So, we play in the oldest cup competition, at the oldest stadium in football. It’s fitting. It’s beautiful. It’s perfect.
Mansfield Town are a League One side, but they’re NOT to be taken lightly… we’ve seen too many giant killings in the FA Cup, and it’s one of the reasons why I LOVE the FA Cup.
Let’s be professional, let’s get the win, and let’s progress to the next round.
Wholesale changes are expected for the Mansfield match… who would you play?
Do you agree that this win away to Brighton, is a “That’s where we won the league” moment?
Are you enjoying Tottenham’s relegation dogfight? (HAHAHA!)
Let me know in the comments as usual. COYG!!
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