All the talk about The Arsenal “Over celebrating” after reaching the Champions League final, is unmitigated nonsense. The ex-pro’s, the mainstream football media, and the rival fans… are just salty, and the salt is sprinkled on top of sour grapes.
Aaaanywhoooo… we’ve barely had time to catch our breath, and we’re back to Premier League business. We have to navigate a difficult away game against West Ham.
It’s a game that’ll bring the hammer blow down on The Hammers, and a hammer blow down on Mancheatster City too… IF we win.
A win will probably mean relegation for West Ham, and probably ends City’s title hopes. I will once again, send up 115 prayers.
I’m hoping Arteta goes with the same starting 11 from the Atletico game, as not only will the players be confident after reaching the final… but THAT starting 11 have brought out the best in the fans, and in turn, the fans have brought out the best in the players.
This is the Declan Derby, and he’ll need to keep his emotions in check, as he takes on his beloved West Ham. I’m sure he will, as all season Rice has shown that it doesn’t matter who the opposition is, he will perform superbly.
The starting lineup was Raya in goal, Calafiori at left-back, Gabriel and Saliba central, and Ben White at right-back.
In midfield it was Rice, Eze, Lewis-Skelly… and up front, it was… Trossard on the left, Gyokeres through the middle, and Saka on the right.
The SAME starting 11 for a third game in-a-row. I LOVE IT!! The attacking intent is there for all to see.
The West Ham fans were loud, and ready to roar their team to victory… ready to be that “Twelfth man”. Their home form is respectable, and they’re not about to allow a London rival, to spoil that. Not to mention they’re under the threat of relegation.
We ignored the rally cries of the home fans, and got straight down to our football business.
Fluidity, movement, forward passing, and attacking prowess… was etched all over our play. The Arsenal were playing the game, and not the occasion.
Calafiori was put through on goal, and he tried to poke the ball home with the outside of his left foot, instead of the better option… which was to use his right.
Trossard had a headed effort hit the woodwork, when it looked easier to score… and even though we were the team in the ascendancy, in the first 20 minutes… I took the missed chances as a sign, that it was going to be one of THOSE days.
In the 28th minute Ben White had to go off injured, with what is believed to be a knee injury. Benny Blanco has been so unlucky with injuries this season, so it’s a real shame he’s picked up another one… just when he seemed to be getting back to his best form.
I automatically thought, ok we’ll bring on Mosquera… he’s a more than capable replacement. Mikel Arteta though, must’ve thought to himself “I need to do something absolutely INSAAAAANE, unprovoked” …and then he brought on Zubimendi, and moved Declan “The Invulnerable Warrior” Rice, to right-back.
Confusion, tagged concern… and they both linked arms, and clotheslined me in the throat.
I just couldn’t understand how living in a midfield world WITHOUT Rice, would help us. That’s not living… THAT’S just surviving.
There was an immediate momentum shift… West Ham started to see more of the ball, and were dominating the midfield area. They were still playing it safe though, and remained in their defensive shape.
The referee blew the half-time whistle, and the Gunners were left ruing the earlier missed opportunities. 0-0 at the break, and an unwelcome reminder… that this wasn’t going to easy.
Arteta recognised how crazy it was to play Rice at right-back, and at the start of the second half, he withdrew Calafiori, and brought on Mosquera.
This meant that Lewis-Skelly would drop back into the left-back position, Mosquera would got to right-back, and Declan “The Invulnerable Warrior” Rice, would retake his place in midfield, next to Zubimendi.
Like a dealer in a casino, there was A LOT of shuffling around… and unnecessarily too.
With Lewis-Skelly at left-back, we missed his dynamism, his directness, and his willingness to run at the opposition. This encouraged West Ham to recover the ball quicker, and break through our lines more regularly.
We seemed to of run out of ideas, and in the 67th minute, Arteta attempted to replenish our idea stock.
Odegaard replaced Eze, and the ineffective Zubimendi, was replaced by Havertz.
Zubaaaah-Zubaaaah, didn’t have a good game… but I believe he’s still tired, after playing so many games this season… without a winter break, which is something he was used to having when he played in Spain. His body needs to get used to the new demands, of the English football calander. He had a good season nonetheless, and next season, will be even better!
The substitutions swung the momentum back in our favour. Kai Havertz was making clever runs, and pulling players out of position, which created space for others.
Martin Odegaard was using said space, very productively. He was connecting the play beautifully, between the midfield and the attack… but the final ball was lacking.
In the 78th minute, Fernandes was put clean through on the Arsenal goal, after an excellent move from West Ham… and one-on-one with Raya, he failed to score.
David Raya made himself bigger than a row of giants, standing on each other’s shoulders… and made a magnificent save!! A match winning save!! A title winning save!! Sensational, from the Arsenal keeper.
The save inspired his teammates, and just 5 minutes later… Odegaard played the ball to Trossard, after some lovely work in the box created space. Trossard struck the ball first time… and Soucek lunged desperately, attempting to block the shot… but it deflected in. GOOOOAAAAAAAAL!!!!!! 1-0 to The Arsenal. What a relief! Still time on the clock though, so of course… there was nervousness.
In the 95th minute, the unthinkable happened. West Ham had a corner, Raya came out to catch the ball… missed it, and the ball broke to Callum Wilson, who fired the ball in.
I couldn’t believe it… I was just getting ready to write-off the remainder of my weekend, and all of next week, until they commentary team said VAR were checking something.
I asked “Lessness” to leave, so hope and I, could watch the VAR check.
My heart was beating out of my chest, my heartrate just said “Danger” repeatedly. My blood pressure was higher than the cost of living. They were taking FOREVER to make their decision… I had already aged 73 years during this game, I couldn’t afford anymore.
The replays showed that Raya was fouled. His arm was being pulled down, to prevent him from catching the ball, and he was being held across his neck. In addition to that, his shirt was also being pulled.
However, I still wasn’t confident that the West Ham goal would be chalked off. I was wrong. The referee said “After review, the number 19 (Pablo Felipe) fouled the goalkeeper… final decision, Arsenal free-kick”.
I was momentarily stunned into silence… and then… I let out a combination of a roar, and a cheer, at decibel levels that surely offended my neighbours. NO GOAL!!
We saw the remainder of the game out, and won 1-0. Once again, 1-0 to The Arsenal… was enough to win the day, and hopefully… the league.
An enthralling game to watch. The West Ham players surrounded the ref at full-time, but that’s their problem… I’m here for Arsenal business, and we did… the business. The hammer blow.
The reaction from pundits, and ex-pros, to a CORRECT decision that the ref made, is HILARIOUS. They hate The Arsenal soooooooo much, that they wanted the ref NOT to apply the rules. (HAHAHAHAH)
Their hatred, and their tears, continue make us stronger.
We now have 2 more cup finals to play, and next up, we face Burnley at The Emirates.
Should Odegaard start against Burnley?
Do you think we now have the title wrapped up?
Would you start Havertz against Burnley, and give Gyokeres a breather?
Let me know in the comments as usual. COYG!!
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