gunnersayit.com

Where to begin? Well, though the question is partly rhetorical, it’s also a genuine question that I’m posing to myself.

I rarely know how to convey exactly what I’ve witnessed, when Arsenal face Liverpool at Anfield, and today isn’t any different.

Arsenal, without Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard, set out to collect all three points at Anfield, for the first time since 2011, when we beat them 2-0.

I deliberately waited a couple of days before writing my incredible, in depth analysis, as I always mourn after an Arsenal loss, and have only just stopped sobbing uncontrollably, and wiping my nose on my sleeve. Please respect my privacy at this difficult time.

Now, I was already nervous before the match, due to injuries sustained to the aforementioned key players, but Arteta decided to increase my nervousness one hundredfold, by leaving Eberechi Eze on the bench. He was signed to be the difference in big games such as these, and Arteta leaves him on the bench. It’s been two days, and I’m still outraged, and in total disbelief by that decision.

Yes, hindsight is twenty-twenty, but why was Arteta’s foresight impaired? It couldn’t of been more obvious! It was staring him in the face, like a toddler watching you open their favourite snack, and not sharing it.

Reluctantly, I’ll move on. To leave Eze on the bench though.. ON THE BENCH! Ok, ok, now I’ll move on.

Mutual respect was written all over the early stages of the match, with players on both sides afraid to make a mistake. Within the opening five minutes, my body was riddled with crippling fear, as William Saliba went down injured. What made this scarier, is that the injury wasn’t sustained during a sprint, or the impact of challenge, so naturally I thought the worst… (Here we go, yet ANOTHER long term injury to an important player) This thought however, evaporated rapidly, like steam in the wind, as Saliba was replaced by Cristhian Mosquera. He grabbed his unexpected opportunity with both hands, and wouldn’t let go, like he was making a citizens arrest.

After a few nervous early touches of the ball, Mosquera settled into game, and quickly looked like he’d been in this Arsenal team for years, and had played at Anfield many times. His footballing intelligence, his refusal to panic when being closed down, in addition to his clean tackling, and productive passing, makes him the perfect modern day defender.

Christhian Mosquera’s performance was one of the few positives, on an otherwise disappointing day for Arsenal.

Both goalkeepers were underworked, and goalmouth action was as rare as a wino with a full set of perfect teeth. The battle was all in the midfield, and both teams lacked creativity, and the forward line on both sides looked like peripheral figures, begging for their attacking prowess to be activated. The first half continued this monotonous pattern, and maybe Arsenal just about had the upper hand, but only just. It was to no avail anyway, as the teams went in 0-0 at the half-time whistle.

In the second half Liverpool looked more dangerous, and it seemed that they were reminded that they’re not only the home team, but also the current champions.

Arsenal however, were more tentative in their play, and though Noni Madueke looked dangerous, with his direct runs against a terrified Milos Kerkez, that efficiency in the final third eluded us.

We had a string of corners, that barely qualified as “Nearly moments”… and It was evident that even our set-piece potency, had abandoned us.

It wasn’t until the 70^th minute, that Arteta decided to try and change the game in our favour. He brought on the not fully fit Martin Odegaard, and the player who most certainly should’ve started the game, Eberechi Eze. How late these substitutions were made angered me, and this fury was quickly added to my previous fury, because.. ARTETA LEFT EZE ON THE BENCH IN THE FIRST PLACE!! I may of mentioned that, once before. Ok, ok, let me breathe. Breeeaaaathe.

The change in personnel had zero impact on our fortunes, and an unshakable feeling that the game was slipping away from us, got me in a headlock, and began to squeeze. It’s vice like grip was unrelenting.

In the 83^rd minute, Martin Zubimendi gave away a free kick, and was booked for his troubles. Dominik Szoboszlai placed the ball down 32 yards out, and hit the ball like it had previously insulted him, and only a kick with such ferocity, would give him restitution. The ball flew into the top left corner at godlike speed, giving David Raya no chance to even get a fingertip to it. Unfortunately, Liverpool went 1-0 up, and finished 1-0 up, in a game that seemed destined to end 0-0.

We didn’t do enough to win the game, but we definitely didn’t deserve to lose the game. A draw would’ve been a fair result, but football isn’t fair, and that’s why we both love, and sometimes hate it.

On the “Love” side of things, I love that Max Dowman made a five minute cameo, and had his first taste of the atmospheric cauldron, that is Anfield. It’ll definitely do wonders for his football education.

Hopefully, Mikel Arteta learns from this defeat, and as the season progresses, picks more ambitious team selections. It’s early in the season, so this defeat isn’t a disaster, as league titles aren’t won, or lost, in August.  It’s how we respond to this setback that’s important, and I’m confident that we’ll respond positively, and make this defeat a distant memory.

I called this piece ‘Anarchy at Anfield’… Not for what happened on the pitch, but for the internal, emotional civil war that takes place in my body, every time these teams play each other. It’s wreaking havoc on my heartrate, and blood pressure, and Arsenal have a flagrant disregard to my health. (I’m good health wise, so please don’t worry. I’m referring to my football health. Now laugh, a joke was made)

The rude interruption of the international break, brings the Premier League to a grinding halt, and Arsenal will now have to wait two weeks, to right that wrong. This makes the pain of defeat more intense, and also gives pundits, and the “Arteta Out” mob, more time to overreact, and more time to create false narratives. I can already feel an unscheduled nap approaching, caused by the ridiculous, repugnant, repetition….That’ll inevitably spew from the, incapable of independent thought, brigade.

We were back at the Emirates Stadium for the first time this season, and what a return it was.

Earlier on in the week, Arsenal had beaten Tottenham Hotspur to the signing of Eberechi Eze (Haha).. from Crystal Palace and he came out onto the pitch, and gave the fans a wave, just before kick-off. Unfortunately, he wasn’t registered in time, to play a part in this game. A truly amazing acquisition to the team, whose creativity, and unpredictability, will cause chaos to any opposition.

Arsenal faced a Leeds United team who were feeling confident, after their impressive opening day win, over Everton.

The early stages of the match went as expected, with Leeds United sitting deep, staying organised, and daring Arsenal to break them down. It seemed like we were in for a frustrating day, until we earned a corner in the 34^th minute, and Declan Rice put a sumptuous ball into the box, that Jurrien Timber glanced home, with a cleverly guided header.

1-0 to the Arsenal! The relief around the Emirates could not only be heard, but it could also be felt. Surprisingly though, after the goal, instead of going for the jugular, we slowed the tempo down. We frustratingly stroked the ball around in front of Leeds, never really troubling them, and a familiar anxiety grew amongst the Arsenal faithful. Flashbacks of us previously failing to break teams down, who defend in a low block, were now at the forefront of our minds.

Up steps the brilliant, the dependable, the most consistent, the “Star Boy” , Bukayo Saka. Declan Rice wins the ball back superbly, Zubimendi gathers, quickly passes it to Timber, who threaded a perfectly weighted pass through to Saka, and Saka with the angle against him, smashed the ball home with his right foot, and the ball was nestled in the net, all tucked up in bed, before the keeper could move. Right on the stroke of half-time too! The 46^th minute of the half, to be precise. A perfect time to score, and a perfect way to turn the aforementioned anxiety, into jubilation. Arsenal, 2-0 up.

Arsenal began the second half looking much lighter, the comfort of a two goal cushion, and Arteta’s half-time team talk, helped us up the tempo. The passing was slick, and incisive balls were played quicker, and with more purpose. We didn’t have to wait long to be rewarded for our purposeful, positive play, and in the 48^th minute, the reward tore the Emirates’ roof clean off, even though it was already open. Calafiori receives the ball just inside his own half, looks up, and plays a perfect first time ball over the top, into the path of Gyokeres, who chased the ball down in cheetah like fashion, and the ball submitted in his clutches, in gazelle like fashion.

Gyokeres, in his favoured starting position on the lefthand side, drove into the box, beat three Leeds defenders, and rifled the ball home, at the keeper’s near post. The stadium erupts, and the whole team runs to congratulate our new No.14, who was off the mark, with the unspoken promise, of more goals to come. Arsenal, 3-0 up.

The proverbial floodgates were well and truly open, and Leeds were drowning in Arsenal’s waves of attacking prowess, and were in desperate need of a lifeline, which wasn’t forthcoming.

In the 56^th minute Arsenal earned a corner, that was put into a dangerous area by Declan Rice, and causing pandemonium in the Leeds defence. Calafiori managed to somehow guide the ball into Timber’s path, who scrambled, and stretched, to toe the ball home. An unlikely brace, for the impressive, the colossal, the incomparable, Jurrien Timber. Arsenal, 4-0 up.

Arsenal in complete control, ring the changes in the 64^th minute, and though Mosquera, and Lewis-Skelly were introduced, the biggest cheer came for the introduction of Max Dowman.

I feel that the term “Wonder-Kid” is thrown around too casually, in the football world, but this is not the case, when describing the 15 year old, Max Dowman. The “Wonder-Kid” title is not only fitting, but it almost undersells his talent, and his ability to influence games.

I’m really trying to contain my excitement, because I don’t want to put too much pressure on a young player, but Max Dowman doesn’t make it easy, because he’s by far, one of the best young players I’ve ever seen. He’s positive, he’s direct, he glides past opposition players with ease, he invites fouls, and makes excellent decisions in the final third. He did more of the same in this latest cameo appearance, giving the Leeds left-back a torrid time, with his teasing dribbles. In the 93^rd minute, Downman runs at another petrified Leeds defender, driving into the box, and in the defender’s panic, he steps on Dowman’s foot. Dowman goes over, and the referee points to the spot. The “Wonder-Kid” earns his team a penalty.

Max Dowman plays with a strength, a fearlessness, and a maturity, way beyond his tender years, and I sincerely hope we see a lot more of him this season.

Ok, on now, to the penalty. Gyokeres confidently places the ball on the spot, takes a short run-up, and blasts the ball home, sending the keeper the wrong way in the process. A brace for our new striker, and we can brace ourselves, for a lot more where that came from. Arsenal, 5-0 up.

Injuries to Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka, took the shine off a sparkling performance, but we scored five goals, kept a clean sheet, and unveiled Eberechi Eze.

Home… There’s no place like it.

Do Arsenal Football Club have the most fickle fans on the planet?

Now, this may seem like a silly question to some, but to me (Arsenal supporter for 42 years) this is something that needs to be discussed, and I’m well placed to invoke said discussion.

I watched my beloved Arsenal take on Manchester United at Old Trafford, a venue where we have an abysmal record, on the opening weekend of the return of the Premier League.

The atmosphere was electric, from both sets of fans. Arsenal fans were buoyant, as we finally landed the type of striker that our team has desperately craved, since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure, and Manchester United fans were optimistic for their first home game of the season.

Add the historical animosity between the two clubs, and no hype was necessary. The pundits gave their best efforts to hype it, nonetheless. Trying their utmost best, to make it a Gyokeres vs Sesko clash, like they were two boxers about to finally give the people the long awaited bout.

Sesko hadn’t had a full pre-season, and had only been with Manchester United for a week, so he didn’t start the game. Thankfully, the tie quickly reverted back to Arsenal vs Manchester United, as it should’ve been.

The game started at an unbelievable pace, tackles were flying in, and both teams struggled to control the game. This concerned me, as I thought our midfield of Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and Martin Zubimendi, would embarrass Manchester United’s midfield of Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, and Dorgu. I was wrong.

Ruben Amorim bypassed our midfield completely, by instructing his players to play balls over the top. Straight balls, or diagonal balls, it didn’t matter, as shockingly, we struggled to deal with it. This tactic unsettled the Arsenal team, and made us invite unnecessary pressure, with a plethora of miscommunication, and misplaced passes.

Despite these early exchanges going against Arsenal, a corner was earned in the 13^th minute, and a beautifully flighted ball was put into a dangerous area by Declan Rice, Manchester United’s nervous keeper Bayindir couldn’t catch it, and made a feeble punch on the ball, that fell perfectly for an unmarked Calafiori, and Ricardo Calafiori headed the ball home with an ease that surprised him. The Arsenal were 1-0 up at Old Trafford, even though we hadn’t been playing well.

Cue the jubilant, but somewhat cautious celebrations, as our awful record at Old Trafford, was in the minds of the Arsenal players, and the fans alike.

From a Manchester United perspective, they were a team looking determined, and assured in attack, and caught Arsenal on the break numerous times, but I’m not here to give Manchester United’s perspective. The match continued in this vain, coupled with some Arsenal half chances, and a commanding display from the dependable David Raya. Some wonderful saves from him, kept Arsenal’s narrow lead intact, along with Arsenal’s dogged defensive determination. Gabriel, and Saliba, in particular, refused to be beaten, and their colossal display inspired the rest of the team, to see out a hard fought 1-0 win.

However this is not the story I wish to tell, because the victory was marred by some Arsenal fans, who sadly chose to focus on everything negative about the performance.

There was nothing but kneejerk reactions, and opinions that seemed to of been force fed to the malleable, and online ignorami, from incompetent, agenda wielding pundits.

Balanced analysis, has now become a relic of yesteryear, and the ludicrous demand for instantaneous success, hasn’t helped matters.

I’ll be the first one to admit that we didn’t play well, but is that not what the great teams do.. find a way to win, when not playing well?

I was all awash with befuddlement, at the reactions I saw from the Arsenal fanbase, because they seemed to of ignored the fact that we won the game! It seemed like they were incapable of standing back from the performance, and looking at the bigger three points gained, picture.

This is what prompted the question I asked at the start.. “Do Arsenal Football Club have the most fickle fans on the planet?” I’m leaning towards an emphatic, YES.

Viktor Gyokeres needs to settle, and get used to not only a new league, and new country, but also a new system. An understanding needs to happen organically, with his teammates, none of which happens overnight. Shockingly, some Arsenal fans slated his performance anyway.

I’m supremely confident, that Gyokeres will be a success at Arsenal, but I’m also under no illusions, that this will take time.

Lets be patient, and lets not over react. Lets stand back, look at the bigger picture, and give a balanced view. I promise you, we’ll all be better for it.

I’m certain that some of you will agree, and some will disagree, and that is the beauty of discussion. We wear our football opinions like a badge of honour, but will the integrity of your badge be compromised, after lengthy, intelligent discussion?