By Bulldog Drummond
So the complaints against Arsenal and Arsene Wenger rattle on and are utterly lapped up by the media which publish them all without any investigation into the truthfulness or otherwise of the allegations. And of course pointing out that factual errors and disinformation (which has now soared to unprecedented heights) combined without differentiation with personal opinion, is pointless. There comes a stage where some people simply don’t want to listen.
But for those interested, the game goes on, so we’re all off to Leicester to see how things go and we’ll be watching another game of pace with Alexis and Theo aiming to get the defence rattled. Which is why Alexis as a centre forward is interesting – as Mr Wenger says, when he plays on the winger he chases back, rather than saving his energy for the moments when he can run behind the defenders.
Apparently he played in the number 9 role for Barcelona (I don’t have the figures to tell you how often) but what we have against him running through the whole game at the moment is yet another summer (two running for Alexis) of international competitions in which his country won the trophy they were competing for. So this year Mr Wenger has said, “Maybe I will have to rest him a bit more. When he came back he was not completely ready to be 100 per cent. This week he was already sharper in training.”
The first match of the season lifted us up the injury league a little, although not to the top as the new “Statements not Evidence” approach to reporting has suggested.
| # | TEAM | TOTAL INJURIES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Ham United | 8 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 8 |
| 3 | Crystal Palace | 7 |
| 4 | Everton | 6 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 6 |
| 6 | Sunderland | 6 |
| 7 | Stoke City | 5 |
| 8 | Middlesbrough | 5 |
| 9 | Hull City | 5 |
| 10 | Bournemouth | 4 |
Ramsey and Iwobi are the latest on the list – which as I mentioned before includes Jenkinson who was knocked to bits with State Aid Utd and then immediately came back onto our list of injured players.
One player not on the list is Jack Wilshere, but whether that gets him a game or not, I’m not sure. Certainly with Leicester being at home, being champions and not have won any of their last ten games against us, they will be trying every tactic under the sun to try and make it happen this time. And of course all records come to an end one day – the aim is to try and extend them as long as possible.
As for who will play…
Apparently after the last game Cech had a senior player moment when trying to extricate his car from that pesky underground car park at the Ems last week. (Personally with a salary like that I think I would either ask either a mate or the lady wife to take me home in his car or employ a driver to get me home, but then I’ve never played at that level nor earned that amount of money, so I don’t really know. But the accident should have got his annoyance at last week’s result out of his system.)
Just as I suspect Bellerin and Monreal will be back to their very best – the style and performance that we saw last season. Which then gives the first problem: who plays in between them. Chambers will I think be given every chance to grow into his role, just as Koscielny was – and I suspect that for some of the players playing away from the critical bunch on the north bank will actually be very welcome. Indeed as the Arsenal History Society reviews this week have been showing, Chapman worked on getting a team that could be better away from home than at home, and I suspect we might start seeing that this season, once again.
I guess it has to be Koscielny also back one week earlier than would have been liked but Holding needs to be introduced gently, and not offered to the baying hounds. I suspect he is going to be one of the exceptional buys of the season in an era when spending has gone mad.
Granit Xhaka looked a little surprised at the sort of world he found himself in last week – and it is because the PL is different from other leagues that new defensive players are generally introduced slowly. It is a complex issue to learn what is allowable and what not – just as it is complex to understand exactly why it was that no one but no one mentioned who won the Fair Play League last season. It has been mentioned some years – but not all of them. Odd that.
One solution to the lack of complete fitness by Kos would be to play Coquelin and Elneny in front of him, particularly with Ramsey out for a few games which then gives us Santi Cazorla free to do his stuff in front of them, knowing he’s got cover at all time.
Mr Wenger suggested Santi was not 100% fit yet, which could mean Santi plays and Ozil comes on, on the hour.
Then with a line up like that we can have Walcott on one side and the Ox on the other. The Ox has been terrific so far this season although he did fade a bit in the last game, so although he’s getting a place because of injury he knows he is also getting it because of his pre-season, and that could spur him on even further.
That gives us interesting attacking options on both sides, Santi running forwards and Alexis up front.
Alexis
Campbell Walcott
Cazorla
Elneny Coquelin
Monreal Koscielny Chambers Bellerin
Cech
Now the alternative story I have heard is that we are going to bring back all three missing Euro players to give a line up somewhat different…
Giroud
Alexis Ozil Walcott
Cazorla Xhaka
Monreal Koscielny Chambers Bellerin
Cech
The defence stays the same but midfield and attack changes.
Not mentioned in dispatches and thus lurking on the beach will be any of the above not included in the squad and/or Ospina, Debuchy, Holding, Gibbs, Wilshere, Akpom.
Or to summarise the whole thing in one go: I don’t know which way the line up will look. I suspect just Kos will come back with Giroud and Ozil on the beach.
Apparently this is the first time since 1953 that both of the top two teams (Arsenal and Preston that year) have lost their openers (Aston Villa were the last team to lose the opening two after being champions). Indeed having won the league in 1953 Tom Whittaker’s team famously didn’t win a single one of their first eight league games in 1953/4 ending that run with a 1-7 defeat to Sunderland. By the eighth game Arsenal had used 20 players and only one defensive position retained the same player throughout the run. Arsenal didn’t sack their manager, and went on to just two defeats in the next 20 games.
Moving on, here’s a nice quote from Mr Wenger this week…
“Of the players who left, 99.5% of the players have asked to come back even when they left.” I’m not sure they have all become fully aware of the latest antics by the aaa but it is an interesting notion. He added, “You are absolutely convinced that I do not want to spend the money, but I reassure you we are ready to spend the money. What I fight against is to think that the only way in football is to buy. To buy in itself is not a quality but to buy the good players is a quality, and I think this club has been built on that.”
So on to the usual factoidies (new word of the week – a small and not necessarily relevant fact but still more truthful that something you read in the newspaper).
Of the last 19 games between the two Leicester have lost 13 and drawn six, and their only win over Arsenal in 31 league and cup games was at Filbert Street in 1994. But Arsenal didn’t find it too easy against Leicester in the unbeaten season, drawing 1-1 in the Midlands and then going 0-1 down in the last game of the season at Highbury, before coming back to 2-1 and the Invincibles title as Leicester went down.
Arsenal have only failed to score once in the 27 last games between the two – it was a 0-0 draw. But Leicester are the penalty kings – they get a penalty in one game in four at the moment. Arsenal haven’t lost two games in a row at the start of a season since 1992/3 – a season when we ended up lower than the Tiny Totts.
And to conclude, try this one: Alexis Sanchez has scored four goals in his two previous league games in Leicester.
Finally, the fan duel thing we’ve been talking about recently, here’s the background, and here’s the link if you already know what it is about.
Meanwhile, if you haven’t already seen it, and feel like making a comment, please do read
- ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR , PHOBIAS , DISEASES AND AILMENTS OBSERVED ON UNTOLD ARSENAL
- Leicester v Arsenal Sat 20 August – The Match Officials and what we know of them.
- Danny’s early return, youngsters leaving, and tales from the Scientology wing of transfer rumours
nice article as usual.
coquelin should start
I think Cambell might have gone out on loan , shame thought he was descent back up
Think we will smash them it’s the end of the line for Leicester
Sorry decent
Granit needs to be careful he committed the most fouls last week on opening day and he wasn’t on that long , good bet for a booking but hopefully no more
Apologies read it late last night but failed to check it . Seems it’s not true
It’s still “who shall we play” even though we’ve got injuries, so things cannot be all that bad yet.
Need a good performance today to settle any nerves and give the lads a boost. Leicester can be canny as foxes ( 🙁 ) or fall foul to the gunners ( 🙂 )as they did twice last season. No room for slip-ups today in any way.
//
When at home the team should strive to entertain and please the fans, show some pride in their home. They know what to expect when they perform well and what when not. It’s the game.
From here on we go unbeaten! boom!
From the reading of the Boss’ comment of yesterday, it’s looking obvious he has made up his mind to start Alexis Sanchez as centre- forward for Arsenal late today away to Leicester.
No one can tell the Boss how he should line up his team against Leicester today or any other team for that matter. But being a pasonate Arsenal fan, I can on the pages of the internet browsing via the Untold Arsenal advice the Boss on his starts & bench. I think as an Arsenal supporter, I should be entitled to do this. But I know I am not a football coach neither am I a football expert nor a soccer advisor. But I’ve been following Arsenal for quite a number of years and I’ve come to a stage where I feel I know how the Boss works and also known every current Arsenal players and how they play. Therefore, I am positioned to give my advice to the Boss when it comes to Arsenal game plan, starts & bench which the Boss could read it, accept it partially or fully ignore it or even reject it outrightly.
Despite the injuries and the lack of 100% fitness to some Gunners, Arsenal still have the pool of good players from amongst the Boss can select his 18 man match day squad to make the good starts and bench for this Leicester game. The very correct starts and sub’s by the Boss against Leicester will give us all the 3 points that are available for collection in this match.
With Man Utd collecting all the 3 points yesternight against Southampton, it has become imperative for us to take all 3 points today so that we don’t fall 5 or 6 points behind Man U as the race for the title has earnestly began last weekend to win this season’s title. I know we are desperate to do this. But the Boss should nor allow any form of being desperate to lead him to start or play any Gunner who is not yet fully match fit to start or play against Leicester.
In the consequence of this lack match fitness by some senior Gunners, I was led by my insight to make my own starts and bench which I posted on this site yesterday. And for the avoidance of any doubt, I have them repeated below:
My starts: reading from left to right behind Cech.
Akpom
Sanchez Cazorla Walcott
Coquelin Xhaka
Monreal Chambers Holding Bellerin
Cech.
My bench: OspinaKoscielnyGibbsElnenyOxladeOzilGiroud.
Now, Master Tony, if you study my bench, you will notice I don’t have a right back cover in Debuchy. Am forced to omit him to accommodate Koscielny, Ozil and Giroud on my bench.
Thanks.
Samuel, quite often the team is always a guess – the bench doubly so. But I think there are sometimes longer term concerns. Holding did ok last weekend, but I wonder if he really is ready to play two games in a row at this level.
But Chambers can play full back so there is some cover. You could be right – we shall see.
I don’t like the idea of starting Giroud & Koscielny if they’re not completely match fit. A pulled muscle or torn hamstring can put them out for weeks (months for our players), so maybe bring them on later in the game. After all it’s not as if Leicester have any forwards who would be likely to cause problems.
During the pre-season matches Arsenal looked best with the youngsters on the pitch. They were athletic and have pace through which they put pressure going forward. And they track back. I’d start Iwobi and Akpom. Akpom wants the ball and will mix it up with a CB to get it. Re Alexis, I’d play him right behind Akpom or Giroud if he starts. ESPECIALLY if Giroud starts. I think a formation like this would make use of Giroud’s holdup and passing abilities. If Ozil is fit he must start. He’s by far our best player. I’d like to see Ozil get the ball to Akpom, he’ll know what to do with it. Put it in the net. Not enough of Ozil’s mind boggling passes end up there. A bit off topic but I do worry that the lack of finishers in this squad may result in Ozil taking his talents elsewhere. If Kos is close to fit he starts. COYG
Master Tony, since you think Holding may not be strong enough maybe physically and mentally to play back to back big games and thus making him not ready to start this match, it has then become pertinent for me to replace him with Koscielny in my own starts.
I quite agree with what you’ve said. All our starts are guess work. I’ve had mine guessed already. But Koscielny is now to start in my own starts instead of Holding who now drops to to my bench. And the UA too had had their 2 likely starts and bench for this match. Let’s wait to see what that of the Boss will look like and see if any of our own starts and bench will coincide with his own or nealy do so.vThanks Sir.
Master Tony, since you think Holding may not be strong enough maybe physically and mentally to play back to back big games and thus making him not ready to start this match, it has then become pertinent for me to replace him with Koscielny in my own starts.
I quite agree with what you’ve said. All our starts are guess work. I’ve had mine guessed already. But Koscielny is now to start in my own starts instead of Holding who now drops to to my bench. And the UA too had had their 2 likely starts and bench for this match. Let’s wait to see what that of the Boss will look like and see if any of our own starts and bench will coincide with his own or nealy do so.
Thanks Sir.
Admini.
please may I know why is my comment is awaiting moderation?
With Man City putting the hard Stoke team to the sword at the Britannia by hitting them 1-4 and now top the table on GD from Man Utd, Pep Gaurdiola has now appeared to be importing his winning streak at Bayern Munich to the EPL and Man City. And that should be worrisome for the other top clubs in the Premier League.
With this Man City flying result at the Britannia this afternoon, it has become imperative for the Gunners they MUST tamed and caged the rampaging Foxes this evening at the King Power Stadium and comprehensively deny them any privilege to get any point by whatsoever means from this match.
@ Samuel, I think ManCity went unbeaten in the first 5 match last season, so it’s to early to say.
Burnley 2 Liverpool 0 the PL is unpredictable. Sane is out injured for Liverpool, where’s the injury crisis headline?
I dare to question the use of Alexis as our main striker, solely because of his height. In the last game, with so many high clearances from our defence (particularly from Cech) he was left trying to out-jump the Liverpool defenders….to no avail.
He is brilliantly dynamic in any attack but not, I suggest as a central striker. 🙂
I’ve been shuttling in- between gotv’s channels 2 and 9 to watch live Burnley vs Liverpool 2-0 on 76 minutes into the game and Watford vs Chelsea. It’s 1-1 now as I am typing with their substitute Bashuayi just equalising for Chelsea who have brought on all their 3 substitutes. And with 3 minutes to the end of the match Diego Costa has just scored the 2nd goal for Chelsea. What a turnaround of good fortunes for Chelsea and Antonio Conte. But no such good fortunes for Liverpool as they are still trailing Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor deep into injury time. However, Spurs have beating their London rivals C Palace by a lone goal to collect all 3 points. Are Hull City trying to be the surprise team of this season like Leicester took everyone unawares last season or what? They have won again today 0-2 away to Swansea.
Campbell on loan to sporting Lisbon this season, could this mean we might get Draxler in from Wolfsburg I wonder?
Wrighty couldn’t manage a piss up in a brewery. He played for a good team & screwed up our opportunity for CL win. He now thinks he knows better than Wenger (don’t they all!!). There are the usual pundits who have more mouth than intelligence.
Costa sees no red then???
My guess is :
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Holding, Kosicelny, Monreal, Xhaka, Coquelin, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Alexis
Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Wilshere, Giroud, Ozil, Chambers, Elneny
😀
Arsenal.com has the lineup out
Arsenal team: Cech, Bellerin, Holding, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Xhaka, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis
Arsenal subs: Ospina, Chambers, Gibbs, Elneny, Wilshere, Ozil, Giroud
COYG!
I’ve backed Arsenal to win but cannot make a judgement on the score. I think the PGMO nerd will have a major influence, that’s why horse racing has a better chance of a fair result.
I’m disappointed that Campbell isn’t in the squad.
Hopefully this doesn’t mean the rumoured loan to Sporting is more than a rumour…
@polo, l’ ve taken note of your point. I have to soft-pedal in my acclaiming early results.
Surprise?
Arsenal starts against Leicester:
Sanchez
Oxchambo Cazorla Walcott
Coquelin Xhaka
Monreal Koscielny Holding Bellerin
Cech.
Subs:
OspinaGibbsChambersWilshereElnenyOzilGirioud.
Holding is starting ahead of Chambers. I won’t call that a surprise, should I? And no Akpom on the bench. Both Bulldog Drummond and I did not get the Boss’ starts and bench correctly. But we have all tried. Good luck to the Gunners.
Khu mon Gunners
@ Andy, I hope so too but Campbell haven’t been included in the squad for two match now, so I guess it’s probably true. Maybe my previous post about Draxler is wrong and a defender is coming in, so Joel is the sacrifice for room in the 25 or need the money to pay for the new defender. Anyway, it would be disappointing to see him leave but if it give him more game time then I guess it’s a good thing.
COYG!!!!
Such a damp pitch this……. over watered!!
Okazaki dives!!!!!no yellow for simulation
Foxy tactics!
11nth min
Polo, I don’t think we’re that tight on squad numbers.
Guys like Chambers, Holding, Iwobi, Jeff, and Hector are all under 21 so they aren’t included in the ’25’.
14. Cazorla pulled no foul!!
16. Nice attack down the flanks.
17. Kick to Minerals head. no foul??????
A kick to Monreals head by Vardy is not a foul!! Wtf is PGMO taeching our kids!!
Oops.. Monreal
20. Vardy scissor on Monreal…no foul!!!!!
Apparently he has cards in his pockets.. hahahahahahahaha
Ox ox ox ox ox….
My read of the Guardian:
x min: Arsenal are doing this wrong.
y min: Arsenal are doing that wrong.
z min: Arsenal are doing the other thing wrong.
w min: Arsenal are useless.
And the PGMO seems to be its useless usual again.
COYG!
Come on ARSENAL
Come on ARSENAL
Come on ARSENAL
Leicester playing well with virtually all players behind the ball wheel we attack and looking to hit us on the counter. No surprise there. We need to be more incisive and better with our first touches.
Every excuse to give Leicester an advantage
That was super quick. Come on Ox
Isn’t that yellow!!!! Simpson tackle on Ox!!!!
C O Y G !!!!!!
Alexis needs to be careful with his talking to the ref. The last Challenge on the Ox was at least as bad S the one Coq was booked for
Drink water dive in the penalty box….no yellow for simulation!!!!!!!!!
Seriously OT
Nicky Adams has just won gold again
2 dives okazaki outside the box and Drinkwater in….
The blond Welsh rarebit, Savage keeps wanting a penalty because he has got his FIFA badges!! He bought them in a boot sale!
I can’t believe Clatts didn’t give Leicester a pen! 😀
I don’t know but it seems to me that this 1st half the ref was ok.
I was sure there was going to be a penalty, yet in replay it definitely is not – from one of the angles.
As for the rest of the games, I feel we are holding up pretty good yet missing Ozil and Giroud. Game is fast and fair.
COYG
Holding holding with is a big discussion point!!!!
Btw…Jens Lehmann…say he dived. Straight away…
Alexis getting fouled just about every time he has the ball. Clattenberg allowing it the whole time. Alexis needs to be careful with his complaints. He is in danger of getting a card for dissent.
Both BT pundits saying the non award of the penalty was right
Andrew – must be PGMO dictat. The South American footballer does not get fouled when kicked.
Webb being God in the studio says all’s well. Savage up the PGMO’s arse’n’al.
Messi Cech
Come on you Gunners!!!
That looked to be nasty for the Leicester player. Caught his foot in the turf
Ouch …….. Mendy.
Wait… Leicester brought the whole hospital there!!!!!
Classic time wasting despite injury. Clatter will only add time if Foxes need it.
How predictable Mendy comes back on then we stop play again so that he can be helped off. Meanwhile King has had time to do a warm up. We shouldn’t be so nice and should have kept playing.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooo
That one from Coq was a foul we now need to defend it – phew over the top
Need to take Coq off, he’s a red card waiting.
Ooo Hector….
Come on Theo….more such runs
Don’t get it. Why would Leicester time waste at home in a game they would hope to win. Makes no sense to me.
Come on Gunners
Come on Gunners
Come on Gunners
Well positioned Hector…
Boom Xhaka laka
Ozil and Jacky buoy
Oh … ohzil
What did Vick do there!!!!
Come on.Theo
Oh awesome coq bloc
Good to see Arsenal13 back. A right and proper fan.
Now if the Gunners would produce a goal or 17, that would be wonderful.
COYG!
Holding has been excellent today….
come on you Gunners give us a goal!
Theoooo….come on
Coq bloc again
Guardian calling for PGMO to give the game to Leicester (penalty city).
COYG!
BT pundits up Leicesters arse. No pen because the prat dives.
3 mins added for 6 subs & a lot of injury time.
Free kick for no reason. Give them a chance PGMO.
Alexis is horribly off pace….rest are getting there…come on Gunners. first points of the season
For a goal-less draw that was a good match. Well done both teams
We played well, too slow upfront.
No pen Savage talking Shit usual.
After watching live with distractions, I think even though Clattenburg was not so bad, he made two Correct Non-Penalty Decisions. Watching live TV, the first one looked a clean tackle from Koscienly and the second one was similar to what Vardy did back at Emirates last season hitting the leg of the defender to con the ref.
That Musa/Bellerin incident. If you catch carefully the replays, you can clearly see Musa changing the direction of his run, and moving his legs towards Bellerin legs trying to initiate the contact.
If you ask me, this is at the same level of cheating than a dive, he is basically trying to fool the referee, yet attacking players nearly always get away with it and 9 times out of 10, they get the foul…
Heart pumping stuff towards the end. We were fortunate the ref didn’t give the penalty at the end, that’s what happen if you keep diving during the match to fool the ref, cry wolf.
A good game. Well done the lads. A great kick start for the season. The eagerness of Granit to get in a position to take the ball impressed me. Holding pulled the rug from under those clamouring Mr Wenger should pay £40 million for a new centre half ( actual estimate of player’s value £10 million – crazy money the Chelski manager calls it.)
A great way to spend a Saturday evening.
Clats did us proud. Well, he does owe us one or two or three
Alkexis is not hungry yet. He gets kicked all match & not a bleep.
Too many cheating Leicester dives, wait for a touch & dive. PGMO need to pick up on these & also the time keeping. Wasted time & ignored injury time are not acceptable. Contact after the ball has been played (particularly by Drinkwater) is a booking. Oooops! only Coq fouls.
Usama
What would it take for you to be happy with the ref, after he could’ve given three penalties against Arsenal but gave none.
The shirt pull on Huth by Holding is a penalty according to new league guidelines – missed by Clats
The second Challange by Koscielny on Drinkwater- correct decision
The Bellerin challange on Mouse – a clear penalty
Vince
August 20, 2016 at 7:31 pm
Exactly! the PGMO whistle blower should book simulation & deliberate attempts to win penalties.
Tom,
That is why when reviewing we watch the match again and again. And given Walter’s experience as a ref, he give his final verdict on any major decision from the perspective of a ref, unlike us fans.
Also, you missed out on Morgan’s pulling and holding of Koscienly in the penalty area.
Arsene just made a good point about money. Arsenal has 600 employees. It is important we are able to pay them at the end of the month. There have been a few clubs where that has not happened!
Not a bad result. We have steadied the ship. Good to have Koscielny back. Will give the younger defenders more confidence.
The PIGMOB will make sure the Manchester clubs battle it out, more money for the corruption as Pep and the awful cunt fight it out.
Kos was excellent for his first game back, looked puffed out at times but great defender, if Holding and Chambers learn from Kos, we are going to have two excellent CB’s in the future.
Ox played well, hopefully no injuries this season so he can show his talent.
Interesting how Clattengurg got those gesicions spot on. The replays showed how Moussa threw his right foot in the path of Bellerin (the Hazard habits in action), so, no penalty. My fear is that it must be Pep effect – now that the league gets set up for a $$$ity win, “they” must do everything they can to allow his team to play without raising any suspicion. Although Oliver’s score last week was off the charts, and I suspect the review for this match could give the ref another high mark (by his previously demonstrated standards).
I haven’t had a comment awaiting moderation for a while, maybe it’s about time ?
Firstly, I’d advise Untold authors to correct the number of Arsenal players unavailable through injuries. As Mr Wenger has already stated that Sanogo is an option and that he is injured, that means we have Mertesacker, Gabriel, Jenkinson, Welbeck, Ramsey, Iwobi and Sanogo out due to injuries (7 players). That would leave us in the Champions League zone when it comes to injuries.
Secondly, I might be wrong but I saw Clattenburg making a terrible performance and only thanks to the fact Mr Wenger and Mr Ranieri are two finest gentlemen in this bloody league, he wasn’t surrounded by the players after every decision he had made. Alexis questioned two of his decisions, one at the very early stage of the match. Drinkwater did likewise when they weren’t given something (can’t remember what).
Holding made a penalty on Huth at the early stage of the match (not given), Huth was holding Holding (no pun intended) at the other end of the pitch at one of our corners and every time I saw Koscielny’s tackle on Drinkwater it looked to me that Kos didn’t touch the ball but the player’s leg. I reckon Drinkwater didn’t dive. Clattenburg missed a yellow card for Simpson in the first half for the tackle on The Ox. Coquelin made a clumsy foul in the second half and could have been given a second card if Clattenburg was on the mission to screw us over.*
* – I’m not the ref, I’m just stating my view on the incidents.
Finally, Holding looks like a real gem but I still reckon he is the one for the future. We need a striker that will get us the best out of Alexis and Özil. Özil’s introduction turned the game upside down and we were looking more dangerous than in the previous 75 minutes combined.
Great stuff after the match when Wenger, frustrated at being asked about new signings, told reporters….
“Nobody speaks about the performance of Rob Holding today – he is English, he is 20 years old, you should be happy. But I am sorry he didn’t cost £55m.”
Well, what can I say on this goalless draw result we got today in our away match to Leicester, other than to say, I am not sad as we didn’t lose the match but got a deserving 1 point. But I am not joyous about it either as I would have preferred we collected all the 3 points.
Should the Boss gives time for his project of converting Alexis to a centre- forward for Arsenal to perfect? After playing in 3 big games, a friendly against Man City and now 2 big competitive games. Sanchez has not scored or gave assists to score despite making serious attempts to do that today.
With the new Koscielny and Holding partnership at the heart of the Arsenal defence-line, our back-four looked stabled today than they were against Liverpool last week.
Are the AOBs knives already out demanding a marquee striker be signed by the Boss? I would be perceiving so. But who would that marquee striker signing be? Arsenal fans are subjecting Alexandre Lacasette. But I am saying Aubameyang. Which of them will the Boss goes for? Maybe none of them but a different striker altogether.
And will the Boss still embark on that new CB reinforcement? I think he should still reinforced despite Holding’s success against Leicester today. Any CB reinforcement brought in by the Boss will in my own thinking not impede the fast development of Holding at CB for Arsenal but upgrade his quality there. And who should the CB reinforcement be between Shkodran Mustafi and Jose Gimenez? I think Gimenez not only ticked all the Boss’ 4 boxes better than Mustafi has ticked it, but he is of a higher quality grade than Mustafi is. And he should improves the on the ground quality at our CBs better. But the money that will be asked by his present club before Arsenal can get hold of him could be the stumbling block on the way.
A better performance today, much more co-ordinated.
Good game from Kos & Holding looks a young star in the making. Granit looked good in his first league start.
While we played some nice football & when necessary defended much better than last week, but we never really looked like scoring – until Ozil came on. By that time the game had opened up, but in addition to Ozil’s guile & skill, his presence took attention from the the Fox’s defence – which up until then had been able to double team on Sanchez.
Mick.
I think by that Boss reply today, one can perceived he won’t buy any CB at the market that will cost Arsenal £55m to buy like him as it has been tailored in the media Gimenez will cost up to that amount.
When you compare Holding for £2 million with Stones for £50 million you wonder what the hell is going on with transfer prices.
Tom.
If your 2 penalties claims are truly true and Arsenal got away from been penalized for them. Then it implies Arsenal partnership of Koscielny and Holding at CB has not yet pefected as I’ve opined. But with time it could stabilized. But to be on a safer side, I think the Boss should do that new quality CB reinforcement as he promised to do it if he finds the right quality but of course affordable.
Tom
August 20, 2016 at 7:46 pm
Tom read what actually happened captured by Vince
Vince
August 20, 2016 at 7:31 pm
Mark actually let us off the hook
For some guys here to say Bellerin’s tackle on Musa was not a pen is really being hypocritical.No one here will accept it if it was one of ours it happened to. It was a clear pen as Bellerin tackeled from behind him with no contact on the ball.We were actually lucky today with coquelin as he could have easily be sent off. We should say things as they are. We should have won today though, we actually played way better than our last match. Still hopeful for the season
Menace remember when taking the piss out of Wrighty he is a famous talented somebody and you are a nobody ( best button it Pal )
Menace
I didn’t see it that way.
Musa beats Bellerin for pace , goes around him in the shortest path to the ball. The best defense for Bellerin you can mount would be to say he never actually challenges for the ball and his legs just get tangled up with Musa’s legs.
I will wager a bet of $100 to your $10 that the very site that had Arsenal suffer most wrong ref decisions going against them last season will have this one go against Arsenal.
Tom spot on if any ref had called a pen we would have begrudgingly accepted it
Mick
Good quote from Wenger about Holding. And so justified!