By Tony Attwood
By a tragic twist of fate the Arsenal v Huddersfield match happens when I am rather more up in the air than normal; I’m flying from Cyprus to Manchester, and then driving south.
So I regret Untold’s normal coverage of events is going to be rather more curtailed than normal, but here’s the preview as far as I can do it.
I won’t bore you with a long chart of matches between Huddersfield and Arsenal, but it is interesting that in the period from 1921 to the end of the 1924/5 season Huddersfield and Arsenal played each other eight times. Huddersfield won seven and one was drawn.
The last of these games was on 14 February 1925 when the match was played at Highbury and Huddersfield won 0-5. What makes that game one that goes down in history is the fact that it was the game in which the new offside law was introduced for the first time; this was the one trial run game before the whole footballing world changed to the new system at the start of the 1925/6 season. Huddersfield under their master tactician manager Herbert Chapman knew exactly how to play the new law. Arsenal under Leslie Knighton hadn’t got a clue.
That summer Herbert Chapman moved to Arsenal and the next three games between the two clubs resulted in two draws and an Arsenal win. From April 1928 Arsenal went on a 22 match unbeaten run against Huddersfield, with Arsenal adopting the revolutionary tactics Huddersfield had been using up to 1925: the classic counter attacking game played in exactly the same way at home and away. Huddersfield slowly drifted back to the standard approach, and after one more championship in the year after Chapman left, slipped down the league.
Back in the present, Arsenal (as I am sure you will know) have won four of their last five PL games. Huddersfield have won two and lost three of their last five.
However Arsenal have yet to win three Premier League games in a row this season – having won successive games several time but never quite been able to make it three out of three. This is our opportunity to put it right, besides which Arsenal usually do particularly well when I am not there.
Speaking ahead of the game Mr Wenger said, “It is a massive game for me. Huddersfield didn’t deserve to lose against City. They had to play 46 games in the Championship and have proven they are ready for a fight. They are dangerous for every Premier League side.”
The last time Huddersfield beat us was 16 January 1971 (2-1) and the last time they beat us in London was 13 November 1954 when the score was Arsenal 3 Huddersfield 5.
But there is one particular point vis a vis Huddersfield and that is that even last season when Huddersfield won promotion to the Premier League, their away form was not always that alluring. In all they won 10, drew four and lost nine away league games, scoring 22 but conceding 32 goals. Although they won promotion through the play offs, their overall goal difference for the season (home and away) was minus 2. I wonder if many other teams have ever been promoted on a negative goal difference. Not many I suspect.
So what of the teams, I hear you cry…
Iwobi is the latest name to be added as a “doubt” concerning the match, (along with Ozil), following a dead leg in the Burnley match. Otherwise the team is much as we would expect so I would go for
Cech;
Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal;
Bellerin, Xhaka,
Ramsey, Kolasinac;
Sanchez, Lacazette, Welbeck
That would leave lurking on the beach…
Ospina, Mertesacker, Holding, Chambers, Debuchy, Nelson, Maitland-Niles, Wilshere, Xhaka, Elneny, Walcott, Giroud.
Now that makes something in the order of 12 beached players from which seven must be selected – another reminder of the growing strength in depth of the squad. On this occasion, what with me writing all this up some way in advance, I won’t try and predict exactly who will be on view.
But there is one thing to remember in all this. The next match of course is Man U at home, followed by BATE also at home. Clearly the Man U game will require the fullest first team squad there is available, while given that Arsenal have already won their group in the Europa, the BATE game could involve all sorts of further experimentation and chances for untried players. Eddie from the start perchance?
So the teams for those two matches are fairly clear: full strength against Man U, lots of experimentation against BATE. Therefore if Mr Wenger does want to experiment with anyone in terms of giving them a chance in a full PL game, this is going to be the match.
Which means we might just see a bit more of Jack.
- The real Arsenal transfer news: who we are actually signing in January.
- Arsenal v Huddersfield Wednesday 29 November – The Match Officials
- Huddersfield at home: what the facts and figures tell us
There’s an article in The Guardian today on the Chapman connection:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/nov/29/herbert-chapman-arsenal-huddersfield-premier-league#comment-108965270
The comments are open – some of you might want to contribute. I’ve knocked back a couple of the expected old sore points using facts from here. A new one to me is that Barnsley got robbed in 1919!
As happened before in the last weeks all and everything is conspiring against me to be able to write a match report. Sorry about that.
I do hope that life will come back to normal in the next weeks and I will not only be able to see the matches live but also be near a computer (as that was the problem most of the time)
Looks like no rotation tonight, 3 points in the bag is what’s needed says AW.
Good strategy, we cannot depend on beating Manu(especially when past results have not really favoured us). Beating Manu would be a bonus 3 points.
Yet we still have to be focused and organised to beat Huddersfield and not take it lightly.
Come on lads, it’s time to have a good winning run.
That’s a really good Guardian article Percy. They’re good at that sort of thing.
Not to interfere with the game versus Huddersfield, but the U23 play again tomorrow night versus Reading. Kickoff is 19:00 (7pm).
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Now that Alan Pardew and Fat Sam have been named to take over at WBA and Everton respectively, I can’t help but wonder if this is what is needed. Aren’t there some young managers or managers who are not they typical lot that could to the job?
Pardew apparently has a 2.5 year contract. Does that mean he will still be manager at the end of this season?
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In terms of tonight’s games, my hopes are for wins by us (H), Bournemouth (H), Swansea (A), Southampton (A) and Stoke (H). This leaves Everton versus State Aid, which I hope ends in a draw. I’m also hoping we get another clean sheet.
What do you want?
Off topic just read on BBC football text that Santi has had another ankle operation not seen anywhere else I wonder if true
Ozil in for Iwobi, the only change from Sunday…
Hope he survives..
Steve vallins
Also reported this morning in the online Mail & Guardian, so yes, probably true.
Arsenal
Starting Lineup:
33. Petr Cech (G)
31. Sead Kolasinac
24. Hector Bellerin
18. Nacho Monreal
06. Laurent Koscielny
20. Shkodran Mustafi
29. Granit Xhaka
11. Mesut Ozil
08. Aaron Ramsey
07. Alexis Sanchez
09. Alexandre Lacazette
Just had a great laugh.
Match M’Gladbach v Mainz
Goalie stopped ball with foot, not looking down he then tried to kick it, but ball had moved by then, so he kicked air.
Will probably be on you tube soon, look out for it.
Actually
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VflbMDHivSc
Thanks Jax thought more than likely true poor Santi l think it will be a miracle to see him in Arsenal’s first 11 again
How to go Lacazette! Nice assist Aaron.
COYG!
Kabboommmm
We do make problems for ourselves by holding back after the goal.
What are they doing?
The 5 minute interval from 5 to 10 minutes, seen Arsenal at 72% possession. The next 5 minutes (from 10 to 15) only seen 53% possession. So if there was a let down, it was slightly more than 5 minutes after scoring.
COYG!
If i was AW i would be livid at our play.
Statistics:
Shots on target 2:1
_off target _ _ 3:1
Corners _ _ _ _ 1:1
Offsides _ _ _ _0:2
Fouls _ _ _ _ _ 5:4
Goalkicks _ _ _ 1:4
Treatments _ _ _3:0
__ Cumulative %Arsenal Possession
_____ %Arsenal last 5 minutes
_5 58 58
10 65 72
15 61 53
20 62 65
25 67 87
30 67 67
35 66 60
40 65 58
45 64 56
45+2 64 64
_6 Hogg trips Ozil
_7 Mounie trips Mustafi
_8 __unknown treatment
13 _Kolasinac trips Quaner
21 _Koscielny trips Kachunga
25 Joergensen pushes Ramsey
26 _Sanchez trips Hogg
28 _Xhaka trips Quaner
29 Mustafi treatment (We now see that Arsenal have had 3 treatments??)
41 Joergensen pushes Sanchez
45 _Ramsey trips Mooy
COYG!
Being careless….
In a hurry. Understand, cos one eye will be at the weekend fixture. But come on ARSENAL, don’t kill me like this. It’s 2 am and I want to get some sleep when the game is over ppplllleeeaaaasssseeeeee ?
Are we playing for a draw? I dont like our performance even though we are a goal up.
Oh dear… Giroooooooo
I have not been on edge for a long while watching an Arsenal game, but i am tonight.
Yyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhh cooooommmmeeeee ooooooonnnnn
Giroooooooo so easy…
At last Giroud
Hahhahahaha. Yyyeeeeaaahhhhh
Electric Alexis
Whew!
A couple of errors in the stats, I took the numbers before whistle blown. Corrected for end of game set of statistics.
We scored, but who? Who assisted? Come on commentary! Giroud scores, assisted by unknown. How to go Giroud, how to go unknown!
COYG!
Aleeeeexisssssss
Assisted by Ozil for Giroud
Ooohhzzil.
Wwwoooohhhhoooooo
Another goal? Wonderful! I gather that is the Alexis comment? Must be. Ahh, Mesut assisted both goals. How to go Mesut!
Para, 13 you can both relax now. The Gunners can’t, but you can. 🙂 A little.
COYG!
Ozil scores
Weekend related changes coming up…
Seems offside but goal given
Another goal? Again? You guys are making it hard for me to do math while reading commentary.
Ozil from unknown. How to go Ozil! And unknown number 2!
COYG!
Gord
I really needed that.
Thought i was going to bed sulking.
Welbeck and Wilshire on for Ramsey and unknown
Come on Danny, get one too, prime yourself for Sat.
Relax noooooooooooooooooo…
As long as therz beautiful breathtaking football….can’t relax.
Every moment is an edge of the seat moment. ?
Whitehead!!!!
Still playing!!!!
Was Lacazette injured when he was replaced, anyone know.
Oh shit Rooney just scored from his own half….won’t hear the last of that.
Giroooooooo yyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhh
Kolasnic scores the fifth
Or was it Giroud
Why did you do that Kol?
And another goal! This is helping the goal difference a lot tonight.
At the moment, it is unknown scored by unknown assisting.
And it’s Giroud, from Kolasinac. How to go Gunners! More please.
I mentioned above, that Lacazette was limping at end of half.
COYG!
Come on Danny, still 4 mins you can get one too.
Any bet referee blows early, to reduce chance of Arsenal scoring any more?
COYG!
Well played lads
Worth staying up so late night
Good night guys
Final statistics
Shots on target 2:1 _7:1
_off target _ _ 3:1 10:3
Corners _ _ _ _ 2:1 _7:2
Offsides _ _ _ _0:2 _2:3
Fouls _ _ _ _ _ 6:5 10:12
Yellow _ _ _ _ _0:0 _0:1
Goalkicks _ _ _ 1:4 _3:9
Treatments _ _ _3:0 _3:0
__ Cumulative %Arsenal Possession
_____ %Arsenal last 5 minutes
_5 58 58
10 65 72
15 61 53
20 62 65
25 67 87
30 67 67
35 66 60
40 65 58
45 64 56
45+2 64 64
50 65 74
55 63 42
60 65 88
65 63 38
70 63 63
75 69 155 _??
80 68 53
85 69 85
90 70 87
90+ 70 70
_6 Hogg trips Ozil
_7 Mounie trips Mustafi
_8 __unknown treatment
13 _Kolasinac trips Quaner
21 _Koscielny trips Kachunga
25 Joergensen pushes Ramsey
26 _Sanchez trips Hogg
28 _Xhaka trips Quaner
29 Mustafi treatment _(We now see that Arsenal have had 3 treatments??)
41 Joergensen pushes Sanchez
45 _Ramsey trips Mooy
46 Giroud on for Lacazette, was limping at end of half, missed foul?
52 _Ramsey pulls Hogg
55 _Sanchez trips Kachunga
58 Kachunga trips Monreal
60 Mooy trips Xhaka (Yellow)
65 Ozil trips Hadergjonaj
79 Depoitre pushes Mustafi
81 Depoitre pushes Xhaka
88 _Kolasinac pushes Joergensen
90+2 Kachunga pushes Wilshere
I cancelled my cable tv subscription and it seems to coincide with when AFC is back in winning ways!!!!
But I’ll not reconnect until the ‘Oink’Mob is truly reformed of its corrupt tendencies & set up that encourages match fixing. Top 4? We are back to stay in there. Well done boys.
Sorry Gord if you responded to my question.
But I am having to refresh the page up to 10 times just to get all the comments and I may of missed your reply.
I hope Lacazette is ok for Saturday …
In the interviews, Wenger said that Lacazette will miss Saturday’s game to a groin injury. Is it only 1 game? It might be.
In tracking more of the statistics form LiveScore, I am finding that there are things which end up in the statistics, which are never part of the commentary. Which is not helpful.
Also, to convert the cumulative possession information, to information on possession in the previous 5 minutes you can see that the lack of significant figures produces results which are unreasonable or even not possible. I don’t think our possession over 5 minutes was as low as 38%, and it is not possible to have more than 100%. But I suspected this would happen as the game went further along.
We didn’t seem to get favourable results out of the rest of the games, or at least for games involving the top of the table. Even with Burnley, I would have preferred a draw. Oh well, ….
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Start to look at the post game news. Same old crap. Ozil has baffled people ever since he arrived. No he hasn’t! The people that are “baffled”; don’t care, don’t want to prove themselves wrong or have an agenda. Everybody and his dog is looking to pick up Ozil for their team. They all know what a good player he is. It is just too darned bad that soooooooo many “gooners” have to propagate this nonsense.
The first medja report I see (and Para above) talk about Arsenal’s intensity dropping after the first goal was scored. I don’t think it shows in the possession over 5 minutes data. It might have dropped just before half time slightly, but it could also be that the lack of significant figures in the possession data was starting to show up. Huddersfield had a spate of chances; blah, blah, blah. Huddersfield had one shot on target all game long, and 1 shot off target in the the first half and two shots off target in the second half.
Oh well, I’ll see if I can find some “good” news in the medja.
Lacazette will be unavailable for the weekend (groin injury).
Cheers Gord.. Who replaces him?
Welbeck or Giroud?
And in the British medja, there seem to be no articles that don’t take shots at Arsenal in general, or players in particular. Lots offer good words, but always with the slap in the face to accompany this.
Why bother reading this crap?
WOO HOO ,HOO ! What a win ! Good going guys .Now to keep our home record going this weekend .
Up the Gunners !
Despite lack of sleep last night, feeling fresh as ever. This is what a breathtaking ARSENAL display does to you.
‘Why bother reading this crap?’
Yes indeed.?
The Arsenal Ladies new manager, Joe Montemurro, has an interview up at Arsenal.com. Guess what, he’s a Gooner!
https://www.arsenal.com/news/im-arsenal-fan-so-bit-surreal
It’s a nice article.
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On a Ladies football note, but not Arsenal related. Recently, Canada was away to Norway (last weekend?). At halftime, it was 2-0 to Norway.
Canada won the game 3-2, with the comeback started by Captain Canuck, Christine Sinclair. She is now at 168 international goals, only 16 behind Abby Wambach (all time leading scorer of women’s goals.
If we go looking at the men’s statistics, the top scorer is only at 109 goals. Cristiano Ronaldo is the leading man that is still actively playing, at 79.