1. Rocket from Lacazette
The games been fairly even so far, but it’s Arsenal that take the lead. Lacazette position in the squad has been under question in recent months. But if he can produce more moments like this, he could be around for quite a bit longer.
It’s a goal from nothing, really. Xhaka does well to win a 50/50 after a Spuds interception. The ball rolls to Laca, who takes a couple of touches and smashes the ball into the near post top corner from two yards outside the box. It was an unstoppable thunderbolt with his right boot.
2. Son's Equaliser
...And three minutes later, we’re level again. There had been some sloppy defensive plays already from Arsenal. Luiz, Mustafi and Kolasinac have formed the back three for the last few weeks and you would expect them to be growing in confidence, but it doesn’t appear to be the case.
Kolasinac has his head down and plays a pass into the space next to David Luiz. The Brazilian is forced into a frantic race with Son, a race he is destined to lose, and he does. The Spuds man touch forces him wide, and Martinez follows him. The keeper dives down and Son clips the ball in. Does Martinez go down too early? Maybe his positioning could be better because he ends diving out wide to the feet of the Korean, who simply dinks it over the keeper.
3. … Spuds Take the Lead
Arsenal’s super-thin chance of getting into the Europe via the league look in serious doubt. We had large periods of dominating possession without creating enough clear-cut opportunities. Now Spuds are coming back into the game and Arsenal don’t really have much of a reply.
Their goal came from an in-swinging corner headed in by Alderweireld. It’s not a particularly clever goal. There’s no late run or even much movement. He nods the ball in from only around six yards out. Could the goalie have claimed it? Martinez stepped forward to intercept, but then retreated. Or was Alderweireld and Tierney a bad match-up? Possibly, but who else would you put on the Dutchman. Not a great list of height or heading ability in the team right now.
4. The Portuguese Manager
No matter how down and out he becomes, it still feel like he never loses to Arsenal. For years he was Wenger’s enemy while at Chelsea, he went to bitter rival United and now he manages the most despicable team in the league. He must be considered Arsenals public enemy number one. His first spell at Chelsea was hugely successful, but his two recent terms at Premier League team have been relative flops, yet Arsenal have consistently failed to put the boot-in on the slippery fox.
No longer considered a top manager at what’s never been a top club. This should have been a win for Arsenal, but he again defied the odds. It’s not hard to imagine Mourinho, being given charge of some awful northern team, crawling out of dumpster after six years on the p*ss and still get three point off Arsenal. Do managers get testimonials? If they did, there would be no doubt who he’s inviting.
5. The Winks Case Study
It’s easy for referees not to give Arsenal any decisions. Their players don’t complain, and when they do, it’s in a language the refs don’t understand. For Winks first foul, the ref is actually seen reaching towards his back pocket before realising no one will notice if he doesn’t give him a yellow card. Had there have been any call to book the Spuds man he would have surely continued to dish out a yellow. Referees are affected by their surroundings. If they think a decision would surprise everyone in the stadium, then there’s no way they would give it.
Winks makes another small foul, not enough to warrant a yellow card on its own, but it’s his second offense and his first one was bad. The ref needs to be reminded of the foul count. A captain like Tony Adams would leave the referee in no doubt exactly how many fouls a player had committed and politely suggest it is about time they get booked. Yes, the waving of the imaginary card is frowned upon, but holding up fingers to count fouls and pointing at where they happened is doing a service.
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