Month: November 2020

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Arsenal 1 – 2 Wolves

His Darke Materials

As NBC match commentator Ian Darke pointed out during today’s match, Wolves had not beaten the Gunners away from home since 1979, our average of nine shots on goal per match is our worst in the last 22 years, and a loss today would ensure our lowest point total through the first 10 matches of a season in the Premier League era.

Charlie Brown, Lucy, and a Football

I foolishly believed our early season defensive results would at least somewhat offset our offensive struggles, but if our loss to Leicester (who played without Jamie Vardy for nearly two-thirds of the match) wasn’t bad enough, today we somehow managed to concede twice in the first half to a Wolves side that had only scored two goals in an entire match just two other times all season. Even more damning, they did so today without their leading scorer. How much longer will Gooners and ownership give Arteta to turn things around?

Silver-ish Linings

This is a tough one. Sideshow Bob actually looked pretty good playing with a concussion through the end of the first half? We scored a goal from open play in the league for the first time since October 4th? Willian picked up an assist for the first time since Week One of the league season? We actually took more shots today than we averaged coming into today’s match? Perhaps Partey, Elneny, and Pépé will be available next week?

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Leeds United 0 – 0 Arsenal

Et tu, Pépé?

Before Pépé was sent off in the 51st minute, he was to be credited for at least trying to get forward and take on defenders. And while I won’t belabor the criticisms about how Pépé was naively goaded into head-butting Leeds’ Egzjan Alioski (who fell to the ground as if he had just insulted Zinedine Zidane’s sister), it is fair to note that the Ivorian is dispossessed rather frequently. In fact, Pépé is the second most dispossessed Gunner this season, despite having made the Starting XI just two times this season. The last Gunner I can recall to be this loose with possession was Alexis Sánchez, but unlike Pépé, generally speaking the (reportedly) 5’6″ Sánchez was a force of nature on the pitch, who more than made up for his tendency to dally on the ball during his time at the Emirates.

Role Reversal

First, last Sunday I watched the usually prolific Arsenal women’s team (i.e., scorers of 30 goals in just seven matches in the Women’s Super League) play Chelsea in a 1-1 draw. The Lady Gunners scored the match’s opening goal in the 86th minute, only to concede the equalizer via an own goal just four minutes later. Then today, with over 66% of possession, 25 shots, a man advantage for nearly half the match, and failing to pick up all three points, one would have been forgiven for thinking that they were watching Arsenal in the later years under Wenger. Leeds probably “deserved better” today, but as Gooners know all too well, if that was the standard, then Wenger would probably still be roaming the touchline at the Emirates rather than working for FIFA.

“That’s Bad, Dad”

After NBC studio host Rebecca Lowe commented that Arsenal has not scored a goal from the outfield in five consecutive league matches, this was what one of my daughter’s shouted from the other room. Unfortunately our scoring dry spell continues. When Saka came on today as a substitute, he almost single-handedly pulled off a smash and grab, but if his injury is serious, then that leaves one less creative player for Arteta to deploy in a side already bereft of attacking options. Mesut, how do you spell schadenfreude again?

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Arsenal 0 – 3 Aston Villa

De Mortuis Nihil Nisi Bonum

While the act of typing the score above was pretty painful, it was nowhere near as painful as watching Sunday’s thrashing. If what they say about “speaking ill of the dead” is true, then perhaps I spoke too soon by giving Arteta the edge over Emery through their respective first 26 matches in charge at the Emirates. Where should I begin? John McGinn’s first-minute screamer that was ruled out on a technicality? No way Leno makes that save (even without Ross Barkley in his line of sight). Or perhaps Willian’s stray ball which set up the Villa move that ended with Saka’s own goal? I was hoping the crafty ball Willian delivered to Bellerin last week (which resulted in the game-winning pen) was the beginning of something good for both Willian and us, but alas, he has yet to contribute anything positive since Week One v. Fulham. Zero shots (not on goal, no shots, period) for Auba? Our inability to create chances continues to plague us as one of our best chances of the day was created by…you guessed it…Gabriel…for…wait for it…Holding.

The Difference Maker

On the positive side, Thomas continued to impress. And who knows? Things may have ended differently if after he intercepted McGinn’s poor back pass Thomas had found a way to put his close-range shot past former Arsenal journeyman Emi Martinez in the ninth minute. Multiple times during the first half Thomas was able to break up play and help us maintain possession. Who says one man can’t make a difference? Not only did we look like a different team after Thomas did not return to the pitch after half time, the scoreline ballooned in the second half without him sitting in front of our backline, and if I’m honest, Villa could have scored at least one or two more in his absence. With our anemic offense,–and I never thought I’d say this–our defense may be the only thing that gives us a chance this season, so let’s hope Thomas is fit again after the international break.

Tip of the Hat

In the department of giving credit where credit is due, hats off to Emi for his performance on Sunday. After spending most of his career outside of the Arsenal Starting XI, he came on late last season for us and performed well with Leno out injured, which led to Villa picking him up over the summer for a reported £20 million. In the words of commentator Ian Darke during Sunday’s match, “It took him ten years to become an overnight sensation”. I can only imagine how it must have felt for Emi to earn a clean sheet against his former teammates at the Emirates.

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Manchester United 0 – 1 Arsenal

Pre-game Jitters

Our well-publicized impotency against the Top Six in recent years. Our poor away record last season. A resurgent United who in the Champions League won at star-studded PSG less than two weeks ago and then put five past a very good Leipzig side on Wednesday. And to make matters worse, the notorious Mike Dean as lead referee. Needless to say, I wasn’t confident going into this match.

Same As The Old Boss?

In another pre-match storyline, much was made of Arteta’s record through his first 26 league matches as manager and its similarities to that of Unai Emery who was sacked after 26 league matches in charge. However, one of the most striking differences between the two is that the Gunners conceded only 28 goals under Arteta vs. 37 under Emery. And today, that defensive difference was on full display as our defense kept us in the match with one tackle (we had 20 vs. 10 for United) and clearance (23 for us, 12 for them) after another until we deservedly took the lead in the 69th minute and then allowed us to hold on to that lead through full time.

Men of the Match

In fairness to Emery, when he was our manager he did not have the talents of Gabriel and Partey at his disposal. And while Gabriel came close to receiving a second yellow–especially with the red card-happy Dean roaming the pitch–, the Brazilian never lost his fight throughout the match and continues to bring some much needed toughness to our back line. Partey was excellent breaking up play with numerous tackles and interceptions that helped keep United from sustaining any offensive momentum. But in fairness to Arteta, Emery never got much out of Mohamed Elneny. In fact, the Egyptian was sent out on loan to Besiktas for most of Emery’s tenure at the Emirates. But under Arteta, Elneny has started in three of our four league wins this season. While he was always unlikely to score with the rocket of a shot he unleashed in the 65th minute, he had played so well beforehand that he certainly earned the right to have a go. And his gegenpressing in the 91st minute (yes, in extra time!)–almost single-handedly pushing United back when they desperately needed to get forward–brought a huge smile to my face and hopefully made Gooners everywhere proud.