Plenty of work for Arteta to do
A top four team would have put the game to bed in the first half and the fact they didn’t, highlighted a weakness which needs addressing. Tomiyasu was back but started on the left. Holding was still in for White,…
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Nuno the anarchist makes wild game wilder
Lucky. Key moments went Arsenal’s way. Not least United’s penalty miss and hits on the post and bar. One of the issues when Manchester United are in town: there’s tension between Man United’s historical image and their current reality. They…
Bizarre game history returns at the Bridge
End of empire feel about Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were restricted to 32,249 – and Arsenal fans sang “just like the old days. There’s nobody here.” The Bridge brings out bizarre, unexpected results in Chelsea v Arsenal games – remember the…
Done by the birds
The birds have done for Arsenal. Eagles & Seagulls 5 Arsenal 1. Injuries had a severe effect on the Arsenal performance. The proven midfield platform of Xhaka and Partey disappeared, along with the left back certainty of Tierney. Arsenal still…
An off night or derailment?
Another match which screams out: Arsenal should have busted a gut to get a goal-scorer in the last window – even on loan. Three good chances fell to Odegaard and Smith Rowe – but they aren’t clinical finishers Was this…
The two sides of Arsenal win the points
Another team criticises Arsenal for celebrating a victory – too much in their eyes. Is a pattern developing? A bright energetic high press game to start, followed by a defensive resilient display in the second half won the points. DIgne…
Liverpool show Arsenal their level
Liverpool have lethal forwards who can strike at any time and do well against Arsenal. And so it proved here. Arsenal needed another gear after the second goal went in – but it wasn’t there. And they had to be…
Odegaard proves worth over Maddison
Leicester had achieved three clean sheets in their last three matches and appeared coming into form but had a Europa tie on the Thursday. Would that count in Arsenal’s favour? Arsenal are 14 points better off than at the same…
Arsenal hold out after losing cruise control
Arsenal seem vulnerable when they are in cruise control and need an external threat to galvanise them. Maybe part of a team growing up and learning. There was an expectation for goals in this one – but with Arsenal’s leading…
If at first…try, try, and try again
For three quarters of the match thoughts turned to Arteta’s pre-match -press conference where he said Arsenal didn’t get players in the last window as none would improve the quality of the squad. Looked like a dose of pragmatism and…