By Dan Ferguson
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That went very much as predicted.
It was Swansea 0 Arsenal 4 Giroud 37 Cork 54og Naughton 67og Sanchez 73
Swansea started hard and pressed, knowing that Arsenal have not done well away from home in their last few games.
Furthermore, it is a great way of stopping a footballing team finding their rhythm as you all know. So the first 35 was catch, chase, waste, reboot.
Swansea looked OK, but you knew their centre backs didn’t trust each other at all.
In the end, they collapsed, dwelling on a penalty decision correctly waved away.
In the second half, Arsenal dominated with the ball, Iwobi and Ozil took turns conducting play, and Ramsey looked half decent for the first time in several weeks.
So there was much to celebrate after Alexis’ goal and the desire to keep creating chances.
However, Alexis has probably drunk from the same cup as Costa, and fuck him. I say that in the most considered manner I possibly can, but they are the words that I choose because he needs to know what his actions mean to supporters.
Firstly, his objection to coming off. We’ve all seen that before. Look at the Ox ever week and you’ll know the face well. But what follows shows a disdain for his boss, team mates and the game he’s just played in.
The club tries to manage it as a ‘ho ho ho the lad just loves to play football’ affair, but observers of the players, not just the game, know different.
I think massive wages have Alexis in a bind.
Sagna had the same but at least left for a combination of football reasons, and the offer on the table equated to 6 Arsenal years as opposed to Man City’s 4. It was 50% better and a chance to play for the title etc. Sanchez probably has the chance to earn £750k on a weekly basis, and we know he is going to be a clown.
Don’t believe the crap coming out of The Guardian about how China’s league isn’t so bad etc. It needs years of good management to raise it to championship standard, let alone Premier League.
So there’s Alexis, sitting on the sidelines, hood over face, flailing and gesticulating like Harry Enfield’s Kevin character. He makes the story about him, rather than the result, and mugs like me have to scribe this crappy affair because we know it has to be discussed.
The thing I don’t get is it costs him nothing in his negotiation bid to smile, shake everyone’s hand and enjoy each game knowing he may well leave.
What difference would it make? And there is the making of the man. He knows it would make no difference, and still chooses to act like a spoilt dickhead. Amazing footballer, but he’s turning into a Mike Dean character. There’s no coming back from that if he isn’t careful.
While the media want the stories, the blogs can tell it like it appears to be, rather than massaging egos etc. But what he did undermines Wenger’s legitimate efforts to manage a win and put the pressure on the clubs above. Now we just look dysfunctional for the simplest reasons.
But here’s the thing. When Ronaldo and Mourinho disagreed, it was Jose who was sent packing. I don’t think Sanchez wants to challenge Wenger’s powers, but he has no idea how much power Wenger has.
Best thing he could do is shut up and smile for the cameras. If he’s going to China or Chelsea then go, but to mug the club off each week is only going to bring the players down. We are all a bit older.
We don’t have the “Please don’t go!” sentiment once held for Vieira, Henry, Fabregas.
We are worn down and bitter when that side of the game surfaces now.
If Sanchez wants out, sling your hook.
8 days rest, then Burnley at home. Bring it on!