We went in the game a little heavy with almost all first teamers apart from Timber in place of Zinchenko/Tierney and Trossard for Martinelli.
Barcelona scored first when Odegaard lost a ball in their half and Ezzalzouli did a great run before Lewandowski scored from a tap-in. We levelled back in 12th minute when Saka scored a brilliant goal. This kid just can’t stop scoring, can he? One thing to notice was Ben White was too high up the pitch both during when we conceded and scored. This leaves us with just a Saliba and Gabriel in a counter attack, and that’s why Partey’s midfield handling becomes important.
We had a Penalty awarded of a handball in 21st minute. Saka put it out wide, can happen with anyone but we seriously need to mix it up. We are making it easier for the opposition to read of Saka’s penalty game.
Barca scored again when a deflection from Odegaard lands into the net, of a free hit from outside the box. Now call what you want, it wasn’t a Ramsdale mistake but Ode’s. You don’t shy away from the kick if are standing as a wall.
Saka helped us again to level up in 42nd minute when he lofted a ball to Odegaard in the box which Havertz guided in the goalpost. 2-2 at half time.
A long ball in 55th minute, which Jesus guided to Trossard, who scored an inch-perfect goal. A lovely strike from Smith Rowe was saved few minutes later and a Dembele’s shot hit the woodwork at our end. Soon after in 78th minute, Trossard scored his second from a Tierney’s pass, leading us to 4-2. Barca scored in 87th minute to make it 4-3. However, within couple of minutes, we reclaimed our 2 goal difference when Vieira scored a perfect left-foot goal from outside the box. It was a beautiful goal, perhaps the best of the day.
Overall, we were good in attack and could have easily scored few more. We also need to iron out mistakes defensively, because out of those 3 goals, 2 would have not happened if Ode was a bit more aggressive. Partey showed us all, why I’m against selling him this season. He has been the backbone of our game, and replacing him with Rice without a handover would cost us. Think of Rice as a rotation to Partey and not a replacement for this season, and this solves our both problems – Partey’s injury and no drop in performance!
I think Arteta is still experimenting with Timber, after playing him at right back and left back. We will see what position he takes up but defensively we have enough options and there shouldn’t be any concern for any out of form players. When fit, Tomi is a world class player who can deputise at both ends and at CB. White can play RB, CB, so can Timber. Tierney is looking sharp, Zinny will be in the fold and Kiwior has started picking up things.
Partey is most likely not leaving this season, so our midfield looks even better. Rice can deputize him, Havertz, Trossard can cover #8, ESR is back to fitness and a fight for LW between Trossard and Martinelli is going to be an interesting one.
Couple of weeks more, if you are bored without football.
KP,
I surely am,looking forward to a good game. I’ll be shouting for kerry myself. David Clifford is a joy to watch. No real underdog here,2 giants of gaelic football.
To my inexpert eye, I can tell that these are two top teams. The skills, movement and fitness are a notch above some of the other games I’ve seen. I’m really happy that it’s being shown here on the BBC.
Goooal! Clifford is Kerry’s answer to Saka!
Isn’t it incredible to think that these lads are amateurs, working full time jobs. This is what I mean when I talk about losing my love of football. The GAA boys have all the strength and skill with none of the financial rewards. Hitting each other as though their lives depend on it yet not a feigned injury in sight.
there’s been some chatter today regarding the notion of us selling the underwhelming Turner and pursuing the highly sought-after Raya…I have no problem whatsoever with shipping Turner, as he’s clearly not the kind of top flight keeper we could rely upon should Ramsdale go down, but the idea of us paying north of 30M for another keeper would be full-on bonkers…I actually rate Raya higher than Ramsdale, albeit not by a significant amount, and I do like the idea of having some “real” competition behind our starter, just like at every other position, but if we were to invest that heavily again in that particular position that would be chequebook managing at it’s finest
I’m likewise a little concerned about Rice’s injury status, as I can’t remember ever hearing about him being sidelined before arriving here, even though it’s undoubtedly not his first time being shelved (might just be my usual Arsenal injury paranoia kicking in)
KP & Almunia—there’s was a couple points in time when I got into both Gailec Football and Aussie Rules, likely due to the fact I played in a handful of Rugby tourneys, so I get your points regarding the whole old school/for the love of the game sentimentality, but I just found that over time they had more of a weekend warrior/hobby sport feel…this certainly isn’t meant to be a disparaging commentary, as I totally respect the time, effort and skill involved, I just couldn’t see them replacing my other more primary sporting interests…that might have more to do with spreading myself too thin, as I follow a myriad of sports, which might not be the case for you two, or it might have something to do with my gambling predilictions that have encouraged me to opt for those sports that better fit that particular narrative…Cheers
I was watching our largely misunderstood and sacrificial lamb of a former manager, Unai, in Villa’s entertaining match against Brentford and I now fully understand why they paid a record fee for Diaby…one of their most problematic issues last season was their lack of effective width, which forced them into being too narrow too often…as any good manager should they use the off-season to target those players who could best rectify any squad deficiencies…so now when teams choke off the inside lanes, Villa can get very favourable 1 v. 1 scenarios on the edge…if Buendia can rise to the occasion, they could be a formidable foe, much like Villarreal under Emery’s tutelage…this also makes me wonder what might have been if Unai was actually given a say when it came to personnel matters here, as his preferred tactics rely heavily on players with a particular skillset, which was totally disregarded with the weasel Raul in charge
A preview of this season from the Guardian in case you don’t read it (maybe too opionated for Bob, and too Marxist-Leninist for Marc! 😊).
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/31/arsenal-premier-league-2023-24-preview
It’s the stuff about Tets that is particularly worth reading. He irks opposing fans sure, but he also irks vast numbers of Gooners too!
If you want to read the same sort of things for other clubs (Brighton Tony? Or your mates Manure and Liverpool Almunia?) they’ll all come out in alphabetical order in the next few days I guess. The start of the season is on its way…
Subscribe to the Guardian Kroenke!
‘He irks opposing fans sure but…….’
‘his touchline histrionics can irk rivals, although they are criticised to a tiresome extent in some quarters.’
Worth highlighting the rest of the sentence!
Hi Bob
Yeah, I wasn’t trying to quote selectively. It was mainly written as an incentive to fellow LiR-ers (not sure that’s the best portmanteau I’ve ever come up with given we aim to tell the unalloyed truth on here 😊). I essence, I don’t find myself to be tiresome in my critique of Arteta but each to their own. In fact, I promise never to write anything negative about him after he buggers off to PSG, or becomes the manager of the Al-Shabaz bone saw surgeons in Jeddah or some such sithole.
It’s a small thing but I’d like Arsenal to have a manager that I like and admire again before I shuffle off this mortal coil.
Kroenke, Of managers in the last 50 years, who are your top 3? I like both GG and Wenger but they both left unsatisfactorily. GG managed to accommodate some god awful players for example and we all know AW was well past his sell by date. I guess you’re talking about personalities.
I definitely liked AW and GG but not without criticism, I’ ve always been much more invested in the players.
Mee, Howe, Neill, Rioch, Emery, Arteta don’t like or dislike really.
Mee and Don Howe were sound, solid Arsenal managers for me. Men of their time, thoughtful and clear about how they wanted us to play. Technically we were not a wealthy club back then (or at least one that was ready to spend it). Much less media scrutiny in those days but they largely ensured that we punched at out weight and occasionally above it. I couldn’t imagine either of them petulantly dropping the ball at an opposing player’s feet when the ref doesn’t give a throw in to Arsenal. No hand rubbing, no YNWA, no labrador ejaculating everywhere. You said in the last 50 years so no Herbert Chapman obviously.
And if I found myself somewhere in Spain with the chance to have a few estrellas with a former Spanish manager, it’d be UE, not MA.
I don’t like some of Arteta’s touch line antics but I accept his intensity leads to dodgy moments. Wenger was a bad loser too at times but I think there is a long list of managers who in the heat of the moment act improperly. Personally I prefer it to a lack of emotion or just an anguished face.
Mee and Howe were living in a different time of course, gentlemen no doubt but living at a time when managers had very little media responsibilities in the way they do now. There wasn’t a maelstrom of bloggers commenting on their every action and comment for that matter. No behind the curtain tv opportunities!
Bob
That’s all true. Arteta has a cold nasty edge. I wouldn’t characterise it as intensity. To me the net result looks more like impetuousness and immaturity. He comes across to me as still desperately wanting to be a player on the pitch.
He lacks class and, just like Australian cricketers, is a bad winner and a bad loser. I don’t like seeing him being interviewed, win lose or draw. On the other hand, I loved early Wenger for his insight and his ability to unfailingly praise the opposition.
I want to like and respect the manager as much as I have liked and respected many of the players we’ve had down the years. Despite rumours of taking a pay cut to join us, Arteta didn’t inspire me as a player either.
You watching the cricket? Nerve shredding…
Bob
I’m going to put some stumps and bails in my living room and flip them over every time Ms Kroenkephobe gets on my tits!
One more needed.
I’d love to see Bairstow end this by stumping that bastard Carey.
Am watching it. At 3 down I wasn’t , once we got into the wickets it’s been a much easier watch! Anderson will probably regret not retiring as well.
Kroenke,
Am I being blind about Arteta? I just don’t see why you and others see him so differently to me.
What an ending. Brilliant!
Stuart Broad take a bow!
Hi Bob
Our differing attitudes on Arteta are fine. Moreover, it underlines the fact that pluralism is alive and well on LiR. Pedro completely destroyed that and it’s cost him in my view.
The varying opinions probably speak to differences in our personalities, attitudes and connections with the club. You’re much more invested in it than me these days given you attend, spend serious sums of money to watch them play and because you still live in the area. I’ve paid my dues over the years and Arsenal means more to me than I’d sometimes admit, but I can’t see myself ever living in n London again for numerous reasons. Dr Johnson’s quote most definitely refers to me!
I think if either if us is going to move to the other one’s point of view, it’s only a matter of time before results consistently go against Arteta (not in the short term because we’re improving) and/or he goes elsewhere that’s my main hope for seeing the back of him!)
Following last week’s two leg European farrago, I’m now having deeply frustrating and inane discussions with Ms Kroenkephobe about why the Australians are taking/keeping the Ashes and why they’re not being shared. Help!
Plurality is good.
Australia, best team in the world – England competed incredibly well.
Will look forward to the India series. I just hope the Indians provide wickets that allow a balanced contest between bat and ball, which shows off five day Test cricket at his best – just as this series has done. Last time the bunsen burners were a joke.
I know the aussies recently won the world test championship but England are a far superior team(on English soil,in English conditions I would stress) in my opinion both with bat and ball. Have a little think about picking a combined aussie/ English test 11 based on the ashes. Hiw many aussies defo start? For me it’s one,Smith. Whereas England have 4 or 5 definites. For me the Aussies escaped with the ashes and should be thrilled. Very different story over there of course.
Bob,
I wouldn’t be too worried about your view on Arteta. The way I see it supporting a team means a number of things. There’s the club itself,which is symbolic and timeless. The players who of course come and go. And the manager who can seem bigger than both or almost irrelevant. I think we all support in different ways. For me Arteta dominates my thoughts and(sorry for the dramatic but it’s true)poisons everything good about Arsenal. Whereas, I’d imagine,for you and many others the club is performing better(which it did last year obviously) and therefore you can take pleasure from that. Arteta need not come into the conversation even.
So why can’t I take that view? I’ll try to explain but it’s not easy. When Arteta arrived he was accompanied by an entourage(within the media,online,in the game), I’m not sure how or why,but for the first time in my life following Arsenal,I realised that there was a manager at our club who was being judged in an entirely different way.
He could do whatever he wanted and there seemed to be no accountability.
* His original plan involved keeping Xhaka, he tried to keep that German cb,he signed willian,extended Luiz,extended PEA. In short he took the job with no intention of giving youth a chance.
He froze out Saliba,ESR and Martinelli and only Saka’s insane levels saw him start. So why then was he later credited with project youth?? Totally illogical to me. What’s logical to me is that someone pulled him aside and had a chat. That’s fine. But why can’t Arsenal fans admit that? To some of them he’s a visionary.
* His treatment of players that don’t play in his first 11 is appalling. From Ozil to PEA to Guendouzi to Saliba to Torreira.
The list is extensive. But again what confuses me is not the breakdown in Arteta’s relationship with players,to me that’s easy to understand, he’s an egotistical man who cannot accept conflict/criticism. Where I lose the plot is the narrative that Arteta had to somehow ‘cleanse’ the club of a rotten group of players. And most Arsenal fans buy this! It was getting to the stage that if Arteta was getting rid of a player,then stories of this players petulance would suddenly appear. List is endless Martinez wouldn’t accept a 95% guarantee, AMN wouldn’t play in defence, Ozil and the pay cut,PEA’s time keeping,Guen’s attitude. Since when did Arsenal do business like this? Since when did Arsenal treat players like this en masse? Since Arteta arrived. Yet Arsenal fans,some,think he’s a gent. He’s ruthless,but not in a fergie way. It’s all about his own survival.
* Arteta the coach. He was meant to make us competitive by being this modern coach who could get the best out of our players. He will be remembered as the ultimate cheque book manager. Yet this cult around him tell us this is the ONLY way to compete with city. He HAS to spend a fortune. Answer me this then,why was he emoyed in the first place? And don’t make me laugh about the coaching. Even his most ardent fans complain about his inability to read a game,change a game,influence a game,use substitutes when plan A is failing. If he can’t do that sure how can he even be called a coach???
*Money. The money he has squandered is shocking. He has destroyed the value of players,paid fortunes to be rid of them or given them away for free(who else in the history of football could award a player a 350k a week 3 year contract and the decide within months he didn’t want him and actually be lauded for ‘getting rid of the bad eggs’?) Something’s rotten alright and it’s not the eggs! His spending is chaotic and he’s at it again now having spent a world record on Rice,bought Havertz for reasons no one understands. Is stockpiling players on huge wages. He doubled Ramsdale’s wage to 120k per week and is now looking for Raya?? Explain please. Elneny’s new contract,explain please.300kpw to Havertz,hello? Massive new contracts to everyone but the outgoings are abysmal. Who’s asking questions? No-one. Why? The ‘it’s not my money’ argument only works if this spending is going to lead to success or is continued for the foreseeable. Because if not,then this is a lottery win squandered. And yet we’re told it’s phase 4 or post Christmas after Strategy C. Horseshit. There is something exceptionally wrong here.
So that’s it Bob. I have become so utterly suspicious of Arteta and the campaign surrounding him which whitewashes his numerous faults and errors that I can take no joy in Arsenal at the moment. I also find many of these people exceptionally rude and aggressive(also quite illogical and somewhat lacking in intelligence). And so I’m kind of loitering on the edges,waiting for him to go and trying to ignore the baffling adulation and vicious opposition to debate.
I don’t consider you or the many Arsenal fans who take joy in the current team to be unreasonable in any way. But I struggle myself. Like I said,there’s something very wrong about that man.
Thanks Almunia for putting it so eloquently. Considering the numerous times he’s flip-flopped on strategic direction, and the millions that his ill judged decisions have cost the club, he’s been extraordinarily lucky in a business not known for investing patience in managers.
ALmunia—now I get why we’re in agreeance so often…as you know all too well, I’ve spent countless hours expressing the very same concerns in an exceedingly similar fashion…in the end, it’s just good to know that there are other like-minded individuals out there who both see things as I do and can express themselves in a commonsensical manner..Cheers to you
I complete respect your powerful feelings. Such a shame that your feelings about Arteta get in the way of your enjoyment of Arsenal but I quite understand how they must do. At a time when things are really looking up as well. I hear what you’re saying but his actions just don’t resonate in the same way for me, that they do for you.
I hope his luck continues, if not he’s gone.
Bit of a vent there,didn’t mean to go on. It is comforting when you feel you’re in a mad minority that others have similar views(that’s you KP,TRVL and prob Tony,Kilroy and Marc aswell), because we have to accept we are in a minority. But it’s also great to be able to debate(thank you very much Bob). That’s what I miss,debating online without the personal attacks. Anyway,I still get joy from Arsenal Bob,I’m always shooting the breeze about football I’ve seen over my lifetime. Nothing better than an aul top5/10 selection to bring a smile. We have many more years of that pls God! And if Arteta does win a big one,I will eat humble pie I promise. Either way these are small things really compared to Haverfordwest’s attempt to conquer Europe…….
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/31/irelands-vera-pauw-admits-to-knocking-back-captain-mccabe-against-nigeria
Almunia
Read this and thought of you. What is it about Irish WC teams and in-house meltdowns?
Irish Captain Katie McCabe arguing with Manager Vera Pauw at the women’s World Cup is eerily reminiscent of the Keano-McCarthy spat at the USA WC that we’ve discussed in the past. At least KM won’t have told the gaffer to, ‘stick it up her Dutch bollocks etc etc’.
I assume the tournament has been getting good coverage (as it has here). Have Giles and Dunphy been allowed out of the green room for this one?
Either way these are small things really compared to Haverfordwest’s attempt to conquer Europe…….
😊All eyes on Cardiff on Thursday. If County score, it’ll got to extra time and pens where the Gzk will weave his magic. I have a mate over from Catalunya so will miss it.
KP,
No,the blessed trinity of Brady, Giles and Dunphy are gone from our screens forever. There are a number of female analysts on and I’d be lying if I said I knew any of them,but no more than their male counterparts,some seem quite knowledgeable while others parrot clichés.
Ireland being out will,I’d suggest, end 80% of the interest over here. The other 20% will watch in the hope someone beats England!
I’m going to be a bit lost now with the GAA season and the Ashes gone but the football lge starts on Saturday, looking forward to that. Also very interested to see how Rodgers is received back at Celtic. Then there’s the premiership,Rugby world cup and best of all the return of snooker!!
Did I see Cardiff have picked up Sean Maguire? He was the great new hope of Irish soccer,before Evan Ferguson. Hope he finds his form there,always struck me as someone who just needed a run of games and a bit of luck.
I think Ferguson may well have been worth a punt this summer. If he has another good year next season God knows what price Brighton will put on him. And an out and out striker,who has aerial presence, good hold up play and a natural finisher is exactly what I think Arsenal need. Watch this space……..