Hello Ladies and Gentlemen. We have, yet again, an important game against Leeds United on a Sunday Afternoon, where we try to keep our ‘top of the league’ song playing.
Visiting Leeds is always hostile, they have one of the most vocal and loyal fans out there, and it is going to be a tough challenge for Arteta and co., considering we played an away game on Thursday. Gabriel Jesus is a doubt for the game because of the discomfort he had against Liverpool. Nketiah, despite showing patches of brilliance, is yet to display his end-of-last-season performance. This could be an opportunity for him prove his competitiveness; whether he takes it or not is something we will get to know in few hours.
Rise of Saka has been a blessing for Martinelli. Most of the teams have prioritised nullifying our right flank because of the threats Saka creates. However, this allows Martinelli to play a bit freely.
This only works in two conditions though. One, we need a link up player at LW who can overlap. Tierney, for all his defensive ability, does not provide it as much as Zinchenko. Even Tomiyasu linked up pretty well with him. He drops down for defensive ability. Second, he do not need to play touching the line. Most often than not, he is cornered or plays too wide surrounded by 2/3 players. Against Liverpool he was drifting in middle and that allowed him to be more aggressive, and he had options to pass. I guess this is because Jesus drifts to the wings some times and allows Saka or Martinelli to freely move.
Our threat on either side is creating a mayhem for other teams. In the middle, Xhaka’s improved role is another headache for the oppositions. He can shoot, and shoot well. Allow him space and time and his shots can be lethal.
This is all fancy stuff and looks good to eyes while watching the game but this is only possible because of our defensive ability. Gabriel, no matter how much you point out his individual mistake, has been brilliant. Saliba has brought calmness and both of them can be trusted in 1v1 situations. Ben White and Zinchenko/Tierney/Tomi have stood up to the challenge till now.
Can we do it all again against Leeds today? I believe so. Jesse Marsch had them on a bounce earlier but they haven’t been much of a danger in recent games. With or without Jesus, we should be able to leave Elland Road with three important points and finish another weekend at the top.
I am guessing a 2-0 win for the boys. It’s going to be tough, yes, but we are in one of the best forms of Arteta’s regime and we will keep that running.
See you during the game.
There is a moment after the goal that is truly hilarious. While Saka and the boys are celebrating on the touchline you can see a very small kid in the crowd making a wanker gesture. He can’t have been more than 5, an age at which you don’t even have testicles and get boners, let alone think about bopping the baloney. Brilliant stuff – his dad’ll be proud!
Am I the only one not complaining with today’s delay? Was driving and missed the first half, checked Saka goal and it was just WOW.
Some more of that please in second half since I’ll be watching now 😃
Bamford is coming on. Leeds could have scored if they had less hesitating striker.
Hopefully Bamford is not yet fully up
I’ve had heart in my mouth, for once VAR/REF didn’t fu*k us up.
And the second time now.. hopefully Ramsdale is okay, he certainly saved that one by himself.
Come on lads, that’s 3 in 10min.. don’t unnecessarily fuck things up. We are better than them .
First Bamford strike was stopped by Rmsdale testicles. His legs gitbthe second.
Leeds pressing for equalizer, but Arsenal might still get another goal
Match moved bith sides on overdrive
Saliva handled the ball. Looks deliberate. Will be surprised if not a penalty
I’m OUT guys. See you after the match. I’m not jinxing it anymore
Stay on Ambarish. You jinxing Leeds. Penalty went out
Odegard is meant for slower games where he gets time for his passes. Rightly Vieira is in
Haha, I started watching in 2nd half and Leeds had like 70 attempts to score. Another 15 nervous minutes, Tierney for White, good we need to calm things down.
This will probably be the toughest 3 points of this season.
Another brilliant save by Ramsdale!
Make it 73 attempts now 😐
Wtf
Whole scale sybstitutions. Arteta suddenly discovered he has 3 cojones?
Or to pacify Odegard and White who were both unhappy to go off?
Yeah, they are going to fuck us up.
Gabriel has Xhaka stupidness in him. That was obvious. If not the ref, VAR would have got him. The leg on the chest is a bit too much
Bamford foul initially saved us, though yep, it was a red. You can’t kick people on the field.
Damn that was hard. 3 points and TOP OF THE LEAGUE.
Oof made it 3 points. Match was tough