Well, that’s how you re-start your season. Frankly, I was a bit worried. We had lost Jesus to an injury, and it was to be seen whether we can keep our momentum after returning from a long break. No shame in saying I was wrong!
Game started with a beautiful goal from Saka but ruled out for an offside in the build up. We gave away a penalty after Saliba catches the man instead of ball, which Benrahma scored. However, it didn’t look like one of those days. The fight was there and soon after the second half begun, Saka levelled it up from a misplaced shot from Odegaard. It wasn’t long enough when another one of our young gun scored. Martinelli scored from an impossible angle of a Xhaka assist, Odegaard was involved in the build up. To finish it off, Eddie Nketiah scored the third and final goal of an Odegaard assist. Ben White dribbled past Benrahma before passing to Ode who passed it Nketiah and ball ended in the far corner.
We were the only team on boxing day who earned all 3 points. If you would have asked me couple of seasons back whether we managed to earn even a single point after going down to West Ham, I would have called your bollocks. Y’day, we won and that too comfortably.
It was brilliant. Anyone who said Eddie can’t do the job was wrong. It’s too early but I have my trust in him and I believe he will shine when surrounded by Saka and Martinelli on either side and Odegaard assisting him from the middle.
Arsene Wenger was in the stadium and he must be proud seeing three youngsters on scoresheet. Another one assisting two of them and earning player of the match award.
So, a beautiful week ahead for us. We won, going into 2023 top of the table and Spu*s dropped points against Brentford. Anyone who is downplaying our chances of winning the league should revisit their thoughts. You can only win what’s in front of you, and this is such a wonderful chance with all other teams struggling and only City to compete with.
In transfer news, Fab is reporting that we have submitted an official bid for Mykhailo Mudryk. Another young, talented winger but I would have preferred a CF and a Midfielder over him. No complaints though till it don’t bite us back in the arse.
Match was too late for us, starting at 1.30 in midnight. I only managed to watch the highlights, and it seemed like a pretty decent game for us. I will go and watch the full 90 now.
Hope you had a fun Christmas and a nice week ahead.
tale of two halves, in that our abject failure to finish in the first half was thankfully remedied in the second…still felt this match said far more about their present anemic nature than our ability to continue down the titular path
mixed feelings about the impromptu return of our former manager, as I have a difficult time coming to terms with the fact that he’s yet to have properly addressed his role in what “really” transpired following the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Emirates…that said, I admire what he had accomplished under the tutelage of the incomparable David Dein, who at least owned his own post-Highbury cockup and tried desperately to make amends
on another note, I would be rather surprised if we get Mudryk over the line, as I’m assuming that we will offer cheeky bid after cheeky bid, considering the financial woes of his present club, up until the point where they simply refuse to answer our calls…as such, this appears to be little more than yet another empty gesture by our organizational PR minions, whom are typically more active in and around the holiday season and just prior to the ticket re-up period…meanwhile in Pool, it looks like they’ve already secured the services of Gakpo, who’s the kind of large framed, fleet of foot forward that we’ve coveted for some time now; not to mention, he’s a great admirer of one of the best to ever wear the shirt, Henry, and could come at a substantially lower price
finally, just imagine if we finally replaced Xhaka with a player with a much greater final third up-side and who might likewise provide us with some suitable coverage should Partey miss any time, which seems almost inevitable…btw, don’t get me wrong, I think Mudryk has plenty of potential, as I watched him score 3 goals in 6 European appearances, with a couple primary assists to boot, even though he had no other competitive football to remain sharp, but my primary concern is that I find it diifcult to believe that this management team would fork out such a substantial chunk of change on such an unproven entity unless either Marts or Saka could be on their way elsewhere come the summer…Cheers
TRVL
Agree with all you said.
It’s all about our ambition now and whether KSE’s matches the fans and Arteta and Edu’s. I agreed with Pierre all along that Willock was a keeper and far better than Lakonga. Arteta’s player sourcing always misses out on our midfield and we sell those who would have made a difference last season and replaced Xhaka this season.
With this kind of paradoxical logic only the footballing Einsteins and LG’s Nigel/Pedro understand the genius no one else sees.
Yours truly here has zero idea of what is or isn’t going to transpire in the TW. Or if the incoming players is going to play in his natural position.
TW wise I’ll wait and see what we get. Looking forward to the Brighton game. Every game should be treated as a cup final with a collective winning mentality.
Let’s see what Arteta and Edu dish up?
Tony
We can’t currently criticise Kronke for lack of ambition when it comes to spending under Arteta – we’ve spent a bucket load and the wastage something you’d think he’d go mental about has been huge.
I know I constantly go on about it but it still staggers me that we’re being linked to forwards / wingers and no CM’s.