“Now you’re telling me you’re not nostalgic. Then give me another word for it.”- Joan Baez
Time to check in on the beloved Red and White team in North London.
Weird game this past Sunday on the road against Manchester City. Peculiar is the word. For a game that ended in an Innocent 2-2 draw, an abundance of Irregular events and Inconsistent officiating led to an unpleasant ending that left few feeling Pure as Michael Oliver Blew the final whistle.
Manchester City vs Arsenal was always contingent upon having its share of continuous contentious moments as there is little that separates the quality and competitiveness between these two elite teams.
Grandmaster Pep vs Apprentice Arteta. The pleasantries, hand shake, and embrace shared between the two just minutes before the game kicked would be the last time the On-Camera action would be civil.
Plenty has been written and uploaded by others regarding the classless attitudes displayed on the field during and after the game. Look them up for yourself if you want. It is an impossibility for me to ‘find the humor and keep on movin’ if I begin to pour my true thoughts into this typing machine. So, I will, for the sake of pragmatism, abstain.
If only this was later in the evening and Mr. Hayden was loosening my fingertips.
The game itself was riveting to watch. MC opened the scoring in the 9th minute, after a beautiful midfield turn and thru ball by Savinho, directly into the path of 6’ 4” Erling Haaland who calmly slid the ball underneath a stranded David Raya. 1-0 MC.
Arsenal regrouped and kept on the attack. It was inspiring to see the gameplan Arteta chose early in the game. Arsenal looked fearless, and took the attack to the home side who looked inferior at times.
Arsenal then responded in the 22nd minute on a brilliant curling left-footed strike from newcomer Riccardo Calafiori who received an easy lay off from Martinelli outside the box and fired on the first touch into the top corner. 1-1.
When I say brilliant. I mean it. In the moment, a few profane words filled my den in excitement. A goal from outside the box seems so rare these days.
This goal has been scrutinized because of a poorly timed restart of play by the Ref after he had stopped the play for a foul call at midfield. The man with the whistle was a merchant of chaos the entire match, and this was just one of the examples.
It is a fact that MC, specifically Right Back Kyle Walker was unfairly caught out of position after the Referee allowed Arsenal to take the free kick quickly, even though he had called over the Defender, also Captain on the day, for a scolding. Up to that point, Martinelli had been kept in check by the explosive speed of Walker, so there is a case to be made that the goal never should have happened.
However, this referee’s blunder does not need to overshadow the brilliance of the strike. I could watch that one on repeat. Satisfying.
Arsenal scored again just before the halftime whistle, well not just before, but I’ll get to that. In the first of six-1st half stoppage time minutes, Saka looped an in-curling cross from the right corner flag, and Brazilian Center Back Gabriel nodded it home with virtual ease. The aforementioned Walker lost his focus momentarily and in turn lost the man he was marking and allowed him to take the headed effort unchallenged. Arsenal legally ‘walled-off’ the Keeper leaving him to flail to the ground helplessly looking for a foul call to rescue him.
Michael Oliver blew the whistle many times on Sunday, but that was not one of those times. 2-1 to the Arsenal. Just get to halftime is what I said out loud.
Michael Oliver blew the Halftime whistle in the 9th minute of the six he added on in 1st half stoppage time, but not before showing Leandro Trossard a red card, leaving the Gunners to defend their road lead with one less man. I’ll remain Terse on the subject.
The second half was 45 minutes of Arsenal playing all 10 men behind the ball and defending every blade of grass inside the 18-yard box. It was inspiring and invigorating to watch. For 45 minutes, Arsenal remained organized and defended each poorly orchestrated attack from MC. Raya was never truly tested in goal but grabbed every ball that rolled his way with confidence. For 45 minutes.
Unfortunately, in the 8th minute of 2nd half stoppage time, MC equalized the game and sealed it as a draw. John Stones received credit for the goal that I’ve blocked from my mind. I never saw a replay of it, but somehow, someway the ball made it into the back of the net.
Some classless displays followed this goal and the final whistle, which Michael Oliver blew seconds later. Let’s sip this coffee.
The takeaway from this game is that Arsenal is neck and neck with City this season. City looked insecure with themselves and unwilling to let the result on the field decide the game. As usual, I’m disappointed with the paid analysts and pundits that constantly spew sewer water opinions, instead of report what actually took place. I’ll take a draw. Move on.
Enough with the past. Well, quickly I must highlight Wednesdays Cup Tie against Bolton. Arsenal beat Bolton 5-1. Arteta was able to work in some of our youngsters from Jack Wilshere’s youth squad, and they impressed.
16 year old Jack Porter bravely stood between the goal post for his first Senior Squad start, and from what I’m hearing from others that saw the game, he looked impressive. Well done Jack. It’s a sign of a healthy club when you can play youth squad players and still keep the quality bar set high, and two more examples of that come in the form of 17 year old Ethan Nwaneri (New-Juan-airee) and 18 year old Myles Lewis-Skelly. Myles turned 18 yesterday. Happy Belated.
These players, specifically Nwaneri, seem ready to make an impact in the Premier League. He has played with the Senior Squad a few times over the past two seasons and appears to flow quite well in the position usually occupied by our injured Captain, Odegaard. Preparation, meet Opportunity young man.
Preston North End will visit the Emirates in the upcoming Fourth Round on October 29.
As for what’s next in the Premier League for the Gunners:
Leicester (Lester) City is visiting the Emirates at 8:00AM Saturday morning. Yes, that Leicester. The same team that won the PL back in the 2015-2016 season, eventually were relegated to the lower league. The Club has worked hard and are newly promoted from Championship League just this season. Good for the Foxes.
A guy you may recognize playing in this one is Leicester Forward and Captain, 38 year old Jamie Vardy. He of course, won the Barclays Premier League Player of the Season award for his many goals scored during that Title winning campaign. I’m guessing he has lost his pace in the game, but I guarantee he still has cunning awareness and a velvet first touch. Arsenal made an offer on the Striker after his Title winning season, but he has remained loyal to the club since 2012.
This should in all fairness should be a certain win for Arsenal if both sides play to their full potential. That spherical ball has a mind of its own sometimes, so anything can happen. I mean that’s sports. Hell, Leicester won the whole damn thing once, so anything is possible.
Arsenal 3-1 over the visiting Foxes. Vardy scores from the penalty spot.
Let’s hope for a fairly officiated game that is free of injuries and an Arsenal win.
COYG!!
Find the Humor and keep on Movin’
Whit W.