We needed this one, we needed this one so bad. Arsenal coming into today had a chance to go 6 points clear with City’s game in hand (76 vs. 70). It’s not much but it would provide some cushion before our clash with the them next week but bad stuff here, bad stuff there, sadness over there and Arsenal now finds themselves 4 points clear with City having a game in hand and I am not sure how much I can take. Arsenal away from home against relegation fodder West Ham squandered a 2-0 lead to share points with those clowns. For the longest time I have been preaching we have everything left to play for but at this point, I’m not sure I believe that.
THOUGHTS ON THE MATCH:
- I’ll finally admit that the pressure is real and I am barely hanging on: We have been finally giving people what they want, Arsenal have answered 99% of their critics and have passed every obstacle with grace but this looks like to be a step too far at the moment. Losing at Everton, dropping points at Southampton away and Brentford at home, squandering a 2-0 goal lead at Anfield and now this, it’s a bit much than I can handle and unfortunately, it looks like the same could be same for Arsenal. Everything is still in our hands but will take me awhile to get over this one cause we needed it. We were cruising through the first 30 minutes, almost a carbon copy of the Liverpool fixture with two quick goals from Jesus and Odegaard with sublime buildup and then not sure what else I can say. We give up a dumb penalty, West ham fans get into the game to support their team, they get an ridiculous over the top goal and now I find myself speechless and hurting.
2. The Saka game: What I didn’t address earlier is that before West Ham scored their second goal, we had a chance to put the game away with a penalty. Our best player this season stepped up to take the chance and botches it horrifically, doesn’t even get it on frame and the soccer Gods do their job as West Ham go right down the field to draw it up at 2-2. BUT Saka’s pen miss isn’t the point of this, the point is that he went missing today. Anybody can step up and miss a penalty, happens all the time to the greatest and worst players, what I didn’t admire from Saka was his timidness and inability to provide any value for us going forward. He had washed up Aaron Cresswell on his side and every single time, he should have taken him to the cleaners but failed to do so once. He was sloppy, hesitant and cost us a chance to win the game. He wasn’t the only on that played badly but as our best player, we needed him and he was nowhere to be found.
3. Arteta disastrous subs: We were tied 2-2 and needed to get a goal in the last 25 minutes and he took out Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus for Trossard and Jorginho. Take out Saka, before Jesus and never take out Thomas Partey unless the game is over. Trossard I am all for getting him into the game but Jorginho doesn’t offer us a scoring threat or value in that capacity. He actually does the opposite, when the game is done and dusted, all things considered. Mikel deserves credit and shouldn’t take much criticism as he has been largely right this season but this was tough for him.
4. Win the rest of the games and we will forget about this day:
Maybe we will even laugh about this game years from now but at the end of the day, it is time to put up or shut up. They have answered every critic on their way to pacing this league, no need to stop now, no Europe, no domestic ups, just the league and glory forever, time for the boys to get it done.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Ramsdale: 4/10 – Didn’t have many saves to make but when we needed him for the Bowen effort, he got two hands and the ball still found the ball of the net. Might be kinda harsh after what he did last week against Liverpool but you are only as good as your last game and he was bang average today.
Ben White: 6/10 – Provided an assist but just like the rest of the team, turned off
Holding: 5/10 – Not his fault but the drop from him to Saliba is staggering, should be our 5th CB going into next year
Gabriel: 6/10 – Fine, gave up the pen but it was Thomas fault mostly.
Tierney: 7/10 – Asked to do something not accustomed to and thought he did well and defended well when asked.
Thomas Partey: 5/10 – Had some good moments, had one horrific moment which gave up the pen
Xhaka: 5/10 – anonoymous
Odegaard: 7/10 – got a goal and opened up the defense with the ball to Ben White. Our best player going forward
Saka: 3/10 – need more from him, abysmal today
Gabriel Martinelli: 5/10 – What a ball to Odegaard but couldn’t find him in the second half
Jesus: Got a goal and thought he did well today, not sure why subbed off
Trossard, Fabio, Eddie, Jorginho: Not on long enough for this debacle
Arsenal fans on twitter: 0/10 – We are in for a tough one today cause our team sold us down the river
Arteta: 3/10 – Got the subs all wrong
Brighton: 9/10 – lol Chelsea
Leicester: -100000/10 – Useless
Video credits: NBC Sports