Tag: Ødegaard

PICKING UP RIGHT WHERE WE LEFT OFF (ARSENAL-WEST HAM REACTION)

My biggest nightmare coming into this match is that all 0ur form up until the World Cup would wash over with a 6 week break. We lost Gabi Jesus to an injury, maybe our players returning to the World Cup would be too exhausted, and maybe it would take a game or two for our starters to get back into form, just so many variables up in the air that we could not afford with Man City on our ass. And damn straight, the boys picked up right where they left off with a resounding 3-1 over West Ham at home.

THOUGHTS ON THE MATCH:

  1. This Arsenal team is built different: We went 0-1 down through a marshmallow-soft pen and even at that point, I was still 100% confident that we would get 3 points. From the first whistle, Arsenal asserted their dominance over West Ham. I was very shocked with how West Ham approached this game but it is a credit to Arsenal and Arteta up until this point of the season where teams need to sit back against this Arsenal team. Even though we went down 0-1 at half time with a pen against the run of play, Arsenal came out like gang busters in the 2nd half and ran West Ham off the pitch with 3 goals to complete our performance, what a win.
  2. Ødegaard keeps proving me wrong: If there was anybody that we needed to step up, it was Martin, no World Cup with the rest of the front line at the World Cup in Qatar, we would need him to lead us through his energy and passing and that is what he just did.
Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good, Ødegaard with the “assist” to Saka

With West Ham sitting in such a low block for the majority of the match, Ødegaard to his credit put the onus on himself to create something for us through his passing and movement.

The assist from Martin here is Ozil-like, such a deft touch and terrific from Eddie to roll Kehrer for the goal

I have been on Martin Ødegaard for much of the season for his performances away from home, but so far, this guy as shown up repeatedly for us as our captain and deserves nothing but credit from me and for me to shut up.

3. Fabianski needs to just stop:

Objectively one of the worst attempts I have seen from a professional keeper. To be beaten like this at your near post is just appalling and embarrassing at the same time.

4. Seeing Wenger celebrating an Arsenal goal had me emotional:

I have seen this clap from Wenger numerous times over the years, and it felt nostalgic to see it come from him again. First time back at the stadium since he left as Arsenal manager and I am happy for him that he got the reception he deserved.

5. Eddie Nketiah stepped up when we need him most: Everybody outside of the Arsenal fan base got what they wanted and it was “How Arsenal would fare without Gabriel Jesus?” Last season, towards the back of the season, to no fault of Eddie, we faltered and lost our Champions League spot with him leading our line. This season, the squad is way more revamped with most of our players much better than where we were last season, by default, Eddie should be better as well and it looks like we didn’t skip a beat with Eddie and no Gabi Jesus. However, it was only one game against a struggling opponent, with tougher games against Brighton and Newcastle coming up, Eddie will need to keep it up to keep Man City off our ass.

6. Transfers are 100% needed in January: For us to make a competent challenge in both the Premier League title and Europa League title (Thursday-Sunday turnaround), reinforcements are needed in January. Most likely, we need one in attack and one in midfield. In defense, we are set with Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Ben White, Tierney, Zinchenko rotation. With Gabi Jesus going down and ESR not back yet from his injury, we are a Saka, Martinelli, Ødegaard injury from being in deep shit. The Mudryk fella from Ukraine would be a suitable transfer in for a decent price, nothing more than $40m. And we also need midfield replacement like Tielemans from Leicester. If Xhaka and god forbid Thomas Partey went down, Elneny and Lokonga wouldn’t be up to speed for the things we are competing for.

Featured image credits: Getty

Twitter credits: CBS Sports Golazo, Ao7er, VIP Arsenal, nickvann1987_, oneofakindESR

We lost a game and I am not having a mental breakdown…..yet (Arsenal-United Reaction)

We lost to United 3-1 at Old Trafford and I am in the mud. We came to Old Trafford, played our brand of football, dominated most of the game, and still lost. It very much so felt like a classic Arsene Wenger – Sir Alex Ferguson or Pep Guardiola – OGS game where Arsenal/City play the better quality of football, dominate most of the possession and due to pieces of naivety and collapses in concentration, they lose the match to the more clinical/ruthless United side. This isn’t a Kent mental breakdown like our game against Spurs and Newcastle last year where we were utterly useless and toothless, but more so disappointed with the result and content with the performance. We MUST get 3 points against Everton, I will have a mental breakdown for sure if we get anything less than 3 points.

THOUGHTS ON THE GAME:

  1. Disappointed with the result, content with the performance: I mentioned it earlier but the Arsenal performance was more than fine, especially for a young team going into Old Trafford as league leaders. For large parts of the game, we were the much better team, we had better spells of play, had nice passages of one-touch football, pressed well whenever we lost etc. After the first 10 minutes, I would say form minute 10-60, we played them off the pitch, even when going a goal down. *Insert dumb United fan telling me to look at the scoreboard. But at the end of the day, all that matters is who puts the ball in the back of the net and that is what United did and we didn’t. They caught us on the break, and we had lapses in judgement which cost us as all 3 of their goals were basically tap-ins. United were ruthless and clinical, credit to them, but the 3-2 scoreline might be a bit harsh with the type of football Arsenal produced. Somtimes you play well and you lose, that happens in sport and that is what happened today. If Arsenal played this United team 10 times, I’d say we beat them 6-7 times, this was one of those days where United were the better team and that is okay. I’m proud of how the team played, but we need to shore up some lapses in judgement defensively if we want to take that next step, the football is there, we just need those final touches offensively and defensively to take that next step.
  2. VAR continues to own me: In the 13th minute, Ødegaard clips the back of Eriksen’s foot which causes him to lose the ball to Saka who controls the ball and plays in a delicious pass to Martinelli for the left-footed finish. Now in clear time to me and many others, its a clear foul that Ødegaard puts on Eriksen, no question about it. However Tierney for whatever reason, mostly him being an incompetent fool, doesn’t call it which allows us to counter and get a goal. VAR however intervenes, calls back the goal due to a foul and 0-0 is restored. That is such a sick joke and is not how VAR should be utilized. When VAR calls down to Paul Tierney to look at that foul, it already puts it in his head that Paul made a mistake. And 9/10, referees are going to overturn their decision if VAR tells them to look at it again. VAR should be there to give the referee another perspective on his original decision, not to completely change it. Only if it is a clear and obvious foul/occurrence should things be reversed, since Tierney made that decision to not call the foul, there wasn’t enough in it for me to overturn the original call. There needs to be a complete overhaul on how VAR is utilized for decisions that do not pertain to offside. Also, Yes I am 100% salty and biased.
  3. Lapses in judgment killed us: Gabriel has got to make that tackle or foul and stop the play, no way should he have left Arsenal exposed like that for the first goal. On the 2nd United goal, we should have played it out defensively more, not been so keen on getting the 2nd goal and gave United an opportunity to hit us on the counter. The 3rd United goal, we had 20 minutes left to get a tying goal, no way should we have been so high to get that 2nd goal as well. Just a bit naive on how we approached the game in important moments left us exposed.
  4. United were ruthless: They had 3 chances to hit us on the counter and scored all 3 times. Credit to them, and they won the match. Whether it is a credit to ETH or Arteta’s naiveness, we will see as the season plays out.
  5. Everton is all that matters: Us losing a match at Old Trafford isn’t a problem, it is just how we respond at home to Everton this weekend. 3 points is a must and the only thing that is acceptable next weekend.
  6. I miss Thomas Partey: and we need to get his injury recorded sorted out, ridiculous how often this man gets injured. No way should he be getting hurt during training. Figure it out Mikel and Edu. He should have been playing this match.
  7. Fábio Vieira time to show out on Thursday: Vieira had a slight cameo against United for 20 minutes but I am excited to see how he fares this Thursday in the Europa League. Might be a decent reinforcement in the middle of the park with Thomas and Elneny out.
  8. Please win this Sunday against Everton for my livelohood

Featured image credits: Getty images

Ødegaard shutting me up (Arsenal – Bournemouth Reaction)

I’m not sure how to react or act to Arsenal right now. After the first three weeks of the season, I usually have countless things to complain about Arsenal by now but I have got nothing. I am what the adults would say, “in the mud”. 3 games and 3 wins from the Gunners to start the season and at the moment we are Premier League Champions. Arteta put out the same squad that has started the season and they did not let him down with a 3-0 thrashing of newly promoted Bournemouth. Easy game, easy win, and easy weekend for everyone supporting this cursed club.

THOUGHTS ON THE GAME:

  1. Gabi Jesus changes everything. Comparing him to Lacazette last season is not fair to the Frenchman. Gabi runs, he passes, he passes then run, he can play with his back towards the goal then runs forward. It’s just a sight to behold. What he did for the first goal to bring the ball down while shrugging off a defender and then to evade several defenders before laying it off to Martinelli is just outstanding. He also picked up an assist on the second goal and had a goal overturned due to a tight offside call. He’s been more than we all could imagine, he’s been absolutely perfect. I love him

2. Ødegaard shutting me the hell up. With Arsenal getting off to a flying start to the season, I felt some players were not quite at it from the start and Ødegaard was one of them for me. I expected more from him and then today happened, and he shut me up quickly and well. Two goals to get this account started this season with an assist as well that was tightly overturned to GJ9. To be fair, Bournemouth displayed optional defending in the first half, which gave Ø so much space to operate. He will obviously have to keep it up against the big boys but couldn’t ask more from him today.

3. Saliba is perfect. There is nothing more I could say about this kid. Anything more and I’d get in trouble with my girlfriend. He’s an absolute rock at the moment at the back. He’s composed, he’s tidy, he’s strong and he’s only 21. And to top it all off, he pulls off an absolutely ridiculous goal with his weaker foot in the top corner. No idea where the hell that came from but I’d see it every week no problem.

4. Bournemouth are not good. They got ran around by City last weekend and after watching today, that makes total sense. They were at home and you’d expect them to come out sort of like Fulham against Liverpool. It was nothing close. They sat back, let Arsenal play around with the ball and just like that, they found themselves 2-0 down quickly and could never recover. They offered no resistance to the Arsenal midfield and defense which let them pick out passes and holes between the lines. Just an abysmal performance and has relegation candidate written all over.

5. Arsenal still needs a proper test. I won’t even utter any words that resemble Arsenal challenging for the title. But….. we do look like Top 4 candidates. You can only win against who you play and after the Leicester defeat today, our strength in schedule looks suspect. But…. Arsenal teams in the past would have gotten 4/9 points after these first 3 games and we all know that. I’ll take the wins when I can but I still got my eyes out for when we play the big boys.

6. Our depth is crazy right now. For us to be able to bring on Tomiyasu, Tierney and ESR from the bench is wild. If things go our way here and there, we do look like we have a proper team that can challenge for the Top 4 and the Europa League. I still hate the Europa League and that we are in it, but I’d rather give our squad players more playing time to keep the morale up as the season goes on.

7. I am still not over with how last season ended. I finished the Arsenal: All or Nothing documentary and I have nobody but myself to blame. I knew it would piss me off to see us choke the season away in a documentary format and it did more than that. To just see the player’s reactions to the games in the locker room and at training just ticked me off. Just lifeless chokers they were man. I won’t question the manager and the team for not caring but after rewatching how flat we were against Spurs and Newcastle, it’s hard to argue otherwise with so much at stake. They just need to win the title this season to make up for it. We have Fulham at home next week, 3 points and nothing else.

Featured image credits: Reuters

Twitter credits: NBC Sports

My love for Gabi Jesus is never-ending (Arsenal-Leicester Match reaction)

After getting off to a blistering start in a 2-0 victory over Palace last Friday, there was always a possibility of a letdown. Growing up an Arsenal fan, this was always something you knew would happen instead of Arsenal keeping up the positive momentum into something more. And these guys have proven me wrong and shut my ass up again, in the Emirates debut for the team, we went out and slapped Leicester up and down North London in a 4-2 victory that should have been way worse. We were absolutely dominant from the start. There were a few slip ups here and there, but all in all, a comfortable victory.

10 THOUGHTS

  1. Gabi Jesus is more than anybody has expected. He runs, he scores, he passes well, he runs after he passes, he wins the ball in the air. He has done it all for Arsenal at the moment and I don’t know what will happen if he isn’t here. The first goal, where he chips the ball to the far post is just world-class.
That is a man in form right there

Look at this pass from Ramsdale and Gabi Jesus bringing it down with his head and then subsequently sending Jonny Evans to retirement. What a hat trick that would have been. Not only did he bag the goals, but he also got himself 2 assists as well. Just an all-around performance from our star man. The best performance from an attacking-player I’d say since one of the Alexis Sanchez hat trick games.

2. Martinelli has made himself a sure-fire starter. I’d think of benching Saka or Ødegaard over Martinelli at this point. He’s a menace whenever he has the ball, he is a menace when he is defending. He just doesn’t stop and I love it. Two goals in two games had Wesley Fofana on skates the whole match. With all the talk of Arsenal signing another winger, Martinelli has made a point for sure that his spot isn’t up for grabs.

3. Saka and Ødegaard need to step up. The Brazilians Gabi Jesus and Martinelli have gotten off to a blistering start. Ødegaard more so than Saka need to step it up a bit. The sharpness that the two Brazilians are playing with is lacking dramatically with Saka and Ødegaard at the moment. Nothing drastic needs to change, just a notice out to those two that they are falling behind a bit. Ødegaard also needs to be careful as Fábio Vieira is waiting out in the wings to take his place.

4. Granit Xhaka, our left-sided 8 for the season? I have been calling out for a while that we needed a more athletic 8 to insert into Xhaka’s spot but he has been objectively terrific this season. Outside of the blip with Fofana yesterday, he has been immense. The Aaron Ramsey runs into the box, the connection with Zinchenko and Martinelli, etc. I wish he had more athleticism to his game that would circumvent his slowness at times but he’s more than fine at the moment.

Got a goal for himself for his efforts as well

5. Zinchenko-Xhaka-Martinelli wrecking havoc – our left-sided attack has been absolutely amazing so far. With Zinchenko tucking inside into the midfield, Xhaka pushing into the box, and Martinelli out wide, teams have not been able to cope with that so far as opposing players seem lost on who should go with who. It’ll be interesting to see how this fares as teams get more and more tape on us, but so far, it is clear that our left-sided part of our attack has been more threatening and sprinkle in Gabi Jesus , it is a handful right now for everybody.

6. Saliba is still the greatest ever – naturally, there was more luck that would go against Saliba as how things work. Despite the own goal, he bounced back nicely and looked assured for the rest of the game. Ben White was also absolutely terrible in the build-up to Leicester’s first goal, he needs to at least challenge Justin for that flick on and just terrible luck from Saliba to try and cut out the flick.

7. Ramsdale is a bit fortunate – a huge reason why Ramsdale is our keeper and not Leno is for sure his aggressive and progressive style of play. He plays a high line and loves to come out to receive but also to defend and almost got caught out for the Vardy dive. He was smart and pulled out of the tackle and the ref did well to consult with VAR to negate the Leicester penalty. But he needs to be way smarter when coming out for those 50/50 balls. Also letting a goal through your legs isn’t great. Not totally his fault but not a great look.

8. My Jamie Vardy luck might actually be turning around. He owns me. Jamie Vardy owns me and I know there is nothing I can do about it. He won the 2015/2016 title over us. It feels like he damn well scores in every game he plays against us. He has 11 goals. Just a fucking pain in my ass for years. But…. it seems that things could be turning around. He got a penalty taken away due to VAR which years ago wouldn’t have been called off. And it was his header that let Gabriel Jesus get his second goal.

He very much still owns me but yesterday gave me back some of my fight in this rivalry with Jamie Vardy.

9. Tierney and Tomiyasu waiting in the wings. It is interesting that two of the subs we made yesterday were bringing on Tierney and Tomiyasu. Two guys who definitely think they should be starting. I’m all for competition within the squad and interested to see how Arteta uses them going forward. At the moment, it feels like Arteta can’t change with what has been working but we will see.

10. I am just waiting to see when Arsenal fuck me – Not sure if it will be next week or next month, but it will happen and I will lose my mind over it and will not be rational. You can’t blame me for feeling like this and being pessimistic. But these guys will do it, not a matter of if, but a matter of when. (Please don’t screw me Arsenal).

Featured image credits: AP

Twitter credits: Grimanditweets, NBC Sports, SHA3WAZA_2

TOP OF THE LEAGUE

A year ago, Arsenal opened the Premier League up with a 2-0 loss to Brentford which unquestionably made me want to end everything. Today, the boys opened the Premier League again and showed out. We fought through a tough Crystal Palace team to nab the 2-0 win and help maintain my sanity to start the season. There was a positive aura around the Arsenal squad heading into the season with an undefeated preseason record as well as the smooth transition with all of our signings, none more-so than my Brazilian hero Gabriel Jesus. I wasn’t feeling great going into the match as the last time we went to Selhurst Park, we were emasculated and I haven’t recovered.

PREMATCH: Arteta selected starting XI he selected against Sevilla and Chelsea (Ramsdale – Ben White – Saliba – Gabriel – Zinchenko – Thomas – Xhaka – Ødegaard – Saka – Martinelli – Saka). Tierney made it back into the squad but looks like he is in the outside looking in with the arrival of Zinchenko.

THOUGHTS: Arsenal came off the blocks hot with Martinelli and Gabi Jesus leading the charge. Palace looked a bit rusty and hesitant to start the match and we used that to our advantage. Every time we got the ball in the first 30 minutes, the Xhaka-Zinchenko left-sided partnership was running Palace with Zinchenko pinching into the midfield and Xhaka pushing up. Palace were not able to cope with the left-sided overload. Gabi Jesus also had himself a first-half, almost winning goal of the season by dribbling the Palace team before having his shot blocked and Martinelli scuffing the rebound.

Wins and muscles the ball off Schlupp, megs Doucouré, and sends Andersen back to Denmark all in one play.
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Bernardo Silva Regen? The Fábio Vieira post

On June 16th, while Arsenal twitter (myself included) was clamoring for Arsenal to sign Gabriel Jesus, Youri Tielemans, Raphinha, and Lisandro Martinez, literally anyone to revive the squad, these sneaky mofos in the middle of the night came to an agreement with Porto for the transfer of creative Portuguese midfielder Fábio Vieira to Arsenal for €40 million.

Have I heard of him? Nope. Does he have a great hairline? Yep Is that all that really matters in the end? Absolutely

As crazy a fanbase as Arsenal Twitter is, it is unreal business from Arsenal to keep this deal under wraps and out of the public eye. Up until that point, I had watched 0 minutes of Fábio Vieira highlights or matches but I definitively had enough just from reading one tweet to come to the conclusion of him being the best Portuguese in the Premier League coming into next season lmao (includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota, João Cancelo etc.) Without a doubt. As highly touted as Fábio is coming from a Portugal, a player with his profile as a creative left-footed midfielder feels oddly similar to a player we already have in Martin Ødegaard, so what can we expect from him and how will Arteta use him?

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Arsenal – Watford Reaction

Absolutely get the fuck in fellas. Arsenal did their best to make the match by letting Watford back in but a solid performance away from home saw us see out Watford 3-2. Goals from Ødegaard, Saka, and Martinelli saw us through in a somewhat comfortable manner. This result is a massive 3 points considering our fixture list coming up. Arsenal feel like a double-edged sword for me at the moment with every win comes more pressure, and with more pressure comes increase sadness if they mess this up. Looking at the table, we are the clear favorites for that 4th position at this point. It’s hard not to get excited to be in this position we are in currently but as Arsenal fans, we know better than to get our hopes up with this team. Future Kent can deal with whatever Arsenal does to me later, right now, let’s just be happy that we aren’t United fans.

PRE-MATCH/FIRST HALF: Mikel went out and out with the same team that started against Wolves with ESR and Tomiyasu being the notable players not in the squad today. Watford had more changes with Joao Pedro and Cucho Hernandez coming in for Josh King and Ismaila Sarr. The match started with Watford heaving it up and you could clearly tell that Ben White and Gabriel were switched off. Watford then were able to play Emmanuel Dennis through for a goal 18 fucking seconds in however Tierney “cleverly” made sure he was in an offside position. Thank fucking goodness, almost had me unwell not in a minute into the game. Then a couple minutes later Cédric, Saka, and Ødegaard sweetly combined to put us ahead with one of the nicest flicks you’ll see coming off the Norwegian’s heel.

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