Arsenal somehow found a way.
In one of the most tense and nerve-shredding matches of the season, the Gunners escaped the London Stadium with a priceless 1-0 victory over West Ham thanks to a second-half strike from Leandro Trossard and a heroic display from David Raya.
This was never comfortable. Not for one second.
Arsenal dominate early before West Ham grow into the contest
Mikel Arteta fielded the same squad that beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 (agg) midweek. Arteta’s side started brightly and looked capable of blowing West Ham away early on. Bukayo Saka tested the goalkeeper inside five minutes before Riccardo Calafiori twice fired over from promising positions as Arsenal piled on the pressure.
The visitors dominated possession during the opening stages and created a string of dangerous moments, but West Ham somehow managed to keep the ball out. Arsenal had six attempts within the opening exchanges and it felt like only a matter of time before the breakthrough arrived.
Yet football rarely follows the script.
Ben White’s injury midway through the first half disrupted Arsenal badly and the entire rhythm of the side changed once Declan Rice shifted into the right-back role. West Ham suddenly grew into the contest and began asking questions of the Arsenal defence.
Tomas Soucek and Mateus Fernandes both threatened while the home crowd sensed nerves creeping into the visitors. Arsenal looked unsettled and Arteta cut a visibly frustrated figure on the touchline as the match drifted towards half-time goalless.
Raya becomes Arsenal’s hero as Trossard delivers decisive blow
The second half only intensified the anxiety.
Jarrod Bowen forced an early save from David Raya before Arsenal responded with pressure of their own. Rice won a dangerous free-kick, Saka fired over and Viktor Gyokeres headed wide as the tension inside the stadium became almost unbearable.
Then came the moment that may define Arsenal’s title challenge.
West Ham broke through on goal in the 77th minute and Mateus Fernandes looked certain to score after racing clear inside the area. Somehow, Raya spread himself and produced an extraordinary save to keep the match level. It was a huge moment and one that immediately felt season-defining.
Five minutes later Arsenal finally found their breakthrough.
Leandro Trossard reacted quickest inside the box and calmly finished to send the travelling Arsenal fans into absolute chaos. Relief flooded through the away end, but the drama was far from over.
West Ham threw everything forward during stoppage time and thought they had snatched a dramatic equaliser from a corner deep into added time. The stadium erupted, Arsenal hearts sank, then VAR intervened. After a lengthy review, the goal was disallowed for a foul on Raya and Arsenal survived.
Just.
The final whistle brought huge celebrations from the Arsenal players and supporters alike after a match filled with pressure, tension and title-race nerves.
These are the kinds of victories champions often need.
What did you make of Arsenal’s performance Gooners? Was David Raya the true match winner today?
What a nail-biter that was!
Michelle M
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Awesome. I’m sooooo happy that we finished with a Win.
I don’t care how we won, as long as we won.
So mission accomplished
Lots of respect to West Ham. They fought hard.
Very happy tonight
COYG
That VAR review took years off my life, absolutely excruciating! If it goes the other way it’s over for us, thank goodness it went the other way! Come on Arsenal, finish the job and win the champions league to cap off a monumental season!
What a game, arsenal did everything to win this game but Arteta should start questioning himself when it comes to subs,him bringing Zubimendi for a right back was completely wrong.
I’ve just seen that described as “The biggest VAR decision in Premier League history”. Can’t argue with that.
yeah was saying mate
that will end the corruption chat lol
I feel sick lol
Oof. There can’t be an Arsenal fan that didn’t feel ill during that game.
And yeah, hopefully we can now put the Premier League bias conspiracy theories to bed for a while…
Was there any?
I will get a heart attack…
Arteta subbing Zubimendi after putting him on as a sub tells you all you need to know! Even he realized how negative he is.
If we win it, Raya is player of the season.
Also Trossard, 1 goal in 2026, but what a goal it is. Please Bournemouth, please spare me these nerves on the final week, please!
@Konstantin
I think Bournemouth are going to fold up just like Brentford did.
We have to expect City to win. Theplay palace first.
Palace will play City with all their blood. 10 million GBP
We are 5 points clear and play burnley at home next. Are you seriously unhappy thay we are winning the title and hoping we lose it? What a weirdo.
Angus
I read Reggie’s post differently
I think he expects City to win their remaining games especially as they play Palace first. I don’t detect he’s wishing/expecting City to win the league and Arsenal to drop points
Sue Angus is sad drunkard, who need to be given a wide berth. You are very lucky, he doesn’t target you. I haven’t a clue what on earth he rambles on about.
Trossard was probably our best player in the early weeks/months of the season, but then hit a run of bad form – he’s come back into form at just the right time. He looks really focused and up for these tough final games. If we do get over the line, he’ll have played a massive part and I suspect he won’t get all the credit he deserves. Hope I’m wrong about that.
So tense, but three points, six to go. Rice going off changed everything. Not sure what MA was thinking bringing on Zubimendi, but it was a negative consequence across the whole team.
It was White who went off, not Rice.
Thank you, l knew that. 🙂
I think when he was moved to right back he did basically go off as he was totally wasted out there. Luckily Arteta saw some sense.
Exactly, but l meant White going off had more ramifications because the way MA reacted to it bringing Zubimendi on. Calafiori going going off and moving MLS to LB took away a lot of how the team had been playing positively. On reflection, l think we are seeing Zubimendi may have been holding us back.
For all people including Arteta seeing now that “Zubimendi may have been holding us back”: you should have gone to Specsavers :-).
It happened for months.
I already thought it, but am now convinced by it. If we can get what we paid for him should sell him.
JBG5
Zubimendi has not been holding us back. That’s harsh. He was excellent in the first 45 or so matches. Let’s be honest. He is really tired. And fatigue also affects performances lots of times. Even Fatigue was catching up with Rice. Saliba and Gabriel too are making silly blunders
Lets give credit where it’s due. Zubi has been more available than every outfield players bar maybe Rice. He has played more than Partey did in the last 2 seasons
He was scoring crucial goals for us. Remember we beat Bayern Munich, Atletico, Inter Milan, Spurs, Man United, Villa etc with him in the side. Don’t forget: This is his first season in the most difficult league. Now we are close to win it. He also took us to the finals of the Carabao and the Champions League, we have conceded less with him and ee won 8 consecutive Champions League matches
Let is he grateful to him
There is this saying that every player has a “user manual”. One factor has to be exhaustion, another compounding factor can be how Zubi has been used. Partey is a big man and he is a defensive mastermind, at least when he was healthy. Zubi seems to be put in a position not fully carved out for his built. EPL being this extremeley challenging and physical league means a small built like Zubi needs more thinking and time to adapt for a defensive role. Granted, he has enormous potential. We may want to give him more time, that is for Arteta to figure out. But dependingon Zubi for high press and physical games so far did not look like a reliable idea.
Arteta cannot make tactical blunders like today against PSG. His team will be annihilated. Arsenal should have ended the game in the first half by 3 goals. White was nervy Even before the injury and mosquera should have been brought on as his replacement. Zubi coming on was so infuriating with his constant backward passes. Skelly was always driving the ball forward. I felt very bad for califiori but at least arteta made amends by bringing on odegard to replace the totally ineffective eze. No doubt, RAYA is the player of the year . Up next is Burnley. I hope timber can still play again this season. He has been sorely missed
If they are not fouling Raya, he catches it easily. The foul on him is forcing his chin in the air and his head back, whilst second foul on him pulling his shirt and pulling him over. It’s not even disputable as an obvious foul. When you are desperate to score in injury time, you are more likely to commit fouls like like that for VAR to check, than score clean goals.
Let’s make a list of all those who will now utterly embarrass themselves by trying to claim that’s no foul, goal should have stood. Without even having to wait to hear their opinion, Richard Keys, Jamie O and Gabby Agbonlahor are straight on the list, alongside gobby Man City stars Rodri and Nico O’Reilly.
I say we do not give any Sh*t to those who are biased against us. They donot even deserve our attention. Even this were a wrong call, which is categorically and unequivacally not, how many times have we been wronged?
Don’t forget – The Super Computer knew exactly what was going to happen in injury time today.
Oooh my, what an end to the game with VAR taking ages! My heart pounding. Crazy subs by Arteta… Which he kept on doing to rectify. Huge 3 points and now 2 to go
Great game controlled it from beginning to the end, result never in doubt. I thought the substitution of Zubimendi was genius and putting Rice to RB made it difficult for West Ham. Routine win. NEXT!!! 😂😂😂
You’re having a tin bath Reggie. I can tell these things
@Sue P
Nice catch Sue. He had me baffled there for a minute…🤣
I did put some laughing faces Sue😉
Our performance was poor for more than the one bizarre substitution making it poor though. West Ham didn’t look very good, they allowed us the ball and lots of time on it and space to stand around in, they made it interesting because their unambititious tactics and a bit of luck kept it 0.0. We carried a few, Eze and Saka didn’t get into the game at all. Nor did Zoob during his segment.
When Rice and Skelly are at full back, you don’t get the best of them even though they are on the pitch, same with Mosky better at centre back, looks a bit lost with the attacking side of right back.
Trossard had a good game my man of match. No one else really stood out. Energy levels and game intensity and tempo not good from us today. Lots of cheap free kicks and ball given away at 1.0
Sort of unmemorable type of performance. All a bit flat after that mess of a match.
ARS vs WHU aka “THE SILENCE OF THE HAMS”
VAR coverage shows Raya’s was impeded as he attempted to collect the ball. Its evidence of WH’s shocking tactic (found out) on so so many levels.
I don’t think we can rely on help from Man City – more likely they win all their games and can end on better goal difference than hours, Still need to get two more victories over the line, in football anything can happen in any game, margin calls can leave you a man down and goal down for 80 minutes of any game – even at home against Burnley, a goal down and man down in first 10 mins will be very hard to overcome. That Palace squad is packed with quality, more so than West Ham’s, and can make it very tight parking the bus and playing for a point off us. It’s going down to the last afternoon, with us away against a well drilled side and needing all 3 points.
Still pretty difficult to get this over the line IMHO
we may luck out with Palace, emphasising may, as they could rest people before their final.
Arsenal 1 – 2 Burnley
Matchup Report.
The match was ultimately shaped by the 9th minute sending off of Arsenal’s talismanic defender Gabriel for what the referee deemed a foul when last man, and a short VAR review upheld the decision. It was Declan Rice of all people whose back-pass left Flemming through on goal, though Arteta argued after the match Flemming had taken a heavy touch and Raya would have got to the ball first if Gabriel hadn’t bundled the Burnley forward over, but there was little argument it more than met the threshold for a foul, and shows how the margins VAR goes into can save you one week, but find against you the next. Burnley took the lead ten minutes later when the reshuffled Arsenal back line left Jayden Anthony in acres of space space for an easy finish in off the far post. After half time, Arsenal expanded play in search of two goals, but it was Burnley who extended their lead, Tuanzebe’s back header from just their second corner of the match. Kai Havertz late injury time goal – which had originally been flagged offside – came too late to spark an Arsenal fightback.
What this means for the title race. All Manchester City now need to do is win their last two games to secure the title yet again, which many expect to happen after their rampant display against Palace: Doku, Harlaand and Semenyo each netting a brace. All except The Super Computer – likely because City have to negotiate an additional fixture, still gives it to Arsenal by 58-42. Though the greatest computer ever built would tell you 42 is the answer to life the universe and everything.
It won’t matter, as it will all be over next Tuesday, when City lose to Bournemouth.
Not for the faint hearted. I’m still in a state of near shock.
Everyone has pointed to the substitution after White’s injury as being a weird one. But it seemed as a though it was a joint decision by the coaching staff. Prior to that we’d done everything but score
A physical encounter and plenty of yellow cards and a sense that West Ham looked more likely to score. Thank you Odegaard and Trossard for the goal. A similar thank you to Raya who was outstanding and was fouled so the nerves jangled until Kavanaugh went to the monitor to check.
Panic set in mid way through the second half on the pitch which only heightened my anxiety
“Not for the faint hearted. I’m still in a state of near shock.”
You know when Pep ripped bits of his face off clawing away during a game and needed medical treatment to try and glue bits back on, and we all laughed like drains because it made absolutely no sense at all? After 73mins today I suddenly realised it does make perfect sense.
Can’t we go back to sixth and knocked out of FA Cup in early rounds by Championship clubs – surely it wasn’t as horrible as this malarkey?
To us Aussies, the games are majority after 1am AND the way we have stumbled this season, it’s hard to come down and sleep after the jitters so a BAD work day.
And that’s why you are constantly Pdoff lol.
JustArsenal contributor 1. They were flipping bottlers last year. And they were flipping bottlers the year before. And I don’t care if they are top of the League, they’ll flipping rubbish this year, too. And next year. And the year after that. I’m not joking.
JustArsenal contributor 2: I don’t know why you come. Honest I don’t.
JustArsenal contributor 1: Well, you live in hope, don’t you?
JustArsenal contributor 2: Why not go to Leyton Orient? It’s so far removed from constant desperate, high-stakes drama. You could enjoy the weekend despite not winning.
Couldn’t agree with you more Pdoff. Win or lose its almost impossible to get to sleep after 3.00. The self induced hard fought games and horrible play have given my health a battering.
It’s so funny. The camera hovered over Arteta, Heinze and Stuivenberg while White was down. My immediate impression was: Arteta has an unorthodox idea and the other two don’t like it. Heinze was shaking his head while Airpod Albert was looking very neutral. My feeling is that they knew better than to try to convince him so just let it be.
I also saw when Zubi came one, the only instruction that made it to Rice et al was “you’re RB”, which also seemed odd. Such a tactical shift would surely have necessitated more instruction.
Def a weird one.
Have been noticing the same all season Sean M. We will win the title this season in spite of Heinze and the other miserable dude who also brings nothing but negativity. How often have they got it wrong. I hope Arteta revamps his coaching staff next season and those two are moved on.
If only we had scored 1 or 2 goals early on in the game when we are on top and dominating the game. I know we were at home but we scored early against Fulham and it makes controlling the game easier. Raya was outstanding today though.
Bloody hell , that was nerve wracking .
2 more wins please.
COYG
Love my boys
Excellent positive start. Then BW’s injury. Then MA’s bizarre substitutions & tactics. Late goal. Even later equaliser denied by VAR. Too tired to celebrate after that. I have aged by 1 year in 90 mins + injury time.
.. the aging part got me in stitches though I’m long finished because of such games.
PSG’s (nearly 48) already something 20 goals ahead of us (28) in the Champions league … affects efforts to be positive.
Waiting to celebrate but with a bag of tissues just in case today properly happens
I almost had a heart attack!!!! That was sooooo tense. Well done fellas – almost there now 😬
Everyone’s already mentioned the obvious ones but I have to give massive credit to Odegaard who came on and made a difference. The composure to find Trossard and the work he put in the press- great cameo from the Captain.
@Onyango
A brilliant piece of skill there…👍🏾
Bang on the money Onyango 👍
Thought Mikel got it wrong with bringing on Zubimendi and moving Rice to RB, but fair play he ended up taking off Zubimendi and moving Rice back to MF.
Nerve-wracking game, but 3 points is all that matters at this stage of the season. Two more 1-0 wins in the PL and one in the CL and history will be made for The Arsenal.
What seasons in our whole history has two massive trophies like that in it.
level with Peps Man City in euro win and only one behind Utd Ferguson era.
PL and Champions league in same season really builds the Arsenal brand. we can build this side to be stronger and get get more silverware soon…
Or we can still end up with nothing from this season, leaving real questions if this squad is good enough and time to start rebuilding instead.
@Moon Girl
I believe that this our time to do it. The hunger and fight is on display from the players. It’s up to Arteta to get his tactics and team selections right. Just sayin…
👍
HD,
excellently explained. Congrats!
I am sooooo going to have a heart attack before this season is through!!! Hats of for the win but there was some colourful language in the house for much of the game!
That was close, so happy there isn’t a VAR conspiracy against us .
Onto the next 👍
Also, we can all agree that Mikel made a mistake following White’s injury. Mosquera was the obvious choice.
But then he rectified it when he realized he had made a mistake. Takes humility to see that you got it wrong and make a change before it’s too late.
Man, I hope that by some miracle Timber can make the final now that White is injured.
Sorry, but this is not at as clearcut as many are making it out to be. Rice has played well at right back before and Arsenal needed to score. Mosquera is not as good as some of the others when Arsenal need to create chances. Evidently, the change didn’t work on this occasion but there was rationale and precedent for the decision.
It shouldn’t be, but the game highlights VAR slowly getting their act together, Newcastle game seems like a long time ago.
West Ham vs Arsenal will served as a defining moment in the campaign for both the title race and VAR, with this late intervention overturning a 95th minute Callum Wilson equalizer
This was a high stake incident, it was awfully slow for the officials to ensure the correct outcome.
A recent findings shows a 30% increase in VAR errors in this campaign compared to last season, still a marked improvement to previous years
I dont know if my heart can take much more of this. Thank god the grandkids celebrations keep me conscious.
the always underrated Trossard who saves the day once again!!
the nerves .. and finally joy. Finally an important decision goes our way
@kjelli
And not just the goal. He was like a mini Rice, all over the place.
100% NY Gunner, there was one moment where Calafiori was caught up the pitch and out of position, WH tried to counter and Trossard sprinted the length of the pitch to try cover for him.
When I see things like that, the hunger is real!
@Kia
👍🏾
Kia,
Was the moment you’re talking about when Calafiori screamed out claiming he was failed, rolled on the floor, and on seeing the ref wasn’t giving him a freekick, got up without any sign of a limp and ran back to his half.
I really don’t get how any player can embarrass themselves in this way.
Yeah probably correct Derek, wasn’t really paying attention to Calafiori TBH.
But you’re right, when players go down as if they need an ambulance, then 2 seconds later running around like everything is normal…
Derek and Kia, we just don’t use the proper acting classes to refine the skills. I think Silva heads up a great one but it’s too far away to use effectively during the season.
I agree Derek, I find it difficult to accept the idea that you do everything to win even if, imo, unethical. While I understand it and realize that everyone learns a different set of values, I admit, it does make me look at players differently and respect the ones who pass up perfect opportunities to attempt to cheat.
Kia and Bruised Banana,
If I had a son who was a footballer and he didn’t hesitate to feign injury or go down at the slightest touch, I wouldn’t hold back from telling him exactly what I thought of him, son or no son. It’s just embarrassing.
At this rate there are many fans who won’t even see us lift the title with the amount of heart attack scenarios we dealt with these last months. I was on the floor on my knees for god sake. Neighbours probably thought i was going mad the screams when we scored, Ref announced the goal canceled and at the full time whistle.
Need Palace or Bournemouth(most likely) to do us a favor and draw, won’t survive the final day if we don’t score twice early. I still remember watching the Dortmund game in disbelief when they bottled the title on last day AT HOME.
I reckon if Pep was watching that, he would have choked on his piece of gum or spit ball, or whatever it is we see in his mouth in every close up.
Funny you yeah. The best sore loser of the 8b people of the world tonight must be Pep.
Lmao 😅😂
You cracked me up there 🤣
Always a white ball thingy taking off out of the guys mouth 😇
Isn’t it strange how Saka and Eze, who both failed to influence the game in a meaningful way, escape the wrath of fans on JA?As for the injury prone Calafiori, Arteta has a big decision to make at the end of the season.Thankfully, our Captain helped to steady the ship today and hopefully he will be fit enough to start against Burnley and Palace.I would feel more confident of winning our two remaining games if Timber was available as he and Hincapie add real stability to our back four.Finally I would like to congratulate Raya for yet another superb performance.He must be one of our best ever recruits.
Grandad
I think we are all caught up in the moment
I hadn’t considered Saka too much today, especially as his performance against AM was good, but Eze has failed to wow me so far. He can score a spectacular goal occasionally , but hasn’t been the success I was hoping for
SueP, Eze is often playing way too deep in the attack to be effective at what he does best. When he has scored those spectacular goals his positioning has been much different. For whatever reason(s) he simply hasn’t integrated well into the attacking structure and has become very much a passenger in most games because of it.
Grandad
Why do you call Calafiori an injury prone? And do you want him to be sold? That would be harsh
It will mean that we should also sell Timber, Saka, Odegaard, White, Havertz, Trossard, Merino etc because of their injuries
Today is not about the hows but the End Product. Last piercing nail on the opponents of Arsenal and Arteta. Go, see you next season haters!
Last piercing nail in the coffins of opponents and haters. Wow…..!
It was a nerve-wracking game. In my opinion, Arsenal played a little too controlling and too slow in the first half. It was once again exposed how bad Arsenal are at creating chances in the open game. A problem we have had for the majority of the season, but West Ham also had a very defensive attitude. I think it was hard to see that Arsenal were playing to become English champions, but the importance of the match perhaps put a damper on the offensive. Both teams were afraid to expose themselves and make stupid things. It only got better for Arsenal with the substitutions late in the 2nd half and Odegaard made the difference with a cool, well-considered assist to Trossard, who again scores an important goal for Arsenal. We experienced a real drama in the end, but there is no doubt at all that West Ham’s goal must be cancelled. By watching the situation over and over again, you can clearly see that one West Ham player’s arm is holding onto Ray’s neck and another player is pulling Ray’s arm down into his shirt. A dramatic end but a deserved victory for Arsenal. The fact that Arsenal didn’t show the game that we know they can play, is perhaps due to the fact that Arsenal have been through some tough CL games. Fortunately, a whole week will now pass before the next match. Come on Arsenal, it’s now or never.
I completely forgot to pay tribute to Raya. What a great keeper we have cos he had a fantastic reflex save, on a chance where everyone thinks West Ham will score.
WS,
Perfect! Unsung Hero Of The Season is David Raya of Arsenal.
He has really improved greatly in many ways since he’s been with the club. He’s really at the top of his game.
Some thought Arsenal have no chance in a neck and neck title battle v Pep’s Man City. Dramatic win vacillating between comedy to tragedy and comedy.
some every week question and highlight where an official comes from and hints at being bisa and having an agenda lol
no comment just celebrate!
Just to be clear I hate neville because he is smarter than a portion of you. Nothing else.
Angus,
Ex Utds still hate Arsenal too much. When Arsenal’s moment of crown gets closer and realistically becomes clear, these ex Utds’ true identity is uncovered. No appeasement, they truly hate us! I heard what Gary Neville said about the disallowed WH goal.
YouTube is allot of fun Tonight
so many fans hate us
makes it fun to watch lol
Was clear foul. Sure on another day might not be given, doesn’t mean still wasn’t a foul. Haters gonna hate!
@Sensible Gooner
Just watched the VAR replay on YouTube. The WH players elbow pushed Rayas head back, while his hand held Rayas left arm down. It was very blatant.
Would that be counted even in NFL or Rugby? Is there any rule-less sport?
Real talk NYG 😄
NY_Gunner
Yes, it was a foul and VAR proved it so, but we were lucky that the ball actually did cross the line, because if a goal had not originally been awarded, West Ham might have got a penalty due to Trossard’s blatant dragging down of one of their players.
It’s beautiful Dan. All my favorite haters are losing their heads. I think the internet just breaks if we win both PL and UCL
I struggle to make up an excuse or a reason Arteta plays this way, anytime my mind comes up with one my brain counters it. How do you coach your team not to be offensive but defensive ‘control’ while hoping for a single goal to come via a set piece or a lucky bounce or a rare moment of individual brilliance. We did this against wolves twice,, against man u , and virtually all the games we drew (except city at the Emirates) and all the games we lost, Arteta is just lucky he got away with it with the exception of Bournemouth.
Anytime I watch zubimendi I just lose appetite and get a sour taste iny mouth, I’ve not seen him make a sliding tackle challenge, I’ve not seen him play a cross field diagonal long pass, I’ve not seen him go in 100 percent in to a challenge, any time he is defending a shot he covers his privates with his hand and Dodges the coming ball.
We are champions yet , and if we play the way we played today against a team like Burnley who have nothing to lose , or a palace that will be playing for fun , we might just drop points. Imagine dropping points on the final day and losing the title all because you’re obsessed with “controlling” the game. Jeez . You could tell by the body language of the players that they are forcing themselves to play defensively with the handbrakes.
Funnily enough, i have seen Zubemendi do everything you have not seen him do this season?Is it any wonder a guy who has played more minutes than any other outfield player for Arsenal is ,for want of a better word, knackered..The flak he is taking from certain quarters is completely over the top, but I am fairly confident he will prove the doubters wrong when he lines up for Spain in the World Cup.
I have to be honest Grandad, I didn’t see and I don’t see it. He isn’t suited to the prem. And thats being kind.
I have to go with the above opinions Grandad. I haven’t seen Arteta do much this season. If it weren’t for his five or six goals I would rate Zubamendi a flop this season. If as you say he is knackered due to being overplayed then Rice should be on life support having to cover two roles as well as cleaning up in and around the areas where Zubamendi has stuffed up.
Can you tell us the game(s) he played where he did the following
A. Win back possession from an opponent via a sliding tackle
B played diagonal cross field pass.
C put his body on the line to block a shot.
D. Played a through pass that directly resulted into a goal.
E. Broke up play or a counter attack
F. Went in 100% tackle in a 1v1 .
Zubimendi is good (not great) when we are attacking and he is in the box or a few yards away from the opposition box, but when we are on the back foot and defending he becomes a liability. Whenever we play from the back he almost never plays the ball forward to the wingers , he would rather take the safer route by passing the ball to his nearest man which is almost always back to the defenders or the closest CM to him usually rice or Eze or odegaard. Truth is, he is never injured because he doesn’t go in in challenges ..
Check out how many games he’s missed through injury this season Emperor.
I agree emperor not his best season and MA definitely kept playing him too long.
But my view is that its form based and positional. And I’d give him a chance next season he’s got talent in their and maybe the manager can bring it out next season. We won’t be selling him regardless. I’d like another quality no.10 which I think will bring better play from everyone.
Anyway we got the win today, so it doesn’t really matter!!
Grandad is obviously dillusioned and just like arteta he’s a stubborn hypocrite who won’t admit that zubi is an anchor in the team and should be cut off. But even arteta has realised that now when he bravely substituted him.
Kudos to arteta for it takes a real man to admit publicly that he’s wrong. An act Grandad should imbibe.
That said I hope zubi gets better but I’m worried coz at his age he should have hit the peak and its why I was kinda sad/skeptical when we signed him, I watched him in la liga and I wasn’t impressed. The price tag on him made it worse
Finally congratz for our high tension victory yesterday, ma voice and BP hasn’t recovered yet. I guess I’ll totally loose ma voice when we win the league.😅
COYG
@ Tea Kay, I think it’s a bit unfair to be calling people dillusioned for having an opinion…
Needless to say “dillusioned” is not actually a word.
or being in that position to begin with because you’re obsessed with “controlling” the game? 🤔
The most difficult job done and dusted.
Now we have full 7 days rest and it is over to the Burnley game.
That game should not be taken for granted.
You Gooner mate SJ,
Firstly you need to honestly admit you were among the first to raise the white flag to City. I told you resist that inner. I initially had the gut feeling this was our season no matter what. We collectively did the title. Our victory! Congrats!
Calafiori is a problem – for another day. Brilliant when playing, but just too injury prone. Squad management difficult enough.
Please, Zubimendi, if you think you are a great player you cannot take the massive humiliation Arteta delivered to you. Think about that , Zubi-for minths your humiliation eill be in full display on youtube, facebook, etc. Can you take that? Please show as how brave you are and, in order to regain your honor, demand a transfer away from Arsenal at rhe end if the season.Your career in England is over and people will laugh at you. Spain is waiting for you-slow motion football, backward and sideway passing-all the good things that you love. Be brave and demand a transfer….tomorrow. We will salute for doing that. Just to sweeten the deal I will petsonally five a ride to the airport demanding nothing in return. Just go,go,go ….and take rhe horrible football with you….
What a thoroughly unpleasant post
I think this guy doesn’t like Zubimendi…
What kind of Arsenal fan are you?! Disgraceful post
Zubamendi has played the most minutes of any Arsenal outfield player and is knackered in his first season in PL. Not sure why Arteta didnt play Norgaard more to rest him but fact is first half of the season he was very good
These last few games of the season he just doesnt appear to have the energy and hence why Arteta has been playing MLS
don’t think he’s as poor as your making out for a first season in a new league
if he has a winners medal will see that as a job well done
We’ve played 90% of our matches with him and have won most of those. It’s his first season in England and he’s done a great job and has played an insane amount of minutes. To write him off like this is totally insane.
There is a set if awful human beings on this site who are only happy when beinf negative about soneone else. Its increadibly sad and speaks to their own lives.
Antonio
Was it worse than Mourinho with Magic? Use some brains
Great result! Hats off to the mentality today of the team. You expect city to win their games, foremost. But if Leeds beat Brighton on Sunday Bournemouth then know a win gets them in europa league, I think.
If Villa loses against Liverpool on Friday, then Bournemouth is just 4 points way from Villa with a game in hand!
So Bournemouth playing City next will be a different beast (I hope).
That’s true never thought of that!
Either way the cherries will have something real to play for they won’t lie down. On top of that, city has 3 games in 7 days. B’mouth 10 days of rest!!
Sometimes this all means nothing…
We can’t control city’s actions just ours. But it’s better chance than if city were coming off a week of rest, and I like finding ways to build more hope too 🙂
I better correct myself now it’s 9 days rest not 10.
Eamon 12
Liverpool -59
Aston Villa – 59
Bournemouth – 55
Villa are welcoming Liverpool
If the game ends in a draw, then Liverpool and Aston Villa will be on 60 points, 5 points ahead of Bournemouth who will have a game in hand. So, Bournemouth will be aiming to beat City to go only 2 points behind the two
Remember, Aston Villa will be away at City in their last match. If they lose and Bournemouth wins, then Bournemouth will be in top 5. If Aston Villa draws against Man City, then Arsenal will win the league. So all these teams are playing for something
Liverpool could also be left out
Villa may have a Get into CL for Free Card and turn up to Manchester with hangovers., their work done for the season.
Even Bournemuff at their best can’t stop City winning in this form. If it was a team noted for parking the bus this season I would understand optimism Muff could hold City to a draw, but this muff side is built on constant attacking, that gives the Man City front line a field day.
Our Burnley home and Palace away games will be far from straightforward and easy wins – rarely any football match turns out the walk in the park we like to imagine before hand. Arsenal still have a lot of hard work and avoidance of bad luck to get any trophy across the line this season.
Some success or disaster is still finally balanced. There’s a chance they become the Unsweatables, but also the Unmentionables.
We must win every game but I’m not sure if my heart can survive palace on the final day !!!
That’s right Freddy my point was more around Europa league Brighton specifically if they fail to best Leeds.
The cherries may guarantee that when playing city. Also if villa win Europa league and finish 5th the cherries are in CL.
What commentators said after Zubimendi entered the game-“ I tought back and sideways passing are a thing of the past after what I saw last few weeks. Once Zubimendi entered the game they are back….”. A truth everyone can see but refuse to do it….the snail Zubimendi is the handbrake of the time and is not a mistake that Arsenal’s horrible to watch football started when this guy became part of the first 11.Even Arteta realized how bad this guy is for tram’s effort and removed him in a totally humiliating manner for Zubimendi.For his own sake he better ask for a transfer now , before becoming the laughing stock of football viewers.He is done in England, the embarrassment he suffered will never be forgotten.Can’t wait to see his back on his way to Spain.
Relief in emancipated NL. What are the Spurs fans saying about Arsenal’s grateful neighbourly deeds? Hope they were eagerly anticipating for VAR to disallow that WH goal.
Ambachew,
As sent to me by a Spuds friend who has been toying with the idea of not renewing his outrageously expensive season ticket…
Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to see the Gooners win away
Well Spuds have taken points off Man City this year, so I guess it’s a favour returned to the neighbours 🙂
👍
Odegaard changed the game, Raya with a vital save! Mikel almost tripped over himself with some awful substitutions be he corrected them in time. Burnley next, another game we must give our all. The big negative though is what are we going to do about RB? I think White’s season is done. Now we sweat to see if Timber makes UCL final…
Also the VAR decision was clear. It’s only controversial because so much of the media hates us.
Most people knew moving Rice to rb, MLS to lb, is not simplifying the matter, and putting Zubi in, was galaxy braining it.
Do not gloss over the complete f up that he did with one easy substitute and moving the players all over the place. Our shape, tempo, control and chance creation cratered because of that decision.
Most on here would have brought on Dowman too instead of Madueke at this point when trying to concoct a chance.
Mosquera in at rb was the only choice at that time and most know it.
Mosqey was brought in as central defensive cover and work in progress, is a bit lost in the attacking bit of right back – so I sort of understand their thinking. Hammers were in low block mode, did we need another centre back on pitch, one shoehorned into right back?
Hincape was another option for right back, he’s played there. Hincape could have replaced White and done the defending an attack full back okay.
When Timber is out for months and White can’t continue a match, we don’t have a great option – it’s not natural for Mosq esp attacking. In terms of squad depth, keeper and all across defence doesn’t have great squad depth tbh.
Taking Rice and MLS out of midfield was brain dead.
We have seen this replay with Partey.
Thank goodness Arteta saw the error of his ways and put people back in the places they belong!
Rice already played a whole game there earlier this season, he is good at right back, and Rice our best fit right back now, so will have to play there in the Burnley and Palace games.
Mosq certainly can’t start at right back against low blocks, he doesn’t have that attacking side to his game.
If Rice is fit – it’s looking like 2 weeks+ to fix his bad back and get him playing again.
Nope, Rice has 0 chemistry with the right side, and Mosquera can play there better than Rice.
How is Rice playing rb for 2 straight games going to help his back?
Rice will be injured due to the requirements of the rb position.
He is a diesel not explosive sprinter, expecting him to hang with super quick wingers would be so Arteta.
Could bring on Salmon too.
Congrats Gooners!!!!
Great game ! this is how we should fight from now on!
How did that touch/handball pass the VAR ?!! It was a clearly intentional push and a penalty for Arsenal!
Odegard! WELCOME back, Captain. Right on time!
2 more games here .. 1 for CL!
To all Arsenal fans who hated VAR, change your mind now? No VAR, epl gone.
I will give arteta some credit for resubbing zubi. That and odegaard changed the game. BUT why zubi in the 1st place???? Like for like? I really hope to eat humble pie on the 24th.
My biggest criticism is for the Muppet who co commentated the game….no foul on royal….weak??? What a return.. d..his arsenal hatred always shows.
Just googled it …rob…f..ng green…ex west ham…worst commentator EVER
The theory floating round is that Arteta was looking to keep up the attacking press, so wanted more aggression from a right back to replace White – Rice has this quality more than Mosquera. It didn’t work out, so he changed his tactic again. For sure, pretty much everyone else would have gone for Mosquera as the closest next fit in terms of player position, keeping Rice in midfield. Lesson learned, hopefully, and we move on!
I wish we can get a maestro like Santi again, cazorla and zubi are miles apart and it’s why our midfield moves d ball slow (zubi is awful n santi was awesome)
I’ll be suprise if zubi comes good, till then let us embrace miles as our cm. That kid is good and way better when he plays as cm
Tea Kay
Arsenal fans are very quick to blame new players, only to be proven wrong again and again
Zubimendi has brought us where we are, fighting for the league, in Carabao and Champions League finals. Yes, Carzola was great, but what did he do in regards to the league and the Champions League?
You people also complained about Merino, Raya, Odegaard, Trossard, etc. Zubimendi will do the same. And by the way, he has done more than what Partey did for us in 5 years
Not to mention, Cazorla mostly played a different role to Zubimendi, more forward and closer to that of Odegaard. In their best seasons they scored 16 and 15 goals respectively as attacking/central midfielders.
I agree though, I think it’s horrible when “fans” target one player relentlessly simply because they would prefer a different style of player. Especially when they are good! Zubimendi is not a thunderball destroyer or box-crasher like Partey, but he has been more defensively solid and better at screening positional play, meaning players like Odegaard and Rice don’t have to worry so much about covering the defense as they can typically rely on him being where he should be. His brief is to capture the ball and recycle it, not grab it and run forward.
And on top of being more positional, he’s still scored more goals – in his first season – than Partey ever did in a season. So it’s not all a wash, and we’re closer to a title than ever.
Carzola, Ozil and Sanchez! What a trio. Three princes. Can’t compare them to the present almost non existent midfield. If only we’d had a Declan Rice player to carry the water rather than the ineffective Xhaka or the unfortunately perennially injured Ramsey we could have had a couple of titles to show for it.
How on earth are we on the brink of winning our first Premier League title in 22 years?😱
So now Imagine a trio of odegard santi and rice, amazing isn’t it? This is how our midfield should look like
The current midfield setup is suffering due to zubi and it’s why I hope skelly can fill that spot
There were likely other considerations at play and I don’t know but I suspect that the reasoning for having Rice on the right may have had something to do with needing more speed and defensive closing down experience on that side with the dangerous Summerville being a real threat (as he later showed). Personally, I might would still have gone with Mosquera because of the possible effect on our midfield.
However, to me this is clearly just an opportunity to slam MA as incompetent rather than wanting to entertaining the possibility that there could have been good reasons that simply didn’t work out on the pitch (i.e. a decision maker who knows a heck of a lot more about football than any of us but isn’t perfect).
Yeah, I think we were all mystified by that substitution, another case of Arteta maybe overthinking things. But his strategy there had some logic to it and it just didn’t work out, so he corrected it. Unbalanced haters are gonna hate, regardless! All’s well that ends well.
WOW! Arsenal don’t make it easy on us do they, if there’s a simple way or a hard way to do something they seem to go the hard way.
That said the result was the all important thing. Now get ready people, I’m actually going to give Odegaard his dues, he totally changed the way that game was going in his cameo. Along time coming I say, but credit where credit is due.
Now for the late drama. Now for me the right decision was definitely made, Raya not only had an arm across him, but a player behind had hold of his shirt. People can bleat all they like, on this occasion there is no doubt.
But for me something needs to be done regards this WWF from corners. It’s ridiculous the things that go on. Most of the players are not even looking at the ball, there just sizing up their opponent for a wrestling match.
It’s called football, you tackle for the ball, when play is outside the box you get said player trying to win it back from said opponent, you don’t see the other 20 players involved in a wrestling match. But when it comes to defending from a corner and you’re in you’re box, it seems anything goes.
Maybe the suggestion I’ve heard could have some merit to it, the idea is for the attacking side to not be allowed inside the 6 yard box until the ball is struck. Something needs to be done, it’s becoming farcical when you see corners.
You’ve got people questioning what Saliba, Odegaard and some others were doing to the West Ham players, for me it was half a dozen of one and half a dozen of the other. They are all at it.
Sadly the controversial ending will give the Arsenal haters all the ammunition they need to beat Arsenal with. Not even for one minute acknowledging, that on this occasion VAR got the decision absolutely right.
Just a final thought, Arsenal would you please make it a bit easier for us fans in the next two games. I’m getting fed up with hiding behind my sofa, it’s quite cramped back there you know.
The Arsenal haters are just upset that a foreign object was thrown in the ring – VAR.
1st title in 22 years, 1st cl final in 20 uears. The weirdos on here slagging the team/managernneed to look in a mirror and give their heads a wobble. Never before has a team achieved what we have this year with so much utterly insane negatvity. Wobble your heads, seriously.
Win the cl and its literally the best seasob in our history, wouldnt knownotm
Weirdos
There’s a few Angus but it’s getting better compared to a few months ago…
When we lost a game with 15, 10 left like it was the end.
We are slowly becoming a more balanced and confident fan phase base. If we win this year , next year if we loose a few I don’t think the reaction is the same.
As you highlighted we’ve waited 22 years, with the last few years being so tense, we just wanted it to be over early to stop suffering. I still have to pinch myself we are in the CL final the anthem gives me goosebumps each time I hear it. Liam Brady literally fighting it out with Eamon Dunphy, John Giles on RTE that whole run to the final those were the days.
When lost to city due to haalands cheat goal that every ex ref has said should have been disallowed they were all out in full force saying iit was over, sack arteta etc. That was literally 4 games ago.
They dont deserve this been worse than spurs fans in hating on the team/manager all season.
Never in my life have i seen a team be this good and be this consistent and get slated left and right. A lot of people need to take a good long look in the mirror.
2 of our 4 ever ib history semi finals in the cl have been in the last 2 years. Its a joke the way people downplay this side
You’re not wrong Angus, there’s quite a few fans fell victim to media click bait is how I would put it.
Humans are more likely to see negatively its survival 101, me included
I think there is more belief u can see the reaction is very positive on this thread.
I maintain they had lots of praise
they downplay the side when they haven’t won 1 FA Cup in 6 years
win the Prem and they will get credit
It’s simple to follow .
Both can be true lol
if we win the Prem I’ll be like what a great achievement……doesn’t make anyone wrong for calling out the previous failures
Can’t reply to your comment directly Dan. I agree with u. But it really was quite negative a few months ago. We all have a right opinion as long as it’s got a healthy dose of fact & perspective 🙂 your articles have struck the perfect balance on that.
Great win and focus on Burnley
Can’t wait for the atmosphere for it!
Angus,
How long have you been a fan? Let me guess, less than a decade, I could be wrong.
Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.
Still have to win 2 more games and you know $h*Ty will win theirs.
Slip up with a draw or a loss, and you better do the math.
Until this team and Arteta get it over the line, they have not yet proved they can win.
May it be so!
A vital win. I never expect it to be easy against a team fighting to remain in the division at their stadium.
Mikel got the substitution wrong although I got the rationale behind it.
Odegard introduction brought more composure and creativity we need. Mikel made a mistake with his first substitution but correct with the other substitutions.
At the end, the biggest moment is saved for the VAR. At the most important moment it came through for us.
Agree Derek something has to be done it’s a joke. The foul on Raya is too high on his body in my view that attracts the foul. I like your suggestion would certainly encourage attackers to find space and score.
SueP,
Maybe your friend had been budgeting for cheaper tickets for championship fixtures. Still that financially viable scenario is alive if Leeds tonight do some favour to West Ham. Who expected Burnley drawing v Villa?
Congrats for the win!
No but it’s a funny thought
He and his friend declined. He was in club seats and they were expected to sign up for 3 years!!! He offered for one year and they refused. He said ticket sales were 20% down which is hardly surprising.
Yeah SueP mine is just to banter them. What a difference a year makes! Last year Spurs were happy winning Europa and qualifying for UCL under the gentleman Ange. Now a journey into the unknown; your friends are quite right which I think the club will accept their offers later.
Let me start by thanking RAYA by again saving us. He should be the Premier league footballer of the year if we eventually win the league. I also thank VAR for having decided to do the right thing for once in a matter that concerns Arsenal. Congratulations to the boys for the performance. Having said that, I want to know why Zubi must play in all our matches. It’s absurd to think that Arteta is just knowing that Zubi is tired and should be rested till next season. Why making such a risky sub? If Arteta continues to play Zubi, I won’t be surprised if we lose the both trophies. Enough of these experiments. Not now !
Lest We Forget!If we are to celebrate our first title in twenty odd years we mustn’t forget to thank the Spuds for taking five points off City. We couldn’t have done it without their help.
Funny Spurs threw away Arsenal’s gift. If West Ham on Sunday beat Newcastle, Spurs return to the drop zone. It’s most likely that they get relegated because they’ve to face 2 mighty opponents in Chelsea and Everton while West Ham face Newcastle and Leeds whose minds already are on the beaches.
If I had my way they’d both go down. Newcastle away won’t be easy, but I guess it’s now or never for WH