Mikel Arteta had to do something to breathe new life into Arsenal’s attack so we saw Trossard replace Martinelli on the wing.
The Gunners started brightly and after ten minutes the change paid off as Trossard delivered a perfect corner onto Gabriel’s head to give us the lead, but still no attacker on the scoresheet.
After that the game went a bit flat with Palace staying physical and Arsenal only getting a short time around the Palace keepers area.
After half an hour it was Palace laying on pressure and forcing a very loose pass out from Raya went straight to Lerma and suddenly Raya had to make a great save to stop the equalizer.
We than went straight down the other end, won a corner, and yet again Gabriel got on the end of it and suddenly we had doubled our lead.
That’s more like it! We may have the goals back but we atill haven’t seen much action from our strikers, and twice so far it’s looked like Odegaard dithered when in very forward positions.
We had time for Trossard to shoot over the bar from close range but I think Arteta will be happy enough going into the break…
Gabriel celebrating ❤️⚪️🔴 #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/exWdohGaJo
— The Arsenal (@davidhickman14) January 20, 2024
Arsenal flew out of the changing rooms and within a minute a Saka corner nearly gave Gabriel his hat trick, and then Rice tested the Palace keeper with a long range strike.
Nothing much happened as Palace strongly tried to get a goal back, but they left themselves wide open. A fantastic throw out from Raya went to Saka on the wing and a simple pass to Trossard in the middle and he made no mistake and coolly slotted it in. 3-0 and definitely 3 points in the bag with half hour to go….
Naturally, with 20 minutes to go, Arteta made his changes with Martinelli replacing Trossard and Smith-Rowe coming on for Havertz, who I didn’t even know was on the pitch!
The game is over as a spectacle, but Arteta gives Rice a rest for the last 15 mins and replaced by Jorginho, and 5 mins later Nketiah and Kiwior are given a short cameo with Gabriel and Jesus removed. Amazingly Arsenal have three shots on target and three goals, that is a massive change from our last few matches!
Basically the last 20 minutes have all been taken up with subs from both sides as it looks like the result is accepted by all and they are just kiling time, although Arsenal have made a few chances at a gentle pace.
There was time for one more bit of action as Martinelli finally used his speed and coolly slotted it into the far corner, he made it 4-0 and the next minute he made an exact copy of his last one to make it 5-0 !!!! Game over and out!
Well, I’m happy with this result, and I’m sure Arteta will be breathing a sigh of relief that we have got back to winning ways….
🗣️🔴⚪️Gabriel Magalhaes:
“One more minute and he (Martinelli) would’ve scored 3 goals.” [TNT]😅 pic.twitter.com/7SCScSuid7
— AfcVIP⁴⁹ (@VipArsenal) January 20, 2024
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
Raya + Jesus + Trossard = Arsenal Perfection!!
Oops – too excited – Saka
I was right it was Jesus not Saka – I have to stop reading these summaries. In any case, it was a perfect beautiful pass.
Yes it was a perfectly time pass from Jesus to Tossard and he converted like an inform center forward, but the alertness and distribution from Raya was sublime.
Maybe this is what the gaffer sees in the Spanish goal keeper, perhaps it’s a peek preview of Arteta ball.
Well, I’m not sure about it having to do with a different style of play but I would be surprised if he isn’t encouraged to look for those openings in his training. It was definitely an absolutely beautiful distribution. He put so much into it that I think he almost knocked himself out hitting the ground after the throw. One of if not the best 10 seconds of Arsenal football this season imo.
👍🏻👍🏻
Rays played well. But, to be fair, Ramsdale has been criticized for the same errant passes that led to shots on our goal. He also has had a number of great passes for fast breaks that should have led to goals. I’ll take a 5-0 any day though.
All goalkeepers are usually criticized to some extent for errant passes when they make them and it hurts the club. Of course Raya didn’t have a perfect match. I personally would prefer to have Ramsdale still in goal and for MA to have never acquired Raya but he is here and deserves huge credit for being the catalyst for a beautiful passage of play.
Really needed that. We are still the worst scoring team in the top 5 but only by 1 goal now so good job everyone. Much better finishing!
Nice home win. We needed those goals. Next….
Trossard didn’t play too well, but he still managed to score when he was given enough space and time to shoot
The problems obviously still exist, but at least the victory could improve the players’ confidence
My MOTM would be Magalhaes for his goals
That’s the second time you have mentioned Trossard. I didn’t think he was bad at all
In my opinion, he lost too many duels
Agree SueP. imo, his starts haven’t been as good as his sub appearances for whatever reason, but today he was much better. Zinny played better as well with no real need to play strong defense against a weakened Palace right side with no Olise. Nice not seeing that pain Ayew flopping around and causing trouble.
@Gai, yea the problem still exist. I can’t be over excited at the win. Their is a sense of urgency lacking in Arsenal play. Matinelli scored but he wasn’t up to scratch in performance. Arsenal wouldn’t find it easy against top opposition. The Frontline are not still clinical. Odegard yet to get into top form. I also think Jorginho and ESR should play more instead of Havertz.. Nkethia should be sold. Gabriel and Saliba 9/10.
Martinelli was so deadly in counter-attack. I bet he’ll thrive in Real Madrid’s 4-3-1-2 system
Impressive, maybe only Bangbang could predict such a generous score line
You’re welcome.
ESR was very sharp and almost perfect in his play. More please.
He’ll be injured again within the next couple of months so I wouldn’t expect too much more. I’m just praying some club is stupid enough to offer us a fee, so we can get a reliable player in.
I hope you’re wrong, Jen. I understand your point of view that ESR has been on the unfortunate end of injury issues and this does impact on the squad when talent is unavailable
I thought he did well and would like to see him get more game time. Not necessarily as a starter, but one who doesn’t come on at the last knockings of the second half.
Unfortunately I’m not wrong, because how many times have we seen this story now with him? It’s the same with Partey. You know it’s only a matter of time, and what’s more annoying is that they always get injured from either just running or in training, never a bad challenge. They’re made of glass!
Don’t you think the medics at AFC need to improve on something. They very good footballers and I think they must contribute when they are available.
Thanks SueP. At least Jen gives him the next couple of months this time instead of saying he’s injured ALL the time.
Mr literal! Watching comedians must be a nightmare! 🤣🤣
Yes, unfortunately do take what you write literally. My mistake.
It might happen just like some club was stupid enough to offer fee for Runarsson, Havertz, Raya, Lokonga, Tavares etc….
A fair review of the game
I thought we were going to be plagued by sideways passing but eventually we became more direct.
Generally, Palace were poor and we didn’t quite have the finishing from open play to make the superiority count
Great set piece goals and the last 3 were excellent when Palace looked dead on their feet.
Pleased to see ESR and at least he wasn’t anonymous like Hazard was today.
SueP, You say that “eventually we became more direct”! You dont though, I notice, say why,at least not properly, so let me say WHY for you.
It was from PRECISELY THE MOMENT THAT ESR AND MARTINELLI came on as subs and thereafter we looked fluent, likely ro often and for the first time this season looked once again like the super team of last seasons first half.
You play the right players and drop the non effective ones meaning HAVERTZ, (though not Trossard who played well), and you once again look a top class team.
Equally, if you play lesser players, meaning HAVERTZ, REGULARLY, YOU ONCE AGAIN LOOK BORING, SLOW, INEFFECTIVE AND SAMEY.
QED!!
Couldn’t agree more!
Nothing today to think we’ve put on our scoring boots. Zinnie adding nothing as inverted, Havertz to forward thus our LWs continue to perform solo. Trossard going mid-pitch often just to sight a teammate. Set pieces and a desperate CP the only keys to victory
Hazard? 🙄
Just letting the crowd die down, biggest cheer was ESR replacing Havertz.
I think the biggest Cheer (of appreciation) from the Emirates faithful was for Rice coming off for.Jorginho. Everybody (including Arteta’s critics like me) do love and highly rate Declan Rice. It’s hard to hate the Lad. The last such a long standing ovation came for Ozil after his heroics against Leicester in 2019. But all the same there was also a loud cheer for ESr replacing the non existent Haverts.
Harvertz had one of his better games but ESR demonstrated that he is more effective. I am surprised that he and Odegaard aren’t more in sync with each other. Perhaps it’s because they see each other as competing for the same position, but isn’t it possible that they might also be able to play together with one taking pressure off the other alternatively and combining more often. In tandem they would be a serious threat to most defences. and provide a real headache for opposing teams. Anyway let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The opposition was poor and there will be few easier games remaining this season.
For me, ESR getting a full 20 – 25 minutes was the best thing about today. He looked sharp when he came on. Hope this continues.
Until I see 3 – 4 more games more where we score at least 2 goals and concede 1 or less, I cannot say we have turned the corner.
This was a CP side with problems on and off the pitch as shown by the banners held up by their supporters.
For most fans getting a good win at home after the recent slump was the best thing about today. Evidently, you have different priorities.
Definitely David
Even though we lost to Liverpool, I thought many things were right and that includes believe it or not playing Havertz as a CF. Whilst he missed chances, I thought he gave us a useful option and we were dangerous but for the finishing unlike the games against West Ham and Fulham where despite creating chances we looked toothless. Some of the best strikers also miss sitters.
In this game we went back to using Havertz in MF where he has been more than a disappointment so far.
Today MA brought off KH at the right time and put in ESR and bringing GM at the same time meant we had an exciting team to watch which is preferable even if we had lost.
Agreed. Was a shame that ESR didn’t have a strong end to last season as maybe Arteta wouldn’t have bought Havertz but it seems like the strategy for Raya and Havertz was in place for a long time
Given Artera has been backed by the Kroenkes you would have thought he would have given ESR a go !
Still no Havertz fan and at best he should be on the bench as plan B for most games
I concur, and judging by the intensity of the cheers echoing through the stadium, it seems the majority of fans share the same sentiment.
No issues with the tactics. As per usual it allows excellent goal scoring opportunities, but the big difference was that our players actually managed to hit a barn door for once!
Brilliant team performance and I really hope Martinelli can kick on after that Henry style brace.
I liked the look of the 4231 at home and our wide players coming inside closer to the striker when they could He gave them a little bit of freedom We didn’t play as many sideways passes from the byline across and Odegaard looked a bit more freed up too. I liked that we tried to play through their defense more centrally going direct at times That was Wenger’s old formation
no, was the Arteta standard 4-3-3
just Arsenal woke up to be determined to score, and Palace were very poor indeed – a perfect confidence builder when we needed it, but by no means a revolutionary new process
I suspect that could be the end for Roy Hodgson .Time for him to put his feet up and smell the roses.ESR did well when he came on and must surely start in the next match.Once again Havertz and Saka were mediocre but both our centre backs were excellent .
Did you notice Grandad that Potter was at the game. Taking notes. Do you think that Roy is a dead man walking or will he stay until May?
Potter would be a very good fit for Palace Sue.Too many egos at Chelsea for a quiet man like him.
Grandad, Roy Hodgeson deserves a good send off and retirement. A class manager, who later in his career has had to work with and get results, from players, who wouldn’t hold a candle to the majority he has coached in the past.
It’s all about the “cattle” a manager has at his disposal.
Absolutely agree. I know he doesn’t want or need my sympathy but I couldn’t help but feel bad for him yesterday.
Couldn’t agree more!
OFF TANGENT i REALISE. But afte rthr4e game, our delightful star boy was being interviewe bt Keownm Ferdinand ands som eother STUPID female presenter- not stupid because she is femals of course – but stupid despite being a woman, which IMO is rare, as it is most often males who speak stupidly.
This woman whoe name I do not know and franhly donrt wish to know, ACTUALLY ASKED SAKA this question:” Do you prefer us being top ands chaxse or loweve rdown and doing th chasing”!? Seriously friends she asked THAT!
Our modest and adorable Bukayo ignored the obvuous bone headedess of such a daft question and genkly replied” Yes, I would prefer rto be top. I dont know it may just be me but I would rather be top than fourth or third, sixth or even second”!
” I dont know, it may just be me” but does anyone reading this post have any idea HOW such a clearly brainless woman, albeit a pretty one( which IS the real answer WHY of course) gets to be a main football presenter on TNT, formerly BT??”
Had our delightful starboy had my talent for biting sarcasm – thank God he has not – he would have surely answered , “No, I would rather be twentieth and relegated”.
THAT remark, had he made it, would have made the back pages tomorrow, possibly among the front pages too and probably the main TV news right now!
I’d rather chase though, from striking distance of course and piling pressure on the leaders. We all saw how being top all season ended. With so called disadvantaged chasers became champions.
VAMOS you are not thinking clearly!
It would be madness to PREFER FEWER points by chasing from behind, to MORE points, by being the PREM LEADER.
Is that not OBVIOUS TO YOU?
AND IF NOT, THEN WHY NOT?
👍
Jon
That tells you something about mentality.
Never would a player with a”winning” mentality wish to chase rather than lead.
If a player admitted he preferred chasing, then bench or sell them immediately.
They fear the pressure and avoid the expectations that come with Champions and being winners.
Absolute daft question she asked, knowing already no self-respecting playing would say they prefer not being in first place.
DAFT INDEED DURAND, as I pointede out to a numbe who argued differently. I received dabuse for simply speaking plain obvious truth.
But sadly, among football fans , many prefer daft, half baked theories based on cliches and nothing else, to the plain and obvious truth. I could have pointed out to these wilfully blind folk that NOT A SINGLE BOOKIE EVER, takes their view .
But what would be the point, as a number simply detest plain and obvious truth!!
Thankfully, you, I and Ozzie Gunner are not among them!
I don’t think anyone is arguing that with you…. You just made an obvious statement… No team wants to chase that’s obvious to all players and fans
.
The context is important. Chasing Aston Villa is very different from chasing Man City or Liverpool.
Even then, though, it is usually to have the points on the board.
“usually better”
No DAVID, NOT SO. WHICHEVER team or teams we are chasing, no matter WHO, it is OBVIOUSLY BETTER to be chased from being at the very top position, to having fewer points than them and therefore doing the chasing.
To say other than this is TO AVOID THINKING PROPERLY!
Winning any title means getting more points than all other teams and anything legal, which aids us to get most puints at ANY time during the season, MUST BE THE BEST OPTION.
To suggest otherwise is , frankly, dimwitted!
It seemed evident to me that being top for so long took a psychological toll on the players last season – surely you can see the difference between leading a race and looking over your shoulder, or constantly trying to stop yourself looking over your shoulder, and being second or third and trying to catch up? Very different situations with different kinds of pressure, and I think most people would be more comfortable with the latter over a prolonged period, so long as they were able to keep believing they would win in the end.
I haven’t seen this interview, but I think that it what the female presenter was asking, and I don’t think it’s a stupid question at all. I suspect saka might well have avoided it because of the subtext of what appeared to happen last season.
Sorry DAVI but this is hogwash fake philosophy, shared by a number onJA and is nonsense . No serios minded person should ever try to deny that it is far better to havepoints on the board and be infront, than bing ebehind and chasing. That makes NO SENSE AT ALL.
Suppose in a theoretical case , we were top and say five points clear ,but then had six points deducted or falling foul of FFP.
THEN, WE WOULE BE ONE POINT BEHIND THE TOP INSTEAD OF FIVE CLEAR !
ARE YOU SERIOSULY TRYING TO SUGGEST YOU WOULD PREFER THAT SCENARIO TO BEING TOP AND THEREFORE CHASED?
If you are , then we inhabit different planets and I would then propose wasting no more of my valuable thinking time on someone whose “thinking” is as faulty as the POST OFFICE HORIZON SYSTEM WAS.
I will say however,that I am amazed at YOU,OF ALL PEOPLE, being among the dullards on this matter!!.
To prefer fewer points to facing the pressure of being chased is for fainthearts only and ANY team that, in theory only, actually preferred being the chaser to being the chased, would not be worth supporting, as they would be cowards, even though only in theory, as it would NOT happen in reality.
And unlike you, I DID SEE THAT INTERVIEW LIVE AND REWATCHED IT AGAIN, FOCUSSING ON THE BODY LANGUAGE, FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND ON BOTH KEOWN AND FERDINAND, WHO WERE THERE LISTENING and who naturally and strongly both agreed with Saka, myself and with all sane fans.
PLAINLY, certain fans ARE COWARDS, BUT SAKA IS NOT AMONG THEM. Nor is a single player anywhere either. THEY, at least see sense , even though CERTAIN fans do not!!
I wouldn’t call it a philosophy. It’s simply acknowledging the psychological aspects of sports – something all top sportsmen and women talk about. I might be wrong about last season – maybe the injuries last season were the biggest issue, or something else, but it looked very much to me like the pressure of being top for so long was a big factor in our downfall last season.
It sounds like our misunderstanding here is on whether that mentality (happier to be the chaser) is desirable – I completely agree with you that it’s not desirable; we should want to be top and want the challenge of staying there to the end of the season. However, I don’t think it’s a bad question for an interviewer to ask; it’s uncomfortable to consider the truth. As I still haven’t seen it, perhaps it wasn’t the appropriate forum for a question like that.
It is a stupid question in my opinion. The fact there is even a debate about it shows anything can be debated nowadays!
You need to review your comments which are completely unacceptable.
I have every right to give my views and thoughts on an issue without being subjected to such insults.
I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT, BEING OF A WOKE PERSUASION, YOU FEEL INSULTED!
I make no apology for standing up for free speech, free from woke style would be censored language tyranny!
You are of course completely correct to say that you have a right to give your views and thoughts on an issue, as you have done.
THAT APPLIES TO ME AND TO ALL OTHERS TOO, and no attempt at woke tyranny will work with those, such as I, who stand for free speech.
I and others have given views on an issue. You have chosen to insult and disparage those who do not agree with your views.
Expecting some decorum in debates and discussions is not woke tyranny.
I maintain that what you have written is not acceptable.
David, as we are both well aware, it is your right to feel as you do and have st\ated .
Equally, it is my right to take a very different view and to totally disagre with your point of view, as I too have stated. I sincerely do not feel I have insulted you or the others you seem intent on “protecting”, in any way whatsoever.
I am well aware that there are very many in the world today who are “professionally insulted”, usually on behalf of others and I find that a dangerous trend that we, humankind, need to defeat for the sake of protection of future free speech.
I THINK, -THOUGH CLEARLY YOU DISAGREE- that I have a perfect right to point out the originally used incorrect use of English in Jen’s post, which started this debate.
Why else do you imagine I MISUNDERSTOOD HER ACTUAL INTENTION,in that original post of hers, being as I am, used to writing correctly?
“To suggest otherwise is, frankly, dimwitted” “faulty thinking” “hogwash” “not thinking clearly” are insults and ways of belittling other people’s ideas considering the fact that your opinion has’nt even been backed by evidence nor justified if we lose the tittle eventually. So yeah, your remarks are insulting and highly disrespectful. No two ways about it.
Jon has done this before. He lacks maturity and can be very insulting. People can express themselves and be very critical without being insulting
@Davi and Davi, best you ignore Jon because he has made up his mind on the issue and considering the fact he insults those of us in disagreement shows just that. time will tell which approach is best for our tittle bid, last season or this season. over the years though, this season’s approach has proven to be the best.
@David and Davi”
Vamos, It is th English langauge itself that has made up my mind.
I am simply pointing out to those who refuse to accept English, as written correctly, is of IMPORTANCE , who I wish to help put right.
I realise of course that some people prefer to be wrong and keep being wrong, rather than be helped to educate themselves. Sigh!
That is, of course, their perfect right, as also is mine to state my opinion of their obstinacy.
I do BTW, obviously disagree with your contention that “….. over the years though, this years approach has proven to be the best”, as I consider it untrue and nonsensical!
Well Jon.
Your spelling is at a junior school level
Please check
I can assure you Neath Gunner, that typos are simply errors of fingers hitting the wrong key, which is what you notice and which is often true.
But MY spelling is excelletn and has been since early adulthood, although I am now old.
You will probably notice a typo, though not a spelling error, in my previous sentence:”Excelletn = excellent”
MOST fans can easily spot which are typos and which are spelling errors.
Its very tough reasoning with today’s generation who from younglings have been engineered to care more about fictional life and characters than what is going on in real life.
You will find most of them have extraordinary knowledge in movies, music, games and fictional worlds but hopeless to things that really matter in the real world.
Hence finding insults where there was none and reasoning that don’t reflect the real world.
HH I agree with your view, though in general only, as there are always exceptions.
Equally, many old and older folk know little to nothing about modern culture, as most of us are not much interested in such as games, fictional worlds or even fashion* ( *though that applies more often to males, rather than females).
I would suggest that most older folk have learned which things in life are IMPORTANT and which are NOT.
How is that a brainless question ? Why calling the beautiful damsel names ? Even here, there r split opinions on this particular topic , does it mean that any one who shares different view with u is brainless ? T ur age I expect u chose ur words wisely , buh it’s a pity that calling people names and looking down on people is a trait u r not ready to let go ! It’s just a pity mehn!!!
No longer chasing Villa, lol.
I mean, I just can’t read this due to the number of mistakes. So I’m not even going to try because it must be trash. (insert comment about having an entirely undesrved English degree).
Jon, always better to be a front runner; better to have points on the board with results being in your hands, with the pressure on the chasing pack to be faultless and depending on you to drop points. If you get your results you must finish in front.
Ozzie, How relieving to find that I am not the ONLY fan on JA who can see sense.
SOME on JA actually and incredibly say that we have a better chance to win the title, IF we have fewer points than our main rivals at any time in the season, rather than if we have more points tha rivals and arethus in top position!!
That lamentable view of theirs reminds me of the fable of the Kings New Clothes. Sigh!
It is revealing though that NO bookies EVER take the view of the “wilfully blind” on JA.
A result like this was always coming. It was just against whom. Personally, I consider it better from a mrnttality viewpoint that Arsenal are closely chasing rather that on top of the league at this stage of the season. The crunch matches are from now on.
* mentality
OBG. It seems , albeit incredibly so, that I NEEDTO POINT OUT TO YOU, that chasing from behind our rivals means FEWER points than them , whereas leading them all, means MOREpoints than them(or at very least a superior goal differnence).
Your view, though a fairly common one among CERTAIN types, is that of a completely UNTHINKING person
Or else someone who would rather AFC HAS A FAR LESS REAL CHANCE OF EVER WINNING THE TITLE.
The immense difference IMMEDIATELY ESR and MARTINELLI came on as subs, was massive.
That final twenty nine minutes or so we looked fluent, decisive, pacy, dangerous and like last years team of the first half season.
After THAT MASSIVE evidence, SURELY MA MUST start ESP next time in place of HAVERTZ, who was once again almost invisible and not at all effective. AND recall Martinelli too!
If he does not, we are entitled to ask “Why not”?
And to ask it VERY forcefully too, IMO!!
You can only beat what’s put in front of you, but Palace were awful, and had completely downed tools by the time the subs came on, although I’m not sure they even brought any tools with them 😂
“No tools” eh?
I’d call TWO goals from Martinelli and a fluent late display from ESR, as well as from Martinelli too, VERY EFFECTIVE TOOLS INDEED!
I meant Palace didn’t bring any tools because they were that bad.
That is not what you wrote though. The subject of “tools ” we immediately preceded by “the subs” and not by PALACE , WHICH WAS IN THE SENTENCE BEFORE.
This mistakes shows how important it is to say exactly and accurately WHAT YOU MEAN.
No you’re wrong. It’s actually a very simple paragraph to follow.
“Tools” was clearly used the first time in relation to Palace, from a phrase we’re all familiar with. The second use of the word “tools” (as in not bringing any with them) was to emphasise just how bad Palace were.
Cannot believe I just had to explain that!
Great performance, but Palace were shocking!
Jen sorry to pull rank on you as I possess a first class English Language degree!
What I wrote IS correct and your explanation is incorrect.
You can easily google and find out the actual language facts, IF you are interested in educating yourself.
As for me, I can only point a horse towards water, so to speak. I cannot make it drink!
Your choice entirely. I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD AND WILL NOT BE DEBATING FURTHER WITH YOU ON THIS TOPIC, AS IT WOULD BE POINTLESS.
You might think your knowledge of the English language is far better than anyone else on here Jon but Jen’s comment was perfectly understandable to me, as was ArGooner’s. Whether grammatically perfect or not is possibly debatable but I think we all understood what he said, but having said that, I think Jen’s comment WAS correct. If you are so engrossed with pointing out possible errors by others, perhaps you should take a quick look back at your previous comments on this article, one in particular you didn’t read again before posting.
So pleased for you then, that you understood it. Well done. HAPPY NOW?
Ecstatic thank you, looks like my GCE grade 1 in English helped😊.
@ Jon Fox you are spewing gibberish and bragging about your English degree. Go back and read the initial comment about “tools” and if it’s not clear to you that he was referring to Crystal Palace then you need to question your intelligence.
Also, your comments about the female presenter are so inappropriate and your condescending comments in response to different opinions shows how intolerant you are.
Sokie Envy is such a debilitating deadly sin!
No, “Palace” was the subject of that sentence, “the subs” was part of the clause that proceeded it.
It is 100% clear, and grammatically correct, what Jen was referring to.
ArGooner, Jen would have been more easily understood if onlyshe had written this:” …… but Palace were awful and had completely downed tools by the time the subs came on,although I’m not sure they, Palace, even brought any tools with them.”
The insertion of that single word “Palace ” WOULD have made her meaning clear. But it was omitted!
Language that is ambiguous or muddled or even plainly incorrect, as in THIS case, is not conducive to being useful in any debate.
That’s not the point Mr. First Class English Degree. Which subs was Jen talking about, Arsenal’s or Palace’s? Using your logic they should have specified, as you should have when “correcting” them. You didn’t mention it as it was obvious because of the context, this proving the point.
It was also factually wrong of you to state that “the subs” was the subject of the sentence, but I notice that you completely glided over that part. You are a bully when it comes to these subjects and far less knowledgeable than you believe. I’d ask for a refund in that degree if I were you.
ArGooner, plainly you are resolved to continuing a useless argument with me, albeit on behalf of SOMEONE ELSE,revealingly!
Another “professionally insulted, but on behalf of another” Ugh!
I am also resolved not to further waste my time replying to your posts again and regret having wasted the time I have spent already in doing so.
Didn’t notice a single response to my points there.
Congratulations on taking the high road now in not feeling that you need to. Perhaps you should consider doing so more in future, not just when you are being demonstrably hypocritical and wrong.
Jon, I often disagree with Jen; however in this case what he wrote was clear to me regarding it being Crystal Palace who “downed tools” or “didn’t bring their tools with them”.
Ozzie, Glad to read it was then.
However it was NOT clear to me though,as I do use language correctly and SHOULD be far more aware then. I obviously AM, that FEW others on JA use it correctly.
Micheal Olise and Jordan Ayew were out – just minor details.
It seems Arteta have started listening to calls for rotation and early subs. Everyone can see the impact. Though,
nothing much has changed. For me, that’s the only good thing about the game apart from the victory.
Martinelli is our best “killer”, and be best used closer to goal instead of on the touchline.
Good reaction on the back of successive defeats. Ben White remains unconvincing. Just wondering which team will pay 50m for this kinda right back. Offers nothing in attack. No ideas on the ball and attackers have joy running at him. Can’t seem to find what his strengths are. Hopefully Timber will recover in time for the run in.
Last season I thought White was really good. Not quite at that level this season I have to admit
Strange to me that this match is being seen as a negative by some on White’s play as I was personally very encouraged by his very sharp play especially in the first half. He shut down Eze on more than one occasion and I loved it when he cleanly picked his pocket. Ben has not had a very good season for whatever reasons (contract negotiations?) but he seemed to be almost back to his old self today.
Yes, Nketian’s frustration at White not making a quick delivery and then going backwards pretty much sums up the lack of forward thrust in White’s play. Imagine how Saka must feel having to rely on White week in , week out. White did provide a couple of decent passes today but I simply don’t rate him as a wing back.
Spot on. White doesn’t help our attacking play and his defensive work is average if not below par. The few number of times he went forward, he lacked ideas. He doesn’t have the confidence to contribute to our attacking play. Our wingers continue to be starved of options and good link up play because our full backs offer nothing. I’ve watched average right backs like Matty Cash of Villa do better than White. The bigger problem is on finding a buyer who will pay 50m for him. Look at the right backs in some of the top teams and you will know we are not there. The likes of Porro, Walker, Trent are miles ahead of Ben.
Didn’t see anything wrong with Havertz’s performance today personally. Nothing spectacular but not bad in my personal opinion.
ArGooner it seems you are satisfied with “not seeing anything wrong” then!
I suggest that such a point of view will never win our team a title, were it shared by his teammates, which of course it is not.
We need, and need urgently, REGULARLY EFFECTIVE AND POSITIVE CONTRIBUTORS AS PLAYERS.
Merely being “not bad” will not do , frankly!
My view is that simply being “not bad” does NOT mean you are good enough, as I HAVE ALREADY MADE CLEAR.
Not every player is going to put in a 10/10 performance every single week.
But tell me, in what areas was Havertz poor today specifically?
Jon, if ArGooner didn’t see anything wrong, why would he be unhappy?
Your changing his words to “not bad” is completely wrong, as your interpretation changes what he’s saying.
I didn’t see anything wrong and was unsurprised to see the negatives from the normal contributers, who will continue to scapegoat him, you are one of the worst – as you were with Xhaka.
Please this is The Arsenal and not Sheffield United (with due respect to them)
A £65m player earning £280k p/w was “not spectacular” but was “not bad” either and you say you see nothing wrong?
That’s the praise he usually gets.
“He did nothing wrong”
“He wasn’t the only one that played badly”
“He wasn’t bad”, etc.
In case you’re not aware, those are world class wages he’s earning. He’s one of the highest paid in Europe. If others were also just “not bad”, we would be fighting relegation by now. Many would say anything just to justify Arteta’s ego
dgr8xt, Usually, I DISAGREE WITH MUCH, THOUGH NOT ALL, OF WHAT YOU POST.
On the matter of HAVERTZ being not up to the standard OUR CLUB needs and also being LUDICROUSLY overwaged, we are in agreement however.
On your comment about Artetas “ego” though, we again part company
So every player was exceptional today, as they always are, except Havertz? I felt that Havertz played no worse than Odegaard today.
👍dgr8xt, spot on and I totally agree with you on a player costing and earning as much as Havertz. What did Arteta see that he would bring to the Club?
I’ll say it again. Trossard to replace Jesus as a number 9, and ESR to replace Havertz as a number 8. STATs show they are the best finishers.
I think Martinelli is our best finisher and should be played further up front. Trossard is more effective from the wing but I don’t think he had a particularly good game. Martinelli came on and pretty much made a statement saying,” anything you can do,I can do better. We had a number of players who were just simply adequate today. These included, Trossard, Saka, Harvertz, Rice and White.
The good:
A Win to stop the bleeding
5-0 scoreline
Trossard with clean finish
Gabriel two scored headers
Marti with 2 open field goals, late
A clean sheet
The bad:
No shots from open play until the 26th minute
Ben White throws, might as well just give to the other team
Attack through 65 minutes looks damn toothless
The ugly:
Why not rotate our cb’s earlier and Saka when up 3-0 for goodness sakes
We played with sterile possession for 3/4 of the match
Horseshoe passing
No one driving at the goal, not talking about Marti’s goals late
The team take too many touches to shoot on target
AFC ain’t getting away with this against much better opposition on the road.
However, I will happily take the Win and have a great weekend.
Having just returned from watching the game at The Emirates, it is very clear to me that those watching on their TV screens are NOT seeing the whole picture.
Let’s start with the scapegoat Havertz :
He put in an excellent shift today, both in defence AND attack.
His runs were creating spaces and he was winning ariel battles 8/10
Raya – another scapegoat : Showed he can save shots as well as make goals and I don’t know if TV showed players coming up to him and giving him high fives for that beautiful throw out. A clean sheet and no mistakes 8/10.
Rice :Had a poor game, probably the worst since joining us 6/10
Odegaard : Some great touches, but also a few sloppy ones 7/10
Saka :Positive first half, but faded in the second. Needs a rest 7/10
Trossard :Put an awful lot of work in today and run himself dry 8/10
White :Ohhhh those throw ins that never seem to be an advantage, but, apart from that, looked comfortable and wasn’t caught out of position 7/10
Zinchenko :Excellent return and did a lot of the donkey work, best performance for ages 8/10
Saliba: Yet another rolls royce performance, never looked in any trouble and, when Kiwior came on, helped him through the remainder of the game 9/10
Gabriel : My MOTM, not only for his two goals, but his defensive and attacking prowess. Can’t remember him losing one 50 / 50 ball 9/10
Martinelli :Wow!! He came on determined to prove a point and didn’t he just do it? 8/10
ESR : At long last given the time to show his skills and another excellent substitution. Didn’t look at all ring rusty and was always looking for the decisive ball 8/10
Nketiah : Not for me I’m afraid. Can’t think of anything he did once coming on 5/10.
Jorginho : Easy game to play for him and just saw the game out 7/10
Palace? The worst team I’ve seen this season, apart from SU. They had nothing up front, their captain seemed as if he didn’t want to be there and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen their fans so subdued. Could be a VERY long end of season for them and I wouldn’t be surprised if they went down.
MA: Got everything right today, both with his starting 11 and substitutions. Needs to rest Saka and give ESR more playing time.
Five goals and three points is excellent, but let’s just reflect on the opposition as well.
Zinchenko ruled the roost.
Exceptional display.
Switched play regularly and just moved forward every time
Let us not Also ignore the fact that no10 Eberechi Eze was their most effective player on the pitch always causing problems for our defense and had to be stopped by at least two or three players. He completed not less than 8 dribbles against us though his team was completely shambolic.
Thanks for your observations coming from first hand experience at The Emirates (I’m envious). I pretty much agree with most of your analysis but have the following reactions. Palace was definitely shorthanded and really missed Olise and Ayew among others.
I wouldn’t say that MA got everything right as much as I’d say he did a fine job (as with any 5-0 win) and didn’t get anything definitely wrong. Personally I would have given Kiwior a run out as left back against the toothless Palace right side but apparently MA felt that Zinny was needed in attack or other reasons. Also, I was so hoping for ESR to be given a start but again it seems we don’t know what MA has been thinking regarding ESR.
I’m by no means a Nketiah or a Jorginho fan but they each had a beautiful assist to send Martinelli’s away for each of his goals.
Also, while Raya had a fine game and likely one of the best distributions in the PL this season, he also provided a distribution directly to Lerma who almost scored from it. To his credit of course Raya was ready and made the save from his own error. Trossard should get extra brownie points for effectively blocking off the much bigger Joachim Andersen on both Gabriel goals.
Again, thanks for your insights.
You’ve reminded me of a couple of things BB, so thank you in return.
Watched it back
You right Trossard very clever
Not again!!!! Have heard it all at the beginning of the season that arteta have something against ESR as the reason for not playing him but by now I expect us all to have understood the gaffer caution regarding his game time. I also want him out there as much as you and the coach too but he needs to be handled with care. I don’t understand how a player of his age be struggling with fitness that much but to help him is to manage his games well not rushing him..
Ken1945
Thank you for your “live” views
I’m normally fairly positive about Havertz and yet today from your vantage point, you saw more in his performance than I did
It was a good all round performance today and I’m just glad that the sideways play morphed into more direct football
SueP, thanks for the reply.
Like Xhaka, Havertz has been the “easy” target, but both men deserve credit for not hiding away from the bullyboys and I’ve not given up that their time at our club will end up being the same result.
The guy can’t help what money The Arsenal paid for him and his contract, yet I note even a respected contributer bringing this up to knock him.
Excellent to see ESR back – I’m flying back to Portugal on Monday to continue my holiday in a better frame of mind.
Will miss the Liverpool game though and that will be a much different game!!
How I wish most contributors were like Ken! He is truly a fine gentleman, one who gives credit where it is due and is not rash in his judgement of others. However, I also get amused by some of the fiery exchanges, especially involving Jon and some of his critics or those he criticises. Believe me, without Jon this platform would be boring! I found myself laughing alone in my bed as I read some of the exchanges, notably Jon being referred to as “Mr First class in English”. It is such light comments that illuminate this platform. Life would be very dull without such exchanges. After all, William Shakespeare aptly putbit that all thevworld is a stage and all the men (and women) mere players. Of course some play more than others, notably the mischievous ones! Unlike Jon, I am not a graduate of English. I am a Social Scientist but I studied enough English to enable me participate in a lively debate like the one of today. Moreover, basic English studies normally end at Ordinary level. In my case, I even did Literature at A level so, I believe, I am good to go! Keep the lively debate going because today there was not so much to disagree about after our team’s excellent performance!
You certainly are “good to go” David and I always read your contributions to the discussions.
Jon and I have spoken on the phone a few times and, believe me his bark is worse than his bite!!
KEN IS right DAVID, as my bark is indeed far woirse than my bite. He , alone on JA, knows that is so . AND YES, ken is agentleman, though capable of fierceness in standing for his beliefs, as MANY gentlemen and gentle women are. thankfully!
In real life away from JA I am a caring, empathetic person and have many other passions besides Arsenal.
Theatre, music, singing, environmental issues, dogs cats, chess and ESPECIALLY non party politics among them.
I FEAR GLOBALISATION AND THE LOSS OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS AND CREEPING WOKERY
I have long been resolved BTW, to spoil my ballot paper for the first time ever, come the next general election.
MY complete disdain for the whole shambolic system of so called “democracy” in Britain is profound.
Even though, IN MANY GHASTLY OTHER COUNTRIES, THERE IS NO DEMOCRACY AT ALL, HEAVEN HELP THEIR POOR CITIZENS.
An extended winter break- how lovely!
Ken we all have biases and I think your bias has affected your rating of Eddie Nketiah-you have always been vocal about not rating the player. Eddie came on in the 81st minute and a few minutes later he threaded a neat,perfectly weighted throughball for Martinelli to chase,which resulted in our fourth goal. Surely that assist alone counts for something? That sublime assist negates the point you make -“can’t think of anything he did once coming on”. Maybe you missed it; I urge to watch the goals again-you’ll see Eddie’s contribution.
Yes I remember the pass well, it was excellent… now give me another example of what he did in the 10 minutes plus Onyango?
I take your point on being biased and accept it, but do YOU think Eddie is the answer to our problems and compare what he did to the input of Martinelli and ESR?
Ken I’m sure there are other contributions Nketiah made but I didn’t record the match so I can’t possibly highlight all his contributions. I didn’t say he is the answer to our problems. This article was about yesterday’s game in particular; any other performances or problems past or future would thus be irrelevant in this context . The comparisons with ESR and Martinelli are a bit unfair too because they had much longer to impact the match(both subbed in more than 10 minutes earlier than Eddie). Eddie basically came into the game when it was won and there really was no impetus to do more; his teammates were mostly passing it around at the back to run down the clock-it’s not like anyone was creating chance after chance for Eddie.The fact that he had the presence of mind to spot Martinelli rather than just retain possession or go for goal himself because the game was won tells me he did more than you’re willing to give him credit for. From how I see it, an assist or a goal, always elevates one’s rating, but each to their own I suppose.
Agreed 👍
Thank you Ken, Its always a pleasure hearing from someone that has experience the actions first hand, the atmosphere etc.
There has been a noticeable drop off of Rice performance and it goes back from the West Ham game.
The big German price tag is always going to cloud some fans judgement on his performance, am not sure its intentional.
Raya is performing considerable better as he gains confidence, the mistakes he makes Alisson and Ederson make them almost weekly but they are not talked about.
Think the gaffer perfect substitution in part may have been force on him, as Declan Rice was beckoning to be taken off, as well as injury to Magalhaes.
By and large am in agreement with the your scoring
Correction putbit should be put it.
This result shows what a well rested and well managed squad can do
This should emphasise even more how important rotation is and how the lack of it is the root cause of our issues
Between 8 Jan – 3 Feb we have 2 games, MA needs to learn that this is not the norm.
Rotation Rotation Rotation and relatively early subs is what we want to see for the rest of the season!
My sympathy goes for the season campaigner Roy Hodgson, his teams are usually well organized, the hammering met out to the youngster can be a bit demoralizing.
But they will find easier opportunities, though this team looks perfectly built for Graham Potter.
I believe Potter is a fine manager. Chelsea players did not respect his position because Boehly made it clear (both directly-i.e. dressing room visits and indirectly through statements) that he was the only authority. imo, this gave Potter no real chance to work with a difficult situation to begin with and guide the club the way he wanted to.
Replying to Gunsmoke
Bruised Banana
Strongly agree, but in my honest opinion any manager is going to struggle at the bridge, just too much ego throwing about into one little spot.
Am still baffled by Moises Caicedo turning down Liverpool to join the Stanford bridge outfit, surely he must had gone temporarily insane at the time.
it was from a Rice corner the first goal came ??
Yes, he really can do it all it seems. Unfortunately, he didn’t have an otherwise particularly good game for his standards imo. Luckily we didn’t need him as much against Palace.
Looking at Liverpool’s sweat less trot away at Bournemouth, we shouldn’t get too carried away with ourselves. Oh, and they were missing Salah, I gather.