And welcome back. Finally. After 6 weeks of watching the fawning Infantino, it’s time for real football. And guess what, we’re still TOTL.
It was as though we’d never gone away to a far off sand dune for 6 weeks. We smoothly reengaged and resumed where we left off after Wolves. We dominated possession and weaved our way through them. Somehow Saka managed to score with his right foot and somehow this goal was disallowed. It was not offside in any normal way but VAR found a way to not overturn it.
It was surprising to see our full team. Both Saliba and Saka along with Martinelli started. And unfortunately a slight hesitation by Salliba and then his late challenge gave them a penalty. On replays it was not clear there was any contact but there was not enough to over-turn it. And then just before half-time VAR then took away a penalty. Sure it hit his head and not his hand but it would only have been fair to have awarded it. And prior to that Eddie had a few chances – in particularly when he was one on one with Fabianski. So going into half time one nil down it felt like we were destined to have no luck, no goals and sure to suffer an unfair loss. The traumas of last season came flooding back. There was no justice in that first half.
And then in the second half we dominated again but turned up the urgency. Odegaard was at the center of everything. Partey kept it simple and Saka demolished them. We were a little fortunate with the first goal but it was thoroughly deserved. And at this point it was basically us against Rice. Martinelli after a quiet first half then put us ahead via another fine move and yet more evidence as to why Fabinaski left us. Most of our swift interplay was on the right. White was excellent again. How this man was not in the England team is beyond me. But at least we was not injured. And up front, Eddie seemed to have a tough time in front of goal. He worked hard and linked up quite well. But I was missing Jesus. And then came yet more subtle interplay leading to Odegaard feeding Eddie in the box who immediately spun and, without even lifting his head, smacked the ball into the far corner. I’ve not seen Jesus do that in a while. What a goal. And that finally put the game to rest. Does that mean I have to admit that Eddie could be our man? Possibly. He should have scored earlier in the game but this was an exceptional goal. But I’d still be in the market for a loaner out of Spain if I could. We are still susceptible to another injury exposing us. Though it is somewhat surprising, that at this time of year, we would be missing our Jesus.
After 6 weeks of listening to Infantino this is what I’d been waiting for. But, as ever, my expectations were low; even lower at half-time. I’m like a battered child in recovery. Or a repressed alcoholic. Or an abused husband (two of three and definitely one are applicable here). But this was such an enjoyable performance. It started when I saw, unexpectedly, Saliba in the line-up. Even though he was at fault with their goal, he is the Rolls-Royce of our team and I’m just grateful he barely played at the world cup. The union of him and Gabriel and their growing understanding will be more fully tested than it was today but with Partey sitting in front, they provided ample protection for the assured Ramsdale. Odegaard was sumptuous though he was given too much time and space. He links up the team and liberates Xhaka.
It was interesting to see Tesco Tierney try to play as an inverted full-back. It did not quite work for him and end up limiting both Xhaka and Martinelli. Once Zinny replaced him it was so noticeable how much better the team functioned and how much more effective we were on the left. Zinny floated around in his 20 minute cameo in ways Tierney can only dream of. Lets wrap him up in cotton wool. And keep him away from the Russians.
We played like a team that believed we would win. West Ham retreated further and hunkered down. But between Saka, Odegaard and Xhaka, we continued to dominate and pull them apart. It was a pleasure to watch this team as they found their rhythm. The pace and decision making in the second half was just a notch improved. The one touch, unconscious passing and movement was beautiful to watch. This is why we watch football. This is why we watch Arsenal. I know WHU are at the wrong end of the league but you can only beat what’s in front of you. And we certainty have a long history of slipping up in games like this. But today, after such a long break, we found our groove, resumed where we’d left of and again looked like a team that could compete for at least a top four finish.
It’s quite crowded now. As that lot splutter we have Newcastle over performing and Liverpool finding their mojo again. Chelski are a long way back but with another owner willing to spend other peoples money they will find a way to claw back the points but not before they fire Potter. Sure our owners are Americans but theirs are Yanks. I have high hopes for many stupid decisions emanating from the ego of their owner. I expect to see plenty of more money wasted. Hopefully.
With Newcastle and others coming up next month (and not to look past Brighton either) it will be a tough path that we have to travel. This squad is so young and lacking depth. I remain unconvinced by Vieira (though he is young and still adjusting) and we need ESR to find some fitness. Beyond that we need cover for Partey and Saka. I worry less about our defense once we get Tomi back. But one of two injuries – beyond Jesus – will significantly impair us. In the meantime, we continue to play a style and quality of football that others can only dream of. Sure, we might look a little like Man City reserves, but if that results in us finishing 2nd (and that lot 6th) then I’ll be more than happy.
I’m not just refusing to consider our ability to win this thing, I’m refusing to discuss it. Man City have too much quality, strength and depth. In addition they have that the Ugly Norseman. We are but young and inexperienced. Full of potential but lacking depth in our squad. I’ve always felt we were a year or two – two more transfer windows – from being genuinely competitive. So, let’s wallow in the enjoyment of todays performance. Appreciate the style of football we’re playing. And, love the fact that we finally saw the Master – AW – in the audience. It’s about bloody time he made his way back to us. After all those stupid ideas he’s been generating for the corrupt wankers in Switzerland maybe we can remind him where the true strength of football lies – at the club level. Maybe can dissuade him from a WC every two months comprising 550 different national teams with no-one being eliminated until they’d lost 5 games.
But here we are still TOTL. And, more importantly, enjoying our football. It’s remarkable how good a job Arteta has done. And it’s amusing to see the media turn in his favour – finally; for the moment at least. Arteta has been consistent and firm in his vision and execution. I think I wavered but once in his three year tenure. It will be interesting to see how he responds to the pressure of Anfield and St. James Park. Especially after last years implosion. But I’m sure he and the team have learned from that fiasco. As long as we can avoid Paul Tierney the referee who is a Cunning Unified National Torturer, we should be competitive and remain in a strong position. If only he could ref some of the games between our competitors and send them all off. He’d just have to hallucinate that he was referring one of our games.
Anyway, after 6 weeks of suffering the drum beat of the false world of the WC. it’s a pleasure to be back in the real world of English football. And it’s a pleasure to be able to watch our team perform and entertain knowing that they are still along way off from their full development. But todays was definitely fun and uplifting. And engaging in ways that the WC could never be. I managed to catch a few games today. What a pleasure it is to watch the EPL (ignoring the first game of the day); real football played by real players but refereed by absolute twats; though Michael Oliver might be an exception to that rule.
But before I depart I think it’s important for me to state the following. To remove any ambiguity and misunderstanding amongst my legions of readers. So let me be as clear as I can. Today, like nearly every day, I feel Fat. I feel Gay. I feel Republican. I feel Tall. I feel Stupid. I feel Bald. I feel Ugly. And, did I mention that I feel Fat? Of course, that might be because I’m a bald, fat, ugly, miserable specimen on a human being. But at least I’m not labouring under the delusion of being the President of the Most Corrupt non-political organization on plant earth. Though I would not mind paying myself multi-millions a year in salary and evading capture by the FBI. But I don’t know if I could stomach eating food prepared by Salt Bae; what a monumental wanker. A match made in Zurich (oh, sorry, he’s not allowed to travel there because he’ll get arrested). For the next few months I pray to don’t have to hear a word from that oily, over-paid, corrupt leader of the beautiful game. Instead, I’ll be listening to MA and Edu as they explain how, in the January window, we’re going to sign Joao Felix, Declan Rice and Mudryk. But for the next few days I’ll enjoy the reflected glow of the most entertaining and pleasing team in the EPL. And, of course, we remain TOTL
-LB7