TOTL until April. And 8 points clear. For the second game, both London derbies, we dominated and deserved to win. This is a team that’s fun to watch. Now we have two weeks of hoping that none of our key players pick up injuries on irrelevant international matches. It’s bad enough we had the season fragmented by the corrupt World Cup. Now we lose momentum for two more weeks. Hopefully that’s enough for Saliba to regain his fitness.
It’s always a little nerve racking when Holding starts in defense. But you have to say, he really does sport a lovely head of hair. He has so much now that he has to wear a Grealish-like Alice-band. To be fair, he was pretty solid today only diving into to one reckless tackle. Palace had a few early chances. Zaha, on a breakaway hit the post care of an excellent save from Ramsdale. That moment changed the game. As did the Saha miss in the second half when it was 3-1.
Ramsdale, who has been the backbone of the team this year, suffered some abuse because of the goal on Thursday. First off, let’s also note, that we are way better off out of that stupid competition. No-one cares about the NoHoppa Cup. Though, just maybe, it will be a valuable lesson for our young manager as he plans for our presence in the Champions League next season. The different systems and tactics that we’ll face. Along with the deeper squad that we’ll need. This will have been an experience that he will surely channel into next years plans.
Yes, it was annoying to lose after extra-time. But it was far more irritating to lose both Tomy and Saliba. So, even though, their goal was not Ramsdale fault, it serves to remind us that there remain a number of Arsenal fans – those ones who were toxic to Wenger and toxic to this club – that are still with us. They will turn as quick as a wheel given any disappointments. These fans are spoilt children who suffer from entitlement and have no understanding what supporting a team entails. But enough about those wankers. Today was a day to again celebrate a great team, a great manager. And a great right-back.
What do Maguire and Dier have in common? A few things actually. They are both shit. They both play for shit teams. And they both get selected by Southgate ahead of Ben White. How is that possible? Today, Ben White was impervious. His defense against the best player on Palace, Saha, was formidable. And his creation of the Saka first goal, quite Odegaard-like. How he’s not on the England team is perplexing. But at least he won’t get injured in some irrelevant, meaningless international game. All we care about is the Premier League. These random international matches really need to be isolated to pre and post season so we don’t disrupt the rhythm of the Premier League. But the corrupt FIFA knows no bounds – its sole objective is to milk the game for as much money as it can so it can line the pockets of the various FIFA delegates.
Saka, initially, seemed off his game. Mitchell is a decent full-back and Saka seemed to have no luck with his passing or moves. But, still, he was able to set up Martinelli for that all important first goal. Beautifully taken with his weaker left foot. Again, after the disappointment (though not mine) of his missed penalty on Thursday, this was the goal we needed to create some day-light against a decent team. I think it was our first real opportunity.
This team though, once they get one goal, continue to press for the next. And Palace now had to open up a little bit more. But it took until just before half-time for White to unlock their defense for Saka to get his first goal.
Throughout this game Partey and Zinny dominated midfield. Xhaka continues to stroll through game now opening up the left hand side. The only fear was that he might have picked up a knock. But he was able to put in another excellent performance. Palace, in the second half, to their credit, still tried to play some football. We continued to dominate. Our team functions so smoothly now. Everyone seems to understand their role. The ball moves seamlessly from front to back. The interplay is quick and smooth. And this is a team that still has yet to reach its peak.
Finally, care of Zinny and Trossard, Xhaka was able to get our third.
There is a case that Partey is our player of the year; if not Saka. But for me, it’s Zinny. The intelligence he’s brought to this team along with his reading of the game have helped Partey elevate his game and liberated Xhaka. I feel sorry for Tierney. When he comes on, he just can’t live up to that level of play. He looks a little lost when he plays inverted. He can defend more capably but he’s out of his depth in this new Arsenal team.
There is a calmness to this team. An inevitability. There was not too much doubt how this would turn out. Annoying as it was to concede yet another goal from a corner, and even when Saha missed his second chance, you felt we’d find another goal. And this one came via Tierney for Saka. I don’t quite get why VAR did not rule Jesus out for offside but then I’m not complaining. This enabled us to settle back down and enjoy the three points.
Trossard again played the false 9 as well as I’ve seen anyone. It’s hard to think of a better Arsenal January signing. The fact that he’s keeping Jesus out of the team is both good for Arsenal and good for Jesus. He needs time to regain match fitness. Trossard drops deep so often to collect the ball and link up play.
Odegaard came more into the game as it progressed and continues to work so hard. Right at the end of the second half when it could have got a little nervy after their second goal it was Odegaard back defending in our penalty area.
Some of Ramsdale distribution was laser like today. In the first half he picked out Martinelli and then Saka in the second. Again, Southgate somehow picked relegation bound Pickford and wooden Pope ahead of Aaron. That makes no sense. Southgate can’t possibly believe that Maguire and Pickford are superior to White and Ramsdale.
There’s little to say about this team that’s not been said before. Aside from reminding us to pinch ourselves. With ten games left, we’re still TOTL. We have at least three key fixtures ahead of us – all away – at City, Newcastle and Liverpool. So, we need a nine point cushion. And we need Saliba back.
There was a time today, when they nicked the goal at the corner, when I starting to feel uneasy. You never know with a 3-1 scoreline against a team battling relegation. They could have picked up another two goals and left us with a 3-3 draw. And, then, who knows, maybe the manager would have a meltdown. He’d blame the owners and the selfishness of the players. He berate everyone and anyone and refuse to acknowledge any blame that he might carry. And then I woke up from that nightmare daydream to remember that our team has actually won multiple trophies in the last 20 years and are on course to compete for the league title. And that the shambles down the road, having appointed their second narcist manager of their last three, are again imploding. It does make you laugh out loud though. How utterly predictable and pathetic that lot are. All talk and not action. All postering and hot air. It’s remarkable what a mess they are. And how thoroughly enjoyable it is to watch.
A moments thought for our original Vieira. How is it that Palace could fire him before this game? With no-one lined up to replace him? After, arguably, the toughest run of fixtures anyone’s had this calendar year. Not once were they trounced. They obtained creditable draws and, when losing, it would be by a solitary goal. They barely invested in their team this year. And yet, they fired him. To replace him with geriatric Roy Hodgson? Who, most recently, helped get Watford relegated? I’ve always had a soft spot for Palace. But, after unjustly dethroning the original Vieira, I’m now conflicted as to who should be relegated along with Southampton and Bournemouth. Thankfully, common sense prevails, and it’s still going to be the boring, overly-physical Everton that should go down with these other two.
In the meantime, poor Sambi will be wondering what has happened to his future. With Paddy there, he could learn from the best and develop his game. Sufficiently so that we could sell him for a tidy sum. Now he’ll likely linger on the substitutes bench instead. Where, hopefully, our own Vieira will stay. It was reassuring that he did not get any minutes today. I caught a few of his minutes on Thursday and all I saw was the same ineffectual, soft and peripheral contribution. By contrast, once he was replaced by Odegaard, the team started to function smoothly and threaten Sporting. Then again, I’m more than thrilled that we did not make it through to the next round.
We know now what we need to do for the rest of the season. We need to get down on our knees – whether it be to Jerusalem or Mecca – and pray that City survive Munich and get to Champions League final. And then overcome mighty Sheffield in the F. A Cup. We need City to have as many distractions as possible. While we can focus on our ten remaining games. And, just maybe KDB, Foden, Haaland and Rodri can all pick up some injuries during these worthless international games.
So, please enjoy the next two weeks while we wait for mighty Leeds to venture to our home. Enjoy the free-scoring Arsenal. And enjoy our perch at the TOTL.
- LB7