Welcome back dear reader(s). Welcome back Arsenal. Welcome back clean-sheets. And, most importantly, welcome back goals from open play. And, thank you Palace. That was very sweet and generous of you. A wholey pathetic performance from you was just what the doctor ordered. You were truly insipid. Just what we needed.
This mid-winter break was perfectly timed. The prior few weeks had been draining and dispiriting. Fortunately, I was able to retire to a warm weather environment and recuperate. I practiced. I trained. And I kept warm. All care of blankets, gloves and an excessive heating bill. Fortunately, the team was able to improve their sun tans and also practice their corner drills.
All the attention has been focused on our inability to score and the demand for another striker. This is clearly not going to happen. And should not. We have the players. They just have to remind themselves how to score. There is no-one out there (unless Messi gets bored in Miami) worth the money being demanded. This is the same team that was freely scoring last year. The tactics have since changed, the approach of the opposition has changed and so has our luck (for the worse).
So how about them corners? If I thought Raya was vulnerable from crosses I should instead have watched Henderson. We were clearly prepared. Not a single short corner routine. When was the last time that happened? Instead with first Rice and then Saka, we slung into the box for Gabriel to score. How that second one is an own goal is a travesty. That first one helped settle us down and took the nerves out. We’d clearly come back energized. The style of play was unaltered. Complete possession but few chances being created and none being taken. Without those corners it could have been very frustrating.
It felt very much like the prior games – they were West Ham without a defense. Though that’s a little unfair to WHU. We dominated and controlled the entire game. We played our progressive game. Zinny and Odegaard were pulling the strings. In fact it was surprising to see Zinny out there. After his usual calf injury he’s usually sidelined for 6 weeks. And today, without any requirement to defend or mark anyone, he had a free hand to invert and push us forward. Alongside him Rice was in complete control. Let’s hope he want off as a precautionary move.
Saka was again quiet. But that was true when we played at their place. Mitchell seems to know how to play Saka. He’s still not found his form of last year but there’s time for him. I’d prefer him to rediscover his form in the latter half of the season when we’ll need him. Though there was a chance today to give Nelson more minutes.
Jesus continues to work hard and link up our play but his inability to actually score will encourage further debate about a new striker. It ain’t happening this year. But today he seemed poor. His passing was off, and I lost count of how many times he drifted off-side. We should have brought Eddie on earlier but at least we saw ESR for 20 minutes. But this was only possible due to our third goal – finally a goal from open play. As much as it hurts to say, this one was care of Raya and his distribution. 13 seconds from one end to the other. And thankfully it was Jesus passing to Trossard and not the other way round. This was a classic Trossard finish.
And then once Martinelli appeared we were able to finish them off in style as Palace brought on players without any position awareness. They clearly thought playing with a right-back was to challenging for Arsenal. This is just what Martinelli needed to reenergize him. Two identical finishes. He’s now scored 3 in our last two league games. We just have to find others to contribute.
Today was just so easy because of the ineptitude of Palace. It’s not clear how much we can extract from what we saw. It all felt a little like deja-vu. I mean, we were never going to change our style and approach. The defense remained as solid as ever helped by their complete lack of attacking intent. Eze is completely wasted on this team. He is their new Zaha. Our midfield had a ton of time on the ball but, in the first half, we created few open chances. Aside from our corners we had one clearly cut chance with Trossard. There were still instances where Jesus and Odegaard needed an extra touch before shooting.
I know I should be more excited and enthusiastic after a 5-0 drubbing at home. Every game counts of course, but this seemed so easy. Especially after that first goal. Palace did nothing to really change their approach. So, I spent the time looking for little signs of change or adaptation post winter-break. And, in truth, it seemed pretty much the same as prior games. Except this time, we found ways to score. Sometimes we moved the ball faster, more one-touch and a few more vertical passes. But nothing dramatic. I hate to say it but it just reenforces the old adage that goals change games. Once we fully unlock our scoring potential – assuming we do – all will be right with us.
Have-that had another quiet but effective and industrious game. Not out loud impressive but if you monitor his work-rate and the breath of the field he covers you’ll appreciate his contribution. And maybe that’s some of the problem. This description could be applied to both Jesus and Have-that. We just need them to also be able to score. And for Saka to. That’s all we need. Is that too much to ask?
Without the distraction of the FA Cup we have another ten days off. Maybe they can go off again to the desert. And Forest have a match – albeit it against Bristol City. So we’ll have plenty of time to prepare for that one. And then we have Liverpool visiting. Let’s hope Salah is till at the ANC and the AA is injured. We won’t have any new additions so this is the squad we’ll have. With, possibly, Timber back in April.
Its noticeable how quiet this transfer window is. This time last year we were in a bidding war with LAChelsea for Mudryk. Thankfully we lost that one. And got Trossard instead. But very team teams have made any moves yet. Maybe it all happens in the last week. But with the FA randomly enforce financial fair play rules against everyone bar Man City, everyone seems more cautious. And even they can’t offload Philips yet. And the wankers have brought back Timo. That’s always good for a laugh.
And speaking of wankers, I can’t believe that we won with Tierney as the referee. And no penalties or yellow cards. And very little VAR either. Of course part of this was due to not needing to make any tackles against the toothless Palace.
So now I can resume my recuperation from the trauma of December (and the FA Cup exit) for the next ten days. I’ll put out the deck chair, don my speedos and put my feet up knowing I won’t be screaming, for the next ten days, at Jesus when he misses yet another chance and then roams off-side. It’s a shame we can’t play Palace each week.
-LB7