TOTL still. Not quite as exciting or passionate as last weekend but an important win nonetheless. While we purred early in the first half this turned into more of a grind than the scoreline would suggest. We dominated and created so many chances in the first half that it started to feel like one of those games where we would never score.
Now we’re only playing once a week this team picks itself. Now is not the time of year to take any chances or change up a system that is running so smoothly. Right from the off we dominated with our right-hand side again creating numerous opportunities. They had one opportunity care of one of Gabriel’s’ mental mistake. Today was not his best game. Alongside him though he had the silky Saliba to clean up any mess. Throughout this game Saliba was at his imperious best.
Odegaard and Rice dominated this game. Odegaard roams around the field acting as a catalyst for our creativity. It was his pass that set up Have-that for our first goal. Yes, it was a penalty – just. If it was called against us I’d have been very upset but would have accepted it. We needed this given the number of other chances we’d spurned. I don’t get why VAR has to take so long though. I’ve said this so many times, but if it’s remit is to identifiy clear and obvious errors it should not take 3+ minutes. I mean, if it’s clear and obvious it should not take that long. It’s in that first word – clear. If its not clear then VAR should return control to the referee within a minute or so.
Of course, VAR was involved again in the denying them a goal late on. But again, the call on the field was right and any potential comeback was snuffed out. But I wonder why VAR did not look at that challenge on Saka by Christie early in the first half.
Rice looked to be running on fumes at times but was still able to muster our third goal. The only player to be able, so late in the game, to make a lung busting run from deep by-passing sleeping Bournemouth players. Sure, he should have scored in the first half as well but we can forgive him that (just). In time his composure and finishing will improve. His presence this year has been pivotal in the improvement of this team. And our presence this year has been pivotal in his improvement. Operating mainly on the left he’s not quite struck up a relationship with Odegaard but his physicality has strengthened our team. As has been said many times, we really should be paying WHU additional fees. This just looks like daylight robbery. Of all the other players signed for fees in excess of £100m, I can’t think of any that compare. Grealish, Enzo, Mudryk and Caicedo combined aren’t worth the price paid for Rice.
Trossard is at the other end of the scale. A sneak, relatively cheap acquisition in the January 23 window, he is now our third top scorer. That second goal finally provided us with some breathing room. His goals always seem to be important ones not the late game tap-ins when the result is already settled. You can see why he’s displaced Martinelli now. And if you had any doubt, looked at that opportunity Martinelli had when he did come on. Last year he’d have run away and converted that chance. This year he was barely able to make it into the box before falling over. I wonder if there’s something going on with him. Something does not look quite right. Maybe he’s carrying an injury but he does not seem entirely fit and certainly he’s lost some of his acceleration. Even his defending was a little suspect getting nutmegged and not protecting Tomi. Not that Tomi needed too much help today. Another solid performance from him – he even wandered inside and linked up play quite nicely. He’s firmly kept Zinny rooted to the bench now,
Have-that was critical today. He was involved in so many good things. His confidence was so high. He had a few nice chances and, of course, made the run that created that first goal. His overall link up play was stellar and his movement was excellent. And he still found time to track back and help the defense. He really has elevated his game to another level in the last few months. He really is a threat now. And he has firmly kept Jesus rooted to the bench now. It’s a pleasure watching his movement and his football intelligence matches that of Odegaard. Imagine where Chelski could have been if they retained both Have-that and Jorghino.
Another clean sheet today. Sure, there was a little luck involved. On another day their disallowed goal could have been given. But Raya really only had one important save to make today. It’s not like they battered our defense even if they did exert more control in the second half – though it would be hard to have been starved of the ball as much as they were in the first half.
Saka, after being attacked by Christie, helped create down our right. But it did seem that he was a little off his best today. It was refreshing to see him replaced today – resting him for the United game. He took his penalty wonderfully calmly but seemed to be operating on fumes at times.
There were periods in the first half when we just tore through them. We could (and should) have been 3-0 up before the penalty changed the game. But just remember back to last year when we’d have to find miraculous ways to win these types of games. This year there is so much less drama. It’s a sign of the maturity of this team. We might not end up winning the league but there can be no doubt how smooth and entertaining this team is.
You only have to look to our own touchline. Last year Arteta would be passionately running up and down transmitting his energy and angst to the team. Now you see a much more considered and calmer Arteta. Still orchestrating the tactics and strategy but now he’s more confident and his team is more able to constantly follow his direction.
So another victory. That’s four on the run after the Villa fiasco. Scoring 13 goals just the two against the wankers last week. Three clean sheets out of four games. In the meantime, those wankers have lost three in a row and Liverpool have only won 2 of their last seven league games. And to think that last year we were accused of choking. The silence about these two teams is deafening.
Just two more games now. As confident as you can be that we’ll win these games it’s still a long shot against the City Machine. Inevitably they will demolish the abject wankers scoring multiple times from dead-balls situations as their Australian guru will claim he’s not worried about set-pieces. Which means are hopes rest on Fulham and West Ham. We need either West London or East London to help us because no-one else in North London can help us now.
In the meantime, we remain TOTL for another week. Enjoy it while it lasts. This will go down to the final match of the season stretching out the agony. But, like last season, it will just add fuel to our desire for next season. But for today, a nice three points will do nicely thank you.
-LB7