Okay, so it wasn’t the greatest performance of all time, but these may well prove to be very valuable points come the end of the season.
A 1-0 win over Burnley, same as the last time we played there, and here’s how the players rated.
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Thursday, April 25, 2024
Big middle finger to anti-football and thank fuck for Koscielny.
The boiled piss makes the win even sweeter.
https://twitter.com/CTArsenal/status/597063217689538560
Mustafi really impressed me. Was our MotM. Lead from the front – was in there chipping crosses in the at 90th minute, even. One thing that annoys me is Arsenal fans calling what Burnley did “anti-football”. They do not have the resources, nor do they have the players, to try and pass us off the pitch. Full credit to them; they weren’t very dirty about it – they just defended deep and defended very well. It’s not up to them to open up and give us room to pass. It’s our job to try and find that room. Some of… Read more »
Actually was Koscielny who had a hand in the goal.
The hand of kos
How long are Giroud/Welbeck/Perez out for? I can’t be bothered to google it
They should be back for the Burnley game just before the international break. Hopefully they’ll play a big hand in a win
scrappy goal,but a welcome win nonetheless.Onwards and upwards for the arsenal!
I wish Bellerin would use his pace more going forward, think he should take a few more risks and beat a man.
Don’t know why you only give Alexis a 6.5-the only player with drive and determination today.
Ozil looks knackered 🙁
Sanchez certainly tried but he came way too deep today, never looking to go in behind. It works well in bits, when he leaves space for Walcott and Ozil to run into, but it doesn’t work when he’s closer to the centre circle than the goal. When you go that deep, the centre backs won’t track you and you won’t create any space. He needs to be more disciplined like in our last two games
Sure, I get that. But my point still stands, the only player to play with any intensity and willing to get past a man.
Personally I thought Theo was more effective going forward and was always the most likely to come up with something. He was intense like Sanchez but his movement was better. It’s great that Sanchez wants to help with the build up play but he needs to get on the end of things too, that’s where he needs to focus to focus his energy
Ballerin may have chosen not to take them on and push to the by-line as he didn’t have a genuine target man in the middle today. I felt like on a number of occasions, HFB’s height and power would have been very useful against that packed and square Burnley defence. Would have given us one more weapon in trying to break them down – was a tad easy for them knowing that there wouldn’t be any high crosses coming in. In that frantic last 6 minutes – when we were so at them – it was crying out for the… Read more »
MOTM?
Kos I think.
Unbeleivable how many ppl PRAISE Burnley…….what is it, are we all anti-football lovers now, do we like seeing our 11 players behind the ball giving all possession to the rivals?? How glad I am they got it right up there in the last second and with a handball
It’s called accepting your limitations. You can’t expect burnley to go toe to toe with a team that is clearly superior to them.
They did what they had to do and were rightly praised for it. No need to get annoyed over that
I praise Burnley for today.
They did not “let us know they were there” or “get in our faces”, like Stoke used to do. They played to their strengths and were fair in doing so.
We did not look capable of building up momentum – this was due to their excellent defense.
I don’t mind being even more fulsome in my praise, especially now that we’ve secured the three points. 🙂
I agree. They used what they had and they very nearly pulled it off. They weren’t playing dirty either. As frustrating and boring as it was to watch I respect them for that.
I agree. I’ve got a lot of respect for Dyche. He’s good at working within his limitations and getting the most out of what he’s got to work with. They didn’t cheat, they didn’t dive, they didn’t play act. They defending for their lives and it (alomost) worked for them. Compare to what a cunt like Tiny Pubis would have done – send his players out to kick lumps from us and waste as much of the game as possible. Now THAT’S anti-football.
Probably the greatest goal I’ve ever seen!!!
Our defence looks so assured & solid since Mustafi’s arrival. No-nonsense guy
I’ve noticed how the Arseblog ratings and Reader ratings rarely differ by more than 0.5 points. It would be interesting to see what happened if, by default, readers would have to cast their vote (or choose not to vote) in order to see any of the ratings.
This, Blogs. A thousand times this!
Savage idea
It’s a great idea actually. Let’s see what we can do.
Here what about hiding the votes until you’ve cast a vote yourself?
Just came to me there.
This has been bugging me for a while! I find that the ratings kind of manipulate my judgement. Maybe consider hiding the player pics and text too to avoid player favoritism……. but wait, what am I then voting for?
Good idea, however for the people that haven’t yet seen the game but would like to know how the boys performed; this would prove to be cumbersome.
Just like for other online surveys you could put a ‘view results’ button that will forfeit your right to vote in the poll but let you see what’s been going on.
Thougt our players knew what they were in for. A team playing for 0-0, 9 in the box and one big chunk of Vokes fighting the CB´s. 3rd game in 8 days and we lacked that extra bite to solve their bus parking. But we have to win these games to be title contenders so we need everybody to show up an really care. Did we see that today?
Rotating is tempting but then again why put someone on the bench after 2 great wins. Doesn´t make any sense.
Bellerin and Monreal really need to improve their delivery.
Kostafi – 9
Santi and Xhaxa are excellent for controlling the game not so much for midfield runs from deep,
Ozil and Sanchez were just not firing today…Thought Walcott was bright in spells likewise Iwobi but that shot was the end for his evening.
I know it’s how the goal came about, but I don’t see the point in crossing when we have a lineup like today. Most of the players weren’t even in positions to win headers, let alone would they be able to win them had they been. (Again I realize we scored when Theo flicked a header to the back post, but still, most of the time our players weren’t in these kinds of positions when crosses were coming in)
Couldn’t agree more – see my comment above re missing HFB, especially in those last 10 minutes. The crosses fizzed along the ground to feet were never going to penetrate that crowded bus-box! Needed to push some over the top, curving away from the keeper…
Kosc, even the dubious goals committee will hand that goal to him
Mustafi needs to be told to keep it short as often as possible and let the midfielder get the ball forward through the lines..
That was excruciating to watch!
Back to sausages
puff puff defense splitting pass
*Maybe* a little disconcerting at how easily Nacho was beaten for the header on Cech’s good save. He’s better than that.
Also think Oxlade should be at least a 7 for effecting the winning goal. 2 goals and 1 assist for him now in around 360 minutes of gametime.
Having watched the replay of the goal (and clicking the play/pause button about a hundred times so watch it in super slow-mo), I don’t think Ox touched the ball at all. As someone else said, he must have kicked Kos’s leg and mistaken that for kicking the ball.
This why i was kinda hoping for some rotation. It gives us fresh legs and unpredictability. Hoped elneny and perez would come in for iwobi and cazorla. Oh well as long as we win I dont mind it at all.
We desperately need a plan B when teams park the bus against us.
His name is Giroud and he’s hurt his toe
I think Burnley do deserve credit. What do people really expect them to do? They played clean, questionable elbow on mustafi aside.
We should have nicked one early, forcing them to open up, allowing us to get a second and make more subs.
Anyway, absolutely loved the injury time winner.
Fair play to Burnley, they have to play that way to survive so we knew what to expect. I think this was the perfect game to illustrate that Giroud still has a role in this team. We needed a big body getting on the end of those crosses.
Hope Lucas is ok, would have loved to see him today. Miss Welbz too!
Everyone was bum bum bum but we won won won so eat that you fucking…
Whoscored say Cazorla had 104 passes at 98% accuracy. That is just mind blowing.
However, The Ox would have sent that ball high over the bar had it not been for Kos handy intervention. Goal was wide open. Hopefully the assist will do him good.
It looks like Chamberlain kicked Kos’ foot when it was itself making contact with the ball. If it had been just Kos (or just Ox) it would likely have been a clean goal, we’ll never know.
A 6.5 from the readers for Theo?? I’ll be happy to respect the opinion of the majority, but I thought he put in a great shift! Fought from beginning to end, got the nod down for Ox/Kos’s bundled finish, put in a tackle, tried to win the ball back on the rare occasion he lost it.
Loving Theo right now, and call me mental if you like, but I fought he was our best player today!
*thought
Fuck sake…
I fought e were foroughly great. E should ave is firty-fird birfday on a Fursday.
Is it me or does ozil have a clause in his contract against being subbed off? Also is it me or is arsene still the most predictable manager to play against? I’m growing extremely frustrated with the way things are. Sure we got the 3 points but if it were to me I would play xhaka and neny together with SantI as cam. You’d think you’d get used to Arsene’s management after 20 years but I’m still on the edge of my seat watching us play the way we did today after chelsea and Basel.
Literally reeavaluate our situation.
The goal may be controversial, but I will enjoy it like that. Arsenal haters in the pub where I was watching the match were already making some disturbing noise.
So… is Ox credited with an assist? I actually feel Theo deserves that.
Officially, it’s Koscielny’s goal and Theo’s assist, as it should be. Ox didn’t actually touch the ball..
Maybe Oz can fake an injury so he doesnt have to go away with Ze Chermans. Looked tired.
But these are WC qualifiers, right?
Agree with these. On a day when the attack just wasn’t in sync, it was great to them fight as hard as they could until the end (and beyond). Theo is definitely deserving of the highest rating of the bunch.
Mustafi is a player. I love how he got to know the ref early in the match (even had a snuggle heh heh) and never did get the yellow card that looked certain in the first half. Also loved his late crosses to help find the equalizer.
Finally we get some good fortune
Comment on Ox: “Came on, didn’t do a lot but had a hand in the goal”
?? Cleva girl!
Ozil was poor but should get bonus rating for that pass to Burnley player when he was to take throw in?
How the fuck did he do it?!
Pure magic
Love that determined Koss look – like it’s still early to cheer,we have a job undone 😀
Don’t think we realise yet just how good this Kostafi partnership will become… mark my words, on this day, and after this match: we will look back in 10 years time at these two being once of the best ever Arsenal central defence partnerships
A game where we really needed Giroud. Bellerin needs some crossing practice. Ozil has games where he just doesn’t compute and malfunctions. Love a scrappy goal with a happy ending. Excellent win before inter-lull.
What does the Ox have to do to get a 6.5?!?
Where does the Ox have to go to his pyjamas…?
I would give Cech a little lower score despite his clean sheet — he booted way too many goal kicks out of play during the game.
Also Mustafi , a bit too impulsive in some of the challenges for my likings — reminds me of Vermaelen — if you win the ball and start a counter-attack, you’re good; if you miss and fouls the player or leave your team expose, you’re in trouble.
Mustafi is my MOTM.
Still wondering what’s going on with referees favoring us this season.
We badly needed a direct midfielder like Ramsey and of course a target man like Giroud today.
And lots of respect to Burnley for their insane commitment and bad luck. We could learn a thing or two for when we facing likes of Barcelona or Bayern.
Mustafi MTOM
What an impressive performance. What a great panic buy.
Thank goodness we stayed in the game and bought him, waited out Valencia.
I love his aggression. Also proactive defending….nothing impulsive at all.:D
my 3 month daughter wake up when i screem to see the ball cross the line.. its just midnight in indonesia
only watched the second half . mostafi and alexis did well. Alexis’s 6.5 is a joke.
alexis ran all over the place against basel and did it again yesterday.
why all the others were so knackered I dont know. he is pulling this team by the collar and its good to see.
great to see wenger telling him something at the end of the game bringing out a wide grin from the duracell man.
Burnley deserves to be praised. They played as a unit to make arsenal look average. Well organised in the box to clear any cross attempts, neutralized our playmakers in the middle also. Arsenal were totally impotent almost looked helpless and this was a lucky win. And this is the way many other teams are gonna be setting up against the arsenal.
It took about 3 minutes of the game to warn us that the Gunners weren’t really going to get hard into competing for the ball, as they have in the last 2 excellent matches. Straight away, Burnley showed their disciplined organisation and we showed some sloppy passing, without the same urgency to win the ball back, as previously. All credit to Burnley – as others have observed – they did everything (nearly) to shut Arsenal out, and did it fairly. The increasing dominance of Mustafi was a big plus point, for Arsenal. At the end of a frustrating match, we… Read more »
I though Theo was the only attacking player who did anything productive. He took a couple of good shots…had a hand or head in the winner and worked hard. He had a couple of key defensive clearances.
I love Ozil but he does slow the pace of the attack at times. I’d like to see him make a direct run at the defense. Also Bellarine needs to stop checking back inside. Games like this we can’t dribble through them so we re better off creating some width to open up space