Not our best performance of the season by a long way, but unquestionably one of the goals of the season from Mesut Ozil brought about the 3-2 win.
You have to credit the character too, coming back from two goals down, although it’d be better if we had defended in the first place.
Here are the player ratings – the report and all the goal clips are here.
I actually thought Jenks had a good game. Tries his heart out, and no danger down his side as such. Our left side just feels exposed no matter who plays there.
What a goal from Mesut though, up there with the Bergkamp Newcastle goal for me! Ooooofff.
Monreal’s a quality defender but starting to lose a little pace with age, it seems. Gibbs is a very good attacking left back but defensively his positional play and jockeying has always left something to be desired, hence why he’s never really been able to win back his place from Monreal. Additionally, on the left wing at the moment we’re tending to play players who aren’t as committee to tracking back as they should be (Sanchez/Iwobi, although the former has almost exclusively played up top this season and the latter has admitted he needs to work on that side of… Read more »
Jenkinson was solid and didn’t do much wrong, but we definitely lose some in the attack without Bellerin as he is more unpredictable (goes up the flank or cuts in) where Jenks primarily is up and down and isn’t as aggressive with the ball, though he does get past the defender well and puts in good crosses. I think he should get bonus points just for being back on the field with Arsenal in an important match after having to go out on loan and the returning from the long injury absence.
Don’t give Carl just 5.5, he probably reads Arseblog
Gotta be cruel to be kind
I think Jenko had a good game considering he didn’t have the speed of Theo or the Ox to help him in defence! He still got up to attack. Same goes for Gibbs.
Very harsh. He put in a couple of fantastic crosses and had little or no protection from a roaming Ramsey the entire game.
I may or may not have screamed “YES!!” on a packed train on my way to work this morning.
Might have done the same in front of the telly on the couch this morning 🙂 COYG
Did The same on the train coming home. Totally worth the awkward stares.
Haha same mate except it jumped up had a sinks “fuck yeah” clap just as the boss was walking in the office.
“What are you so happy about?!”
“Ohh.. (clicks minimise on the stream) that request I’ve been waiting all week on is finally approved so now I can finally get it closed off”.
What a win
Fucking auto cunt.
Except I jumped up and had a single “fuck yeah” clap ***
Ozil – obviously nicking a rating!
To be fair, the Cheshire twat did say Mesut is a good player.
And a special shout out to the ref who was just really, really annoying throughout the game.
Granit does seems to be a tad over enthusiastic in his professional fouling. Other than the enthusiasm, thought it was a good foul.
Xhaka needs to get some Brazilian acting lessons ,too honest for his own good! Who’s that Chelski guy we don’t like….
All of them?
Inspite of his qualities, l hope the boss rests xhaka and plays elneny instead. I thought Elneny is more disciplined and brings steadying effect to the midfield.
For this weekend I mean.
Neither of our starting fullbacks need to worry about job security after that performance.
Not on yesterday’s evidence, although Gibbs was outstanding at Sunderland and has generally been quite good otherwise.
1) Ospina – Safe to say he isn’t the best with claiming cross balls but he is an excellent reaction keeper. 2) Gibbs – Nice fall onto his buttocks for their second. OK today but did not find enough penetration further up field. 3) Kosicleny and Mustafi – Yeah ball watching for the second, throughly preventable goal. Otherwise decent. 4) Jenko – The problem with jenko for me is he is technically limited. We were without much width on right since Ramsey tends to cut in field (irony of irony for his assist), still think Calum should be a better… Read more »
If Jenko isn’t Plan A, then Giroud and Gibbs are certainly not plan A. Fact is we play better with a mobile CF. Alexis has become predictable as a LW. Either play him as a SS, RW or CF. Elneny is a solid player…the fact you seem to think he’s not better than Flamini shows how much you now about football.
Play him as an FKW I think although he is better as a PRHS.
Oh and nothing wrong with being a “Plan B”. Dzeko was city’s plan B and he helped them win the title. Doesn’t when Aguero isn’t/wasn’t the better player. So I don’t buy this ridiculous notion of yours that Giroud isn’t a plan B.
Get your own blog. Blah blah blah.
Just been watching the goal in a loop.
Blogs, as usual, is being too kind to Ramsey. Granted, he’s just now coming back from injury, but he keeps losing the ball in terrible positions, dallying way too much, and leaving the fullback unprotected. We saw the same thing last season, and the season before. It’s not a coincidence that he got an assist from the exact position he should be playing instead of wandering all over the pitch and mucking up the works. Ozil though – what a master!
It annoys me how Ramsey makes the most basic things look so fancy
I’ve always thought that if ramsey was to stick to the simple stuff and has a bit more positional discipline, he would be so much better and effective for the team. But somehow he always get that license to do whatever he wants. He is good, brilliant when on form, but I dont think he can get much better if he continues playing his own game.
this, times a million.
Yes. Bar the nice cross for the assist, did Ramsey do anything positive? He certainly slowed down our attacks, gave the ball away cheaply several times, wandered all over the pitch to make us narrow, offered no pace down the flank, and left Jenkinson exposed once or twice. So, other than that, a successful outing. In all seriousness, I actually like both Ramsey and Giroud when on form (the latter clearly is, the former not so much), but both are limited and neither fits naturally well into the sort of football we’ve been playing recently: passing quickly through the lines,… Read more »
Ramsey is probably best in the number 10 position.
Giroud is probably best in a 442, with ozil behind him and alexis beside him.
If Ozil was on holiday, we probably would have 442 with Xhaka and Ramsey in the midfield positions.
Can you clarify what you mean about ‘best in the number 10 position’. He’s the best player we have in that position or that’s the one where he cause us the least amount of disruption? Both are wrong but you know, just out of interest.
Crying is the only problem with Arsenal fans on Arseblog. How many times did Ramsey lose the ball yesternight? I’m pretty sure it’s less than the number of times Alexis did, the guy played well yesternight but fans will never stop blaming him once he plays, even people were bashing him for doing nothing wrong against Sunderland – a mishit shot? Who’s never had an assist like that? You all need to stop crying at every opportunity guys
1. Yesternight is not a real word (not in the 21st century, anyway). 2. These things are a somewhat subjective matter, of course, so if you think Ramsey played well, fine. In my opinion, he did not play well. Your insistence that he did does not magically make it so. 3. Saying someone gave the ball away less than Alexis is damning with faint praise. Even when he’s on fire, ball retention is not the Chilean’s strong suit, but he more than makes up for it by making good things happen, and he’s been in great form for us this… Read more »
I’m far closer to laughing that crying I can assure you.
For BT Sport viewers. Who ate all the pies? Michael fucking Owen!
All the pies and all the stupid pills.
I dunno man, I’m pretty sure the stupid part comes naturally to him.
Oil nicking a living as always. Today he nicked 3 souls
Ozil*…not oil…
I always felt like we wouldn’t lose tonight, drawing parallels between this match and the FA Cup final win over Hull. It’s so nice to feel such confidence in Arsenal again.
Nothing prepared me for that winning goal by Özil though. He is magnificent.
Almost made a right hash of that. But whodoesn’t love a late winner?
One of the best you’ll ever see.
George Best esque
Very much so Dawn.
As much as how I loved Gibbs starting over Monreal, I believe today’s fullbacks performances was down to the lack of communication among the back four. That will sort itself out after a few games I believe.
Elneny assist with first touch? Just wanted to give some praise to the man, what a signing he turned out to be.
The worst of the old Arsenal and the best of the new – in a single game. Xhaka’s impetuousness continues to worry but El Neny seems to be growing steadily. Bring on PSG!
I think half the assist was also Ozil’s movement to show for a ball in behind.
This is definitely something new we are seeing from him this season.
Ozil actually does have a fair turn of pace but just doesn’t feel he needs it. Just as with his passing he seems to put just the perfect amount of pace on it.
Don’t think Jenkinson was that bad considering. Gave away some silly fouls and struggled a bit against one of there best players. Got no help from Ramsey in or out of possession. Likewise with Gibbs. Got roasted for the 2nd but he was pretty solid other than that and again mostly with no help from Sanchez. The whole back five was unsettled and Ludogorets are good enough going forward that they made it look exactly that. Like at the emirates there front four has very unpredictable play and movement not to mention individual technical skill and pace. They caused more… Read more »
Jenks was obviously not match sharp and it showed. But as ever he never gave up. Missing that half yard of pace and hence reach. Ludo did their homework and attacked exclusively down the flanks.
Seems to be a trend this last few weeks. As ever Arsene recognises opposition tactics early and simply switches up the combinations on the flanks.
Expect Iwobi to either cover Monreal more or be replaced this weekend.
0/10 for El Neny a bit harsh eh?
Can someone please compile a video of all the clowns like Moyes taliking ninsense about Ozil
would have been easier to say which defenders were NOT at fault for their second goal….
Must say a quite exquisite goal by Mesut Ozil today. I usually give him stick for his lack of being ice cold in front of goal with his chances being hopeful rather than being expected but today big RESPECT!!! And big up to the Coq, Giroud, Koscielny and Elneny. COYG!!!
Com’n Blogs, 8 for Ozil? That goal alone earns him a 10!
Is it possible to give Mesut an extra assist to himself? If you leave 3 defenders and the goalkeeper on their asses like turtles on their backs, youd have to say thats atleast assist 200.5 for his career.
To be fair the actual assist was quite decent too.
for one of the greatest pieces of skill since god himself did that thing – a 10 is an underrating.
I think all the frustration with Ramsey is down to him being asked to play out of position. He’s a central midfielder and a number ten in a lot of other Premier League teams. Leaves us extremely narrow with two wide players cutting in. Have to think it is back to our “usual” league lineup for Sunday.
Mesut Ozil: what a player!
Elneny pass the ball to ozil. Ozil assist himself over the keeper and score.
Damn I can’t rave about gibbos today.. But all credit to ludos attack.. They could be quite a force if they had a defence.. Some really good attacking players in their ranks.. Great win though more of that please!
Should Ozil buy the Ludogorets keeper a coffee? I mean…its only fair.
He’ll probably send him off to get them both one… again… Then send a couple of his teammates when he takes too long.
So, I think I get it now…”nicking a living” is actually a euphemism for “scores world class goals”..is that right ?
Actually shocking ratings… Alexis and Coq were my picks for motm, Ozil close behind for an obvious reason.
I really feel set pieces towards ospina looks a goal like situation although mustafi could av closed in on the playr for the second goal gd comeback arsenal fc we have seen arsenal fc play better in games.
Forget the deeper level enquiry about the game. Focus on the fact that we came from 2 goals down to win the match in some style. Ozils goal was breathtaking in its execution. Cannot stop watching it; how am I going to get my boring housework done today? Well done team,despite errors. Mental strength is there.
This squad lacks nothing!!! The best it’s been in 10 years and the best in the country for me at the minute.
You know what, they are a decent side, fair play. Proper lightening on the break, good team.
Hate to seem like I’m jumping on a bandwagon but look at Zagreb last year, a game we lost, and compare that to tonight. Something has changed. Players refusing to be beaten.
We weren’t quite ourselves but playing away in shitty grim Bulgaria on a cold November Tuesday, with a partisan crowd and a side well up for it, were we ever going to be? Wins a win.
We need to win on Sunday.
Still watching that MAD Ozil’s third goal, don’t think I’ll get bored watching it over and over agoin
Personally I thought Ramsey was awful. Not so much about what he did, but for what he didnt do. He didnt offer much down the right most of the game and his control and passing was poor. He really needs some game time to get up to speed quickly.
If you didn’t know that the ball was super-glued to Ozils foot, that banner picture would provide an almost impossible spot the ball competition.
Why does Ozil bother praying before kick off when right after he goes to commit pure wicked acts like last night’s goal? Dude is pure evil…
I thought Jenks was good. They caused us no trouble down his side and he cut off most of the crosses. Also I think he crosses it well himself.
Ramsey popped up all over the pitch but put is a critical cross.
Gibbs got exposed but didn’t have much help.
As usual the center backs got caught out a few times. I think Mustafi is too agressive.at times. He makes runs deep into the opposition and goes for 50/50,balls high up.the.pitch. he needs.to play a little more cautiously against the bigger teams.
Bellarin tweeted: Mesut…we know you are good, but WOW!!
Just WOW??
It should holy fucking WOW WOW WOW!!