Monday, November 11, 2024

Report: Wolves 0-1 Arsenal (inc. goal)

Result: Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
Competition: Premier League
Date: 10 February 2022
Venue: Molineux

Arsenal: Ramsdale, Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Lacazette

Subs: Okonkwo, Awe, Holding, Tavares, Elneny, Lokonga, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Nketiah


Arsenal survived Gabriel Martinelli’s second half red card to hold onto a hard-fought 1-0 win at Wolves.

Centre-back Gabriel’s third goal of the season, scored on 25 minutes, proved enough to take the points but the Gunners had to show serious guts in the closing stages as Wolves attempted to take advantage of their man advantage.

Victory, our first of 2022, sees the Gunners climb up to fifth in the table with two games in hand on West Ham United. The race for the Champions League is on.

Pre-game

After an 18 day break, the only absentees from our newly-streamlined first team squad were Takehiro Tomiyasu and Bernd Leno. The former missed out with the calf issue that has been plaguing him since the back end of last year while the latter tested positive for Covid. Cedric was given the nod at right-back alongside Ben White, Gabriel and Kieran Tierney, while Arthur Okonkwo took up Leno’s place on the bench. The only other headscratcher for Mikel Arteta was whether to start Emile Smith Rowe ahead of either Martin Odegaard or Gabi Martinelli. In the end, the England international started as a sub. Interestingly, 18-year-old defender Zach Awe was handed his first senior call-up; an opportunity made possible by the recent exits of Sead Kolasinac, Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari.

First Half

Given the tepid scoring records of both sides, this was never likely to be a ding-dong gung-ho affair so it was little surprise a cagey affair played out in the opening stages. 

The Gunners certainly had more of the ball and worked better positions – a lot went down Martinelli’s left – but the home side didn’t look particularly uncomfortable at any stage.

As if to sum up how difficult we thought it might be to score from opening play we were treated to the spectacle of centre-backs White and Gabriel going venturing forward to challenge for a Tierney throw-in inside eight minutes. Despite wiping the ball down like Rory Delap, the Scot failed to fizz in a ball of note. 

It took until the 22nd minute for the Gunners to create a chance to get the travelling fans going. Odegaard and Saka combined down the right and White, who’d gone forward for a free-kick 30-seconds earlier, had an effort blocked at close quarters. 

That half-chance persuaded us to be more adventurous and within three minutes we grabbed the lead. It started with Cedric swinging in a fine cross from the right that evaded Lacazette’s head but ultimately led to a corner thanks to Martinelli’s mop-up job at the back post.

The Brazilian took responsibility for the subsequent set-piece and whipped in a dangerous ball that had Wolves at sixes and sevens. A headed half clearance was returned to the six-yard box by White and after Sa and Lacazette challenged for the ball, Gabriel was left unmarked to tap into an empty net. It was the defender’s third goal of the season. (1-0)

While not a dirty game, both sides indulged in tactical fouling with Partey and Sais the first to go into the book. Xhaka would join them later while Cedric was lucky to get away with a talking to from referee Martin Oliver. 

By and large, we kept the home side at arm’s length. Trincao was tricky but wasteful and Semedo and Neves both went wide with long-range efforts, the latter from a free-kick. 

At the other end, Lacazette had two half-chances; a near post flicked header from an Odegaard corner that was blocked by Coady and an attempt lashed down the throat of Sa after brilliant interplay by Odegaard and Saka.

Second Half

We continued to make good ground down the right flank with Odegaard and Saka dovetailing with Cedric and Lacazette coming close for little one-twos.

For all our neat football, it was Wolves who looked more likely to grab the next goal. Podence had a couple of efforts and Dendoncker headed over from close range.

More bookings followed as the game again fell into a scrappy spell; Neves for a lunge on Lacazette and Gabriel for timewasting over the subsequent free-kick.

Bruno Lage changed things up after that with Ait-Nouri and Chiqinho being asked to unlock our stubborn defence. Arteta responded by sending on Smith Rowe for Odegaard before we started the process of pressing the self-destruct button.

It started with Gabriel Martinelli getting sent off for two bookable offences in the same action. The winger, frustrated not to have been given a foul, first body checked Podence on the touchline (it was more of a tap of the shoulder) and after Martin Oliver allowed play to go on, he chased back and then tripped Chiqinho. He thought he was going to get one yellow only for the referee to show him two. In isolation, both situations probably deserved a card, but together, inside 10 seconds, it was very odd from the officials.

When the free-kick was played into the box, Xhaka turned the ball into his own net. Before the Wolves fans had a chance to celebrate, the whistle went for an offside. It was a real let-off. As we let out a deep breath Saka was sacrificed and Holding was sent on to bolster the defence.

Despite that crazy five minutes, we should have doubled our lead. Lacazette was played clean through on goal but curled wide. It was a terrible miss, the type a recently departed striker used to feed off. Nketiah replaced him soon after and the Frenchman was then pictured in deep conversation with his manager on the touchline.

Would the miss be costly? That was the question. Having had a relatively quiet evening, Ramsdale came to the fore. The man in green flung himself through the air to deny Saiss and was a bundle of energy as he looked to claim crosses from left and right. He wasn’t always successful and we were very thankful for a desperate Holding clearance as the pressure mounted.

It was all Wolves. A yellow blur. Dendoncker twice went close with headers and Neves had an effort deflected over.

Ramsdale did absolutely everything he could to slow down the game but it was always going to come at a cost. Five minutes of stoppage time was not what we wanted to see but we kept on battling for every loose ball until Oliver finally blew the whistle.

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Maniac

Easily the hardest earnt 3 points of the season. What a defensive performance. Come on!!!

Man Manny

Leicester City was equally tough, especially in the second half.
This one shades it though because of the added handicap of playing about 30 minutes with a man down.
Great performance.

GoonerJust

Man, that SELF-DESTRUCT button just won’t go away. Mikel, do something please, very quick!

Mike Stride

What SELF DESTRUCT? Blatant cheating by the ref!!

Ordnance Dave

Wolves/The English FA 0 – 1 The gutsy Arsenal

Kareem Mohamed

What did the FA do?
The Laws of the Game are the issue.

deano

It’s the consistency that’s the issue. The laws of the game are abused by refs as and when they feel like it. I think he’d had enough of out time wasting antics and decided to make his point.

voster

Gonna state an unpopular opinion: I think the red card was right Even as Martinelli brought that other guy down, I thought how dangerous it was to commit two clear yellow card offences, and we’d be feeling grateful if he got away with one yellow Both fouls, on their own, would lead to cards 99 times out of 100, and both were independent of each other It was reckless to commit one cynical foul after already doing another one. If referrees are inconsistent, fine. But knowing this, Martinelli should not have take such a massive risk, and it was a… Read more »

Andy

I think you’re spot on. Why touch the guy during a throw-in? I get he’s trying to interrupt play, but it didn’t work. Ref plays the advantage, you know you’re going in the book, it’s time to cool down. Not an excuse to make another cardable offence.Needless risk to take really.

Oliver was pissed by the timewasting too. You could smell it coming.

It’s trickling though the side now. Players are losing their heads and getting sent off for silly reasons. It needs to be nipped in the bud because it’s costing us.

TargaSprite

Two fouls in 5 seconds….
How many times have we seen instances of a player committing a foul – free kick – and then kicking the ball away. That’s at least 2 yellows plus 1 for time-wasting. Ever seen a red card given? Michael Oliver will be waiting for the opportunity! But only if it’s an Arsenal player…

onenil

Thought my heart was going to give out.

Webby

Me too – I’m 64 !!

karl

We’re getting quite good at playing with 10 men, what with all the practice. Great performance wtith strong character and even Cedric showed up!

DialSquareGoon

The only team with a special formation and a specialty defender (Holding) for the inevitable reduction to 10 men.

Chicagooner

I am getting quite good at watching us play with 10 men. I don’t soil my pant everytime now when we get the inevitable red card.

Funsho Patrick

Weldone gunners! We’re in control of 4th spot with games in hand over our competitors….I can’t fail to mention that Alexander lacazette thinks he’s a midfielder…we miss a proper goal scorer

Glen Helders Left Foot

Fantastic result but Arteta’s love of Eddie will cost us,why does he hate Pepe??

Sam

It’s god’s own private mystery.

Tomaury Bischfeld

Yes, play Nketiah who will leave for free this Summer and banish record signing Pepe who might actually be of some value to us, in the market or on the pitch. I’m not Pepe’s biggest fan and wouldn’t start him but he does nick goals!

Woolwich Tiern time

More to the point Arteta should be making an example of Nkettiah. After all the development Arsenal has given him he has manouvered to leave on a free.. True of a numbsr of players in recent times yes but at least the Ramseys and Sagnas of the wirld had given us a genuinely useful contribution on the pitch

Avo84

Much as I don’t think he hates Pepe. I believe he would have made more impact in the match than Eddie

Wrighty’s hats

Agreed. Pepe tends to be very switched on when he comes on as a sub and would have held up the ball better in the final minutes – whatever Eddie was trying to do didn’t work at all. Expected better from him to be honest.

Sagebrush

I wonder

The Beast

Looks like he’ll get his chance next match, so no harm no foul

Wrighty’s hats

I hope so but might ESR he picked over him? Interested to see.

The Arsenal

He wont. Smith Rowe will be put in. and Nketiah will be the first attacking sub..

The Arsenal

Pepe is an outlier like Auba, Guendouzi, Saliba etc. These guys are maverick characters and its clear Arteta dislikes working with that type which is his prerogative,

Han Kolo

I have a theory that Pepe is the suspicious yellow card offender and Arteta wont play him until its cleared up. Only logical explanation for him never using him for the past few months.

Guns Up

With a game remaining against Chelsea, technically control our own destiny for third, ha ha.

Sank

Gabriel
White
Holding
Saliba

We have the best centre back of the world.

Time for pepe to step up next match

Mårten

Loving Rob Holding everytime he steps into that back five (which seems to be every game)

Spanish Gooner

Because that’s exactly what he’s good at. When he’s not trying to be 2010 Lucio, Holding is a perfectly good premier league defender. He’d be fantastic for a bottom-half team and he’s great in situations like this.

Jackie

That was stupid from Martinelli. Capped off a really poor performance with that. What has to happen for Pepe to get a look in?

Great defending. Particularly impressed with Xhaka in defense. I don’t like him either, but he was great today.

And we’ve got the best goalkeeper in the world! COYG!!

the judean Pepe's front

What has to happen?
Well maybe not go down to 10 men every game. That would help

voster

By 50ish minutes, we were in spoiler mode, playing aggressively, fouling etc. to disrupt Wolves’ rhythm This is tactical, sure. But we still had 40 plus minutes to go and we were already doing this. And it was constant. When you increase the aggression, you increase the chances of red cards, and the longer you do it, the more likely you’d get a red card I’m all for using the dark arts to disrupt the opposition. But we did it a lot this game, and early, too, with many more minutes to play. When we take those risks, you have… Read more »

Ron

But how can you give 2 yellow cards for the same play? That’s insane and was basically because the referee was also getting frustrated by Arsenal’s time wasting.

President Eckener

I’ll be honest, I’d forgotten such a thing was possible, but I’ve seen it before. Player commits a clearly yellow-card foul, then flips out egregiously at the ref, gets a yellow for the foul and then an immediate 2nd yellow for the dissent. I’d wager we’ve all seen that more than once. Just haven’t really seen it when it comes to advantage played, is all. Unfortunate for Martinelli, as he clearly thought he had a “free hit”, but really, that’s not how you want the game played, giving people a free pass to bash the opposition just because a foul’s… Read more »

ThatReyesGoal

I’ve actually never seen this before. It feels against the spirit of the yellow card as we often call it a caution. I had the intuition that it is supposed to be a warning against further infringement. Funny, I’d always wondered about this… I guess that is my answer.

President Eckener

It can be called a caution, sure, but ultimately the player is responsible for their level of caution. That’s why more disciplined players can treat yellow cards not as “cautions” but instead as “free stop-a-counterattacks”. Martinelli’s a young guy who seems quite diligent. He got frustrated and lost his head a bit. As I said, it’s unfortunate, but I expect he’ll take it in the right way and learn from it. The main thing is will the team as a whole finally get it into their heads that they all individually have to do their parts to prevent this sort… Read more »

allezkev

Oliver didn’t do anything wrong regarding the laws of the game but you just know that he or any of our other officials would have given such a decision against Man City, Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea etc.

allezkev

wouldn’t

President Eckener

I would certainly be surprised if it happened to one of those clubs when we were playing them. Especially Man City, who seem to be able to get away with endless fouls.

Steinn

You can’t be serious. Martinelli was the most dangerous of the front 4. The first foul was stupid but I genuinely didn’t know the ref was allowed to do that

voster

It makes sense. Imagine if you commit one yellow card and advantage was given. Would it be fair that you are then allowed to commit as many yellow card offences as you’d like until the referree blew his whistle?

I tensed up when I saw Martinelli commit the second foul – both fouls were incredibly clear yellows and I was worried about a sending off, instinctively

Spanish Gooner

YEah you’d have thought Pepe would have been the perfect player to bring on in those later stages. Isolated defenders with 50 clear metres behind them – that’s Pepe’s meat and drink

Sagebrush

True. Instead of Nketiah

Thierry Bergkamp (Xhaka Out)

His stupidity might cost him his starting spot. The Smith looked dangerous and if he plays well next game, he’ll keep his spot for the next

goonero

Of course it’ll cost him his starting spot, who does he think he is? Xhaka?

A Different George

Well, I’m pretty sure it will cost him his starting spot for the next match.

Spanish Gooner

The Smith looked slow and heavy. A tad worrying.

Guns Up

Like when he ran at their entire backline for 60 yards, a couple of whom had yards on him to start, and very nearly beat the lot of them? I saw something different.

Collibosher

But when he committed the second foul, he wouldn’t have known he was being booked for the first one. I’m not a conspiracy theorist, despite all the circumstantial evidence!

Hurensohn

Don’t understand how you can get a “caution” and a red card at the same time. What’s the point in a caution if you just red card him…

The referee’s see us as an easy target, it’s not conspiratorial it’s fact. Just look at the numbers. They’re way past the point of being qualified as an outlier, or small sample size.

ThatReyesGoal

Exactly my thinking but to be honest it is something to think about though. Does a sure yellow then make a player immune until he gets it assigned. Can I pull 3 shirts in the same play and then make some questionable tackles and still just get a yellow?

voster

A yellow card is not just a caution, but also a punishment. After all, multiple yellows lead to suspensions

And from a fairplay point of view, a player should not be committing cynical fouls whether or not they’ve been “cautioned”. So needing a player to be “cautioned” first is irrelevant

voster

A yellow card offence, as both Martinelli’s were, is not mitigated by whether you “know” or not. If you commit one, you get a yellow card – end of.

From a fair play point of view, a player should not be committing cynical fouls whether or not they’re on a yellow, so the requirement that they know that they’re on a yellow is not necessary

Reality check

I am not sure which red card was more ridiculous, Martinelli’s this season or Luiz’ last season, both against Wolves too..

Fezec

At least Martinelli’s is within the laws of the game (if not the spirit). That fucking Luiz red was corrupt. They specifically brought in the double jeopardy law to stop it happening!

Martin R

Are you seriously saying that Martinelli gave a bad performance? He was causing so many problems to the Wolves defence and was clearly our best player till his indiscretions

Jack

How did Laca miss that chance just after the red card?! That is a madness

Thierry Bergkamp (Xhaka Out)

A top striker would at least hit the target, and found a corner from that Saka cut back in the first half

kaius

That chance!

Would’ve been the best team goal we’ve scored this season, way clear of Laca’s Goal of the Month winner vs Southampton

Hurensohn

It’s a 50:50 chance for a striker not on top form. Wasn’t really supprised.

goonero

Not even that I reckon, I don’t think that’s more than .1xg

Joel

Madness…?

THIS. IS. LACAZETTE.

Momozemio

2 yellow on the same action after being fouled yourself…. Oliver competing for the c*nt of the year Trophy.
Fortunately that didn’t change the course of that game.
Delighted by that defensive performance again💪

Wengerball

That was the right call. Plus we were playing with karma when we started time wasting in the 60th and faking injuries.

Man Manny

Karma would be overworked then cos every team does it.

voster

Every team does it, but in moderation. We started in the 50ish minutes and continued. The period before Martinelli’s fould, we racked up a lot of fouls as we upped the aggression to disrupt their rhythm

Higher aggressions increase the risks of cards

We took the gamble

voster

This opinion is being voted down, but is absolutely correct. We went into disruption mode early, and for long periods of the game. This meant we increased the aggression levels, too. We were racking up fouls in those minutes, and really sticking our foot in

This approach is useful but the tradeoff is increasing the risk of cards. And so it went

Mesut O’Neill

It was the right call. Can’t moan at referees for our player’s stupidness

goonero

It wasn’t the “right” call. It’s justifiable within the rules but absolutely unwarranted in the context of the situation. Martinelli didn’t “lose his shit” or commit an egregious foul. The second was a blatant attempt to stop a dangerous situation developing (some might call dark arts) and Oliver felt like he just had to prove his point that he was wise to it.

voster

It was the right call. Both fouls would be yellows 99 out of 100 times. One was a petulant shove on a player making a throwin, another was a typical cynical challenge to stop a dangerous move that we see often and easily gets a yellow

I’m all for the dark arts, but they come with a price tag and higher risk levels

We upped the aggression for 10 minutes prior to that, racking up fouls to disrupt Wolves’ rhythm. We took the gamble and sometimes it backfires

Spanish Gooner

Yet another ‘technically a red’ foul that only ever applies to Arsenal. Convinced it’s because Oliver was annoyed at Arsenal calling for fouls in the first half. Twat.

Wengerball

He was annoyed at us constantly time wasting instead of olaying football. Heck I was annoyed with us…refs aren’t infallable robots. There’s some gamesmanship to be played to get the ref on our side..

etp

It was embarrassing and I’m surprised so few people felt the same way. And I’m not an Arteta-out guy.

Spanish Gooner

It definitely is annoying to watch us time-wasting, but that doesn’t mean the ref gets to send somebody off for something I’d literally never seen happen before today?

etp

We haven’t seen it before because it’s difficult to do something that silly. Both were (stupid) yellow-card offenses, and both were unnecessary. The moment Gabi made the second foul I knew he was off.

kaius

Yeah I don’t see the connection, sorry.

If the ref thinks Martinelli’s first push is a foul and a yellow card, then the follow-on incident doesn’t happen because there’s a stoppage in play.

So yeah the two yellows are technically right, but still very wrong.

Sagebrush

It was

Wengerball

I am surprised at it too. I wonder if they actually watched the full match.

Thierry Bergkamp (Xhaka Out)

There’s no way you can blame the ref for that

Momozemio

I actually blame the ref for not considering that the 1st foul is on Martinelli before the throw in… and then for two yellows in a row without Gabi being able to notice that he’s on a 1st yellow before the 2nd.
As opposed to the traditional examples (a player makes a foul, gets booked and runs at the ref in an inapropriate way to collect his 2nd yellow), Gabi had no clue about what was the risk…
But again, happy that this had no effect on us leaving the pitch with 3 points

voster

two yellows in a row without Gabi being able to notice that he’s on a 1st yellow before the 2nd

This is completely irrelevant. From a fairplay point of view, players should not be committing cynical fouls whether you’re on a yellow or not

The referrees are not obliged to let you know you’re on a yellow – you shouldn’t be committing yellow card fouls in the first place

TeeCee

You’ll know when they start taking an interest in fairplay and clamping down on cynical fouls.
It’ll be when sp*rs finish every match with zero men.

Hint: Repeatedly clattering the ankles of the opposition’s better players to take the pace off them is probably more cynical than “taking one for the team”. One’s a reaction, the others a deliberate strategy.

Reiss Neverseen & El Dicteta

I don’t think there was much wrong with what the ref did. It’s just not something that happens often. I think Martinelli just lost his cool, which is very unlike him.

Martinelli impeded a Wolves player on a throw-in (unnecessary foul, worthy of a yellow), the ref signals to play on (as Wolves have the advantage), Nelli then barges a second Wolves player in the back (another unnecessary foul, also worthy of a yellow).

Michael Oliver was card happy tonight but this is far from his worst game officiating us. Don’t forget Cedric escaped the night without a yellow.

The Beast

Probably a tad harsh but technically the right call.

It was silly from Gabi but didn’t cost us points & either ESR or Pepe can step in next match. So hopefully not too much harm done.

Leftie

I saw how much they all wanted it and fought tooth and nail to get it. Just like the boss said earlier. Proud of my Arsenal tonight. It is an almost forgotten feeling that I’m tasting more and more this season. COYG.

ArseCLE

Although I have agreed with Arteta’s decision, Auba would have scored that Laca chance.

Mesut O’Neill

So would Erling Haaland 👀

kaius

Auba wouldn’t have nipped in front of the keeper to assist Gabriel’s winner though.

One of Auba’s biggest weaknesses was his lack of penalty box presence.

Spanish Gooner

So would Henry and so would Charlie George from what I’ve heard in his pomp. None of them play for Arsenal now though and all are past their best

Public Elneny

Yeah well Laca is more past his best than Auba, and it was a silly decision to oust him

But I’ll stop it there, I CBA to be negative whilst we’re on a winning streak

SarcasmB0T

Laca is also past his best – and he’s just been named captain.

Qwaliteee

Kieran Tierney should be the captain of this football club. End of.

Thierry Bergkamp (Xhaka Out)

Auba has missed much easier chances this season. Let’s move on from him

A Different George

What bothered me more were the two instances, one with Martinelli and late in the match with Smith Rowe, when an Arsenal forward had the ball and made a long, brilliant run into the opponents’ half that opened them up–but Lacazette could not keep close enough to allow the pass to be made.

The Beast

Love him but Auba’s missed easier chances in this season alone.

ALbangbang

Did you watch his last few games for us? He missed plenty of chances better than that this season

Qwaliteee

And he won the FA Cup for us and practically carried the team when he first joined us.

Auba is better than Laca – just deal with it mate.

ALbangbang

How long ago was that? He’s been shit for a full season. Just deal with it mate.

Cygan’sbaldspot

Please don’t make this a constant talking point after every game. We all know Laca isn’t good enough, this is what we have until summer so just back them.

Qwaliteee

It’s Laca who makes it constant talking point.

Jackie

Auba missed the last chance against Everton to pull us level. Missed the last chance against United too.

Why do y’all forget too quickly?

Sagebrush

We always make it too hard for ourselves

etp

It’s frankly becoming idiotic. As is the time wasting with 45 minutes to go. Guess I’m in the minority but not a lot to enjoy about this one besides the 3 points.

Thierry Bergkamp (Xhaka Out)

Feels better than dominating City and losing though, doesn’t it. I don’t care how we get 3 points to get us to top 4. Wolves aren’t an easy side to play

Russ

Yes, I hate all the fucking time wasting so early. Makes us look cheap!
Glad we won though 😎

Man Manny

I have seen Auba miss from three yards this season, and touch an Odegaard ball from an offside position when the ball was going in anyway.
That ship has sailed.

loose_cannon

One day we’ll finish a game with 11 men, and it will be a good day!

pound4pound

Only way that happens is if they let us start with 12 lol

Magneto

Well, our opponents always start & end matches with 12…

Qwaliteee

Cracking result, well done lads.

Laca proving yet again that we need to get rid in the summer; another choice miss for the compilation.

Otherwise an excellent performance from the team.

Silly from Martinelli but Michael Oliver is an absolute cunt, so some mitigating circumstances.

Hope we absolutely stuff them at the Emirates and laugh at their fans again.

ALbangbang

Don’t forget he got the assist today…

Qwaliteee

Oh well, that’s it then. Let’s give him a ten year deal just to please you. 🙄

The Beast

Or we could just support him for the rest of the season while he’s here & wish him well when he’s off

Qwaliteee

But that’s the trouble mate. Too many idiots will be clamouring – are already clamouring – for him to be given a new contract.

He nearly cost us three points last night with that miss. He owes ‘his’ defence big time this morning.

Wengerball

Even when we win I feel like we lose….Do I miss the days we used to play free flowing football. We were looking like a mourinho side out there…..Also have come to the conclusion that we can’t keep our cool because our manager himself is panicky and constantly animated. He needs to learn how to stay composed and calm our players down instead of amping them up.

The Beast

I don’t miss the days we used to get constantly criticised for not being able to grind out an ugly win…..like a mourinho side

Wengerball

Yet we were in the CL every year and top 4 every year….

The Beast

And we constantly got criticised for that as well, including by our own support.

Moral of the story, ppl that want to moan will find something to moan about. Ppl that want to enjoy themselves will find that silver lining.

Wengerball

Its easy to enjoy yourself when you are a creative, free flowing, attack minded team. Its hard to enjoy watching 10 behind the ball and protecting a 1 goal lead.

Reiss Neverseen & El Dicteta

10 man FC strikes again! I really hate playing Wolves. Glad we won this time.

Yando

I wonder if those Wolves fans will be travelling to Emirates in two weeks time lol

The Beast

I satisfaction I get from the amount of frustration this side brings out in opposition support borders on the naughty

The Beast

*The*

Tomaury Bischfeld

That was a statement, that sets the tone for the next few games / oh for fucks sake why does that have to be the way they win??

Hopefully Martinelli will learn from that but other Gabi could easily have been off as well.

Seeing Nketiah coming on for Laca really hits home that he is literally all we have to switch things up or deputise if Laca is injured..

I liked the fight though and the defending

COYG and looking forward to second match against those cunts

Duno

He isn’t all we have, is he? Wouldn’t Pepe had been way better in that scenario? Eddie can’t hold up a ball to save his life. Pepe is arguably even the better finisher. I don’t get his insistence on Nketiah.

onenil

Agree Pepe can’t hold on to the ball either, but he is definitely a better finisher.

Public Elneny

Pepe is the best finisher we have at the club

The Beast

Could be wrong but I think that’s why he came on. We weren’t looking for someone to hold the ball up, we were looking for someone quick to hit them on the break with ESR.

Not a popular opinion, I know.

Mesut O’Neill

#Nomorereds

DialSquareGoon

Impossible. Working on accepting it. We will get more than any other team in European top flight for years to come.

The Beast

Agree, we might as well own it. Helps we’re not half bad at playing with 10

Der Kaiser

It’s not just the talent but the spirit. True team work!

Kostas

Great win.
Awful match.
Heart attack was close.
After this Laca miss 2 questions;
How many teams have worst striker than us?
Would Pepe have scored that?

Reiss Neverseen & El Dicteta

I think Nico would’ve scored that. He scored a similar 1v1 goal against Slavia last season

The Beast

In the world or just English football?

Missed a chance he should’ve burried but thought his link up play, energy off the ball & general peskiness was brilliant as usual.

Abhi

Finally! We have a defense! Brilliant work by our MEN at the back!

Loomesy

In hospital atm(I’m all good) and had to explain to the nurse why blood pressure was so high!

Russ

I think you were in the place watching that! Get well soon 💪

Mesut O’Neill

One word would have sufficed and she would have known.

“Arsenal”

Loomesy

Haha in Aus so I think I just confused her more by talking about the other football

Man Manny

Get well soon mate.

Teryima Adi

Wishing you a quick recovery.🙏🏻

Jean Ralphio

Maybe just the type of win we needed but not a great performance attacking-wise. Yellows for Partey and Xhaka made that even more nervy and impressive at the same time. Too many players had off days today, at least before the red card. Tierney had a much better second half but he is having a poor season I think. I hope we have a midweek training game planned.

Torterrier

HUGE WIN! Great fight boys

Public Elneny

Are we going record the record for mintues played in a season with 10 men? It’s not just the number of red cards we get but the earliness of them as well

Get fucked PGMOL

Although tbf, taken separately they were 2 yellow card offences. But when do you ever see that happen

Hurensohn

How is the first one a yellow card? He taps him on the arm and it doesn’t prevent their attack.. There would be 20 red cards each week if that is a booking….

Public Elneny

The intent, I guess

Actually the more I think about it, the red card was horseshit.

Unless there was a reckless element to the foul, or a clear chance was prevented – which there wasn’t. It’s bullshit to issue a red for what was essentially one action – the break up of a single counter attack with a professional foul.

Public Elneny

To put it another way:

If a player attempts to trip another player to prevent their momentum on a counter attack, but only causes him to stumble a bit. And then 1 second later pulls his shirt to make sure; is that a red card assuming no clear cut chance was prevented?

What’s the practical difference between that and a slightly more forceful trip which fully prevents the attacking player’s momentum. Which in no way would ever result in a red card?

What is the significant difference between the 1st scenario and what Martinelli did?

A Different George

I agree–but on the other hand, when do you ever see a player doing that?

kaius

Yes, against us, opponents get away with much worse

Tomiyasu stamp on the head vs Everton, the player stayed on and made more fouls. Saka gets fouled multiple times in each dribble vs everyone, and let’s not forget Rodri’s multiple yellow card offences in the home game vs City

Goonerjag

Our undoing this season could be the strength of the squad – it’s really important for players to avoid red cards, especially ones earned for stupidity!

deano

Hard thought win against a very well organised outfit. I was worried about this one before the start and delighted to get the three points. The red cards are pissing me off. I have watched teams for years play against us. Slow the game, silly fouls, time waste and usually pick up the odd booking. We have picked this tactic up for a while now and the ref losing his patience and someone ends up marching off the pitch. Was it a red, by the letter of the law yes, seems to happen to us a lot though. Granted reds… Read more »

John

First cup final won. Win ugly, win pretty – it’s 3 points for both. Get on the bus, head home and reset for the next game. Smith Rowe will come in for Martinelli. No problem.

Collibosher

Does anyone agree that IFTWGX should be changed to IFTWAAP? (an Arsenal player)

Mesut O’Neill

I don’t speak acronyms? What do these mean?

Spanish Gooner

If that was Granit Xhaka
If that was an Arsenal player

SpudGun68