Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey, Flamini, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Giroud
Subs: Ospina, Gabriel, Gibbs, Chambers, Campbell, Iwobi, Reine-Adelaide
—
Arsenal struggled in the rain and had Petr Cech to thank as they extended their lead at the top of the table with a 1-0 win over Newcastle at the Emirates this afternoon.
There were three changes from the team that beat Bournemouth with Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny and Mathieu Flamini coming back into the side in place of Kieran Gibbs, Gabriel and Calum Chambers.
The Gunners started brightly with Hector Bellerin twice finding space down the right, and the Spaniard really should have done better with a cross for Oxlade-Chamberlain that the England man could do little with but screw the ball wide.
Bellerin continued to have success down that side as the rain began to pour, while at the other end Petr Cech saved a glancing Wijnaldum header and the subsequent follow-up from Jack Colback. Perez shot wide in the 25th minute, the game from an Arsenal point of view had gone very flat, and the most interesting thing was how Oxlade-Chamberlain stayed out of referee Anthony Taylor’s notebook for a couple of challenges that seemed worthy of a yellow card.
Colback picked up a yellow for a cynical foul on Giroud, and the Frenchman saw a shot blocked wide after good work from the Ox to set him up inside the Newcastle area. Mitrovic was presented with a good chance by a Bellerin mistake, and the forward had an overhead kick saved by Cech.
The Arsenal keeper had to be alert to prevent Wijnaldum putting the visitors ahead after he was presented with a sight of goal from a Ramsey mis-control in the box. Certainly Newcastle looked the brightest, but the teams went in level at the break, putting an end to what was a pretty dismal break.
At the break my Internet went down, and from what I could gather on Twitter Newcastle could have been ahead in the opening minutes of the second period. They may have hit the post. I don’t really know.
Then my internet came back and I continued to enjoy the feast of football that was being served to us. Of course, I kid. The conditions were as awful as the Arsenal performance, with little on the bench to spark life into Arsene Wenger’s team.
There was another chance for Newcastle when Mbemba thumped a header over the bar from close range, before the Arsenal manager made his first change, bringing on Joel Campbell for Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 68th minute.
He was about to send on Alex Iwobi to try and find a goal but before he could do that Laurent Koscielny put the Gunners ahead. Arsenal won a corner, it came over, Giroud headed it on, and Koscielny got behind the defender to poke home from close range. 1-0.
A scrappy goal, but a very welcome one all the same. A Nacho Monreal cross sat up invitingly for Walcott but he couldn’t keep his shot down, while at the other end Mitrovic headed over from close range, and Wijnaldum also nodded over without testing Cech.
Ramsey had the chance to make the game safe, doing brilliantly to create a chance with just the keeper to beat, but he curled his shot wide – much to the frustration of Joel Campbell who was outside him for a tap-in had he made the pass.
Ozil hit the side netting, and in the final minutes Cech had to make a save from de Jong to ensure the three points were won. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t much fun, but it was a great win on a day when we didn’t play very well.
The lead at the top of the table is now 2 points as Leicester drew.
A great resilient win! In terms of the performance though, what an ugly way to start the New Year. Nothing on the wings to pick out. No midfield steel to bomb forward with or retain the ball under pressure. The absolute worst performance I’ve seen from Oxlade-chamberlain. Walcott was invisible. The midfield didn’t have any respite because the wingers didn’t give them any! Ozil was frustrated and rightly so. Ramsey ran his legs off after a groin strain (hope there’s nothing serious there). We need a winger for the right side big time! Koscienly bailed us out once again. The… Read more »
Not the prettiest three points ever earned, but win nonetheless. Some of our boys are knackered, fingers crossed Alexis can come back in couple of weeks.
Pretty much sums it up.
Side note, did anyone else see Fabianski almost score the equalizer from a corner against United on the last play of the game? That would have been somethin’…
That would have been an icing in more ways than one – not only what it would have meant to that lot from Manchester but it would also have meant Swansea would have had a chance to match a classless club!
Anthony Taylor is consistently utter shite in every game. I bet even Newcastle fans are pissed at him.
Unlike Mike Dean, that cunt’s shit is mostly aimed at us.
I don’t know how Anthony Taylor remains employed. He was dreadful today, for both teams. Let’s face it – we were lucky Oxlade-Chamberlain was still on the pitch at thirty minutes, he should have had two yellows. Throw-ins were constantly given the wrong way. Corners were goal kicks and goal kicks were corners. Obvious fouls were missed and soft ones were given. Even my grandmother could do a better job reffing than Taylor, and she’s dead.
Spot on! Just dreadful officiating.
May your grandmother rest in peace!
Feghouli would be a GREAT addition..
Why doesn’t anyone mention Pato? Was one of my favourites way back when.
On another note I honestly feel premier league as a whole needs more superstars in all the big clubs.
DirectTV does not make commentary.
They just air sports channels
and if you are talking about MSNBC commentary, they said we played badly and won the points.
And that’s how champions are made.
And we got lucky with the referee today which is true.
Campbell MUST!! Start over OC.
Playing badly and winning… Cech ✔
Yeah, I think we can safely say Cech saved us 3 priceless points today. Not a better 1-on-1 shot-stopper around IMO.
And Koscielny because without his goal this wouldve just been a draw even if we didnt lose. so his goal and Cech brilliant saves got us 3 very valuable points.
Cech; Man of the match
All hail the 3 points and Flamini’s great unbeaten run of home league games!
We don’t have Flamini to thank for it today though.
I miss Coquelin so badly!
There’s winning ugly, but winning this way gives ugly a bad name. Do we care? Not one iota, 3 points and onwards and upwards.
woooohoooo!!!
Champions win games like that so I am told! COYG!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUwIgXNDANk Ramsey deja vu ox and campbell reaction same lol
great win
Ramsey absolutely should have tee’d up Campbell. If you opt not to make that pass you better be hitting the target, or already have a comfortable lead. That was a poor decision that thankfully didn’t cost us
Chat Sh*t ourselves and win. Well Done!
I’d take a win like this all day if it means that we will lift the premier league trophy come the end of the season. But gotta admit that we had many chances to kill the game off in the last 5-10 minutes.
Flamini’s karate move though – and his reaction afterwards = Priceless
Flamini saves lives and ends lives.
Flam’s New Year resolution not starting well but I seriously believe he was happy to take the bloke out with only ten minutes remaining thinking “I haven’t had a card all year”…”and this bloke could score in the last ten”…Whattaguy!
different game if we could have gotten an early goal from the pressure.
not a great performance all around, but theres something about this team that even when we’re playing poorly I think we are ready to push on and get the points.
kos and cech were just not going to accept a defeat.
when you have this many players vying for player of the year for us you know its a great season.
Who was the bald bloke that ran onto the pitch in the second half and started playing with his whistle, and why was he not apprehended by security?
Also, that save was massive.
Yeah, the referee is so Mike Dean-esque that I swore through each decision he blew against us.
Btw how close was Fabianski from scoring against manure? That would have been so hilarious.
My god I nearly burst a blood vessel before the goal. That’s the most shouty at Arsenal I’ve been since Hull in the cup final.
Special shout out goes to Flamini, keeping the banter well and truly alive by being terrible at football.
Time wasting just means you’re scared of us. Good fight boys.
Well done Arsenal. Did just enough to get the 3 points and with a lot of help from lady luck as well. Onwards and upwards!
The good: we won! The bad: the performance (minus Cech’s). The ugly: heart rate of Arsenal supporters.
Ramsey and Ozil need to play much closer together. I honestly thought Ramsey was terrible in the first half, playing too far back in the midfield. We’d lose the ball and all of a sudden he and Flamini are running backwards trying to keep up with Newcastle’s front four, who are decent.
Second half was marginally less shit. And there was a goal! Great assist from Giroud as well.
One word- Phew!
Actually, two- Cech <3
everybody in the stadium are underperforming. unless CECH. he bailed us big time.
Even our defenders can be relied upon to give us 3 points….. Sign of champions
Blogs can you please correct the mistake….the game ended 1-1. Lmao.
at Newcastle !
Anyone else reminded of the home match against Cardiff a couple years ago? Important three points and outright top of the league!
Alexis isn’t even back yet!
Phewwww!………that was close! but, a win is a win and 3 more points towards the title, well played lads,
i.m.o., this is one of the games that cech saved us 3 points.
A great resilient win! In terms of the performance though, what an ugly way to start the New Year. Nothing on the wings to pick out. No midfield steel to bomb forward with or retain the ball under pressure. The absolute worst performance I’ve seen from Oxlade-chamberlain. Walcott was invisible. The midfield didn’t have any respite because the wingers didn’t give them any! Ozil was frustrated and rightly so. Ramsey ran his legs off after a groin strain (hope there’s nothing serious there). We need a winger for the right side big time! Koscienly bailed us out once again. The… Read more »
I simply cannot understand why Ox is starting ahead of Campbell. What does Campbell have to do to start ?
Surely what he did today will secure his place. Ahead of feo +Ox i reckon
Tbh I don’t think Campbell did much when he came up. Made a few runs but nothing out of the ordinary that the OX didn’t do a few times. Though the whole midfield was quite frankly crap. Ramsey and flamini way to deep. We should be pressing a team like Newcastle high up the pitch
Maybe Campbell is being rested!
I think wenger is trying to rotate the squad as best as he can. He obviously will be needed much more with Liverpool and stoke coming up. Y’all the same people that’ll bitch about Squad rotation and running players to the ground if he did that
damn you Welsh Jesus.
Good win. Concerned we’re leaking way too many chances
The team weren’t great but that chance at the end epitomizes everything wrong about Ramsey for me. Selfishly doesn’t pass to Campbell when if he had it would have been game over. Ozil talks about how he doesn’t need goals for his ego while Ramsey is the complete opposite. If Arsenal hadn’t won and I was Wenger I would have dropped Ramsey for Elneny (if he ever joins) a team trying to win the league doesn’t need selfish players like that.
Yep Ramsey thinks he is a superstar.
Well said sir. He runs about a lot but technically he is not good enough I’m afraid. And his ego is enormous. Hopefully wenger sees it and this elneny will replace Ramsey.
Cut him some slack people, he’s the fecking Welsh Jesus.
Ironically, the bit before he took the shot also shows everything right about Ramsey; made a great run, dribbled past his man, just couldn’t get the finish right. But I agree that he should have passed it to Campbell.
Point taken, should have said that play epitomises everything that annoys me about Ramsey. He has undoubted quality and some of the stuff he does is brilliant. But too often he over complicates or lets his massive ego take charge with no consideration for the team, something you cant do when youre trying to win the league.
I agree with you. I didn’t feel particularly good when he decided to take the shot on even though Campbell was in a better position.
A good result to start off the new year. But a hard fought one…
3 points is all that counts. Onwards and upwards. COYG!
It’s matches like this where you see how much we could do with the likes of Coq and Alexis…
This kind of result hepls us to make us champions.
Not a spectacular team performance but all that matters at this point of time is three points.
Once again Cech does it 1v1. Truly a top top top class signing. Also loved Gibbs and Campbell when they came on. On a side note I am very disappointed with the Ox. Somebody should teach the lad how to shield the ball. Also he always looks like he is an inch away in all his movements.
Is there anyone left who is yet to be convinced that Petr Cech is going to be one of the main reasons we win the league this year?
Newcastle the new old arsenal
I’ve got bags of time for Rambo but not when he is playing for himself and always trying to get his nam in the headlines. He has to learn to do what is best for the team, be it squaring it for a tap in to a player in a better position or not deciding to take a quick free kick when we are trying to win the game first and foremost. Love the man but think he really needs to cut that side of his game out. Also, Joel looked very good when he came on today, love the… Read more »
If you’re talking about the chance at the end, it was a simple finish that he screwed wide. This talk of Ramsey being selfish it bollocks. Just because he’s not Ozil doesn’t make him selfish
Agreed on both the points. Campbell should be starting over Ox on current form. He is better than him at everything atm, even though Ox might have greater potential. The way Ox goes to sleep while tracking back never happens when Joel is on the pitch.
I love that he runs his socks off and never hides from the ball but Ramsey really can be selfish in positions like that towards the end. Still concerned by The Ox’s performances but would have rather he’d stayed on instead of Walcott who had one of those days again. As much as I like Mertesacker who is far better than he gets credit for I wouldn’t mind seeing Gabriel alongside Koscielny in the next game. My concern with Mertesacker is that Koscielny comes inside too far in order to compensate for the lack of pace and thus chances like… Read more »
The Good: 3 points (and our current closest rival dropping points) Koscielny Ozil Bellerin Campbell was bright when he came on. The Bad: Body snatchers have replaced the Ox with a third-rate copy of himself. Should not be starting ahead of Campbell. Terrible. Monreal’s worst game of the season, repeatedly robbed and beaten. Aaron Ramsey still hasn’t re-discovered the shooting boots he found two years ago. His conversion rate on big chances inside the box must be the worst going around. His runs off and on the ball create the chances, but he MUST finish them more often. Ramsey-Flamini’s limitations… Read more »
Oh yeah, and the Very Good: That man Cech. Thanks for letting him come to us, Roman!
Great reading of the game today
A terrific win.
Joel Campbell is just miles better than chamberlain at the moment.He has got to be starting for me.Chamberlain has really got to step it up with crossing and passing for all the potential that he has got.
Sign some players already Arsene.
The bench is simply lacking.At least a couple of quality signings required to lift up the team.
Everyone seemed to be playing with a NYE hangover (although NYE was 2 days ago!). 3 points thanks to Chech! Easily the best goalkeeper in the prem this year. What a signing! Other than that I’m really concerned about the Ox’s drop in form. Hope he improves but for now I think Campbell deserves to start ahead of him. In the short time Campbell was on he did more than the Ox did in either half. He was excellent in defensive duties, good on the ball, created a chance and would have scored if it wasn’t for Ramsey’s selfishness. I… Read more »
I have to say im still hungover
John Terry is a an absolute twunt….but 10-15 points will be the quote of the season.
Aaron……..pass.
Who knew John Terry could be right about anything?
And that makes it 53 Unbeaten for Flam. We would definitely win the League if Flamster keeps his incredible unbeaten record this season !
What really 53?
Seriously, you don’t know?
Flamini has played in 53 matches at Emirates, either as a starter or as a sub, and never lost any of them.
Just didn’t know it was as high as 53 games mate.
terrific win.
Joel Campbell is just miles better than chamberlain at the moment.He has got to be starting for me.Chamberlain has really got to step it up with his crossing and passing for all the potential that he has got.
Sign some players already Arsene.
The bench is simply lacking.At least a couple of quality signings required to lift the team up.
How many people with this name are there on this website? I have counted 4 so far.
Sorry mate.Drunk I was.Ended up posting it twice.
My bad.
JEEZ..U GOT MY SAME NAME?
Whatever else happened, that goal was superb. Giroud showed great determination and presence of mind, and Kos finished perfectly after outhustling the defender.
Giroud’s “assists” go unmentioned sometimes…HFB!
what’s the deal with leaving before the match ends? i understand the travelling issues but c’mon, half stadium empty while still playing? on saturday afternoon? just being curious, we don’t do that were i live.
Great win. Fantastic three points. From a longer-term viewpoint I’m a bit concerned. It’s the third bad performance against below-average opposition in a row. Clearly Giroud and the central midfielders are exhausted due to injuries curtailing rotation opportunities. Understandable. Kos dug really deep to drive the team forward in the second half and deserves the glory despite his shaky defensive moments in the first 70 minutes. Cech was/is as massive as we all hoped he’d be when we signed him. Exactly the kind of game and opposition where Ox and Walcott should be dominating the other team’s full-backs and tearing… Read more »
Spot on mate. I said Theo and Ox needed to “step up” on the “Teams News” bit and they didn’t…but I still thnk we will be champions!
Ox and Walcott need to up their passing and tracking back/positioning game to at least Campbells level to have any hope of being 1st 11 when players come back. Welbeck, Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla all look like better options.
Im not a fan of everyone in the stands getting impatient and booing backwards passes already at 55mins… it creates more anxiety and does not help in anyway at all.
Really massive win tbh. Only way is forward. COYG.
Ox. Ah, Ox. Whatever will we do with you. Strikes me (I may be wrong – it has happened, once. 39 years ago) that Ox is a very instinctive player. He looked all right from time to time when he pinned his ears back, hared towards goal, but when it came to decision-making and creating when he had time on the ball he looked like a Carling Cup Kid. Not instinctive in the same way as Theo (much better dribbling and body control/feinting, and emanating an aura of *cockiness?* *confidence*? in contrast to Walcott’s FUCKING CHRIST THEO THEY’RE ALL WATCHING… Read more »
Agreed but I think Theo has the same problems when given time to make decisions.
I can’t see Ox and Theo surviving here and Campbell may take one of their places very soon.
We can surely do better than all 3 of them.
Thumbs up you sir for two good comments on both OX and Theo. Makes a change to the comments on here berating OX from dribbling time to time. He’s talent is unquestionable has it in spades and I think when he gets everything together we can have our very on Sanchez because there style of play is so similar! Campbell however is ahead at the moment in my opinion because of the defensive shift he puts in every game though he always looks tired at 30mins as he wears himself out. He will come I’m sure of it and Wenger… Read more »
Campbell is miles ahead 9f chambo at the moment, which is more a compliment to the former rather than a criticism of the latter
I thought Chambers was very “excellently good” when he came on, did lots of good stuff, passing tackling and holding the ball.
It’s worth mentioning at this point that Newcastle beat Spurs at White Hart lane and Liverpool at St James’ last month because 1) it shows they can win games against clubs higher in the league and 2) it’s hilarious.
Really another in a trend of worrisome displays. Tough stretch coming up at Liverpool, at Stoke and home to Chelsea and need to get Sanchez back out there starting with Liverpool. Great grit to hang on and win, but we are heading in the wrong direction with our level of play. Cech really saved us this match and really other than Ozil nobody up front looked to have any energy. Never seen Ozil press so much defensively (while of course Giroud stands there watching complaining that nobody passed him the ball or a foul should have been called) and when… Read more »