Result: West Brom 0-4 Arsenal
Competition: Premier League
Date: 2 January 2021
Venue: The Hawthorns
Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Mari, Tierney, Xhaka, Ceballos, Saka, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Sub: Runarsson, Luiz, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Willock, Willian, Pepe, Martinelli, Nketiah
Arsenal beat West Brom 4-0 at the Hawthorns to secure a third win in eight days to move up to 11th in the Premier League table.
Kieran Tierney scored an excellent solo effort to break the deadlock before Bukayo Saka finished off a fine team move to double the lead five minutes later.
Alex Lacazette put the result beyond doubt just past the hour-mark with a clinical brace to get our 2021 off to a fine start.
Pre-game
Mikel Arteta rewarded Alex Lacazette for scoring the winner against Brighton with restoration to the starting lineup. The Frenchman was handed the responsibility of leading the attack meaning Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, at the expense of Gabriel Martinelli, moved to the left flank. For the third game in a row, Emile Smith Rowe started in the number 10 role. Tucked behind him, Dani Ceballos replaced Mo Elneny as Granit Xhaka’s partner. David Luiz and Willian, both back from illness, took up places on the bench.
First Half
A match in the snow against a relegation-threatened Sam Allardyce side. It’s the plot of a movie you don’t really want to watch but you tune in hoping for a surprise.
The early signs were promising. Bellerin met a deep cross from Aubameyang on the run and tested keeper Johnstone with a low drive. Saka also tested the keeper after going head-to-head with O’Shea.
The England international continued to see lots of the ball. On 16 minutes, he cut in from the right onto his left foot and whipped a dangerous ball to the back post that Aubameyang came desperately close to meeting. He tried side same trick two minutes later and again had the home defence in a panic.
West Brom did threaten with a counter-attack that ended with Phillips stinging Leno’s palms, but we continued to dominate the ball. Eventually, Tierney took matters into his own hands.
Collecting the ball on the left flank, the Scot flicked the ball outside Furlong, went the long way round to collect the ball, doubled-back, cut inside the defender and with his right-foot curled a beauty into the top corner from just inside the corner of the box. It was the type of finish you’d expect of Aubameyang. An absolute beauty for just his second goal in red and white. (1-0)
As the snow started to settle, we doubled our lead. This time, it was all about the quality and drive of Smith Rowe. Picking the ball up just outside the box, the youngster played a delicious little pass around the corner to Saka and continued his run into the box. Lacazette found him behind the West Brom defence and he calmly rolled the ball across the six-yard box for Saka to tuck home. It was the type of goal we used to take for granted; quick passing, great movement and brilliantly incisive. (2-0)
Smith Rowe continued to pull the strings. A beautiful little pass to Lacazette saw the Frenchman, via a deflection, test Johnstone. From the resulting corner, Holding tested the keeper again with a header.
We really should have gone into the break with a three-goal advantage but Johnstone made a fine stop to deny Lacazette who’d wriggled clear of Ivanovic before lashing goalwards.
Second Half
West Brom had the ball in the back of the net early – Diangana hammering home – but the flag went up to correctly rule Callum Robinson offside in the build-up.
After a scrappy 15 minutes, Lacazette, who’d missed an earlier chance, finally gave us some breathing room on the hour mark. The Frenchman slotted home his fouth goal in four games on the rebound after Smith Rowe had an effort saved by Ajayi on the line after the ex-Gunner had hit his own post trying to clear a Saka cross. (3-0)
The heads of the home side dropped and Lacazette, almost apologetically, helped himself to a second goal four minutes later connecting with a Tierney cross from underneath the crossbar. (4-0)
The chances kept coming for the Gunners. Willian came on for Saka and nearly set-up Aubameyang by shanking an effort into the striker’s path. The captain’s effort went over. Determined to get on the scoresheet, Auba put his head down and drove towards goal before unleashing another powerful left-foot shot that Johnstone did well to save at his near post.
Willock and Willian had further half-chances to extend our lead but in the end, we settled for four goals and, thanks to Leno’s stoppage-time save from Harper, a second clear sheet in a row.
The festive period has been kind to us. This result leaves the Gunners just three points off sixth-placed Chelsea and six points shy of the Champions League places. Our challenge is to keep the momentum going, next up we have three home games on the trot, starting with Newcastle in the FA Cup.
Saka is elite. Tierney is our next captain. ESR is a revelation, including his off-the-ball defensive awareness. The Lacanaissance continues—he looks three years younger playing off the kids.
If we petition bt sports do you think they would release the ‘Sam Cam’ footage for the full 90mins of that game? I for one would gladly sit down and watch an hour and a half of that. Gladly.
I was concerned when Martinelli didn’t start. I wasn’t sure Auba would put in the necessary shift. But one of the amazing things about our young lads is that it seems as though they’ve enthused and galvanised the senior players.
So happy. Fuck yeah!!! Love to all!! Happy fucking new year!!! 2021. Hell of a year!
Well at least us and Big Sam are not rivals anymore, we are just not in his league..
I bet Arteta had that quote of Fat Sam’s pinned to the wall at Colney for the last week. And Sam can be proud of himself, he can claim he’s now already saved one team from relegation this year.
‘Sam Cam’
According to The Guardian, “Sam Allardyce has now lost to Arsenal as manager of eight different clubs: Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Everton and West Brom.”
Happy New year Johnny and all the fellow gooners🎉😘
So Johnny, tell me please, still can we not make CL in next 3 seasons playing these “kids”?😏😉
https://arseblog.news/2020/10/ozil-and-sokratis-excluded-from-arsenals-premier-league-squad/#comment-1279648
Wow! How do you do that? That’s so cool! The kids are great, ESR has done way better than I could have imagined. And Martinelli has been superb! I’d argue we are still a fair way off champions league. It’s nice to get ahead of yourself when we win games convincingly. But I’d err on caution. We need a few more senior players (ACM and CB) before we can dream that dream! But yeah, they have had a way more visceral impact than I could have dreamed of and I’m super duper happy to be proved wrong! You have a… Read more »
How impressive laca looks with our youngsters.
There’s a reason he was our player of the year in a season where Auba was top scorer in the league. All those crying for Auba in the middle, it was just the negative football and nothing to do with our strikers. They are good when we attack.
Have been saying this for a while. Lacazette’s hold-up play, passing and fancy flicks are far better suited to this style of play. He always works best with players making runs to play off of, and that is exactly what Saka, Martinelli and ESR are giving him. Quality striker that has been written off far too early by many.
Really, Auba is struggling to get into the team with Martinelli back.
Really?
Funny, I saw Auba on the pitch last night and Martinelli on the bench…..
This guy could replace Giroud as the French central pivot. Hope he never lets his head down again
He’s never let his head go down, he’s just been starved all season, like the rest of the front line, of decent service from the midfield – until the inclusion of ESR last week.
I insist he did let his head down, there were days he was the failed piece of that often misfiring machine of a few weeks ago . His energy was off
In three games ESR has demonstrated he’s the keystone to this team, the kids a fucking phenomenon, his movement and awareness of space are at a completely different level.
I know he a Saka have played together for years but their dynamic on the pitch is so good to see.
It’s crazy mehn
Best part of this week’s performances are we still have Partey, Gabriel to add to the lineup and Auba to hit form. We can still go up a level or two
I think it is a scientific fact that Tierney and Holding draw power from the snow.
Saka draws power from being Saka.
Saka is The Child!!
The force is strong with this one and does not even need Jedi training 😅
Tierney Requested short sleeves.
yup. saw holding smiling to himself a few times. reminds me of cech (always caught him smiling to himself when the cameras pointed at him). they get along very well too. saw holding give tierney a slight tap with his leg on his head when tierney was down on the ground clutching his head
Wtf is a Smith Rowe 😳
Saka is now our best attacking player. It’s no fluke, he’s been doing it since last season. For me he looks even better playing from the right. I hope that’s his spot moving forward.
In the absence of Ozil, so do I.
We need the ball to be played to feet through the channels – not the endless hoofing of crosses.
It’s taken Arteta half a season for the penny to drop, but perhaps now he’ll have learnt from his many mistakes.
Are you backing Arteta now? Just for the record?
No. The jury is still out – for me anyway.
Three wins isn’t going to wipe out our worst start for 40 years.
We were cruising and he brought on Willian last night – there was absolutely no need for that whatsoever.
And, at the time of writing, we’re still in the bottom half of the table.
This week has been an improvement, but then could things really have got any worse?
Come back to me when we’re challenging for the title and making the ECL – as this club should be.
I think Arteta has tryed to turn Laca into a real Firmino type so he can play that 9 role but drop in deep and play as 10 hold it up high up the pitch. I am one who still thinks Ozil could offer something but at the same time its not going to happen so we should move on.
The only reason it won’t happen is Arteta’s ego. It makes sense from a pragmatic and financial perspective. Bring him in for the odd game to give ESR a break then let him fuck off to Turkey or whatever at season’s end. I suspect at this rate we won’t be looking for a senior player above ESR but someone to compete with him or be his backup. Really enjoying watching him combine with Saka, Laca, Martinelli.
Top post, well said. Any other manager worth his salt would implement what you have said. Unfortunately, we have a guy who seems to think that being five minutes into the job and wearing a nice line of clobber entitle him to think that he knows it all. He ignored both Wenger and Ljungberg’s advice to reinstate Ozil – despite our pathetic plight. Don’t expect him to have a change of heart now – especially after ESR and Saka have (temporarily at least) dug him out of seriously endangering his employment status. He was three bad results from the sack,… Read more »
It won’t happen, because Arteta’s ego won’t allow it.
As for this ‘moving on’ business. Just remember you have as much right to air your pro Ozil views as the Anti Ozil Crèche have to post their ignorant rubbish on here.
Whatever happens now, this season will be remembered as our worst start in 40 years – and that was down to Arteta’s omission of Ozil.
It’s a shame you can’t enjoy team success because of your emotional attachment to one player. I don’t care who plays for the badge as long as they give 100%. Arteta has a lot to learn, his squad management skills are shockingly poor IMO but he will hopefully learn not to destroy club assets as much as has occurred. The players back him, we should as well until its demonstrated he’s not the one. As a club, we are very poorly run. KSE have chosen to put all their eggs in one basket with the manager model rather than a… Read more »
And Auba is feeling the pressure. That has to be a good thing.
Why?
I saw a frustrated guy nearing the end of his tether last night.
Until this week, he has been starved of decent service from the midfield – thanks to the manager’s team selection idiocy.
I hope in the next few games he rediscovers his form – we need his goals.
Martinelli is a good young prospect with a great future – but he is no replacement for Aubameyang. Not yet, anyway.
Sorry have to disagree here. Martinelli’s relentless energy and pushing the other team back under pressure changed the whole emotional level of the team and got senior players a running a bit. Martinelli ESR and Saka were the players that turned this around, not our club Captain Auba. Martinelli can impact a team, Auba can score goals but I think he’s demonstrated as a player, he cannot lift the team. I hope he gets his confidence back, we could use his goal production. We need both players.
Let’s just say the fact that ESR will only get better is very exciting. Happy 2021
Thought Ceballos was really good today. And Thank God for Kieran Tierney and Saka. Been a while since we’ve had a 4-0 win, feels good!
Aye Ceballos was outstanding, sitting on the bench and seeing for himself what was required has certainly brought an improvement.
I mean, on Ceballos, it’s been a while I’ve seen him play this good. Seemed like he was keen to remind everyone about his quality tonight.
I was always keen on what he’d do under pressure. He just seemed to find his way out the pressure and play an amazing pass that sets the team on attack all at the same time.
His passes gave me a lot of Óh my god’ moments. His technique and dribbling was also really good tonight.
It helped him a lot to have ESR and Laca ahead of him with Saka on the right to pick out
Before that he only had Laca ahead + feckin Willian on the right
Although, as Elneny has proved the last couple of games, having options ahead of you doesn’t necessarily mean you have the talent and/or stones to pick them out
Dani should be the starter alongside Partey. And Elneny needs to be demoted again to backup backup. I should change my username
Nah Elneny hasn’t got that shit that quickly. He’s solid, plays an important holding role. Picks the odd great pass, but mainly lays it off to someone more creative.
I honestly didn’t know we had a 4-0 in us. Nice suprise.
from.open.play.
Watch how he celebrates the third
I loved that crunching tackle in the 87th minute, commitment 😀
Rowe Row Rowe Smith Rowe
Gently down the snooow
If you see Saka and Laca
Don’t forget to screeeam
That was a friendly thumbs down. Music senses offended, but your thought counts.
WTF….
I felt that the win against Fulham was flattering. They were very naive. On the other hand we’ve torn Fat Sam’s cloggers to pieces away and in the snow.
Good game by Ceballos but he always runs the midfield when the opposition is ovbiously inferior.
I agree. Really hope he can step it up in the bigger games and prove us wrong in that respect.
Better than no one running the midfield against inferior opposition…which is what we’ve had at times this season.
Was expecting worse against hugly Sam’s WBA, delighted by the Kids again.
Since how long haven’t we taken 100% of the points during the Xmas period??
COYG!!
Bring back Partey, sign Balogun and move on 🙂
Imagine our best team involving Auba and Pepe on the bench with kids starting.
Like Lacazette’s renaissance, let’s believe that both Pepe and Auba will find their baller’s boots alongside the Kids
Top four is becoming real. Since we are Arsenal I hope we do not finish fifth one point off Spurs in fourth position.
I love your optimism!
Despite the media focusing on his fee and salary, Pepe is a kid.
So our best player for the past 3 years is now a write off. I expect you were saying that about Lacazette a few weeks ago. Toxic toxic toxic
6 months ago, Auba’s extension was Arsenal’s signing of the season and the platform to build world domination.
People have short memories.
But then again, footballers have short careers.
People may say that it’s only West Brom, but that was some of the slickest play I’ve seen under Arteta. This rapid pass and move style is very reminiscent of the best of the Wenger era, and has indeed been much of what we’ve really missed so far this season. Long may it continue!
Energy, drive, commitment, forward passing, 1 touch football… this was delightful, let’s not underestimate how better this is than what we produced in November
Let it snow every game.
It was against our perceived weakness so it was indeed impressive.
It was only WBA but, we’ve played teams not much better than them this season, and played absolutely shit. I’ll definitely take this one
Yes, it is only West Brom. I hoped we have turned the corner, but this begs the question why we were subject to such torrid football a couple of months back.
lol @ Big Sam. Maybe he should concentrate on his team rather than talking shit about Arsenal
Exactly! He said this was a relegation scrap -just trying to wind us up, I’m sure. So glad this was a thumping – just what the soon-to-be-relegated Allardyce deserves.
Talking about a big club is the closest he has ever got to managing one.
He thought he still had Okocho and Djorkaeff to bail out his orc teams.
Been waiting a long time for that kind of result and performance. Of course KT loves it in the snow! Cant say much about Saka that hasn’t been said but outstanding as is the norm these days. I think I might be in love with ESR though. Bringing back Wengerball single handedly, love that one touch pass and move, there’s still things he can improve and I hope he learns to impose himself on games more, but the talent is definitely there. Honorable mention to Ceballos as well. Only sour point was Willian coming on and reminding me why I… Read more »
Agree on Willian. Looked totally off the pace but maybe that’s just emphasised because he came on for Saka who just a few mins earlier was running the show
Totally off the pace is exaggerated. That drive and shot was HAZARDous to West Brom.
Never has the word pointless been more apt than for Willians presence at the club.
God, that was fun 😁 I forgot how much fun football can be when you’re not playing like twats and allowing useless, overpaid pricks stay in the team. It’s about time we played the young quality we’ve got consistently. “You can’t win anything with kids” has been irrefutably and laughably disproven enough now. The study of the role of confidence in the performance of sportsmen is truly fascinating between Lacazette and Aubameyang, though. Think about how when Laca was in the doldrums and he looked as slow & talentless as you or I, compared to now? And here we have… Read more »
It’s also hugely enjoyable to not see the pro Ozil trolls out in force. He’s a busted flush. We’ve moved in. Time he did the same,
On.
sorry.
Oh look, a blind anti-Ozil ogre.
That was a very satisfying and entertaining outcome.
The youngsters continuing to justify starting ahead of more experienced teammates. Like London buses, after a long wait for creators we now have atleast 2 in Saka and ESR from within our academy itself!
Surprisingly, some have written off the season already. We are almost at the halfway mark of the league, there is plenty of the league and Cup season to play. Confidence and fluidity goes down the elevator but comes up stairs. Let’s play well and see where and what we end the season with.
“Confidence and fluidity goes down the elevator but comes up stairs.” Like it!
Arteta has now proven over 2.25 games that he know how to coach and implement excellent attacking football ( I know this was West Brom, but we also did it against Chelsea; and against Sheffield utd, he made astute tactical changes at half time). Let’s see if the consistency is there, but the signs are promising. I can now see how he wants his team to play and thus can believe in the project. The problems seem to have been personnel. That leads us to remaining qestions over the backroom staff – let’s see if any more dodgy Kia-esque… Read more »
I won’t rush to crown Arteta so fast. He got forced into playing ESR+ Martinelli+Saka with Laca up front dir to suspensions and injuries. These players then energized the team to the results we’re seeing. Only credit I’m willing to give him right now is that he’s stuck to it.
Seemed like he couldn’t wait to get Willian back in the swing of things.
Wenger played Cazorla and Coquelin through the center due to injuries too… He wouldnt have dreamt of it otherwise.
The important thing – especially for a new still-learning manager is to check if he’s learnt the lesson and moved on.
Martinelli and ESR been injured
That’s no excuse; he had Ozil and Saka at his disposal since August.
Instead he chose to play Willian and Co and bore us all to death en route to 15th place in the table.
Ozil doesn’t have the drive that the kids do. Don’t you remember how toothless he was for his last full two seasons. Technically the most gifted player at the club but he demands to be treated differently and that doesn’t work in club sports.
Worried about the talks of bringing Vinicius Jr or Isco on loan. Seems like Edu is like your usual Fifa playing bloke – knows the famous guys and cant figure out a nice unknown.
But away with that for a moment, 4 nil get in!!!! COYG
Thank goodness we gave Big Sam and his Baggies a solid spanking despite the dreadful conditions. The players were running like penguins 🐧 in the second half. I’m a little annoyed at how the sports media are downplaying (or not mentioning) the stain on Allardyce’s reputation due to his past misconduct. I cannot believe this is the man they sacked Slaven Bilic for. Never should have been given the job, let alone welcomed back so warmly. He was so confident of beating Arsenal when he arrived. On a more positive, it was great to see us win a league game… Read more »
He’s an fat, arrogant walrus prick. What else d’you expect?
Clean sheet, positive goal difference again, attacking effervescence, and all this befalling Sam Allardyce. Happy new year everyone!!
How good was Ceballos tonight?!!
Although the roles are slightly different, I prefer him to Xhaka any day and twice over on match days!
Good enough for weaker teams.
I thought we were ‘relegation rivals’ Sam? 😉
Lacazette is coming into the form of his life. 4 goals in 3 games! Not to mention that absolutely genius pre-assist for Saka’s goal
Definitely the best performance of 2021 so far
Performance of the decade, really.
Fantastic performance from all involved. Even more pleasing hammering 4 past the walrus.
Bit of a smack in the face for Martinelli bit gutted for him not getting on back cannot gripe against anything else. Saka just gets better and better.
He’ll start in the FA Cup. There’s enough games to go round.
He just came back from a long term injury and the schedule is tight. We can’t play him every game
I don’t think it’s a slap in the face in the slightest. He’s a young player on the comeback from a very serious injury who had played possibly a bit too much football recently.
He was rotated out for one of the best forwards in world football (yes, despite a lacklustre half season where Auba failed to do much with the whopping 4 xG created for him), and it would have been silly to risk him in the second half with the game comfortably won.
#ArtetaIn
Joking aside, some really nice football today.
Tierney showing Auba what to do in future contests with a world class opener.
Saka and ESR and Laca looking like they have great chemistry and understanding, flair combined with sturdy hard work and genuine competition for those 50/50s.
Really pleased, feeling good again and technically 6 points from the leading pack.
I would love if we could take the next 9 points before Man U, but in any case, well done everyone.
Love it (and thanks – I needed it!!)
Ok. That was fast.
All we needed was more energy and the young players brought it. No more old signings please!
I’m not against old players coming in, but we shouldn’t expect them to be our saviours. We should focus on signing young talents and the old, experienced players to serve as mentors to the youngsters, and to add a bit of depth, but I’d rather too if those old, experienced players were players who known the arsenal way: I’d love to see someone as Ramsey to finish his career with us, mentoring young gunners, for example.
Of course, if they’re asking for silly wages, then no, would rather use that money on hungry young players.
The game has moved on so far in the last 3 years. Athleticism is the most important thing now. Its why players like Ozil are extinct especially if they cant adapt.
There is still room in the game for incisive long range passes as well defence splitting short passes.
An intelligent attacking midfielder will always make the ball do the work whilst everyone else is charging about like a tit in a trance.
There will always be room in the game for players like George, Brady, Best, Hoddle, Begkamp and Ozil.
It will be interesting to see what Ozil does next and who he plays for if he plays.
I value the Egyptian, but as far as forward-play concern – Ceballos and Elneny ar poles apart…
Elneny is a solid squad player you can bring on to shore up matches. He’s way too conservative to be a starter though.
KT. My captain! Take the 10 off Ozil and give it to ESR, he needs a proper kit number and that bum doesn’t need the 10 shirt.
Three wins in a row, even if it was against three of the worst teams in the PL.
As has been in the last few games: Tierney, Saka and ESR were just sublime. Laca fighting spirit is always a plus, even when he doesn’t have the best games, but today he had a great game and scored and played superbly. Bit worried about Auba but hopefully he will regain some confidence soon. Willian came in and wasn’t as bad as other matches, perhaps playing him as a sub and not as a starter should be the norm, tho I’d rather playing someone else instead of him. Surely should be clear now to the management team that we should… Read more »
I love ESR.
There were moments in that first half when it almost felt like watching St Denis
He’s a good kid with a great future but to compare him to Bergkamp is ridiculous.
Saka. No words can describe him.
I heard about him from the academy. I was eager to see him play in the first team. I kind of expected him to be a gem, but is exceeding my expectations.
Majestic Saka, Laca & KT! Get in!
Kieran loves the cold!
he’s going to shower off using washing up liquid and then jog back to London in just his shorts
I genuinely believe there is some truth to that.
Saka and ESR are really really special. Just absolute class. Arteta fantastic management again. Let’s show some class as well as fans, by making Willian the story here with our comparative analysis, ironic as it is to say.
Auba needs help with his confidence. And he needs it right now.
Auba ll sort himself out
With ESR in the team, he might now finally get some more opportunities to score – as he did tonight.
Willian was poor, AMN careless, Auba completely off form. All the rest were excellent.
Willian was better tonight to be fair to him.
He gave the ball away four times in his first ten minutes. Hit a shit shot. Then made one good pass before hitting another shit into the keeper’s hands, Yes I was counting.
AMN was rangy like a Range Rover, not careless
Willian is shit – end of story.
The sooner we’re rid of him, the useless Chelsea has-been, the better.
Pablo Mari is clearly a better all round defender than David Luiz. Suits Arsenal’s play much better. Must start every match.
Yeah I like his calmness on the ball, good energy.
Auba getting in some good positions but just seems a second behind the pace
If we hadn’t played backwards for a the last months we would be like 7 points clear at the top.
Keep this forward minded football please
Well you know who to blame for that.
I warned about it August, it happened and now everyone’s trying to sweep it under the carpet and telling me to ‘move on’, whilst the team are still in the bottom half of the table.
Move on. Arteta not the only manager to drop Ozil, Wenger, Emery and Freddie all dropped Ozil before Arteta. Arteta just dropped him from the squad since he wasn’t going to play him. You can say the team is in the bottom half of the table because we aren’t playing him, you can have that opinion but doesn’t make it accurate. You can’t prove cause and effect. Too many games he disappeared that I watched under Wenger after the contract. He seemed a different player after the whole German row on the national team.
And you CAN prove cause and effect?
Then kindly explain to us all why this club has had its worst league campaign for 40 years….?
Kind of vintage Gunners, love the young guns!
What you mean is that we’re now passing the thing, not hoofing or crossing it or passing backwards and sideways.
Amazing what a difference a decent No. 7 and a decent No. 10 can bring.
Wow!
That second goal exorcised the spirit of Ozil…😁
What a goal!
What a game!
And to think, if Arteta has played Ozil back in August, this team wouldn’t be fucking about in the lower half of the table, trying to salvage something from our worst start in 40 years.
But, hey, I’ve got to “Move on dude, let it go” and sweep our hitherto shit season with Willian and Co under the carpet, now that we’ve won three on the bounce with ESR doing exactly what Ozil would have done in the first place.
One of the easiest thing to do behind the keyboard is to prove yourself right. You should give lessons on that and hand out diplomas for online courses – add one e to Qwaliteee. The diplomas of course should have an Ozil sticker
Ozil doesn’t tackle, ESR tackles a lot. ESR two way player. Ozil one way player. How do you not understand that the game has moved on, there are no more passenger players?
Really?
This team have been carrying Willian ever since he signed.
And Arteta still picks him.
The fact that Saka and Smith Rowe were both withdrawn to be rested says it all about their importance for the team. And it’s no coincidence that all of sudden Lacazette is a decent striker and Xhaka is a decent midfielder.
What we have been missing has been movement in the pockets of space and Smith Rowe single-handedly has transformed the way we played.
100%. Sometimes it is that simple. And says everything about his quality.
It’s scary to imagine that he still has to grow and improve.
What we’ve been missing is a quality number 10.
We had one ready to start in August, but Arteta chose to ostracise him.
Smith Rowe and Saka are ballers! COYG!!
I wanted a fifth for Big Sam.
The Return of The Arsenal.
Ok, that 2nd goal looked like one of those goals that made me fall in love with Arsenal many years ago!
Well done tonight!
So wengerball esque, it was amazing. The young lads add that ambition, that bite, that longing to move the ball forward. I missed that
Oh, you Emile! Oh, you beautiful boy!!
Saka is just sooo much.
Tierney is just so reliable.
Laca is just scoring…
Beautiful. Beautiful. Next game, Martinelli in Auba, please…
Willian dreadful.
Awesome. Tierney really deserved that goal. The second goal was so vintage Arsenal.
Reminds me that Wilshere team goal.
A very good night’s work against an awful West Brom side.
Saca and Tierney both sensational, their goals were the highlights of the evening. Laca has found some form and took his goals well.
The only negative tonight was the continuing terrible form of Auba: he was awful and yet again missed a couple of decent chances. Martinelli must start against Newcastle.
Man of the match: Saca. Women of the match: the players wearing tights.
We should have scored at least 6 but I’ll take the 4. Looks like Arteta is turning things around.
I’m so happy!
“Willian with a decent effort from the edge of the box, keeper saves well”
For a moment I wasn’t sure I was reading an Arseblog Liveblog. 🙂
On another note though, I’m really concerned about the futures of Pepe and Willian considering how much we invested for them and have gotten all this value from Saka who does eactly what is expected from them for FREE…sort of.
Finally this was an excellent team perfomance probably not seen since Wenger.
You don’t pay more for your bench warmers than you do for your starters. Martinelli and Saka light years ahead of both of them.
Sell both for what we can get and invest in the midfield.
Brilliant performance against a potential bogey side and manager. I am liking what I am seeing. There are still weaknesses that Arteta can see but stopping the fat walrus and Charlie Austin, who always seem to score against us. Another clean sheet. Well done Arsenal, top marks. 🙂
Cant be upset with a 4 nil win!
Great performace! Tierney, Smith Rowe and Saka were epic and brought out best in Laca. So nice to actually like 10 of players in starting 11 😀
Thoughts on who should partner Partey when he comes back in? Thought Ceballos was great today but I’d imagine Arteta will go with Xhaka for more balance
What balance?
A good player and a bad one?
The problem with all these options–Xhaka, Ceballos, and Elneny–is that you just don’t know what you’re going to get from any of them from game to game. Though I suspect we will get that from Partey, so it’ll be a relief to be somewhere between 50-100% power each game instead of anywhere from 0-100 (with the possibility of 100 being extremely generous, of course).
On a cold windy night in……Nothing more satisfying than destroying a Fat Sam side…’Relegation rivals’ fuck off you bellend.
Youngsters injecting Laca with new energy
Always good to put one over that fat walrus faced cunt.
Auba could have had a hatrick of tap ins today, except his confidence is so low he’s 1/2 a second behind in his reactions and movement. He needs his mojo back.
Otherwise great performance all round. First game I have watched in months and I enjoyed it, no stress – that’s a much better way to watch football.