VICTORY FEELS GOOD….
It was a good evening, a good match that left most Arsenal fans feeling good and hopeful about our team. Great response from the lads after the recent deceleration in our title chase. We need to finish strong, on a high. That we can do by WINNING ALL OUR REMAINING MATCHES. If City fumbles and we get to win the trophy, so be it. We will be worthy winners….let’s just do our thing.
So Arteta tweaked things, pulling out Holding for Kiwior, Partey for Jorginho and Martinelli for Trossard. May be too early to analyse the impact of these changes but that first 45 minutes was energetic and intense yesterday. We were able to put three goals past Keepah in goal for Chelsea. Our left wing was particularly active and the first two goals by Odergaard were from Xhaka assists from that side. Our third goal by Jesus was from a pull out from the right wing.
The game was open and frenetic in that first half though we slowed down a tad in the second. We had Gabriel’s header cleared from the line, saves from Odergaard and other opportunities to increase the tally.
Chelsea pulled one back through Nonny Madueke, who timed his run perfectly to receive Kovacic’s pass to beat Ramsdale. Ball watching Zinchenko was left scratching his jaw in bewilderment.
It was a good performance matched with the right reward. Forget all the travails of the Pretenders, they are still a competitive side. They are just discovering the difference between “progress” and “success”.
Chelsea has been successful in recent times but they haven’t made progress as a club. They have “purchased” success. So they believe that is the surest way, but there are other ways.
Arsenal on the other hand, we haven’t been successful in recent times but we have surely made progress as a club. We just need that progress rewarded with some success as soon as possible. That will reinforce the fact that we are on the right track, doing the right thing. If the stars align in our favour, we may get that at the end of this season. We are still in it. We must never give up.
I have reiterated, that you can only win with the players you have. Salivating over and coveting players we do not have after every bad patch is not what wins matches/trophies. If we had Caicedo, when we have Rice, if we had Beans….are all unnecessary, unproductive banter at this time.
We focus on using what we have to the optimum. Do what is best for the team, not for any individual. Every individual must align their expectations with the team’s. We don’t want Holding, use Kiwior…like we did yesterday. How did that pan out..? Not as bad as some expected abi? Partey is off form, use Jorginho, Xhaka is sick, push Zinchenko to his role and play Tierney. Martinelli is fatigued, rest him, play Trossard. We have a squad, everyone is willing and eager to contribute. Usage and rotation of one’s squad is a KPI for modern day football managers. Use what you have to get what we want/need.
Gabriel may be out of the Newcastle game but it shouldn’t slow us down. Move Reuell Walters in as right back, do a CB duo of Ben White -Kiwior, or White- Holding or Kiwior- Holding, leaving White as RB. Find the best option and apply, beef up the confidence of the boys, you can do this. We go to St James’s park and get a win….it is doable. The reverse fixture was a goalless draw at the Emirates.
We are back on track. Everything we desire as a club is on the other side of our bravery and courage. We have come this far, we might as well die trying.
COYG……