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| Image Credits: Arsenal.com |
Thursday
night trudge of a football got off to a late start with the match delayed for
about an hour or more. The eventual game never really made it match worth
waiting for….naaah. As expected the boss rang some changes to his squad by
rotating, giving fringe players the chance to get some game sharpness. Ospina
retained his “cup keeper” role while Mertersecker, Iwobi, Niles and Giroud got
their first starts of the season. Sanchez, Monreal and Bellz were the first
teamers who came in from the off. Arsenal in usual form didn’t waste much time
in giving their fans a scare with an unlucky clearance from onrushing Ospina
falling into the wrong hands errrhh
legs I mean. Cordoba duly obliged with a curling hanger that left the whole Emirates
stadium saying “here we go again” for an opener in the 9th minute.
Needless to say the rest of the first half from then on was uninspiring from a
gunners perspective, Arsenal had boat loads of possession but nothing to show
for it, not even carving open Koln to create goal scoring chances. Apart from Giroud’s
half chances, we were just there. In fact, I daresay Koln had more clear cut
opportunities to increase their tally to two but it was not to be.
The
second half saw a more purposeful Arsenal take to the pitch with Holding yanked
off for Kolasinac following his clumsy first half display. Back three became a
back four and the gunners played with more verve. Sanchez and Kolasinac
combined well on the left side of midfield. The equalizer arrived in the 49th
minute and what a thumping one it was. Walcott miscued a snapshot while
Kolasinac volleyed in the rebound with a fierce hammer. That guy has some power
in his body looking at the way he hit the ball with so much venom. Now that we
had the equalizer the boyz played with more confidence….Sanchez opened his
season account with a beautiful curler that left the keeper Hom grappling at
thin air in the 67th minute. We smelt blood and forced the issue
furthermore. The 3rd goal owed a lot to our right back’s predatory instinct,
pouncing on a lose rebound after Walcott failed to beat the keeper. All in all
not a bad day at the grinder. We never convinced the gunner faithful but lets
take the 3points, Jack Wilshere got through some 35minutes of play unscathed
and we scored some very good goals.
It’s now on to the next station at the bridge.
The gunners visit the blues in what’s to be a super Sunday clash. I can’t say
based on our recent performances I am confident cuz I am not. Chelsea seem to
have rebound after their opening day loss to Burnley while we are yet to find
our stride, still I am hoping someone is
wrong and that someone is me. The odds are stacked against the gunners, the
fanbase isn’t backing the team fully (for obvious reasons), Chelsea is riding
high on confidence on the back of their midweek Champion’s league spanking against
Quarabag plus some extra days of rest even though both teams rested their key
players in midweek for this Sunday clash. The only positives straws I can allude
to here is the fact that Wenger has beaten Conte already this season in the community
shield albeit it was via penalties. All in all its looking like a draw would be
a good result if we can get it, a win would definitely be fantastic if the
player are psyched up enough mentally to up their game and take their chances. Looking
at the midfield of Bakayoko/Kante, that’s a dream pairing…my God these guys are
athletes.!
Arsenal
has to go with Elneny and Xhaka as against Ramsey because of his tendency for
those forward runs of his, hence leaving the back open. Koscielny has to organize
his backline very well, making sure we stay compact. I think the left side
battle of Kolasinac-Sanchez vs Moses-Willian will be an interesting one, our
right side of Özil-Bellerin as wenger like to play them these days is a week
one, I will put Welbeck there instead while tucking Özil in the center where he
can be more influential but then again Wenger knows. I really don’t understand
why we have to play Özil on the wings especially when you are playing very
physical opposition, it doesn’t add up. I am confident in our attack, Lacazette
Sanchez and to a less extent …Wellbeck if Özil is given the keys behind them.
Anyway I would leave the tinkering to Wenger hoping he is able to get his Team
selection right in order to strke a balance between our defence and attack. Stamford
Bridge as Burnley showed us, the BIG Q is…..do we have the cajones in mentality
to outgun them in a smart way? Alright that’s it from us, remember to like us
on FB here, twitter there, do leave us your comments feedback and help share. Enjoy
the game wherever you are…Ciaoo
