#ARSVsChe: London Derby Review || Ugly Punditry Rants || Brighton Preview

 Arsenal vs Chelsea – Gunners Make It 3W IN 4

Arsenal rolled Chelsea over like a you-know-what and smoked them to blazes in a London derby to restore their lead at the top of the Premier League table back to 5 points, albeit with a game in hand. Yeah… I wish that was what we did to the Blues from West London. We beat them though, and some will say at this stage of the #EPL season that is all that counts, 3 points on the board, forget the games in hand. I won’t argue with that logic because at the end of the day it’s about who has more points in the Premier League title race, so fair enough.

Now, that being said, the performance in the second half left a whole lot to be desired, especially after Neto hit the self-destruct button, as is becoming expected with the Boyz in Blue this season. The Gunners couldn’t steamroll Chelsea even with a man down; we couldn’t give them a statement win to remember in this Arsenal vs Chelsea clash. In the end, the match had a tetchy, stretched, slightly nervous ending. The first half saw Arsenal dominate proceedings even though Chelsea did an okay job of shoring things up. Their back line was helped by Arsenal not being crisp or accurate in the final third. Our build-ups were good but seemed to miss that final pass at the last hurdle. Sanchez almost gifted Arsenal a goal when he failed to clear properly, with Gyokeres barreling down on him and nearly nicking the ball. His lack of composure was a theme all evening, although he did well to save some shots when called upon to fare. 

David Raya, on the other side of the spectrum, was absolutely immense for Arsenal in goal. His magnificent save late in the match quickly comes to mind and the one in the Rice handball melee showed serious agility. Right now, Raya is playing like one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. I remember saying in my preview post that Alisson is probably the only keeper I’d have over Raya right now, but watching Alisson drop a clanger recently, I’m asking if that stance still holds water on current form… lol.

Anyway, Arsenal didn’t play too well but got the 3 points which is the koko as we say in Nigeria. But there are some concerns. Declan Rice and Zubi are looking really tired lately, and Mikel needs to give them a breather somehow as we push for the #EPL title. It might be time to bring in MLS alongside NØrgaard because we are kind of short of options in the middle of the park. I love Rice but his sloppiness in the last two Premier League games is starting to worry me. On another day, that’s a yellow card and a penalty — even I know we got away with one there. Zubi again almost gifted a goal with that sloppy back pass to Raya. He really needs to cut those casual passes out of his game knowing the position he occupies. He is still a fantastic player though, so I don’t get the criticism of late. The dude is just tired — understandably so (first season in the #EPL). Eze did much better in this game than the Stamford Bridge fixture but not enough for me. He needs to do more. He has the keys now with Ødegaard out , the talent is there. Eze, seize your moment.

Trossard also had a quiet game. Up against Reece James, who gave no change, he didn’t really influence Arsenal’s forward play like you’d expect in a big Premier League game. There was one instance where James bossed him off a duel that Leo had a head start on, and I was like, well done James… come on Leo. Sometimes the opponent is so good you have to applaud them. Such was Reece James in this London derby. He was by far Chelsea’s best player in my opinion.

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RANTS – VAR, PGMOL & The Anti-Arsenal EPL Narrative

The ugly things are the rules of the Premier League. Shoving and almost pulling an opposing player’s jersey off is apparently allowed, but a slight touch on the back or shoulder is a foul. PGMOL, please make it make sense. I mentioned Rice earlier, he should have had a yellow for grabbing Joao Pedro with both hands. It was almost a chokehold and yet no foul was blown. If that was Arsenal at the receiving end in this tight #EPL title race, I’d be fuming. If certain soft touches elsewhere are given as fouls, then Rice almost choke-holding Pedro is all day a foul.

I thought Gyokeres and Saka had shouts for penalties too, but hey, what do I know? The inconsistencies of VAR in the Premier League are becoming so blatant and appalling that it’s bordering on incompetence. Why have VAR seeing what the ref doesn’t see and yet you still don’t make the right call? Arsenal won the game in the end through well-taken set pieces that no one can complain about, even though haters bemoan our prolific nature in that department. Set pieces are part of football. If Arsenal are elite at them in the #EPL, that’s coaching.

Gary Neville and Peter Schmeichel — I’m looking at your biased takes. It’s not illegal. If you don’t like it, come play ball at the Emirates (in fairness, Man U did though). In the latter Wenger days, Arsenal were labelled soft and naive. Now we combine power and guile and are very much up for the scrap, and suddenly we’re “Set Piece FC” ruining the beautiful game?

If Arsenal lift the Premier League trophy in May, none of that will matter.

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Brighton PREVIEW

Anyway, away from my rant — Arsenal still have 9 more Premier League games to play, and Brighton away at the Amex is next. Arsenal won the reverse fixture 2-1 at the emirates but this Brighton seems to have found some spring to their step of late.  They have won 2 in a row for the first time in a few months, Welbeck is enjoying some new lease of life to the point of being whispered as a potential world cup squaddie. Arsenal haven't won at the Amex for 2 straight seasons now I think, not too sure. They have always being a tricky customer for us and ManCity as well so potential Banana skin here. What I would reiterate is, if the gunners want to guarantee that they lift the #EPL title in May, they are going to have to win all remaining 9games, 8Wins and a draw likely does it but 9W is a guarantee with the current 2 point gap over City(me assuming city wins their game in hand). 

The onus is on us, to bend the game outcome to our will, no more gifts or slipups, get a foothold on the game and kill it with early goals. This something we seem to be struggling with, City looks to be in that zone of we can win go an run powered by Halaand, we dont look like it but we have done it before. Arsenal will have to respond by saying, we may not have Halaand and co upfront, but we have Own goal and Set piece in our Arsenal...LOL. Seriously though, the gunners have to pull out all stops to ensure they pick max points at Brighton. No matter how well Hurzler has his lads set up. Minteh and Mitoma are going to have to be kept very quiet while Eze needs to think they are Spurs and play a blinder. Gabby Jesus has a habit of scoring against Brighton, I'd start him on the left with Trossard to come on in the second half. Madueke could also start on the right with Saka given a rest but knowing Mikel, he probably wont go for that. There is the decision on Kai Havertz too, does he start up top or as a foil to Victor Gyokeres. My team sheet would loom like this:

#BHAVsARS

I'd be giving a couple of people a breather if I was Mikel but I know he wont. Zubi, Rice and Timber, should sit this out without us having any issues, (touch wood). I know there is an FA cup 5the round  game at the weekend against Mansfield town, some would say its an opportunity to rest key players, I would say, No. We also dont want these key players to be injured due to an overload, Rice is tethering close, so is Timber. I know its the run in but with Merion out and Ødegaard & Kai in a limbo, we just cant afford any more injuries in the midfield for these last 9 games. Its also important we maintain at the very least the two point lead over Man City going into the clash at the Etihad in April. Who blinks first, is us or City? That's it from us at #Anaijagunner HQ, do enjoy the game wherever you are.....#COYG