After getting the offer of some tickets late Friday, I went to the Emirates expecting a win, confidence in the team is getting stronger, especially with WBA not quite been the attacking enigma that they were last season when we managed to lose 2-3.
Robin “Assists from the lads were Insane”
Pre-match, Robin “One Man Team” Van Persie received his awards for a spectacular October, which was capped off in devastating fashion at the Bridge as Arsenal swept Chelsea aside. Midweek, Arsenal failed to reach the same heights against a stubborn and well drilled Marseille.
So against WBA, if this recovery was to be fully realised and help us rise up the table then, this confidence of expectation must be met with 3 points, especially ahead of the dreaded international break.
What sort of performance would we get? What team would the boss go with?
Sir Chez was between the sticks and the front six were the regulars, with Santos and Jenks as the full backs, TV was partnered by Kozzer………
“A minute’s silence was impeccably observed by all prior to the kick off in remembrance of those who have laid down their lives in the service of the Country, 90 years since the end of the World War 1”
Arsenal started in a positive mood which matched the atmosphere around the ground, which is good to see.
Ramsey was energetic as usual in the middle, constantly probing and pushing to attack. Song and Arteta were controlling and dominating the middle.
Walcott was keeping wide, holding his position and looking for the ball, looking more confident, Jenkinson was getting forward well. But the link play between the two is poor at best.
Vermaelen and Koscielny were looking imperious, I like BFG and he has helped settle our back line in the absence of the Verminator, but surely with Kozzer and Vermaelen we have the best CB pairing in the Premier League?
We were keeping possession and looking for the killer pass, but it’s the movement in the final 3rd that seems the only thing not clicking. The first real chance came from a free kick as Gervinho is up ended on the edge of the box. The moment is there for the Boy Wonder, but instead, Santos takes aim, looking to get an early present for the fans…………no such luck.
As Arsenal press with a strong dominance of the play, West Brom looked to catch us on the break. The surprising thing for me was that West Brom, were like a Vampire with dentures, just lacking bite, I expected so much more from them, although I think they didn’t get much chance from a dogged Arsenal midfield, which if they did get past they met Kozzer and Vermaelen who gave no quarter.
On 22, Walcott moved slightly more inside with a slide rule pass splitting the WBA defence, Walcott ran at goal and shot at Foster, who didn’t gather the ball as it went under him, but it came back out, to the one and only Boy Wonder, who gratefully slotted in the first goal. 1-0.
The pace picked up and a lot was going through Walcott, but yet again we are not utilising his pace to the right affect.
On 39, a great cross field raking lofted pass to Van Persie at the far post, who pulled it back across, Gervinho was ahead of the ball and missed his chance to turn it in, but ball broke to the edge, to a grateful Thomas Vermaelen, who left footed firmly put I past the keeper across his direction of movement. 2-0……
Going in at half time 2 up with a clean sheet was a good feeling, tight at the back steady play, knowing when to go through the gears. The team looked solid.
WBA started the 2nd half much brighter and intent on getting forward. Arsenal seemed to take 5-10 mins to getting going again. Best chance since the break saw Gervinho find Ramsey on the left who lashed the ball across the goal but wide.
Then Song had a wicked shot parried away by foster, as Arsenal looked to kill the game off.
A flurry of subs on 72. Ramsey and Gervinho for Rosicky and Benayoun.
On 74, Vermaelen, played a firm pass through the middle to Van Persie, he moved forward and right, played in Rosicky, RVP carried his run on, but the return from Rosicky was just behind RVP, who somehow steadied himself and the ball and returned the ball to Arteta, who slotted the ball home with ease, pinpoint shot. 3-0 game over.
Arteta had another chance and WBA were unlucky when Tchoyi took an eternity to find his composure and that allowed TV to block the shot.
West Brom tried to exert some pressure in the last few minutes but they still really trouble us, as the ole’s rang around the ground.
Ratings:
Wenger 8 :- Got the rotation and line up just about right. Made the substitutions at the right time. Will be happy with the efficiency and the improvement in our play.
Sir Chez 7 :- Wasn’t troubled throughout, got his positioning spot on, good handling and distribution was much better today. Gives the team a platform to build on.
Jenkinson 7.5 :- Great going forward and some quite superb crosses, needs other players to try harder to get on the end of them. Some wayward short passing, his positioning still needs work, wasn’t really tested by any real pressure but he is growing on me. Doesn’t mix well with Theo.
Koscielny 8 :- Gets better and better, he has pace, tackles and defends so well. Nothing got past him. Gets forward as well to add impetus to our attacks…….. Recovery pace is very impressive. His reading of the game is superb.
Vermaelen 8 :- Great to have him back, Steve Claridge you’re a mug, if you think he cant defend. Got forward well, smashed his goal in for our 2nd, did I say its great to have him back. One of his block tackles was perfectly timed, which should have been a shot on target. Protects his keeper like his life depended on it. His range of passing is fantastic, his pass to Van Persie to set the move for our 3rd was a midfield splitting gem.
Santos 7 :- Effective defensively, got forward and linked up play. Positionally could do better.
Song 7.5 :- Warrior, who gives his all constantly. Broke up play well and has an eye for a pass as he put Van Persie in which helped our 2nd goal come about. Unlucky not to score in 2nd half as foster kept it out.
Arteta, really settled and loving Arsenal
Arteta 8 :- Calm and assured, simply classy, his goal was well timed and expertly taken. He gets my MotM, quietly dictates play and is so effective. Still think there is more to come, cannot wait.
Ramsey 7.5: – Had a good game, probes and drives team forward. His pass for Walcott to get him free for starting the move for the opener was quite simply brilliant. Presses well and breaks play up.
Walcott 7 :- Pacy and energetic, confidence is on the up, his movement needs to improve in final 3rd, he got it right for the opener and was unlucky not to score. Was a bit quieter in the 2nd half, but always involved on the edge, teams are wary of him and that opens up space.
Van Persie 8 :- Scored one, two assists, great movement. Leads like a true leader. Integral to our success but not a one man team.
Gervinho 7 :- Trickery and pace, with some good movement, wastes a lot of possession, trying to go past when a simple pass is on. Will have better games and will be more influential. Unlucky not to score in 2nd half.
Subs:
Rosicky 7: Little time, but pressed and kept the team moving. Involved in the 3rd goal.
Benayoun 7: Little time, but energetic, is such an asset in this squad.
Arshavin 5: Very Little time, nothing positive.
The performance was more about graft than the craft which has embodied our reputation for the last few years, and it was good to see, there were moments throughout the match that showed we still have much class and players of undoubted ability, but it was an efficient team performance where we just were not in any sort of trouble, took the chances when they come along.
The defence is now settled, the team has a strength and desire, they fight and put some real shifts in now. The calmness comes from Arteta in the middle, who does the simple things so well, keeps the ball and team moving, which is what we are doing now, as our early season flirtation with the bottom half is truly over.
Written by Harry
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Well done Harry, nice concise report. Not sure I agree with our Ramsey comments, for me he seemed unable to see the forward pass, too many backward ones which slowed the momentum. In fact he looked a bit jaded, too much too soon maybe.
Three points, a clean sheet and no injuries. Positive goal difference “Movin’ on up!
Should be your Ramsey comments. Sorry
Harry. Another excellent report. Thank you.
I agree with you about Arteta. He seems a natural Wenger player. Had he been with us during the Fabregas years Cesc could have played the position he takes at Barca and World Dominance would have been ours, but …….
LG. Cannot agree about Ramsey. I think he is coming along very nicel.
BR, I’m not saying he isn’t coming along, just that yesterday he didn’t look particularly sharp, maybe he needs a breather.
LG. You are right, he faded second half.
Harry – fair summing up. Player ratings, spot on.
I would say though that I don’t mind Gervinho trying to beat players. He has made 5 assists for RVP(Stoke 2, Sunderland 1, Udinese 1, Chelsea 1). I think we are benefiting from having a player who doesn’t keep knocking it sideways. We should allow the wingers that.
Whilst Ramsey played well and I like him, I am not sure about him taking the role just of the striker. He always seems to find himself with his back to goal. Learning the position I suppose we need to give him time. Made some great passes lately.
Good write up.
it may be petty but im a little disappointed by your scoring of the subs.
ratings should be based on the game, nothing else.
you cant give Benayoun a 7 and Arshavin a 5 when both had little time to impress. i think you have let your overall opinion of the players sway your scores.
what i like about our new look midfield 3 is the way they keep shape. Nasri and Fabregas would all too often wander out of position, whereas Arteta is happy to control the game from his position. This makes us less vulnerable to counter attacks.
Jamie,
I would love to see Gervinho take the ball into the box more often, sooner or later a defender will panic and hack him down, penalty and boy wonder adds to his total! Nice!
Harry,
Let me explain why you can right excellent match reports and I could never. For me there would be only one way. Firstly, ask everyone sitting in the rows directly in front of me if they would mind terribly not leaping up and down at any point, and secondly, would everyone else sitting anywhere near me mind keeping the noise down so that I could concentrate. Just not going to happen.
So thank you.
And good morning Happy People.
Morning,
Great write up Harry. A solid performance, I agree that Arteta is almost our new Gilberto in as much as a lot of his work goes unnoticed. TV and kozzer IS the best CB pairing in the premiership. Not only did TV go forward and score an excellent goal but kozzer also went on a superb run as a pseudo winger and put in a great cross. They are two very good footballers.
One small negative. Can someone please get hold of the Arsenal coaching manual and tear out the page where it tells Song to aimlessly run into the back of a player and give away a free kick in a dangerous position at a time when we just need to keep calm. He did it again yesterday. Had Brom been better we could have conceded 2 goals in the last 10 minutes.
Hi Jamie, great to meet you at the Tavern last week, I look forward to reading your book once it’s on the shelves at WH Smith.
Dear Mr Arteta,
Now look here Matey, we bought you for two reasons and you have failed miserably at both. First was to plant one or two dead ball benders into the back of the net, and the second was to fill the gaping AM gap left by someone or other.
Good news is I don’t give a rats’ arse because unlike someone who left, you don’t have a massive bulging ego and you put the team first.
You are turning into a proper Gunner.
Love,
Micky.
One interesting question is who would Jack replace in a midfield of Theo, Arteta, Song, Rambo and Gervinho?
Jack would not replace the wide players, Song’s place is cemented and for me Arteta (who is playing the Jack role) is key to our solidity in midfield – so that leaves Jack as interchangeable with Rambo….. answers on a postcard or perhaps someone would like to write a post on the subject for the interlull?
Rasp – it is a terrific problem to have 🙂 No place for a player like Jack, ha ha ha
I have no clue about the technical aspects of the game, but JW is such a terrific all arounder, that perhaps a new role could be created just for him?
Harry – great write up, thanks. And very generous ratings, it is good to feel the good vibes again
Hi evonne, I think the intelligent rotation of Jack, Rambo, Arteta and Song is the answer in the same way as it appears we are going to rotate koz, TV and Mert.
Another interesting question is what do we do if Jenkinson keeps improving at the current rate. Sagna is the best RB in the country but Jenks adds a bit of zip to the attack. Similarly Santos was very good yesterday, I’d play him before Gibbs for most opposition.
Squad rotation is the answer and it will work as long as we don’t have big egos like Na$ri and Bendy in the dressing room. The current squad seems to have the team spirit to accomodate squad rotation without discord.
Jeepers Rasp,
Obvious. Sneak twelve men onto the pitch. We buy short ‘uns for a reason. No-one would notice.
Sun again. Outsiding.
Well written, Harry, especially as you were strong armed into it!! 🙂
I pretty much agree with your match observations and player ratings.
I loved that defence splitting pass by Aaron Ramsey to put Theo in to crack a shot that led to RVP’s goal. Reminded me of a Cesc wonder pass. On another day Rambo’s spin in the box and snap left foot shot, while surrounded by defenders, would have gone in.
In another great team performance, the other player deserving of a special mention, given his age and lack of experience, is Jenks. He is big, has a wonderful engine, is the best crosser of a ball we have got, and is full of heart! And ……… he is a Gooner!! Wonderful combo. 🙂
Great match report, Harry.
I had a look for Jenks’ wayward short passing and got this. 🙂
http://twitpic.com/7bfkcd/full
I thought Rosicky gave the ball away 4 or 5 times, so I had a look and was wrong.
http://twitpic.com/7bfkvn/full
fgg, the passing chalkboards of Arsh and Benny suggest Harry’s impression was right. ( admittedly Arsh had 6 minutes less on the pitch)
Arshavin
http://twitpic.com/7bflhg/full
Benayoun
http://twitpic.com/7bfmrd/full
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mRbnkpwo2Q
Great report Harry. You are very kind to claridge calling him a mug when in fact he’s actually a c***. I was certaian we wouldn’t make top 4 a while back now I’m really excited by this team. If Wenger had been sacked after our terrible start and we’d got someone else in who managed to get us in the top 4 a lot of fans would be saying how good he was. Wenger won’t get much credit from a lot of people though if he does it.
LG I agree with you regarding Gervinho. Even tho at times he makes you go “arrggh”, I still prefer him to keep going at defenders towards & in the box for the reasons you stated. For one, it’s a different offensive dimension we don’t see often from us so it puts opponents on the back foot. They’re already concerned with Theo’s pace, now must be concerned with a dribbler with pace & strength. Of course when you add the Dutch guy (what’s his name – lol) to the mix
Excellent write-up Harry and I was pleased to see that your ratings reflect the fact that not one of our starting 11 had a bad game.
This team is really showing promise.
Afternoon all, just back in from my Sunday league matches, my U18’s won 7-0 today, well happy with the performance………..
Anyway to all thanks for the comments, it is appreciated…….
@Jamie……I love Gervinho and the extra dimension he brings, but he has just to learn that sometimes a one-two will get him past a player and then he can drive into the box.
@Lifelong G……Ramsey, was outstanding in the first half and he earnt his corn with the pass for the first goal that put theo through. I thought he dropped physically in the 2nd half…..He does drive forward, but he wont release possession, he turns inside and back, looking for options.
@GM—-Your description of Claridge was right, just it was a main post so I toned mine down.
@FFG – generally I normally mark a sub as 6 because they have little time, but for me Benayoun and rosicky came on and worked very hard, add a mark, Arhsavin came on and was lacklustre, hence I dropped him a mark off. Believe me I rate on the performance not my opinion of the player.
~@GM – If Wenger had been sacked I dont think the replacement would have got us to where we are now. And as yoy say little credit will be reserved for him….
@chas, love the chalkboards, is that a regular site?
I might have to look at it before I write my reports……..I bet all of Jenks missed short passes were with Theo………
Thanks rocky, for me that was the thing that pleased me, everyone pretty much did their jobs, as the title alluded to, we grafted a win. sprinkled with some cherries here and there.
And thats what we neededm, it adds to our confidence building….
Hi guys, i didn’t see the game live yesterday, only got the highlights. The pub I was in only showed the Manc game. Great win though and we’ll be ahead of Liverpool next week.
Hi Harry, I like your new gravatar, I must say the minutes silence was impeccably observed at the Ems and elsewhere in the prem I believe.
It means alot to me Rasp, lost friends and have many others serving overseas still……….
Thanks for an excellent match report Harry, and well done for predicting the right score as well (and almost the perfect line-up). Good to see you being generous with your scores for our players as well 😆
Afternoon all, cracking report Harry, you have a knack of making me feel like I was actually watching, and your enthusiasm and emotions about certain moments are clear to see through the writing.
Chas some great chalkboards there, Harry FYI you can do any you like on the Guardian Chalkboards, think you have to register first but from there you can pretty much choose any game, number of games, passes shooting etc etc.
If you don’t want to register and do them yourself you can search chalkboards created by others, covers interceptions, shots tackles etc.
See Stoke are getting hammered by Bolton which is very pleasing. After Raddy asked me about our like for like performance this morning I have been looking at our main top 6 competitors, to be fair it makes interesting reading so will definitely save for a post.
Chris Baird of Fulham could be the worst paleyr in th PL. Dreadful performance today – Peaches is a better defender
GIE. Looking forward to it ….
I just watche an interview with the QPR chairman. I like him. I also just watche the 2nd half of our game at the chavs on the chelsea channel. The commentary was less biased than sky or motd I was shocked. Very fair in fact.
Interesting or what we already knew?
Thanks Total, thought the scores all round were deserved, i read some other articles where I felt some people were harsh on some players, no one set the game alight, but all gave the sweat to earn the right to win, something we failed to do last few seasons and thats is a big difference in the mentality of this team.
Cheers GIE, will have a look at the Guardian site, they will be useful for match reports, that you volunteer me for !! lol.. although I know I do the same to you!! 😀
Chas – next time we meet I will ask you to explain your 12:32, what on earth are those arrows?? I noted that other AAers are very excited about it, but not me 😦
Irish – no, I didn’t know the full scale of the disproportionate spending in EPL, that is truly shocking
Yep been playing with the chalkboards……..Next match report will be even more detailed……..
Very interesting stats on there……not sure its 100% accurate but close enough……….
Difficult to account for Fulham’s loss today.
As clear a penalty that will ever be denied, dreadful finishing, dire defending of the few attacks they faced.
Perhaps Walton and Jol had Spurs down as an away banker.
Evonne – I can’t vouch for the figures, it was going around twitter and I said I’d post it her. Not sure of the actual source.
Very Interesting………
Arsenal made 700 passes (Approx) yesterday and were successful in 600………..
Man City made 400 and were sucessful in 300………….
Man United made 540 and were successful in 440………..
(Approximate)
So we made more and were slightly more sucessful……..
Harry. To be fair. WBA were the worst opposition we have faced this season. It is no wonder we were able to make so many successful passes.
We played well but they were awful.
Agreed Raddy, as I said in the Match Report, they had no bite, but I was just playing with the chalkboards, dont ruin my fun……….lol…
lets be honest sunderland and QPR arent much better………….
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=goal-marcovanbastenurgesrobinvan
A quality read……..
Evonne, they’re not that exciting. 🙂
The blue arrows show where the player passed from successfully to another player. So in the example below it shows Carl Jenkinson made a successful short pass slightly forward to Alex Song in the 63rd minute in the centre circle. The team is always kicking up the screen for both first and second halves.
The red arrows are the passes that didn’t reach an Arsenal player.
http://twitpic.com/7bjjxu/full
Harry, so Jenks made three short passes that were ‘wayward’ but the other unsuccesful seven were all crosses. 🙂
Irish @5:29pm,
It amazes me how the spuds have spent £230M+ In 10 years with F*** all to show for It !. They could have had half a new stadium for that amount !. I wonder If we would have had only one CL season, If we had spent that much !
I like the Chalkboard is useful at showing what you think you saw.
I looked at Artetas last week thinking it would show a number of interceptions and tackles as I rated him as being one of the best on the pitch against Chavs for that reason. Turned out he wasn’t team leader at all. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t instrumental in breaking up Chav attacks but that he was doing it might by screening and shepherding threatening players to less dangerous areas.
Rasp mentioned Songs rashness from behind which is maybe something he could learn from Arteta. How to be effective defensively without tackling.
Spoke to my Dad who was at game yesterday who said Jenks made one crunching tackle that everyone in crowd got behind and clapped. Is he becoming this seasons Wilshere?
Also Harry as good as that article probably is it was nicked from the Mirror and I posted it this morning 😉 that’s another couple of match reports I’ll be pushing your way.
harry,
I like match reports and you have given a good account of the game.Ratins will vary from person to person but more importantly I had a feeling as the game progressesd that we would be the masters on the field, not as in many games a nervousnes about the we were playing..
It wasn’t a classic but there is definitely a bonding between the players not seen since last february.
3 different goal scorers, no bookings and most of all no injuries.
We had so many players tried and to an extent experimented already this season mainly due to injuries.
Arteta is making his mark sooner than i thought, Kos and verm as i said earlier look to be our number one pairing and I hold my hands about jenkinson.I thoght he was a bargain basement buy but he is growing in stature with every game,and only 19.his crossing is most probably the best in the team, though why we throw endless high balls to the far post baffles me, yet vermaelen had a great effort with his header in the second half deserving of a goal.
There are raw edges and improvements still to come and they will from in particular Santos,Ramsey and Gervinho.and even the young Pole in goal
if anything we are stocked up with far too many players who can be replaced at the end of the season and some more on the fringe like frimpong and lansbury will come through.Wilshere and Sgna to return and i still think we will buy one attacking midfielder in january.
Now that was nice of MvB (thanks for the reference GiE and Harry):
“Arsenal operate differently. I admire that. And I still think Arsenal are the most beautiful club in England. At Man City and Chelsea, they will never have that class and style.”
“Arsenal have the most amazing stadium, they have a style of play, they have a beautiful shirt – in every way I consider Arsenal as the ultimate football club. It is the club where Robin belongs.”
In my, very bias, view MvB is the best-ever striker. This is one of my all-time favourite Marco goals. You just don’t see them like that anymore:
Jack wants to stay forever, according to reports on newsnow. I dont know how to stick it on here, so you`ll have to check it out yourselves,what a great bit of news if true. 🙂
Chas, he impressed me more yesterday, but he is still learning and will get better, I just dont think he is ready for the big games yet, i thought he was poor against Marseille compared to what some people said. I rewatched the highlights, he made quite a few basic errors and confirmed what I thought overall, he wasnt ready for that level of match yet. If he is a quick learner then maybe he’ll be ok.
We all (including me) go OTT with players sometimes.
For example Ox, (who will be a stella player), but ask most arsenal fans about his performances and that daft discussion about replacing theo etc and they quote the game against Olympiacos, which always makes me laugh, from the moment he scored the goal, he did next to nothing…….but some thought he was MotM…
The thing that I was picking up on with Jenks is that he and theo struggle to link up and for me that earlier spat between them at United is still under the surface, there was a couple of looks back and forward yesterday…..
Positionally Jenks has a lot to learn, and I am sure he will. I did give him 7.5, so I am fair, his crossing was excellent and he made some good interceptions, but a couple of times he was out of position. Against the big teams he will suffer for this.
Actually them chalk boards should differentiate between crosses and passes…….He would help his stats…….
Great comment, Harry.
Of course I was only joking after our earlier discussion.
Do you think Jenks will learn a greater positional sense by hanging around with senhor Santos? 🙂
Agree about his crosses, most were excellent but as nobody got on the end of them, they go down as a misplaced pass.
Theo trying to tell someone how to defend makes me laugh. In fact the idea that Theo is senior to Jenks doesn’t seem right to me somehow.
Good post Harry
That is an interesting point you make about the link up play or lack of it between Walcott and Jenkinson, did you notice yesterday that Theo was getting annoyed with him for not playing the ball to him down the wing: there was a situation in which Jenks had the ball and either one could have crossed it, for some reason Theo was getting annoyed that Jenks did not pass it to him whereas you could see the Jenks was going sod you I can cross this as well if not better than you.
That spat is still going on.
I agree in general with what you say about Jenkinson but his learning curve is steep, we are talking very steep, where he ends up is going to be interesting.
Personally I had written him off after the manu game, I thought he was a squad fodder but I am not so sure now especially when you consider that he is only twenty.
Santos had 92 passes, only 10 unsuccessful.
Second only to Arteta and above Song and Rambo.
That boy likes the ball and his teammates aren’t afraid to give him it.
Santos is a different fish, he plays the brazilian way, positionally he doesnt seem to bother……..
Jenks will improve alongside TV thats for sure………
Crosses are often wasted at Arsenal, we need more movement in the final 3rd and also, mix the crosses up, sometimes we need hard and low, rather than look for the back post.
If nobody is getting on the end of crosses, is it the strikers fault for not being there or a bad cross for not picking the striker out ?. If someone wacked a ball aimlessly across the pitch from anywhere and ended up giving away possession, they would get slated for it ! but when it is done in the penalty area it is classed as a great cross !, I dont get it !. I class it as a misplaced cross if it doesn`t find anyone.
GLIC, you have a valid arguement, but we can argue it either way. It really depends on the situation and the reasoning behind the cross.
For me the movement in the final 3rd lacks, RVP is an exception although he could be better!!, some are misplaced, poorly executed crosses…….
Others are great crosses that players fail to anticipate which at that level I would expect them too, so in that case, its not a misplaced cross…….The job of a wide player is get the ball in the box and make something happen.
Hope you understand what I mean, but as I said, you can argue it either way……….
LB, thanks……….
I hope he makes it, he is a gooner and that would be great, he came in at the time when the whole team was struggling defensively, so i have to give him some credit. I dont dislike him, but just feel we have to be careful with him. For me it was a mistake to play him against Marseille. But what do I know…….lol…..
Harry, what specifically did Jenkinson do wrong during the Marseille game? How could you describe him as ‘poor’? We must be watching totally different things 🙂
Jenkinson’s ability to cross has never been in doubt has it? The debate is surely about when and how he sends in a cross, up until recently I thought many of his crosses have been sent in without him first making sure it is possible for someone to get on the end of them. I don’t see how the attack can be blamed for not getting on the end of a cross if the previous passage of play has made it impossible for them to do so. But this is becoming academic as Jenks is now starting to look up and place the crosses far better than he was oh…………how long ago………….two weeks. Yep two whole weeks that is how steep his learning curve is.
TA
You took the sentence right out of my keyboard.
harry,
Firstly, sorry I forgot, great report, as i`ve said before the reports on here are better than the tabloids, thank you.
I`m going to back down a bit and say ,alot of them crosses whipped in, are very good inviteing ones, the ones that reach the striker with effect are great ones.
I do understand what you mean.
Hi LB, I agree with your earlier comment re Jenkinson and his performance at MU. I was convinced he had been dealt a confindence knock that would be difficult to get over with for a long time. But this is one tenacious boy who wants to fight for his position.
Thanks GLIC……..
TotalArsenal, no we were watching the same game, we all look for different things and often see things from a different perspective…..
He did ok yesterday, and attacking wise I agree his crosses are very good, which to be honest they have been since the start, he whips em in nicely……….I am not debating anything about his crossing LB…….Two debates, crossing as a whole…….and Jenks as a player.
Total, have you rewatched it?
It seems we are all scratching around for a debate here, trouble is I’m not sure there is one.
At this rate we could be talking about Theo for the next two weeks lol
I’m off.
Great write up Harry…pretty much agreed with all your ratings, and also liked the blurb that supports each one.
Cracking discussion and lots of info from the comments – quality.
If you think Jenks was quality yesterday from memory alonne…wait til you see the vid I post up. Its pretty ridiculous how good he looks in it. Phil Jones – Chris Smalling …lol
Thanks Sharkey……
LB I’m sure a few of us have some posts to stimulate debate.
I’m just fine tuning my “We’ve got by far the Greatest Squad 2011/12 has ever seen” post 😀
For me I like Jenkinson and have no worries about him and Theo….it seems he has developed a few mates amongst the Youngsters in his short time at the club (judging by his Twitter feed). And he along with Arteta may be reminded some of our more seasoned pros just how much of an honour it is to represent our great club.
Arteta is looking like a player who is making up for lost time and wanting to prove that he should have been at this level a long time ago.
Hi Harry,
Fully agreed on his crossing.
No I have not been able to rewatch it, but I will this week. I have had a quick look around for Jenkinson ratings on various websites and it seems that others have also seen him making a few mistakes. However, the word ‘poor’ was not used by anybody. I respect your views and you were also at the game which makes a big difference. I based my views mainly on the number of good interceptions, his reading of the game/danger, and his redistributions. When I watch the game again, I will focus on his positioning. I would be good if you could give me some specifics to look at – as I want to learn.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/carl-jenkinson-performance-west-brom-15655146/
I watched this chuckling away to myself…
“Arteta is looking like a player who is making up for lost time and wanting to prove that he should have been at this level a long time ago.”
Nutshell !!!
Last one from me….
“November 6, 2011 at 12:54
What’s the matter with Legrove this morning ? We won yesterday and the site is fucking dead. Reminds me of that will smith movie ‘ I am legend’.”
Yeah I’m a naughty boy for posting that …
Get Peaches and Evonne to slap me about a bit..??
On that note….
Apologies GiE…
Apparently that should have read Peaches, Evonne and GiE’s missus….
Really going now….
Great Jenks video, Sharkers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAgPwMNF2c0
A feel good piece from ESPN.com
…………………………………………………………………………
Arsenal 3-0 West Bromwich Albion
Wenger finds ammunition in his Arsenal
November 5, 2011
By Kevin Palmer, Emirates Stadium
The dark, bleak tunnel that snared Arsene Wenger as a high-profile captive seemed unwilling to yield a chink of light as the Arsenal boss endured a desperate start to this Premier League season – yet the mood is quickly changing around his new-look team.
With the despair of losing his two best players essentially before a ball was kicked being compounded by a run of results that tested the patience of even the most loyal Wenger devotee, the Arsenal manager seemed helpless to avert a slide that many predicted would end with his demise.
Indeed, as the last international break interrupted the flow of Premier League action, Arsenal found themselves closer to the relegation positions than the top four spots they have come to call their own in recent years, with the pain of a defeat against local rivals Spurs lingering as the final round of Euro 2012 group qualifiers were played out.
However, the mood is slowly improving, and a new Arsenal side may end up benefiting from the diluted expectations of the first six weeks of the season.
When once a Champions League finish looked beyond Arsenal, they are suddenly looking like a team on the rise, and this comfortable win served to cement the feel-good factor developing around them.
Goals from Robin van Persie – inevitably – and Thomas Vermaelen, rounded off by a classy third from Mikel Arteta, sent Arsenal into this latest international sabbatical on a run of four successive league wins, and this performance suggested some of their old swagger is bubbling to the surface once again.
It was during the height of his crisis that Wenger clung onto the theory that his much-changed team needed time to gel as a unit, and it seems as if his faith is now being rewarded after West Brom were swept away with impressive ease.
Van Persie’s opener after 22 minutes was created by a sublime pass from Aaron Ramsey and once Vermaelen slammed home a second six minutes before the break, a West Brom side that triumphed at Emirates Stadium last season knew that they would be leaving as losers this time.
Arteta’s sweet 74th-minute finish after a neat assist from Van Persie added some delicious icing to the Arsenal cake and, while it would be hasty to suggest Wenger’s rebuilding programme is complete after a win against a side who allowed his side to strut their stuff at will, the positives that were hard to find a month ago have now come into clear view.
Contrary to reports, this Arsenal revival is not merely built around the scoring form of the brilliant Van Persie, as the sight of Vermaelen standing alongside the improving Laurent Koscielny in the heart of the Arsenal defence gave Wenger’s rearguard a solid security.
Then there was the impressive display of Arteta in the heart of the midfield, his silky movement and passing too much for West Brom to handle. Wenger broke with tradition when he signed the experienced Spaniard on the final day of the August transfer window and, while replacing the departed Cesc Fabregas was always an improbable remit for Arteta to fulfil, Arsenal’s No. 8 is emerging as the new heartbeat of their midfield.
Crisp with his passing and intelligent in his movement, Arteta is giving Arsenal the sort of panache they badly needed to rediscover and Wenger was in bullish mood as he faced the media.
“I said a month ago that we had to wait for this team to improve and we are seeing that progress now,” Wenger said. “We were in a very bad place when we lost at Tottenham before the last round of internationals and, at that point, everyone was saying we had no chance this season.
“Well, now that things are going a little better, I prefer to keep some perspective as it is clear that we have plenty still to improve. The positive signs I always saw in this team are coming through now, but this is a team still coming together.”
West Brom manager Roy Hodgson has much to ponder, but he hit back at the suggestion of one brave reporter who claimed his side lacked desire against the Gunners. “You can accuse us of lacking quality, of hitting the ball long too often and many other things, but it is scandalous to suggest my team did not put in a shift in this game,” Hodgson said. “We were beaten by an excellent Arsenal side who were too good for us on the day. That’s the truth of the matter.”
It is not just on the field that Wenger’s woes appeared to be evaporating, as the nervous and tetchy atmosphere that echoed around the Emirates earlier this season was replaced by a more positive vibe for this resounding victory. The confidence growing in the stands is trickling down to a team that now looks to have found its script at last.
Arsenal’s early-season despair has been replaced with cautious optimism and, so long as Van Persie and the rest of Wenger’s pack return from the international break unscathed, they have a clutch of winnable games on this horizon that should add to the momentum they are building up.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Mikel Arteta. This classy Spaniard is starting to look like the real deal in the heart of the Arsenal midfield, with his passing and finishing making him the outstanding performer in this game.
SANTOS’ TWITTER TYPO: Arsenal full-back Andre Santos committed something of a Twitter crime when he posted a congratulatory comment to his team-mates after this latest win. “Great win gays,” was his comment. We are sure he meant guys.
RVP JOINS THE ELITE: “There are only four or five players who tend to be in the world class category and Robin is clearly in that list right now,” Arsenal boss Wenger beamed of his in-form hit-man Van Persie.
ARSENAL VERDICT: The Gunners will need to beat better sides than West Brom to confirm they are firmly back on track, but a routine victory like this was impossible to contemplate when they were staggering just a few weeks ago. They are showing positive signs of life once again.
WEST BROM VERDICT: Lacking quality and weakened by the absence of first-choice strikers Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie, they were no match for an improving Arsenal.
Great Jenks video Sharkey – that boy has the makings of an Arsenal legend.
GiE
“Arteta is looking like a player who is making up for lost time and wanting to prove that he should have been at this level a long time ago.”
Excellent comment – it would be great if moving to Arsenal led to him getting his first cap for Spain at some point. I know they have a surplus of gifted MFs, but the way he’s playing right now, our Mikel would not be out of place.
One more thing on Jenks: Arsene’s quotes about him (where he used the word ‘interesting’ a couple of times) sounded to me like he thinks Jenks is coming on much more quickly than he’d expected and that he (AW) will have an ‘interesting’ dilemma when Bac is fit again.
Night all.
Rocky…I think he should just forget about International football 😀
Good to know we have a player that doesn’t need rotating as he will always get a break every so often when International break occurs.
Morning all,
i agree, maybe jack, verm and rvp should all retire from international football.
Subotic is injured for 6 weeks. will make the game against the germans alot easier
nice match report aswel harry, definently agree with your ratings, and love how jenks is coming along nicely. Sagna who?
Totally agree on the ups for Arteta – has been selfless in midfield and worked very very hard. Great to see him rewarded with a goal this weekend…. one question though – why isnt he getting the ball on free kicks more often? If Robin isnt taking them then Mikel should get a go…
@ Pat
maybe he’s a touch rusty after letting baines take over at everton
Also IMO the 1st equal important arsenal player played his first full PL game back this weekend – Vermaelen. No disrespect to any of the other defenders but he is the first one on the team sheet. So so good to see him back and is the type of player that exudes cool confidence which rubs off on the back line and the rest of the team. He has been missed on so many levels – still getting back but and will keep getting better – WBA was a perfect game for him to get his teeth into….
could be oz, could be… maybe Santos is banging them in at training….
@ oz – I read your 7:43 and saw your Sagna who comment and immediately felt bad – I had forgotten about him! Good to see Jenkinson bounce back from a tough start – I think his crossing has been decent – he is putting them in a good area, the guys just need to work a plan as to how they should be utilized / attacked.
It almost seems strange having a cockney playing for the Gunners..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz6bnECoI3Y
note re Jenkinson I meant start of arsenal career as far as his “bounce back from a tough start”
Hard to believe CJ is just 20.So self assured
great interview chas thanks for that!
Chas – baby faced Cockney, have to love him
I haven’t got a baby-face!
Love that interview with Jenkinson.
Wiki suggests he may not have been called up by the Finland U21s, which seems a bit bizarre. In fact, with CJ playing at the level he’s now at and with England always a possibility for a good estuary English lad, if I were at the Finnish FA, I’d get him in the senior team’s starting line up pronto, to tie him down. Kyle Walker might be enough to convince CJ to stick with the Finns, but perhaps his absence from international duty reflects some reluctance to commit to Finland.
Chas – but you do 🙂
I can’t see how there can be any other way of construing his absence other than a reluctance to commit to the Fins.
Sensible really, he will always be able to play for them but by the end of this season he will know if he is likely to play for England.
Haha, thanks Evonne, 50 years ago maybe.
Most of us here have no interest in internationals AND Fins have less games to play than England as they usually get kicked out of the competiotions relatively early. So perhaps it would be in Arsenal’s best interest if Carl was not selected by Capello, no?
Morning all.
Interesting to see theo eyeballing Jenkinson. If i was a betting man my money would be on jenkinson getting the upper hand in the long term.
On the official site it says frimpong may go out on loan. I am not sure if that is a good idea but the squad needs trimming but he wouldn’t be my first choice to loan out.
and with Pat Rice as your mentor – how can he help but get better!
Morning one and all, we have a ….
….. New post ………..
An interesting read. I actually have some more thoughts about this. Would you consider writing a guest article for my blog?…
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