BR’s pre-match predicted the day’s path with Burnley facing both a glorious tsunami of emotion and wave upon wave of breathtaking Arsenal attacks. Could the joint third meanest defence in the league stand up to the onslaught? Would the finger in the Dyche prove capable of holding back the torrent? The wonderful sunshine at the Emirates was the perfect backdrop to the guard of honour, a farewell befitting the great man.
First Half
Early on Alex Iwobi jinked his way through like a slalom skier and we knew we were in for a treat. Auba’s first goal looked similar to umpteen goals he scored for Dortmund. Someone who anticipates a driven cross has been something we’ve lacked for ages – we don’t anymore. The assist from Lacazette was superb.
The ball fizzed down Burnley’s left flank time and again, Micki firing over before a Bellerin cut-back was smartly dispatched by Laca’s left foot volley.
Second Half
At the start of the second period, Vokes tamely headed the ball straight at Cech – this was the only Burnley chance I can remember; though copious pre-match libation may have something to do with that.
A spanking left foot piledriver from The Beast after superb work from Jack, got the second half properly underway. Fred’s favourite, Iwobi, soon followed up with the 4th goal from an Auba cross. The rout was complete with my favourite finish of the day, Auba diverting Hector’s cross past the keeper with a delicious outside of the foot touch.
As BR said yesterday, the 90 minutes in between honouring Arsenal’s greatest ever manager were always destined to be a sideshow, but what a glorious sideshow it was, wholly befitting a man who helped to transform and revolutionise both Arsenal’s football and football in England in general.
A pre-booked train meant that we could not stay for the after match festivities. I’ll have the chance to savour AW’s final Emirates moments later on today.
Thanks for being such a massive part of my life for so many years, Arsene.
Merci beaucoup.
Ratings
Cech – Almost a spectator he saw so little of the ball … 8
Bellerin – Loved the sunshine and provided two fine assists … 9
Mavropanos – Another fine game, looks a big old unit with skill, class and composure … 8
Chambers – Looks to have found the quality that Arsenal shelled out for in the first place … 8
Kolasinac – Spanking goal, looked comfortable … 8
Wilshere – A vast improvement on recent form … 9
Xhaka – In a game like this Granit looks perfectly at home to orchestrate the midfield … 8
Iwobi – Revelled in the sunshine, corking goal too … 8
Mkhitaryan – great skill, passing and passion to drive forward, part of a new attacking golden triangle … 9
Aubameyang – Two excellent goals, great wing play … 9
Lacazette – Left footed peach and right footed assist, next season should be good … 9
Subs
Ramsey/Welbeck – both enjoyed their late arrival to the party – 8
Mertesacker – even in his short time at the club he’s proved to be a true Arsenal man and got the send off as a player he deserves – 9
Big Weng – Thanks man – 10
Summary
Just the most perfect day up The Arsenal.
chas
Arsenal News 24/7
Spot on chas …. it was a classy day in every respect. A faultless tribute to the manager. No need for me to add anything except I was proud of Arsene, the players, the supporters and the club.
wow! Chas. 🙂 what an evening!! wonderful tribute to the boss. 🙂
Yaw yaw
Just a reminder That there will be hell to pay if I don’t get my merci arsene shirt
Unbelievable scenes. An almost full stadium of fans staying behind to farewell Arsene. Amazing!
Thank you Chas. Sterling work. Particularly enjoyed this ….
“Would the finger in the Dyche prove capable of holding back the torrent?”
It was a wonderful afternoon with the team exhibiting the ethos of Mr W to the full. Some of the football was superb and as Chas wrote, this is against the 3rd best defence in the PL.
Just wish Welbeck’s shot had gone in and not hit the post. The ball was thunderstruck.
Well done Chas that is a glorious post.
Arsene, was his normal classy self but you could see the devastation that he felt – what a man, what a manager!!
My wife, who never watches football, sat down and watched the game end presentations – which left us both in tears.
I now have this gnawing feeling in my gut that the colour and style will be sucked out of Arsenal and we will become a dry/dull overly American club that is driven by ROI.
GN5. Why would the club be driven by the Republic of Ireland?
Is Liam Brady taking over alongside David O’Leary?
I’m not sure if you are joking but in case you aren’t ROI = return on investment.
Talking of O’leary, why the increased presence in the last 6 months?
Top read Chas, you’re the man.
GN5. Of course I was joking 🙂
Definately one you can wheel out again sometime in the future, Chas
Many thanks. It was essential there was one of your best for a game I sadly missed. I did watch highlights, but your post adds much
Great yet frustrating day:
– Miky, Lacaz, Auba as a front three combined very well so where does that leave Ozil?
– Mavropanos looks assured so we may have found our new BFG after all. Where does that leave Mustafi, Holding or even Kos?
– Great display but why didn’t we play this rampant footie throughout the season?
– AW is just a class act and was clearly emotional, which was touching to see.
Alllegri would take us another level like he did with Milan and Juve but I don’t believe that Enrique can do it so I am hoping for Allegri or Ancelotti as the new coach.
Clearly our best formation is 4321 as this would make the most of our current crop of players.
Give your verdict on: Who would you like to stay and who should leave?
Cech? Stay as Nr.2
Ospina? Out
Bellerin? Stay
Mustafi? Stay
Holding? Loan out
Chambers?Mavropanos? Stay
Kos? Out
Monreal? Stay as back up CB
Koli? Stay
Xhaka? Stay but not as DM
Ramsey? Stay
Wilshere? Stay
El Neny? Out
AMN? Stay
Ozil? Stay but maybe not as a starter
Wellbeck? Stay
Lazaz? Stay
Auba? Stay
Ntiah? Loan out
Iwobi? Out
RECRUIT – Bellerin, RECRUIT, Mavropanos, Koli – Ramsey, RECRUIT, Wilshere – Miky, Laca – Auba
Cech – RECRUIT, Mustafi, Monreal, RECRUIT – Xhaka, RECRUIT, AMN – RECRUIT, Ozil – Wellbeck
RECRUITS:’- Donnarumma, Lichtensteiner, Garay, Gueye, Ndombele, Insigne or Meertens
We can compete then for a Top 4
I think the major difference is aubameyang, if it was any other player that shot was going wide but aubameyang made a horrible shot into a goal
Monreal is a LB in case I didn’t know
Welbeck out for sure
So after 2 games mavropanos is a starter hmm
Fred – I think we can give the new BFG a shot. He may disappoint or he may confirm his promise. He definitely looks more assured than Holding and did not look so much out of place against Man Utd or Burnley. It is a bit of a shot in the dark but at the moment, Mustafi does not seem to be in the right dispositions to perform
Auba is lethal indeed
Monreal played LCB and LB this season and I just don’t think that he is decisive enough as a LB – he does not bring many assists nor is he so reliable defensively when playing at LB but as CB he had the most interceptions…
Can I remind everyone you will be paying some hell to Fred if we don’t cough up a t-shirt
Worth remembering
yaw yaw
.
Ahh, the black and white snaps for the more cleverer arty sort. Nice
I swear that last four or five days were actually about three years long. Weird, but also quite nice if you like that sort of thing
“I think the major difference is aubameyang, if it was any other player that shot was going wide but aubameyang made a horrible shot into a goal”
What have you been up to for time to have slowed?
Reminds me of Yossarian in Catch 22 wanting his life to be as boring as possible so that it seems as though his life is longer. Mind you, he is fighting in a war.
We do potentially have close to the best attack in the league with Auba, Laca and Miki
Lacazette’s attempted pass back with his left foot to the Burnley keeper is too wide and trickles into the net.
Ha ha, the slow down policy.
Errr, well I am unbelievably busy in general, but I was in London for a few days and really packed some shit in. Then missed game as had to pick up daughter from Gatwick as last home game kicked off
Wilshere passes wide again instead of shooting.
trickles into . the net 🙂
I didn’t think for one second you weren’t living life at breakneck speed as usual. 🙂
Iwobi attempts a cross for Lacazette but the ball comes off the outside of his boot and sails high into the goal
ha ha Chas. I think another thing worth pointing out is that if we’d had a big slow lumbering oaf up top we wouldn’t of only scored a pathetic free flowing five
Bellerin’s appalling mis-hit attempt at goal comes off the back of Aubameyang’s shin and deflects beyond Pope
Really is a wonderful collection of goals and the absolutely perfect Arsene send off in the sun
Morning All,
Chas in top form this morning.
Micky pretending he is busy in London whereas he was lazing on a beach somewhere bemoaning the size of the waves.
Ah ha, the classic London Pretendy 🙂
Amazing how things change. A few weeks ago I just wanted the season to end. Shut up shop, lights out, bolt the door and away until August
Fast forward to the Chas clips of saturday’s goals and more of the same is what I want…and now
Not a long wait until Leicester
Mmmm, while true, I have a feeling Saturday could have been the last hurrah for this term what with the significance of Arsene’s last home game
Many of the players could now “do a Mesut” 🙂
Thanks Chas, great post. Great to see you and your bros, Rasp, and Peaches at the FFB even though briefly. Will look forward to meeting up again with you all next season at the FFB.
Well, it was emotional, but like a phoenix from the flames the club must be re-born.
thanks chas, no idea how accurate the report or how over generous the ratings. I didn’t see the point of watching the game, so I have to take your word for it. Glad you had fun and that AW got a great sent off
What was that about Per?
How many old Wenger players were present?
I could see from the final ceremony that even the Black Scarf brigade stayed after the game and applauded the Boss. it feels good loving him again
Allegri hot favourite again.
I disagree RC78 I think monreal was great at LB came up with some crucial goals , the whole side isn’t reliable defensively
I doubt we will be playing a 3 at the back again so all the interception he got would probably decrease
Yea and if chas and ants feel they ducklinge again they are wrong
So who ever has my jersey can pass it onto either one of them, I were large
Wear
Petit, Campbell, Freddie, Pires were present
Shock Henry wasn’t there though
Fred. Neither was I at the Em’s, nor were you. Or Mesut Ozil
RA. Not been around for some time. Hope he is out of hospital and on the way to a full recovery.
That’s worth repeating, Erik. Mesut Ozil wasn’t there.
Fred
I have a t-shirt you can have
10 seconds in #yagunnersya
Mesut WAS there
Thank God for that. Phew, I had the worst feeling
BR I was in the upper tier
Thanks micky very much appreciated, I posting or holding it until I visit later this year
Bum. S’ton won. Like the team, hate the manager
Fred
You’ve said the size t-shirt you need, but what colour?
I taking anything I can get
Ok, I’ll look through later and find some. I occasionally get given them as most advertise/sponsor something or other and I would never wear any clothing with words or pictures on.
I reckon Ants is probably the more reliable option.
Bloody Nora, we have a game tonight, although I remain frosty and prickly I missed the five on saturday
For what?
Here’s one for Fred – Hoddle is a bitch
Ha ha. Sorry had to go bus
Well I guess if you have to have words then those are good
i had to check southampton manager ,didn’t remember it was Raddy’s mate Markie
I am glad it’s getting cooler, enough of that tropical shit
Eddie, Eddie, Eddie haven’t crossed paths with you on here in what seems like ages.
Have you been involved in any recent conflicts of note?
no, I am grieving. My best friend died recently, funeral next week. What do I do about his number – just delete it from my mobile? I cannot
I try to be interested in football, but it is not working at the moment.
Allegri as good as appointed, 11/10, bookies are certain. Next one on the list is Ancellotti at 8/1
Morning All, Allegri would be a superb appointment. We could sign some Italians which we haven’t for some time – if ever
Lupolli?
who was our best Italian player? one out of 3 – Viviano (?), Mannone, Llupoli (?). Has to be Vito
“Just one Allegri, give it to me, our new manager from Italy, …………..need to be composed ……., Give me allegri, from AFC”
Eddie
Very sorry to hear that. Cannot imagine losing a best mate.
thanks micky, it is awful. He will never call me again and we talked 3+ times every day. Big hole in my life. He was only 63 and a picture of health
Terrible Eddie. Nothing sharpens the appetite for life like the understanding of one’s own mortality. Live as he’d advise. Go for it.
As for tonight’s game, I reckon Arsene should simply do a “hands up anyone who fancies a game”
Micky. 9.44. Well said.
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I want a merci arsene shirt jeez
Sorry about your friend Eddie, and no don’t delete his number