The King of Brazil Ate all the Magpies – Eight Arsenal Observations

TotalArsenal

Wow what a win for Arsenal late on Sunday that was! Playing our best, ferociously attacking football of the season so far, it still looked for a long time that Arsenal would have to leave St James without a single point to show for it. It would have been criminal if that had been the case, but the big boys stepped up and leaped high among the giant Barcodes to claim a sweet victory at the dead of the game. Ooh to Be!

Eight quick observations:

  1. Starting just two of Rice, Zubimendi and Merino seems to give the team a better balance in midfield. Positions and tasks are clear and Rice and Zubi quietly and efficiently bossed the midfield. And this they did against one of the best midfields in the League. That’s what made the big difference. Eze was free and linked up midfield with attack very well; he was also there to shoot from around the box and was unlucky to not score his first Arsenal PL goal. We really looked like an attacking team that was still very secure at the back. The balance was spot on.
  2. I loved the ferocity of our play. It was always going to be a battle of mentality and power, and to outdo the Magpies on this at St James’ Park, with the away-fans disrespectfully pushed high up in the clouds and the home crowd happy to collectively whistle when the opponents have the ball, is some challenge. It was a very physical game at a high tempo, and as such it was a cup final and that in September. Arsenal won that physical/mentality battle and this for me is of enormous importance: to win a championship it’s simply pivotal.
  3. Every player did their bid to outmuscle and outperform their opponent. The only one a little below his usual calm was Mosquera, and I think he was subbed for that reason. Timber was outstanding on our right: what a battler this guy is! And then there was Gyokeres. The man never stopped to be a nuisance and battle for every ball and bit of space amongst the giant Magpie CBs. I absolutely love him for that.
  4. The front three of Trossard, Gyokeres and Saka with Eze behind them in a free role was the right pick by Arteta. Madueke has done a great job for us until now and we are lucky to have Bukayo back at the right time. These four players can play as a unit – and they will get better the more they can play together – but each of them has the quality to do something out of the blue of high quality, and that is exactly what we need up-front. It did not pay off this time, but I was glad to see Saka, Eze, Gyokeres and Trossard all getting close to scoring. Arsenal had 20 shots of which 7 were on target with an xG of 2.05 (Newcastle 8,3,0.49). The attack is getting there, the only thing missing is getting it in the net. Pope did a great job for Newcastle in goal, this has to be said as well.
  5. Despite all of the above, Arsenal were still behind for 84 minutes. We should have had a penalty. In fact, we got one but then VAR decided that somehow Pope had not fouled Gyokeres which was obvious to everyone everywhere. The ball also fell to Saka in a good position to score, but in the end we got nothing. And then the Magpies scored and it all looked like this was just not going to go our way, once again. Everybody is tired of the inconsistency, the gamble-element of VAR. If you cannot make it consistent and fair, get rid of it for Frank’s sake.
  6. The bench held the answers of swiping the Barcodes, once again. In the past, Arteta just could not take players off as he knew the ones on the bench were unlikely to make a difference. But when he can bring on the likes of Martinelli, Odegaard and Merino (Lewis-Skelly and Saliba) in a match like this, he knows he can make a difference with his subs. Merino’s header was a thing of beauty and left Pope stranded at the altar. It reminded me of the sort of goals Dick Nanninga used the score for my boyhood team Roda JC and that fine Netherlands equaliser against Argentina in the final of the 1978 World Cup (but that is not for everyone to remember haha).
  7. It was brave to take off Zubi and put on Odegaard. To play with both Eze and Odegaard in support of our attackers made all the difference in the end: the pressure just became too much. It is so good to have Martin back and a couple of his passes were just a joy to watch.
  8. In the end the player who embodied the Arsenal spirit perhaps the most yesterday ensured that all three points would be travelling down the A1. He fought all game tooth and nail and was involved in many critical moments. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to play with the spirit of really, really wanting to win. I saw this all through the team, but it was no surprise to me that it was Big Gab who in the end leaped to victory with a brilliant header and devour all the Magpies in one big gulp. King of Brazil we salute you.

By TotalArsenal

46 thoughts on “The King of Brazil Ate all the Magpies – Eight Arsenal Observations”

  • Such a pity, Cruyff wasn’t there in ’78, Total. I recall Naninga’s goal but it was Johnny Rep who caught my eye in that tournament.

    Taking nought away from Big Gab but I thought Declan was the embodiment of the Arsenal spirit at St James. The combination of the power of a Merlin motor, the élan of a Lotus, and the will to win of a Mohammed Ali. Pure magnificence.

    LG, I hope you tuned back in for those last pulsating 15 minutes. They poured honey all over the bitter pill of that VAR travesty.

  • Yes Rep was fabulous and so was Rensenbrink.

    Decaln had indeed a great game but he is too introverted to be the spirit. An Audi to a Big Gab Ferrari.

  • Well deserved victory that couldn’t be denied by VAR or the centre referee. It was sweet revenge for past injustices on that Tyneside ground.

    But the euphoria should not blind us to the fact that our players are slow-thinking, especially in transition from defence to attack, always over-passing the ball back and forth allowing the opponent to recover and abort our imminent attacks. We should be more fluid and eager to attack before the enemy regroups.

  • Muhyideen, agreed and not agreed. I like quick play too, but teams set themselves up to do quick counters and turnovers, so transition needs to be done with some care. I also think that the more the team grows the better it will become.

  • TA, you have captured the key points in the game so well. I also agree Rice was immense today, chasing down everything that moves in our direction. That last ditch tackle he made on (can’t recall who, may be Gordon) some marauding attacker was instrumental or it may have been 2-0.

    Muhyiden, sometimes you need to keep control and prevent turnovers in dangerous areas and periods of the game. That’s what that’s about.

    It is a holiday today and I am out with the family on a local boat cruise with limited access to air time, so will leave it there for now, till we get home.

  • PS: just realized you emphasized “first PL GOAL for Eze. I was going to point out he had scored a goal already.

  • Yes Eris, that was a tremendous run and tackle at a pivotal moment. It was his best game for a while in a position that suits him.

    Enjoy the cruise, plenty of lakes for it in Canada!

  • You can say that again, TA. I can take those trips again and again as the sights are breath taking at times.

    Yeah. The player was Jacob Murphy — Rice made a recovery run and caught up with Murphy when he was through on goal, eventually blocking or tackling to prevent the chance. May sound patronising but only Rice could have successfully caught up with Murphy, in my view, given the players in sight.

  • For me, another pivotal moment was seeing Arteta point out the added time to the boys, gesturing and showing 8 fingers, then urging them forward to go get the win. Usually, it would be a period to stay solid instead. Other notable moments for me included:

    – You referred to it as the ferocity of our play and yes, it was energetic and expansive. All week, we were told Arteta’s tactics made us play with the Handbrake on. Well, we obliged and battered Newcastle’s goal area.

    – I feel we may have turned a corner with respect to standing up to the pressure to take advantage when the teams above us on the table slip up. How many times have we struggled to win games after rivals drop points, in recent seasons? Not this time, it would seem.

    -It was a stonewall penalty and the level of double standards is starting to wrankle. Everyone saw it and said the same: no Newcastle player or fan would complain (none was, in the moment) had VAR upheld the Ref’s call. Yet, VAR intervened in a matter that was not a “clear and obvious error”. Come on, PGMOL. Up your game. It was Egg-in-the-face stuff when the incident between Mbuemo and Keeper Sanchez was brought up as reference. There has to be consistency. It is no wonder it took Referees in the UK a while to accept that VAR was for the better. 😜

    – I was worried seeing Gabriel’s handball incident, but have since read that by the letters of the law, it was no penalty.

    -Big up Nketiah, Welbeck and even Xhaka for doing us some favours in different ways. Great weekend for Gunners. Look forward to an even better season.

  • To your observations….
    1. I still feel there will be games where Arteta will start with all three of Zubimendi, Rice and Merino. The key will be to get Eze in the team, somehow, most likely from the left side. At other times, Skipper Odegaard comes in for Merino but it will always be important to play Eze, somehow.

    2. Agree with you and already mentioned.

    3. I thought Mosquera was started for his better pace but after we conceded, we needed to revert to our assured controlled play and no better man for that than Saliba. In any case, the young man is back up and Saliba should always be first pick for the big ones.

    4. You are on the money, re the best front three for that game. There will be games for Martinelli and Eze o that side too with Eze drifting in and out, as it calls for it.

    6. Our bench is a massive asset these days. The squad depth is better than ever. Each sub called upon impacts the game. Good times.

    7. Arteta’s substitution game is getting better as he now has the players to pick from to affect the game. It will get even better as he gets to know the players better.

    8. Declan’s lungs need to be studied by medical researchers. Just a few puffs, and he is ready to go again. Special mention to Jurrien Timber. What a player and what a defender. Man is skillful, strong and not easy to push about, as both Joelinton and Guimares found out, to their own hurt when they dared to dispossess him in a tag team on the flanks. The kind of player Ben White won’t mind being ahead of him, even though I am sure he wants to play games too. I suggest both Ben White and MLS start in midweek.

  • I thought Gabriel’s arm was in a natural position; it needs to be there for balance when sliding in. Only later on did I realise a pen could have been given for it if it hadn’t come of his leg first…. it just shows you how tight these games are, despite our dominance.

  • Agreed on all your points. Timber waa indeed phenomenal. Newcastle’s left flank is very strong but JT was a wall all game, and how he likes the battles!!!

  • Suggested lineup for tonight (and this may get the Duc to come out and play):

    Ben, WILL, Mosq, MLS
    Zubi-Merino
    EZE/ODE
    Buk, Gyo, Marti

    Rice, Timber, Big Gab could do with a break after the Newcastle battle.

  • I didn’t, Stu, but I watched the highlights of course … but I’m still shocked, and I’m stunned by the lack of outrage – just because we’ve won, eventually? I think what the boy achieved put us in the perfect position – winners – to stir the sewer the PGMOL has become, without being labeled crybabies. I’m very disappointed that we didn’t, and I’m sorry to say that it’ll come back to bite us; just wait ’til we get Oliver at the whistle again …
    Truth is watching the highlights I couldn’t help but think it’s an absolute horror show Gillett and England performed last Sunday, from start to finish – had they not played their trump card against us from the getgo, there’s no way Big Gab would have got away with his handball not being – at least – reviewed, or with his punch in the Big German’s face for that matter, nor would have Bruno with his own handball in the box, or Lascelles with his attempt at beheading Gyö with his bare hands, etc.
    In the end, those who get away with all of it are those (bad) jokes of refs, who’ve just been given a handful of uncontested case-laws allowing them to do exactly what the f..k they want with the rule book, in the months ahead. And you know what, I really don’t think those who will feel sorry for it, be at the receiving end of their “honest mistakes“ in the end will be Cheaty or Lucky Pool … we’ll all cry rivers then, “we’ll still be in the circus/when they’re laughing, laughing in their grave“.
    Anyway, there were indeed many things to warm up any fan’s heart in these highlights; my pick would be this peach of an outside-of-the-foot-pass from Zubi to Timber, an absolute thing of beauty right out of our lad’s childhood playground no doubt. What an artist this boy is, and how blind was I to this after the first games I saw of him in a Real S shirt …
    It’s probably one of the reasons why I’m still so mad at that evil pair of umpires; you could feel the game was about to be an absolute classic – we were on top of them, our team/squad fulfilling its promise for the first time this season, against opponents who were inferior technically but definitely up to the fight, with a GK about to pull the kind of performance De Gea for United, or Adán for Sporting did against us lately …
    Well, back to CL, the boys must have been surfin’ a wave of euphoria since sunday – I wouldn’t be surprised if Olympiacos were made to go to the rope-a-dope tonight. I like your XI, T., and agree with it; about the Øde-Eze dilemma, I think Øde will start – he needs to get minutes under his belt – but I’d say Eberechi might be shifted to the left in order for him to be given an opportunity to score the important goal(s) he deserves to score.
    COYG

  • Amen, LG. If The Offspring meant to convey anything in that song, it was a sense of continued chaos and a dark future. We can only pray that the light overcomes that darkness…

    And, amen again, that little chip of Zubi’s was transcendent.

  • Outrage 😠?

    Good points Legall, I think Arteta was wise not to talk about the poor refereeing too much. They have power over us and the Brits don’t like complaining winners.

    I think you are right re Odegaard starting.

  • Great news on Big Will’s new contract!

    Further good news is that Arsenal do not leave London in October with the only away game at the Cottage.

  • I like your predicted line up, TA and agree with LG that Odegaard will start today. He needs the games now; Eddie Howe thought his introduction, more than the rest, changed the momentum for us.

    Mikel Arteta can be eccentric at times. 😁

  • Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard, Trossard, Martinelli, Gyokeres.
    Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Mosquera, Timber, Calafiori, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Rice, Saka, Eze.

    Good morning gentlemen.

  • I hope Arteta has not underrated Olympiakos with that forward line up. Again, we have to remember we won’t be complaining about that starting front 3 last season. Would have liked to see Norgaard though.

    COYG!!

  • Olympiakos (just for balance)…

    Tzolakis; Costinha, Retsos, Pirola, Ortega; Dani Garcia, Hezze; Gelson Martins, Chiquinho, Podence; El Kaabi

    Subs: Paschalakis, Kouraklis, Biancone, Kalogeropoulos, Diogo Nascimento, Scipioni, Strefezza, Onyemaechi, Pnevmonidis, Mouzakitis, Taremi

  • Ben White doing well to adapt to Martinelli on the right.
    Odegaard is, indeed, back. What a pass to Gyo who should be releasing that to Martinelli instead of going for it himself. Easier said than done, I guess.

  • Gauging by the opposition noise levels, Olympiakos have quite a good number of fans in the stadium tonight. Rather unusual.

  • Yes a good game, just need to improve our finishing. Attackers could work more collaboratively . I guess all want to be on the scoresheet

    Phenomenal safe by Raya.

  • Second goal and then release the Dowman…

    Gyo’s strength is impressive, as was young Gab’s hunger to follow up. What a save from Raya.

  • Well, that second part was scrappy, wasn’t it? Our intensity dropped after the 20th, and we couldn’t really get our momentum back after that …
    Myles’s back, which is great to see, on the other hand where is the Ben we knew? Those injuries sure took some toll on him, he looks like his soul is scarred too.
    I get how badly Gyö wants to score but this pass he refused to make to Gabi who had all the center of the pitch to himself was unprofessional, almost; relax, Viktor, the goals ‘ll come …
    Our bench is so strong there doesn’t seem to be much to worry about, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if we ended up with:
    Raya
    White-Mosquera-Gabriel-LewisSkelly
    Nørgaard-Merino
    Saka-Nwaneri-Eze
    Gyö
    COYG

  • I really didn’t expect Martinelli to follow up on that shot. Not just his game…..or so I thought.
    Olympiakos won’t take this scoreline lying down so we need to seek that second goal quickly and collaborate if it assures of the goal.

    Big second half coming, in the sense that we must get that 2nd goal, make the subs and sit back to enjoy the rest of it.

  • They made it hard but in the end, we closed it out. Olympiakos have made us work hard for that one which isn’t a bad thing, at times. I remember watching this team in their first game and thought they weren’t a bad side.

    We should take the lessons from it and move to the next game.

  • On a night where Barcelona lost at home to the defending champions, we’ve got to take what we have.

    What squad depth does for a team is to get everyone playing to their best.

  • One of those easily forgettable games …
    Truth is – meaning no disrespect to Brugge, Slavia, Kairat but … – we’re “almost” certain now to make it to 15 points so it was important to get the job done. One more only was needed last season to advance to the round of 16, and it’s bound to be the same this season, which means 2/3 points from the 3 games against Atletico-Bayern-Inter would get us through for sure.
    That’s why once we were ahead, and because the West Ham game is upon us already, management, not brilliance, became of the essence. So well done lads …

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