Match Reaction v Newcastle (home, league).

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Easy stuff mostly.

Aubameyang back up and running properly, hopefully.

Smith Rowe and Saka. :bow:

Cedric did well and is nowhere near as awkward on the ball as Bellerin is.

Top half! :faint:

[Gooner23]

5 cleanos in a row. Mikel has definitely improved us defensively. Just need to see more consistency in attack. Good tonight against a very poor Newcastle team.

[Marc Overmars]

Still in the title race.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Newcastle are hopeless. Bruce can't cling on for much longer I'd imagine.

[Letters]

Still in the title race.

:gp:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Smith Rowe interview. :bow:

[Mac76]

Newcastle are hopeless. Bruce can't cling on for much longer I'd imagine.

"We'll do it my way now" :haha:

[Gooner23]

Arteta confirms Mesut is in Turkey and that his quality will be missed :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How will we win Fortnite matches now?

[Letters]

5 clean sheets in a row. First time since...I think they said 2011?!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2009.

Must have been when we had four 0-0 draws in a row. :haha:

[Letters]

Ah. I did hear it in the commentary and then clearly immediately forgot. Although I think I got 2011 from me noting that it had been 11 years. Although even then it's 2021 now so I got that wrong too.


In brief...

:getcoat:

[fakeyank]

2009.

Must have been when we had four 0-0 draws in a row. :haha:

One of the worst seasons to watch as an Arsenal fan in the 21st century. I believe Denilson was at his peak of sideways and backwards passing. Games of that season are still played in sleep clinics.

Eww :sick:

[I am invisible]

Since coming into the side against Chelsea, ESR has created 10 chances - the second highest total in the league (behind Bruno Fernandes).

[I am invisible]

Also, Saka and ESR are the first English pair to combine for as many as 3 PL goals before their 21st birthdays.

The Trophy of Respect is coming home.

[Marc Overmars]

Different gravy. Both of them first names on the team sheet and players we can build a team around for the next decade.

[I am invisible]

Partey too - pretty casual outing for him in the end, but you always get the sense he has an extra couple of gears he can move through if he needs them. Makes everything look really effortless.

[Mac76]

Partey too - pretty casual outing for him in the end, but you always get the sense he has an extra couple of gears he can move through if he needs them. Makes everything look really effortless.

:gp:

I really like the look of Partey, and good to see Arteta's learning by taking him off early to make so as not to overdo it in his first full game back

[Gooner23]

Partey is a class above anything we have seen in centre mid for a very long time.

I think there is a core of a decent side when you include the likes of Tierney, Gabriel and the youngsters.

[Globalgunner]

Cedric also appears to be at least the equal if not better than Bellerin. All we need now is someone to back Tierney up. Has Kolasinac gone?. Did I miss that happy moment

[Mac76]

Cedric also appears to be at least the equal if not better than Bellerin. All we need now is someone to back Tierney up. Has Kolasinac gone?. Did I miss that happy moment

yeah we need a new LB - Kola's gone on loan (to Schalke i think), but the expectation is he's not coming back :)

[Globalgunner]

yeah we need a new LB - Kola's gone on loan (to Schalke i think), but the expectation is he's not coming back :)

Brexit means Brexit

[GP]

You mean he's stuck in customs?

[Bumble]

its actually nice winning games that we are meant to be winning and quite comfortably. now we have hit a bit of form it will be interesting to see if we can keep it up against better sides.

arteta lucked out with the suspensions forcing him to play ESR and Holding etc. suddenly a run of games and these guys can play.

[selassie]

Smith Rowe interview. :bow:

South London Roadman Accent :d

[I am invisible]

:gp:

I really like the look of Partey, and good to see Arteta's learning by taking him off early to make so as not to overdo it in his first full game back

Yeah, sensible. Just a shame he didn't return at the same time that ESR and Martinelli came into the side, when we had an easier run - got a couple of tricky games now where it's going to be harder to sub him.

[I am invisible]

Partey is a class above anything we have seen in centre mid for a very long time.

I think there is a core of a decent side when you include the likes of Tierney, Gabriel and the youngsters.
Worth every penny of his release clause.

Definitely the start of something coming together there. We don't have the depth to be consistent across long periods yet - lose any one of 2 or 3 key players in the middle and the whole thing starts to stutter again - but we're starting to tick off problems: the front 4 are sharing the goals and assists around, which is great to see; the defence looks well structured and is keeping regular clean sheets (and actually doing it in an attacking setup); we're transitioning from defence to attack much better and much faster; off the pitch the bloated squad is getting trimmed; and the profile of player we're going after is starting to change.

I still think we need to upgrade 3 or 4 players in our best XI before it really starts to purr, and we certainly need to up the standard of our depth, but at least it looks like it's starting to go somewhere.