Sometimes you just have to look at the football game and say, fuck me, what kind of stupid game is this that we’re putting our time and energy into.
Arsenal had one of those great Wenger days in front of goal, where we did everything you could imagine except putting the ball in the back of the net. Palace was nowhere. They were broken. It was embarrassing how little we gave them in this game.
Then the impasse broke; There was some chaos in the goalmouth caused by one of our eight corner kicks, and Lacroix eventually put the ball in his own net, although for a while it looked like Saliba had a claim on goal.
This is the stupidity of football… we were about to win another game through an own goal. In our last three games, ‘Own Goal’ has three to its name – far more incisive than any of our fancy attacking toys.
Then it happened again… the curse of the one-strike miracle. Calafiori did not win his duel in the penalty area from a cross, the ball went into the path of Guehi and he pushed it under the helpless Kepa.
I couldn’t believe it. How does the stingiest defense in the league always end up with one or two shots on target?
It’s just the way of football. The game is too chaotic to ever make you think you can freely control all aspects of it. It’s like the DNA in Jurassic Park: football always finds a way, and it seemed like it did. The match ended in penalties.
…and my word, the punishments were glorious. Both teams scored for fun. A total of 15 goals. The final punishment? Poor old Lacroix, at it again. Kepa the hero (finally). Arsenal will play a double-header semi-final against Chelsea at the end of January.
So what were the wins that came along?
Arsenal put on a very nice attacking football game. 3.63 xG against a team of Palace quality is a tall order. The attack welcomed Martinelli, Jesus and Madueke… and it started from the first whistle. The midfield consisted of Eze, Merino and Nørgaard. The chemistry was good and the output was relentless.
I know Gabriel Jesus didn’t score in open play yesterday, but if you saw what he did and want the other man back in the team then I think maybe you should take some time off the game and come back stronger next season.
Jesus was a threat. He had 5 attempts at the Palace goal. He was a threat on the floor and in the air. His ability on the ball made him a nuisance in the build-up. The ball pinged off him and stuck… and he made some really good passes. The finish wasn’t there, but he did force some good saves from a keeper who was having a very good evening.
That’s the level I expect from a striker – and it’s getting to the point where we’ll see more of the Brazilian, because guess what? Players seem to find his runs, seem to want to pass to him, and he seemed to make everyone around him look better than they have recently.
It was also a good time to look at Madueke. The winger should have been given more playing time recently. But it’s about showing at Arsenal that you’re ready when you get the chance. Once again the theme of the evening was ‘finishing’… but Madueke appeared in all the right places again and again. I think that means things are going to blow up for him at some point. He can get behind players very well, he can play with defenders in front of him and he looks very aggressive in the penalty area, both on the ground and in the air.
Martinelli was another player who was absolutely on fire. His performance in the first half was devastating. It was like watching a senior player bully a 16-year-old. He ducked and weaved his way through full-backs and centre-backs. He took a knock at the end of the first half and wasn’t quite the same in the second half. So we must pray that he was not yet another attack victim and that it was merely a precautionary exit.
I don’t want to push the performance too much… Palace have been in shocking form of late, struggling with their fitness and small teams crashing out quite often in December.
But…I’m glad our routine this year seems to be flopping in front of goal. Not because we don’t create enough chances, but simply because we are a bit goal shy. If you create 3.63 xG you should be able to get away with quite a bit. I’m not too worried… if our worst period of the season is marked by great defence, lots of attacking xG output, but not enough goals… I think we could pull it off.
Now we can worry about what a two-legged semi will do to our February matches. But at least we can taste the final and we know we have a very good chance of making it against Chelsea where we love to play.
Before I go, it’s also worth noting that Manchester City, who have yet to have a judgment against them, are apparently going to try to sign Semenyo in January. When people criticize Arsenal for what they haven’t been able to do in the last five years, always remember that they are dealing with a team that can sign Marmoush for £75 million in January, decide he’s none of that, and then drop another £75 million to solve the problem with Semenyo in January. City have dropped £420m this year and no one is really talking about it.
PS Were the Marc Guehi chats with the players afterwards a bit tense? Do you think we plan to make him an offer this summer if he leaves for free? It would be rude not to…
Okay, now jump into the On The Whistle paragraph. You get a special deal! Ad-free, Discord access, bonus content, early bird for all Premier League matches and all cup matches are exclusive. xx
#ARSENAL #BATTER #PALACE #CLOSE #WIN