SAY CHEESE!

Arsenal played the game of their lives yesterday. They, as Arteta would say, ‘dominated’ most of the game. This alone is not so out of the normal for this team, look at what they did against Crystal Palace two weeks ago. No, this time we were playing a team who in recent years were being labelled the best in the world being led by a world class manager. If it was not for a certain team under investigation ruling the league, they may have claimed a couple more titles to go with their covid one.

We played Liverpool FC! This game is always big, but yesterday it was as big as they come. Lose this and the title would be incredibly unlikely, the vultures circulating would have jumped onto the opportunity to write off Arsenal title chances and increase the pressure on Arteta. It was not spoken about by ardent Arsenal fans trying to stay positive, but deep down we knew it, and I am sure the players did as well. The first half display was just mesmerising. The energy, the commitment and sheer determination backed up by the classy players Arsenal have put together was just too much for Liverpool, a team that had only lost one game all season under the most bizarre circumstances. For those XG enthusiasts, Arsenal recorded a figure of 3.52, the highest Liverpool have faced ever in the Premier league. Just try and take that in for a moment!

Arteta orchestrated the victory from the side-lines with his tactical changes knowing we were not able to maintain the high intensity press all game. Yes, the victory bought on an incredible feeling of relief to know that not only were we still in the title race, but also to witness the manner the team achieved this just raised the pleasure levels to a new level.

Any team under these circumstances would enjoy celebrating in front of their fans, there would be something seriously wrong if they didn’t. We could see true evidence of the unity that runs deep into this group of players who must believe that good times are surely coming their way.

And nothing exemplified this more than the heart-warming sight of our captain grabbing an opportunity to give one of Arsenal’s longest servants one of the memorable moments of his career, having a photograph on the pitch with the Arsenal fans still celebrating in the background. Stuart Macfarlane is the official Arsenal photographer and is best known for his emotional team talk he gave the team in the ‘All or nothing’ documentary. Now he has a new photograph to hold prime place on his wall.

However, this was just far too much for some, most notably Jamie Carragher who was absolutely incensed by the joyful scenes on display. ‘Just get down the tunnel’ he urged. This is someone who spat at a child and threw a coin into a crowd, yet he found someone taking a photograph offensive!

The post-match production was nothing short of a disgrace. Roy Keane grudgingly said that we were merely ‘Pleasing on the eye’. Wow, thanks for that, you really earned your appearance fee there Roy with that insightful comment! Clichy tried in vain to provide some kind of analysis of the game but was often interrupted by Gary Neville on how Arsenal were too immature and lacked conviction to be able to win the league, was he not watching the game? Carragher is a huge Liverpool fan, and there is obviously nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is his inability to be able to give a balanced and unbiased viewpoint when on a panel that should be giving a professional account of what occurred during a football match. His analysis consisted of Arsenal winning because they were more ‘desperate’ than Liverpool to win, Liverpool were just not at the races today and in fact Manchester City will be the happiest with this victory as they will see Liverpool, who had once again been outplayed by Arsenal, as their main rivals.

Let us break this down, there was absolutely no desperation on display, it was measured, controlled and concise. Which is exactly why Liverpool ‘were not at the races.’. It was not out of choice; they were just not allowed to play! It was a lazy comment by Carragher which allowed him to avoid any opportunity to praise Arsenal’s performance. And do Manchester City really see Liverpool as their main rivals? Did a draw not suit them more than a victory for the team who have already beaten them this season and who took them all the way last season, and were only one win away from winning the title? Carragher’s head was too busy spinning with rage, bitterness and disappointment he just could not see any of this, instead he just blurted out inane comments to comfort himself.  

SKY must understand they are not running a fan tv channel, so Carragher’s constant inability to provide an inkling of impartiality should surely mean he must be made exempt from covering Liverpool games as he currently constantly does.

MOTD2 however was like a breath of fresh air with a more in depth summery of the game, and only demonstrated the gulf in class between the two productions.

Jorginho is a player! Everything about him is just first class, he provides no fuss grown-up performances, demonstrates true leadership qualities all around the pitch, even when he is a sub you can see him supporting the team. He is a fantastic asset to the squad, and so welcome with the on-going concerns with Partay’s injuries.

However, what is even more mind boggling for me is the outrage we receive from within. If so called Arsenal fans do not like Arsenal than what chance do we have? Arteta’s stock was flying high just before Christmas, he was celebrating his 200th game in charge and his team was sitting pretty at the top of the league and had stormed their way into the knockout stages of the Champions League. The transformation of the club in his care would have been unimaginable during those dark days prior to his arrival.

What followed was a drop in performance and results, the team had stalled. It happens, its football!  Did it mean that suddenly the team that had challenged so well last season and played such mature football this season to rise to the top had just dropped off a cliff never to be seen again? The manager was now washed out and lost his touch? Of course not. Yet there they were, the element of the Arsenal fan base was having a field day, jumping onto the negativity and insist that Arteta should leave, the players not being good enough blah blah blah. Of course, a balanced debate with an element of logic is acceptable, but this kind of reaction is just farcical. I genuinely believe some fans expect Arsenal to win every single game, and even then, are not satisfied unless the performance resembles something like the Harlem Globe Trotters. I read one comment on our tough win away to Nottingham Forest last week where they described the performance as rubbish!

What we do know, is today the celebrations would be over as the team concentrate on yet another tough fixture away to West Ham. We owe them after the two defeats against them this season, but if we perform anything like we did yesterday there is absolutely no reason why we cannot celebrate another win, I am sure Oodegaard can just picture it!

Thanks for reading,

Speak soon

UTA

Rob. @Gooner145