No doubt Gwen really want to dive on that keeper challenge. But no way in the ref would've let him get away with it.
Three takeaways from this game: First, three midfield three in this game worked hard and played some nice long passes, but more creativity is required from at least one of them. Guendouzi might eventually become that player, he showed flashes of it today, including the hockey assist on the goal, but in the absence of Ozil and Ramsey, I'd like to see Iwobi in that position. Second, in the last week, Torreira is showing us the striker he used to be. Finally, with Sokratis suspended and Mustafi injured, it looks like Kos and Monreal in the center of the defense next week.
It wasn’t pretty, a lot of misplaced passes. We did create plenty of chances though and easily could have won 4-0. Is it just me or does iwobi look to have lost his confidence from earlier this season. Lots of good dribbling but his final ball was dreadful—every pass is tentative. Also, I love Auba but I honesty can’t remember a CF over 6’ who was such a woeful header of the ball. He makes up for it, but jeez it’s like watching Mesut attack a header. Great three points, but it does look like the grind is taking a toll on our sharpness. Onward.
I had the starting lineup read to me while I was still half asleep this morning, and my bleary-eyed reaction to that midfield was "are we not trying to score today?" Played out that way, mostly. Glad we got the goal in the end.
It could have been 3-0 if two very tight offside calls had gone Arsenal's way, but Arsenal only had 14 shots,with just two on target (both by Torreira), against a team sitting just above the relegation zone. Arsenal have to do better.
XG was like 2 v 0.3 or something. I think it was our fourth highest xG output the whole season. Third game in seven days after a hard fought derby and a physical match at OT, I’d say job done. Credit also to Huddersfield who defended decently.