What's crazy about the incident was how there was ZERO on screen references to a VAR review, combined with two announcers proclaiming how easily the call would be overturned.
I don’t think they went far enough back with the video review to tell for sure, but it’s possible Azpilicueta grabbed Saka and Saka hooked his arm after the grab. If that’s what happened it would be a reason to not overturn the call.
listen, man. times are tough and we're getting into the final stretch. we might need to start having you take hikes again.
Finished watching on replay. I swear, as soon as Xhaka nutmegged the Chelsea player on the edge of his own box, I thought that move HAD to end with a goal. No other result would do it justice. How did Sarr not get a second yellow for plowing into Cedric? That would have iced the match just as much as the "penalty". Yeah, they were really bad. Xhaka and Elneny weren't pressured when Arsenal had possession. Their back 3 were a clown show.
yeah. it makes sense, too. covers up his bad spot and lets him do what he's good at. it's a rough fit for us with arteta wanting someone to drop deep and link play. but i thought someone like newcastle would have been a great fit if he was allowed to just poach with almiron/saint-maximim setting him up. he's not nearly as one dimensional/limited as he once was (heck, even last year?). there was a play where he drifted out wide and nearly setup saka with a cross near the start of last game. i wish arteta would occasionally fiddle with 2 up top with either him or martinelli paired with lacazette. holding is so damn nice to have at the club. dude is just steady. not a star or a world classer or anything but steady as all hell. tavares is . . . damn. he's work in progress.
Nketiah just made Lacazette look even more expendable. He's not what we need, but at least, it seems like he can shoot.
Was that Sakas first penalty in anything since his miss in the Euro final? No nerves, absolutely buried it.
In his defense, those minutes have been scattered across 13 sub appearances and just 2 starts. Getting a consistent run of games helps, I don't expect him to be amazing or anything, but it can be hard to put up good numbers when he's making 5-10 minute cameos at the end of each match. According to the commentators, yes.
The 3rd goal (Nketiah's 2nd) doesn't happen without Tavares' effort to intercept a lazy Chelsea pass, which Nuno crossed in to set up Nketiah - who still had a lot to do obviously. I think there is potential there for Tavares, he has all the physical skills, like Nketiah, a consistent run of matches to close out the year would be good for him.
Lacagoalthreat was always expendable but the overreaction of this match is hilarious. Nketiah should not be at Arsenal next season, lol.
I agree. I am just saying that, at the very least, it looks like he can shoot the ball on frame. It’s a low bar.
I agree. But in the context of yesterday, I don't think Lacazette gets either of Eddie's goals---certainly not the first one. And yeah, I know you're not saying otherwise, just giving Eddie a bit of credit.
Agreed. He didn't quite perform as well as I expected this campaign, but I haven't given up on him either. He could absolutely redeem himself over the final stretch.
Smith Rowe has 10 league goals which means he could be a genuine contender as some kind of forward/hybrid midfielder. Very decent return for his age.
Yeah, he's really interesting. I'm not sure he'll ever be an 8, but at the same time, he's so young, who knows. On the AVpod yesterday, Elliott said he was like Ramsey, arriving late to score. But I actually think he's currently more like Pires. And yes, I realize it's always rather reductive to say "current player X is just like past player Y."
i cannot remember who it was but they said rosicky as the comp and i thought that was a pretty solid one.
Foden has 8 so it really it quality for someone who doesn't appear to be an out and out winger but kind of plays there I think the Pires comparison is interesting, as he was a winger who became more like a goal scoring midfield playmaker