Author: stefan

Alexandre Lacazette fell short of his first Premier League hat-trick only in his fourth game for Arsenal, but not many will doubt that it’s just a matter of time he gets it. The club record signing scored a double either side of the break to move Arsenal to seventh in the league after six matches.

But that’s just half the story. West Brom might argue the game could have turned out differently as they were denied a blatant penalty by referee Bobby Madley.

It happened halfway through the first half when Jay Rodriguez found himself on the receiving end of an intelligent Gareth Barry pass with the forward penetrating into the penalty box only to be swiped off his feet by sliding Shkodran Mustafi.

Rodriguez immediately stood back up and crossed to Jake Livermore who, in reality, is probably writing ‘I should’ve scored’ a thousand times for homework. Madley remained silent. The Gunners did too.

Then, two quarters into the game, Alexis Sanchez linked up with Lacazette, albeit indirectly, when he took a free-kick from the edge of the box. Diving Ben Fosters deflected the ball into the post, but could only watch as Lacazette’s rebound header rolled into goal.

Perhaps West Brom felt they should be in front instead because they launched forward in response, and Rodriguez came very close, again. Receiving a pin-point cross from the left, he headed past Peter Cech, but the ball was cleared off the line by Nacho Monreal.

As the game resumed, Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey and Mohamed Elneny slowly but surely claimed the middle of the park. Elneny in particular impressed with constant movement on the pitch, and soon the Egyptian found his way into the box and passed to Lacazette – the striker’s shot deflected by Kierran Gibbs.

Pulis looked on as his midfield continued to chase shadows. His attempt to change things: a double substitution. Arsenal, however, had grown too comfortable on the ball by then, getting closer and closer to West Brom’s box.
On one such occasion, Allan Nyom used slightly more force than necessary on Ramsey inside the box and referee Madley pointed to the spot. Pulis was shaking his head.

With Lacazette being one of Europe’s top penalty converters last term, it came as little surprise that he was behind the ball. The striker sent it into the low right corner and beyond the reach of Fosters, 2-0.

Lacazette then had one more chance for a hat-trick before Wenger replaced him with Olivier Giroud, with Ozil also replacing Sanchez.

But that was it. West Brom would be feeling hard done by as the game might have turned out differently with the penalty claim going their way. But few would argue that this was a well-deserved victory for the Gunners. And even fewer observers would remain untouched by Alexandre Lacazette’s early Premier League exploits – three goals in four matches.

*The image in this post courtesy of arsenal.com website.

Arsenal battled Chelsea to a draw in an entertaining cat-and-mouse showing at Stamford Bridge which saw the hosts finish with ten men.

Brazilian David Luiz received late marching orders for a rash challenge on Sead Kolasinac to make it Chelsea’s third successive game to finish with reduced numbers against the Gunners.

The match saw the return of most of the regular first eleven, apart from Mesult Ozil who was ruled out with a late muscle, while Alexis Sanchez started on the bench.

That was soon left behind as both teams started with intensity rivalling their last official encounter from May.

Spurred by the home crowd, Chelsea came up with something first. Cesc Fabregas lobbed the ball to Pedro releasing him for one-on-one, but the Spaniard fell short against Cech.

Then, in the 40^th minute, Arsenal received arguably their best chance of the game when Aaron Ramsey slalomed his way into the penalty box and whipped a shot past Thibaut Courtois; The ball hit the post and fell to Alexandre Lacazette, but his attempt flew wide of goal in front of the disbelieving looks of the Arsenal bench.

After the break, Chelsea launched forward with regained enthusiasm. But the Gunners’ mifield duo of Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey seemed to have done their homework from the defeat to Liverpool from several weeks ago as control of the centre of the park remained steady.

Two thirds of the game had passed before both dug-outs pulled their aces out: Wenger by bringing in Sanchez, while Conte – Hazard.

In the 75^th minute, Arsenal reignited memories from the May FA Cup final when Shkodran Mustafi headed the ball in after a cross, only for the linesman to flag it offside.

Chelsea’s piled on pressure in the dying stages with Hazard coming close on a couple of occasions. But, in the 87^th minute, Chelsea’s momentum was cut short by a Luiz red card for a brash chop on Sead Kolasinac.

As the final whistle blew, Wenger could clearly feel happier. His team’s performance showed none of the faults that caused them to concede four at Anfield. And even though they didn’t score, they also prevented Chelsea from scoring at Stamford Bridge for the first time under Conte. And that is something to build upon.

 

Alexis Sanchez scored his first goal of season to help Arsenal jump-start their Europa League campaign with a victory against German outfit FC Koln.
Sead Kolasinac equalised shortly after the break while Sanchez and Hector Bellerin shaped the final 3-1.

Some 20,000 enthusiastic Cologne fans had travelled to London on the night, delaying the game by an hour due to chaos outside the Emirates.

Backed by the numbers and passion of their supporters, the Cologne players started the game with urgency and assertiveness. The built-up energy became too much to bear for David Ospina who misplaced a clearance in the ninth minute, and the ball fell to Cordoba whose long-range effort broke the deadlock, 1-0 for the visitors.

As the game progressed, Wenger’s choice of back three looked increasingly shaky with veteran Per Mertesacker on the receiving end of frequent dashing runs. Things looked similar up front with Theo Walcott and Hector Bellerin impotently aiming balls at Olivier Giroud’s head from the sides.

The half-time whistle came with the shock of the visitors leading at the Emirates subsiding to the sense of acceptance for the fairness of the result.
Undoubtedly, Wenger had taken notice of his back three’s struggles to contain the speedy runs because he opted to add another body at the back for the second half.

Results followed soon after. With less than five minutes gone, Sead Kolasinac volleyed a rebound past the Cologne keeper Timo Horn to equalise the game.
By then, the visitors’ initial charge had still not worn off, but as the game progressed, it became apparent that Wenger’s tactical changes were taking effect. Cologne’s time on the ball decreased while Arsenal found it easier to exploit the open spaces.

Within this frame, Sanchez, who had been quiet on the night thus far, received the ball on the left, cut inside and executed a stunning curler to complete the comeback, 2-1.

The beauty of the goal must have sapped all the remaining energy out of Stoger’s men because the Gunners sailed to a third and final goal through Bellerin eight minutes from time.

At the final whistle, the Arsenal supporters had all the reasons to congratulate their club’s players for a well-deserved comeback, and perhaps the third of them, those who didn’t go home before the end, did.

The Thursday-night jibe which Arsenal fans reserve for their Spurs counterparts has now become their bitter pill.
Last time Arsenal played at this level in Europe, they lost the UEFA Cup final to Galatasaray. Seventeen years later, their adventure in the lower tier of European football resumes on Thursday night when they host German outfit FC Cologne.

Arsenal

Arsenal’s big picture is not rosy. The Gunners missed out on Champions League qualification last year, and they have not started this season well too – two defeats out of four games so far.

A good start against the easier opposition of the Europa League could potentially recharge the batteries. But Wenger said earlier in the week that he would prioritise the Premier League instead, meaning we should expect to see a massively rotated Arsenal side against Cologne. Wenger also announced in the pre match press conference yesterday that Ozil and Ramsey will be completely rested so we don’t expect to see them in the match
This is not necessarily bad news as it will give players starved for first-team football a chance to shine.

Young prospect Reiss Nelson is likely to play a role in this fixture following impressive performances for the U23s side. Alexis Sanchez looks set to start too as he still needs more playing time to be season-ready.

The Gunners are still without Santi Cazorla who is out till the end of the year while Alex Iwobi and Franciq Coquelin are big doubts for this fixture.
Predicted line-up: Ospina, Monreal, Mertesacker, Holding, Kolasinac, Wilshere, Elneny, Walcott, Sanchez, Nelson, Giroud.

FC Cologne

Make no mistake: Cologne will be no pushovers despite their recent slump in form. They find themselves bottom of the table with three defeats out of five games in the Bundesliga in contrast to their reputable fifth-place finish last season.

The danger for Arsenal may stem from Cologne’s desperation to try and turn their season around. It will be difficult, however, as the Germans has never won in England before – three losses and two draws.
Manager Peter Stoger will be feeling hopeful ahead of the match as his squad is fully fit and match ready.

Predicted line-up: Horn, Klunter, Sorensen, Heintz, Hector, Hoger, Lehmann, Zoller, Bittencourt, Osako, Cordoba.

Head-to-head

The two sides have only met twice before – in the Fairs Cup 1971 – with Cologne getting the better out of Arsenal on away goal rule.
Cologne – Arsenal 1-0 March 23, 1971
Arsenal – Cologne 2-1 March 9, 1971

Arsenal produced an emphatic response to their humiliating defeat to Liverpool before the international break with a three-goal fiesta against strugglers Brounemouth at the Emirates.
Danny Welbeck bagged a double either side of the break while Alexandre Lacazette’s first-half strike completed the classic result.
If the distinct sound of sharpening of knifes could be heard before the game for Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal board, one of relieved chatter and uplifting music surely reigned after it.
Two weeks ago, critics jumped on the manager because of his team selection choices against Liverpool. Today, defiant Wenger challenged them with more of the same.
The main culprits for the loss at Anfield, Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka were given a second chance in the centre of the park while summer renegade Shkodran Mustafi found himself rooted in the centre of defence ahead of last season’s revelation Rob Holding.
Lacazette made his return at the spear of attack, partnered by Welbeck and Mesut Ozil on either side.
This time it worked.
Wenger didn’t have to wait for long to get his vote of confidence in Welbeck repaid when, in the sixth minute, the England international met a cross from Sead Kolasinac to open Arsenal’s tally.
Twenty minutes later, a Ramsey long ball released the front two resulting in a one-two and a well-aimed Lacazette shot from 14 yards out for 2-0.
At the half-time whistle, the Gunners seemed to be fully in control of the game – in contrast to impotent and down-in-spirits Bournemouth.
Eddie Howe must have verbally dented a few heads during the half-time break because in the 47th minute Jermain Defoe gave Bournemouth a spark of hope – his header coming off Peter Cech’s left-hand post.
But the problems for Bournemouth lay in their mistake-ridden midfield. Minutes after Defoe’s chance, Ramsey capitalised on one such mistake in the centre of the park and slid the ball to Welbeck inside the box whose low drive from 10 yards found the sweet spot between diving Begovic and the post, 3-0.
The heaviness around Wenger now seemed to have dissipated. His players must have felt the same because they moved with increasing freedom on the pitch.
By the time club star Alexis Sanchez came on to clock in his first minutes of the season, the Gunners had established total control over the game.
Ten minutes from time, substitution Olivier Giroud released Sanchez with the Chilean returning the favour only for Giroud to see his chance for goal No.100 in an Arsenal shirt denied by Begovic.
Bournemouth received one more chance to score in the dying stages when King almost capitalised on a post-cross panic in the Arsenal defence, but Cech bounced the ball into corner.
With the final whistle, a clear sense of relief could be felt around the embattled Emirates. The result will inject the Gunners with a welcome dose of positivity following one of their worst Premier League starts in recent history.

Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth

‘6 Welbeck
27’ Lacazette
50’ Welbeck

Arsenal will look to bounce back from their worst Premier League start in 35 years against Bournemouth at the Emirates on Saturday.
The Gunners were forced to endure the two-week international break following two consecutive league defeats, but they will be encouraged to find their opponents still point-less after three games.

Arsenal

Despite last year’s FA Cup triumph, years of failed title-challenges culminating in a finish outside the Top Four has nurtured an explosive environment in the Arsenal contingent. This is clearer now more than ever following the humiliating defeat at the hands of Liverpool in the last round.
The French manager knows anything other than a victory against the Cherries on Saturday will reignite the calls for his head.
The pressure to get things right this time will be enormous: all the way from getting the team into the right gear to getting the right team selection.
If Wenger has done his homework, the club’s record summer transfer signing Alexandre Lacazette would not be sitting this one out – and neither would be Sead Kolasinac. A little re-shuffle would be required in central midfield too as the pair Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey were not up to par against the Reds. At the heart of defence, Wenger is likely to opt for Holding Koscielny and Monreal.
And while calls for Mesut Ozit to improve his form continue, Wenger will have little choice but to hope the German will deliver against Bournemouth as club star Santi Cazorla is still on the road to recovery from a calf operation. Alex Iwobi is also doubtful for this fixture.
Predicted Line-up: Cech, Monreal, Koscielny, Holding, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Elneny, Bellerin, Sanchez, Ozil, Lacazette

Bournemouth

The statistics are not kind to the Cherries here. They have won only once away from home so far this year, and their record at the Emirates does little to dispel this–three games: three defeats. And while they fought to a terrific 3-3 draw against the Gunners last term, they can’t brag about much else.
Manager Eddie Howe will not be throwing in the towel yet, however, as Bournemouth emerged with some positive signs from their meeting with Manchester City before the international break, having succumbed to defeat only through Raheem Sterling’s super-late goal at the Vitality Stadium.
Long-term absentee Callum Wilson is still unavailable for Bournemouth while Nathan Ake, Junior Stanislas and Simon Francis will leave Howe with a late decision.
Predicted Line-up: Begovic, Smith, Cook, Ake, Mings, Daniels, Gosling, Surman, Arter, King, Defoe

Head-to-Head

The two sides have met five times before, with Arsenal winning four and drawing one of those matches.
Arsenal v Bournemouth 3-0 October 1987
Arsenal v Bournemouth 2-0 December 2015
Bournemouth v Arsenal 0-2 February 2016
Arsenal v Bournemouth 3-1 November 2016
Bournemouth v Arsenal 3-3 January 2017