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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:04:22:23:26:03 by Padre Pio.

Players like Tavares and Nketiah should’ve been used more often. If the first choice players are injured or out of form they need to be used. These players including Elneny and Holding have had zero game time so fair f.ucks to them

Made a big difference having someone who can run around up front.

And you take that back about the Pyramid Pirlo, decent performance

Elneny had 90% passing success rate - highest of any player on the pitch

Quote:

djarse
Elneny had 90% passing success rate - highest of any player on the pitch

Im really happy about tonight and didnt criticise the team selection, but what percentage of his passes were not sidways or back?

"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.

Ramsdale 4 poor for the 1st goal. And doesn't fill me with confidence now.
White 5 Average again. Passing poor.
Holding 3 A disaster.
Gabriel 7 Best of the back line. Got a stupid booking.
Tavares 3 clearly not good enough.
Elneny 4 just a poor player. Don't expect anything from him.
Xhaka 6 Shite defending. Turning his back for goal.
Saka 8 MOTM Back to his old self. Didn't shy from taking penalty.
Odegaard 6 OK
Nketiah 8 2 great finishes. Deserves to start against United.
ESR 8 Great finish for his goal.

A big 3 unexpected points keeps us in the mix.
Let's finish United off next.

"𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴."

Quote:

Boston Gooner
Ramsdale 4 poor for the 1st goal. And doesn't fill me with confidence now.
White 5 Average again. Passing poor.
Holding 3 A disaster.
Gabriel 7 Best of the back line. Got a stupid booking.
Tavares 3 clearly not good enough.
Elneny 4 just a poor player. Don't expect anything from him.
Xhaka 6 Shite defending. Turning his back for goal.
Saka 8 MOTM Back to his old self. Didn't shy from taking penalty.
Odegaard 6 OK
Nketiah 8 2 great finishes. Deserves to start against United.
ESR 8 Great finish for his goal.

A big 3 unexpected points keeps us in the mix.
Let's finish United off next.

Tavares is clearly good enough.

Quote:

Boston Gooner
Ramsdale 4 poor for the 1st goal. And doesn't fill me with confidence now.
White 5 Average again. Passing poor.
Holding 3 A disaster.
Gabriel 7 Best of the back line. Got a stupid booking.
Tavares 3 clearly not good enough.
Elneny 4 just a poor player. Don't expect anything from him.
Xhaka 6 Shite defending. Turning his back for goal.
Saka 8 MOTM Back to his old self. Didn't shy from taking penalty.
Odegaard 6 OK
Nketiah 8 2 great finishes. Deserves to start against United.
ESR 8 Great finish for his goal.

A big 3 unexpected points keeps us in the mix.
Let's finish United off next.

F.uck me mate 😂😂😂😂

Quote:

Padre Pio

Quote:

djarse
Elneny had 90% passing success rate - highest of any player on the pitch

Im really happy about tonight and didnt criticise the team selection, but what percentage of his passes were not sidways or back?

That's Xhaka, Odegaard s, Smith Rowe s job. When playing away, ppl time and again keep under estimating the importance of just keeping possession under pressure.
Xhaka plays a similar role when he plays the deepest.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:04:20:22:45:13 by CazOnARola.

Quote:

Flava

Quote:

Boston Gooner
Ramsdale 4 poor for the 1st goal. And doesn't fill me with confidence now.
White 5 Average again. Passing poor.
Holding 3 A disaster.
Gabriel 7 Best of the back line. Got a stupid booking.
Tavares 3 clearly not good enough.
Elneny 4 just a poor player. Don't expect anything from him.
Xhaka 6 Shite defending. Turning his back for goal.
Saka 8 MOTM Back to his old self. Didn't shy from taking penalty.
Odegaard 6 OK
Nketiah 8 2 great finishes. Deserves to start against United.
ESR 8 Great finish for his goal.

A big 3 unexpected points keeps us in the mix.
Let's finish United off next.

F.uck me mate 😂😂😂😂

And you wanted Martinelli instead of Nketiah playing.

"𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴."

Quote:

Boston Gooner
Ramsdale 4 poor for the 1st goal. And doesn't fill me with confidence now.
White 5 Average again. Passing poor.
Holding 3 A disaster.
Gabriel 7 Best of the back line. Got a stupid booking.
Tavares 3 clearly not good enough.
Elneny 4 just a poor player. Don't expect anything from him.
Xhaka 6 Shite defending. Turning his back for goal.
Saka 8 MOTM Back to his old self. Didn't shy from taking penalty.
Odegaard 6 OK
Nketiah 8 2 great finishes. Deserves to start against United.
ESR 8 Great finish for his goal.


A big 3 unexpected points keeps us in the mix.
Let's finish United off next.

Sorry BG but those ratings are ridiculously biased. Check out the Sky Sports ratings for an objective judgement. We just won 4-2 away against the team 3rd in the Premiership that won the Champions League last season and you give an average rating of 5.5 for our players ! Just not serious.

Quote:

Boston Gooner

Quote:

Flava

Quote:

Boston Gooner
Ramsdale 4 poor for the 1st goal. And doesn't fill me with confidence now.
White 5 Average again. Passing poor.
Holding 3 A disaster.
Gabriel 7 Best of the back line. Got a stupid booking.
Tavares 3 clearly not good enough.
Elneny 4 just a poor player. Don't expect anything from him.
Xhaka 6 Shite defending. Turning his back for goal.
Saka 8 MOTM Back to his old self. Didn't shy from taking penalty.
Odegaard 6 OK
Nketiah 8 2 great finishes. Deserves to start against United.
ESR 8 Great finish for his goal.

A big 3 unexpected points keeps us in the mix.
Let's finish United off next.

F.uck me mate 😂😂😂😂

And you wanted Martinelli instead of Nketiah playing.

Yes I did and I wanted ESR playing as well. That’s got nothing to do with your ridiculous ratings

Am I not allowed to give what ratings I want.
Didn't know I had to check before giving them.

"𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴."

Am I not allowed to give what ratings I want.
Didn't know I had to check before giving them.

"𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴."

Quote:

Boston Gooner
Am I not allowed to give what ratings I want.
Didn't know I had to check before giving them.

Now give your ratings without your agenda!

Quote:

Boston Gooner
Am I not allowed to give what ratings I want.
Didn't know I had to check before giving them.

I think it’s best you check in first next time mate 😂😂😂

I have carefully watched replays of the first Chav goal, no way could Ramsdale have saved it

"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.

A fair review on those water carriers in Holding, Elneny and Nketiah who did fine when called upon to make a stand in the breach with Arsenal's back to the wall.

[www.football.london]
Good time for the 'good people'

There were some obvious standout performers from Arsenal's 4-2 win over Chelsea on Wednesday night, but before we get to them, it's worth focusing a little more on the unsung heroes. As the Gunners top four challenged careered off course over the past few weeks, one of the things that it made it feel perhaps more terminal than previous bumps in the road this season, was how much it had exposed the perceived lack of depth.





Injuries to Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu disturbed what previously appeared to be a solely upward bound trajectory at the Emirates, and the quality gap between the starting XI and the squad players had seen Arsenal's form drop off a cliff. However, with their backs truly against the wall at Stamford Bridge, it was the second string who came to the fore.

Of course Eddie Nketiah will grab the headlines, but a special word has to go to Mohamed Elneny who was superb at the base of the midfield. Romelu Lukaku was anonymous throughout the game with only Aaron Ramsdale managing as few touches as him, and this was largely down to the work Elneny did in cutting off the supply line to Chelsea's number nine.


Nuno Tavares meanwhile had his second solid game in a row. He was admittedly ball watching for Cesar Azpilicueta 's strike, but his alertness to intercept the Spaniard's misplaced pass essentially made the Nketiah's second, which ultimately proved to be a blow Chelsea couldn't recover from.


Rob Holding also recovered from a shakey beginning to the game to produce a creditable backs-to-the-wall type performance as Arsenal sat deeper towards the end of the match on what was his first start in any competition since January.

After the game Mikel Arteta was keen to highlight the performance of those who he had turned to in difficult times. highlighting their character to maintain professionalism despite limited opportunities to play. "If you see the training session we had on Sunday after the defeat, if you see Mo Elneny, Rob, Nicolas Pepe, how they trained, I think it’s the reason why we won," the Spaniard said in his post-match press conference.

"I said to them before the game, that to good people, good things happen and we have some really, really good people in that dressing room and that shows when they are not involved, not in the good moments. They have performed today because of how they look after themselves and how much they care about the team."

While there can be little doubt that Arsenal do need to bring in reinforcements if they are to close the gap to a side like Chelsea, the commitment of this current crop to the aim of qualifying for the Champions League cannot be called into question. When the Gunners needed them, their second string stood up.

Nketiah sends transfer message

When footage was shared on social media revealing that Alexandre Lacazette was back in the squad for Wednesday night's match, many assumed that Eddie Nketiah would be the one to miss out. The England under-21 had not exactly played badly while filling in during the 1-0 defeat to Southampton while Lacazette was recovering from COVID-19, but given the established pecking order at the Emirates, it seemed hard to see him starting.

Mikel Arteta will be thanking his stars that he did as he popped up with two goals that appear to have put Arsenal right back in the top four race. What was particularly interesting about the strikes was the fact that they were goals that he could score, but Lacazette most likely could not.

Yes, Nketiah was fortunate in the way Andreas Christensen miskicked his backpass to Edouard Mendy for the first goal, but can you imagine Arsenal's number nine having the tenacity to press so high up the pitch, and then the mobility to race away and finish with precision. The second was similarly fortunate, but it's hard to picture Lacazette being such a proactive focal point in the middle of the box that he would have been able feed off such scraps.

It perhaps makes you wonder why we haven't seen the 22-year-old sooner, and after the game Arteta revealed exactly why. "If there is one player that I have been unfair with I think it’s him," the Spaniard said. "He has given me every right to do something different, and if Eddie doesn’t play more, it’s my fault and because as a manager I missed something or I haven’t had the courage to play him more. Today he showed me more how wrong I was."

In fairness there were still things that reminded those with doubts exactly why they have them. In one night at Stamford Bridge, Nketiah equalled his entire Premier League goals tally for Arsenal since June 2020 with two strikes, while his trampoline-like link up play surrendered possession cheaply in the build up Timo Werner's initial equaliser.

Despite Arteta's public pleas to convince him to stay, the Hale Ender appears to have already made his mind up over what he wants to do with his future. Almost immediately after full time he retweeted the link to an interview he had done earlier this week calling for more opportunities to show his ability on the football pitch and admitting that he is far from certain of being an Arsenal player next season.

Regardless of his performance at Stamford Bridge, the reality remains that most Gunners fans have probably made their peace with that. But between now and the end of the campaign there is still a job to do. Nketiah is a shoe in now to start against Manchester United this weekend, and with the prize of Champions League qualification on the line, the hope will be that he can live up to the big billing that he's given himself.

Saka exorcises ghosts of the summer

Bukayo Saka was not supposed to take the penalty that sealed Arsenal's first back-to-back away victories over a big six opponent since 2012. In fact as Mikel Arteta revealed after the game, there was a general panic among the Gunners bench as the 20-year-old stepped up to take the spot kick.

"I thought Gabi was going to take it and when I saw that Bukayo was going to take it," the Spaniard said. "Honestly, the first thing I thought was back in the summer and what happened." By this point everyone is well versed with what that is.

Saka had to go through something at just 19-years-of-age that no one should have to go through at any stage in their life, as he was subjected to a tirade of racist abuse after missing the crucial penalty kick in England's EURO 2020 final. That is something that has haunted him consistently since. Even on Wednesday night vile and tasteless chants of "you let your country down" could be heard from some sections of a Chelsea fanbase who booed him during the reverse fixture at the Emirates in August.

Regardless though the Hale Ender has risen above it to improve upon a season that was good enough to see him earn a starting spot in England's first successful international semi final in 55 years. Saka now has more more goals and assists than any player under the age of 21 in the Premier League, and has hit double figures in his first uninterrupted season as a forward.

Still, it would have been easy for him to shy away from the penalty at Stamford Bridge. Bigger players have done so. After missing a spot kick in the 1999 FA Cup semi final, Dennis Bergkamp never took one again for Arsenal. Saka, however, appears to be made of stronger stuff.

As he nestled his kick into the top right corner a weight appeared to lift off his shoulders as he exorcised the deamons of last summer. The Arsenal squad, as has been the case since that day in July, were delighted for him and lapped up as much time celebrating as they could.

"I said to you guys, when that happened to Bukayo it happened for a reason," said Arteta reflecting on a huge night in the 20-year-old's nascent career. "He learned so much and he’s been through so much that’s why he’s having the season he’s having today. For him to have the courage to say ‘I’m going to take it again’ – because I’m sure it would have been in the back of his mind – for me it’s top order, even if he missed it."

Top four back on

Perhaps it's the fatalistic nature of the modern football observer, but as Arsenal slumped to a third consecutive defeat, it did seem as though the chance of qualifying for Champions League football had slipped away. Tottenham had opened a door by losing to Brighton earlier in the day but the Gunners had done their best to slam it shut again.

Sure, technically it was in Arsenal's hands if they won every won of their games between now and the end of the season, but look who they had to play! The European champions, one of the most expensively assembled squad in the Premier League and the Europa League semi finalists - and that was just the next three matches!


The most optimistic of fans surely didn't give Mikel Arteta's men a chance as they rocked up, depleted and deflated to Stamford Bridge, but the Spaniard's message to his players before kick off was clear. "I said to them if you want to be playing Champions League football you have to come to these big stages and beat the top teams," he revealed after the game. "Tonight we’ve done it"

By doing just that the Gunners are now well and truly back in the race for the Champions League. If we've learnt anything about this top four race, it's that nothing can be taken for granted, but with the way Manchester United played against Liverpool on Tuesday, Arsenal would surely fancy their chances of getting a result in their upcoming match on Saturday. Following that is a trip to a West Ham side whose heads will likely be turned by the Europa League semi final legs which sandwich that fixture. Suddenly things are looking a little rosier.

"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” Saint Thomas Aquinas

Lets not forget players like Holding, Elneny, Tavares and Nketiah have been warming the bench mostly. When they were called upon to start in a tough away game, they showed up and more. U can be critical of their mistakes but dont forget they are rusty from lack of game time. While we can say that Nketiah got lucky from 2 Chelsea mistakes, he took them like a true goal poacher. Tavares was guilty of ball watching which led to Chelsea's 2nd goal but he will learn and as long as he keeps his game simple and play for the team, he will get more starts. Holding and Elneny are what I call journymen. Good to have in the squad and can be trusted when called upon.

Onto Man U.

For me it was a case of oh yeah of little faith. After I saw that lineup, I just went to bed only to wake up and find out we won. Wow!

Can We Now Trust The Process 🤔🤷🏿‍♀️ or Should We Still Remain Cautious 🙇🏿‍♀️

Quote:

AJ The Gunner
For me it was a case of oh yeah of little faith. After I saw that lineup, I just went to bed only to wake up and find out we won. Wow!

😁😁😂😂😊

"𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴."

A reminder from Wenger on what type of footballer Elneny is and is not. If used correctly, can be an asset to Arsenal as shown against Chelsea.

[www.mirror.co.uk]

Arsene Wenger praise proved right as forgotten Arsenal man stars in Chelsea win
Mohamed Elneny has rarely featured for Arsenal this season but was called upon and put in an impressive showing as the Gunners saw off the Blues at Stamford Bridge
By Samuel Meade Sports Brand Writer
09:05, 21 Apr 2022 UPDATED13:13, 21 Apr 2022

Arsene Wenger's glowing assessment of Mohamed Elneny was backed up by the Egyptian's display at Chelsea on Wednesday night.

The Arsenal midfielder helped his side secure a much needed 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge as he partnered Granit Xhaka at the base of midfield. Thomas Partey, normally as regular, is missing through injury which forced Elneny to step up with the Gunners looking to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Egyptian has been used sporadically by Mikel Arteta, starting for just the second time in the Premier League on Wednesday night. Elneny has only made 11 appearances in all competitions and is out of contract this summer but was on top form as the Gunners secured a surprise victory.

Arsenal added Elneny during Wenger's tenure, signing the midfielder from Basel in 2016. The 29-year-old has headed out on loan in search of more game time in the past, but he backed up comments made by his previous manager during the 4-2 success in west London.

“Elneny is a very strong and active player,” Wenger told beIN Sports previously. “He’s a player with a modern style of play and that always gives his best for his team. Elneny is a very tactically-useful player. He is very active inside the pitch and what strikes me the most is how he protects his team.

“His input within the team is great, not in terms of goal creation because he’s not the type to have the final touch before the goal. But because of how helpful he is in the build-up. Elneny’s style of play adds protection to the team.”

Mikel Arteta had no doubt that the likes of Elneny, who have lacked regular minutes this term, would thrive given the chance from the start. The Spaniard's observations in training recently gave him faith regarding their selection as he underlined the commitment that exists within the north London outfit.

He said: "If you see the training session that we had on Sunday after the defeat, if you see Mo Elneny, Rob Holding, Nicolas Pepe, how they trained - I think it’s the reason why we won. I said to them before the game, to good people good things happen guys, and we have some really really good people in that dressing room.

"That shows in difficult moments when they are not involved, not in the good moments. They have performed today because of how they look after themselves and how much they care about the team."

We will get rid of him.

"𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴."

Elneny deserved more credit than he is being given. How many Chelsea balls that he cut out, his defensive action at the back and squeezing the passing lanes to Lukaku? And it's not true that all he did was passed sideways and back.

Yes, he is a limited player in skill, and I feel that there will always be an element of that when judging him in any game - that he did not do anything special. But what he did was so important especially against a very good team in an away game when we were already under so much pressure due to recent results. He becomes sort of an anger outlet for some Arsenal fans who think we should have better players in these positions no matter how well he plays hence subconsciously many will 'fail' to see his contribution through no fault of theirs.

Yes, we all believe that, but credit where it's due. He won balls, intercepted, harried and shadowed Chelsea players all game long with his high energy game and also kept the ball moving. He also always made himself available to receive passes all game long. His one-touch passing has definitely improved from the first time he came here.

Most importantly, he is a player who will suffer and sacrifice for the team without ever complaining or sulking or looking disinterested like Nketiah did when he only came on as a sub in a few earlier games.

Mohamed Elneny’s game by numbers vs Chelsea:

100% ground duels won
90% pass accuracy
53 touches
36 passes completed
6 ball recoveries
4 interceptions
2/3 long balls completed

He had an excellent game all things considered

Exactly - he hasn't always performed that well, mind you - but credit where it's due, he ran Saka and Nketiah close for MotM on this occasion