Went to the match today; first NLD alongside my son and his cousin (plus his dad, my brother in law).
Some thoughts:
- Just so happy they didn't witness a loss (would have been my first NLD seeing us lose live at home, won the last two i watched - Thanks Aubameyang, you bottler
)
- This Arsenal team are very mediocre in terms of quality of players but Emery's coaching/tactics seemed to have allowed them to make up for it - they were more compact playing us as an away side than they've been for years plus they used the threat on the break well to nullify our attacking verve as well as press us at the right times to force us to hoof it long
- The referee was a complete disgrace! How the fudge some people on other fan forums think WE gained from bias is a complete mystery! I wonder if refs are almost listening to the 'dirty Spurs' hysterical accusations i read on places like RAWK, Shed End etc. Truly shocking anbd very ant-Spurs officiating, how so many free-kicks whent their way they would have to have been bought - maybe they 'did it for Mike Dean'?? He was the same ref in the corresponding game last season as well - and he was a clam then (though not quite as bad)
- I think we are done: There was lots of effort today, but physically and in terms of self-belief the team is spent; nobody shooting, nobody even able to control the ball and pass with any ease. The players have been flogged and like last April they look spent, but unlike then we don't have a short time to 'just hang in there'; sadly, a 'christmas tree formation' of PL finishes under Poch beckons
- As well as being spent, we've been worked out now; having nobody in cm able to defend, dictate with strength/confidence has impacted our defensive confidence and our attacking play: as i say, Arsenal (and imo Burnley) forced us to knock it long and Kane/Son were nullified; we have no creativity through the centre of midfield to combat this as well as no midfield strength on the ball. Winks and Alli will help, but not enough for what will need at this stage imo
- Nice to see Aubameyang get some Karma, after he celebrated like a clam in front of our fans in the reverse fixture when he scored his pen!
Oh well, cannot fault the effort but we are seriously lacking.
Regardless, COYS at least we all enjoyed an eventful matchday