I always find it interesting to read the match thread after the event (as I have just done). In this case I found some of the criticisms/comments extremely strange with many of them not really seeming to reflect the way the game was going at all.
I was in my usual seat in the East Upper on Saturday and I felt that we were in control pretty much from the first minute to the last.
Arsenal probably had two 5 minute spells in the whole match and other than that were solely reliant on the counter attack, but they were pushed so deep that they couldn't even manage to counter effectively, finding it impossible to break through our incredibly intensive press. It was probably the most intensive press I have seen us deploy this season - with Kane, Lamela, Dembele, Ericksen, Mason and even the two full backs involved in implementing it. We made (an apparently) good footballing team look like they had poor technique.
I recorded the game from the showing on BT Sport and watched it again yesterday after the euphoria had died down a little. Watching it again just affirmed my thoughts while at the game. Perhaps it is easier to go over the top when watching at home and posting on a forum - but why on earth were people criticising us and wanting changes to be made when we we had so much control in the game compared to our opponents?
I have picked a few choice comments from the thread:
"Dembele has to be subbed. We've got a slick passing game and he keeps slowing it down"
"Chadli for Dembele is the sub I'd make. The guy is slowing the game down so much ruining our tempo and allowing them to get organised"
Dembele was a crucial part of our win - he didn't let Arsenal's defensive midfielder settle on the ball and dictate play at all, as a result every Arsenal pass was rushed and we won back possession quickly throughout the match. Additionally Dembele always wanted the ball, even when tightly marked and when it was passed to him he retained possession just about every time - this allowed us to play the game entirely in their half and much of the game in their third. This resulted in Arsenal being incredibly deep, the midfield congested so that they couldn't pass through it and it allowed our fullbacks to get forward.
"Eriksen likes to drift inside and Rose isn't a defensive LB = problems"
I thought we caused them far more problems from the left hand side than they caused us (although admittedly they got the goal down that side). Ericksen was tucking in and taking their fullback with him which was creating acres of space for Rose to get into and Wellbeck wasn't always good enough/defensively minded enough to handle this.
"They are nullifying anything central. Stambouli on for mason, let him sit so walker can get forward too"
Arsenal were not nullifying anything, it was always a matter of time before we scored. Mason was crucial in the box to box role as he was literally everywhere winning tackles and not letting Arsenal settle into their passing game. Walker got forward sensibly, not just charging forward when we had Rose already creating width on the other side but instead choosing his moments.
"Bentaleb has been really quiet. Sad"
His positional sense was superb.... Arsenal couldn't work the ball through midfield at all. I'm not sure you could really get how good Bentaleb's performance was without being at the game and seeing the whole pitch?
"Fark!!! This has got the Liverpool 3-0 in August written all over it"
At no stage did it ever look like that game. In that game we were as outplayed by Liverpool as Arsenal were by us on Saturday, the only thing that stopped a similar result was that Arsenal had Coquelin (who actually looks a decent, positionally disciplined defensive midfielder) whereas against Liverpool we had Capoue, who was absolutely anonymous when we were defending.
"We look so insecure without Fazio organising. I'd swap him for Dier if he is anyway fit"
I thought our organisation was excellent. Arsenal's goal came from a rash challenge from Vertonghen and then a very good piece of play from Wellbeck to exploit that (I think Rose was surprised at Welbeck's turn of pace to be honest - and I was too) Arsenal then got a little bit of luck with a mibrick shot from Giroud that went straight to Ozil. I thought that in general our defence looked more secure than in just about any other game this season. Have you ever seen an Arsenal team create so few chances?
"I think we've been by far the better team and the body language of the Arsenal players don't really resemble a team that is going in at half time ahead. We've been better and they are lucky to be ahead. I think our players look more up for it, I think we've got a good spirit and I wouldn't be surprised if we win this"
This was the feeling that I and all those around me had at half time as well.... We were comfortably the better team and if the game continued in the same vein then it would've been a travesty if we had lost. Interesting how it appeared that for some this wasn't the feeling they were getting while watching the game?