Finally, believe it or not, Arsenal have just won a game of football. After a long string of nine games not winning in all competitions… it feels so good. I’m not going to lie, at one stage of this dreadful run, I was beginning to fear a relegation battle. I know we’re not completely out of the woods just yet, but last night helped to instil confidence, not just in the players but the fans. It’s a reminder of who we are as a club. We are The Arsenal! Don’t get me wrong, we have no right to be arrogant right now because we’re a long way away from the illustrious heights of days gone by, but we are far too good to be in a relegation scrap.
The game itself was the absolute epitome of that old footballing cliché; “a game of two halves”. We were woeful in that first half. You could tell the majority of the Arsenal players felt devoid of confidence and were playing with their heads down. After that first goal went in, I, along with so many other Gooners, feared the worst for Arsenal but we somehow picked ourselves up in the second half… and produced fire on the pitch! You have to give a lot of credit to Freddie Ljungberg and his team for his talk in the dressing room because whatever he said… it certainly worked. He told us in the post-match Press Conference that he wanted the team to play with a higher tempo but you’d imagine he didn’t say it so calmly. I believe he did what most top-class managers would have done in that situation and he read the riot act.
The line-up was a massive improvement on Freddie’s previous two games. It showed much more attacking intent, a better defensive back four, and it certainly cheered up most of the fans. Chambers and Sokratis appear to be the best centre-back pairing we’ve seen this season… let’s not forget, it was these two that kept us a clean sheet in our first game away to Newcastle United. Sticking Torreira where he belongs, shielding the back four alongside Xhaka, is certainly the best recipe for the heart of our midfield. Ozil didn’t have the best game but by having a player of his ability on the pitch, always poses the option of creativity going forward. And of course, that front three delivered beyond our wildest imaginations. Pepe was deservedly the MOTM, Martinelli exciting and dangerous as always, and Aubameyang keeps showing us why he’s one of the world’s best at putting the ball in the back of the net.
In terms of the managerial situation, I can see two sides to the argument. I wouldn’t be too disappointed to see Freddie stay in charge for the meantime. He’s obviously having an impact, and I think he is just starting to show signs of releasing the pressure on these players. The way the players embraced him during and after the game; shows you how much they admire the Swede too. Chopping and changing managers so many times within a season can have a detrimental effect, so sticking with Freddie temporarily might be a good thing.
I can also see the positives of bringing someone new in, as long as it’s the right manager. Someone that can continue the positive motivation and tactical improvement shown by Freddie so far. If we were to do that, the best time would be after a win when the confidence is high… not when the players heads are on the floor.
I’ve noticed some fans saying that, “it’s only West Ham”, “we only played well for 10 minutes”, or “let’s not get carried away”. I’m definitely not saying we should get carried away but why can’t we just enjoy the moment for what it is? I don’t think we’re going to win the league; however, I knew those 3 points yesterday were crucial and I’m ecstatic for the team. Let’s support Freddie and the boys and help bring a positive atmosphere back to this wonderful club. COYG!
The Highbury Daze 