Yes, I'm still buzzing from our yesterday's performance. In fact, it has set my mood for the upcoming week. Just as you can reply to the question "Why are you grumpy?" when there's no apparent reason with an "Arsenal lost", you can say you're happy because Arsenal won. Even if your current situation wherever (at the uni, work) is nothing short of abysmal, saying the magical words " but still, Arsenal won" makes it that much better.
The squad
Arsene made a whopping 6 changes compared to our last game, four of these to our back line: Szczesny, Chambers, Gabriel and Gibbs all came in and all did brilliantly. Though I'm pretty sure Ospina will return against Palace, everyone else will provide Arsene with a nice selection headache.
Further up field Flamini came in for Coquelin and Welbeck replaced Walcott. Ozil moved infield to give way to Alexis on the flank and Cazorla was basically tasked with performing Ramsey's functions, something he did with aplomb. The Spaniard was also named captain in Mert's absence.
The first half
We took the game to Boro immediately and could have opened the scoring as early as in the 4th minute when Cazorla's clever effort from the free-kick forced Mejias into a save. Our next real moment of danger came ten minutes later when Giroud's curler was palmed away by the same Mejias, before Alexis's rebound hit the side netting.
Giroud looked in a goalscoring mood and the Frenchman's desire got the better of him in a situation when a simple pass to Welbeck seemed more promising, but Olivier's efforts were duly rewarded in the 27th minute. In a move, which saw EVERY Arsenal player touch the ball, the Frenchman found himself on the receiving end of a low cross from Gibbs after the Englishman was set up by a sublime pass from Santi. Giroud made it 1-0.
Less than two minutes later he made it 2-0. Him and Sanchez took advantage during a corner when all Boro defenders fell asleep. The Chilean swung the ball to the near post having spotted Giroud making a run. Olivier sidefooted the ball into the net.
We could have scored a third straight away when Alexis chipped the keeper after being sent clean through by Ozil. The defenders, however, cleared the ball off the line. Truth be told, I don't think Alexis was at his best yesterday. Don't get me wrong, Alexis was very good, but a have a feeling he is still not at his best.
After such a strong start we've slowed down a bit and nothing of note happened for the remainder of the half, bar, maybe, a late shot on target from Adomah. Which hasn't troubled Szczesny at all.
The second half
We started it on a bit of a back foot and I feared the repeat of what happened at Leicester, but nothing of the sort occurred, despite Boro seeing more of the ball in the first 15 minutes or so. In all honesty we could have further extended our lead after Boro's corner, but Welbeck blasted his shot wide after making a good run.
Ozil was next up with a chance to score, only for his effort to be well-saved by Mejias. Shortly after Gabriel received his first booking in English football, after he had to cynically foul Reach, who was racing through on goal. I really liked the manner in which Gabriel blocked Reach: he did so with exactly the intention to stop a dangerous attack and knew he would receive a yellow card. This heavily reminded me of Arteta, who is always ready to commit such fouls for the good of the team.
Ozil and Alexis combined once more only to see the danger averted at the last possible moment, before substitute Walcott snuffed two chances in succession. His second was particularly tasty, with Rosicky sending the Englishman through, but Mejias got down well to save.
We also could have scored through first Alexis, whose headed effort was tipped around the post and then Cazorla, whose cracking effort went over the bar.
We put our foot off the gas in the closing stages and that could have cost us the clean sheet. First Adomah's shot fizzed just wide with Szczesny stranded, and then Kike's header smashed against the post. This last moment, however, happened in the 93rd minute. Shortly after, the whistle blew.
The aftermath
"We controlled the game from the first to the last minute. They had one chance at the end from a header, but overall I’m pleased with the way we attacked, the way we defended and with the way we played together with a good focus for 90 minutes. That’s basically it."
Yes, that's it. I don't want to single anyone out in what was a brilliant collective effort. Maybe Gabriel is worth a mention, but purely because it was his debut. Had Mertesacker played the way the Brazilian did I wouldn't dwell on that after such a display.
"He (Gabriel) has shown three important qualities - great concentration levels, great urgency to defend and good pace, especially on the recovery tackle he made in the box...From what I’ve seen there’s a lot to come from him because technically he is good at passing as well."
The Brazilian was really good at aerial duels, having won the air completely (with the exception of that last episode), he made a couple of sharp interceptions and there were quite a few through-the-line passes from him. A very good package for a first game.
Right, that's your lot for today. I hope I'll return on Wednesday, but, as I have an exam on Friday, I'm not sure about this bit. If there's nothing from me on Wednesday, then expect me to be back for a preview of our away game at Palace.
Until later
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