Spy360:

We have been good at home because we play a high line of defense. Arteta does the same against lower teams away. But he is too cautious against bigger teams especially playing away even when he is capable of taking them heads on like against Man Utd and Everton.

I want MA to maintain a high line of pressing in away matches or if not, he must know the right set of players to use in a deep set up.

Don't worry again because the problem has been Aubameyang because you can see all what I have been preaching about Gabriel Martineli blending and gelling with somebody else in the team like Saka and ESR does which was exactly what he is doing now with Lacazette as Aubameyang has always remained useless if and when he doesn't score unlike Lacazette

Gabriel Martinelli makes Arsenal statement of maturity

But a month ago you couldn’t make out where Gabriel Martinelli’s minutes were going to come from. Fast forward to mid-December and you can’t leave him out of the Arsenal team.

It was a landmark evening for the Brazilian against West Ham as his inclusion in the starting lineup marked the first time he had started in four consecutive Premier League matches.

He made every second of the 2-0 victory count.

Like a lit match in a bank vault, he was burning through the numbers: sprinting, tackling, pressing and challenging. The fire in his belly is one money can’t buy.

Under difficult circumstances, the performance from Arsenal was one of the finest seen during Mikel Arteta’s reign. Coming up against a team who would set up in an entirely different manner from the previous outing against Southampton, the intent from the side from the off demonstrated the focus.

Few epitomised that quite like Martinelli. The manager has been reluctant to instill a high pressing system with more focus on counter-pressing under specific triggers, yet the approach on Wednesday was designed to be proactive instead of reactive. Fronted by Alexandre Lacazette, Martin Odegaard and Martinelli, the hunger to attack was as evident as the bit between the 20-year-old’s teeth.

Your eyes are drawn to him. He sucks you in with his energy and leaves you infatuated by his presence. Arteta said it best post-match, and it perfectly summarises the improvement in how he projects his exuberance on the pitch.

It’s exactly that. Previously too intent on getting his head down and his name on the scoresheet, Martinelli’s performance against the Hammers saw no drop in vitality, but saw him harness it in a more measured and mature manner.

There were bending runs and constant tracking back to recover possession blended with composure in situations where he knew waiting for reinforcements could sustain pressure instead of heading straight for the jugular.

The maturity aspect is crucial. That’s what he’s needed to inject into his game. While he kept his mileage up, he managed his tires like Formula One champion.

You wouldn’t go as far as to say this was a coming of age display, but to be handed the chance once again even with Smith Rowe fit and to keep his place in the team as Martin Odegaard made way instead was a credit to how he conducted himself.

Just like the onlooker, Arteta didn’t want him out of his gaze.

So, just a month on, with Smith Rowe suffering a minor knock and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joining Nicolas Pepe in the wilderness, the opportunity that seemed beyond his reach has been cherished, nurtured and claimed as his own.

You can’t drop this level of talent. Martinelli is on an effervescent trajectory in a youthful team he belongs in.

ARSENAL'S next 5 matches.

Note that all are Nigerian time please

Yes we made it to the Top 4 placement.

Oya by fire by force, let Manchester united loss today

Arteta on Lacazette relishing being captain: "You see the way he acts with the young players, how willing he is to help. It’s in his nature. He’s not a selfish player. He’s happy when he makes the rest better, & he’s like that in the dressing room as well" #Arsenal

Arteta on Martinelli: "His overall understanding of the game is getting much better. He is able to put some gears into his play instead of doing everything at 100mph. The energy and the quality he shows, it’s top."

Arteta: "We’ve made some progress, but there is still a lot to do and we have to be aware of that. We’ve had some bumps in the road, but we’ve learnt a lot from them and we have stuck together, from the top of the club to every member of the team and staff."

Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League this season:

9 matches
7 wins
1 draw
1 loss
17 goals scored
6 goals conceded
+11 goal difference
22/27 points (joint-most home points with Manchester City)

#afc

Arteta: "They were fully focused & they wanted to show how strong we are as a team. The performance & the attitude & commitment that they showed today showed where we are as a club" #Arsenal

MICHAEL ANTONIO POCKETED �

People where worried for How Ben white would do up against a physical striker like Antonio and it is fair to say he kept him silent that he even had to go and play RWB �

Ben white x Gabriel x Tomiyasu x Tierney x Ramsdale tooooo cold �

Moyes says he has no real issue with the red card decision, says Coufal should have made better contact with the ball and not given the ref the chance to make a decision.

Also says West Ham made a mess in the build up to Coufal having to make a challenge.

Arteta on the win: "I’m really, really pleased with the performance, the the quality, the energy, the passion that the team was able to transmit, how we engaged again with the crowd. We had some really good moments" #Arsenal

Arteta: "The players played with pride and energy we all expect from them. I was really happy."

Arteta on Lacazette being captain:

"He's the next in line and he's taken it with such a pride and commitment."

Arteta on the fans:

"They show exactly what we expect from them which is total unity with the team. They are the biggest pillar of the project that we have. I am really pleased with that."

BREAKING NEWS: Arsenal have a positive goal difference for the first time this season +1 goal difference

Official: Bukayo Saka has been awarded Man of the Match for his performance vs. West Ham tonight. [BT]

Gabriel Martinelli on the uncertainty regarding captaincy: “Nah, nah. We are a team & we are together. It’s up to Mikel & the whole team to decide the captain.” #afc

Team news as Lacazette remains the captain

West Ham United: Fabiański, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Masuaku, Rice ©, Souček, Bowen, Lanzini, Fornals, Antonio

Subs: Areola (GK), Ashby, Alese, Noble, Král, Vlašić, Benrahma, Okoflex, Yarmolenko



Arsenal: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Ødegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette ©

Subs: Okonkwa (GK), Holding, Maitland-Niles, Tavares, Lokonga, Elneny, Pepé, Smith Rowe, Nketiah

It's official

Odegaard captain and Tierney vice captain

Aubameyang stripped of Arsenal captaincy, dropped for game

LONDON (AP) - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy on Tuesday after his latest disciplinary breach.

The striker will also not be considered for selection for the English Premier League game against West Ham on Wednesday, Arsenal said.

Aubameyang was left out for the game against Southampton on Saturday because of what manager Mikel Arteta described as a "disciplinary breach." Aubameyang is reported to have travelled to France during last week, with the consent of the club, but returned a day late.

"We expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed," Arsenal said.


"We are fully focused on tomorrow´s match."

Aubameyang was left out of the team for the north London derby against Tottenham in March because of a "disciplinary issue," according to Arteta at the time.

Gabriel magalheas is expecting a baby from his pregnant wife

Official line up

kokanepyramid:

Einsteins, are we expected to win Southampton or not

It's a sure banker win for us the ARSENAL today and this afternoon

The past and the present

MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGERS SINCE 1986
1. Sir Alex Ferguson
2. David Moyes
3. Louis Van Gaal
4.Giggs
5.Jose Mourinho
6.Ole
TOTAL premier league trophy =20



ARSENAL MANAGERS SINCE 1986
1.Gerge Graham
2.Bruce Rioch
3.Arsene Wenger
4.Unai Emery
5.Arterta
TOTAL premier league trophy = 13
(1 Gold trophy)


CHELSEA MANAGERS SINCE 1986
1.Bobby Campbell
2.Jan Borterfield
3.David Webb
4.Glenn Hoddle
5.Ruud Gullit
6.Gianluca Vialli
7.Ray Wilkins
8.Claudio Ranieri
9.Jose Mourinho
10.Avran Grant
11.Felip Scolari
12.Ray Wilkins
13.Guus Hidink
14.Carlos Ancelotti
15.Andrew Villas Boas
16.Robert Di Matteo
17.Rafael Benitez
18.Jose Mourinho
19.Guus Hidink
20.Antonio Conte
21.Sarri
22.Lampard

Thomas Tuchel

TOTAL premier league trophy = 6

iamoyindamola Man United clash indeedpost=108010599:

I hope saka's injury is not much
Anything to keep Pepe on bench is okay sha

Yes hopefully because Saka still remains our Best chance creator any day anytime and I can't afford like every Gunner to see him Miss out of the Thursdays

iamoyindamola:

He almost caused us
The first half shout was a PK same with the one they had before scoring the 2nd goal

Forget it. Kudos to the Boys today except for Aubameyang and ESR that failed woefully indeed and in Truth absolutely as I can and I am ready to argue with anyone today about their contributions on the pitch today because they both lived on their past Glory today as their Passengers nature were too glaring to see and noticed by any vivid football fan not just Arsenal fans or we the Gunners

daveP:
Tavares dey target Basketball net. Omo. What is this rubbish?

Auba takes 70% of the blame. Glad he knows this fully. Whoever is the trainer at Colney should specifically take Tavares and pls work on shooting practice for the guy abeg. Tierney is highly missed.


See Tomiyasu coming to do a job that is meant for Partey from his 2 position? That dispossession at the halfline when Newcastle were attacking. Smh. The middle is evidently sh-t with or without Arteta's System in place.


Plus any video analyst of an opposition will know that Arsenal lacks any threat from the LW angle. We don't even have one. Nelli should have started this game. I'm desperate and as such, they should get Alexis Sanchez back. Cos what's this rubbish.

ESR is the root cause of your observation please as he himself alongside Aubameyang have failed to replicate what Saka and Odegaard were doing on the right flank.

The same anonymous status of ESR against LIVERPOOL once again showed up for ESR except in the last 15 minutes when he began moving around away from his static play originally

iamoyindamola:
Remove auba and put martinelli
Then ódegaard for lacazette

I think the changes today were good for me because Odegaard was really in the game today as against when he used to come on as a substitute for Lacazette

Jodera:
Was odegaard lacking in confidence before? I don't think so, but yeah he needs starts especially as he isn't a bad player.
What do you think about tavarez/Tierney situation? Do you think it's cool as Tierney lost his spot even tho he's back to full fitness?

Tavares has come and is here to stay already except that he needs to stop his shooting at goal attempts because he has been awful in it

What is favouring him over Tierney at the moment is his attack mindedness as compared to Tierney who is always fond of giving back passes when we are countering in attack going forward

Jodera:
Ordegaard replaces lacazette(a surprising decision tho). Same line up.

Hope we get the three needed points today oo

Not surprising to me though because Odegaard needs his confidence back and this bottom placed Newcastle is the right team to feature him while Lacazette can always come in like in the 60th minutes to have a say like he always do

Amen to your 3 points posture, prayer and position