Match Report – Match Highlights – Post-Match Press Conference
It’s been ages since I published any article on this blog. Apologies for the hiatus but I’ve been involved in a whole lot of things and with no one to hold the fort, there have been a lot of cobwebs in this place.
So I dashed away from a wedding reception I attended to ensure I made it to a bar in time to watch Arsenal’s game against Preston. With the prior knowledge that some of the big guns were going to be rested, as well as the niggling injuries and a certain Mohamed Elneny joining his country on international duty, Arsene Wenger didn’t have many options on his team selection strategy for the team.
However, he had places for David Ospina in goal as Petr Cech got a breather, but Kieran Gibbs hadn’t recovered from his knee injury on time, allowing Nacho Monreal to continue as the left back. Laurent Koscielny was rested to accommodate Gabriel alongside Skhodran Mustafi but it was very interesting seeing Ainsley Maitland-Niles as a right back ahead of Carl Jenkinson. I strongly believe that Jenks is leaving on loan to another English club this January, but the boss probably didn’t want to cup-tie the lad. The paucity of options in midfield saw the RamXhaka combination with newly crowned CAF Youth Player of the Year, Alex Iwobi, in the Ozil role. Lucas Perez and the Ox flanked the captain of the night, Olivier Giroud.
To be honest, the first half was pure shite from an Arsenal perspective. Preston scored an early goal from a young bloke called Robinson, they had a drilled effort across the goal that would have put them two up if any player touched the ball, and they even had a chance that Monreal cleared off the line. It was that kinda half for Arsenal. Going into the break with a goal behind a lower division team was embarrassing to say the least and everyone demanded a response which Arsenal obliged.
Straight from the restart, the Gunners pressed hard for an equalizer and found it from Ramsey, a player that had been bereft of goals all season long. Iwobi has to be hauled for some brilliant player in the link up to the goal. The early equalizer settled some nerves and the visitors continued to push for the winner but it wasn’t forthcoming. Just when we thought that we would have an unnecessary FA Cup replay on our hands, the Gunners nicked it right at the death, thanks to Giroud. Ramsey played a good ball to Perez who noticed the French forward in his path then he executed a neat back-heeled pass. For a lad not renowned for his speed, Giroud reacted really swiftly to Lucas’ pass and bundled the ball into the net to send the Gunners to the fourth round.
The highlight of the night was the return of long term injury absentee, Danny Welbeck, to first team football action. He almost capped with with a brilliant curled effort but the Preston goalie denied the forward a fairytale comeback. In the end, it was a job well done from Wenger’s men and they’d be hoping to put up better performances as the season progresses.
Like Bournemouth a couple of days ago, the Gunners were terrible and for some reason, the defense is no longer impregnable, as the team continues to leak in goals from all classes of opposition. All focus would turn to Swansea away.
More on that game in the coming days ahead.
Sayonara.
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