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Arsenal 0 Liverpool 2 (Jan 20 2022)

     

     
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    Dave Usher

Vindication! That’s what I’m feeling right now. As shite as we were last week I said we’d go to the Emirates and take care of it because we’re miles better than Arsenal, with or without Sadio and Mo. The lads know it too. They were probably as pissed off as any of us that they somehow allowed that bunch of fucking losers to escape Anfield with a draw.

 

I know I go on a lot about the complete lack of respect I have for this Arsenal team and you’re probably sick of it, but honestly, not beating them would have been a scandal that I’d have struggled to ever forgive. I still bristle any time I think of them beating us in our title winning season. I also bristle remembering how they celebrated it, the self satisfied pricks.

 

They over celebrated last week too. 0-0 at half time and they're acting like the job is done. Then you've got that Ben White turd laughing at Taki when he missed that late chance. The fucking nerve of ANYONE from Arsenal laughing at ANYONE from Liverpool. Who the fuck do they think they are? This is why they're shit. They think they're better than they are and have massive delusions of grandeur. 

 

We’re better than Arsenal in every single area of the park. The only one of their players I’d look twice at would be Saka (Martinelli is decent too but he’s always injured) and their manager is a complete phoney. Even the keeper who they're creaming themselves over, I wouldn't even take him over Kelleher.

 

Arsenal's shitness offends me in so many ways. Let me put it this way. You know how on old school video games at the end of each level there was a boss that you’d have to beat? I’m talking about games like Golden Axe, Double Dragon, Streets of Rage, that kind of thing. Sometimes you’d beat the boss, sometimes you’d lose to the boss.When you lost to the end of level boss of course it was disappointing, infuriating, whatever, but you also know that it’s tough and that there’s no disgrace in losing to the boss. 

 

Losing to Chelsea in the final would come into that category. Chelsea are an end of level boss that you need to beat.

 

To get to that boss, however, you have to beat up a load of bums who will generally die when you hit them once or twice. They aren’t there for any other reason other than to make up the numbers and to help you hone your skills for when the big test arrives. Any time I got killed by one of those it was purely down to carelessness and I’d be furious with myself. That’s Arsenal. 

 

One or two punches kills them and there’s absolutely no excuse for ever letting them even get one hit in, let alone ending your game. They’re the only team to lose to Everton in the last six months or something. Remember that. That’s who Arsenal are. Losers.

 

And I’m delighted to say we showed that in this game. We weathered a bit of an early… I don’t want to say storm as that would be overstating it, so I’ll say it was an early breeze. Arsenal came out with their tails up, no doubt boosted by their cute little pre-match light show that I assume was inspired by an Elton John concert or something. Looked like loads of them were holding up lighters but it was probably just the lights from their phones, as no-one loves filming the match quite like Arsenal fans.

 

Anyway, they came out swinging and we didn’t start well. A lot of the ‘threat’ they posed came from us just passing the ball to them. Joel especially kept doing it, while Virgil’s early distribution wasn’t great either. I’ll give credit where it’s due though, part of that was down to Arsenal pressing high and with intensity. Rather than be worried about that though I was happy. Much rather they try and have a go at us than sit back like they did last week.

 

In fairness, last week’s Mourinho-like display was forced on them because of the sending off and I had no problem with it as going toe to toe with us isn’t something they can do with eleven men, let alone ten. Thankfully this time the inevitable Arsenal red card didn’t come until we were already home and hosed so it had no bearing on the game.

 

In those early stages they were quite lively and the crowd were into it, but they needed to score in that spell to have any chance because we were always going to settle down and then start to play our football, and when that happened they'd be in trouble. The closest they came to a goal during that spell was a free-kick from Lacazette that Kelleher tipped onto the bar. It might have been hitting the bar anyway but he got a touch to make sure.

 

I’m glad he got the start in this even though under normal circumstances you’d want the best keeper in the world in your team. He hasn’t been showing the form of the best keeper in the world this season, but he’s still Alisson and normally you’d pick him. But if you say to Kelleher at the start of the season “you play in the League Cup games” then you should stick to it. Last week was harsh on him but Alisson needed the playing time and besides, Kelleher had been able to get the Chelsea league game in because Ali had COVID, so that evened it out. 

 

It was a big call from Klopp to pick him (and Kaide Gordon, who I’ll get to in a bit) but it was the right call and Kelleher did what he needed to. Which wasn’t much really, Arsenal barely threatened us but Kelleher did see a lot of the ball with his feet and he really caught the eye once again with how calm, assured and impressive he is in that area. In that regard I trust him more than Alisson.

 

One of the biggest myths in football is how amazing Alisson is with his feet. He really isn’t. In fact he’s better with his head! Seriously though, Alisson is decent with his feet but no more than that. In terms of footballing ability, Kelleher is probably second only to that ugly, tattooed cunt at City.

 

So anyway, the free-kick was Arsenal’s big moment but it didn’t go in and before long we were ahead. Lovely goal too. Started with Kelleher and we just played right through Arsenal’s press. What was interesting about it is Trent’s position. That had to be something we’d worked on to beat their press because he popped up in an area they just weren’t expecting him to be.

 

Bobby’s flick found him and then Trent released Diogo down the left. It didn’t look particularly dangerous initially but as soon as he megged the full back he was then cutting inside onto his strong foot and Arsenal’s defence had a problem. Remember the goal he scored against them in the league game from the other side, cutting in on his left and leaving Ben White on his arse? Similar thing, left him on his arse again. Not laughing now are you, knobhead?

 

The shot wasn’t well struck but it wrong footed Ramsdale and went in. Fowler-esque from Diogo yet again. The similarities between them are remarkable. So many of his goals just look like Fowler. Even this. I can remember a few Robbie right footers that dribbled in just like that.

 

The camera closed in on Arteta’s face on the touchline a minute or two later and he looked haunted. Like a man who had no idea what to do. The goal really took the wind out of Arsenal’s sails and while I wouldn’t say they gave up, it looked like they had no belief whatsoever. That's them though, they wilt when under any kind of pressure.

 

Our approach to the game wasn’t exactly what we’re used to seeing though and it seemed to me that we deliberately played more cagey than usual and were happy to concede more possession than we’re used to seeing. We didn’t press high, we dropped off. The whole team was deeper than usual and that worked a treat.

 

Arsenal are only really dangerous on counter attacks so it made sense for us to let them have the ball more than usual and then pick them off when they made mistakes, instead of letting them try to do that to us. 

 

It felt like we were always in control of the game but as ever, you need the second goal to make sure. I’m struggling to think of any real moments of danger they had. There was a chance for Lacazette that he ballooned over, but can you really call it a chance when it’s him? He doesn’t score anymore and has been shite for a couple of years. The only reason he plays is because Aubamayeng doesn't give a fuck and the only other alternative is Eddie Nketia, a player destined for a modest career in the Championship. 

 

Lacazette was one foul away from a red card at that point having been booked just before half time and then followed that up with another quick foul. The ref was right not to book him for the second one but it’s one of those where you know it’s probably his last chance.

 

So he was subbed midway through the second half but Arsenal could have subbed any of their forwards our midfielders not named Martinelli. He was the only one who had any life in him. The others were shite, even Saka who got no change out of the brilliant Robbo.

 

I've never seen what the fuss was about with Odegaard (average every single time i've seen him), while Smith Rowe was crap as well. He’ll probably look great against Burnley at the weekend because that’s modern Arsenal. Players will turn it on sporadically against shite teams, their fans get all chesty about them and start proclaiming them as superstars until they come up against someone decent and disappear, at which point the fans fury is unleashed all over youtube and twitter. It’s the Arsenal Way.

 

We had chances to kill them off but it wasn’t going in for us. Konate hit the post with a header from a corner. He’d replaced Matip at half time, a move I assumed had been pre-planned but Klopp said afterwards it wasn’t and that Joel just didn’t look quite right. That’s true, he didn’t, but he had to train on his own one day this week so you wonder if there’s a minor issue there he’s dealing with.

 

No matter, Konate was very good when he came on and it’s encouraging seeing him go close with that header as we need to see more of that from him. 

 

Kaide Gordon should have scored but blazed over the bar from close range. He needs to hit the target there as it was on his left peg. Amazing play by Jota to set that up though, he destroyed Ben White out wide and cut it back perfectly for the kid, who had done brilliantly to make space for himself. Just a shame about the finish.

 

It’s not inconceivable that he could have scored three or four goals already instead of the one he has. He’s had chances each time he’s played and that’s encouraging, because his finishing has always looked really good in youth games so once he hits his stride he could really take off.

 

He was a whisker away from getting on the end of a brilliant cross by Trent too. Trent was really starting to dictate things in the second half and seemed to be playing much higher up the pitch than he was in the first half. Robbo got forward more too.

 

Arsenal were the re for the taking and eventually the second goal came via Jota. What a fucking goal that was. Martinelli ran into trouble and fell over, and from that moment Arsenal were in trouble. Trent had the ball with time and space, the Arsenal backline were pushed up the pitch and Jota had peeled away the second he saw Trent had the ball.

 

It was very similar to the incident in the first leg when Xhaka was sent off. That time it was Robbo picking him out but it was basically the same pass and the same run. Once again Jota took it on his chest, but this time Xhaka wasn’t there to hack him down. Instead White - again, not laughing this time - had to look on as Jota took it in stride and dinked it over Ramsdale with a finish that Fowler would have been proud of.

 

Great goal, but the linesman didn’t think so as he put his flag up to cut short Jota’s celebrations in front of the away end. I didn’t think he was off but you can’t always tell in real time because of camera angles and not knowing exactly where the line is.

 

Jota definitely didn’t think he was off but we live in an age when players will appeal for literally anything and then kick off when they don’t get it, so that’s not the best barometer really. I mean, in the first half Martinelli wanted a pen for a Fabinho challenge that was as clean as a whistle.

 

But Jota was right. The lines didn’t even seem necessary as you could see immediately that Gabriel was playing him on. It was close, yes, but not THAT close. The lines proved it beyond any doubt and Jota got to celebrate again. It was funny because initially it looked like he didn’t know if he should as the moment had gone, but Fabinho was running to the away fans and grabbed Jota to drag him over. Milner then got involved and was pushing him towards the fans and the whole team ended up giving it loads. It was fucking boss, love that.

 

That was game over as Arsenal were done. They still had time to go the full Arsenal though and end up with ten men. Hilarious. The first booking for Partey was harsh I thought, but the second could easily have been a straight red as it was awful. 

 

That was just so Arsenal. Honestly, if I didn’t know the identity of the team and you asked me “which team would fly a player back from getting knocked out of AFCON on the day of the game, put him on the bench and then bring him on only for him to pick up two yellows and get sent off and pick up a suspension when they only have one other midfielder available” I’d say Arsenal every fucking time. It’s standard Arsenal behaviour and has been for over a decade.

 

Partey put out a statement today apologising for it. He’s got some way to go if he’s going to catch Granit Xhaka though, who has issued 19 instagram apologies in his time at Arsenal. 

 

We could have scored more goals if we’d pushed for them but there was no need and we saw the game out comfortably to book our place in the final. I’m not even really thinking about that yet as its a month away and form can change quickly. Regardless of form I think it’ll be a really tight game but at least we should have Sadio and Mo back.

 

We have one more important game to negotiate without them and if we can just get those three points at Palace then that’s a huge boost for everyone. We were all worried about the implications of AFCON on our season but so far we’ve negotiated it safely. Just one more win please, lads.

 

Star man is Jota who was just too hot for them to handle. I like him on the left as he seems comfortable out there. He usually played there for Wolves and it’s probably his best position. I liked his link up with Robbo and Curtis (both had great games) and that side worked well for us.

 

The other side wasn’t as effective although Trent was obviously massively influential on the game. I expect Minamino will get the nod on Sunday and he’s entitled to be upset that he didn’t start this one. I’m happy for Gordon that he’s getting an opportunity but Taki has been sharp when he’s played this season and leaving him on the bench was a surprising call.

 

He scored at Palace last season so hopefully he can repeat that on Sunday and we can pick up the win.

 

I don’t expect many more changes (other than Alisson coming back in) because after this we have yet another fucking break. As much as I don’t like that, the silver lining is that when we come back we’ll have Elliott available again and maybe Thiago as well. 

 

We’ve come through that iffy spell we had relatively unscathed other than the fact that City have pulled away from us, but as I’ve said before I’m not letting those league ruining cheating twats define how I judge our team.

 

We’re in a final, we were flying in the Champions League, we’re still in the FA Cup and we’re second in the league, ahead of every other club that’s playing by the rules. Can’t really complain about any of that.

 

 

Team: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Matip (Konate), Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson (Milner), Jones; Gordon (Minamino), Firmino (Williams), Jota:

 

 

 

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Once VAR gave Diogo’s second goal and the celebrations started again, I got the distinct impression that Milner was pulling everyone into the mix to waste some more time. I hope so.

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32 minutes ago, jonnyp said:

Once VAR gave Diogo’s second goal and the celebrations started again, I got the distinct impression that Milner was pulling everyone into the mix to waste some more time. I hope so.

Milner is our top shithouser. I thought it was hilarious watching the Arse fans go mad as we wasted as much time as we could reasonably get away with. The contrast to their reaction to their own team doing worse at Anfield.

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I didn't even think we did much of it. Trent took ages on a couple of throws but generally we didn't really need to. Bobby made sure he walked off rather than jogged, but Arsenal had given up by then anyway.

 

I still can't get over that Ben White cunt laughing at Taki. If he'd done that to Jota I could understand it as Diogo is a pain in the arse as he loves a bit of needle. There's no way Taki has said or done anything to get under anyone's skin though.

 

Ben White sums up why Arsenal are the way they are. They scouted Brighton's centre backs and went for the smallest, most lightweight, fancy Dan tart with all the tattoos because he 'looks' like a footballer. When in fact, Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster are both not only better defenders, they're also better with the ball as well. They don't look 'sexy' enough for Arsenal though.

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Players will turn it on sporadically against shite teams, their fans get all chesty about them and start proclaiming them as superstars until they come up against someone decent and disappear, at which point the fans fury is unleashed all over youtube and twitter. It’s the Arsenal Way.

 

"There's the right way, the wrong way and the Arsenal Way."

 

"Isn't that the wrong way?"

 

"Yes, but faster!"

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I can remember people saying we should be spunking 50m on that White!

 

Thought Gordon was good last night and Jurgen is managing him well, not running him to death before he comes off. Just needs that little bit of composure but the lad isnt even 18 yet. At least he's getting in the positions.

 

I really hope those fans who've gone to the LC games manage to get tickets rather than those who are just in the scheme and laid them off.

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Spot on report Dave. My neighbour (an otherwise top bloke) is an arse fan and whatsapped a pic of himself in his Arsenal shirt having a beer and all smiles before the match. I replied, “feeling confident big lad?” He came back, “That’s 100% our strongest team, so yes feeling great about this”. Just goes to show even nice guys become deluded fuckers when they support Arsenal. Speaking of deluded fuckers: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-fan-tvs-mr-dt-26005724 Seems that offscreen he’s not “Goodenough” (sorry!)….

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That was a great European away performance, contain the early enthusiasm of the home team then gradually take control. Robbo's best performance of the season for me, superb in marshalling Saka and much better delivery when getting forward. Kelleher seems so calm and assured, we'll do well to hold on to him I fear. I also liked Konaté's passing, his ball to Trent for the second goal was typical, getting it forward down the line. But an excellent team performance all round.

Klopp is full on with Martinelli, praises him every time. I do like Saka, going to be a very good player, too good for them obviously.

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Great report that,

Kloppo will have been buzzing how good Gordon was tactically without the ball,Tierney hardly got over the halfway line,really good from someone so young 

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15 hours ago, tlw content said:

I know I go on a lot about the complete lack of respect I have for this Arsenal team and you’re probably sick of it…

 


Absolutely fucking not.

 

I’ve been looking forward to reading this match report more than any this season. 
 

I’ll carry on now…

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