CONFLICTED JOY
GUNNERS EARN DESERVED WIN BUT MISS CHANCE TO KILL TIE
What did we make of that, Gooners?
What camp are you in? The camp that takes joy that we went to The Bridge and got a deserved win and basks in all its glory, or the other camp, my camp, where you are delighted with the win but slightly irked that we've left them on life support when we really should have pulled the plug.
OPENING THOUGHTS
I can't make up my mind whether the take of 'great win but missed opportunity' is boring and joyless or sensible and completely normal.
Let's be real. 3-2 flattered the hell out of them. If Sanchez were a boot size smaller, Merino would have made it 4-1, and we'd be having a whole different conversation.
At the end of the day, football matches, especially Cup games, are all about winning, and we take a deserved lead to The Carpet and that's all that really matters.
LINEUPS
As kinda suspected, Arteta was pulling a fast one with his pre-match Saliba and Trossard doubtful stuff. Maybe they were? Who knows? Both made the starting lineup regardless.
The one major omission and talking point was the absence of MLS at left back, Mikel opting to switch Timber over instead.
Look, I get that Miles is only 19. He has his whole career ahead of him. I certainly don't want to hit the panic button and make something out of nothing regarding his long-term future at the club.
Instead, I will discuss the here and now.
Mikel has lost trust in him. You could say he is in the Eze camp. Is he being kind, taking him completely out of the firing line, or is he risking shattering what confidence he has left? It's a fine line.
I look at him and think, "OK, our two starting left backs are injured, and you still can't get a game" The manager would rather risk Timber fatigue in an unnatural position than play him. That's worrying for MLS, no?
I see talk of him being more of a midfielder in the future. I get that. He played as a midfielder, coming through the ranks. I believe his skill set suits the midfield much better. The next question, then, is, naturally, "Where and when does he play in midfield?"
Not this season, right? He isn't a 10; he isn't an Odegaard or an Eze, so his chances would be around a 6 or an 8. So, when does he play as a 6? He has Zubimendi, Norgaard, Rice, and Merino to contend with, all of whom have played there this season. So what about the 8? Again, he has Rice, Merino, and Havertz back in the fold to contend with. For him, as of now, midfield looks an absolute non-starter.
Which leaves the bigger question: when will he actually play again this season? My guess is he doesn't much really.
I think once (if) Mosquera, Calafiori, and Hincapie are all fit, he doesn't make the matchday squads like his good friend Nwaneri. We might see him for Wigan in the FA Cup, and that's about it. If the manager isn't trusting you for Chelsea away, then what's the chance of starting at Forest this weekend? Pretty slim, I'd say.
For the rest of the lineup, it was as predicted. Strongest possible all the way.
THE GAME
I thought we dominated the game, and as mentioned before, we should have put the tie to bed.
Another goal for Set Piece FC, this time from White (good for him), was followed by a real striker's goal from Gyokeres.
They pulled one back with a goal made of luck rather than invention. A loose ball in midfield, a Zubi slip, a Saliba tackle ricochet and somehow the loathsome Garnacho scored at the back post from it. Fortuitous for them to say the least.
We restored our two-goal lead with some great build-up play that ended with Gyokeres showing in the box and laying it off to Zubimendo, who finished in some style.
Merino had a great chance to kill the tie, but a Sanchez star jump and flailing boot prevented it. I always think those kinds of saves are more luck than brilliant goalkeeping. It's not like you are seeing a shot coming in and tipping the ball acrobatically over the bar. You are just making yourself big and hoping the ball hits you. Peter Schmeichel made a career out of doing it.
W
Gabi at the Back also had a great chance to make it 4-1 from a corner, but was put off by Merino's jump in front of him and headed into the ground and over.
Of course, these missed opportunities came back to bite us as Garnacho netted again at the back post, this time from a corner kick, with Kepa flailing.
WHAT IT MEANS
It means we take a one-goal lead back to Fortress Carpet at the beginning of February.
Chelsea are going to have to find some other level, some other gear, than anything they have shown this season if they are going to come to our place, facing a deficit, and knock us out.
Yes, they may have Reece James, Cole Palmer and shin-kicker Caicedo back, but even with those three playing, the cold, hard fact is they haven't beaten us since 6th November 2021. I remember the date because it's my birthday, and it got ruined by Lukaku and James in a 2-0 win at The Carpet.
Our side that day had a defence of Cedric, Holding, Pablo Mari and Tierney. Lokonga was in midfield, and Martinelli was at CF. Wow. How times have changed. Savour it.
The only time I'd be slightly worried about them adding players back to the lineup is if they somehow went back in time and manifested peak Drogba and Hazard into the mix, and that ain't happening, folks.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
I have been doing well at keeping my HMs to a minimum lately, but I do have a couple from last night.
First up is Benny White White White. Yes, our shit-housing right back, who always looks like he's just returned from two weeks in the Canaries, gets his first HM of a stop-start season.
Scored one, made one. I'd call that a successful night's work. His return to fitness means we can be flexible with Timber and play him wherever we need. As of last night, the Dutchman has played every position along the back line this season.
As for White, I do think, sadly, he might not be part of the family next season, but that's a topic for another day. For now, I am so happy for him to get back amongst it in what's been a stop-start season so far.
Next up is the one and only Viktor Gyokeres.
Yes, our much-talked-about Swedish hitman also got himself a goal and an assist on the night.
Was it his best performance in an Arsenal jersey? Possibly. After a quiet-ish first half, he really came through for us in the second with a real poacher's goal and some lovely link-up play to set up Zubi's strike. All his other usual qualities were there, his pressing, his tireless running, and his pinning and battling defenders. It's nice when all that stuff gets rewarded with a goal.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Our MAN OF THE MATCH, I think you know, goes to ......
Yes, our MOTM is Martin Zubimendi.
The goal was the icing on the cake. His overall performance, besides that, was terrific.
In a chaotic derby up against Enzo Fernandez, he showed him what an elite midfielder is supposed to look like. He broke him that much that poor little fake thug Enzo couldn't help but cry at him after the final whistle. Zubi, being Zubi, just laughed in his face, which made Enzo all the madder.
There is truly nothing more satisfying than watching the moment a spoiled brat millionaire realises he’s been pocketed by a guy who looks like he should be serving you in your local butcher's. Love to see it.
Zubimessi (ahem) finished the game with a goal, 7 out of 11 duels won (our highest among midfielders), 89% pass accuracy, 6 ball recoveries, 2 interceptions, and 3 tackles won.
His goal, where he faked the unlikeable Fofano out of his seatbelt, was a thing of beauty and could be the difference in the tie. His finish was as ice cold as a pensioner's flat in winter (oi oi bit political).
I often say this about many of our players, but keeping him fit is paramount in our quest for multiple pieces of silverware. He is clearly a class above most other 6's in the league, if not the world, and it's not even close.
LOOKING AHEAD
Match three in our 10-day road trip comes on Saturday tea time away to N Forest.
After an initial new-manager bounce under no one's favourite ginge, Sean Dyche, they have hit a wall of sorts. It's a game that is most definitely winnable, but we'll dig more into it come Saturday's preview.
With City involved in a Manchester derby at lunchtime, we'll have an idea of whether we can extend our lead further. Would be nice.
See you on Saturday, Legion.