Arsenal Matchday Reports & News

[Darren]

Premiership Round One - Arsenal 2 - 0 Everton

The first game of the season finally arrived and Everton were first up for Arsenal who for once were hoping to start the season off with a win and they got exactly what they set out for with a 2-0 win thanks to a debut goal for Alexander Isak and a first of the season for Federicho Chiesa.

A tough fixture to start the season off but a challenge they managed to get the better of. Two early goals took the wind out of Everton sails and set the Gunners up for a first win of the season with them Arsenal playing a side that included four new signings, mainly three in defence. A happy Arsenal Manger spoke after the game ;

" The main thing for us today was to try and get off to a good start after seasons of starting badly and we managed that with a good performance and win. The two early goals certainly helped, pleasing to see both strikers getting in on the goals and a clean sheet at the back so all in all, a good first game of the season. We wish Will and his Everton side the best of luck for the season ".

Meanwhile, with a win over Everton in the bag, Arsenal face the red side of Merseyside in the FA Cup first round next up.

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[Darren]

FA Cup Round One - Arsenal 2 - 1 Liverpool

Not the draw that Arsenal would have wanted but after beating the blue side of Merseyside in round one of the Premiership, it was Liverpools turn to visit The Emirates and after avoiding a scare of going a goal down, the Gunners turned the game round to get a deserved win overall and book their name into round two of this seasons FA Cup thanks to goals from Khéphren Thuram and another from Federicho Chiesa who makes it two in two for the frontman.

The Arsenal Manger spoke after the game ;

" When you look around the first round draw, of course there are sides we would rather have played rather than Liverpool, a tough side to play against as we have found out on many occasions in the league but it was what it was and we have to be pleased to get a very good win and really good performance to come from a goal down to win. We really want to get a good cup run going and hopefully this can be the perfect springboard for us to enjoy one ".

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[Darren]

Premiership Round Two - Arsenal 2 - 0 Newcastle United

With the Gunners winning their opening day fixture against Everton, they made it two wins from two by picking up all three points against Newcastle United at the Emirates in round two to make t an unbeaten start to the new season. Although another strong performance from Arsenal, it was a case of pretty much the first and last kicks of the game which decided the score with Chiesa getting his third of the season after just a minute and sub Pepe cementing the win n the ninety first minute with his first of the season.

The Arsenal boss spoke after the game ;

" We said after the Everton game that we wanted a strong start to the season and with two league games and a cup game now played against three strong sides, we sit with with three wins which is exactly what we wanted. The early goal was the perfect start to the game and although we had the better of the stats and performed well throughout, we just couldn't find the second goal and we feared that they may just get back into it but it did come, very late on to get another win for us and make it two wins from two for us ".

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Chelsea 2 - 2 Arsenal

It took a late leveller from Arsenal to get a draw away at Chelsea in round three with literally the last kick of the game coming from sub Sallai. Arsenal took the lead through Correa but soon found themselves behind against the run of play but just when it looked like the Gunners were heading for their first defeat of the season, they got a deserved equaliser to take a point back to North London.

The Arsenal boss spoke after the game ;

" I think to have lost that would have been harsh on my team today as were the better of the two sides in this one which is a fixture that isn't on our favourite list out of them all. Its a tough place to get anything from especially lining up the way they did but we dud deep, never gave up and kept to our plan and were rewarded with the ll important second goal for us which got us a point making it seven from a possible nine so far which is a great return and the exact start we wanted. We wish Andy and his Chelsea side the best for the season ".

Next up for Arsenal is a visit to the Emirates from Sheffield Wednesday.

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Leicester City 1 - 1 Arsenal ( Arsenal win on penalties )

The reward for knocking Liverpool out in round one was a round two trip to Leicester City. With progression to round three the ultimate goal, it took the Gunners all the way to penalties to ensure that they avoided defeat at the hands of The Foxes who made it tough for them to beat, even going a goal behind on the hour mark very much against the run of play but Pedri com on from the bench to get Arsenal level taking the game into extra time and then penalties which went the way of the North London side.

The Arsenal boss spoke after the game ;

" Performance wise we were very good tonight and should have had the game wrapped long before a penalty shootout which could have gone either way which would have been disappointing for us after playing so well during the initial ninety minutes and then extra time but we held our nerve and were as clinical s we needed to be although could have been better on the actual penalties but it was our name in the hat for round three which we wanted and we achieved that so I'm chuffed with the outcome although nervy to watch ".

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[Darren]

Premiership Round Four - Arsenal 3 - 2 Sheffield Wednesday

The Gunners continued their good start to the season with a win over Sheffield Wednesday but had to do it the hard way and come back from two nil down to get another three points and mark a much better start to a season compared to seasons gone by. They found themselves two down on the half hour mark but got on back soon after through Correa just before they went down to ten men when Locatelli was given a straight red. But they did get level just before half time when Correa got his second of the game and then on the hour mark, the ten men of Arsenal got the winner with Chiesa picking up his fourth of the season and all three points for Arsenal.

The Arsenal boss gave his view on the game afterwards ;

" Another very good performance by us but we once again made hard work of getting the win, going two down and having an important player sent off but credit to the players for keeping with the game plan and getting back into it, scoring two goals at a really important stage of the game and eventually going onto win it and keep our decent start to the season going ".

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[Darren]

Premiership Round Five - Sheffield United 1 - 5 Arsenal

With four games unbeaten in the league so far for Arsenal, thy made a double over the Sheffield sides and followed up last rounds win over Wednesday with a win over United in round five to keep the good start to the season going. A double from Chiesa, Correa and Isak chipped in with a goal a piece before sub Sallai hit his second of the season from the bench to please a delightd Arsenal gaffer ;

" Really pleased once again with the players and the win. Five games in, unbeaten and playing well is the exact tonic to start the season with. We certainly wont get carried away as its very early days but comparing this start to the last couple of seasons we have certainly turned it round and to have a sensible points tally, come the end of the season these will b vital as we are usually playing catch-up after five games but really pleased that this isn't the case so far so we just hope we can continue this kind of form going ahead ".

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[Darren]

Champions League Group Game One - Arsenal 4 - 8 Inter Milan

The Gunners started their Champions League campaign with a visit from Inter Milan and no doubt once the final whistle blew, everyone was looking around wondering just how come a game in this day and age ended with twelve goals scored. At four two down at half time, it was game over but they did have a go but just couldn't find their feet despite a good performance, it was in front of goal that they struggled.

The Arsenal boss spoke afterwards ;

" The first game of the Champions League and it turned out to be a crazy game that saw twelve goals. Id be lying if I didn't look at the stats and be thinking that we didn't deserve a score line like that but it was what it was and we saw ourselves well and truly beaten in round one. We were hoping our good form in the League would se us get something from that and going by the stats, another day we would have done but it was one of those results we put behind us now and focus on the next one ".

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[Darren]

Premiership Round - Arsenal 1 - 1 Manchester City

One of the hardest fixtures was next up for Arsenal as they hosted Manchester City at The Emirates. They left it late but they managed a point from the game thanks to a late equaliser from Pepe who come off the bench to get a valuable point and keep the clubs unbeaten start to the season going.

The gaffer spoke after the game ;

" A massive game for any side in this division when Manchester City pay a visit and looking at the game, it wasn't a classic by either side with neither able to get control of the game. Im not sure either side did enough to win it really and a draw was a fair result but when we went a goal down, it was looking like a defeat until we mad some changes which turned out to be the correct ones for a change. Six games in and unbeaten is great going for the side, especially after the last game in the Champions League ".

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Premiership Round Seven - Liverpool 1 - 1 Arsenal

A trip to Anfield for The Gunners was next up in round seven. It was a pretty good game by both sides and inside the space of a minute on the quarter of an hour mark it was one all with Arsenal getting level through Alexander Isak straight after Silva had put the hosts in front. Defender Raum getting injured will be a blow for Arsenal but the point taken back to London will mor than cushion the blow and keep the clubs unbeaten run intact and with Man Utd losing, thy remain the only unbeaten side in the division.

The Manager gave us his view after the game ;

" Two goals in the space on fifteen minutes decided this one and despite plenty of more chances for both sides, it ended a draw which is still a good result away from at Anfield, a place we have had mixed fortunes at over the season. Disappointing to lose Raum for couple of games as he has been in great form this season so he wont be available for the next couple but on the whole, decent result that still sees us unbeaten after seven games now " .

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[Darren]

Champions League Group Game Two - Manchester City 0 - 1 Arsenal

" After the ridiculous score line in the first game, we needed something from this which was easier said than done when we had a team like Man City up next but we managed a good win and with the other game going our way, all teams now sit on three points. A really tough group so whoever makes it through would have really have had to earn it but we now look at game three and hope to get something from that ".

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Premiership Round Eight - Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds United

" All in all a pretty even game against the current Champions and a point in a fixture like this is always a good result. Probably should have been a bit more daring being at home but we saw last season how Leeds can play when they want and even this season they have been on fire so we kept it tight and pleased with the point that sees us now eight games unbeaten although there are four draws in that but even so, looking at the sides we have played, its a great return so far ".

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Premiership Round Nine - Brighton 1 - 2 Arsenal

After three consecutive draws, Arsenal got back to winning ways with an away victory over Brighton thanks to yet another goal from sub Pepe. Although Arsenal were the better of the two side, it was 0-0 at half time with both defences standing strong but soon after the re start, Pedri put The Gunners ahead before Pepe doubled the lead, Brighton did get a goal back but it was Arsenal who held out for all three points.

The Arsenal boss spoke after the game ;

" Really pleased to get this win away at a tough ground. They set up to make it tough for us to break down and although we played well, at half time we just couldn't find the break through but once the second half started, both teams opened up a little bit more and we managed to get a good win to make it nine games unbeaten. Really pleased with how the season has started, such a long way to go but we will enjoy the run while it lasts ".

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[Darren]

FA Cup Round Three - Blackburn Rovers 0 - 5 Arsenal

" A game against a side in our division in the third round made it a tough ask to qualify especially away from home but returning with a 5-0 win and a place in the next round is probably our best result so far this season. I do have to say that looking at the stats its a harsh score on Blackburn as they didn't deserve to lose by that margin but from our point, a great result and one that we are very happy with when four different scorers got the goals "

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Premiership Round Ten - Arsenal 0 - 1 Aston Villa

It was good while it lasted were the words coming from the Arsenal Manager following the clubs first league defeat of the season. Going into the game Arsenal were nine unbeaten in the league and although they lost, they will feel hard done by to have got nothing from a game that thy were the better of the two sides in.

The Arsenal gaffer spoke after the game ;

" Our start to the season has been superb and of course we are gutted to drop the unbeaten tag after playing so well but Villa are a tough team to face who for me are in a very false league position right now and sods law w lost to them, was always going to be that way. I blame myself for going with the same setup that we have used lately, we were to see through today and I take the blame for it. Even so, I'm pleased with one defeat in tin ten games and hope we can bounce back and not get caught on a famous FFO slump ".

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