Arsenal News - February

[Darren]

Premiership Round Eight - Arsenal 2 - 1 Liverpool

A big win for Arsenal in round eight came against Liverpool although Arsenal will no doubt feel very fortunate to have walked away with the win after being second best against the red side of Merseyside which saw them win with the very last kick of the game to frustrate Liverpool.

It was Arsenal who took the lead through Michael Olise against the run of play which saw The Gunners lead at the break but Liverpool got a well deserved leveller from Defender Akanji but Thuram popped up to get a big win for Arsenal.

The Arsenal boss spoke after the game ;

" Harsh on Liverpool to be fair so we can fully under the frustrations from them especially to lose a game so late on but none the less, we held them off after being second best and took our chances. Certainly one of the bigger sides in the league and one we play against knowing we have to get something so very pleased to get the three points in this one ".

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[Darren]

Premiership Round Nine - West Han United 2 - 2 Arsenal

The Gunners picked up a win in the last game against Liverpool when they didn't really deserve it but found themselves feeling the same frustrations as Liverpool felt as they outplayed a West Ham side at The London Stadium only to return back to North London with just a point,

Arsenal, despite playing so well found themselves two down after just nineteen minutes with goals from Isco and Konate giving the away side a mountain to climb but climb they did and goals from Saka and Lepanent saw the game end two a piece at half time. Despite more pressure from Arsenal they failed to take any more of their chances and a share of the points for each side was the outcome.

The Arsenal boss spoke after the game ;

" We have to look at this as coming from two down to nick a point but we deserved more in all fairness. They have some great players and have made some good moves in the market and we did expect the worse when we conceded two so quick but we made a few changes to the set up and got our selves well back into the game and although we get a point, we did deserve all three but even so, still a point away on the road ".

227 Words

Feb total - 406

[Darren]

Premiership Round Ten - Arsenal 3 - 0 Barnsley

A fixture that in recent seasons has proven to be a lot harder than many at Arsenal would have wanted and after losing the same fixture last season, it was all about avoiding that trend which The Gunners well and truly did by picking up a three nil win. A game in which Arsenal really were at the races, they were up for the battle from the off and goals from Aaron Hickey (2) and an own goal from Edgar ensured Barnsley returned north with nothing and Arsenal pick up a good solid win plus a clean sheet to boot.

The Arsenal boss gave his thoughts after the game ;

" At the season start we have to be ear marking games like these as must wins and that's no disrespect to Barnsley but we should be but we have seen in recent seasons that they are a tough team when they want to be as we saw last season. There cant be many arguments about this result today, I thought we were very good and played well throughout, created plenty of chances and kept tight at the back, A shame that the front lads didn't get in on the goals but the result was what mattered ".

212 Words

Feb total - 618

[Darren]

Premiership Round Eleven - Crystal Palace 1 - 1 Arsenal

After some good results of late, a trip from North to South London was next up for Arsenal as they faced off against Crystal Palace who appointed the experienced Rob Brunton to the club just weeks ago. A game that would be one that Arsenal would no doubt be looking at as a must win but a dogged performance by the Eagles kept them at bay,

Yet again, Arsenal saw themselves fall behind against the run of play and although they did get level, it came from the penalty spot shortly before half time from Gimenez who is really settling into the club well since his arrival from Juventus.

The Arsenal boss spoke after the game ;

" Frustrated really as we really wanted to get all three points in this one and comparing the difference in line ups and performance we should have got just that but we really found it hard to get a hold on the game. Pleased to get back into it after going a goal down but we continue to make it hard for ourselves. Really pleased to see Rob back in the game and in the dugout for such a great club and we of course wish him the best of luck at Selhurst Park "

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Feb total so far - 835

[Darren]

Premiership Round Twelve - Arsenal 1 - 0 Manchester United

Next up for Arsenal was a home game against one of the sides who are setting the pace, Man Utd at The Emirates. Despite the draw against Palace in the last game, Arsenal still find themselves on a good run and this win will certainly give them confidence going into the first of three games in a week against United.

A goal after just five minutes from Defender Luiz Felipe put the hosts in the lead and it really should have been more. On the other hand, despite not getting any more goals, Arsenal held strong at the back for ninety minutes to keep an in form United side out. A huge three points and another clean sheet for Arsenal which has delighted the gaffer as he said afterwards ;

" Both sides will certainly be getting to know each other in the next ten days, playing each other three times so this we hope will set the bar and give us hope we can get a result in the Champions League. We deserved the win, we outplayed them today in a game where it went well for us. They need no introductions, they are a class side who we battle every season with so to get a win is great for the confidence of the players and a big three points to keep the pressure on those around us ".

236 Words

Feb total so far - 1071

[Darren]

Premiership Round Thirteen - Chelsea 4 - 1 Arsenal

The run of form that Arsenal have been on lately came to an end in the London derby against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with the Gunners falling 4-1 to The Blues. Arsenal found themselves three down after a Bobby Firmnho hattrick and the reply from Michael Olise in the sixty third minute meant nothing really with Leo restoring the three goal lead with the home sides fourth goal to send Arsenal back to North London with nothing.

The Arsenal boss spoke after the game ;

" A game where we didnt really turn up for which is annoying after playing so well of late. We gifted them so much of the game which you just cant do against a side of that quality and they punished us so we have ourselves to blame for the defeat. We have been playing well of late so of course to lose so heavily in a London derby is far from acceptable and we will be looking to put that right in the next game ".

176 Words

Feb total so far - 1247

[Darren]

Champions League Group Game Three - Arsenal 1 - 3 Manchester United

Despite taking an early lead in the first minute of the game, it was Manchester United who took all three points ion group game three of the Champions League. Following the defeat in the Premiership against Chelsea, Arsenal would have no doubt been looking to get back to winning ways and repeat the score against United just two games ago when they won but United proved to be too strong for an Arsenal side who suffer back to back defeats.

The Arsenal boss spoke after the game ;

" A repeat of the league fixture a few days ago would have been very nice especially being at home again but it wasn't to be. I don't think we can have too many arguments either, we tried and did cause problems but sometimes you just have to admit that we wasn't at the races and today we certainly wasn't. Its about the reaction now and two defeats on the bounce means we cant let that affect us and with league action just around the corner, we need to ensure we bounce back from this ".

191 Words

Feb total so far - 1438

[Darren]

Premiership Round Fourteen - Arsenal 1 - 1 Manchester City

Back to back defeats against Chelsea and Man Utd saw Arsenal up against another side who are leading the way in the Premier League, Manchester City who are playing so well this season. With Arsenal stating that he is looking for a reaction after the defeats, he would have no doubt been pleased after seeing his side hold City to a draw after taking the lead through Michael Olise who is having a superb season. City did get level through Vlahovic to take a share of the points which a good result although Arsenal will be without Lepanent who saw red late on.

The Arsenal boss spoke after the game ;

" A very good point and performance which Id have more than taken before kick off. The run of games that we found ourselves on would have been hard for any side in the game but to stop it and get a point against the side who are playing some good stuff is exactly what we wanted. Frustrating to take the lead and let it slip but we still get a point on the board although it does come at a cost with us losing a player for the next game "

208 Words

Feb total so far - 1646

[Darren]

Premiership Round Fifteen - Leeds United 2 - 2 Arsenal

Another point for Arsenal this time away at Ellend Road against a Leeds side who went into the game close to Arsenal. Leeds have undergone some big changes of late with the Manager bringing ion some top talents and seems to have got the side firing so another draw and point away from home should be enough to please the Arsenal Manager who got to see both of his strikers score for the first time in a while. It was Leeds who probably deserved more than the draw but Arsenal got to take a point back to London that sees them sit in fifth place after 15 games.

The boss had this to say ;

" We are still a little bit off the pace of the leaders and need to work harder but Im still pleased with the position we find ourselves in. With all the hype on the usual lot, we can quietly go about our business and carry on trying to get the points needed to pressure the sides around us. A good point away at a tough fixture which sees us draw against both City and now Leeds so we go back home happy today ".

205 Words

Feb total so far - 1854

[Darren]

FA Cup Fourth Round - Arsenal 2 - 0 Barnsley

Arsenal booked their place in the quarter final of the FA Cup with 2-0 win at home against Barnsley who The Gunners beat in the league a few games ago. A game that seems to have come at the right time for Arsenal after two losses and two draws in their last four games, a good performance and clean sheet sees them make it through to the quarter final. The goals coming from Saka and Giminez to send Barnsley crashing out much the delight of the Arsenal boss who is pleased to not only get a win but to progress through to the next round ;

" We knew we had to get the win and set up our side to do just that. We beat them a few weeks ago so had an idea of what we needed to do and credit to the players for getting the job done after a period of not performing as well as we know we can.

As we approach the end of the month, we are doing well in the league, still in with a chance of making it out of the Champions League and through to the quarter final of the FA cup wo its going well. The draw for the next round will be interesting with so many top sides still in it so we will be looking at that to see who we get paired against ",.

244 Words

Feb total - 2098