What a game of football this was, full of energy passion and goals. If this wasn’t the day that our young Arsenal team came of age, it was certainly a day where they took a massive step towards it.
Arteta caused a few surprises by selecting Tomiyasu at left back, but other than that, the team was as expected.
As kick off approached, North London Forever was played, but you can’t help but think, that they still haven’t got the timing quite right.
I haven’t been able to attend many games this season, but watching on the tv, I find I’m more nervous than when I’m in the stadium. You could feel the atmosphere as we watched, and the game kicked off.
Less than a minute into the game, and The Arsenal are one nil up, Martinelli scoring, after a sublime through ball from Qdegaard. The place erupts with noise, and even Gary Neville has to admit it was a very classy goal.
My thoughts are that the young Arsenal side weren’t quite sure what way to approach the game after scoring such an early goal, against a side as strong as Liverpool.
They seemed to drop off slightly, and this allowed the opposition a period of pressure, where they eventually scored the equaliser.
But unlike any Arsenal team of recent times, our young side weren’t going to capitulate. They picked up the pace and came right back at Liverpool. Just when we were all thinking half time would see the score at an acceptable one all, possibly the best young player I have seen at The Arsenal in my lifetime, appeared at the far post to put us in front again. Bukayo Saka really is a special talent, and although we didn’t know it at this stage of the game, his input was far from over.
So half time comes and the blood pressure drops a little. The pundits are pretty fair in their summing up, and we eagerly await the second half. Although deep down I want the game to be over, and we get the win. Its strange that you wait all week for your football fix, but would happily see the game over, after scoring in the first minute.
The second half starts and after a few minutes Liverpool equalise again. Now we’re really going to see what The Arsenal youngsters are made of. Will they revert to the old Arsenal, and let Liverpool go ahead and win? Or will they bounce back again, and come back at Liverpool?
We should never have had any doubt, because we lifted our game again, and it was an absolute pleasure to see young Bukayo step up and slot home a penalty to give us the lead once again. He was left standing over the ball for a full two minutes, while the Liverpool players complained. But was rock solid in placing the ball past a keeper who went the right way.
Arsenal then played brilliantly to snuff out any further Liverpool attacks, and the three points were ours. You could sense the atmosphere at the end of the game was something very special.
Some observations from the tv viewer (me!);
• Liverpool kicked Saka all over the park in the first half particularly, but the lad just kept getting at
them, with no protection from the match officials. •
• It was clear to see Arsenal were the better team the whole game. •
• Martin Tyler truly does not like us (do we care?) •
• Turkey teeth Klopp was mastered by Arteta. •
• The penalty was soft, but we are due a few of those.
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• The crowd were amazing, the support we have now, will never fail to lift the players. •
• Alexander Arnold went off because he was terrorised by Martinelli. •
• Sala went off only when he managed to remove himself from Tomiyasus pocket. •
• We were 66/1 to win the league before the season started. We’re now 6/1. •
• Xhaka is fully redeemed, and deserves the support he is getting. •
• It’s a great time to be a supporter of our great club. Something special is developing, and let’s
all enjoy it.
I unashamedly shed a tear of emotion after this game. Bring on Wednesday, when I board that flight to Bodo.
Hillsy
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