Not sure how well this image will come out but this is the 3rd goal. Pépé out of shot put the cross in, Nelson already in the box about to receive the ball and 4 other players racing to get in the box. So good to see

Nelson created more chances in that 45 minutes than any Arsenal player has over 90 minutes all season. He's also not lost the ball once

Well that was a sliding doors moment. Almost 4-0 up, but in an instant it’s 3-1 despite Kolasinac’s heroics.

A lot more pace about the team which is great to see

Why are we playing in blue?

Are we in a wasting chances competition in the second half? Could have doubled our score.

Our red kit would clash with theirs and cause a problem for people with colour blindness, so apparently we opted to play in the blue

Flippin eck - Pépé tracking back and executing a great tackle!

Phew. Thank goodness for that. Slick interplay again.

All bolocks, isn’t it?

Does seem like an excuse by the kit marketing team

We seem to ‘have to’ change whether home or away. Not understanding that at all.

How was that not a yellow for Arase on Ceballos? High foot studs first.

More shirts for supporters to buy

Fair play to Pépé. I’ve been a very harsh critic of him, but he’s had a very good game tonight.

In particular, his work rate has been far superior to what I’ve seen him produce before.

There’s hope yet.

Very true. He and Lacazette have been excellent this evening.

Pleased to see Mari and Smith-Rowe, who both looked good, and Chambers as well back from injury. 10 decent minutes for Balogun as well. Bright and enjoyable performance overall, with the obvious caveat that the opposition were very ordinary.

It’ll be ironic, and good news, if the sending off at Leeds becomes the making of him.

Like rain on your wedding day? Or a free ride when you've already paid?

My gf has banned me from complaining about him.

At the risk of dampening the festive mood, the announcer said Rapid made 'several changes'. I am going to interpret that to mean not their best XI. So, I am putting this win in its proper context. Great mentally. Any win builds confidence. But I am not going to say 'we're back".

It was very important for Lacazette to score. I would have liked Pépé to score but Pépé giving assists is more important. He needs more team oriented play.

There was a nice post match review showing just what drive and energy and impetus AMN had provided from central midfield. Just what we are looking for in the Premier League then.

AMN interview last night, he was asked what he gave that central midfield role. He said he gave it some 'legs', more dynamic and an ability to get up and down the pitch'

He's spot on. For the time being ignore any thoughts on technique, passing etc just think about this mobility, speed and dynamic movement in the middle of the pitch. It was weak opposition granted, but it is what we're crying out for.

You beat me to it

Watch the footage of the goal from Smith Rowe again.

AMN runs at full pace 40 yards as fast as he can to get in an attacking position to square the ball for the goal.

I find it illogical he isn’t being picked in midfield and incomprehensible we would consider selling him. He’s a very good player who seems to understand how to play progressive football.

I find it infuriating that he keeps getting ignored in his natural midfield position.
I have been wanting him to be played in midfield for ages and how the slow ponderous Xhaka keeps getting selected ahead of him beggars belief.
AMN adds drive , pace and energy to the midfield and I can find it ridiculous Arteta hasn't tried him there more.
We are wasting his talents.
Seems the calls to play him there are growing.

I can vouch for that.

Not commenting on the kits but colour blindness can make it difficult to distinguish difference in certain spectrums. I have problems around red, green and brown. It was only last week I learned I hadn't been supporting Hibs since the 50s...

Shouldn’t it have been for the away team to change last night though? We changed for the away game in Vienna, after all.

I can remember when Sheffield Wednesday used to play in blue shirts with white sleeves rather than blue and white stripes. Guess you were okay with that when we played them if it’s red, green and brown you can’t distinguish.

I did wonder why you kept posting about Pat Stanton.

What a player he was.

Not to mention Joe Baker, Peter Marinello, Alex Cropley ...

Joe Baker played in my first ever game, though for Nottingham Forest not Arsenal. Also in the Forest team that day was Jim Baxter, the Rangers legend.

I remember Peter Marinello and Alex Cropley. Marinello was such a talented player he was dubbed the new George Best. Sadly he missed an early sitter at Highbury when Ajax knocked us out the European Cup. Cropley probably didn’t have Marinello’s level of ability, though he did have plenty. But he more than compensated for that with his tigerish competitive instincts.

Joe Baker in my first game too.

My memory is playing tricks though as I falsely recall Brian Dear playing for them (via the song “Oh dear what can the matter be”).


https://www.11v11.com/matches/arsenal-v ... 964-78117/

I see PV4 has been sacked as head coach of Nice after 2-1/2 years, due to Europa League exit.

Anyone remember Joe Baker knocking out man-mountain Ron Yeats in a Cup game?

1963 I think.

Joe Hart may be in goal for spurs on Sunday. If so we need to be taking lots of long range shots. He’s been weak on them for years now

If I remember correctly Alex Cropley broke his leg running to get on the coach at Villa Park

Rich, it is accepted the club was founded in 1886, not when it was formally named Arsenal in 1919. From that, I think it’s right to include the home games under its names preceding that. I might be wrong but I believe Dial Square played at the Isle of Dogs, Royal Arsenal at the Invicta Ground in Plumstead, Woolwich Arsenal at the Manor Ground in Plumstead, and The Arsenal started the early years at Highbury.

I doubt The Arsenal got lower than 2,000 as I think the club played under that name at Highbury until 1919 and the lowest attendance there was the 4554 against Leeds in 1966.

However, let me say I don’t know, but I would be surprised if they never got below 2,000 in any home games during those early years. Be it Dial Square at the Isle of Dogs, Royal Arsenal or Woolwich Arsenal around Plumstead Common (or wherever else they played in those sorts of localities until the move to the Islington area in 1913).