Match Ratings Ratings vs Arsenal

[fishhhandaricecake]

Worked hard again doing defensive duties which is great. But we play with 3 strikers , and personally I never feel he is gonna score or create right now
All the weight of scoring is on Kane and Son

Agree. He does a great Job for the team but he needs to chip in with more goals and assists than he is doing, it can’t only be Son and Kane always especially with Bale taking an age to get up to full speed if he ever even does.

 

[Timberwolf]

Brilliant performance. Such commitment, clinical finishing and mental resilience.

PEH has to be MOTM followed closely by Kane. It was a brilliant team performance in all though.

Since I haven't read the match thread just want to vent a bit, but can I confirm that everyone else thought Martin Atkinson had a fucking abysmal game?

No card for Xhaka despite countless fouls, the stupid Lo Celso free kick, the weird advantage he allowed them to have. Even going the other way there was an obvious handball by Kane at one point in the middle of the park he didn't give to Arsenal. He just seemed to repeatedly get stuff wrong and make obvious mistakes.

Man needs to be put out to pasture.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Lloris had two fairly routine saves to make, he came out to claim crosses well and I imagine he used his free time to learn a craft of some sort. Seems like a crochet kinda guy.

Aurier was flawless. Tierney, Aubameyang, Saka, he somehow fit them all into his pocket. Absolutely the right pass into Lo Celso in the build up to our second goal after some very composed defending to nick the ball and bring it out.

Alderweireid read absolutely everything perfectly. Timing tackles, closing of passing lines, intercepting everything, winning headers, imperious. I actually think he’s playing even better than his first season.

Dier can be described word got word as above for Alderweireid, with the happy bonus of starting the move for our opener.

Reguilón’s pace and energy were key in nullifying Bellerin, while I don’t remember Willian getting much out of him either. Second half was done by a couple of good Arsenal triangles instigated by Ceballos but nothing which hurt us.

Sissoko blocked off any Arsenal route in behind Aurier and seemed to win most 50/50s he was involved with, and even created our most dangerous opportunity in the second half.

Højbjerg was again exceptional, winning everything, bullying and intimidating their midfield, knowing exactly when there was danger and stamping it out. Has the Roy Keane snarl about him. Feel harsh not giving him man of the match.

Bergwijn looked fitter and quicker, as ever worked very hard to protect his flank but showed some good ability going forward to and was our most consistent outlet second half.

Lo Celso has a good first half, our next most involved non defender after Højbjerg and got his run and pass spot on in the build up to Kane’s goal. Faded second half but generally as good as he’s been in a while.

Son scored a sensational goal, made another with a Ronaldinho-esque no look pass and worked very hard defensively. Did little else I can remember offensively after our second goal, didn’t need to,

Kane, even if there was so a lot for Son to do, played Son in with sensational skill and awareness for the first goal, made a great run with a cracking finish for his goal, and fought for every blade of grass and headed everything, so he gets my man of the match for another game when you legitimately question if there’s an outfield position he’d not be great in.

Mourinho got it spot on. This was as good as City, better than Chelsea, in that we took our lead, deserved it, and then just let Arsenal frustrate themselves until we got the opening to kill them. Like he said, why leave gaps which will potentially undo your great work. His tactics played Arsenal like a fiddle, right down to knowing that if they wasted their attacks hitting crosses for Aubameyang to contest with Dier or Alderweireid, our goalkeeper would have a very easy day. He was right.

 

[Mr Pink]

Still buzzing!

PEH definitely MOTM. Unbelievable work rate, positioning, shit housery and desire.

They were all brilliant though.

 

[davros]

Great result and a really well organized performance. The plan was clearly to give their forwards no space to run into and to force Arsenal to resort to putting crosses into them instead. They had very little chance against our dominant presence there.

MOTM could have been any of several outstanding players, but I would give it to Kane. His pass gave Son space to make and take his goal, his movement and finish for our killer second put the game firmly in our hands, and he worked tirelessly in midfield and defence. An incredible player. I don't think anyone contributed more to the result than him.

 

[bubble07]

How has son only got 8 votes? World class goal and then an assist

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

Some really good performances, I gave mom to Kane for his box to box work. His head was bright red after one headed clearance. PEH was excellent again.

Shout out to son, what a goal.

However, the one player I want to talk about today is Steven Bergwijn. He worked his socks off for the team. It's easy to see why he is playing. Defensively he is excellent, tracking runs sissoko style. Add to the fact that he is intelligent in possession and he doesn't give the ball away cheaply (like Lucas or Dele) and he doesn't take too many touches (lamela).

He could become a very important player for us. As a fan I want to see bale every game but it's hard to argue with Bergwijn being in the team given the effort he puts in, a real team player.

 

[C0YS]

Worked hard again doing defensive duties which is great. But we play with 3 strikers , and personally I never feel he is gonna score or create right now
All the weight of scoring is on Kane and Son

I'm not Berjwijn's biggest fan, but he isn't in the team to score or create. Today he fulfilled his brief perfectly and should be judged on that. It doesn't matter were you technically play, and this obsession that wingers should be scoring lots of goals and assists is a relatively modern thing, as wingers have been given more goalscoring responsibilities. At the moment we play two forwards, and a shuttling hard-working winger, to give better balance.

There is a reason Bale isn't getting minutes. t's not just that he is still finding his form and fitness, it's that he doesn't really fit into that third 'attacking' space, not against the big teams anyway. Has a better chance of featuring against Palace.

 

[Woodham Wanderer]

Voted team work as without it that performance isn’t achieved. All played their parts, Kane, Son, Hojbjerg, Dier, Aurier leading the way- fantastic goals, fantastic defending

 

[DannyNZ]

Back four and Lloris were solid. The work in front of them by PEH, Sissoko, SB and Lo Celso was great. Son and Kane are just lethal but also prepared to put in a real shift as well.

MOTM for me could have been a few but gone with Kane who typified the ethos of this team, few great clearances, battled hard and when he got the space made it count.

Second half was pretty dull and would like to see us evolve a bit and keep the ball and use possession better.

 

[Singayid]

I'm not Berjwijn's biggest fan, but he isn't in the team to score or create. Today he fulfilled his brief perfectly and should be judged on that. It doesn't matter were you technically play, and this obsession that wingers should be scoring lots of goals and assists is a relatively modern thing, as wingers have been given more goalscoring responsibilities. At the moment we play two forwards, and a shuttling hard-working winger, to give better balance.

There is a reason Bale isn't getting minutes. t's not just that he is still finding his form and fitness, it's that he doesn't really fit into that third 'attacking' space, not against the big teams anyway. Has a better chance of featuring against Palace.

agree with this especially about Bale. I would also add that bale doesn’t have that same defensive mindset like Stevie for back tracking & getting stuck in

 

[cliff jones]

Great goals, highly effective winning tactics, and a fantastic rearguard action

so hard to pick an MoM but Son edges it for me

another tough game next up - it’s tough at the top ?