LFL: ARSENAL

We lost and nobody likes to lose but we put in a strong performance and there’s no disgrace in losing to the reigning champions.

BEFORE

Many people seem to be writing our chances off before this game’s even started but the same fixture last season was one of the best games I've ever seen with both sides going at it hammer and tongs plus some classic goals, especially Ballard's when he was allowed time to take a touch in their box before lamming it home. Arsenal have made a great start, as expected, gaining maximum points and only conceding one goal so far but I think if we fight like we know we can and with the help of the floodlit atmosphere, we can get something from the game. The debutants in Tuesday's match showed that they'll be good assets, especially Ahoka, but I think it's maybe too early for Fofana to start today. Hopefully Talbi will be involved at some stage. Meunier, who's thirty-five today, made the vital assist for Talbi's goal and again showed that he's a class act. I'm in London so I'll be enjoying the match with other members of the London Branch and there should be a good crowd of us. Match prediction: 1-1.

I arrived at the venue early, just before 6.30, and I didn’t see any of the Faithful in attendance yet but I was sure a few at least would be arriving. When I got the team-news, there were no changes in the starting eleven from the Brentford match but there was one change on the bench, with Talbi in for Ahoka. Juan Angulo was introduced to the crowd as kick-off approached. There were eight of our lot in the bar as the game began.

THE MATCH

The opening minutes were even enough and the first attempt came from Lewis-Skelly in the third minute but it was well wide. Arsenal were having the vast bulk of possession but we were looking cool at the back. Brobbey was dragged over near the half-way line in the seventh but we wasted the free-kick and the ball went straight to Raya in goal. We were soon awarded another free-kick much nearer their box and Raya collected that one too without much fuss. In the thirteenth Roefs had to be on his toes to stop an attempt from Saka but it wasn’t a well-hit effort thankfully. Next thing we broke quickly down the left and Le Fee was brought down near the touchline. It was well-taken and Ballard couldn’t quite get a clean touch on it and it went for a goal-kick. We were definitely getting into the game a lot more and our fans were coming over loud and clear. Gabriel Maghalhaes had the best shot so far in the twenty-third and his low effort went narrowly wide of our left post.

Reinildo became the first player to go into referee John Brooks’ book although it seemed harsh to me and the rest of us. The resultant free-kick was in a very dodgy spot near our left corner but justice was done when it ended in a free-kick to us. On the half-hour Odegaard was allowed too much space to get in a low cross from our right but Havertz, I think, scooped his shot over the bar. Next thing Havertz did much better to spin and hit a strong shot goalwards and thankfully Roefs was there to tip it over. In the thirty-fifth, after a swift break, we were awarded a free-kick in a great place out on our right but it ended in a free-kick to them. With memories of our last home encounter with Arsenal, this was turning into another blood and thunder encounter. Artete was yellow-carded and it looked like he was about to give Mr Brooks a hug before the latter booked him. As half-time approached we were pressing forward more and in the forty-second we had a penalty shout when after great work down the left by Angulo he went down in their box. Anyway, we won our first corner and it promptly led to our second. That resulted in a decent low shot from Le Fee but it went wide. One minute of added-time was announced and Havertz missed a golden chance when he headed over from very close range. I was well pleased with 0-0 at half-time.

When we kicked off again, Arsenal had made two changes with Timber and Guimaraes coming on for White and Lewis-Skelly. We started well and Sadiki had an attempt, though well off-target. The fans in our bar were getting well animated. Gabriel M. came in for a lot of stick for making a big deal out of a minor clash. In the fifty-fourth we were awarded a deserved penalty when Ballard was wrestled to the ground by Konsa. Le Fee took the kick and it looked to me like it came off the right post but according to the commentary Raya got a hand to it. Either way, that was that. It looked like Raya had been off his line but nothing came of that. We soon regretted that miss as next thing Guimaraes received the ball just outside our box and lashed a very good shot into the top right corner and we were one-down. We were awarded a free-kick in a good spot in the sixty-third but nothing came of it and I was looking forward to seeing a couple of subs on. I could picture Isidor racing through to get the equaliser. Xhaka was booked for a foul on Guimaraes and then there was applause in the bar when we saw Isidor entering the fray to replace Angulo in the seventieth.

I still felt we could nick one back. We could see Fofana getting ready to come on and then Roefs made a great block from Saka in the seventy-third. We survived the corner and then Ballard made a great headed clearance off the line. Fofana duly replaced Meunier and we caused a lot of commotion in the box before they got it away, with two of our players on the deck. It looked like we’d gone 2-0 down when Timber headed in from a free-kick but it was ruled out and we breathed again. Our fans were still roaring us on. Brobbey was booked for a shove but there was ten minutes on the clock with probably a few minutes at least of added-time. Arsenal made a double switch and it’s never nice to see players like Eze come on. Anyway, we soon won a corner and Mukiele had a good shot that went only just over. Then we had a corner on the other side but Raya got in the thick of things to get the ball away twice. Arsenal took off Odegaard with five minutes to go and I wondered if we should bring Talbi on to produce a bit of magic. In the final minute there was a bit of handbags on the touchline that resulted in a yellow for Gabriel M. Then six minutes of added-time were announced. We were still really going for it but right at the end Reinildo got a second yellow and of course a red plus Arsenal were awarded a penalty as a result. Saka put it away and it ended 0-2.