Arsenal vs Brentford Review By Abiodun Aiyegbusi ! playplay.ng

So we finally got “beesness” done in the 88th minute, Bukayo Saka’s far post cross connected by the much vilified Kai Havertz to give us a 1 nil, heavily cherished victory in Brentford’s GTech Arena. Without mincing words, we needed the available 3 fat points more than the Bees and we did more and everything to get them. That’s the character we are talking about…. win ugly, win beautiful….. just WIN.

Thomas Frank was quite happy with his team’s performance and opined that the match could have gone either way. Paraphrasing him, “they were able to prevent a very offensive Arsenal from playing but a minute of Saka’s genius undid all their good work”. Frank’s post game remarks buttresses the argument about the thin margins separating winners and losers in the premiership.

No one is double sure of what will happen. We saw City and Liverpool play out a 1-1 draw while a “resurging” Chelsea were told to sit their asses back down by Newcastle at St James’s park.

Knowing how difficult it is for us to get back our rhythm and intensity after every International break, one had predicted a tough battle awaiting us at the GTech stadium. We set out with a very offensive eleven, Ramsdale in goal, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Gabriel, Saliba, Rice, Trossard, Odergaard, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli. Against Brentford’s Flekken, Norgaard, Onyeka, Mbeumo, Wissa, Pinnock, Yarmoliuk, Ajer, Ghoddos, Janelt, Mee.

The Bees had efforts from Mbeumo and Maupay cleared off the line in both halves. Thanks to Jollof and Zinchenko. We had a Trossard headed goal disallowed for offside. Still baffling as the ball came off Flekken’s weak punch. Attempts by Gabriel Jesus, Declan Rice, Nketiah and Saliba either off target or saved.

Until the late 88th minute Saka-Havertz combo that gave us the winner, it was more of “ooing and aahing” in anguish and pain for chances not taken or missed. Post international break Arsenal is usually like that, like the players are playing together for the first time. The syncronization of mind and movement will not be there initially but it will come gradually.

Like when Nketiah had the chance to assist either Odergaard or Saka but chose to go it alone juxtaposed with Saka’s cross for Havertz. We will be more productive when we reduce selfishness and showboating.

By the time we play our next EPL match against Wolves, the synergy and understanding and intensity will be higher. Before then, we play Lens in the CL. As we stay on top of the table with that “cruel” win over Brentford, here are some of my layman’s observation from yesterday’s match.

* Declan “Jollof” Rice is a 6 not an 8. He can/will play 8 very well too but his best position is as a 6. Holding midfielder in front of the back four. As usual, he dropped a tidy 8/9 performance yesterday. That’s why we call him Jollof because he makes many people happy like jollof rice.

* Odergaard needs some talking to. Son, don’t seek to be MoTM by shining the light on yourself. Seek validation by making others shine, that’s what we expect from you. Be the offensive coordinator and brain-box of the team not one striving to compete with or outdo the strikers. Gradually, your assist column is drying up because your focus changed. We want our no 10 and captain to have 2-3 assists in a match rather than no goal and no assist. For you, the assist is equally as important, if not more, than the goal. Play with and for the team and every other thing will fall in place.

* We are lucky to have 2,no 3 good keepers in our ranks. Many forget Karl Hein keeps for Estonia, his country. Our best keeper is Raya, not Ramsdale and all the unnecessary conspiracy theories should be binned. As thoroughbred professionals, the three gentlemen know the drill. All the Ramsdale backslapping at the end of 90 minutes yesterday wouldn’t change anything. Raya will be in goal for the next two matches. The love and camaraderie amongst the squad is preferred and commendable, far better than the days of Gallas not speaking with Kolo Toure his partner in defence.

* Nice start to the usually gruelling December period for us. This is the period where we sometimes get stuck due to injuries and other reasons. But now, we look ready mentally, physically and psychologically. There is a plan, there is fidelity towards the plan and everyone knows it is doable and are pushing or pulling in the same direction. Well done y’all.

Nothing is sweeter than victory, victory is all that matters. They will say we were lucky, it was ugly and cruel but to us, it was a beautiful, exquisite and exhiliarating victory.

One nil to the Arsenal…..started long ago from the George Graham days. If we win ALL our remaining EPL matches by the one nil margin, we will win the EPL trophy….abi?

Congratulations to the gaffer on the anniversary of his double century.

Common folks….let’s do this.

©Nero.