RAMBO TGT

[Victory @VictoryOwai]

Another tactical detail I picked up from yesterday's win against Liverpool was that Timber, rather than Calafiori, was the one performing the inverted full-back role.

And I think this was a very clever adjustment from Arteta.

I imagine Liverpool prepared their pressing structure and defensive assignments with Calafiori in mind as the player who would move into midfield. They would have anticipated his movements and planned how to deal with the extra man in that central area.

Instead, Arteta switched things around. Timber was the one stepping into midfield, while Calafiori maintained a different position in the build-up. That changed the angles Liverpool had to defend and disrupted their expectations of how we would progress the ball.

Excellent preparation from Arteta.

[Victory @VictoryOwai]

You also have to give Madueke credit for the problems he caused Kerkez today. He gave him a really difficult afternoon with his direct running, ability to take him on and willingness to attack him whenever he got the ball.

Last time we played at Anfield, Saka struggled to get the better of Kerkez. Today, Madueke gave us a different dimension on that right flank. He was much more aggressive in taking his man on and constantly put Kerkez under pressure.

This is exactly why I like having different profiles in the squad. Sometimes you need a winger who will keep trying to beat his full-back rather than slowing the attack down and looking for the safer option.

Madueke deserves credit for that performance.

[Arsenal Radar @ArsenalRadar]

🎙️ VAR official Stuart Attwell explains why Noni Madueke avoided further punishment after the incident with Alexis Mac Allister:

🗣️ “All of the situations have been checked and cleared. There is some contact as Madueke and Mac Allister square-up. In my opinion, it’s not forceful, not violent, not brutal.” #livars

[AFCAMDEN @AFCAMDEN]

Please just drop £150m on two technical + quick attackers in January. We will dominate the PL and have a great chance of winning the UCL.

[CentreGoals. @centregoals]

🚨🚨🎙️| Jamie Carragher on Alexis Mac Allister's reaction during his altercation with Jurriën Timber and Noni Madueke:

“I'm a Liverpool fan, but that's a 𝐉𝐎𝐊𝐄 from Mac Allister. It's got to stop.”

“We have really got to be calling people out and just say this is 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆. It's ridiculous.”

“If someone puts their head back and butts, of course, red card. But this head-to-head stuff, if someone touches the other one, goes down and the player gets sent off.”

“As a game, as football, people in the Premier League, supporters, call your own people out for it.”

“People are trying to gain this advantage because they know they can, because red cards are getting given for it.”

“Whether it's Howard Webb, the Premier League or the managers getting together, you've got to stop giving red cards for this crap.”

[Rory Talks Football @Rory_Talks_Ball]

Villa Park ✅
Stadium of Light ✅
City Ground ✅
Anfield ✅

4 away games we failed to win last season, all within our opening 9 games this season

We’ve won all 4, without conceding a goal.

Exceptional.

[ー @xSeanAFC]

Noni Madueke vs Liverpool (A)

[Charles Watts @charles_watts]

Declan Rice continuing to make a mockery of Graeme Souness’ woeful analysis of his game on a weekly basis.

Superb goal against Bayern, now leading the way for Premier League assists this season.

Just a monstrous player all over the pitch. The complete midfielder.

[AFCAMDEN @AFCAMDEN]

@TheGoalFather10 Gyokeres is learning Arabic

[THEMBA ☄️ @AkanniCFC]

@TouchlineX There was zero contacts between Mac Allister and Madueke

[GunnersSociety @Gunnerssociety]

No yellow card, No Red card

[Victory @VictoryOwai]

I love how Arteta is instilling discipline in this team. He's teaching these players not to get dragged into unnecessary reactions, regardless of how much opponents try to provoke them.

Jacquet was pushing Havertz, yet Kai didn't retaliate or allow himself to get carried away. He simply kept his composure.

I'm sure the players have received enough lectures since the Dowman red card. We cannot afford to let opponents manipulate our emotions and put us in situations that could hurt the team.

[AFCAMDEN @AFCAMDEN]

Regained control of the midfield right here. Most of it is his positioning, but the poise and press resistance also helps. Only a 7/10 cameo yet still made us better.

[now.arsenal @now_arsenaI]

Comes on with 30 minutes to go at one of the most difficult away grounds in the country.

- 100% tackles won
- 4 ground duels won
- 0 times dribbled past
- 100% dribbles completed
- 4 carries

20-years-old.

Myles Lewis-Skelly is him. A future Arsenal and England superstar. ⭐️

[Victory @VictoryOwai]

Kudos where it's due. Mikel Arteta was spot on with his substitutions against Liverpool.

I also want to give Lewis-Skelly his flowers for the impact he made when he came on. He brought composure, patience and better control to our midfield at a time when Liverpool were trying to increase the pressure.

What I particularly liked was his ability to receive the ball under pressure, resist the urge to rush his next action and keep possession moving intelligently. He helped us slow the tempo, take the sting out of Liverpool's momentum and regain control of the game.

Sometimes, when you're protecting a lead at Anfield, you don't need another player constantly forcing forward passes. You need someone who can keep the ball, make the right decisions and give the team a moment to breathe.

That's exactly what Lewis-Skelly brought. Arteta recognised what the game needed, made the right changes and the team benefited from it.

[Premier League @premierleague]

Liverpool fall into @Arsenal's trap...

[Gooner Chris @ArsenalN7]

Jamie Carragher has delivered huge praise for Declan Rice:

“Declan Rice is the best midfield player in this country. He’s one of the best midfield players Arsenal have EVER had.” 👏

[afcstuff @afcstuff]

Declan Rice: “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, we’ve not won here in 14 years. We probably could have managed the game better & done more in front of goal, but that defensive line, that togetherness, it’s undefeated.” 😤❤️‍🔥

🎥 @SkySportsPL

[AfcVIP⁴⁹ @VipArsenal]

Jamie Carragher on Declan Rice:

"He is the best midfielder in this country, by a mile. Not even a debate.

He's a world class midfielder. One of best midfielders Arsenal ever had." [sky]