Wenger finally beats Mourinho
It’s been a long time coming but Arsene Wenger finally beat a Jose Mourinho team, as Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-0 at the Emirates. Mourinho was his usual gracious self as he continued to goad Wenger and Arsenal at his press conference after the match. Sometimes Jose, just accept that your team was beaten and move on.
Performance
Well, it was not vintage and it was not poor. All round a good win against a Manchester United side who clearly have one eye on the Europa League. But even so, a win is a win. Laurent Koscielny was excellent in defence, Granit Xhaka had a good game and is Aaron Ramsey finally finding some form? Ramsey looked far more comfortable in the new formation as the team get to grips playing three at the back. Overall pleasing, but the question is, how elusive will that top four spot be? We still need Liverpool and Manchester City to slip up but stranger things have happened. Just imagine, top four finish and an FA Cup win and suddenly the season doesn’t look half as bad.
Wenger concedes Giroud struggle
Arsene Wenger finally conceded before the match that Olivier Giroud’s presence in the starting eleven does have a negative effect on how the team play, with the team going more direct to Giroud rather than playing shorter passes. Thierry Henry had asked Wenger, in an interview recently, about the over reliance of the long ball to which Wenger replied, “You know me well enough to know I am not asking them to do that”.
Whether this spells curtains for Giroud in the summer we will have to wait and see, but certainly, Giroud may find his starts limited next season.
Perez struggle
Another player struggling for game time is Lucas Perez. Perez seems destined to leave the club in the summer and has admitted, in an interview, his frustration of not playing and has felt he deserved a chance to show what he could do. Perez claimed that he would like to succeed at Arsenal but feels if he does not get further opportunities then a move will be on the cards. It seems he does have an option of going back to previous club Deportivo.
#Maltesergate
Sometimes when you’re comfortable and enjoying a spectacle there is only one option, and that’s to break out a large bag of Maltesers. Social media exploded with two staff members tucking into a large bag of chocolate, but fear not, these were not players but two of the club’s groundsman. Relief all round I am sure.