Pre match
It’s that time of year already, North London Derby day!! Unfortunately, my nerves are heavily outweighing my excitement, but at the same time I can’t wait until kick off! I’m feeling unusually positive that we can get something out of today, being the home side you always hope to come away with all three points. That being said, we all know too well that doesn’t always happen and with losing our last two home games against Arsenal makes today even more important to secure the win!
After looking at the line up, I’m so pleased to see we have Solanke back from injury! We’ve been missing a striker for too long now. I mean let’s face it, he’ll never be Harry Kane, but we just need him to get back to how he was playing for Bournemouth last season. I’m also pleased that Arsenal are without Odegaard and Rice, that’s a big loss for them, but we know how much Jorginho loves to play Spurs so it’s definitely not going to be easy. We’ve got a huge job on our hands keeping out their attack and the pace that they bring. I feel like Van De Ven is going to be a key player for us today, his speed will match anyone.
Half time
What a first half!! That whistle couldn’t have come any sooner!! I think we watched more fights than we did football! 7 yellow cards says it all for anyone who isn’t watching the game. Yet again we’ve had the most possession with 67%, but unfortunately we don’t do anything with it! Not much being created and then when we finally get a decent chance open up, Solanke couldn’t get his shot away quick enough. We’ve been lucky that Arsenal also haven’t taken their chances because the second they break away all I see is the ball hitting the back of the net! We need someone’s who going to start creating some chances for us, we need Maddison to find that creativeness spark again! We are really missing this.
I’d like to see Odobert and Bergvall to come on during the second half. I’d also be taking Bentacur off for Pape Sarr by the 60th minute, with the way things are going it’s not worth risking Bentacur out there on the yellow.
Post match
Full time 0-1. Well what can I say! Not a lot positive that’s for sure!! I’m finding it hard to even think about what actually worked or went well. Just a lot of possession in midfield, with very little chances created and nothing in the final third. The ball seemed to keep falling to Johnson whenever there was an opportunity and I just feel that we needed it to be Sonny instead.
One of the key area’s we clearly need huge work on are set pieces. It was getting to the point I was becoming nervous every time we got awarded a corner! The fear of losing the ball and them going on the break, which happened quite a few times. The ball never seems to reach one of our players and after watching how we played today, this is something that needs focusing on in the training ground first thing tomorrow morning!
I knew today was never going to be easy hence, I don’t think Arsenal out played us in the slightest, both teams were pretty even. However, we never looked threatening and that’s where Arsenal stood out more because of the pace they have up top. And like I said pre match above – I knew Van De Ven was going to be relied on a lot today and without him and his speed at getting back, the scoreline could have been a lot different.
Surprisingly I do have one small positive to mention after all of this and that is Wilson Odobert. He gave us something else going forward today and I like the way he runs with the ball and at players. Instead of what the majority of our players have been doing which was just passing sideways and backwards. I would certainly be starting him over Brennan Johnson for the next game. Odobert still only young at 19, but I think he looks promising and we just need to give him some time.
There’s not a lot else that I can add other than that was an extremely frustrating game to have endured. Very disappointed. What is it that we’re meant to say at this point? ‘We go again’!!
