Arsenal vs Fulham: The notepad
Trying something new here, these are my notes from the match
I wanted to try something new out and publish the notes that I take while watching the match. I have also gone in and added additional thoughts that I had during my more detailed second watch where I have the ability to do a bit more pausing and rewinding.
I thought it would be interesting because I seem to have some drastically different views on how the match went.
Please let me know if you like this type of post and if so I can try to do this more often.
Arsenal vs Fulham - Notes
1 - Saka with a massive error. Ramsdale caught way out and can't recover. Is Saka still having the old picture in his head of that is where Partey is, is that a way overhit pass to White, is that a way under-hit pass to Ramsdale. I don't know but it was bad.
On the actual goal and Ramsdale, I don’t have any blame for him here. Maybe, if you are super harsh he should have realized that he couldn’t get there and try to retreat faster but it was a tough situation.
3' Havertz plays a nice pass up the wing to Martinelli, he runs out of space and it goes out for a corner.
4' Odegaard with a beauty of a pass. Martinelli can't shape the cross/shot right. Maybe should have cut back here to Havertz/Trossard.
Arsenal doing lots of the build right, switch left. It is creating some decent openings. It will need a day from Martinelli to take advantage of it.
8' Saka another bad pass, not his best opening spell
9' Nice big switch gets the ball out to the left, Kiwior plays a nice little slip pass to Havertz. Havertz tries the cutback but it's cut out. Nice move.
10' Lots of interchange between the Havertz/Martinelli/Trossard spots right now.
11' How did it not go in??? Havertz missed wide, I thought that was a goal for sure. It was ended up as a very tough chance that might have been called offside.
That's a good run from Havertz to anticipate that Saka will get to the ball. He just misses making good contact. That's good defending. That Saka even gets to the ball is pretty amazing, it’s well done to redirect that into a chance at all.
13' White makes an automatic type-through ball pass but no one is in the space and it goes for a turnover.
14' Havertz good run off of Trossard coming short, just a bit too long on the pass to find him. It was a nice spot from White to try the ball over the top.
15' Odegaard with a bad touch and an equally bad tackle. Lucky to not get a yellow here.
18' Martinelli coming into the game. Good transition play, a nice pass from Trossard.
19' More great interplay, rice getting forward. Saka great call across. Havertz doesn't anticipate and it goes past. That is the run that I really want to see him make and it is a real bummer that he doesn't crash hard there.
19' Another chance falls on the corner, bad bounce makes it so he can't hit it clean. Havertz gets the flick from the near post, it isn't cleared and falls to Martinelli where the bounce isn't kind. Ends with Saka drawing a yellow.
21' Saka free kick almost sneaks in, good idea.
22' Trossard tries a risky pass to chip over a player, it is cut out.
22' Jimenez almost scores the goal of the season. Comes from the transition and Fulham winning it high.
23' Trossard makes a good run. The left side is starting to make some threats here.
23' Fulham break through the press and gets a sniff of goal, well blocked by White but it goes for a corner.
25' Nice pass from Rice into Odegaard, he flicks and let's get into the box, Havertz can't beat Leno to it.
26' Saliba mistake. leads to another decent chance for Fulham in transition. It was from a distance but still a bit nevery of a chance to concede.
Arsenal look like they are pressing a bit too much to get back into it. Overall a solid quarter creating some decent threats, had a couple of chances that were close but nothing clear. Lots of good movement and interchange in the front line. Without the mistake, this is the best I think Arsenal have played this season.
28' Saka is a beast, just rides tackles like it is no problem at all.
29' White is so comfortable dropping into the backline and helping out. Cuts out a cross easily here and holds on to possession.
29' good pressing just missed winning it in the box.
31' Saka misses a HUGE and clear chance. He can't get the contact right on the header and it goes straight down and bounces over. Arsenal get four guys attacking the box against 3 defenders here and it is a very good delivery from Trossard to find Saka open at the back post.
32' good pressing from Saka to win the ball back high.
32' Martinelli link up with Trossard good. tries hard and low near the post. well saved
33' Another good crossing play from Arsenal, they have 4 guys lined up and Trossard spare and crashing from the wing. The delivery is a touch long going over Havertz at the far post who’s flick causes Trossard to not be able to keep it in to flick it back in.
34' White tries his long ball into space again but no one is making the run.
35' Martinelli tries to find a Havertz run in the box, but overhits it.
36' Partey puts things under trouble with an undercooked pass. Saliba saves
37' Partey makes a good pass towards Saka making a run, I think he's fouled with Robinson stepping in front of him because he's beat but the ref doesn't call it
38' Martinelli slips in Trossard but he can't get it under control. Nice bit of movement along the front line. Lots of interchanges and good movement to switch the ball quickly from the right over to the left to make this crease open.
39’ Martinelli looks to play one-two with Havertz but they aren’t in the same wavelength. Martinelli does well to get back and keep it in.
39' Trossard gets a pass in from Partey but his touch lets him down
40' Building pressure really well. Martinelli is feeling like he's been the danger man. He get's into the box, a run from Havertz opens up a cutback to Trossard but Martinelli puts it just behind him.
41' it is in the net but the flag is up. It was a good run from Havertz who cuts back nicely for a finish by Odegaard. It is pretty tight. Maybe Martinelli releases Havertz/Trossard earlier rather than going to Kiwior and it is on.
43' Rice plays a fantastic ball into Trossard. Line breaker. He collects on the half-turn but just has it taken off of him as he moves into the box.
44' Saka nice little pass to find Odegaard on the edge who fires right at Leno. Can't get the swerve right and it is right at Leno.
45' Saka loses Robinson and is free in space in the box but can't make anything happen, good defending to take the ball off of him.
47' Odegaard has a good look but plays an awful pass that is easily cut out.
Half Time
Outside of the mistake, I think Arsenal played well. On first watch, I thought it was too sloppy and panicked but I think I added my own feelings on to it. Arsenal to this point crated probably 3 of the 4 best open-play chances (with the other being Eddie's one on one at Crystal Palace) to this point in the season in that half.
There is a sub with Nkeitiah on for Trossard. I don't think Trossard was bad but he was also not great and I have asked of Arteta to be more aggressive of using his bench and he has been here.
Arsenal created some good chances and probably should have scored at least one goal here.
The buildup is interesting, more passes on the right but more threat coming from the left hand side.
Second Half
46' Good interplay between Eddie and Saka to get things moving. Odegaard and Havertz get in each other’s way with the return ball back to the middle with Odegaard basically intercepting it here. His ball into Nketiah is over hit.
48' starting again with getting some openings. Saka gets a shot off through some nifty dribbles.
49' Saka again through the Fulham defense, tries to get the ball central but can't make a clean strike.
50' Havertz tries to play a wall pass and it is off. Didn't need to do that and it threw off Rice. He had literally just had the same situation a few seconds before where he received and turned. Not sure what the thought was there. Fulham intercepts it and creates a decent shot here.
53' Eddie makes a run beyond and Saliba finds him with a good long ball. It ends up with the defender challenging the aerial but he wins and holds it up. Maybe layoff sooner but still good work. The corresponding play ends with Havertz offside from a Martinelli pass.
54' Kiwior tries a tough ball into space for Havertz, just cut out by Fulham. Good run beyond here.
55' Partey with a bad giveaway. He dwells in the middle of the field and has it taken off of him too easily.
56' Zinchenko and FABIO? Big call from Mikel here, that's not going to be popular. (LOL with hindsight)
56' Fabio receives in space on the left and immediately looks to turn and move into that space, different than he has shown in the past. I like the intent here even if he ends up stopping and recycling.
57' Good Eddie play to come short between the lines and receive on the half turn. Get's the ball out wide for Vieira who's cross aimed at Martinelli is cleared.
58' ZInchenko has been everywhere in his typical fashion in the 4 minutes he has been on. This time he overlaps Martinelli and his low cross is turned into a throw-in.
61' Odegaard chance, maybe try back post cross? Martinelli was wide open and the shot there isn't that great.
65' Eddie makes a good diagonal run in the box that is found by Odegaard. His run takes him wide of the post and he tries the pass vs shot. No one making the run as the ball goes through.
66' Zinchenko makes a good run through midfield, is caught pretty bad on the ankle and draws a yellow card for a free kick.
67' PENALTY, a great pass from Martinelli, good run from Fabio to run along the line to stay on the side and then end up behind the ball so his first move is towards goal. Clear as day cleared out.
69' slotted away. I was not comfortable at all in the buildup to it but it was away easy. Saka looked comfortable and like nothing was getting to him. He hit it hard and low and even if Leno goes the right way he would have had a hard time saving that one.
72' Fabio with a delicious pass over the top to find a run from Saka. Saka just misses bringing it down and keeping it under control
73' FABIO again. Eddie slots home beautifully. Saka with a great tackle to win the ball back and then made the pass out to Vieira. The pass tho from Vieira was inch-perfect.
78' Arsenal doing well to not sit back. Still keeping the ball and showing purpose to attack.
79' Saliba tries to find Martinelli running in behind from the left. Just a bit too much on it and Leno collects (just barely).
81' Arsenal sitting back a bit more now. Looking for chances on the counter. Odegaard feeds Nketiah who is supported by Martinelli but the ball from Eddie can't find him.
83' Saliba tries to dribble out, but can't make it through. Maybe should have released the pass sooner.
83' great run and take down by Eddie running at the defense, draws a second yellow and that should settle things (LOL). This is from a "clearance" pass from Fabio in his own box.
84' Jorginho comes on for Odegaard. Arsenal going for more control here.
87' Zinchenko gives the ball away and get's away with a foul. leads to a corner... and well it is tied. Arsenal were building fine from the back but Zinchenko tries to play the ball down the line and was really well closed down by Traore.
Shocked
88' Ramsdale is a little slow to get down... He doesn't have the clearest view but I have some questions about it. Not a howler but not great either. The corner comes in and Zinchenko can't quite clear the ball. It falls to Palhinha who hits it first time. Saka a little timid on the block, and Rice looks like he might have been who was marking him.
90' It is cross city now against a low block.
91' JESUS time, he comes on for Rice.
93' Martinelli at the back post, but his touch is heavy and he can't do anything with it.
97' fucking hell. bad call and fulham get away. Ref can't see and I think guesses on a call. His assistant is signaling the other way.
Arsenal are caught napping tho and it is a race between Saliba and Traore. Arseanl were lucky here Traore didn’t just fall over the slide of Saliba here to draw a penalty and instead tries a pretty tame shot.
100’ Arsenal get a corner, this is probably the last chance… It almost falls to Kiwior but it can’t stay down and is blocked away. DAMN close.
Full time:
Welp that is it. Here is the other things I wrote post match.
Hopefully this was worthwhile for you all.
