Right, we are out of Carabao Cup and FA Cup, but not everything is lost. We are 11 points clear of Man City in Premier League and we can take that lead to 12 points if we beat Bournemouth today. City do have 2 games in hand, but if they win both, we will still have a 6 point lead with only 6 games left for the season. In Champions League, we have a 1-0 advantage against Sporting and the second leg is at home. If we managed to get at least a draw, we will be playing Atletico (most likely) in the semi finals. I would rather play Atletico than Flick’s Barcelona.
The chance of lifting a trophy is still a possibility. And a win today will improve that possibility even more. Bournemouth are sitting in the bottom half of the table, and I hope we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot today.
Playing XI is out and I still don’t understand what has gotten into Arteta’s mind.
Why is Martinelli in the playing XI when you have Hincapie available. It’s not the time to be concerned about the injuries, because a loss in any of the games could mean a title. I’m OK with rest of the selection, Eze could have played ahead of Havertz but I’m not sure how much of his fitness is back.
I don’t understand the fact that we spend more than 250m on midfielders (Rice, Zubimendi, Norgaard, Havertz, Odegaard) and yet, we always have 2 DM-profile players and an option to choose from a non-performing Odegaard with a out-of-form Havertz. Anyway, that shouldn’t be a problem for a team sitting on 1st, playing against a bottom half team I suppose.
We need to win today. Man City has to visit Chelsea tomorrow and though I don’t have much confidence in Chelsea beating them, anything can happen. In last 3 seasons, we have always been the favorites going into last 7-8 games but have given it away. There are 7 games left, and 7 test of whether we have learned something over the years.
Right, game starts in an hour. See ya.
Norg
With a broken leg!
We’re no longer top of the league but neck and neck with the team that is, so far so good.
All we have to do is either better their results or better their GD.
The mancs will be rueing last night’s result, I’d expect us to better that when they come to ours.
The handbrake has to come off to a degree and we have a few games now to put distance between them.
Some may see being level on points with a team that’s won 4 out the last 5 and spent big again in Jan as failure or bottling. Many who predicted we’d struggle for even fourth might be pleasantly surprised.
If we can keep Eze, Havertz and Ode fit I’m confident of an enjoyable run in and those three can help us play the slightly more expansive football the less easily pleased by mere wins and points contingent of our supporter base demand. Add a fit Saka and Timber to that and there’s even more grounds for optimism. What could be better? Being 10 points clear I suppose but that’s unrealistic.
Of course, it goes without saying, there’ll be elements of our support who will be miffed at any wins and goals scored but I’m disregarding them for the run in as this isn’t a time for misery and I’d be so disappointed to by that approach.
I expect the Ems to be rocking on Sat, no time or space for angsty or even angry fickle fans, there’s a title to be won.
I didn’t actually need you to prove I’m right but thanks for trying.
Marc
That comment really cut me to the quick. I’ve spent the entire day weeping and coming to terms with my penis envy. Your wit and repartee is limitless.
I swear you’re getting even worse at this. Your banter is woeful, even more shocking than those two fake friends you foolishly drool over.
You didn’t even try to deny any of those truthful things I called you after you stupidly tried to provoke me yesterday. I therefore assume, like the other shit that I write for you to marvel at, that it’s spot on. And your attempts to gaslight people on here by suggesting they’re even more mental than you remind me of your political and ideological boyfriend Keir Starmer. I’d give you an E minus if I could be persuaded to grade your amateurish boring cant.
I bet your colleagues at the Acme Balsa Wood Co. (TM, eh Killroy?) all make excuses whenever you enter the canteen with your home made fish paste sandwiches. You private sector twats on feather light wood sinecures, reliant on tax payer money to survive really are the limit. You’re soooo shit, I wouldn’t be surprised to know that one of your inbred in-laws gave you the job out of pity and they’ve been regretting it ever since as you consistently fail to close out international deals with glider modelling conglomerates because you’re intellectually out of your depth and your patter is so irredeemably piss.
You’re the season ticket owning gooner who, err, doesn’t go to games because he’s got a sore knee! A SORE KNEE! 🦵🦵🦵 You’re a hobbling, self indulgent joke.
See? This is how to do internetting Marcey Marc.
Marcie Marc, the milksop milquetoast glider making gooner ghost, never to be seen at the home of football. 🤣
Kroenke
You’re not even an interesting cunt.
I’ll take it you’ve admitted you’ve lost then. Wanker.
Art
https://share.google/ufxQBi9fVknaOyWG1
Make sure you’re sitting down before reading this latest Nugget of Horseshit to emanate from the little man’s cavernously empty head. Lighting fires…
Apparently, one of the private sector geniuses that inhabits this site was able to supply some especially lightweight off-cuts of balsa wood for Stubborn’s bonfire of the vanities. He would’ve supplied something a little more dense like a eucalyptus or some birch twigs but it makes his knee all ouchy if he carries anything heavier than some discarded model glider offcuts.
Anyway, back to the chief cunt that we discuss on here, Arteta is clearly clutching at straws. The Goonersphere is laughing at him knowing he’s in the final death throes of his miserable time at the club.
And as the report says, Win the Labrador is now 5. That’s 35 in dog years, which is not too far from the last time Arsenal won anything meaningful. No wonder other fans laugh at Gooners…
That’s a question for the persian Iranians and as I am neither Persian or Iranian it will be “no comment”….
________________________
Taking the fifth, I see.
Good move Wicksy.
I have been saying over the past few weeks that although city are playing well they have relied to a certain extent on being very clinical in front of goal and for the opposition being wasteful in front of goal , Burnley on Wednesday night was different, City had 27 shots and only managed one goal.
During city’s recent winning run they have conceded 46 shots/chances against them and the only goal they conceded was their keeper keeper gifting a goal for Havertz.
Alternately, up until the Burnley game they had 50 shots/chances and scored 11 goals .
Compare that to Arsenal’s last 4 domestic games which were all defeats
Chances/shots for 51 (scored 3)
Chances shots against 37.(conceded 9)
So 4 defeats in 4 games for Arsenal with similar stats to city who won 4 in 4, although I’m not remotely suggesting that we have played as well as city in that period.
Basically we have to improve in both boxes and unless we do then we can forget about the title.
Domestically in our last 4 games we have conceded over 2 goals a game, I feel that bringing kepa in for 2 games has disrupted our defensive stability, things were going smooth prior to the league cup final, we were conceding very few goals so the blame must fall with Arteta for his arrogance in thinking he could change the best keeper in the league and expect no impact.
Offensively we were much better v city at the weekend but as per usual were not clinical enough, this needs to change , maybe we meed a bit of luck , maybe aa set piece as they have dried up recently but the fact is our offensive players need to stand up and be counted starting from tomorrow.
The barcode supporters are very likely to get their wish in a few weeks time when Howe is removed from his current position. Languishing in the the lower part of the table is bad but to be below their closest rivals is really bad. On paper our game against the barcodes is a win in our favour but will Howe manage to inspire his players to save his bacon – will Gordon provide a MOM performance to showcase his skills and increase the chances of a move.
Kroenke
The only thing lost on here is your mind.
I’d recommend seeing a doctor for your kids sake.
whats the best – Wengers coveted 4th place trophy or the best stats trophy? Both should earn a place in the Champions League the following season but will just be a passing memory. No real glory.
Marcie Marc
Gaslighting again just like Starmer…you trying to suggest that anyone on here has greater mental health problems than little old you with your dodgy anti-Arsenal knee, balsaphilia and dismal bigoted politics makes you a complete idiot utterly lacking in self awareness. You’re giving off a vibe at the moment that you’re even too thick and disconnected from reality to cope. I’m not as woke as you are so you can fuck yourself.
My kids, by the way, happen to love me and rate me as a human being. They even admire my ability to skewer sub educational plank counters like you. Does anyone love you, on the other hand, you thick, charisma free amoeba?
I’ve schooled you on here in the past few days. Eliminated you as a contender. Reduced you and your private sector market dogma to nothing. Again!
You’re embarrassing yourself you softy fucking ponce.
Kroenke
For someone who claims you don’t give me a second thought you spend a lot of time attacking me. As for schooling me – dear oh dear.
You were always naïve on the politics front but over the last few months you’ve become completely unhinged. Hopefully when you snap you won’t hurt anyone else.
Why would they schedule a PL kick off at the same time as one of the Cup semi’s?
For neutral’s you’d think both matches would be of interest.
Absolutely nothing Marcie Marc. You’re absolutely nothing. You fucking loser. I’ve reduced you and you’re embarrassed. You limping cowardly cunt.
And don’t forget you thick little pansy…it’s always the real online cunts who have to have the last word…
Going to the game Marc or got a headache this time?
Take it easy, perhaps support Barcodes from the comfort of home.
First up a bit of hate-watch at Wolves. Or as Fart Fraud may tell us a bit of ‘supporting Spurs before the Barcodes’
C’mon you Rip Roaring Reds!
Today’s game feels like it’s 85% about winning, and the remaining 15% about playing with some attacking flair thus sending City some kind of statement. But anything other than a win simply will not do. Another big game in midfield where the barcodes have some strength. If Rice and Zubi are on song and Ode and Eze are looking for the ball we could/should be OK. They have weaknesses in their back 5 which we can exploit. I hope Jover has a few new corner tactics worked out as a fallback.
Arteta needs to screw the nut and keep his emotions in check (how often has that been said?). Let the players do their thing for fuck’s sake. We’re at home and we have better players than them.
Shooting needs to be FAR better than in recent games and a bit of split second extra composure when chances do arise will not go amiss. Big test of patience.
Spuds win…but so do WH and Forest who arguably won the tougher games. Still looking good for the drop. No NLDs next season would be bizarre.