A quick post before the game.
City beat Crystal Palace earlier today after going down 1-0 and giving us the false hope; bringing them to the second spot in the league table. We win today and we get back on top while Liverpool has to play Manchester United tomorrow at Old Trafford. There is hope we might end up top after this week’s result but for that to happen, we must beat Brighton.
Team news is out, Martinelli sits on bench while Jesus takes the LW position. I think it’s more of a precaution after his injury and we have games coming in thick and fast. Jorginho gets back into the starting XI, Partey on bench which will allow Declan Rice in a more advance position. Saka makes it which makes me happy because Nelson did fuck all and we need the BS7 fit and playing every game of this season. Baffling to see Zinchenko ahead of Kiwior because that lad has done nothing wrong and is better defensively but we are winning good, so I won’t doubt Mikel’s decision (for now).
As I said on twitter, the only thing we can do in this three-way title race is that, we win our games. City and Liverpool have easier fixtures than us, but two of the three teams will lose ‘more’ important points at some point. It’s premier league, the best league in the world and there are upsets. We just need to make sure we are not part of those upsets.
Right, game has begun. Lets hope make it an easy fixture.
once again Marts is being shoehorned out wide right, whereas his once backup is playing on the left
A big goal from Havertz who to be fair has had a busy game but largely ineffective other than his press.
That’s responded nicely to City earlier and adds pressure to Liverpool’s tough game against Manure.
crucial to be up 2 before they made their subs
Tony-he always “looks” busy, but there’s no way with two defenders and a Keeper in sight that ball should have found only his foot…even good old Eddie would have punched that poacher’s delight into the back of the net
that goal was setup by a poor pass and a subsequent little squabble between 3 of their players about said bad pass…when DeZerbi sees the tape he’s going to have a shit fit
Tony, Havertz’ press is part of what makes him effective in our set up. Someone doing to grunt work and constantly giving defneders something to think about. For a team like Brighton who enjoy playing it out, having Kai has really limited them.
And of course £60 Mill down the drain Kai Havertz scores again. Learn to love him.
Good to see Zinny off, don’t need nerves at the end.
minus a brief patch in the first-half, I have liked the discipline we’ve shown in this match, as this will be vitally important against the likes of Bayern…we don’t have enough goals in us with this starting 11, so if we can find a way to limit Bayern’s chances we could be in contention for what many would label as a decided upset
your love of overpaid blunt instruments is duly noted…btw there’s a whole mess of far more effective and insanely cheaper players who could runabout up top
Happy for the win so let’s see what Klopp’s marauders do against the occasionally turning up Manure.
Aitcho, Re Havertz, I said largely ineffective other than his press. I’m not a fan of Havertz type of diving player, but if he contributes to our winning the PL trophy then I won’t be complaining other than we could have bought far better.
Seems we are of accord re Zinchenko and I can’t stand Jesus either. City rejects we never needed.
That’ll do…. I can see Manure getting something out of the game tomorrow for two reasons. They need a response after Chelsea and it’s Liverpool.
Really good performance tonight. Almost faultless considering the stage if the season and the opposition.
good workmanlike effort tonight…much-deserved victory and clean sheet
DeZerbi has managed lately like he’s had his head turned…he better be careful as his team’s current form could see him lose the very opportunities he’s worked so hard to obtain
Tony,
With a goal and an assist our £60m man was possibly our most effective player today.
It’s time to move on from Xhaka, henwas pretty pony during his time with us if we’re being honest.
Trvl,
You’re getting it now. Workmanlike, unfussy, effective performances are the order of the day. This season has been all about control. So far so good. The stats after the game, least goals conceded, least shots on target, lowest XGa, we can’t argue with stats if we don’t believe what our eyes tell us.
We don’t need to blitz games, we’ve got +10 GD on our rivals. Let them grab games and wins from difficult positions, we’ve learnt that’s not the best way to win a league.
Said it before, De Zerbi’s was just flavour of the month on here after Brighton beat us. Now he’s moaning like he believes his own hype.
Since them he’s been handed two spankings. Brighton’s data driven recruitment system is a more important factor, he’s flash in the pan
Nice try Aticho…you won’t goad me into joining you at the kid’s table…see you next Tuesday
Good morning Aitcho
Last night was early hours of the morning for me, so I thought I’d wait until this morning to give you my 10-pence worth.
Let’s look at Havertz stats:
Current season statistics (2023/2024)
11 Goals 5 Assists.
31 Victories 10 Losses.
48 Played matches 3388 Minutes played.
11 Yellow cards 0 Red cards.
Are they the stats we want from our 9 with 7 games left for £60+m and our highest paid player?
If he was an 8 then those stats would be good for a midfielder, but in El B’s tactics, Havertz defends more than he attacks.
Ode also runs himself into the ground with his press but, also offers far more creative output and goals but only cost half?
Current season Ode statistics (2023/2024)
18% Impacting goals 11 Goals.
29% Impacting assists 7 Assists.
44 Played matches 3642 Minutes played.
2 Yellow cards 0 Red cards.
Ode cost us £35m where for me he is twice the player Havertz will ever be, but that is just imho, as I see football perhaps differently to you, not better, just my opinions differ.
For my 60+ years supporting The Arsenal I’ve always wanted to win games, cups and trophies, same as you and all other gooners, and never more than this year as I edge closer to 70 years old next year. Generally, my views are part of the majority for our players but managerially probably less so, as my most lauded managers we’re: Chapman, Graham and Wenger in the order. Others see it differently where had Wenger gone in 2008, he would be the best we ever had, which I would have greed with.
I’m sure we could have found a ‘grunt’ worker for much less money last summer or simply kept the very decent Willock, and spent the Havertz money on a top striker or indeed a specialist 8, such as Mac Alister or similar.
I don’t disagree Havertz has a good work rate, but his output is not a £60m+ player or deserve to be our highest paid player. For me ESR is a vastly better player, as was proven in our previous Luton game and his MOTM award.
How many of those awards does Havertz have to his name from 44 games?
I’ll always maintain Havertz is a £35m player at best who, if he just cut out the diving and learnt to tackle reducing his yellow card tally and concentrate on improving his footballing skills instead of conning refs all the time, I might feel more disposed to appreciating Havertz more.
We just have differing opinions for Havertz and what represents good value for money, so best to agree to disagree I would say in this situation.
The levels we are looking to attain going forward for me doesn’t include, Zinchenko, Jesus, Havertz, Nkethia and Raya.
Sadly, they are all El B’s pets, so expect them to be with us next season where I think a confident Nelson should be kept as a front utility player for another season.
Tonight may well be the title deciding game with 7 games left where maybe we can finally dare to dream if Pool loses.
We all want there same thing, Aitcho, we just have different views on the best way to finally achieve and enjoy our crowning glories.
Here’s some indepth Kroenkephobian euro scouting. Bayern were 2-0 up to Heidenheim (Heiden who?) in the Bundesliga yesterday before losing 3-2. Augurs well I think.
I worshipped Gnabry when he was at Arsenal and hated Wengo for loaning him to that arsehole Tony Pulis at West Brom. What the actual fuck was chihuahua head thinking?
It’ll be good to see him this week but I hope he, Sane, Musiala, Muller and lisping Arry all have nachts to forget about in London while we lay on the donner und blitzen.
Tony, I understand that. You think he’s overpriced and overpaid. A very Wengerish way to assess his value.
He’s been effective and improving. He may not be as ‘good’ as Odegaard, (underpriced) Saka (free) or Rice (50m more) but he’s doing his job he was brought to do. If you think he should be 30/20/10m less, that’s fine. Transfer values and wages aren’t an exact science.
Trvl, looks like you did come to chat but had nothing of value to add that wouldn’t involve moaning at stuff you speculated or made up.
If nothing else, if we don’t win on Tues, you can blame Havertz for being overpriced, Wenger for selling Gnabry or Arteta for selling Martinez too cheaply. Or something. Maybe we can start another Xhaka revisionist campaign and pretend he was better than Havetz because Bayer beat Bayern this season.
Enjoy the wins man. Support your team
MOTM awards aren’t to only way to judge effectiveness but fwiw Havertz’s v Brighton or ESR v Luton is an interesting comparison point.
“A very Wengerish way to assess his value.”
Interesting turn of phrase as I didn’t liken your thinking to anyone but your own, and cordially suggested we agree to disagree. Then you go all Bob N15 on me to impose your thinking even further on a point I couldn’t really care less about now.
Best to move on to far more important matters, well, certainly in my mind, that concern our title aspirations, such as tonight’s game because El B has us waiting for Pool to lose points so we can try to win the PL.
Aitcho? If you feel all kumbya and love Havertz as a wise investment, then I’m happy for you. Wouldn’t do for us to all think the same now, would it?
Where would be the fun in that?
Tony, I think it’s agreed Havertz is a wise investment. Some have taken longer to relapse that than others. But I think we’re all Kumbaya on this.
Wengerish wasn’t meant as an insult but I imagine, like many of us in his time, the apparent near obsession he had with ‘value’ just resulted in a longer list of great players he “could have” signed. Even the Ashley Cole £5k a week was so dopey. For years, as fans, we were banging on about just getting deals done, how that was one of Dein’s great strengths, how Wenger needed that guidance. Now we seem to be doing it and getting good players.
If Havertz is delivering won’t concern myself with his salary and transfer fee
We’re all hoping for Liverpool to lose, not just Tets.
A weekend away staying with old friends of 48years. He is a fellow Gooner and we topped up our wine glasses after Saka had put away the penalty. My friend quite likes Havertz for his ‘spoilers’ game but agrees we will not get stronger and dominate other top teams next season if he plays and does not add something extra to his game. He is not capable of fast counter attacking that is sometimes required. Rotation? currently does not appear in El B’s vocabulary. A good win against BHA – they will be a better side next year as their business model allowed too many players to depart last year.
Tony, KP
Chatting to a neighbour of a friend (another Gooner) and he was recalling an early festival/ BBQ in the Great Tulip Hall, Spalding in 1967. The line up was Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Pink Floyd, Who, Move & Zoot Money. Tickets were a £1 each.