Leicester didn’t do us a favour today. Spu*s won and moved back to 4th position with 1 point lead. It’s about time the game starts, we are playing West Ham at their home and winning is as crucial as it can get. It’s a must win game against a team whose priority lies in Europa League and this could pan out in our favour.
We are in good form, winning back to back matches against United and Chelsea. Just so you know, Arsenal have lost only 1 away games in last 13 encounters against Hammers. However they are unbeaten in their last premier league games at home, so it’s not going to be an easy one. As usual, in first 10 min we will get to know which team shows up today and it will surely be a measure of how much Mikel Arteta was able to motivate a team and sell Champions League dream.
In team news, Martinelli replaces Emile Smith-Rowe, Tomiyasu is back in defence and Nketiah keeps his place.
White has an injury due to which Holding makes his Premier League start after a long time. It’s probably the best line-up bar ESR not starting. Martinelli has looked out of form and although we have seen some individual brilliance from him, ESR has more end results in him. This could be because Martinelli is sidelined on the wings most of time and ESR drifts in centre thus having better chance of creating something; I would have preferred Smith Rowe in a crucial game like this.
I’m going to have to keep this short due to lack of time. Apologies for showing up late (and not showing at all this week). There’s one more hectic week before I get back to my easy routine. As always, thank you for showing up at London Is Red.
We can get 3 points here, go back to being 4th and our run of games are easier to Spu*s. I’m going to tune in to the game now, no one can this 90min from me. #COYG.
Xhaka doing a Xhaka in 2nd min.. 😐
Holding showing why a defender should have a good header in him. 1-0 to Arsenal.
Incredible save from Ramsdale, lets keep it tight boys.
The commentator shouting big goal for West Ham, big game for Spu*s is a c*nt.
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Hi mate. Gonna read your piece later. I’m too busy doing overtime on my prayer mat! 🙏
Our so-called manager has clearly failed to prepare his team based on the first half display. Gotta fucking win!
Kroenkephone
Atheist but I’m joining you today.
This game’s going one way only. Started the second half really badly.
Damn, that hair transplants on both of our CB is working.. May be Laca should get one done too..
#COYG
Boom. Delighted to be proven wrong. I loved seeing Eddie Unket causing that rumpus in the last few minutes. Real CF and old skool Arsenal stuff. Wasted a good bit of time. Chelsea here we come?
3 points invaluable. West Ham always a difficult trip. Time to breathe again……
Damn, that hair transplants on both of our CB is working
Ambarish
Those hairy rugs are like magic carpets. It’s like having two extra players in your team!
If results go as expected next week, ie we beat Leeds at home and Spuds lose to Liverpool we ought to be 5 pts clear with 3 games each to play.
Plus we will beat those cunts at Shite Hart Lane.
We are 2 points ahead, GD is a problem only if we don’t win our remaining games.
The NLD derby will be huge and I have a strange feeling the Spuddies might just get a point out of Liverpool.
So I’d seriously recommend putting a load of money on Liverpool scoring double digits.
Is it too much to expect top 4 and beating Spu*s at their home?
Coz it would be sweet as fuck.
It’s beginning to look like avoiding defeat in the NLD will guarantee us 4th spot. Two ways of looking at that. On a positive note Spurs are as inconsistent as we are,even under Conte. I’ve watched them as much as I’ve watched us and when they are bad they are brutal. On a negative note,I don’t like the idea of Arteta playing for a draw. He is actually good at creating a defensive system but if we are breached once he doesn’t seem to be able to restructure us to attack within the same game. Hence we have only one comeback win (v wolves). I can’t see a clean sheet at WHL, that’s why I’m hoping he doesn’t go down that road. I fully expect Spurs to be beaten at Anfield but the atrocious Leeds we played earlier have a little more about them defensively now( city were flattered by the scoreline on Sat). I won’t count my chickens on that one.
Kroenkephobe,
Snooker final v disappointing, but for Ronnie fans his 7th title is a magical moment,no arguing against his talent. That’s the end of another snooker season, we’ll have to entertain ourselves over the summer with transfer rumour nonsense. It’s only really hitting me now how annoyed I am that we’ve been denied a summer world cup,although I’m sure the emergence of Qatar as a force in world football over the next few years will more than justify the decision……
Almunia
As you say playing for a draw when you’re awful going forward is not a good idea but none of us would be surprised if that’s what Arteta did.
At best yesterdays performance can be described as insipid, if we look that pedestrian when we’ve had a 35 game season god knows how we’ll cope with big European matches as well.
Marc,
My suspicion is that this is Arteta’s style of football, we’re not building to something, this has been it all along. If he goes on to create a fluid,attacking team capable of defending without needing to sacrifice creativity I’ll be the first to say I totally misjudged him. But going back,even as far as the fa cup win I’ve always felt this is how Arteta wants to play. Next season will be fascinating. He will have an extra year under his belt,and probably a few new players, but he’ll be without many of the advantages he had this year. Fair to say we will see where this journey is rely taking us by then.
#really taking us.
Kroenkephobe,
Rumours of Trump’s demise were greatly exaggerated?
Almunia
Yes, some fight from Trump. I think the TV companies and fans desperately need a meaningful final session so everyone’s happy. It’s nicely set up. I didn’t see much of it this pm because I was mending a toilet… Unsuccessfully. A wholly accurate metaphor for life at the moment. 💩
I agree with what you and Marc have said. Rare is the game where we dominate anyone these days and the final 15 minutes is a procession. When we lose we’re poor, when we win we just about do enough. Yeah, I know… Call. Me a bedwetters!
Almunia
Agreed Arteta is a safety first manager. I think he’s in trouble next season – I don’t think he’ll be able to juggle PL & CL and I just can’t see all of Chelsea, ManU, Leicester and the Spud’s all being as bad as this season, that’s before Newcastle start spending big and pushing for a minimum of top 6.
Arteta will have be then a squad that is almost entirely his players, two and a half seasons under his belt and will have spent plenty of money – I would say they’ll be no excuse but the fan boys will still search for them.
Marc,
That’s my reading of it also. I believe that in time we’ll look back at this period as an opportunity lost to close ground on the top teams. All we have done is returned to bare minimum for a club of our size. The progress made has been marginal and at a huge cost in terms of finances. No telling if Kroenkes will back a manager like this again. Arteta orchestrated the great giveaway that a more frugal manager could have put to better use on incomings. Now if he’s given the money he needs them obviously he felt it expedient to simply rid himself of unwanted players. But if he’s not,then it’s a horrendous misuse of assets.
Kroenkephobe,
Toilet fixing,if that’s not a metaphor for just about everything then I give up….it certainly sums up my job! Still think Ronnie does it but like you said at least we’ve a match now.
One of these days I’m going to sit down and write down every player that has been bought,sold, released by Artedu and the financial implications of each deal. For two guys making a living in football wheeling and dealing I have a feeling their business acumen is an insult to a club of our size.