Premier league has decided to cancel all fixtures for this weekend, I don’t really understand it and believe it would have been better to pay an in-game tribute but then I’m not a British citizen and it’s difficult for me associate to a monarchy. If the league has decided for it, they would have sufficient merit to do so, and I will leave it to that.
So, what that means for us? We get an extra week of rest but a fixture congestion later on. Everton are in shambles and it would have been easier to play and beat them at this moment. Moreover, we need move on from the loss at Old Trafford and as quickly as possible. I’m not sure if we are going to see cancellations for next week too, but if not, this rest can prove vital. We are going to play PSV on Thursday and Brentford away on Sunday afternoon.
I missed to cover the game against Zurich (apologies) which had lots of positives. Eddie is a complete striker and a competition rather than a back up for Gabriel Jesus. We saw the young Marquinhos scored his first goal and earn an assist to Eddie’s. He was a standout and reminded me of another young Brazilian, playing for Arsenal on the left wing every week. I respect Edu and Arteta’s decision to keep him rather loaning out, he will prove to be vital and with Europa, we have options to give game times to these youngster and develop them for the first XI.
I’m a little concerned for the midfield though. Partey is often injured and Lokonga still needs a lot of development to play as the lone #6. A partnership of Lokonga + Xhaka or Elneny + Xhaka do not convince me. I’m a bit bewildered and angry about our negligence for the midfield. We did try to sign Douglas Luiz but it didn’t need to come on the last day of transfer window and we shouldn’t have missed out. We are working on a project youth and our 19-20-21 years old are bossing in every position but we haven’t seen Arteta promoting anyone for the role Partey and Xhaka plays. We could have kept Azeez or Patino and develop them similar to what we are doing with Marquinhos in my opinion.
I didn’t want to wait for another TW for the midfield fix. We must accept that Partey is an injury prone player and we need someone competing with him rather than a back up.
Short one today, hope you are doing well!
P.S. – I’m trying to build a fan section on this blog. I have asked few of my Gooner friends if they are willing to contribute an article or two. I would find it difficult to put things which I don’t agree with on London Is Red, but then differences in opinions are healthy. We all love Arsenal and yes, fuck the Spu*s.
In case you have some free time on your hand, I would love couple of articles from you too.
Hi Ambarish
It was always going to be a strange and difficult one to deal with. The Queen is incredibly revered over here and aside a genuine feeling of loss it was always going to have the commercial angle to it as well. Go ahead with matches and someone will claim that football doesn’t respect anything but money etc and that’s before the scousers start booing the National Anthem or doing something equally stupid during a minutes silence – remember the PL doesn’t care if they’re scum they’re a massive club and they want to sell their product.
I think the partial handling of football during the mourning period can be attributed to one of two things (or a combination of both). The establishment (ie the Monarchy and the right wing Conservative party) are desperate to maintain the illusion of national togetherness and for the new guy (rey carlos tercero) to get off on a positive footing. For golf, cricket, rugby and horse racing – all of which are bourgeois sports enjoyed on the whole by tory voting safe white people in Britain – there’s a feeling that the show must bravely go on and, sob, we’ll get through this terrible time in a Dunkirk spirit and by exhibiting some stiff upper lip, oh and also make shit loads of money.
As you say Marc, football is an entirely different kettle of fish which exemplifies and amplifies the chasm that exists between the wealthy and the rest of us. They and the political establishment (which they own including Gooner Starmer) see most football fans as loose cannons, prone to acting violently and being lairylippy after a few bevvies. I don’t think it’s just Liverpool, Celtic or Hibs fans though – supporters across the country subconsciously see their 2 hours watching their local heroes every week as a chance to let off steam and have a drink up and/or a few lines of coke (which, believe me, is not an ideal medium for helping you to hold your tongue). Arsenal stand separately from this because the club and many supporters naturally align with the establishment. Evidence? Check out many of the reactionary cunts that still inhabit le grove and unsold anusol.
So the perception is that behaviour in and around football stadia is risky in terms of public disorder and a threat to the bullshit idea that the nation is miraculously coming together as a result of this.
My other suggested theory is that it’s somehow going to be more financially beneficial for football to have a hiatus while fans and families don’t feel like travelling.
So, like many of society’s ills, the root of it is either pernicious, manipulative politics or corporate greed.
Things are on a bit of a knife edge here. It’ll calm down once/if carlos can keep the monarchy going on and on and on.
Good piece Ambarish. Really good to get your and others’ takes on this.
Almost all football fraternity are criticizing this step, Cricket and Rugby are going ahead as per schedule. With World Cup schedule and now the fixture congestions, players and teams will be affected and we all know it’s going to affect us more than others, as usual.
Hi Ambarish
players and teams will be affected and we all know it’s going to affect us more than others, as usual.
Not sure that I agree with the idea that we’ll be worse affected than others. To my mind, that’s verging on the paranoia spouted by little Pedro and even littler Tony Attwood in their miserable plastic blogs. We’re one of the richest clubs in the world and by that yardstick we’re bound to be less affected than others. Money and influence talk.
Kroenke
I think your view of football fans is a bit out dated – certainly at least with bigger PL clubs. As a friend of mine observes (he’s been a season ticket holder at Arsenal for over 30 years) “when I started going I was the average age fan – thirty years later and I’m still the average age fan”.
The cost of attending Arsenal. Chelsea or the Spud’s etc mean it’s very difficult for younger people to go regularly and if you have kids it costs a fortune to take them as well.
I honestly think this was a knee jerk reaction from the PL who were worried someone would claim they were being disrespectful by going ahead.
As for us being more affected than other clubs – I agree but its not paranoia its having a manager who can’t manage.
Hi Marc
Yeah my point is that many Arsenal fans ARE a breed apart. I watch a lot of championship football and the crowd is markedly different from the Emirates. More white (that’s not to say all are racist), and less affluently dressed. They’re also much more likely to associate a day at the football with a few beers, some coke, and a bit of abuse aimed at other supporters. And after decades of the gap between rich and poor widening, they do not, on the whole look and sound like Arsenal fans. Let’s not forget that the Emirates has been the most expensive place to watch football, based in one of the dearest parts of a city where high earners thrive and others find it more of a struggle. We’re called the Bank of England club and our board of directors are associated with private schools, oxbridge and the City. To a slightly lesser extent our fans look and sound different to more local analogues, eg WHU, Spurs and Chelsea. In essence, our fans are wealthier and more genteel – a bigger more successful version of Fulham if you will.
PS
You might be onto something there with your last paragraph. The club is run by numpties who react less with less agility than other clubs when change is foisted upon them. PPS I watch games up north when I can and the entire experience is vastly different from the Ems.
Is the home Thursday EL tie against PSV definitely on?
KP
I heard the rumours that the game against PSV has been postponed, because of ‘lack of police’. Take it with a pinch of salt though the reason… But don’t think the game will happen now
Our Premier League campaign will resume on Sunday with a trip to Brentford.
Kick-off is now set to take place at 12pm (UK time).
– Arsenal.com
Ambarish
The possible lack of police is a genuine issue – they are predicting thousands upon thousands of people coming into London and with them probably a fair share of nutjobs.
The PSV match is definitely off – I’ve just noticed I got an email from the club earlier!
Just heard an interesting factoid. The new king is a Burnley fan apparently.
And spuds get mashed in Portugal.
Well lads. Anyone watching Celtic? What the hell was Joe Hart doing for the equaliser? Don’t know what game to watch at 8,prob end up flicking around and watching none of them in particular. If you have Netflix I can’t recommend the Figo documentary enough,really fascinating. Hope all are well on LIR.
Almunia
Hiya mate. Good to hear from you. I’m watching Baggies v Brum. Decent, full-blooded game from the second flight. Hoping to hear fans from both sides joining together to harmonise on a version of ‘shit on the Villa’. None of that overblown exotic CL bullshit for me. I’m trying to persuade the long-suffering Ms Kroenkephobe to join me on a trip to w Yorkshire hto watch the Bluebirds and Terriers. My chances are less than zero. All the best.
You must be as amazed as most of us are thus far that we’re top of the table. The United result however was a serious pisser that rexposed our managerial shortcomings. But in terms of inter – family banter, you must be having a field day with your brothers.
I got badly scalded taking the piss when AC Milan led 3 nil in the champs lge final so I’m very slow to write off Liverpool. Klopp will get things right eventually, unfortunately. Might be given a few quid in January. We have had a good start but,Palace away aside, not really any more than should be expected. Utd was a poor result,they are still very beatable. Brentford will be tricky you’d imagine,we’ll learn a little bit more in that match. At least the football has been more pleasant on the eyes. Still vulnerable for long periods,Bournemouth aside. Jury still very much out for me. No matter what happens it doesn’t erase the last 3yrs. Multiple costly mistakes were made,many totally unnecessarily. A carefully planned process is a myth.
Keeping an eye on Cardiff. Consistently inconsistent aren’t they? Huddersfield really struggling though,might be a long time before they grace the premiership again. Watched Charlton v Forest Green last night,standard really drops once you go into the third tier but Charlton have a young winger on loan from Palace,great talent,saki something. Palace seem to have an eye for these guys,Zaha,Ezre,Olise.
We are doing well with also in the exciting wingers stakes with Saka,Martinelli,ESR,Marquinhos and Viera though the last 2 I’ve only glimpsed. I’m beginning to think ESR won’t produce his best with us,hope I’m wrong though. Good to know you’re still travelling to the games,gotta take the joy where you can get it.
Almunia
I must be going fucking soft in my dotage, but when Marquinhos banged that goal in last week and got all emotional on the touchline, it kind of produced the same effect in me. I spent a bit of time in Rio in my job, and while I’d never say I fully understood the place or even ventured into the favelas, that urge in kids to succeed at football against the greatest of odds is really palpable not least because the vast majority who don’t make it face precarious futures. And that cross to Eddie Unket for the second goal was perfection. I joke with my kids that I have three other children, namely ESR, Saka and Martinelli. I’ve now officially made Marquinhos my fourth. I really am becoming a sentimental old cunt.
Which books are on the curriculum this year over there? More Steinbeck and Othello or can we expect a bit of Salinger or GBS?
Kroenkephobe,
Would you believe the cancel culture have got their grubby paws on Harper Lee? I expect Steinbeck to go the same way next. Very sad. This type of thinking reflects very poorly on modern society. I have the Scottish play to console myself with. Going to post you a link to an absolutely brilliant rant about cancel culture,pretty sure I put it in before so forgive me in advance. As regarding the relevance to Arsenal, just have a look at the revionism surrounding Arteta’s first 3 seasons.
https://youtu.be/p9_bI789Gog
This guy is just so funny……
Almunia
Good to see you back – hope all is well.
Almunia
I’m sitting back and waiting for the complete meltdown of the lala people in America (probably most other places as well) when Trump wins in 2024.
When will these groups learn that when they push crazy agenda’s too far normally moderate people move further right and it makes things worse?
Marc,
Thanks. I’m getting there.
Your point about moving to the right struck home,I think that’s happening to me and I think,as you suggested,it’s in retaliation to the extreme left going into overdrive. I find myself being far more easily irritated and frustrated than I used to be. I don’t think I would ever have voted Trump had I lived in America,but then again its difficult to be sure of that from the shelter of Ireland. I read ‘hillbilly elegy’ last year and I have more sympathy now for people who felt ignored by the Democrats. Always two sides I guess.
Hey hey lads. Can’t say I agree with a lot of that political polemic, but the great thing about LiR is that it can get expressed without invective.
I think you’re both overly and unnecessarily concerned about the faltering and the suppression of the right and the apparent growing dominance of the left. The right wing controls politics, money and the media in Europe and the US and that shows no sign of abating. And let’s face it, King Chuck may talk about climate change in a mealy mouthed and unfocused way but he’s hardly Trotsky.
In the US, the point to make is that EVERYONE is being neglected politically and economically disenfranchised except the rich white men. Trump, Kroenke, John Henry and Boehly to name but a few of the money grubbing cunts who pull the strings.
Don’t panic. Democracy, plurality and diversity are all suffering and these lads are getting richer and more powerful. As Louis Armstrong or Sam Cooke once sang, it’s a wonderful world.
Peace and love!
Hi Almunia
You know, I’ve never read TKAM. I tried the film with Gregory Peck as Atticus and it bored the shit out of me. I’m also a bit neuralgic about Hollywood’s perennial weakness for seeing racial issues through the eyes of brave white defenders rather than the people on the receiving end – ever seen Missisippi Burning? Fucking awful film. If it’s withdrawn however, I think in that case it’s wrong. From what I know about her, HL seemed not to have a bad bone in her body.
I think the problem though in this case lies more with the conservatism of curriculum setting down the years. Too many stories about too many white people over and over again. Lord of the Flies is another example. Plus anything by Evelyn Waugh. Graham Greene, on the other hand was slightly more catholic in both senses of the word. The thing that amazes me, given the impressive literary canon in Ireland, is how little of that was taught to us as schoolkids in ingerland. You probably had a better experience.
Maybe we should suggest Ambarish changes the name of this site to ‘literature is read’. Have a good weekend mate. Ms K and I are hitting the highs of Shrewsbury this weekend – fuck knows why! There’s not even a (tame) Shrews game on (although I might disappear between midday and 2 pm on Sunday to a pub…)
Kroenkephobe,
I’d imagine the difference between the history taught in English schools v what’s taught in Irish schools would be worthy of a book in itself. Can’t speak for England but over here it’s time to leave some things behind,not out of shame or indifference to the past you understand, but sometimes a bitter history is a weight around the neck of those looking to move towards the future.
Anyway,have a great weekend in Shrewsbury, I couldn’t care less where I’d end up if myself and the Mrs could get a mini break,just the 2 of us away from the kids for the sake of our sanity. You enjoy the hell out of it.
Am watching Villa Southampton here,the young Irish kid in goal for saints,Bazuna,is excellent,but the cb they have, Bella Kotchap,looks the real deal. Have watched him 3 times now and it’s impossible to accept he’s not a battle hardened vet. Touch of the Salibas about him. Really like Jacob Ramsey of Villa also though he has understandably dropped a level from his breakout season. Think he’s going to be at a top 4 club in another few years.
Big weekend for us, Brentford away is the type of match we’ve been screwing up for over a decade now. Let’s hope that those days are over…….
Hi Almunia
I’ve just tuned in. Maybe the first half was better because this half has been shite. Ramsey is a spiky battle-hardened player no? Bella-Kotchap will either have that special sauce or be a rotten tomato… Sorry couldn’t resist it! But both teams seem less than the sum of their parts. I think soton might suffer a bit this year. I wouldn’t mind if Villa and StevyG also struggled.
I agree entirely about the history point. There are still millions of people over here who believe revisionist bullshit just because it’s been printed in a book.
As for Brentford, we have a much better team on paper. I think we’ll see an entirely different outcome from last year’s game. We really need to double teams like the Bees. I’m going for 3 nil with Jesus having a big game.
Oh, and our mate Callum O’Dowda scored a really nice goal for the Bluebirds in the week up at M’boro. Be good to think he still has an international future.
Hasenhuttl is very strange. He has three very distinct outfits. Provincial headmaster (tonight), tweed suited English gent (really fucking odd) or nylon clad, baseball hat wearing hoolie.
Although I cannot swear to it, Hasenhuttl in English means a hutch, or cage for hares…
Kroenkephobe,
It’s been poor alright,looks like I picked the wrong match to watch. Pretty sure Bournemouth will go down. Forest also. 3rd is more difficult but it could well be the Saints. Very short of goals unlike Fulham and Leeds. Everton won’t be in that conversation this year.
Think if we win on Sunday it’s by a single goal,2-1. Not confident of winning at all though.
O’Dowda’s form has earned him a recall to the Irish squad,fair play. Would like to see him get some game time,always liked his energy and attitude. Technically better than a lot of players in that squad.
Hope you get a few pints in this weekend now that ‘Dad’s taxi’ is temporarily out of service.
Call it wishful thinking, but I’ve got a feeling Leicester will get something out of spurs tonight.
Almunia
Be good to get your thoughts too on Calum Robinson who recently signed for Cardiff from WBA. He once hit a hattrick against Chelsea and has 29 Ireland caps. I’m hoping he’ll be the missing link and get a shit load of goals, becoming Cardiff’s very own personal jesus. He certainly looks the part and has made an encouraging start. I’m starting to regret not making a detour to Huddersfield. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the Addicks.
Not sure that was a pen but Leicester have missed it anyway.
Retake!
Leicester seem determined to get Rodgers the sack. Do you guys remember the hammers team that got relegated in 03? Ridiculous talent inches squad including Joe Cole, Di canio, Glen Johnson, Freddie knotted,Lee bowyer and a multitude of others. I spent the whole season waiting for an escape that never came. Could this Leicester team repeat that 20 years on?
Have to hold my hands up on lloris,I thought he should have been replaced in the summer,but he is still producing quality performances.
Kroenkephobe,
Callum Robinson is very popular over here and all things being well probably starts for us. Far more skillful on the ball and as a dribbler than he is given credit for. Actually putting the ball into the net hasn’t come easy for him in a green shirt but he never fails to put in a proper shift.
# talented squad
#Freddie kanoute
I have now officially resigned as a result prognosticator. That Conte geezer is fucking useless isn’t he? Well that’s what paranoidpedro says.
Kroenke
Pedro’s completely lost the plot – ManU are useless but are 3 points behind us and beat us. The Spud’s are useless but are 2 points above us even if we win the game in hand they’re only a point behind. They also play shit football – it’s as if the last 2 1/2 seasons haven’t happened.
To top it off he was running some line the other day about the student teaching the master because Pep played Stone’s at RB – City had injuries we have a manager who can’t be seen to drop a £50 million CB he signed for a kid we already owned.
He’s lost any credibility he might of had as a fan with serious views or knowledge on the team.