Well, we are in to the final game of Europa League group stage against FC Zurich. A win today will guarantee a finish qualifying us to last 16 directly, saving us from the play offs.
There’s not much to say about the game except that it should be an easy one for us. Mikel can afford to not start our first playing XI and still be able to win it. It would be interesting to see to what extent he goes on for rotation, but I’m expecting few minutes for Elneny and Zinchenko since they are back in training now. Fortunately, Saka’s injury against Forest wasn’t a serious one and he is back with the team.
Xhaka remains suspended for the game, which opens up a place for Sambi to grab. Personally I would give it a rest to our wingers and let Nelson and Marquinhos start ahead of Saka and Martinelli. We need fresh legs against Chelsea this weekend. Same goes for Jesus, Eddie can have this opportunity to shine and get some confidence back.
Right, so what’s up with the title of this post?
When asked about the contract situation, Gabriel Martinelli said –
I am very happy at Arsenal. I said it many times, I love to be here. I love the city, I love everything about Arsenal so I want to stay.
Yeah, just need to get a pen.
In a world of Mbappe’s and Neymar’s, it’s nice to see a young player proving his mantle on the grandest stage of the world of football and still keeping his head down. I understand it’s a complicated thing, this contract negotiations. At times the club and players may not come to a conclusion and the partnership is broken between the player and the club. However, keeping it a bit decent is in favor for both the parties. You don’t need to be Ronaldo, playing for Juventus and forcing your way out.
I do not see any of our own leaving. It just needed to be pointed out.
Right, short one today, see you during the game. Game is quite late here, 1.30 AM, but I can afford to watch today. Hope you are having a good time!
P.S. – I have switched to a minimalistic theme, with dark mode feature. If you see something not working, do let me know. Google manages the ads and they might take a day or two to find perfect spot to place ads, hopefully they don’t ruin your experience.
New Castle is seriously gonna be a problem for big 6. They have money now, and ambition I suppose. Say whatever you want, but you not only need money but a good planning at the big stage. Stockpiling big names like PSG has done, yields inferior results than City, who have used their money wisely.
Abarish I was giving you credit for not following the herd. 🙂
The reason I asked was my company does engine engineering classes for Asia and often we have Indian and Pakistani students. My trainer has also been to India to do on-site training pre-covid. Now we only do classroom and workshop for company’s engineers.
I can’t see Arteta doing anything with future youngsters – he’s not good enough and he knows it. Saka, Marinelli and ESR had all shown something before he arrived, Saliba he sent on loan again when he could have used him alongside Holding bringing him through last season and saving £50 on White (what’s the worst that could’ve happened miss out on 4th?).
How many youngsters will we start on Wednesday? Wenger would have half as kids and half as backup / any first teamers who needed some fitness. Arteta’s idea of rotation is bringing in a £35 million Vieira for a £35 million Ode.
Your site really looks cool. You have done a superb work
By the way
Kilroy
you can pinch out to get a bigger size. Keeping phone sideways ( landscape ) helps to fit the line as well
Neville got slaughtered by Ian Hislop. Funny as.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/gary-neville-ian-hislop-qatar-28414133
Wild World from Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens is a great way to sit in the early morning sun and enjoy such a classic and first LP I ever bought.. Thought the song title sums up out world right now! For KP & Almunia & all gooners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsDEl82pqao
Anyway back to football. Chelsea tonight my time, but midday in the UK. We have to keep our TV pay masters happy, don’t we?
Still, I’m not complaining at least it’s better than 1am onwards.
If I’m completely honest with the Chavs on paper WLWDD VS WWLDW our last 5 results. Potter always gave good account of himself when BHA played us home and away. Potter is a smart young manager at Chelsea on merit for his work with BHA on a shoestring budget and excellent eye for talent, but he’s not generational I hear you whimper. He doesn’t have non-negotiable either nor do his players act up. Potter is an experienced man manager and formidable tactician.
Can we take 3 points from the Bridge? On current form: a hard no!
However, I’m banking on Arteta to up our game/form and tear up the past stats for the last 3/4 games.
Time to write some new stats/history with Jesus find the back of the net again. Anyone remember the 5:3 humbling we gave the Chavs under Arsne with Mr Chelsea John Terry tripping over his legs chasing RVP? If I’ve got the match right I laughed so hard with Terry’s arse & legs akimbo.
My gut tells me we should win this game. We have the squad and no long queue at the treatment table.
It’s impossible to predict: Potter is the more experienced manager and Arteta has the more settled first 11. I’ll wait until the team news is out and then think about how Arteta intends to take the points back to the Emirates. The biggest hurdle for both teams is scoring goals at the moment.
Potter vs Arteta once again and I can’t wait for the whistle to blow to kick off.
Tony
Auba will be an interesting one today – I can see him wanting to make a point to Arteta.
Whether he’s able to is another matter all together.
Marc
I was thinking about Auba, as this tie will be spicy for Arteta and Auba. Not sure he’d play his first competitive game against us at the Emirates, but Potter may well think Auba knows us well enough to start him. We’ll know what our lads think of Auba by the first few tackles.
Anyway, looks like Zinchenko at LB otherwise it’s the Arteta faithful 10, so no surprises. This game will be a good indicator of our collective fitness for around 98minutes.
Good line up of football with Emery taking on Ten Hag and Conte vs Klopp: good for the neutrals.
New post.