Liverpool has dropped 3 huge points at home to Crystal Palace. City are 2 points ahead having played an extra game than us. We win today and we go back to the top. We win today and we go three crucial points ahead of Liverpool with only 6 games to go. Every game is a cup final now for the boys and Mikel.
Team News
Strange decision to start Zinchenko ahead of Kiwior, because Kiwior has been doing better than Zinni and one bad game doesn’t mean we are going to hamper his confidence. If it’s purely for rotational purpose, I can live with it. Gabriel Jesus makes his way into the starting XI with Rice anchoring the midfield alone with Havertz playing the more forward role today. Trossard starts today ahead of Martinelli whom I think will come-in at some point to give Saka some rest.
Frankly, I had hated the concept of playing Havertz as CF but he has been doing better up top than he does in midfield. Gabriel Jesus does the dirty work but is not as clinical in front as you would expect your CF to be. Trossard gives me some hope though.
Liverpool is suffering the way we did last season. One loss and everything has gone bonkers for them. They were unbeaten at home from god knows when, and suddenly Atlanta wins 3-0 and they can’t even keep Crystal Palace to a draw. City, on the other hand, have gone full beast mode.
We need to win today. At any cost. First, because Pep is not going to drop any points now and the only way we win the league is by winning all our games. Second, I hate Aston Villa.
Right, a very short one today. See you during the game.
TP very good tonight. Back to his t-bagging best.
Kroenke
That’d be funny if I wasn’t scared.
Marc-maybe I should employ my reverse logic jinx each and every time out…first Tross, then both Havertz and White both record a brace…for contextual purposes, just think of what kind of odds you would get if you bet on either brace, let alone both happening in the same match
That Chelsea banner is spot on. At least there’s one CFC fan with sone brain cells.
imagine what Pool and City must be thinking considering the amount of silver-plattered affairs we’ve had this term…oh well, fuck them
TRVL
You’d be laughed at if you walked into a bookies and asked for odds on both!
this match is so laughable now that fucking Vieira is coming on. like some sort of milk carton reuniion tour
TRVL
If you’re looking for the missing I’d like to know where the fuck the talent, commitment and belief went against Villa in the second half the other week because a touch of it would see us with one hand on the PL trophy.
Marc-some will view this as a defining moment for Arteta’s Arsenal, whereas those without blinders will see our Villa and Bayern capitulations in the same vein…of course, there’s clearly positives to be found whenever you score a handful of goals, but it means little in the grand scheme if your aim is to be one of the best in Europe
Hi Killroy, Ambarish is at a 7 day wedding (Indian people do a knees up in style it seems) so told us he wasn’t posting this week. I’m sure he’ll be finding a way to tune in though.
Hope all is good with you mate.
KP-even without a lead-in article, this was one of the most enjoyable in-match posting gigs…as usual, you were on a roll…Cheers
AFC knew how to Partey last night – TP allowed Rice to play and the pair outshone Caicedo & Fernandez. Caicedo seems to be a fish out of water since leaving Brighton where he was a spoiler but playing with others who understood his game and vice versa.
The last two games AFC lost their flair – no Partey. Now we need to find his replacement.
Just a hunch (or blind faith?) that one of Everton or Brighton will get something out of their games against the Bindips or City respectively this week. Fingers crossed that it’s the south coasters. Too ambitious to expect them both to drop points.
Morning NORG
Agree about TP. He was terrific last night and it was reminiscent of his very best performances as a Gooner. Not sure about his contract position, but would he be worth another punt for one more season? Jorginho has largely looked good this year but TP is one level higher I think.
KP
Partey has injury problems and is probably older than his stated age. He is also a player that El B didnt want but at the time Arsteta was still a coach and was overruled by Edu. Another season would be good if they can not find somebody as good. I didnt see the game last night but kept up to date with the BBC website and of course LiR. Did ESR get any minutes?
Hi all
Just watched the game and thought WTF! Why save Partey for the Chavs who were dire off the ball but had their moments.
Fair result where Ode was the best I’ve seen and what I expected from him when LG were putting him down. At 16 it was to see he had no ceiling and he’ll get better to be Bergkampesque is my thinking and Madrid will be rueing their selling of Ode already.
KP
One of my favourite talk box or voice box renditions ever and should be player after each goal we score at the Emirates :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUioud7Qtsw
Frampton at his very best live on Frampton Comes Alive double album.
Joe Walsh’s Rocky Mountain Way runs close, as does Haitian Divorce we talked about earlier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fz-mHGXgzs
Steve Waller Manfred Mann’s genius guitarist also loved his voice box worth checking out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFPT3q8Is8g
Back to the game we won comfortably because Partey played I said we needed him in my pregame post and he shinned so much it left me thinking WTF! A common occurrence with El B well more like every day but who’s counting?
Great posts lads and good to see Kilroy input again. Thanks for a great read this afternoon here.
I doubt City can beat our goal difference and it will mean nothing if we drop points on St Totterings Day.
Here’s an interesting thought, with last nights starting line up does anyone think we’d the CL semi by now?
I do. No question Partey would have made the difference with Havertz up top and not defending other than corners and free kicks. Partey & Rice can keep the engine room running at full tilt when needed defending and attacking.
Partey has to play against Spuds, and, as I think Marc said we need a Partey replacement asap. TRVL any ideas? I expected a draw without Partey yesterday and I feel we can get the points at Spudland with another performance like last night. However, I doubt Ode will get the freedom he enjoyed against the Chavs. Angelos “Ange” Postecoglou is no mug and Spurs will want to ruin our title charge of maximising points from every game.
What annoys me most is the inconsistency with El B and the players who I feel sense his indecision where it shows in games. El B will always have trust issues with his players so hence the need for his pets.
I think El B missed his SS Oberfuhrer calling by 80 years. Certainly, acts like some football supremacist, but yet to win anything of note. Loved your Spanish slang KP.
Missed a great game’s chatter last night this place looked the fun place to be.
Easy day in BKK today and just ordered this: https://www.shopdownia.com/products/gold-collection-mattress-topper?variant=38094673543341 I have gym caused lower back nerve damage and Thai beds are generally hard or too firm. Most hotel toppers are cheap and too thin so I need at least two on hotel beds. I’m about to go on a road trip for a few weeks so taking a topper with me to be sure as there are few 5* hotels in the north and some that think they are and pretend but always fail.
No, not a one. Vieira for a few by contrast.
Frankly, it’s insane the way ESR has been neglected. Unfathomable.
Just in case you haven’t seen them, the highlights are well worth a watch. Despite being dismal, Chelsea could have scored 2 or 3 themselves.
I remember in the 70s and 80s when Chelsea were yo yo-ing between first and second divisions, we often drew games that we should have won. There was also that season of near invincibility (in the early 90s?) when we only lost one game to Chelsea at the bridge. Was Kerry Dixon on the score sheet for them? So although there have been moments when we’ve had some superiority over them, last night’s thumping went some way towards making amends after the utter embarrassment of Wengo’s 1000th game.
So it was pleasing, but not properly exciting unless the other two go on to slip up.
https://youtu.be/RIPznj9VQvA?si=JusLOD26OS9m6VGf
Yeah, Graham Stewart and K Dixon by the looks of it. Astonishing to think we could have also been invincible a decade earlier. I loved that 91 team. A lot like 89s but with some fine tuning. Super Swede – remember that goal at Anfield?
KP
The 91 season was fantastic. Not a lot in the press about the possibility of going unbeaten. The amount of goals conceded was unbelievable – 18 if my memory serves me well.
El B now has a problem – Rice is verbal and criticises. Emilio did the same and apparently ESR was non stop in his praise for Ozil.
A bit of a dilemma on Sunday. I will be in Granada with my wife. I am certain she will not want to take in the Granada vs Osasuna game which kicks off at the same time as the North London Derby. The bars are sure to have the local team on TV. LiR is the safety line.