Brighton is a tough team to play against. They play high intensity, positive game and have Europe in mind. Having played 3 less games than Tottenham, who sits at the 6th position, Brighton could overtake them with a win. They are in a happy place but they know things can turn bad towards the end of the season, and won’t really be wishing to leave it to that. They will fight, and they will make things tough for us.
Today’s game comes with a relief for Arteta, both Solly March and Webster are ruled out of game and we are back in fine form. Saliba and Zinchenko are ruled out for the season, but Kiwior didn’t disappoint and Tierney is as good a player at LB. He might come up short in his midfield abilities, but I’m of the belief that a defender’s first priority is to defend well. Anything else is extra.
Having said that, I would really like him to excel in the three games left. Rumours about him leaving (or sold) is not a good news for me, I don’t know if we need to splash another 60m for a LB when we already have a lad covering it and doing well whenever given a chance. It would be like creating a problem and then fixing it.
For the rest of this season, we don’t have anything to win or lose now. I’m a generally optimistic person but everyone and their dog knows City are not going to drop points, and are not going to give away their 1 point lead with a game in hand. We feel the Liverpool’s frustration, in a short amount of time they have overtaken the title race. No doubt we have thrown it away ourselves by sharing points against the likes of West Ham and Liverpool after going 2-0 up, and against Southampton at home, but Pep is showing to us how hard it can be for any other team. Not only does he prepares his team tactically, he engrains in them a tough, winning mentality which allows them to perform at the top when needed the most.
It was nice till it lasted. It leaves us to the last three games, and I’m looking forward to finishing our season with 3 wins, and 90 points. It will keep the confidence high, make the incomings in the summer easier and gives us the confidence to pick ourselves up and retry again next season.
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Back to the game, I’m expecting a a back 4 of White, Kiwior, Gabriel and Tierney. Jorginho would probably keep his place after a good game against Newcastle. Xhaka starts because he always do. We would see Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli behind Jesus, but I would personally like to see Eddie given a chance today. We are at home, we are playing Brighton and Eddie can do a job.
Trossard would like a game too, but unless we play in 2 competitions, I doubt we will see much of him. Mikel has his favorites and there is nothing wrong in that if it works. The only problem is, it don’t keep people happy. We need a strong bench, but good players don’t like to settle on the bench. A conundrum Mikel has to overcome, and we still have ESR and Eddie waiting, Balogun, Lokonga and Tavares returning, Saliba and Tomiyasu injured.
I would love to see a clean sheet. It felt sh*t to David De Gea winning the golden glove. I wouldn’t have mind if it was Ederson or Allison but lol.
Right, a short one today. Lets beat them seagulls and continue the quest of being the best out there. If you are saddened with missing out the trophy after being top of the table virtually the whole season, here’s some positive – we will be playing in Champions League next season, we will be fighting again for the trophy, Spu*s might not even make to Europa and London is red through and through.
#COYG
A cogent analysis and a good , balanced post.
Thanks for the efforts you put in this baby Ambarish
Cheers Ambarish. Fascinating match up with Brighton facing Arsenal after being thumped at home by Everton who are playing against the juggernaut! City seem to drop their points in the first half of the season or so then go on a ridiculous winning run in the last 20 games. Our clumsily dropped points recently made worse in contrast with City going on a 10 win PL run. Got to try and smell the roses though – best of the rest and CL football with the accompanying larger budget!
Indeed Bob, playing in Champions League and couple of midfield addition will be lovely for us. Everton are trying to do to City what they did to Brighton. Sean Dyche leaving the grasses untrimmed, perfect. I mean if he can’t spend the oil money, the least he can do is leave the grasses to win a point lol
It’s the hope that kills you, though.
Hoopah,
Thanks again, always good to see you here on match days. LiR will be bigger and better with the Champions League money 🎇
Looks like it’s not helping. Gundagon with an individual brilliance, Haaland being Haaland and scoring again.
Bob
Very good to hear from you on here mate. How’s life in Stokey? You going today? If not, there’s usually some good chat on here during the game. All types of opinions welcome, even ones from a vantage point atop the fence! Makes a change from the transatlantic (UK and US) pseudo hard men and Pedro’s various and flawed alter egos ganging up on Pierre and Tom on a certain other fluff site.
I was just allowing myself to think Everton were going to show some resistance but nah! I’m resolved just to enjoying finishing second at this point, safe in the knowledge that in the just and fair footballing world we live in, all these titles won by City are going to be stripped away from them. Yes, I have been eating hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Another great scenesetter Ambarish. I think they may say different but Brighton’s players are already on Ipanema even though de Zerbi may not be. They’re a marginally better version of their so called rivals, Crystal Palace. 3-1 win today. Jesus, Saka and Ode.
LiR will be bigger and better with the Champions League money 🎇
Nice one mate. And no more reviews written on Thursday evenings either, at least until we finish third in our CL group.
Alright Kroenke, it’s the hope that kills! It’s a lovely day in N16, just off to the Auld Shillelagh for a pre match pint or two. Enjoying my view from the fence. LG can get a little petty and occasionally I have to break off when the basement dwellers get to me. Pedro’s views have never really affected me though, Pierre is a bit of a wind up but I try and stop myself rising to it although he called me a doughnut today! I’ve made my peace with Tom but his lack of partisanship riles a few. Nigel T is a bit of a twerp but I keep out of that policing nonsense! You guys are a little negative towards A & E but I guess it’d be a little boring if our views were all aligned. One of best mates has always defended Xhaka where as I take him on- we’re well known for taking opposing views. He always thinks I just want pace and power but I just argue I want technical ability AND p & p etc etc
COYR!
Ambarish
Good post, but with City 2 goals to the good, today’s result is going to be much harder than many expect. Brighton are well drilled on and off the ball. Tony Bloom has a production line of south Americans vis his top secret algorithm, and I would venture to say he’ll increase his asset management returns to the level to take Brighton to compete with the top 6.
Bob
Truly happy to see you here, Bob. Song Kran the water festival lasts for 4 days and is Thai New Year. Best time to be here.
Would also love to see you at the Emirates and or somewhere in the south of France where back to music where I’ll be setting up a couple of recording studios complex with and Elite audio company using their electrics and speakers. More about that later. Sound engineering and producing is something I can do in my 80s hopefully.
I’m a De Zerbi fan and am very impressed with what he’s done thus far here even if his track record in eastern Europe is less impressive, but we all have to start somewhere. I’ve been banging Mitoma, Caicedo and MacAlister drums for a long time and I feel BHA play the best football for technical ability and flair.
I love Trossard so was happy De Zerbi had fallen out with him making him otherwise available. Jorginho has a place in an organising role in midfield but Xhaka…………… No more words left.
I can see a draw and junior is worried we could lose, so who knows. Enjoy the game,. Bob. Good to talk again.
Tony, my son is just about finishing an audio production degree this summer. His final project is mixing eight of his own songs and writing 6000 words on achieving clarity and contrast when mixing. I know a hell of lot more than I used to in the technical side of making music; texture through compression, slap delays, gated reverb, vocal delay, limited stereo spread, space in low end etc etc. If you know any good books on the subject I’d seriously appreciate the tip. Anyway off to Clissold Park, around the corner where they are having a food festival without an outdoor bar! COYR!
Nice one Bob.
The Auld Shillelagh. I’m not sure it was called that in my time but I was often just along the road in the creatively named Red Lion.
Pedro likes to lie (no shit) and suggest people like me left because we couldn’t see the light emanating from the basque bantamweight’s culo. In reality, I was censored and banned of course. And like lots of others, I cannot see the sense of going back.
Here, it’s genuinely pluralistic and the temperature never rises. No angry accountants (eg emstoller, the laughably monikered dissenter), over defensive Arteta devotees with little or no understanding of Arsenal and it’s history (negative Nigel t, positive Pedro alter egos and that stroppy know nothing zacharse) , and no verbiage addicted blowhards who think education and reading is for idiots (who else but the most cretinous poster on LG ie nouveau Rich) .
Plus I get to bore everyone silly about Cardiff City and I’m quietly humoured.
And talking of metaphorical Shilelaghs, our dear friend Almunia pops up on here from time to time to capture the satirical zeitgeist. In essence, it’s much more than an anti-Arteta forum (although personally that’s one of the topics I most enjoy wallowing in…) 😉
Hi Tony
I’m more sanguine about our chances today than you and junior. It’s only Brighton. And last weekend’s form for each team, plus home advantage will carry the day. Oh, and I think they have injury problems – no Lamptey nor March right?
Im saying that safe in the knowledge that my main man pumpkin is with you right? 🐱
as I expressed a week or so back, I would take a one-legged Gundogan over our Swiss miss any day of the week and twice on Sunday…he’s done more in the business end of this particular season than Xhaka has in 7 long fucking years
nice to see you make an appearance, Bob, on what you must consider to be the functional equivalent of the Lollapalooza “second” stage…regardless of our past disagreements, during my relatively brief stay at Hotel Slurpee, we’ll always have our deeply-held views of our underwhelming former captain in common…hope you find your way back on a somewhat regular basis, especially as we attempt to navigate what just might be our most pivotal off-season in quite some time…it will be intriguing to see where are views converge and diverge when it comes to our recruitment practices/policies, as I, like a discerning few, do feel that much of our success has come in spite our Skipper, which isn’t to suggest that he’s brought absolutely jack-squat to the equation…ultimately we both want the same things, a return to a time when we will once again be considered a team of consequence both at home and abroad…Cheers
Hey KP
Pumpkin has an upset tummy, which we first noticed this morning when Pumpkin wandered aimlessly into my office, Junior picked Pumpkin up and stood him on his lap where Pumpkin lifted his tail and promptly farted in junior’s face. I shit you not. Fortunately is was just putrid air that had Junior retching with pumpkin now air bound escaping junior’s reaction.
I mean I did what any good responsible father would do and was out off the office in 6 steps with door closed and me spraying air freshener under the door, which I overdid judging by junior’s blood shot eyes and rasping inhaling and wheezing exhales. I said thanks son you saved me from my asthma do you want to go to the hospital or use my nebulizer.
There’s been a few silent but lethal ones but we are fartless now for an hour, so we’ll take the chance and bring Pumpkin in for his tummy rub junior and I will do rock paper scissors as to who’s going to get near Pumpkin’s gas that could be a biological weapon if weaponised.
KP, I hope you realise the risks we’re taking for the Goonerhood.
BOB
Mate, if only you’d contacted me when your son was in Thailand, as I’ve just finished designing and building an Elite Audio & visual room at my home that cost £250K. Your son would have blown his mind with me in there breaking down productions. Talking music. It’s been rated as the best in S E Asia. 4 years in the making and I finished it a week before the water festival.
I’m impressed with your sound knowledge; have your son look at Wisdom Sage L3 and STS line Source sub. I’m into full emersion sound which is what we’ll be majoring in France. My friend the MD of Wisdom was Steely Dan’s studio engineer and his top world reknown calibrator is a friend of more than 40 years. It took my friend and I 2.5 days to calibrate my room with the 18 speakers in total all Meyer and Wisdom.
Pop back in a day or so and I’ll drop you a post, as the lads here won’t mind if I drop you an off topic post. We call do it when things are quiet. It keeps us human and family like. Like you meeting your mates for games.
as for today’s affair, I’m relatively hopeful, in that I didn’t like what I witnessed from BHA last weekend…that said, it might have been the kind of beating that leads to the best of replies, as they no doubt heard about it all week and want nothing more than to flip the narrative…just not convinced that a midfield 3 of Jorginho, Xhaka and Ode, can handle the BHA midfield pace and doggedness, but I guess only time will tell…if this is a selection statement about things to come, beyond this season, we could be in deep shit moving forward, which was one of my chief concerns about what transpired in our last window…once again, not suggesting our pick-ups are scrubs, just that they weren’t likely to get us over the line, with title in hand, and they would invariably negatively impact our future recruitment plans
Needed to get a shot off there.
Getting a bit spicy with Caicedo dishing pay back for Mitoma’s wipe out by Martinelli
Xhaka is a joke today
Ode is trying to become the King of the wormburner
Disjointed. Sloppy passing. Too many passes going through our lines.
Partey is clearly being punished for things largely out of his control…he was left on an island against a couple of opponents, most notably City, due to MA’s poor tactics and having Holding playing behind him…the problem is when we have this particular midfield group on the pitch it requires a lot out of our forwards, as they have to come back deep far too often, which ultimately affects our ability to counter with any directness and pace…it also requires Jesus to assume a more Laca-like MO, which isn’t always a beneficial situation
Marts going off could be problematic, as Trossard is certainly not a like-for-like replacement…Tierney will need to be far more adventurous now in order to maintain some much-needed width
we look second best thus far…
TRVL
Agreed. Struggling to keep hold of the ball.
our midfield is like having two old men on a porch angerily shaking their fists at passerbyers
that yellow could be important, as they’ve been far more physical so far and this might make them think twice
very fortunate that Ramsdale got a touch…Mitoma made White look quite stupid there
as I’ve said all along, just imagine what BHA might look like with a bona fide Striker and if Sanchez had better ball-playing skills, which is why a bang average Steele is starting again
We might see some stupidity from Gabriel, since now Saliba is not around to stabilize. Mind Kylior doing a good replacement though.
But Gabriel seems all worked up
Hoopah-he’s acting a little to Holding-esque for my liking…I just find in matches where things get physical and Xhaka/Jorginho are barking at the refs, Gabs has a tendency to get a tad hyper and eractic
if they don’t make any substitutions at half, we better come out in full attack mode on Saka’s side of the pitch, as we just might induce a second yellow
if only we were even an average clinical side, in front of goal, we might still be sitting on a 5 to 8 point lead
Notwithstanding these last 2 minutes, this game is suggesting that we’ll only discover our intensity this afternoon if we ship a goal first.
Arteta needs to dust off his hand rubbing motivational speech. And Tony, get your best tinned salmon out at H-T for pumpers!
KP-agree with your “ship a goal first” sentiment…how we haven’t targeted Saka’s side with a vengence is mystifying…hopefully they don’t make the necessary adjustments, in that regards, and make us look late to the party once again
KP that’s tempting fate too much with Pumpkin’s lethal gas issues.
I thought it’d be a close game with with more goals.
TRVL
Their left back is a red card waiting to happen. He’s scared of Saka and rightfully so. If Saka uses his noddle, he’ll draw Estupinan into more fouls and the eventual card.
Where has our confident home flair gone? You’d think we were the away team.
Why isn’t ESR playing instead of Xhaka?
Oooooh yeah. Feline fartage leaves a lot to be desired.
We’re playing with 10 men with Xhaka
only a matter of time, although you don’t see that sort of switch off everyday
a few moments earlier, even if Xhaka were onside, he still wouldn’t have mattered because he made another bonehead play when he was 4 feet from goal…if that doesn’t show you the absolute insanity of his pass first mindset you must be fucking blind
Tony-I’m not even sure MA knows ESR is even available for selection…maybe ESR should post a reminder Tweet
We’ll win now with Xhaka off
Xhaka out in the 60th….never have I ever…for the love of god, is this a sign of things to come
Really poor. Unable to hold the ball and find space.