I have two choices – support Mikel’s every decision and dedicate my life in proving whatever he does is brilliant, or criticize him for the things which I feel could have been better. Second option comes with a caveat that I may be proven wrong in due course, but that would only mean Mikel achieving things and winning trophies at Arsenal. It would still make me happy, because I love the club.
First thing first, Mikel needs to stop gambling with our playing XI. Trossard in place of Martinelli can make sense, because there isn’t a drop in performance and it’s a like for like replacement but Thomas Partey at RB doesn’t make sense at all. Gabriel on bench, when he started 37 of our games last season is bonkers. What it will do is, when you realise your experiment is not working anymore, you integrate Gabriel back in the playing XI but he would be lacking the match fitness and the confidence. What it also does is, devoid us of the protection Partey offers in midfield, and his exceptional reading of the game.
With enough words, anyone can prove anything right like the Twitter space is doing. Give me all your explanations about why it’s a good move, and why 3 at the back while Partey moves to midfield is a masterstroke, but I am not buying because the 2 games we have played, haven’t looked like a game from a title challenger. Convincing wins boosts confidence.
Right, that’s me done. Back to the game.
Fulham at home, should be 3-points for us. They were sensational by their standards last season, and are looking to improve on that.
In team news, Tomiyasu is going to miss today’s game because of the red card he received for wasting 8 seconds and NOT pulling the shirt of a player. It wasn’t deemed a clear and obvious error and it couldn’t be over-turned because it wasn’t a straight red. I think it’s high time someone ‘clearly and obviously’ confirms what this means.
Zinchenko is back in the fold and might get his first start of the season. I don’t see any other changes, unless Mikel notices that we played our best football with a RB in White, Gabriel and Saliba partnering at CB and Thomas Partey in the midfield. He would have to upset his new buys because you can’t fit em all in your XI.
Gabriel Jesus is back too, but I don’t think we are going to rush him back in playing XI. We did that mistake last season, let’s not repeat it.
Paul Tierney is officiating today, and that’s a big concern. I saw Arsenal.com highlighting our track record of not winning a single game since 2021 (6-in total, losing 5 and drawing 1) when he has officiated for us. That’s quite a record when you consider that we won a lot of games last season. Let’s hope they don’t find a way to screw us up today. And someone at the club probably has directed the managers of the website to highlight these points. They did for Tomiyasu’s red card in the post match coverage and they are doing it for Paul. Good passive aggressive stance, but how much it will affect the guys who gave David Luiz a red card because a player sprinting with the ball touched Luiz knee by himself and trips over.
Right, my laptop has died and I’m writing this on my phone so please excuse me for any errors. I’m expecting a 3-0 win today with Martinelli scoring because it’s been long, and I always love a clean sheet.
Hope you are having a good weekend. See you during the games.
embarassing considering our piss-poor first 45 and the fact that they secured a tie with only 10 men…all the Kool-Aiders will be talking about how Vieira’s like a “new signing”
.. and playing against 10 man.
At least we didn’t lose but the 2 points lost today is on Arteta.
He was waiting for this to happen with Partey at RB. A bigger problem is, that he will still persist with it… just like Willian.
We couldn’t beat 10-men Fulham at home, says it all really. First points dropped from what should have been an easy win for our £billion team.
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City should dispatch Sheffield tomorrow, but for now Spuds are top unless De Zerbi can hammer the Hammers.
Arteta has neither the tactical nous nor the ability to identify what’s needed to execute his “plans”…none of this comes as a surprise to those with fully functioning eyes, who’ve likewise resisted the temptation to lean into another Wenger-like cult of personality crusade
Kin ell lads. I take the afternoon off and you let that happen! Not looking forward to discovering (A) how we drew with Fulham and (B) how it happened against only 10 of them.
Don’t tell me – it was a tettyshitshow…
It was just like Wenger’s strife against the low blocks. Eddie showed we need a striker or just play Eddie up top and hopefully with Bolagun injured he won’t be sold. That’s if the injury news is real.
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Looks like the game is afoot for Arteta who really needs to do better. Sloppy passing all over the pitch and for the first goal. It’s all so predictable. Kiwior needs a loan not PL minutes.
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Next 6 games could determine our season with 3 six pointers against Chavs, Manure, Spuds and City. Let that sink in after this performance.
Trust me KP you will have had more fun from your game than we did. Did you win?
I enjoy BHA’s style and how De Zerbi has got them playing. Should be a good game.
Tony
County went a goal down in about the 60th minute. Equalised lift a lifted free kick in the last few seconds if the game. My a-hole is still squeaking – not a pleasant image – sorry mate!
Cardiff beat Wednesday 2-1 with a 98th minute pen. So not all bad from my pov.
You staying up to watch BHA?
Everton lost. Where’s that micro violin when you need it? 🎻
Yes looking forward to it, KP
Decent win and sad loss but all good form the weight loss 🙂
Tony-maybe the Balo “injury” has more to do with him not wanting to go to Monaco, considering that a couple PL sides of consequence were sniffing around…you know full-well that MA would never want him plying his trade in his own backyard, just in case he was found out again from a talent evaluator standpoint
all I know is that Eddie’s, at best, a coin toss proposition up top…at least with Jesus you know he will provide much better link-up play and back to goal help, even if he’s not potting goals at the necessary level…he might actually might be able to unlock Havertz, who we all know won’t be sitting on the bench unless he does something unthinkable to raise the ire of his new bestie manager
TRVL – agreed on all points.
Moyes undoing Brighton in a feisty game. What will De Zerbi do to counter?
Moyesie ball playing counter attack football to perfection to go top of the league.
So we’re behind the Spuddie’s who have a new manager who’s from a pub team league, have just sold their top scorer, best player and Captain who also had a more difficult start to the season.
Whilst all we did was spend £200 million.
Arteta rocks!
All the Twitters ITKs are now slandering Arteta’s RB experiment, and keeping Gabriel on bench.
As if they needed a draw against 10-man Fulham after going 2-1 up. As if it wasn’t obvious from first two games.
Better late than never.