I have had a busy week at work and I spent whole of my Sunday sleeping but I’m back right on time, for one of the biggest game of this season. Win it, and we keep our Top of the league badge and certainly in the mix of title contenders. It’s not an easy one, we are against an injured opponents who is looking for blood. But, we are not going down today. Saliba and Big G are going to keep that Liverpool’s front line in check, Tomi will end up pocketing Salah and Martinelli will show Klopp how much he LOVES scoring in Red and White!
Stats wise, it’s not pretty for an Arsenal fan. We have won only once against Liverpool in our last 14 Premier League games. They have beaten us last 2 times when they visited Emirates and we haven’t managed to keep a clean sheet against them in last 13 games, conceding 39 in the process (yes, you read that right).
Team News
There is one surprising change to our playing XI. Mikel has preferred Tomiyasu at Left Back in place of Tierney. Zinchenko is out for the game but Tierney would have been a go to choice. Tomiyasu can play at both sides but trying it out for the first time in a big game against Liverpool, where he has to contain Salah would be a big challenge for him. I have no doubt about his capabilities and I am pretty sure he would end up pocketing Mo though.
We have stuck to the usuals in all other positions.
Klopp preferred Nunez in place of Firmino. Frankly speaking, I think it’s good for us, Firmino never misses a chance to score against us. We are playing probably the weakest Liverpool in recent couple of years and at Emirates, we can certainly be hopeful to grab those 3 points, one at a minimum.
About time for the game, I am expecting a 2-1 to the boys, Martinelli and Jesus scoring couple of beautiful goals. It’s very important that we see our spine in Xhaka and Partey showing confidence and keeping their forms of last few weeks.
Jesus and Odegaard have to beat VVD for any sort of advantage and it’s going to be a test not only in terms of football but also how tough we have grown mentally. Under Wenger in later years, we failed to deliver against big teams, it’s time to kill that notion.
Hope you are keeping well and the Sunday evening ends with a win to Arsenal.
Come on you Gunners. Lets go!
I’d imagine all but the most blinkered and delusional of AKBs would be horrified were the chihuahua francais to start pissing against the lampposts of N7 again. I also think Artetapologists would even blanche at the thought of his return for fear that the diminutive basque bantamweight would be upstaged. Imagine Sir Laurence Olivier playing buttons in Cinderella in pantomime at Blackpool when the role had been promised to Norman Wisdom…
Here’s 5 reasons why it shouldn’t happen. There are many more…
He signed Mesut Ozil (our worst ever cost to benefit ratio signing there will ever be). Oh, and GX, Shkodran, Cygan, Stepanovs, Schillaci and… Almunia.
8-2 at Old Trafford.
At a conservative estimate, he was on 9 million a year at the end. He’d doubtless ask for even more were he ever to return, essentially for doing the square root of fuck all.
Arrogance – ‘you’ve never worked a day in football’ and the legendary, ‘I built the new stadium’.
And is it too fucking much to expect to have a figurehead that can zip up his touchline anorak?
A perspective
https://www.football365.com/news/pearce-reveals-jesus-only-reason-arsenal-top-premier-league
Kroenkephobe
“ At a conservative estimate, he was on 9 million a year at the end. He’d doubtless ask for even more were he ever to return, essentially for doing the square root of fuck all. “
So mathematically precise.
By the way would give credit to Kroenke for the heavy investment, of course secured by Arsenal assets . With earlier results anyone would have kicked out the upstart , but looks he is being put some blinkers seeing there is much less aggressive micro management during games. An expensively assembled squad and well coached academy graduates are now freely expressing themselves , and it shows in the goals. Saliba with his intelligent positional play is securing the back .
Credit to Kroenke Sr to remove the phobias ?
Tony,
There’s some great material there alright,just need to find the time and energy! Had an idea for one but am ridiculously lazy lately.
Trying to decide whether to watch the scousers or the spuds tonight. Will probably flick between the 2. Napoli have qualified after beating Ajax earlier,they are a really enjoyable watch. Great to see someone outside of the usual suspects emerging. Do you guys remember when European competitions were so open that teams you hadn’t even heard of could beat you?
Red star, steau, hamburg,parma,you never knew what you were up against. That type of mystique is gone now,victim of a technological age. Did you guys avoid the results to sit up late on a Wednesday night to watch ‘Midweek sports special’ on itv? Ah,the memories…..
Spuds one down at home to frankfurt,pool trailing at ibrox. I think it suits us if these two teams go deeper in the champs lge and stretch their squads further. Also would prefer if neither dropped into europa lge,all-english euro ties are coin tosses.
Son has just equalised. Gotta say,for all the abuse Conte’s football gets, this is a far better watch than the fare on offer at Ibrox. Such a pity we didn’t finish top 4,our football this season is better than most of what I’ve watched in the group stages so far.
Spuds 2 1 up now. Liverpool level. Think it’s good news for us really, European runs tend to take a lot of focus.
Would really like to see Arteta pull a peak Wenger team selection tomorrow and pick an 11 that won’t be starting at the weekend. So many exciting players that we’d all like to see.
In other news the cheek of sky sports news to hijack the Irish women’s team’s qualification for the world cup and turn it into another condescending lecture on political correctness. They sang a song that references the IRA and sky turned it into a political drama. Asking them if they needed educating on irish history and sensibilities,Christ almighty, sky offering to educate irish people. This from the company who broadcast Teddy Sheringham explaining that Roy Keane’s great strength was knowing the English game inside out as he was British! No need of education there?
Always best to look on the funny side of these things,I hand you over to the great Alan Partridge.
https://twitter.com/Trickstersworld/status/1580214638142103553?t=bM1caEer_LejXSKXhMHPNw&s=08
The game to watch was Inter v Barca, super exciting with the result being very much to my liking. The mafioso run Barca club them asking their players to take pay cuts and defer them with no intention of ever paying them back so that they can spend 150m in the summer TW was a stupid decision because they are back where they were 12 months ago but with an even bigger hole in their finances.
They couldn’t handle because of their arrogance to rebuild with academy graduates and young players like Arsenal did, because of the weakness of La Liga Barca would easily finish in the top 4, may they rot in bankruptcy hell once Inter beats Pilzen in two weeks at home that job is done.
Just catching up with the aftermath of that second half incident between Henderson and Gabriel. I think we probably all have a reasonably clear idea of what happened and what was said but it’s best not to speculate. The photo image that shows Firmino’s facial reaction is intriguing.
But as a side issue, Arteta’s comments have been truly disappointing when he suggested at first that there was nothing to see and that it should stay on the pitch, to now saying he backs his players 100% but that it is something he doesn’t want to touch.
MAKE YOUR FUCKING MIND UP LITTLE MAN! He’s made a real mess of what might turn out to be something quite serious.
I think that idea of him being cerebral, thoughtful, strategic and accomplished with the media has taken a hit to be honest. He and Gonnella are not covering themselves in glory. To my mind, the chief criterion is to protect and respect anyone who’s been affected by what happened.
In essence, I’d hate to have Arteta in my corner if I needed back-up. That’s the problem when you’re perceived to have favourites.
Tonight should be fun. Plastic pitch, weather could be frigid but we’ll have more than enough.
Early signs that the bin dippers might be turning a corner. It’d cap a perfect week if they beat Citeh…
Hoopah,
I’m amazed everytime I hear stories about how badly run Barcelona has been. They’ve made a farce of every attempt to ensure the fair and equitable governance of the sport. Rapidly they have become despised within the footballing industry. Would love to know if this impacts their global brand or if(as I suspect may be true) most people don’t give a shite about their immorality and support them regardless. Anecdotally a lot of people I know now rejoice in their failings. I find it all pretty sad myself,confirmation (as if it was needed) that football has long lost it’s soul and the connection with the fans that had made it such a special sport to me when I was young.
Kroenkephobe,
You are( like me) struggling with Arteta the man v Arteta the manager. I’d imagine that (again like me) you’ve met several people with similar personalities,all of whom you’ve disliked. Is that clouding your judgement of him as a manager? Maybe. But,and I’m speaking for myself this time, it’s very difficult, if not impossible to stop that from happening. Loads of people I know are able to separate the character of the person they are dealing with from the role they perform but I’ve never been good at that. If the mechanic is a dick,I’ll go elsewhere even if he’s the best mechanic around. I’m not claiming this is good practice btw,and often it can prove costly,but that’s how it is with me.
Almunia
I agree with your thoughts about the Irish women’s team. The reaction in various quarters but particularly in the English media is extraordinary and, not to mention, extremely biased. They say zilch when Ingerland fans sing rule brittania, jerusalem, land of hope and glory and all the other shite.
There was a similar clutching of pearls when Declan Rice did it and all the fake outrage about James McClean’s decision to proclaim his heritage. There are far worse problems in the North of the island of Ireland, most of which are (still) being perpetrated by the British Government. I think its worse than merely ignorance – it’s centuries-old bigotry rising up.
I hope Irish people let their displeasure be known to Sky and the others – it’s grim, and women who have just qualified for the WC should be allowed to sing whatever they want.
I think the English media also have a problem with Wales and Scotland singing their own anthems. Fuck ’em. All this narrow mindedness is thankfully helping to bring about the demise of the UK so there is an upside.
PS
I like the mechanic analogy. I can imagine him in pristine, pressed overalls (with a polo neck underneath!) and maybe wearing a do-rag or a hairnet in case a drop of castrol gtx lands on his napper. Twirling his arms around shouting ‘antifockingclockwise’ while his apprentice in the shape of Granit Xhaka tries to remove the wheel from Kieran Tierney’s dacia sendero.
Sorry slow afternoon. Daft question but you watching tonight? Do you get EL live on terrestrial TV over there too? Early kickoff in case you hadn’t checked. 5.45. I guess the lads in India will be good for this one too.
Kroenkephobe,
El matches on terrestrial TV also,will catch two tonight,Arsenal,then Shamrock Rovers in the conference . Jesus,when you write it down it looks sad!! Need to get a hobby.
Rambinho,
You are loved,x.
I should have made moves to emigrate to Ireland rather than Catalunya.
Almunia God bless the TV executives in your country! Not sure if I’m near enough, but I should try to get Irish telly over here. We certainly get all the RTE radio stations…
Rampedro – you’re back. Fanny-tastic. Now fuck off again for a few months. Real Arsenal fans on here talking about football. Not your thing, you miserable little prick.
Team-wise, it looks like he’s replicated last week’s overall strategy of a first team comprising some first and second stringers and the same on the bench. I think he’s starting the first teamers that didn’t start last week on the whole so some indication that he’s grasping the concept of rotation. I’d have liked to see Marquinhos start, but let’s see how he fares as an impact sub.
Top of the morning to you Almunia and K’Phobe when you wake up that is. It’s a fine 29*C as we head to our winter late next month.
https://privateiptvaccess.com
A pass on from a mate who said it cover’s very TV channel in the world, so thought of you K’phobe and Almunia.
Can’t claim to have used it, as we have HD Prime here which is a pirate similar streamer, but you buy cards from 7/11 shops all over Thailand. Sounds like it’s run by True Visions our version of Sky, but who knows?
Almunia, Laziitus, is a real condition my friend often followed by extreme Guinness episodes or exposure to THC virulent (20 to 28+%) strains or forgotten how many dabs you had of grannie’s CBD oil.
Almunia, a true genius/artist cannot be rushed or the results will be tainted. The words will flow when you feel them erupting in your mind.Then you will be compelled to your canvas (PC screen) and trusty keyboard (brush). It will be long in writing and tedious rewrites, but then your labour of love will come to the fore and the words will flow and I estimate 1000s globally will be better for reading them.
Your many admirers will quickly tap out the words to your waiting audience worldwide, which is very true. I do not jest in such matters. They will pass on to their sporting friends and so on.
Never a truer word said in jest, Almunia; you do have a global audience. Deservedly so. When you’re ready, we will be, too. Your satire humoring words can make any person’s day and feel cathartic, as they do me. Hard to be anything, but happy when you’re pissing yourself when one’s imagination runs riot from the images your words procure of people so familiar.
Only read the reports of last night’s game and sounds like we made hard work of it, so I’m hoping it’s a blip. Saka saved our bacon in a scrappy game on a plastic pitch. Game and points won, so time to get back to prepare for Leeds who are decent on the ball, at pace; just not for 90 minutes.
A good away test for us where I see us rolling them over 1:3 after wanting to make good on last night’s under-par performance.
Don Rabihino you may find the chat too intelligent, but you’re welcome to try to add value to this chat. If you can’t, then please do as K’phobe directed.
Sorry Hoopah if it seems I’ve ignored you, it’s not the case. Are you from AK’s (MB’s) part of the world? Do you have any thoughts about the Jan TW? Where we will finish? Where Mikel is at now in your thinking.
K’phobe, Almunia, Marc are all of the same thinking as is MD Gunner and Kilroy and myself.
The jury is still out but the sings are promising, but we’ve been here before, such as last season. Mikel has a nasty habit of being a repeat offender of his own mistakes.
I’m guessing Mikel will pick up fastest speaking PL manager, but nowhere near the most unintelligible Kenny Dalglish back on the Div 1 days. Kane sounds eloquent compared to old Glasweigin Kenny.
Shankly was the most intimating in the tunnels where he would tell each opposing player what his player was going to do him in some detail before they ran out onto the pitch with Liverpool firmly entrenched in their heads before killing a ball.
Funny old game Football.
kicking a ball*