We are hosting Newcastle at Emirates in our penultimate game of this season. Our Champions League run came to an end in semi-final against PSG, and we have to visit Southampton next Sunday. We still have not secured the Champions League spot for next season and need a point to do so, even with 5 teams qualifying for Champions League from UK. None of these 5 teams competing for the place play against each other except us and Newcastle, and it can get very exciting on the last day of the season.
Arsenal will be playing Newcastle and Southampton, Newcastle has us and Everton to play against, Chelsea will go against Forest in their only game left, Villa against a very poor Man Utd on the last day, and Man City has games against Bournemouth and Fulham. If we lose both of our games, we will have to pray to the gods for other teams to drop points. If we share points in even one of the two games left, we qualify because of the healthy GD we have. Not losing today will be the key for us.
It’s also important because we are facing Newcastle, who has beaten us when we visited St. James’ Park in November, who killed our Carabao Cup run by winning in both legs in the semi finals and there’s a rivalry growing between both the teams – even though we are on the receiving end so far. We have been kicked, elbowed, dominated in the mid field. We had no answers to their fast paced counter attacks and we couldn’t restrain Isak most of the time. Today’s game is not only important for our qualification but it will also dent their chances to make it to top 5. That would be some revenge.
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There are some injury concerns for today. Declan Rice missed the game against Liverpool because of a hip-injury. Martinelli and Trossard were not 100% while Timber also looked shaky. All 4 will be assessed before the game, and Havertz can make an entry too afte he trained with the team. I think it would be too early to gamble on him even if he is fit. Mikel needs to learn to rotate not only when it becomes a necessity! A little bit of confidence to the likes of Nwaneri and MLS could have saved the injuries of Odegaard and Calafiori earlier in the season.
I am expecting a back 4 of Timber/White (depending upon Timber’s availability), Kiwior, Saliba and MLS. A midfield of Odegaard, Partey and Rice/Merino depending upon Rice’s availability will do. Saka will keep his place but the LW and CF positions posses a problem. If both Marts and Trossard are not available and Merino needs to be shifted to midfield, we will be left only with Saka as the option for 3 positions. If Merino starts up top, Jorgi might get a start today and Nwaneri has to fill the LW position. I am not confident in Jorgi against a physical Newcastle side but we have run out of options.
Hopefully, all of them makes it today and we start the best players in each position.
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Couple of transfer news – Zubimendi is almost confirmed while we look forward to renew Thomas Partey’s contract for 2 years (or 1+1 years). It’s not that bad because we are not going to offer Partey a 10m/year contract when he is in his decline and we can afford to let him go. It also allows Zubimendi to integrate into the team and he can play the role of Jorginho. The second one, Nuno Tavares is a done deal because of the obligation in his loan contract and we will fetch 7.5m GBP from Lazio.
There’s still no concrete leaks or rumours about our CF pursuit while the usuals – Sesko, Gyokeres remains the options. It’s going to be a very long window for us Arsenal fans, because we have some problems on the pitch and we need to address it immediately to not finish another season as a runner up. We also need a CB and a Martinelli’s rotation if Trossard is allowed to leave. I’m guessing we will see some major change because the team that has got us to No #2 three consecutive times (lets just say we finish 2nd this season, best case scenario), is lacking that edge to win the title.
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Right, that’s all for today. Hope you are having a good weekend and hope it gets better when we beat Newcastle 3-0 today.
Cheers
Marc—my point exactly…let’s face it Pricksy ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed
what we need is Nigel on his marauding runs. El B would be horrified with that type of player. We have had some good left backs over the decades – not one would be selected by El B. I doubt TH14 would make his starting eleven unless he was in goal.
although it will come as a surprise to no one who fully understands the monopolistic manner in which MA has run this club, I’m incredibly fearful that Berta will have no say whatsoever when it comes to transfers…according to reports, we were in for Huijsen, we continue to pursue the overtly fickle Zubi, we appear ever determined to pay above the number for another Keeper and most outlets are saying that we’ve shifted our focus towards Sesko and Rodrygo…every single one of these pursuits have MA’s fingerprints all over them
we know of his addiction level spending habits when it comes to defenders and keepers, regardless of our more pressing needs, and both Sesko and Zubi have been at the top of his priority list for well over a year now…as for Rodrygo, that’s more about MA’s inferiority complex than footballing sense, much like when he went full tent-pole in his pants about Havertz as soon as erroneous reports surfaced about Real’s interest…to make matters worse, the PR machine is now working ovvertime to fluff up our now “buff” German tweener, which scares the living shit out of me:
“Arteta and everyone at Arsenal loves Havertz, as a player and character,” replied Ornstein…It is said he understands and implements what Arteta asks for extremely quickly and how the manager wants it done.
His return ahead of schedule will be viewed internally as a major boost to the club, especially heading into an absolutely critical season.”
firstly, the fact that Ornstein is peddling this nonsense speaks volumes about the lengths in which this club will go to protect MA’s personal agenda…secondly, the fact that he both understands and implements the manager’s wishes in a timely fashion isn’t actually a positive for some of us who are sick of watching this watered down and robotic brand of football…in fact, what we need are players who force our little MIT out of his comfort zone, so that we can either evolve tactically or win in spite of the manager
just to clarify, I’m by no means a Rodrygo hater, as I felt that he was a high ceiling prospect when he first arrived at Real, I just don’t want us to break the bank on the player I’ve seen this year and last, especially if it means that fucking Havertz will be our starting Striker for the foreseeable future…no fucking thanks
regarding Sesko:
“He could be open to leaving the German top-flight this summer, but he may need assurances of a guaranteed place in the Arsenal starting XI before he agrees to a move.Sesko opted to remain with Leipzig last summer, signing a new contract despite giving serious consideration towards joining Arsenal. He held reservations over whether he would be a regular in their starting XI and was reluctant to join them amid concerns he would be second-choice to Kai Havertz. Arsenal made it clear at the time that Sesko would not be guaranteed to play ahead of the Germany international, and it remains to be seen whether Arteta has changed his mind”
let’s hope that this is an honest account of the situation, in that if Sesko does finally sign on it means that he’s been given that specific assurance…lord knows how the fuck MA will shoehorn in the rest of his besties…Havertz could be deployed out wide left or in the 8-hole, which might see Rice replacing Ode, who didn’t perform well this season, but who’s still miles ahead of of both of them when it comes to facilitating others…what do you do with a problem like Havertz? I just don’t believe MA we’ll invest in players to the detriment of Havertz’s playing time or Rice’s forward thinking aspirations…I guess we shall see
Six bottles of Heineken weekly for wages and I will still find Grealish overpaid.
Ambarish
I’ve a horrible feeling about Grealish – he ticks plenty of the Arteta “major incoming fuck up” buttons.
1) Big name (not necessarily meaning a great player) and big fee.
2) Will allow him to claim he’s sorted the front line whilst leaving Havertz up top.
3) Guarantees come next March time when he’s failed in the PL again he can say “we’re 3 or 4 players away”.
Marc talking tactics…there’s a first.
Wanksy
Don’t be a cunt.
TRVL
I can’t see Arteta dropping Ode (whether that’s a correct decision is another conversation) so if we do buy an actual striker Arteta could try a midfield three of Havertz, Rice and Ode.
I can’t see that being a midfield that competes in tough games.
I’m still convinced our forward / attacking signing will be a left sided forward allowing Arteta to claim he’s done something to fix the serious lack of goals whilst keeping Bambi on Ice up top.
Marc—of course anything is possible, but if MA acquires the real player he wanted instead of Merino from Sociedad, Zubi, and/or keeps Partey, there’s no way your proposed midfield 3 will be a regular gig, unless Timber gets benched and we run an inverted backer on the right side with either of the aforementioned two
if Grealish were to come in it would be a clear-cut sign that MA has no interest whatsoever in adding some much-needed directness/pace to our tactical approach, which would be a catastrophic mistake…we should be looking to emulate what Enrique has done with PSG or what Flick has implemented at Barca…of course that would be impossible if our midfield includes Rice and/or Havertz…in order to accomplish either of those tactical achievements we would need to acquire a left side forward and a Striker who both possessed world-class pace, then team up Ode with either Ethan or Skelly in the midifield (or someone new who fit that revised script)…as such, we should be targeting Isak and Nico or Leao…this would show some real intent…btw I’m still not sure why we aren’t in the Wirtz sweepstakes now that it’s no longer a foregone conclusion that he’s going to Bayern
Sheringham speaking on Isak:
“He might not want to change. It doesn’t get much better than fans loving you, and your team playing to the best aspects of your game, and you are the focal point. You’re earning good money and you’re in the team”
the one caveat being that they simply must secure a CL invite…so our chances could hinge on tomorrow’s results…maybe MA’s old bench boss could do him a solid
Madhu
WE’RE THE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE MATE. BRILLIANT – SO HAPPY FOR RENEE AND THE WOMEN.
Heroines. Every single one of them to score and dig in like that. Barcelona look shattered.
Spuds’s reign as North London euro trophy holders lasted less than 72 hours…..
Ladies making sure to bring a bigger trophy in North London. Champions 🏆
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Well, we all miss Madhu – hope he comes back.
Ten Hag appointed as Bayer Leverkusen manager on a 2 years contract. Conte winning another league title with Napoli. Mourinho, though not at his best, won Roma a trophy after ages. It was the players at Manchester United and Tottenham that were bringing down the managers. Amorin will be next, Ange was already on the list but since they played a game of who was less shite, Ange was saved.
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With Arsenal, we have the players who are on up and can literally play in any other team in the world, but the manager is yet to play them at their full potential. After 6 years, he is still trying to make Havertz great again (sorry), play Merino as a CF, sideline the most chaotic player in Martinelli, restricts attack from the left etc.
I don’t know when it would be a ‘All or Nothing’ for the manager.
Some win KP, they showed real guts. My daughter was thrilled watching Katie being interviewed draped in a tricolour. The girls mustn’t have heard about the phases required when a new manager comes in…….the fools!
Hi Almunia
The twins love Katie McCabe and Kim Little too. It takes some doing to beat any Barca team in such a big one-off final. They were fighting to the end but you could tell that up until Arsenal scored, the Catalans thought the cup was theirs.
That team has a really good blend of players and Renee has had a huge impact. The kids want me to take them to the trophy parade in Islington. Very proud that the team are the champions of Europe (and therefore probably the best club side in the world). Now the small matter of getting then men’s team set up with a proper manager.
this is supposed to be the brains behind the operation:
“If you bring a problem, bring solutions to that problem because if not we just bulk in problems. So do that work, find it and then find a solution immediately and we can share it and we can make the right decision after that”
fade to black
I wonder what selection of players Renee would make if she was in charge of the Arsenal Men