Every one of our games left this season is a cup final. It’s not going to be easy but hey, it’s about winning the toughest league in the world while competing against one of the best managers on the planet with one of the costliest squad assembled in history.
I have let go of my emotions and anger from last two games and looking forward to the rest of the season. It’s still not-all lost, and it’s still in our hand. And, it begins today against Southampton at home.
Arteta had some bad news in pre-match conference. Saliba is not recovering well and will need some more time. Zinchenko is out too for this game and may be for a few more. Tomiyasu is out injured, which leaves us with White, Gabriel, Tierney and Holding in defence. There are no other options, Kiwior is not ready yet.
It’s the midfield and defence which has let us down in our last two games. We need to stop leaking goals when 2-0 up. Conceding one at that stage gives the opposition a belief that they can do more. In Mikel’s world, we need to be ruthless, f*cking ruthless.
I’m hopeful today, I am sure players would have gone back to dressing room and wouldn’t have slept at night without thinking about their performances. When you are so close the title, you need to introspect what went wrong and fix it in the very next game. You can’t wait for a season, or a season break, or a trip to Dubai.
The most important piece of our playing XI is Partey. If he is fit, and playing well, he controls the game like no one can do. When he is in fine form, he improves players around him, be it Xhaka or Odegaard. It’s the drop in his performance that is affecting the team morale. One of the reason we need an upgrade in midfield, a better Partey’s replacement for games when he is not in fine form or when he is injured. We need an upgrade to Xhaka.
I can go on, but today’s not the time. It’s not going to change for last 7 games, so all we can do is stick to supporting the lads who have managed to stay ahead of Manchester City for a whooping 31 weeks (don’t care about those couple of days when City was on top).
We have done for 31 games. We can do for another 7. Our team needs our support and whatever be the result, they will get it.
Lets beat Southampton and go into the City game with 4 point lead, that would certainly put some extra pressure on them.
What’s your prediction today? It’s Friday, game is late night here in India and tomorrow’s off. Beautiful time to watch a game, and I will see you in the comments.
Cheers!
this could easily be 2-2 if Jesus had only passed to Marts right away, about 5 minutes prior to our 1st goal
holy shit we’re fucking frantic out there…if we can’t score a mitt-full against this shitty Hampton defence, then we don’t deserve to challenge for the title…I guess the bigger question is are we going to allow them to do likewise…based on this performance City might pot a baker’s dozen
we better get some more goals before they change their high pressing tactics…there’s no doubt that opposing manager’s know that MA has been piss-poor when in-game adjustments are required
that looked ugly…Marts really submarined that defender…he’ll be lucky if a card isn’t forthcoming
the commentators are talking about our lack of depth and the fact that we miss the required physicality with Vieira in for Xhaka…in regards to the latter, what a load of shit, in that there’s no reason whatosever to believe that Xhaka’s presence would have impacted the scoreline, considering how both goals were scored…as for the former, no shit Sherlock
1 bloody shot on target to their 5 thus far…pathetic against this atrocious swiss cheese defence
I worry we might need to take Zinchenko off at half, as he’s like a bull in a china shop out there…maybe he’s been in touch with Xhaka’s bookie
Looks like I did the right thing and tuned in close to half time, because it saved me some massive aggro. We are playing at home, right? Scoreline doesn’t reflect it.
Half time is not in our side..!
I don’t know I don’t have a good feeling about today. Walcot is looking dangerous every time he has the ball.
after the 2-0 start by Southampton maybe MA will show the boys some Pool and Hammer’s tape during the halftime break…sorry, too soon?
we must have the most blocked shots ever recorded over a two year period…I gues that’s what happens when your trained to close your eyes when you’re shooting
Killroy
Good for your heart too.
TRVL
And I think it’s high time we move Martinelli in the middle. He looks like the only one who can score. Jesus is absent.
DK
Certainly not. We need minimum of 2 goals in next 45 minutes. It’s as simple as that.
And I don’t wanna see Vieira anymore. Too lightweight, no shot in his leg.
Ambarish-in reagrds to your earlier Walcott post, those are words that haven’t been uttered in some time…maybe not since Walcott’s first Youtube video was released lol…half the reason why Walcott has been effective is because Zinchenko is too busy up the pitch or searching for his Ritalin dealer in the stands
not sure I would move Marts into more central positions, as he’s making hay out wide and he and Jesus are already rotating positions at times…I would say that it might be time to see if ESR can bring some more directness to this affair, especially considering that Vieira doesn’t appear to have his shooting boots on today…personally I fear that the bus parking iniative will begin after half, so hopefully MA has prepared for this eventuality, although I highly doubt it
regards
maybe White should try hammering in the occasional cross instead of pretending he has the required guile to pick out a specific player in the box
time to counter their changes with one’s of our own…not to mention we need Zinchenko out wide so that Marts has some help against a deeper-sitting Southampton
about time, now get Zinchenko the fuck out wide
Jesus’s first touches are troubling tonight
as long as fucking Zinchenko and White are tucked inside of our forwards Southampton can constantly doubleteam are wide side players…MA is so clueless tactically-speaking