Wednesday night kick-off at 7.30 PM, we are going to play Crystal Palace in the Carabao (EFL) cup quarter finals. We have probably got the easiest draw out of the 8 teams and as frustrated as I am with our Premier League run and football we are playing in general, there’s still some hope. I had written enough about my frustration in my last post so it’s time to see the brighter side in this one.
First, we are doing well so far in Champions League. If we win another game there, we will most likely qualify for round of 16. Though we have been shit in Premier League lately, we are sitting third behind Pool and Chelsea and on a 6 points difference to Liverpool who have a game in hand. Lets say they win that and we would be 9 points behind but there is still 22 games left and it can go any side. We should be concerned about our game and the way we have been dropping points against small teams but it’s not over yet.
I’m sure you would agree to me if I say that Premier League and Champions League takes the priority over Carabao Cup, but there’s a very important factor here – CONFIDENCE! If we win against Crystal Palace at home, it would not only put us closer to a title where Newcastle, Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool are competing but can also give us back some of that confidence which we are lacking lately. A loss would further demoralise the players and the manager and there’s a hell lot of game still left that will decide our season in December itself.
So, lets go out and win this, and let us use that confidence of a win in Premier League games.
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Carabao cup is interesting this season. No nonsense in quarter finals.
Newcastle will take on Brentford, Liverpool will visit Southampton and Man Utd and Spuds will compete against each other to make into the last 4.
The single biggest reason we should try and win this, is that Spuds are in contention and we don’t want them their hands on a trophy however small it is.
In the team news, we won’t have Ben White or Calafiori available. Mikel subbed Declan Rice against Everton due to a nibble so he would probably get a rest. Jorginho can start along side Partey and Odegaard and frankly I want to see us field the best XI available simply to win this and grow our confidence back but Nwaneri has been dominating the Carabao Cup for us with 3 goals and he deserves to bench Odegaard for this game. Ode, after back from an injury, shouldn’t be playing 2 games a week when there are much important games left plus Nwaneri has been very good so far whenever he has been given minutes. He is direct, looks more to score than Ode and we surely can develop him with these game minutes.
Injuries are a concern but if you were to play your best playing XI in a Carabao cup game against Crystal Palace at home when you are competing in both PL and CL, then you were wrong to begin with. Lets be clear here, our 2nd team is also a Mikel-bought one and if we are paying the likes of Jorgi, Sterling, Merino some good money and if they can’t win us a game against Crystal Palace, then the manager have to take the blame.
It’s a crucial one, this game. Lose and our confidence goes down through lift. A win here would give us some much needed confidence and that could help us play better in coming days.
Short one today, hope Winter is treating you well. See you during the game tomorrow.
why not put Ethan out wide on the right, now we either play Tross on his bad side or force Marts to do likewise
no Saka and shaky at the back, I wouldn’t be surprised if MA went into time wasting, lockdown mode already
Ref missed a handball by Gabriel
the fact that Havertz always closes his eyes when attempting headers is both baffling and disturbing
Jesus butchered that grade A opportunity, then the woodwork saved them
now that was a typical Havertz strike
what a peculiar affair…thankfully we’re somehow 2 to the good
that Palace side that I saw beat BHA was vastly different than the one we faced mid-week or so far today…all I know is that there’s no way we’re getting any reinforcements up top considering our last 6 goals came from Jesus and Havertz…after all, context be damned for the choirboys and Kool-Aid crew
Feels like a complete inversion of what we normally do. Mediocre build up play but absolutely deadly finishing for a change.
I get the impression that the ref is going to look for every opportunity to penalise us. If we get a red card, it’ll be for two bookings, the second being for time wasting.
KP—maybe if we can keep this two goal advantage, we can avoid a red…I was thinking likewise before we potted the 3rd
Gotta go now, as my son is arriving from NY…we should be able to get this over the line, unless we get too conservative in the process
Superb double save by Raya. Raya ,with his acrobatic dives is super
Morning all
Well? There goes our 9 addition now Jesus has found some goals with the usual Havertz’s tap in.
Fan boys will be crowing, but having watched the game this morning, I felt it was our typical smash and grab against a very poor team that is better suited on that performance in the Championship.
MA will see it as a masterclass from us and his tactical brilliance that scored the high scoring win.
But we’ve seen it all before, and now we’ve lost out MIP with Saka on crutches leaving the stadium. Hopefully, it’s just a painful knock.
Next up for Xmas & early New Year:
Ipswich home
Brentford away
Brighton away
Manure home
Spuds home
Newcastle just ripped Ipswich a new one putting 4 past the home side, so, no reasons why we shouldn’t be doing the same 6 days later, is there? The next 4 games are anyone’s guess. Yes, we have virtually no traveling to do bar a Brighton day out at the Amex, and a trot across London to Brentford.
If I were to take a guess, I’d say WWLDD so 8 points where we can afford to lose none, if we really are title contenders.
Pools same fixture list:
Spuds today away
LCFC home
Hammers away
Manure Home
Forest away
Again, all guesswork, but I see WWWWD so 13 points vs our 8 points.
Chavs are the other form team this season who have these fixtures:
Everton away
Fulham home
Ipswich away
Palace away
Bournemouth home
If we are lucky The Chavs might end up with DWWWD so 11 points Vs our 8
If MA is going to challenge Slot & Pool this season, we need 15 points from our Xmas period.
Sadly, I don’t see that happening, what do you guys think? Can we do better than 8 points?
Tony—I can see how you arrived at 8, but I think we’ll end up north of that number…I only say that because both Brentford and BHA’s respective forms have dipped a little recently and I believe we can get 4 points from the last two fixtures…so I’ll say 11 points, although once the full extent of Saka’s injury is revealed my number might need to be revised…I just think the whole Jesus goalscoring wet dream could have a positive impact on things
by putting to bed the “open play” scoring narrative, at least for the time being, Jesus has earned himself some minutes…now we both know this little anomalous patch shouldn’t silence the critics, but we also know that the usual slurpy fucks will push the above storyline and it will gain some traction, until the goals dry up…in the meantime, this could impact the selection process, most notably when it comes to Havertz…he didn’t see the pitch mid-week, even late on, and he was subbed off today, so I would say he’s losing his “special” status
of course he’ll still get some time in the midfield or tucked in behind, but it might open the door for some other players, specifically Ethan…he could be our “like a new signing” poster boy come January…in my mind, his potential up-side trumps the possibility of a duo of GJ & Havertz continuing to produce the desired results, especially if opposing defences don’t have to contend with Saka out wide for an extended period…under those unchanged circumstances your 8 point projection might be considered wishful thinking, so the logical push to inject some creativity into our lineup will gather strength…with that in mind, the fact that our most creative depth piece is a 17 year old speaks volumes about our roster construction…have a good one
Good morning Gooners. Nice routine win with Jesus resurrection the story just in time for Christmas. Doesn’t that roll off so nicely and fits beautifully with all the pun. No offence to the religious ones though pls.
On the other side what does one make of Man C and Peps reputation. At least for me he always seemed like a guy who had everything going for him. He did get a bit exposed with Bayern and now he is shown his place. I don’t think with the string of result now
Continuing on the previous post can we say that Pep has lost the players. What do you say about Jack Grealishs stunning decay and at the same time the progress of someone like a Durand and Rogers. The score line could have been different as Villa opened city many times but either failed in the final ball or the finishing.
Can Pep find a way out with this squad or will need something in Jan TW to resurrect his squads and his reputation. I think the jury is still out about his so called greatest coach title. What is interesting to see if the press starts the usual he has lost his squad, stories about open dissent of players, sacking on the horizon headlines or is it only for managers of the lesser clubs. With the 115 financial misdemeanor and the way they have imploded couldn’t have happened to a lovely club. That’s the interesting part of the PL this season.
If Crystal palace had finished well the score line would have been different as well. It’s interesting to note that with more open play goals our defence was vulnerable and so was Raya. He did make brilliant saves but he wasn’t as protected by the defence as he usually is. Something to analyse and look for further. Can MA have a good defence with a decent open play setup?
Vieira
Have a great Christmas with Vieira junior. I assume like my kids he’s also a brainwashed/coerced Gooner.
Madhu
The rapid demise of City is a joy. It won’t be permanent unless the oil state money disappears and they’re sold and/or ended as a club by legislation but let’s enjoy it while it lasts. Seasonal schadenfreude is a terrific thing.
Football is so topsy turvy. Up until last night, we looked like a side that was fluent in unpicking a press and passing and moving upfield before fluffing chances. Yesterday was the complete opposite. We looked really threatening in their box. It’s only Palace (can we play them every week? – twice!) but we have some very winnable games coming up especially if we attack like that. What the fuck does El Bastardo do now he realises that Martinelli might be better on the right than the left? At the very least, swapping a hopefully uninjured Saka and him mid game will terrify teams.
TRVL
Great post. I was assuming we’d lose Saka for Xmas after hearing he left the ground on crutches. Just hope it’s not a torn hammy.
Xmas tends to rip up form guides and expected results and I factored in we and Pool both on Manure and Spuds I don’t see is both taking scalps. The Chavs have an easier festive period.
Hope you’re right and we nail 11/13 points. Would be a good Gooner Xmas present.
Hope your Xmas preps are flowing nicely
If you want a distraction this is a good series: Landmen with Billy Bob Thornton.
Madhu
I agree I posted that well se what Pep is made of and whether he can function without a cheque book.
Could MA? I don’t think either can.
Have to say both Duran and Rogersare better than our recent buys.
KP
Are you on football duty over the Xmas period?
All we can do is hope for our season and see if additions are added in the Jan TW.
My daughter and Pumkin came up for a week, which has made my Xmas.
Serious rain storm at Everton