At this stage, I’m only interested in those 3 points we grabbed yesterday against Leeds United. What a game it was for Eddie, and us Arsenal fans. After we missed out Champions League spot because of a missed penalty under Emery, I don’t want to be too optimistic for my own sake. However, what a wonderful Thursday it would be, if we manage to beat Spu*s at Shi*e Hart Lane which will confirm our qualification and the team who would miss out will be none other than Spu*s.
It would be fantastic!
Back to the game, we all knew it was going to be a Nketiah’s special. He was on loan to Leeds in 2019-20 season where he scored in his first appearance in a EFL Cup, and went ahead to score in his Championship debut too. He had some other good games before we recalled him but he earned his first league medal as a Leeds player after Leeds were the Championship winners that season.
Yesterday, in only the 5th minute, Leeds Goalkeeper made a mistake and Nketiah was quick enough to nick the ball off from him into the net. It wasn’t long before he scored another one in 10th minute when Martinelli’s passed a ball to him from the left side. Soon after, Ayling was sent off for a straight red against a challenge on Martinelli reviewed by VAR and on field referee. I thought that should be enough and we will try to close that goal difference but the usual happened. We stopped controlling the game in the second half. Llorente after the hour mark scored from the first Leeds’ corner of the match. Interestingly this was the first goal we conceded from set pieces, kudos! to the coach. We were shaky for rest of the match but we managed to close the game on a winning score.
Tomiyasu played as a LB and what a player we have in him. He is versatile, no nonsense player with a very high level of accuracy. If he stays fit, it will solve our LB back up conundrum because of the frequent Tierney’s injuries.
Elneny had an impressive game again. He was massive and is probably the second best midfield options we have. I’m not so sure if we are going to renew him but keeping a utility player like him who can give a good game whenever called upon will be a necessity next season. I’m inclined towards strengthening midfield and spending some bucks.
I’m excited for the Tottenham game. They are at a stage where only a win will help them, and we are usually good against teams which brings their game to us. We are leading them with 4 points having played equal games.
If we win the NLD, we cement our place in CL. There are other permutations but I don’t want to go into them. I will very much like us to finish the job on Thursday.
Right, I will keep this a short one; been busy a bit this week but hopefully find some time to not miss the London Derby.
Don’t forget to refill your refrigerator, make sure your kids are asleep before 7 and beg your spouse to leave you alone for 90 min on Thursday!
Looks like the bhoys are on course to restore the natural order of things north of the border.
Kroenkephobe,
Condiment,nice one!
Leeds are in self destruct mode, crazy. De Bruyne is pure class isn’t he? Chelsea fans must suffer every time they watch him and Salah. The heart bleeds….
On Leeds, I read sone where that Jesse March teams uniformly have terrible disciplinary records. A bit like we used to be under early Wenger (which was a little mystifying given his own temperament although less so when you factor in sone of the physical players we had).
Turning to Scotland, I guess most of the lads round your way are Celtic fans, but do you get the odd Hibs or other fan? The English Town I grew up in had a Rangers supporters club (hopefully not too many of those in your neck of the woods! ). A thoroughly grim place where kickings were frequent for people not standing up to sing god save the queen.
Your question reminded me of one of the funniest interviews I have ever seen. The interviewer is on the streets of Dublin trying to suss out why Irish people follow English soccer more than our own League of Ireland. She’s interviewing a real ‘Howyah'(you have to say it in a Dublin accent). It was around the time of the Queen’s visit. Watch as he tries to claim he supports St.Pat’s,but the real kicker comes at the end. The ultimate in lack of self awareness! I hope you can play this one.
https://youtu.be/fEz5GfZUnBU
… And Celtic…
You’re right about De Bruyne. Terrific player who modestly and brilliantly performs every time he plays. I don’t remember much about his (or Salah’s) time at Chelsea but letting those two go makes the sale of Gnabry to Bayern look like a good piece of business. Now Ganbry’s a player I wouldn’t mind seeing come ‘home’.
Haven’t followed Gnabry at all. Have been impressed with him in the champs lge but I never watch the bundesliga so can’t say much. What I would say is that I really don’t want Sterling so if Serge is the other option I’d take that.
De Bruyne has been my player of the season for a while now,Mane second, Salah third. VVD is pretty close to his awesome best also. Wish we had got our hands on Jota or Diaz either. Interesting to see if we can find some untapped attacking gem. Getting Jesus because City have Haaland doesn’t excite me tbh.
Do not underestimateRamSaltpeter. Might be the enabler of a Social Media manipulation. Arsenal give a long drawstring to the Manager who is not just a coach, and can dip into an immense contingency fund. Most of us been following that manipulative place with 5 chorus boys to snap at the heel of any dissenting opinion.It almost looks like how opinions are manufactured and a regime kept in place .
The longest 4 hrs ever. I can’t shake the feeling that we won’t win at Newcastle, hence this is do or die. That said I’m coming down off the fence, we win 3-1, 1up,1 all,survive all out Spuds attack,hit on the counter to make it 2-1 and score a late 3rd against a demoralised team. Simples……..
Hoopah,
That conspiracy theory you are embracing is one I’ve aired earlier, I’m with you on that,mad as it might make me look. Something very odd happened to win such unjustifiable and unconditional support.
“In April, after a run of three defeats against Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton, Arteta held a team meeting around that olive tree, where he talked them through this philosophy.”
Fuck me the fan boys will believe anything that blows smoke up Arteta’s arse, if they could engage their brains for a second (the few that have them) they’d ask “he’s been here almost two and a half seasons why didn’t he explain that a bit earlier? Like in the first week”.
About all I can force out of my brain at the moment is a sense that this game won’t end in a draw.
Almunia
Im a bit more sanguine than you on the barcodes game. I don’t want to jinx anything but if we don’t win tonight and it’s not an absolute shitshow ending in red cards and injuries, I think we win the last two games. Glass half something thinking.
As you can see I’m still sitting on the fence – and it’s hurting my arse. Let’s get on with it.
Lads – I hate to sound like a big fucking baby but I hope some of you will be posting on here ce soir. My two Arsenal-mad kids and I don’t want to be on our own with this. Yikes…
COME ON YOU FUCKING RIP ROARING REDS. LET’S GOOOOOO!
Both teams have fixtures after tonight that are hard to call. Burnley will be tough for the Spud’s, Newcastle are much improved and Everton could still be fighting for survival.
I can’t see beyond 1-1 tonight but that’s probably more down to that historic thing of ability and form going out the window in a match like this.
Managed to come up with a NLD match day post. Don’t expect much though 😀