Well, I don’t know why only Arsenal games are on weird timings. I prefer weekend because you don’t have to think of tomorrow. It’s a midnight one here in India, finishes by 3am and on a Monday.
But, it’s not going to stop us from watching and supporting the team. City has made our lives difficult, from now on till the end of this season, every game is going to be a must-win because Pep is brutal.
Palace won their first game against Sheffield and shouldn’t be taken lightly. The one good thing is their is no Zaha, he loved to make our life difficult and usually ended up on scoresheet. Under Roy Hodgson Crystal Palace has a brilliant track record. They warded off the relegation towards the end of last season, and during his tenure, they have managed to keep an average of 15 shots per game. They surely are going to test of defence and I hope Arteta don’t do a Arteta again by playing Thomas at RB.
Team News
Timber is out for long. Jesus is still unavailable. Zinchenko might make it today and I would personally like to see a back line of White, Gabriel, Saliba and Zinchenko / Tomiyasu depending on Zinny’s availability. Rice + Partey in the midfield with Odegaard in advance role. Saka and Martinelli on either wings with Nketiah up top. There is no need to be fancy, I understand the need to be un-guessable (if that’s a word) but putting Partey at RB hurts more than it benefits. Taking out Gabriel from starting XI means Saliba is playing on his non-favorite CB side, Partey is unsettled at RB, Midfield is devoid of Partey’s brilliance and it’s all a mess. Movement of Partey to the midfield when we have the possession is the only thing you can take it up as a positive in this case, but it makes us week in defence.
Stick to basics.
We have enough bench support, Kai, ESR, Trossard can play in any advance position, Kiwior can have some game time, Raya will most likely make the bench today. Tomiyasu and Tierney are back to fitness.
Talking of our RW, Saka scored one in the first game against Forest and it was a marvellous goal. He is best in his position in the world at the moment and has started or played as a sub in our last 81 PL games! Now that’s an unbelievable thing, maintaining that fitness and form for more than 2 seasons in a row. He plays PL, cup games, closed door friendlies and if I organize a 5-a-side in my neighbourhood, I’m sure he won’t deny playing in that too. Brilliant kid, best in the world currently, I wish him well and hope we provide a platform where he can win big things.
Mikel was particularly happy with Saka and has things to say about him.
on Bukayo Saka’s development:
source : Arsenal.com
I think it keeps growing year by year, and you set him new targets and he sets himself new targets and new demands and he seems to complete those. He’s extremely hungry and willing to learn and improve and become the player that decides the game every three days, and that’s what he has between his two eyes. He’s a very focused boy and he does everything to do that – the way he trains, the way he prepares himself, the way he lives his life. I’m very happy so he needs to keep doing what he’s doing.
Wrapping Up
Mondays are hell, but hopefully it will end well for us Gooners. Don’t forget to share your thoughts about potential starting XI and predict the score against Palace. I would love some clean sheet and 3-0 for Arsenal would make me happy.
If you’re a serious Eric Clapton fan, then this is a must have box set. I can’t praise it highly enough for all aspects of audio visual excellence.
https://store.ericclapton.com/collections/24-nights/products/24-nights-super-deluxe-cd-set-limited-edition
Hi Tony
Some interesting contrasts there. I adore Dr F – the greatest pub band of the 70s. Clapton, on the other hand, was for me a racist bastard who spawned Rock against Racism.
Brilleaux and Wilco – two originals both sorely missed. Roxette – what a tune. If you can somehow get hold of the full version of this…
https://youtu.be/oyPfbSnrKMo?si=jB81uYWlR_dEe4gu
You’ll never regret it. Oil City Confidential by Julien Temple and Dr F based on their history in and around Canvey Island (hence the title). Locals call Canvey a ‘refined place’ for obvious reasons.
What do you make of Wilco’s style on that guitar – a fender? I could listen to it all day.
And Tony…
While we’re sharing, here’s someone I guess you know from your Stiff days duetting on one of his most beautiful songs with another stateside 80s stalwart and T Bone. Be good to know what you think.
https://youtu.be/hg9fNKBp8eA?si=R0mOKc8oVN-yJsch
KP – I knew then well back in the day. They drank at the Admiral Jellico up the point end of the island. A little known Stiff act was Lou Lewis Solid Senders who was actually as good and some say better than The Feelgoods. I used to do Lou’s front desk at London gigs for him for free as he could barely get himself too gigs. It was a collective thing for him. Every time he went to Stiff Robbo would give him £20 and Lou would find comfort with a bottle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPGSvLgrtg0
https://www.discogs.com/master/207914-Lew-Lewis-Reformer-Save-The-Wail.
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https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=559959589&rls=en&q=tralk+talk&tbm=vid&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHhsug_PeAAxW0amwGHYfHACEQ0pQJegQIDBAB&biw=1497&bih=929&dpr=2#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:8eebc361,vid:lLdvpFIPReA
Poor Lou was an alcoholic and loved by everyone for the lost soul he was.
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Wilco’s guitar was a Fender Telecaster my least favourite Fender because of its rawness. Springsteen favors the Tele, too. It serves a purpose for that growly type vocals and harps accompanying. His frantic strutting was because he was a speed freak which drove his frenetic rifts. After the Feelgoods I believe he went on to play with Ian Dury.
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Canvey was a hotbed for R&B with Eddie & The Hotrods and Eddie brother who formed Talk Talk. For an island totally 5 mile by 3 and back then a population of around 25,000, it’s a bloody small place for such remarkable talent. Many a good night was had on the Island in the Jellico depending who was off the road. Soon after I was running bands in Europe and America tours.
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Southend was the R&B capital because it incorporated Canvey. Alison Moyet came from Billericay and Depeche Mode just up the road in Brentwood. Not too far away was London, so a good place to play to get known in that genre. Not forgetting Alison Moyet and Yazoo.
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I believe I’m wanted so I’ll listen to your links later and get back to you.
just a few comments:
Tony-always good morning reading, especially when you’re in full-on “Tony” mode…don’t ever stop bringing the heat bud
(1) remember the whole Xhaka yellow card betting fiasco, while it appears as if he wasn’t so much cleared of any wrongdoings, as much as the investigation encountered a serious roadblock due to the fact that the bets were made using functionally untraceable crypto currency…as such I will stand by my earlier statement that he’s a weasel fuck who’s likely made a small fortune off the backs of his asinie on-field antics
(2) it appears as if Tierney is off to Sociedad on a loan with no obligation to buy…I wonder if we’ll ever truly know what was said between manager and player which led to such a fucked up asset management scenario…when a team shoehorns multiple players, which ultimately led to a season long injury and a red card dismissal, in back-to-back weeks, one has to wonder what made things so untenable…now the papers are suggesting that we will not only receive a small fee but that Real will fully cover his wages, whereas I believe that about as much as I believed that Willian walked away from all the monies owed to him…kudos once again to the PR team for their continued efforts at covering up our manager’s constant dick-tripping maneuvers
(3) the rumour mill is floating about the notion that we could be in for Schuurs, the Torino CB, as replacement for Timber…this seems fishy, as this player never played a single match out wide, let alone as an inverted backer last season in 35 appearances, so why would he be a suitable Timber cover piece…furthermore, he’s seen his market value balloon from his 9M purchase price just last season to 25M presently, while playing for a bang average Serie A side with rather pedesterian stats to boot…if anything this looks much more like a potential Gabs replacement, should he move on before the close of the window…not a very positive development in my estimation
The Kursaal Flyers…
Kin ell Tony. Those stories are priceless. I’d allowed myself to imagine Wilco just had natural Patrick Vieira levels of energy but a few lines of speed just go hand in hand with his playing style and movement. I bet Lee was the same – I love the story about his white suit and how over the years it gradually turned grey for want of a sketchleys! I think the Admiral Jellicoe features heavily in that film iirc. They never stopped touring did they? I think they never got the full recognition they deserved.
TRVL
What makes you think that a breakdown between club and player needs anything more than Arteta being Arteta?
As for the link to a CB – I’m still getting alarm bells about Gabriel.
I just have a vibe that Arteta only wants players he’s bought (he’s never brought anyone through from the youth team). He can’t out Saka or Martinelli the fans would go mental but little by little that’s what he’s doing – Nketiah will be on his way soon as will ESR.
Marc-we’re on the same page, I just think it would be rather revealing if we got a glimpse into the “real” interpersonal skills of our manager in training…we’re constantly being inundated with lip service sound bites from players, both old and new, which I totally understand to some degree, but it’s clear that there’s been a myriad of situations that don’t match this somewhat contrived narrative…if we were privy to some of those in-house ongoings maybe it would require the Kool-Aiders to tone down their rose-tinted rhetoric
as to the ongoing CB search and it’s logical implications, I’m in agreement with you…the supposed primary target, Schuur, is a 6 3′ CB, who certainly isn’t a like-for-like Timber replacement…the only cause for pause is if MA’s plan is to have a starting back 4 of Partey, White, Saliba and Zinchenko against the bus sitters and White, Saliba, Gabs and Zinchenko against the more forward thinking sides…if that were his thinking then I guess bringing in Schuur could still make sense, even if Gabs were to stay on…that way Tomi would be your primary wide side cover piece and Kiwor and the new boy would provide CB depth…of course, that’s assuming that Holding, Cedric and Tierney were sold and/or loaned out
it would be difficult for anyone to argue with what you’ve stated regarding MA’s seeming obsession with getting rid of those he’s inherited…at one point I was almost certain he was planning to do likewise with Marts, until he was forced into playing him and he took his opportunity and ran with it, which was not too dissimilar from what transpired with ESR…we know he tried to freeze out Saliba, who would have undoubtedly been sold off if he didn’t have such a glorious season in France, especially considering how much MA invested in White, who was both young and projected to play in the very same position…of course, it’s certainly not unusual for managers to want to put their stamp on things, but most great managers never look a gift horse in the mouth so fucking often
KP – Oil city brilliant:
Back to Dr. Feelgood I’ve been trying to find a single the band did for Zeppelin’s Swan Song label. You may remember the Song Remains The Same movie, well when released a Dr Feelgood concert was the first movie in the days of 2 movies a show. The Zeps were good friends with the Feelgoods because their managers were long time mates from wrestling I think. I know Peter Grant, Zep’s manager started out as a wrestler. This above mentioned single was The Sheiks of Araby with big Figure and Sparko dressed as arabs on the single’s front cover. Funny how things stick into your mind.
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Cruel to be kind is a blast from the past. Real unicorn pop song.
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I’n surprised and shame on you for your blasphemy for poor Eric C. Did you know he grew up thinking his older sister was his mum. There is a brilliant docu called ‘A life behind bars.’
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXYZt-TRVlM
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You’ll find you may think differently after seeing the docu. Like emotional stories of love and hate, so politics brought so much more anger into the music.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQeJTfRNpvM
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The last link from you was very cool. Gypie brough so much more to DR Feelgood adding more melodic rifts and longer solos with more grit. They were not really a speedy bunch bar Wilco. I would say like most musicians and bands they had more of a Columbian and Peruvian affinity to recreational supplements.
TRVL
Thanks for the nice words. When it flows it just comes until it stops. 68 with so much inside from so much life makes life interesting for me and I hope others.
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As always I totally agree with your collective thoughts.
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More later about the game.
That’s it emails written and can start to think about the game.
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We’ve never lost a game at home to Fulham, so I hope I’m not jinxing that. It’s no secret we’ve yet to settle into Arteta’s new system and the Fulham game may well be the right opponent to find our rhythm.
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Jesus is fit to play so I wouldn’t be surprised if he was included in the starting 11. Anticipation will be high to see how Havertz and and Jesus can gell in and around the Fulham area. .
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Lots of things come to mind, but I think this is a good preview to the game with some excellent facts. Trossard instead of Havertz would be good for me and ESR and Ode sharing the game.
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https://theanalyst.com/eu/2023/08/arsenal-vs-fulham-prediction-and-preview/
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4:0 is my prediction, but you know how bad my predictions are so bet on them at your peril 🙂
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See you at the game LIR
Hi Tony
I think we’ll win today but the manner of the victory will be determined by the first 10 minutes. If we play with pace and urgency, rapid passing and less pissing about across the back 4, then I think your prediction could be right. But if it’s ponderous, and Fulham go low block (which I don’t think they will, fully at least) then it’ll be far narrower. Would be good to see Jesus come on and grab a goal. That guy spreads confidence through the team when he’s on the score sheet.
Yeah, on EC, I’m no fan of his music (although I liked cream) but at least we have him to thank for the rar movement which lit up punk and rock n roll in the late 70s and reduced the threat of the national front.
Oh and enjoy the game Tony and others. I’ll be using my 75 pound season ticket watching County at home to Caernarfon (home to possibly THE finest medieval castle in Wales). They need a win to get their season going. I’ll watch Arsenal later on MOTD (yuck!). A 6 mile drive – piece of piss!
KP
A game of ifs today. I’m just going to the positive and hoping.
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When it comes to music I listen to the music first, and then the way the voice is used as an instrument – the lyrics come last for me. There, they influence me the least. It’s why I don’t champion artists for the lyrical compositions; for me it’s all about the feel and production that makes the song come alive.
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That said I can understand the influences you took from more radical and indie bands.
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Punk I never understood at any level anarchy wasn’t for me. Music was my master at those times.
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I was too engrossed in the Pink Floyd, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Spirit, Maze, Kokomo, Camel, Steely Dan and many more. Being an engineer those were the areas I wanted to work in. I was a fan of the new wave/romance and electric pop eras. I can remember ;little of their lyrics but remember the music clearly.
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Stiff had eclectic artists that were typically Stiff. A ragged bunch of innovators that never really hit main stream bar, Elvis Costello, Madness and Ian Dury. Lene Lovitch and Wreckless Eric and other minor bands had small hits.
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I understand your dislike of EC, but feel you’re missing out on some incredible music with lyrics put aside.
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All politicians lie; it’s a crucial part of their work to do so. Manifests are never real just figments of imagination to gather votes then forgotten about. For you. KP, with your years in the foreign office it’s all linked to whoever is in power, and you would have far more interest in governments than I ever could because I assume they affected how the FO operated. Just a guess, KP.
KP – Enjoy the game. I want to take Mrs T to Wales and Ireland and look at the castles and learn their particular history. I really enjoy Euro historical TV series when they have a decent production.
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6 miles? Will you make 4th gear getting home? 🙂 Drive safely now more accidents happen within close proximity to one’s home.
what a shit show, both with the selections and with that baffling first goal for Fulham…if I was teh opposition I would be pushing to get behind this makeshift back 4 all day long
surely Gabs must be on his way out, unless this is just another MA doghousing gig…not to mention, Zinchenko simply can’t be relied upon as a regular LB due to his obvious fragility and Havertz seems to have a Eddie-like first touch in front of goal
TrVL
We have got the match day blog love.