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.
Cheers Marc for clarifying that. Your idea of transferring possession to the opposition makes good sense in those cases, akin to a foul throw. That’s a better way to reduce cynicism in the game AND ensure that the opposition gains in an appropriate way. The Palace crowd played their part too to good effect. As the crescendo of jeers rose, Coote reached for his yellow almost in fright. A bit like a cricket umpire faced with a vociferous lbw appeal. The second decision is alarming – wtf did he see that we didn’t through a range of cameras. And why didn’t /couldn’t VAR put him right?
Three welcome points against a team we should be beating, but Arsenal has reverted to looking like it did at the beginning if Arteta’s reign. Slow, turgid horseshoe shaped bollocks. That said, Rice is a magnificent and reassuring addition.
Let’s hope for a bit of flair and that chances will be taken against the cottagers.
Kroenke
You just know that things players are being booked for now won’t be applied to the same level in a few weeks.
Rice is looking like he’s going to be a very good acquisition still think he’d look even better in a double pivot with Partey allowing Ode to play a free role.
let’s face it, this was another underwhleming performance, both prior to and following the sending off…the nonsemsical shoehorning, the lack of directness, the all-too-famiiliar poor first touches and finishing by Eddie, the continued “passenger” status of Havertz, the lack of chances on target and the emabrassment that logically comes when one fields a team totally compromised of defensive players, minus one forward, in order to see off such a lightweight and undermanned Palace side etc…so even though I agree with the “softness” of Tomi’s dismissal and the fact that we ultimately left the park with all 3 points in hand, it should in no way excuse and/or justify what transpired between the lines yesterday
in fact, from what I witnessed yesterday, it appears as if we’re heading back down that sideways borefest road from a few years back…we have no real added width or overlapping help so Marts and Saka have to come deeper, which allows the opposition to better prepare for their respective approaches…we rely too heavily on our defenders and DMs for ball distribution, especially with Partey inverted on the right side, as that requires Ode to take up more advanced positions, and, minus when Rice provided Eddie with a silver platter pass, we failed to show any discernable directness…if this is our bus parking blueprint breaker, we could be in tough this year against the toilet bowl dwellers…now we have one more layup this weekend, so hopefully things look decidely better, but I’m certainly not holding my breath
as for our revamped plan A against the tougher sides, which according to MA includes bringing Gabs back into the starting fold, I’ll have to wait to see what’s on offer before making any assessment…the silver lining here is that there’s ample runway and everything that’s presently not working is likely correctable
TRVL
‘ “passenger” status of Havertz’
Steve Nichols on ESPN-FC said about the game “with 15 minutes to go I forgot he was still playing” that is how much of a passenger he is. On the positive side Havertz might just be the purchase that sees Arteta getting kicked out.
Killroy-good point, as we all know full-well that Havertz won’t be giving any monies back, unlike when Willian supposedly did
“Rice is looking like he’s going to be a very good acquisition still think he’d look even better in a double pivot with Partey allowing Ode to play a free role.”
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Marc, I can only go by written reports but Rice is receiving accolades from non agenda people.
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What did please me was that Partey, Neketia and Rice all could have received the MOTM plaudit. For an away game, that is a good indicator going forward.
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Upstate
I understand you not wanting to get into selection wrangles, but sadly, selections and in-game management are still 2 problem areas for Arteta. No need to revisit the Arteta serious negative trends when setting up or trying to change the outcome of a game.
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I’ve given up putting up teams because there is no point. Arteta should have solved all his selection faux pas after 4 years, but Timber proves that’s not the case.
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KP
I agree 3 points was the essential outcome for us even if we picked them from Palace’s back pocket to get them. Bolagun wants the Chavs where under Poch he will shine and Lakaku and Poch are not on speaking terms.
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TRVL & Killroy
I meant to pose this question yesterday but what are your eye test views on Havertz? The reviews aren’t very complimentary claiming much the same performances he had with the Chavs, and I’ve only seen one game this season and preseason so not really right for me to comment yet.
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Have a good one LIR
Tony-so far he’s a miscast passenger…now that could be more about the tactics than the player, but only time will tell…Cheers
TRVL – thanks we’ll see more on Saturday with some good games to watch.
Hibs v Villa is live on bbc Scotland for anyone who’s bored. A very entertaining game.
As soon as I posted that it turned into one way traffic! Still,plenty of goals and chances. Ollie Watkins is an odd one. Can look brilliant one week and awful the next. This is probably his level, just a notch below the elite(title chasers/champs lge challengers).
Hi Almunia
I wish I’d known about that, but having heard the result now glad I didn’t (if that’s not too metaphysical) . Shows the chasm between ingerlish and Scottish clubs these days. It was much tighter 30-40 years ago. You having a good summer?
Summer over now KP,back to work Monday. Weather was crap and health wasn’t great but I got to spend a huge amount of time with the family which was brilliant. This time of year is always strange,holidays ending but football and snooker retuning. All in all life is good though,I can’t complain. How are things your end? You good?
Visited yesterday in Bath the Bath Rugby Club grounds “The Recreational Grounds” or short “The Rec” closest I have come to a live Rugby game in the Premiership 😆 had brilliant weather though in Bath. The Friday 7:30pm game between All Blacks and Springboks in Twickenham should be a cracker. Don’t know about the AFC v Fullham on Saturday, the club is in desperate need of a coach/manager.
Morning all
I don’t normally get into TWs, but with 7 days to go, I was wondering if any of you out there had thoughts on who is going to leave and who will refuse to leave. There is talk of Pepe’s contract being bought out and click bait abounds daily.
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Bolagun to the Chavs? He looks like he wants that move, but it’s Monaco that’s bidding. Lokonga has a suitor it’s reported, and Partey’s unexpected rise in form with Rice in the new system suggests he’ll be staying.
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Eddie is working hard at a starting place, but as good as he is, I question if he can call the 9 shirt his own. Can he deliver 20 goals and 10 assists a season, which is what we need to challenge? KT is another, but selling him after losing Timber and the possibility of more injuries during the run in, KT should be kept imho.
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I’m only looking at the names that can help us challenge this season, not the peripheral players (Tavares) and Hale Enders still learning their trade.
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So, who do we need?
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A 9 and a LB is my thinking, but with such a busy year I haven’t paid my usual attention to the start of this season. Just busy and game times not helping, my love of The Arsenal remains the same. My point? I got nothing for incoming names we need.
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Any thoughts?
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What of our Hale Enders? Who should be getting minutes this season with all the cups especially. Defenders I read Norton Cuffy and Walters are potentially ready to get minutes.
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I’ve not read anything promising for any midfielders to step up, but Crozier – Dewberry or John Jules up top may happen if their training looks good for our system. Patino is out on loan, so one to watch. I really feel for the Hale Enders and the way Arteta sees them. Emery was far different. Even Wenger tried unsuccessfully I might add.
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With ESR in particular struggling for minutes and Vieira a bit part player the optics for our young hopefuls look grim rather than hopeful. ESR will have to wait to dislodge a current misfit Havertz. Should he be our starting 9 for the season? Problem is he looks too lightweight for a 9 to me, but looks can be deceiving if the mental attitude is right. If Havertz had Jesus’s gung-ho attitude in roughing up the CBs, I’d say give it a try. Havertz looks an Ozil clone, in as much as, he doesn’t appear to like the physicality of the game where the young Chavs 9; Jackson revels in it.
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Wrighty, Anelka, Bergkamp, Alan Smith (Smudger), Henry, RVP, John Radford, Malcolm Macdonald and George Graham all off the top of my head all had fight in them where defenders hated playing against them. Ditto with Drogba the perfect scoring machine if you just look at him as a striker.
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Smudger wasn’t all brim and firestone, but he was strong on the ball, had great vision and scored for fun. I don’t think he was ever booked, either but was a fighter, and grifter and unselfish striker.
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7 days to go to make this TW a good one and enough to challenge City who just bought Doku who I assume the 21 year old is the Mahrez replacement. All very simple and no fuss unlike our signings.
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So?
Who are your ins and outs?
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Who should be promoted from Hale Enders to the bench?
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Do we need a 9 if so, who do you fancy?
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Do we need a LB? Any suggestions
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Have a good one LIR
Hi Tony
This is going to sound like maximun cynicism but after all that money spent, Arteta really needs to deliver with what he’s got. So no more money for signings this TW (unless the next few days herald a massive and profitable clear out). He’s always going to be pleading that there are gaps in the squad in order to keep his job and leave fans on tenterhooks. The apprenticeship should’ve finished 2-3 years ago and he needs to deliver with what he’s got. No more ‘phase this’ or ‘stage that’. If he can’t get a tune out of this team with all the talent available, fuck him and get a proper manager. ‘Jam tomorrow’ was a constant refrain for the past 19 years or so. Well that time has arrived so he needs to come up with the trophies. He’s already been complicit in wrecking Timber’s season so there’s no sympathy. And if Barca or RM ever came-a-knocking, I suspect he’d jump ship in a thrice.
Hi Almunia
My summer has been a bit crap to be honest. Ms K’s mum died in May and we were both pretty fond of her. The rest of it has been spent on interminable admin to do with her estate and some typical internecine tension caused by other greedy bastards in her family. Plus, with the kids now 18 and 16 (x2) we’re almost on the cusp of having fewer parental responsibilities which remains just out of grasp at the moment. It was ever thus. Sorry to hear about your health – take care of yourself mate.
Tony
I get a warm feeling every time i read a mention of Alan Smith. Thanks for that. He’d control anything played up to him, great passing and link up, good with his head and a hugely intelligent player. Underrated by everyone, including among many Arsenal fans.
Kroenke
Really? Thinking a manager should be able to compete having spent a pitiful six hundred and fifty odd million as well as inheriting Saka, Martinelli, Gabriel, Tierney, Nketiah and Smith Roe etc etc is ridiculous.
Think is time you laid off the sauce.
Marc
And who said irony was dead? You’re going on Saturday I assume. I hope things are a little easier in terms of getting to them all now we’ll mainly be back on a Saturday schedule. I wonder how long it will take for the peseta to drop with Arteta that Partey and Rice should be cdntral. You just know he’s going to persist with the idea til it’s fully exposed. All it’ll take is a skilled and quick left sided winger. Mitoma/Diaz/Rashford… Take your pick.
Getting back to football – at a packed King Power last week – was like being a junkie getting a hit of the good stuff.
I think we’ll have too much for a mitro-less Fulham.
Kroenke
Can’t make this week actually. I have a bad feeling we might be looking at selling Gabriel and Arteta’s formation is already taking that into account. He’ll carry on as always until we lose a match and then he’ll throw all the pieces in the air and come up with something new.
As much as I disagree with the idea of selling Gabriel I think it would do us severe damage and start the end of Arteta so would be worth it in the short term.
KP,
I’m very sorry to hear that,my condolences to you and your wife. The mother in law gets bad press but pretty indispensable all the same. Loved the way they dealt with that on the Royle family when nana dies.
I’m not there yet with my kids ,they’re a bit younger than yours, but I understand where you are,have been teaching teenagers all my life,challenging in all the best and worst ways. Parenting them is another level again. I’ve no doubt you’re doing a stellar job,I’ve simplified it down to time spent with them. The more the better. And I’m lucky because of the hols I get. From reading your posts over the years it sounds to me like you’ve done the hard yards.
You too Tony,easy to know you and your kids are very close,fair play. The big question is if they’ll ever forgive us for infecting them with a love of Arsenal!
As for Fulham,Arteta and the transfer window I’ve kinda taken a back seat and decided to let it all play out. I’ll make up my mind then about the squad but my opinion of Arteta has not changed. As for Fulham,well,they’re not very good are they. I think it’s time for some assessment of this idea that the premiership is exceptionally competitive. It might be compared to other leagues,but compared to previous decades? No way. But that’s for another day! Heading off for the day,hope everyone on LIR has a good one.