We could have done the double last year had we not lost to Man City in the finals. The loss to Man City was a disappointing one for us. Nico O’Reilly scored twice and ruined some of the fun that was about to come later. We also lost to PSG in the Champions League finals, and missed the treble. The getaway was that you shouldn’t lose finals but to learn from those losses, we must reach there again.
And the journey begins today. We are visiting Ipswich Town today in the third round of Carabao Cup / EFL cup. There are some good teams competing this time – Chelsea, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Palace, Newcastle have already made it to the next round. The fate of Arsenal, Man Utd, City, Liverpool and Spurs will be decided today.
We are unbeaten so far this season. 4 Premier League wins and a CL win so far, and we can add another one today. And it’s the second last game before we go into the international break, so the manager is under no duress to rest players. Though, I would like to see the likes of Max Dowman getting some game time today, Mikel likely prefers to go with the best fit XI.
Wenger used these cups to develop academy players and he would find some gems often. He invested his time and also cost the club a few points in doing so. But we are way past the development phase and we can spend 60m on players that would be second fiddle to Saliba and Rice, so don’t expect anything interesting. The best we can do is, WIN, and move on to the next round.
Every trophy matters. We have the best squad in the Premier League and we have already won the Premier League. The next target is to win more, and not just settle with the title this season.
In the team news, we would probably see Kepa back in the goals. There’s so much to do for Raya, so he will get some rest. We can also see a midfield of MLS and Guimaraes, with Merino in the Odegaard role. Madueke is a candidate to get a start and we might see Eze over Tzolis. Gyokeres could also get his start. I don’t care frankly who starts and if he is fatigued, we have got at least 2 players for each position and that removes the injury anxiety for me.
That’s all for today, see you during the game.
Sorry Ambarish but the double is the League and FA Cup.
The League Cup is pretty mickey mouse and should only be used for giving back up players some game time for sharpness, helping players who have been out with injury match time and giving young players a taste of the first team.
After that its a nuisance.
Sorry Marc – yes, traditionally it’s the league + FA cup. I was just counting the trophies we could win. There are 4 to fight for.
What’s that starting line up, I don’t understand. Marli Salmon, the 17 year old, gets his first start along side Gabriel. Lewis Skelly is back at LB, and Zubi is playing RB considering White is injured and we can’t risk Timber much.
Merino, Eze and Guimaraes in midfield, Madueke on the right, Dowman on the left and Gyokeres up front.
Kepa
What a GOAL…
Dowman making his mark…
Good to see Chuba on the score sheet. I think he was close to making it at Arsenal when he was young.
Dowman playing in the 10 position last night should set off alarm bells for Eze..
The writing could be on the wall for Eze so don’t be surprised to see him leave the club next summer.
The return to form of Odegaard is not great news for Eze , and now being demoted to 3rd choice for the playmaker role is more concern for him.
Injuries may be Eze’s only hope this season as he certainly isn’t a winger.
As good as Dowman was last night lets not forget about the performance of Salmon who along with Dowman purred like a Rolls Royce , these 2 are going to save the club fortunes.
https://youtube.com/shorts/Q5WHOwg2zys?is=dSoSZJqbONlMcKgg
‘As I said previously’ (#18,742zzzzzzzzz) this piss poor referee is a sworn Man City fan, hopelessly biased against the Arsenal. Tony Atwood told me…
Wicksy
So Arteta paid £70 million for a player who’ll be sold off after two seasons at what will likely be a huge loss and you’re OK with that when there are reports the club is hiring consultants to find areas to cut costs and lay off staff?
I’d suggest who ever the consultants are they report back “its the useless cunt you’ve got as a manager who spends other peoples money like a drunken socialist”
Good to be drawn against Fleetwood in the next round of the Cara-bong (crazy name, crazy fucking drink I’d imagine if you were brave enough to mix it with a voddy).
The lowest ranked team left (4th level), but they wear Arsenal colours and their stadium is called Highbury. I don’t know how but I might try and get tickets.
Marc
Why are you so obsessed and so critical about the finances at Arsenal , is it because you can’t complain about the football so you have to find another reason to knock Arteta.
7 wins on the bounce ,scoring 16 goals , all open play and not one set piece to whinge about , so it’s understandable why you would try and find another stick to beat Arteta with .
Eze scored and assisted many superb goals last season so I certainly wouldn’t write him off as injuries can sometimes be a blessing in disguise and give a player a chance to impress, and if he was sold we would certainly at least get our money back..
For me Dowman is ready, his decision making on the ball is already excellent, he showed with his first goal that he is 2 footed so I don’t see any reason why he can’t be a back up to Tzolis on the left, in fact I would prefer to see him up top instead of the hopeless Gyokeres as Dowman is streets ahead of him in technique, skill, protecting the ball under pressure, linking the play , anticipation and football brain , though of course he won’t be used up top but even Gyokeres most ardent fans, of which there are a few on here unsurprisingly, must be questioning his value to the team , I said from day one (KP)that he lacks all of the above and that will prove to be his undoing.
Brighton at the weekend will be another tough away game, in fact I would take a draw now , I do expect a different approach from Arsenal in that Brighton will have more possession and we will try and hit them on the break as they do over commit going forward, our defence will certainly know they have been in a game…
I said on day 1 (cliché much?) that it’ll be day 2 tomorrow.
I’m thinking of wangling a free transfer to ‘Unsold Anusol’. Dear Mr Atwood – want to talk to my agent?
Wicksy
You think I can’t complain about the football?
Seriously – the fact that I’ve got so bored watching the last 2 matches means I’ve stopped watching after an hour or so tells you everything.
Why don’t you care about people who work hard for the club losing their jobs because Arteta is a fucking moron when it comes to spending the clubs money?
After winning the PL and getting to the CL final the clubs finances should be in the strongest position they’ve been in for years – if they’re like this after doing the above what would happen if we missed out on CL football for a season?
You’re just a dozy cunt who claps along because they’re not capable of independent thought.
‘and if he was sold we would certainly at least get our money back..’
Out of curiosity, Wicksy, what club do you see paying Arsenal £67.5m for a 29 year old Eze who’s on £180kpw?
Tom
Its like his brain won’t engage with reality.
Reminds me of a Spud fan I used to work with.
Wicksy
“Eze scored and assisted many superb goals last season so I certainly wouldn’t write him off as injuries can sometimes be a blessing in disguise and give a player a chance to impress”
And yet a couple of days ago you were talking about him being sold because he was surplus to requirements.
Do you want to make up your mind?
Spuddies vs Villa is a massive game – one of them maybe even both are going into the international break without a win.
Huge amount of pressure.
Come on Villa!
Veeeeeeeeeeeeelahhhhhhh!
Pundits are do full of shit – all saying the defender should have let the ball go out and then dealt with the corner.
If the player had let the ball go out and Villa had scored from the corner they’d all be screaming why didn’t he clear the ball to avoid the corner.
Was nice looking at the faces of Spudies fans after the drubbing.
How difficult to the a₹ho3$ to realise maybe they should withdraw from football and take up something appropriate … like cricket or crochet
Old jokes are the oldest…and this one could be relevant for several weeks at this rate.
What’s the difference between Spurs and the Star of David?
The Star of David has 6 points! ✡️