We all had our hopes pinned to the relegation bound Nottingham Forest drawing against the might Liverpool. They were unlucky, do were we… because Nunez scored a goal in 9th minute of extra time which allowed Liverpool to keep their points advantage at the top. They now sit at the top, 4 points ahead of Man City and 5 points from us, where we both have a game in hand. A loss to them last night would have made everything more exciting.
Anyways, you don’t win titles because of someone else’s downfall. You win because you have the heart and courage to fight, and convert into performance on the pitch on gamedays. There are still 12 games to go, both City and Arsenal will get chances to go back to the top, if we take or it let it go like season is what will decide our fate this season.
We are playing Sheffield United tomorrow. They are having a rough time, and most likely will be relegated. They are 20th, with 13 points having won just 3 games in 26 which they have played and there is no way we should lose to them. I would even expect us to improve that goal difference by few goals.
We have some positive news from the fitness point of view. Thomas Partey is expected to make the matchday squad after months, Zinchenko and Tomiyasu might not make it tomorrow but they are close as well, and we could see them back in a week. Timber has started training with the team, he won’t play for a month at least but he is recovering well and we need everyone we can have for the remaining 12 games and the Champions League run.
We ran out of options last season because some players were out injured, others were fatigued and we don’t want to repeat that this season.
Mikel Arteta had different views for playing against Sheffield United, when asked about what challenges they will pose, this is what he had to say…
They’re a really difficult team to beat. I’ve watched four or five games now with the City game, the way they started against Villa, and then obviously the game took a different route, but as you mentioned they are extremely well coached. I know Chris really well and I admire his teams, a lot of things that he does with them. It will be Monday night football and it’s going to be a tough night.
source: arsenal.com
Look, we don’t like to play against the bottom teams. They sit back, they let us have all the possessions and sometimes Mikel Arteta don’t know what to do with that. We need to break that, because that’s what Sheff’s are going to do.
Right, a short one today. I will be back before the game tomorrow. Hope you are having a nice weekend!
TRVL
Last time Sheffield United were in the PL, we played them in a Monday night game iirc. During Emery and Gunnerdoozi’s time. We lost weakly by 1 goal to nil, a corner at which we were hopelessly out muscled. I’ll look it up and post it. The blades were singing that stupid fucking John Denver tune all game (you fill up my senses… Etc.) A bad night.
KP-I was likewise thinking of a myriad of different “holes”, but the Shawshank line just popped into my head
you mean fucking “Annie’s Song”…my Mom was a big fan of JD until his drug habits became common knowledge, then she acted like he never fucking existed
Trvl
Certainly sounds credible (and that’s all that matters in a post truth world).
I always take solace though from the fact that Haaland, despite his prowess, goals and money, is one of the ugliest motherfuckers I’ve ever seen. Assuming he has a GF, I’d love to ask her that time honoured question…
what attracted you to the fabulously wealthy norse goal robot? 🤖💰💰💰
That’s the one. Annie’s song. Bloooagghhhhh!
https://youtu.be/zQ-JfLdMW4o?si=Mg4GRLYUaY206qHs
Nice away kit that year… But Sead Kolasinac! What the fuck were they thinking? I remember feeling utterly desperate after that game.
I’m presently watching good old Sead, as he’s playing for Atalanta, which makes me think a bit better of him, due to how highly I rate Gasperini’s managerial abilities…I so wish GPG had come our way, post-Wenger, as he has an incredibly knack to get the best out of his players, an eye for talent and he’s shored up his early defensive tactical issues
I should have said “he’s shored up some of his earlier defensive issues”, as I watched them get boat-raced by Inter, to the tune of a 4-0 scoreline, last week
Kolasinac was always going to struggle here considering what was expected of him on the heels of all the chatter surrounding him being voted onto the Bundesliga team of the year the season prior…he was never worthy of any such accolades…another rather disingenuous propping-up of a player arriving on a free transfer
there’s a whole mess of interesting players involved in this matchup between Atalanta and Bologna…of course Kirkzee, but also Lewis Ferguson, Ademola Lookman and Koopmeiners…not to mention, I’ve always been a fan of Orsolini, as he’s a true wide-side player, who can shoot from distance and provide cover on both sides of the pitch
there’s been plenty of talk about our need to add depth, which is rather ironic considering MA’s early season nonsesne about being two-deep at every position, but I tend to disagree with this notion for one very Arteta-specific reason…first and foremost I’m by no means suggesting that depth is an important aspect of squad construction, in fact quite the contrary, but it’s exceedingly less pertinent when you have a manager who wants nothing more than to play his “best” 11 regardless of the opposition or the potential long-term consequences…as such, we should be focused squarely on developing the best 11 possible instead of “wasting” our time and energy on those who will be largely unused periphery pieces
as for today’s road match at Bramall Lane, we could have several previously injured players available for selection…of course Jesus has been available for about a week but has yet to see the field, whereas Partey, Tomi and Zinchenko appear that they’re ready to go or at least very close to being match fit…It does make me wonder how that will affect the selection process, as I can already see the shoehorning King making some decisions that could be counterintuitive from a greater good perspective, so long as Havertz is a non-negotiable everday starter
KP
Haaland’s GF – ‘ I just close my eyes and think ££££££’s’
Hi NORG
Yuck…. Imagine that slobbering big ugly head of his looming ominously above her in the middle of the night with his greasy barnet dangling in her face. It doesn’t bear thinking about. 😝
We really ought to win tonight right? I’ve got weird, scoring-in-the-last-minute type vibes for this, a la Luton. I don’t really know why. I cannot get further ahead than a nervy 2-1 win.
In a pre-Declan age, I would’ve been even more nervous. But there is a chasm of difference in the quality of players and subs, league position and recent form.
KP – I can remember the days of Don Howe’s management. Expectation was low. We now know we have the players to provide good results but there is always the nagging feeling that galaxy brain will do something to destroy it. Havertz will start, run around with the best intention but will still look poor to the naked eye.
Fans of Generational will say there is a hidden method to his play but we are reality mongers and know a misfit when we see one.
Hi NORG
I look back on Don Howe’s tenure with a great deal of fondness. We always seemed to finish 6th! I recall we were pretty strong at home (maybe more draws than wins) but were ropier away. Very tough defensively on the whole. And although sometimes edgy (and not always full) it was a time when I was going regularly and falling in love with Highbury. And Don himself was a regular, no-nonsense boss who stood for something good and decent.
I think he possibly deserves a little more credit for the period given how the club went on to flourish under GG.
Back then, teams weren’t measured by their financial might. Although Arsenal were moderately well off, they were pretty profligate back in those days and punched at (rather than over or under) their weight. Good times.
Parsimonious, not profligate! Fucking old age!
KP before my daughter arrived on the scene home games were a must and we also took in quite a few away games. Our gang of 4 would be accompanied to an away game with our GF’s. The GF’s would go shopping – we would find a pub and then attend the game. After the game all 8 of us would then have a meal and then make our way home. Brighton was a good venue for this.
NORG
That’s how it ought to be. I was hoping last weekend would go along similar lines as Ms Kroenkephobe joined me (for the first time ever!) at a football match 150 miles from Pembrokeshire in Colwyn Bay.
The drive up was fine – we spent some time driving through Snowdonia on Friday and had a meal in nearby Bangor and did some sightseeing on Ynys Mon (Anglesey). I don’t think it was pre-match nerves (!) but on the day of the game, she changed her mind and said she’d go to the cinema while I was in the four crosses stadium as it’s known. We drove to the cinema as kick off time was approaching – one of my things is getting to a game in ample time. The cinema was not only closed but was derelict! So this meant football was back on for her and when we got there she suddenly became an uninformed expert on the Cymru Premier league. In other words asking me all manner of bullshit questions about football. Are we obliged to sit in certain seats? No. Don’t shout anything in case you start a fight! Kin ell! I’m freezing so can we watch the game from the bar? No – a real no-no for me. I’m freezing (again) – can we leave early? Aagh!
Which GK is which? They’ve both got green kits on?
And on and on and on… I made a mental note after about 60 minutes never to do another football related road trip with Ms Kroenkephobe. And the game was goalless!
It was a 12.30 kick off so the drive home via Betws-y-Coed and Machynlleth was very pleasant by contrast. She even (grudgingly) read out the afternoon’s results at 5pm, although heavily criticised me for using the F word when I heard the Liverpool result.
No more. Your system sounds much more agreeable for all concerned.
KP
I must admit as you get older the thought of standing in the cold is less & less enticing. I had excellent seats at Highbury, East stand upper – next to centre – next to the journalists. On occasions I would give my tickets to friends and joined another group that stood in the clock end. The standing group was made up of company directors of fairly large organisations. The banter was electric.
On that point, Colwyn played in the English lower leagues til recently so their ground is one of the better ones. Attendences for these games are in their hundreds rather than thousands so finding a seat in not an issue.
I had a north bank standing ST for many years until they put the mural in and made it a seated double decker. Remember all that old bollocks about debentures? I was moved to the clock end seating and never looked back. I had the odd foray into the East and West stands and enjoyed it but I was a big singer back in the day.
It’s funny now, after watching so many games at one of the ends, I’ll always try to get a seat down one of the sides these days.
So Harry Kane left the Spuddies so he could win trophies with Bayern but its looking like Bayern are going to lose them like the Spuds.
Ambarish Hoopah and Divyanshu
Are you three tuning in tonight (well Tuesday morning I guess). Tony?
Any thoughts on how it’ll go? It ought to be a win but what do you think?
Hi Marc
I can imagine that little nugget is pleasing Arsenal and Spurs fans in equal measure. It cheered me up no end when I got wind of it and imagined our Swiss/Albanian/Kosovan friend showing him his winner’s medal.
Kroenke
Its possible that the only “trophy” he’ll pick up is the Golden Boot – guess that the Golden Boot trophy in the Bundes League is.
Its a fucking cannon!
On Paper AFC should slaughter the opposition tonight. The mighty blades will be like a closed up pen knife.
Another 5 -0 to the Arsenal would be good unless Wilder has added some steel to the team. One of my contractors is Sheffield based – they are going to the game tonight wearing dark glasses.
Marc
Is that trophy called ‘Der Meisterkunt’ by any chance?
NORG
I’ve been to Bramhall Lane. Nice and tidy compact old skool ground. No nearby pubs for away fans forcing you to drink their lukewarm piss from a can inside. 5-0 will be splendid.
Anyone watching Tets’s pre-match interview? The exchange with Thierry seemed super-awkward given his alignment with Ek at one point and his less than flattering assessment of MA a few seasons ago. Not on each other’s Christmas card list I reckon.
Watching Carragher and his unswerving support for anything bindips. Surprise, surprise. Performative arsehole.
almost didn’t make the start of the match, as it’s a record 19 degrees here in southwestern ontario…I’m hoping this will be a worthwhile watch…SHU look ripe for the taking…as I say that Havertz misses two chances then Ode pots one into an open net
makes me wonder if this would have been the starting 11 if we were facing a much stiffer opponent…I suspect it would be, but the fact that his “best” 11 includes both Jorginho and Havertz up top speaks to the importance of spending in the right places come the summer