Ladies and Gentlemen, we took another trip around the Sun and celebrated like it’s the last one. But it’s not, and we have to get back to business in our personal, professional and football world. I will let you deal with the first two, but lets talk about football. We are playing Brentford today on their ground. It’s going to be a tough one because Brentford had a great home run in 2024, they are very well coached for set pieces and we have an injury to our best player.
It shouldn’t deter us though, we saw what happened with Chelsea after a great run and there’s a very good chance that Liverpool will have a bad phase sometime soon. We need to remain closer to them to take advantage of the situation and we need to win today for that.
Team news
Bukayo Saka is out injured for a long time. Sterling is suffering from a knee injury. Ben White and Tomiyasu have not recovered from their injuries as well. But there’s a surprize today in the lineup which we have been asking since long.
Here’s the line up to play –
Nwaneri starts at right wing. Timber and Calafiori are back in the defence so MLS has to sit this one out on bench. Declan Rice gets some rest for Merino with Thomas Partey anchoring that midfield, while Nwaneri and Martinelli starts on the wings and Jesus plays in the centre. There’s no Havertz today, not sure about the reason but I don’t have anything to complain.
We certainly are going to miss Bukayo but lets see what Ethan offers in his first ever Premier League start. I would have loved to see him play in midfield but if he benefits from Saka’s absence, he will have a big claim for that midfield position once starboy is back.
Right, I will keep it short today. Hope you had a blast and lets see out the first day of the year on the positive note with a massive WIN. Liverpool are not backing down and are probably in a place where they will go ahead and win this, but there’s always a chance and a win today will make sure we remain in the mix.
See you during the game.
Another player injured – we’re going to run out of bodies at this rate.
Jorginho won’t be available for a month…there’s no way MA wanted to bring Tierney in
I really don’t know why Arteta has a problem with Tierney that was a lovely cross.
Marc—besides the obvios injury concerns and the fact that he wasn’t of his choosing, I think the biggest issue was his inability to play the inverted role that MA had convinced himself was the key to unlocking his Pep-light tactics
obvious
the fact that we couldn’t finish this match in regular time, let alone within the extra 30+ minutes, against a 10 man United side is quite pathetic
I thought we’d buck it but we were poor up top and need a clinical 9 more than ever.
Rice is rubbish in the final third but we paid £100m so ……
Tony- we need a 9, an 8 and some competition for places out wide
TRVL
I don’t have a problem with Arteta wanting an upgrade but why destroy the value of the player in the process?
The fact that the 2 players Arteta has signed at LB both have issues – Zinchenko is a liability and Calafiori seems just as injury prone.
And to top off a shit performance Havertz misses a pen.
Tony—people will talk about his chances, but if you look closely none of those attempts were worthy of any praise…let’s not forget he was unmarked on both occasions, which is why I made the Xhaka comparison
We’re going out here.
Must say Havertz is consistent.
The keeper checked some notes before Havertz penalty ?
Marc—I wasn’t talking about an upgrade, as I don’t think Zinchenko was one…not only that, look at what transpired with Marts once you provided him with literally no real help
What was Raya doing there?
I’m not quite sure why the commentator said Havertz was having a bad night, as this was par for the fucking course
So out of both domestic cups in a week, the PL is a pipe dream and we have zero chance of winning the PL.
So season over before the middle of Jan.
Can’t wait for the MA excuses
the fact that Zirkzee finished things is so apropos, as he’s taken a beating since arriving and yet I would take him over Havertz in a heartbeat
Think posters said it here several times. Arteta will die on the Havertz hill.
By the way , liked looking at the turmoil on ElBastardo face , last 15 minutes. He needs to suffer so can get some empathy