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.
We’re seriously lacking some creativity in the team today – one of those matches where Nwaneri could step up and cement a place in the team. Beyond that we’re about to see why we paid £30 plus million for Merino.
Spuddies 10 points off 5th place and 9 points off 18th.
Have a feeling there’s going to be a job advert placed in the Seven Sisters Gazette pretty soon.
Just seen the bench – ouch!
Brilliant goal from Nwaneri.
Ethan drove and drove and got a goal.
Showing the rest and El B how it is to be done
Ambarish
I’m pleased for Nwaneri and of course they all count but I’m not sure the keeper covered himself in glory on that one.
On the other hand Fat Frank made a career out of getting goals that took a deflection.
For those who’ve been following the darts.
Nwaneri is Arsenal’s answer to Luke Littler.
I don’t have a problem with Nwaneri being booked for time wasting – it was obvious the ref was losing his temper.
I do have a problem with the countless times teams time waste against us and the ref’s don’t do a thing.
Brighton fans are awful wankers…they moan as much as northerners.
Marc
I bet that kerb crawling old git David Pleat will be ironing his crimplene suit in anticipation.
Brighton have been poor, they seems to have few players unavailable. They finishing has been poor and their build is lacking the usual verve of Brighton football. As for us they seem to be doing just enough to see this match through.
Kroenke
Can you imagine the Spud’s reaction if Levy actually did that – I reckon they’d riot.
Madhu
Bearing in mind we have Rice, Jorginho and Merino in midfield Brighton are getting through us too easily – add in some stray passing and we’re making life difficult for ourselves.
True Marc but they don’t seem to have the finishing needed. They have plenty of possession but don’t do enough which is not typical Brighton.
That was a minimum of a booking – bordering on reckless.
That is not a penalty.
Anywhere else, involving any other team, and that’s called, ‘an accidental clash of heads’. If Saliba’s challenge was malicious, IE a headbutt, shouldn’t he have been red carded? Fucking insane.
Saliba headed into the player on the side of his head. Not intentional. But guess the dangerous play part played a part in that decision.
Kroenke
I’ve never seen a penalty given for similar circumstances – including highlights of a “this was an unusual one”.
You don’t want to sound like a conspiracy nut or that you’re making excuses but we do seem to get decisions against us that are a first or suddenly stop being fouls afterwards.
Hoopah
I’ve seen keepers punch opposition players in the head from corners etc that are deemed “accidental”.
If you see another similar decision in the next 10 years I’ll buy you a cold beer on a sunny day!