To be honest, the only reason I created this blog was to remind everyone that LONDON IS RED. The best of the lot is fighting for the league title, while the other one is trying to overtake Aston Villa for a 4th place finish to qualify for Champions League. Do you remember the first 10 games? Ange was the next big thing in the world, Spurs were competing for the title and some of the pundits (trust me, I will do a better job) were claiming that City reign has come to an end. Nothing like that has happened, mate.
Liverpool dropped points again and Salah couldn’t hold his anger towards Klopp. Statistically, they are still in contention but realistically, they are out. It’s either Man City or Arsenal. We are sitting a point ahead of City having played an extra game. They are a winning team, and they have easy run of games. No one will be surprised if they go on and win all their games in hand and ultimately the title. However, the least we can do is, keep them on their toes, a win today will give us a 4 point lead, and they won’t be able to afford any slip ups. We are better in goal difference as well.
But for that to happen, we must beat Tottenham today. Will it be tough? No – if we don’t go out to shoot ourselves in the foot. We are far superior than those c*nts.
Team News
We have a fit squad except Timber. Jurrien played an U21 game but he still need some time to make into the match day squad. Thomas Partey is back, and is in form.
When we signed Declan Rice from West Ham, everyone expected a midfield of Odegaard, Partey and Rice where Thomas takes the defensive role, and Rice plays in an advanced position. However, Mikel did a Mikel and started Partey at RB at the beginning of this season, who then got injured. Jorginho played that role in few games, Rice played the defensive role while Havertz supported him otherwise. Against Chelsea, we saw what we expected and we won 5-0 (which could have been much worse for the blues). I am hoping we get to see that midfield again.
Defensively, we are set. Saliba and Gabriel with White as RB and Tomiyasu/Kiwior as LB. I would love to see Martinelli starting today, Saka is going to start and I would prefer Havertz over Jesus in the CF role.
We all have forgotten about Ramsdale.
Game plan
I am not the manager. I don’t have any game plans except for no-fuck ups, and scoring 5 goals at minimum. And yes, don’t forget the clean sheet.
Here’s the thing, Ange likes possession and he likes to press. Our defence is press resistance and with Partey’s addition, we get that extra threat where he just comes up with a perfect balanced pass that no one would have thought of. The key would be to score an early goal, get tight defensively and hit them on the counter like we were doing against Aston Villa in the first half.
There will be some moments in the game where we will not receive the ball. Spurs have the 2nd best possession percentage after City, and in those moments, it’s very crucial that we maintain our defensive structure and not let them break it.
One very positive thing about today’s NLD is that we don’t get to see Harry Kane. He has been a c*nt against us.
Wrapping Up
Make sure to order an extra pint today, because we are winning and that means we get to celebrate the St. Totteringham Day.
I am hoping for a good game today, and a win keeps us in the title race. City will drop points if the gods are not happy with those 115 charges.
Right, see you during the game. Don’t forget to share your starting XI and predictions in the comment section.
Tony-I think the only things working in our favour is Ederson’s injury and maybe City’s back-to-back matches against the Spurs and the Hammers, which might mean something to both of those teams…now if these fixtures were 7 days apart that might mean exceedingly less, but City has 3 matches in 8 days to end their season
NORG
Seville’s a lovely city with a nice bit of edge, the whole region is good fun. I like the vibes. Bit less up it’s backside than other parts of Spain, for me.
The shirts thing is a thing. I used a, highly subjective and arbitrary, index of fake shirts in countries where genuine articles would be at a premium. There was a noticeable decline in Arsenal shirts in the bazaars of places like Marrakesh, Istanbul, Damascus or Tehran in the lean years
While of course I had to observe the upturn in Chelsea, Spuds and, for some reason, quite slowly ManC. I can only surmise they didn’t have the global majority appeal that a team with say Drogba, Essien or lols, Adebayor may have had. And of course, Lolerpool and ManU are hardy perennials.
On a trip to Serbia last year I saw fake Sakas matched only by Al Hilal. Earlier this year I even saw fakes of those extra kits Arsenal churn out in Moroccco. The women’s third kit, the ‘lyfestyler’ and original versions of the third kit. We’re truly back!
Having watched the semis, I have no idea what business bookies had pitching us as third faves. Had we sneaked through v Bayern, all three teams left could have done us some damage.
Germany look like their squad will be a decent one come the euros.
Aitcho
You can add BKK to your copies list. Back in 1999 when I first came to Thailand our shirt wearing fans of mostly copies but there was an Arsenal shop in Central World.
As Wenger’s losses racked up so the shirts disappeared with L’Pool, Manure (top), Chavs and then City. Very few mainland European clubs had fans in their shirt: only RM & Barca. I don’t remember see German or Italian club shirts being worn.
Now it’s City, Pool, Barca, PSG, RM and the sole Arsenal shirt I saw recently when I spent time in BKK.
For Thais to follow, you have to win trophies. Funny concept I know, but there it is. Thais follow winners.
TRVL
I just think City’s squad and quality with experience will shine through and get Pep over the line, Obviously, I’m hoping, but is hope enough? I think not!
I just don’t see it.
Tony-as you’re well-aware I’m a glass half empty kind of guy when it comes to most things Arsenal-related, for good reason I might add, but I still think these are the kind of fine margin issues that could swing things in our favour…of course, that only matters if we get our business done
on another note, after watching the CL semis, this was likely our best chance to win it all, considering what’s on tap for Real come the summer…every remaining side is flawed and in flux…in fact, we might have had the most settled starting side, if it weren’t for all the shoehorning…problem is it’s difficult to win if you’re more concerned about not losing, or getting embarassed, than winning…we should have learned that lesson from our previous round matchup, when we barely squeaked by a rather pedestrian Porto side
if we had only shown some balls like Dortmund, who by the way are currently in 5th place and 24 points behind the League leaders. we could have exercised some long-standing Bayern demons…after all, this wasn’t some sort of CL juggernaut Munich side who were destined to make the semis or beyond, in fact, this was a more flawed version of the same side who had been ousted in the quarters for 3 years running…even if our manager felt that we were overmatched, why not act like you’re playing with house money, instead of adopting what can only be described as a settling bitch approach…talk about looking a gift horse in the fucking mouth
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/may/01/ange-postecoglou-warns-tottenham-copying-arsenal-schoolyard-dark-arts
This is fucking hilarious and well worth a quick read. A whingeing Aussie bastard (as opposed to a pommie one) and a hypocrite who sent his goal keeper up to do the same thing he is moaning about Ben White doing. Too little, too late my kangaroo mating mate!
And the ultimate humiliation for Ange? Out-thought by a pseudo manager like Arteta.
Dark Arts from Spurs players as well? Never!
From the team that gave us Graham Roberts, Razor (the clue’s in the name) Ruddock, Pat vd Hauwe, Lisping/Elbowing Arry K-k-k-ane and diving wankers like Son, Lamela and that Brazilian geezer.
Bad losers and only occasional bad winners. Terrible club from the wastelands of Middlesex. Resorting to this – their neanderthal fans will be beating their chests in anguish and embarrassment.
It does talk to the virtues of snidey, front foot, semi aggressive behaviour in football. Late Wenger/Emery/and early Arteta, we were soft as shite and our body language was sometimes submissive. But winning teams need a few hardnuts. Peter Storey, Adams, Vieira, Petit, Bergo etc. And it’s true elsewhere – Sounness, Case, Tommy Smith, Keane, Chopper Harris, and more recently Rodri.
If Spurs genuinely think they’re above the cut and thrust (and I don’t think they do), no wonder they haven’t won a title for 63 years….. 🌵🌿🌿🌿A tumbleweed moment.
I successfully convinced my kids that ersatz Arsenal jerseys were much cooler than the real thing because they were niche, exotic, and they were sticking it to the big man by paying 2 quid for one instead of 60. It also meant I was able to squeeze in some dogma about the evils of capitalism while conveniently failing to mention that ALL clothes are made in sweat shops.
My son even had one that was misspelt (from Turkey iirc). No one else in Wales had one with ARSHAVEN on the back!
Kroenke
I don’t wear football shirts but that’s a personal thing what I don’t understand is club’s (its not just Arsenal) charging so much for kids shirts etc.
Keep the price low and get them hooked whilst they’re young and you’ve then got a fan for life.
I agree Marc. I can remember my first Arsenal kit vividly from the very early 70s. My mum sewed a separately bought badge on it. I even had the proper red socks with a single narrowish white hoop right at the top. Long sleeved shirts back then. Even as a kid, I kind of remember thinking there was no way back after I’d got the kit (even if I’d wanted to).
Call me a traitor but around that time I also bought a pair of those Leeds United numbered sock ‘flaps’ for want of a better description. Number 11 – I played left wing as a kid and I quite liked Eddie Gray.
You feeling confident about playing the Cherries and are you going?
While you’re watching the game on Saturday lads, think of me in South Yorkshire slumming it with junior and his mates in Rotherham. Bluebirds! 🐦
KP, living in North London, I don’t think my kids will get away with moody Arsenal kits but they’ll take a fake anything else at the drop of a hat, nothing domestic naturally. Not having that.
They judge holidays on the quality and value of the fakes, among other things, and are almost dismissive of places that have low grade fakes. Qatar and Dubai being examples, they don’t even try football kit wise.
Has anyone had a bash at the Euros last minute portal this morning? I jumped in slightly late and queued for a couple of hours. Slim pickings, no fans first left, very few Cat 3, nothing that I really wanted. I’ll have to be content with what I have.
After the WC, not being able to see multiple games a day seems so limiting. And they seem to have deliberately kept the games spaced apart geographically. the rotters. Only matches 22/24, 13/15 seem remotely doable as a pair. I’ve got 15 and accommodation booked so not going to be moving.
Not doing Bournemouth, too early and work scuppered that plan. Young ‘uns both have away games so a bit tight for them. Maybe better for all our nerves.
I hear you on the Thais loving winners Tony. As I’ve come to learn, people engage in football in different ways, from Bengalis supporting Argentina at the WC because of Maradona in 86, just living somewhere, your first game or plain glory hunting, I’m less judgemental these days.
Kroenke
Yes I’m taking my nephew – I’ve taken him to a couple of other matches but always sat in friends seats lower tier I’ve managed to snagged the seat next to my ST to it’ll be a different experience for him.
As for the result – if you can’t beat Bournemouth at home you don’t deserve to finish top 4 let alone be in contention for the title.
We really need a national campaign – It’s not VAR its the useless cunts operating it.
It just took them ages to check an offside that everyone else watching managed in 3 seconds.
First half Chavs Spuds, for the jokes. So much shit on display. Spuds have an excuse, this is the history of the Tottenham as Conte famously advised them.
Chelsea, no excuse. Only looking at which homegrown players we can bag to ease their FFP woes. James, of course, if we’re serious about continuous improvement. Gallagher would be an interesting addition but I fear two years of pleasing himself might need a lot of undoing.
Let’s see how the top brass manage sales of Eddie, ESR and Nelson this summer and make sure we’re in a strong position PSR wise.
Gonna leave them to it. Midweek eight a side, thought is was going to be warm.
Aitcho
Assuming all 3 of Eddie, ESR and Nelson are sold how much do you think we’ll get for for them?
I’d be shocked (pleasantly surprised) if we managed £60 million for all 3.
Marc
I hope you both enjoy it. I agree that we ought to have enough.
Aitcho
Chelsea v Spuds… Fucking awful game. We might well finish trophy less this season but at least we’re the best team in London. But that’ll be scant consolation if we miss out.
Kroenke
He’s a good kid and I’m training him to be a complete right wing bar steward!
As for being best team in London this season – Orient are more in contention that the Spud’s or Chelsea. Its been such an odd season – ManU, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spud’s even Brighton have been really poor.
Marc, I think 60m is realistic, should be more. I’ll be shocked if we get less.
I don’t think ESR’s value is shot yet. Not playing him probably protected his value although I’m not suggesting that was the rationale. People at other clubs can see our players in a different light, more often than not, through highlight reels rather than regular games. I remember how fans of other players used to wax lyrical about Theo Walcott based on numbers, his highlights, contrary to the dross he consistently churned up. I think ESR could make 40m if we push. It’s not a lot for a homegrown player of his standing.
Reiss and Eddie, 20m each. In my head, they’re not worth that but I’ve watched them regularly. And again, homegrown. Now we’re a good team they carry a bit more cred. I’ve also seem some right dross going in the 15-20m bracket. Proper take a punt market. They should be asking 30m each and walk back from that. If Brenan Johnson and Palmer who were untested went for 40s 30 isn’t a big ask. Eddie’s wages might be an issue and perhaps slice into the fee.
KP, like St Totts, Pride of London is still worth it. But yeah that first half was dross. See Jackson scored later. The poster boy for Chelsea’s malaise, followed closely by Mudryk and a whole raft not far behind.
Marc—I would be incredibly surprised if we could get 60M combined for these particular 3 players…each player has some serious stumbling blocks when it comes to securing a reasonable fee….as of right now, Eddie has a MV of 30M, ESR 25M and Nelson 15M, which would seem to suggest that we should get a minimum of 70M, as most players from successful clubs are getting above the number…problem is, we’ve been absolutely atrocious when it comes time to sell…there are a variety of reasons for our transfer-related shortcomings, most of which are self-inflicted:
(1) high wages—both Nelson and Eddie were given unjustified wages in the region of 100/wk, after both were given raises by MA last summer…no team is going to give us top dollar and pay those kinds of wages, as neither is a bona fide starter in the PL, at least not for a team with the financial wherewithal required to take on those sort of weekly expenditures..ESR wages are substantially lower, so it might not be quite so problematic, as you likely wouldn’t need to lower the fee to offset the overall costs
(2) having a manager who refuses to put players in the shop window—none of these players have played enough, so this will provide the buyer will considerable leverage…this certainly isn’t our first rodeo in this regards, as we’ve seen several of our former player’s market values plummet due to their lack of playing time…now some might wrongly suggest that this might actual be to our advantage, as they likewise didn’t sully their respective values by getting significant minutes and performing poorly, but that’s a grasping a straws wet dream
(3) our unrealistic demands—even when players are ghosted or deemed unplayable/unreliable by the manager, we still place unattainable fee demands on their respective heads…this strategy has never borne fruit during MA’s reign…just look at the ridiculous values we placed on players whom we ultimately released or sold for next to nothing…for example, it appears as if we’ve placed a 60M value on Ramsdale, a player most felt we paid above the number for a few years back, when we paid about half that amount, and who likewise barely saw the fucking pitch this season….that formula certainnly didn’t do wonders for Leno’s MV
(4) injury issues—both ESR and Nelson have had several injury issues during their time here, Eddie not as much so…teams would be foolish not to use this troubling fact to their benefit when cutting any deal…now this isn’t a self-inflicted wound, unless we were acting in a negilent fashion, but that will still have a bearing on any negotiations
the only positives in this particular scenario is that some will place a premium on both their homegrown status and the fact they were member of a top 4 side for 2 consecutive seasons…that said, the whole “status” gig might scare off some potential transfer partners, as they might not deem these particular players as premium-worthy… now there will be those who will invariably fall in love with a particular player, at which time all commonsensical bets are off, as they might be willing to stretch their budget regardless of the prevailing logic…this likely only applies to ESR, as he seems to have garnered the most interest in season’s past
TRVL
You are right – the stumbling block is high wages. Not sure what Emile earns but Nelson & Eddie are both overpaid. For any team to take them their negotiators will factor the wages. There will be demand for ESR – he is quality. The purchasing team will cite his injury record (as stated by AFC) even when the player said recently – what injury?
KP / Aitcho
Ange P is, I believe, an Aussie Greek/Cypriot – could be a mix of all three.
My brief knowledge of all 3 languages – I’ve lived and worked in Greece and on the Gold coast – would be “Kiwis sans brains’ malakas” Everyone is a malaka in Greece anyway. In NZ, they call Aussis “Kiwis with no brains”.
Hard to disagree really if you’ve met enough indigenous souls from both countries as I have.
6 months in Australia was all I could take without putting one of the dumb fucks in hospital with their persistent pom bashing. I would have happily sent one to A&E to have a surgeon searching internally for the Aussie’s nuts for an hour or two. Krav Maga is very effective and worth learning skill. Even the basics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMMX9AuBiFc
I have no wish to return to the “Convicts’ isle”, but I will get to photograph the NZ south islands.
Junior is now a black belt TKD first dan at 15. Krav Maga is his next discipline he wants to learn, which I believe, it was started by the Israeli special forces and then adopted and improved by the Brazilians.
I imagine TRVL you did this skill when you were enjoying your MMA years? Anything worth adding?
Yesterday I found my self acquiring a season of American Funniest Videos, and Have I got News for You.
Both best at observational simplistic humour, as people and animals making idiots of themselves, and really fast super intelligent and often sardonic humour of supposedly intelligent people making idiots of themselves.
A must to watch before bed for people with depression. Can’t be depressed when you’re crying with laughter.
Marc
Marketing 101 for football clubs should be at grass roots level. They should almost give the jerseys away making the quality lower because kids grow out of them so quick. The spin you could use to get kids in club kits is immense starting with competitions to win kits by being club junior members.
I wonder if Ratcliffe or father Tod will cotton on?
I’ve always said there is nowhere near the requisite marketing attention aimed at the young; the most important market.
Norg
It’s a mystery to me how a blue chip plus company is run so badly. They let managers & directors disparage their fans when they complain asking why we’re not winning trophies. Their American run influences of “Bottom Line” cost cutting is both laughable and infuriating for ST holders except E-Stroller defender of all things Arsenal. On principle I’d have gone in 2008 had I had a ticket. I don’t see that “Nice guy” so many toss about to label Wenger.
You only use Nice when there is no other way of describing something positively amirite, KP?
Our TW dealings are just beyond any rational thinking. We let a novice manager lose us maybe close to £200m on players and paying them off to leave, and we still give 2nd string players far more than they are worth, and then adding insult to injury we don’t play them.
Have I missed anything here other then the too many Zinchenko/Vieira/Tavares type poor buys we need to shift on starting with Jesus?
The logical argument here would be to say “well we have to buy young to try to find gems”. That would be true if we actually played the kids, which we don’t. They get a sink or swim quick cursory run out, and then it’s bench and loans, which the latter only works if they stay in the PL to learn how to adapt.
We are almost 5 years in with El B, so I don’t see any changes for the future. Only more cheque book signings; always paying high including salaries to keep them, which quite simply is flawed logic.
Rewarding effort, loyalty and brilliance once proven seems to be something we overlook. El B gives it all at the beginning to buy loyalty that mostly isn’t needed in the end. Meaning a few more million pounds down the drain.
Think of all the lost millions and then think if someone smart had those millions to start a global grass roots level youth investments in Arsenal schools of footballing excellence.
What would we have got for £300m investment?
How many of El Bs young buys have made the grade other than Ode who was obvious for those who understood even football basics? Saliba wasn’t an El B buy; he wanted rid of the young French star but was prevented.
Am I right in thinking NONE?
£600m+ and only aforementioned Ode? Being generous I’ll include White, but he wasn’t a kid, just a rookie from lower clubs who’s taken 3 seasons to become a £55m+ today maybe more.
Let’s hope that Havertz is a late bloomer like White. I would love to admit I was wrong about him at the end of next season if he has an Adebyor 30-goal season. It would almost certainly win us the PL trophy to add to the irony than Havertz brings.
Havertz needs strength conditioning for me. He’s too lightweight so needs to be stronger with his fleet of foot. Needs better timing, which could be his frailty preventing him getting it right.
To me it’s incredulous that this is acceptable for a club worth £5b+ Blue Chip 10 times over?
TRVL
You laid it out well with all good points.
Tony
Agree 100% get them hooked for free and then reel them in.
TRVL
Again I agree – Eddie and Nelson on wages that are disproportionate to their level, add our abysmal PTR in selling (isn’t the Ox still our record fee?) with a final nail of clubs will know we need to sell to raise money and I think we’ll end up with £50 million or less.
Cheers to you Norg, Tony & Marc
of course this is all speculative, but there’s enough meat on this bone to make some logical inferences…remember that Eddie saw exactly what the market thought about him when he was free to go elsewhere last offseason…so why would there be more suitors this time around after a season that saw him get a substantial raise then struggle for minutes…similarly with Nelson, who did garner some interest, but obviously nothing with a comparable wage package and/or assurances about playing time…ESR is the one wild card, but we will undoubtedly scare off some with our evaluation
the fact remains, both Eddie & Reiss received nonsensical raises because MA/Edu would rather overpay someone who has proven that they will shut up and sit than have to roll the dice with an “outsider” …now there’s nothing wrong with placing a value on continuity, but only if the players in question make the most sense both tactically and fiscally, which clearly wasn’t the case…both have been around for some time and neither were viable cover pieces who could have been relied upon if Jesus and/or Saka went down for an extended period…as such, their respective re-uppings were both lazy and short-sighted, which has become an all too common refrain ever since Arteta’s closed shop approach to managing arrived in North London
simply put, nuance and context matters
regardless of Kai’s uptick in his last TWO matches, he’s still not the answer to our Striker quandary, so when I read some of the following excerpts, from various sources, I’m more than a little concerned about how we might procede in the upcoming window
“The centre-forward has become far less of a priority following the success of Kai Havertz”
“He’s been criminally overlooked this season despite ranking in the top 10 best performers in midfield”
(must be nice being judged against midfielders even though you’ve been playing up top for quite some time now—the use of the term “criminally” is a massive stretch and speaks to the agendized motives of the author in question)
“I understand why the fans are asking for [a No.9] but we already have our targets planned, we know what we’re going to face, and I’d be worried if we weren’t scoring goals or creating chances, but we are doing that right now” (Edu)
“Jesus is reportedly happy in north London and willing to fight for his place in Arteta’s side”
“A few months ago, Arsenal might have considered paying huge money for someone of the Ivan Toney ilk to do this job and they can probably reallocate that resource elsewhere now…I would be wary about writing off someone like Gabriel Jesus just yet however” (hardly what you want to hear considering how MA has struggled mightily to incorporate Strikers since his arrival—let’s keep in mind that after he left City Pep acquired the best up-and-coming Striker in the world, then went on to secure his first treble—now there’s a lesson I wish MA had learned from his former boss)
just saying…
roll up, roll up – two players for the price of one. Get your cheap players here.
Edu Gasper will be heard shouting the above outside of the Emirates when the TW opens.