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.
Le Grove n’existe plus!
Long live LiR.
Ambarish – you’ve comfortably outlived the Arteta-luvvin bullshitter and his know-nothing mates.
To plagiarise the Hibees supporting Proclaimers and their lovely song ‘letter to America’
Nigel no more
Positive no more
Rich no more
AFCF no more
Serge no more
Chrispy no more
Apologists no more
Pedro………. NO MORE!
Greedy fake Gooner twat!
Letter ‘from’ America. Always struggled with my prepositions!
https://youtu.be/yy9GmieAEaQ?si=SvKMuIE5_o2n2Fxz
Enjoy Tony. This’ll instantly take you back to your homeland. I fucking live these two. Really sound blokes.
Le Grove had it’s place. Like most media it’s had to evolve and move with the times AFTV is on TT, IG as well as its original YT channel. Arseblog works hard at his podcast. Pedro has been building his, not for me. A standalone blog gets less reach. If wants to make money he has to keep up, he knows the market
Pedro was a bit of a cock, with his self indulgent, coke-y vibes. He got worse and a lot more defensive when Arteta was serving up shit and he felt contractually bound to defend it. The same way he backed Gazidis when he was mugging us off. That’s what got me banned, stating the evidence of our own eyes. The mantra of ‘you can see what he’s trying to do” was sleight of hand when we could see what he actually was doing.
But as a blog, broad base, a range of views, until late stage. And as Arteta got better, made less mistakes, improved, Le Grove actually became less annoying.
Credit to Pedro for sticking at the blog. As 7am drops out along with many others, whether it started as a forward thinking vehicle for self promotion or he actually meant half the crazy stuff he came our with, it was generally fun.
I still check in, I like a range of views. I don’t think I’ll be paying.
MESSAGE FROM UNAI EMERY TO PISS POOR PROPAGANDIST PEDRO
Good Evening (my English has improved since I moved to Birmingham (Ed – yeah I know) , how’s your Spanish you catweasel-faced dunce?
At Villareal and at Villa (without the Real) I gave your Spanish paramour some proper football lessons. 6 points this season alone! Knocking you out of the Europa was even sweeter with a team budget comparable to that of Leyton Orient.
Le Grove es muerto y tu lo mataste cabron. Gracias a dios por London is Red!
https://youtu.be/Js6hrCa_vJk?si=Z8-ZGCj98TpkaKru
Pedro is deported back to the 1970s, to a world with no Arteta and no digital media.
Hi Aitcho
A much more erudite analysis of his many failings than I could muster. Thanks. This.
Pedro was a bit of a cock, with his self indulgent, coke-y vibes.
A classic case (ho ho) of hubris followed by nemesis.
I wonder if Pedro backed off of Le Grove when he realised more of the posters were his alter ego’s than actual people.
Marc—SPOT ON!! he had more aliases than a drug dealer has burner phones
on a side note—there will be some spouting nonsense about Gazidis, but it’s important to keep in mind a couple things:
(1) if he was Kroenke’s stooly and we were under the impression that our absentee landlord was dead set against spending, why was Gazidis letting everyone know that we were flush with cash…in the end, it was pretty obvious that our frugal approach was the brainchild of one Mr.Wenger, who despised the new divaesque crop of players and who would much rather look like a genius by taking no names and leftovers to the promised land
(2 ) just look what Gazidis did at Milan…AC had largely become an afterthought both domestically and across Europe then Gazidis arrived and completely resurrected their brand…not only did he inherit a terrible mess, financically-speaking, as they were in debt to the tune of 164M euros, they hadn’t even qualified for the CL since 2013-14…by Decemeber 2020, as Arsenal was hovering above the Premier League’s relegation zone, Milan was first in Serie A and eyeing an end to its 10-year title drought…and unlike MA, who cocked things up post-Xmas on two occasions already, Milan won the Serie A, to end Juve’s decade long dominance
Vinicius Jnr 2 – Saka 3?????
I returned today from a short trip to Seville and Granada. For the past – so many years I cannot remember – to see Arsenal shirt on a person abroad had become a non entity. Strolling around the Alcazar I spied a Spaniard?with a number 7 shirt, Saka emblazoned across the back. Hours later at The Palace de Espana a beautiful Flamenco dancer was busking – in the crowd another Saka shirt. A couple of days later wandering around the Alhambra another Saka shirt. During the next few days I spied a couple of Vinicius Jnr shirts and in Seville no Seville or Real Betis shirts – they are worn on match days only ( so I am reliably informed).
My visits to Europe in the past were often filled with noting the shirts worn by Barca & RM supporters unless in Italy where the local teams were supported (unless they were in Naples).
Saka is a real star – lets hope we keep him
Aitcho – I havent read all of the posts in the past 6 days but I did catch yours about Havertz scoring more goals in open play than Palmer. Palmer is currently sidelined and does not receive the service from such technicians as Saka, Trossard, Rice & Odegaard. What would he achieve if they were the source of supply?
I am glad that Havertz is contributing towards our endeavors in securing a premiership title win but I still see a frailty in his play. But hey what do I know – I once supplied several passes to a 38 year old Jimmy Greaves who put away 6 goals in the first half of a game – and he was under the influence at the time
TRVL
I was obviously typing my post and missed yours about Ivan G. Years ago my secretary joined the employ of Alan Sugar at the mighty Spurs as his PA. Sugar left Spurs and she hopped across London as the PA for ?????
You can guess the rest. Ivan G despite being a snake oil salesman was actually a nice guy caught up with trying to deal with a person (Wenger) who had a charmed life at AFC because Stan had the wool pulled over his eyes. IG was the person who signed Ozil – a long story.
Norg-I applaud you for your very commonsensical commentary on our long-legged friend…unike yourself, I’m far more of a bull in a china shop than a Sunday brunch type of poster, but I do enjoy when someone can get a similar point across without burning the whole place down…as for IG, I too fell victim to the original narative surrounding Kroenke’s American envoy, but as more facts came to light, my thoughts on the matter significantly changed…from a fan’s perspective, it’s too bad that IG’s presence actually made Wenger even more insufferable, after all, more than anything else, Arsene needed a Dein-type collaborator during his latter days reign…Cheers
just so there’s no confusion, by long-legged friend I meant Havertz not Wenger…take care
KP
Loved the Proclaimers and those with street wise, lyrical excellence.
Norg
I do the same in BKK. I saw my first Rice shirt worn by a Thai on the back of a a motorbike taxi; the only way to travel in BKK quickly. Good to have you back and hope your trip was fun and eventful for the right reasons.
I echo your Havertz thinking with his frailty where I also don’t like his always wanting to con the ref crumbling with the merest touch. I know it’s part of the game, but I prefer we keep it real and cut diving from the game. Did you get to see the game live? I have a local pirate app that can be used worldwide where you buy your viewing time in packages from 7/11 I know go figure.
Then there is this little nugget for a small fee per month: https://iptv-global4k.com
As long as you have a decent Internet signal you’ll never miss game.
Aitcho
Thanks for your insight with Ivan G. I was never quite sure what was real, and what was Wenger/Raul/board PR spin city.
From a business thinking view, there had to be something real about him to last so long, and, if the rumors were true about Ivan genuinely wanting Pep & Klopp, as well as being a very good argument to dispense with Wenger’s long suffered BS and antipathy towards us fans, then I’ll shift my perspective on the man. Really didn’t like Chips either.
my overall take was he used us to learn – El B like; and then moved on to Italy where he had money from the hedge fund mates he was connected to through his daughter’s school I believe in stock broker belt.
Those cnuts forgot the origin of the game’s attendees, and our treasured history we’ve been lucky to witness. It’s what the club is founded on and what Wenger in his last 14 years sullied.
Yet the new era stayed with the Emirates, and with it a new game that will eventually – my guess is less than a decade- become the super league so coveted by Middle Eastern countries and billionaires alike.
My El B views are well known here, so no need to regurgitate. However, I am not adversed to reversing any previous reasoning, as I don’t give a shit what people think negatively about my POV. Such POVs are usually well measured with attention to nuances and grey areas before coming to my B&W POVs.
The data behind such held positions is much read or watched, as is TRVL’s; professors always deal in data is my understanding from my interactions with such senior educators over the decades around the globe. Then there is the all important eye test that mostly is the best prism from which to make assessments, as you do at pitch side. Essentially, what I’m saying is you won’t sway my initial judgement; only time can do that.
I’m not saying don’t try, but it’s rather fruitless. Maybe use a hummingbird in a glass shop approach with me? I’m always happy to listen to well thought out reasoning we give here, yours included.
You’re dealing with a well loaded spectrum dweller here where gifts are curses and vis a vis. We are just different, not better, just wired differently.
El B will always be a solid cnut for me. 24 carat cnut! Simples as you say in London. Regardless of what he wins, I don’t like the man.
White who was a wrong time buy for me, and as such, it kind of sucked for longer than it should have.
We needed an 8. We still do FFS.
White I fear took the brunt of the shit for that factor alone; we didn’t need an overpriced CB. However, this season White has come of age. Like me, he’s different. No idea why, but he is. Not liking watching football is a bit of an anomaly, right? I like how White can play the whole right side with his work in the final 3rd that is improving all the time.
He’s a £50m player now and a starter this season. Next season I’d prefer to see Timber play RB. Branthwaite at LB and maybe try White at 8 to shoehorn him into the side?
Now back to Havertz who does flatter to deceive. Aerially challenged and needing too many attempts to score. Also, no real cutting edge speed or acceleration. Had his timing been better, possibly he could have 20 this season if played up top, but Jesus would be bitching in El B’s shell likes to put a stop to any common sense decisions. Pets ‘r El B.
As Norg says Havertz is frail with very little lift from his chop stick legs I’ll add.
El B has done Havertz no favors making him our highest earner, as he is not our highest performer – far from it. El B pricing Havertz out of the market is his ploy. He can’t lose his latest pet pricing Havertz out of his abilities.
He’s here, so we have to hope he comes really good to justify keeping him from buying what we really need. 12 goals and assists is decent enough and shows just how bad Eddie and Jesus really are; however, we need better, so I hope Havertz isn’t our 9 for next season. False 9 I’m fine with.
I read this morning that we’re offering Jorginho another extension. Better than Elneny I guess and Rice and Partey can give him the time he needs on the ball, but again we need better and quicker to let Rice and Partey play their best game free of being chaperones for the speed challenged Jorginho.
Thanks for your insights here Aitcho and history with the club, we all like to share here on past days to keep the blog pub like where we can. Hope to read more from you.
I was bull in a china shop on LG with so many numpties there, but here is more fun and family/mates like where contributing and reading is fun for all. I’ve never had a local pub – never in one place long enough.
LIR is the nearest I’ve ever come to having a local battle cruiser. So, cheers lads.
Marc
So true. He always seemed amped up to me and his weight loss was really down to soy milk?
Welcome home NORG. I’ve not been to Seville but have visited many other Andalucian highlights in the past few years. How was the marmalade?
Agree about Saka. He succeeds in being everything to all fans. I hate the overuse and misuse of the word ‘icon’ these days particularly by TV and advertising people (who can resist these iconic vol-au-vents or the iconic reality TV personality etc.?) but he exemplifies all that is good about our club. I’m not a monarchist but as you’ll have seen from earlier in-game posts of mine, for me he’s the King of Arsenal just like other figures in the past such as Charlie G (and N?), Brady, Rocky, Ian Wright and TH in his pomp. He’s able naturally to set the greatest examples at whatever he does including his academic successes. A great human being in short.
Still feeling a bit wobbly about Bournemouth?
Hi Vieira
Thanks for clarifying that. I was dealing with the image of a long-legged chihuahua with rheumy eyes and incurable running nose struggling to zip up his coat. I can rest easier now.
We are prepared to listen to offers for Jesus the DM says. If I were a potential suitor I’d be thinking if he can’t score enough with our service, the what chance for lower level teams?
We are so cool at selling players. Our reasons for selling Jesus are his fitness issues.
Now who wants to buy an unfit player who needs 1 in 4 chances to score?
I believe the requested offers for Jesus were over 2 pints and a packet of crisps.
KP
You will not find a single jar, satchet or any other container of Marmalade in the whole of Seville. It is we English that know how to use the bitter Seville orange to make a really good marmalade. Ask for Marmalade and you get jam and any flavour. My wife swears by Tiptree Tawney Marmalade – she was most disappointed at breakfast time.
Bournemouth will either be a stroll in the park or a hard fought win. It will depend on our players and not theirs. Their manager is a mate of El B’s but for 90+ minutes there will not be any handshakes. Hopefully our team driven by Rice and (with his right boots on) orchestrated by Odegaard we should be victors. Bournemouth will try to stop us playing and Saka will probably receive extra attention.
With marmalade being the flavor of this evenings chat I thought I’d learn more about this bitter sweet preserve. It has a rather mixed history as you can read below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmalade
I was reared on golden shred marmalade but have enjoyed many recipes form different countries.
Orange marmalade leaves me cold, but I used to enjoy Rose’s lime variety.
But a good raspberry jam beats it easily, especially the kind that leaves seeds in those hard-to-reach dental nooks and crannies.
The thing that concerns me against Bournemouth is that we start like a train fail to score by half time and gradually lose steam a la Villa and Spuds. I hope there’s a sports psychologist working overtime at Colney this week schooling the players (and Arteta) on maintaining levels for the entire game. I’ve heard of no inuries so the team (same as Chelsea and Spurs) ought to pick itself. Any smart arsing from his mighty stubbornness is the last thing we need. Bournemouth might be on the beach – consciously if u consciousnessly too.
Not a big marmalade fan myself, but I do remember something called Buck Fizz Marmalade, which was tasty as fuck…personally I prefer an apricot jam or strawberry, especially if it’s homemade and straight out of the freezer…I can eat that shit by the spoonful
KP-I can understand your trepidation surrounding this weekend’s fixture, as Bournemouth haven’t typically rolled over for anyone, especially in the second-half of the season…they haven’t lost at home since a 1-0 defeat to City a few months back, but on the road they’ve been a far more pedestrian 2-3-2 since the beginning of February…thankfully this one’s in the capital
I still think we should win our remaining 3 fixtures with relative ease, so for me it’s really all about City dropping all 3 against one of their remaining 4 opponents…our commitment to team defence is unmatched in the League this season and although this can lead to a whole host of rinse and repeat affairs, which are very reminiscent of those during Wenger’s pass the ball into the net era, it’s really quite effective against those without the requisite amount of patience or clinical finishing…I guess there’s always the possiblility that we could struggle in front of goal, considering our glaring lack of high-end finishers, and end up on the wrong side of a 1-0 or 2-1 scoreline, but I still think it’s far more likely that we win 3-1 or 4-2
I agree with you guys I don’t see us dropping points by the players although El B try his galaxy brain best.
Same with City they will be able to taste the sweet trophy smell having won 5 from the last 6 seasons.
I don’t think City have dropped points when Rodri plays so pray for an injury. Stones is far from Rodri’s levels.