You couldn’t be any happier as an Arsenal fan. Well, there are some caveats but if you look at the overall picture, we are having a heck of a time. We are sitting at the top in Premier League with a 4 point lead to 2nd place Bournemouth and 6 points over Man City whom we can consider the competition. We have 3 wins in 3 games in Champions League, one of them was 4-0 against the Simeone’s side. We qualified for the Quarter Finals in Carabao Cup with a team that started a 15 year old and will face Crystal Palace and not one of the City, Chelsea or Newcastle. Our FA cup run is yet to start, but everything else looks fine so far. In fact, much better than just fine.
However, the road to success will get much tougher as we move forward, other teams will figure out their mess and every game will get decisive. All we need to do, is keep our head cool, perform the best we can, challenge each other for the starting place and prove why you deserved it and we can win something of value finally. We have got some of the best players in Premier League on bench. We have the best defence in the league and the opposition is struggling to put a shot on target. We have 15-year olds challenging Brightonions and we have players that are making history with the 15 minutes they are getting. The hunger is there, the team has fallen 3 years in a row after getting so close to the title and they surely would have that pain in their heart. I am pretty sure they don’t want to feel it again.
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Right, lets get back to the game. We are visiting Burnely today, and they aren’t in a very good condition. With only 3 wins in 9 games, they are fighting a relegation battle and the three wins they have were against Wolves, Sunderland and Leeds. We are surely the favorites and a win today will either keep the lead to 6 points against City or Bournemouth can do us a favor by beating them tomorrow. But, in any case, we can’t afford to lose our focus today.
Gabriel Martinelli picked up an injury against Brighton mid week and will not available for today’s game. Mikel is starting Trossard mostly in Premier League anyway so it should be fine. William Saliba remains a doubt after coming off at half time against Palace last weekend but we have Mosquera who can fill in his place. He had one bad game but you can expect that from a 21-year old CB trying to fit in the shoes of the best CB partnership in the world.
I am hoping a back 4 of Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel and Calafiori starting today with Raya back in the goal. Both Rice and Zubimendi are expected to start with Eze playing the no. 10 role. Saka, Gyokeres and Trossard will keep their places.
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I am bit sorry for Gyokeres. That lad thought he is coming to Arsenal to bang in couple of goals every game but is being surrounded by 3 defenders every game and is not getting the freedom he was otherwise getting with Sporting. The league’s tougher than anything else and with Arteta’s style of play, where your CF needs to go back in his own penalty box to defend, he will have to work harder to get his name on the scoresheet. However, it’s allowing Saka, Martinelli, Trossard more space on the wings and is ultimately improving our game in the final third so it’s not a bad thing as long as we keep winning.
Also, I hate to be overly dependent on set pieces and winning games 1-0, but 3 points are 3 points. Would I love some David Beckham free kick goals from Eze? Yes. Would I love Gyokeres scoring a hattrick with bicycle kicks? Fucking Yes. Martinelli picking the ball in his own half courtesy to a Raya’s pass and then beating 3 defenders to score a solo goal is a mesmerizing thing, but if you come at me calling the club a set piece club, I would show you the 3 points and the league table. If you happen to be a Liverpool fan, I would also ask you fuck off.
Right, that’s me done. See you during the game.
Marc
Couple seasons back, these kind of games were ending 0-0 for us when the opposition was sitting back deep in their half and we didn’t know what to do with that.
These corners are winning us 3 points. I am as much as you for entertainment but a boring 1-0 is better than a boring 0-0.
Ambarish
With a BILLION £’s spent how about an exciting 3 nil win? I’m not complaining about the hard fought 1 nil set piece win on a wet Wednesday night in February.
I’m complaining about it being 75% of our goals.
Good play from Eze and Gyokeres. Should have gone in.
Marc—that makes sense…I didn’t have time to check the lineup/bench options before game time…Cheers
no wonder MA was so distraught about Xhaka wanting out…he’s the only player he’s ever favoured who could actually supply some more advanced level service as the pivot in this desperately station-to station approach
Marc
That’s not gonna happen so I have given up. Pep and his disciples have ruined it that’s why Klopp for me will always be higher in ranks than winning-all Pep.
A Flick or Enrique or even the late Wenger could have played some very exciting football with these lads.
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As I type this, a beautiful counter attacking goal. 2-0 #COYG
There you go you even allowed to get goals on the break.
Ambarish
Not would or could.
Enrique will save us from boredom.
And win stuff in the process.
If I were Rice’s agent I’d be demanding a new contract including a bonus for supplying the pass to the assist.
Apologies to gyokeres, great first half from him with Rice majestic in midfield.
definitely a well-played counter…especially with the wide pass to Tross to open up the space for Rice’s header…Burnley look a bit lost when they’re required to do anything more then defend with everyone behind the ball…makes sense, as I’m sure Parker has been drilling that shit into their heads all week
Wicksy
Its looking like Gyokeres is beginning to settle in – you always have to give overseas players a little bit of leeway when they’re coming into a new league.
Henry only scored 4 odd goals in his first half season – today they’d be people calling for him to be binned.
there’d be
Marc
“Enrique will save us from boredom”
Yeah, it’s boring winning every week , especially boring going 7 points clear at the top .
Don’t mind some rest for Gyokeres. He will be needed for much more important games when the scoreline won’t be 2-0.
Wicksy
The football is mostly shit and Arteta will bottle it again.
Enrique isn’t on a different level to Arteta he’s on a different plane of existence.
Well, Raya is being tested in the 2nd half.
Dyche making fun of Amorin after going 1-0 down. Come on Bournemouth, do your job today.
Wicksy
You must love Tony Pulis.
I literally fell asleep and I wasn’t even tired…btw Marc could you please refrain from making VG/Henry comparisons in the future…Cheers