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.
and no mention of the Pope. Who sucks his cock.
Perhaps we should all follow the Inca’s and worship Pachamama – Mother Earth.
NORG
I’ll raise a pint glass of Ayahuasca to that mate!
Ever been to Peru or Bolivia? One of those rare parts of the world where you can get off a bus at dusk in a no-horse town and be out of your skull on something or other before you’ve found a hotel for the the night. Pleasantly lawless.
I can only see tomorrow going one of two ways.
We lose 1 nil to a Xhaka 35 yard screamer or Xhaka gets a red card in the first 10 minutes and we win 4 nil.
Marc—I like what you’re thinking, but the Sunderland I’ve witnessed seems like easy fodder for our present style of play, unless we can’t find the back of the net…if that’s the case this could be paint drying shit show…not sure if I’m going to put my plans on hold, as it’s a 12:30 start over here…I might just watch it on the PVR later so I have the ability to fast forward on occasion…the.fact that I’ve done so multiple times this season speaks volumes about what’s on offer…it’s been a minute since the last time our matches weren’t a scheduling priority for me…such is life I guess
I’m siding with Vieira here Marc. They were very ordinary against Everton and our defence will cope with whatever they try. Xhaka will be dominated by MZ and DR and will be stuck on the edge of their box most of the game hating Arsenal’s press and speed. He’ll commit one of those passing howlers as he did for us against the mighty Burnley a few years ago before telling those ersatz Georgie Maggot fans to ‘fuck off’. He’ll then be released as a Sunderland player before ‘Stubborn’ picks him up in the January window…Three nil today.
https://youtu.be/E0v9d8DcHpo?si=VT4I8jJ4-ZuwqB0m
Enjoy…a COVID lowlight. Even more so than the fucking virus. Something akin to this repeating itself today would be optimal, poetical and ironical…
Stick with the clip and check out too the howling miss by Nico Pepe towards the end.
I did say it was a loss to a Xhaka screamer (tongue firmly in cheek) or a 4 nil win!
Kroenke
You just know if Xhaka was available Captain Fuckwit would go all out for him.
Oooh…spuds v manure. Which one do I want to lose more? Too close to call. Schadenfreude Saturday.
Marc
I think when it comes to Xhaka, Stubborn El has some bizarre form of midfielder penis envy. In essence, he views Xhaka as an upgrade on himself and would have liked to have managed us vicariously through Xhaka.
Kroenke
I didn’t know you had studied psychology.
No Marc, but I have studied penises. Well, my own anyway. 😆
A demoralising draw for both teams – perfect.
Kroenke
Yeah you’ve been told about doing that on the bus.
There’s a time and a place my friend.
The most worrying thing is it was an open top bus.
KP
If you ever want to feel inferior stand next to TH14 at the urinals(according to Romford Pele’s brother).
NORG
Noted!
Just going out for my cricket club annual dinner so enjoy the game everyone. Ambarish – I dare say you’re up feeding her royal Highness and will be watching the game with her. I think we’ll be ok and that non scoring record will remain in tact.
Merino up top again. 3-0
How was that a booking?
Was there an offside in there?