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.
I see Michael Oliver was on VAR for the city/liverpool game today and as per usual sided with city on every marginal and not so marginal decisions…
Oliver should be nowhere near city games as his bias has been obvious for years now, I do expect him to be involved in an Arsenal game very soon.
Channelling your inner Attwood I see. Living by the doctrine of ‘Unsold Anusol’ is no way to live peaceably Herr Wickmeister. Just accept that they’re mostly just hopeless and that the speed of the game these days is too much for most referees to handle. Calm and serenity will ensue.
You’d not be saying this if we’d held out against Scumderland. It would all be peaceful and light and a hagiography of our miniature, irredeemably uptight and stubborn micro-manager. Let it go to earth man.
Very ironic to see a few on here slagging off opposing fans when they have spent the last 24 hours doing exactly that to the club and players they are supposed to support.
Not ironic… merely recognition that most football fans (present LiR company happily excluded) are dull, fickle unimaginative wankers! There…solved it for you.😆
KP
“You’d not be saying this if we’d held out against Scumderland.”
It makes no difference to me (or Arsenal) who won (or lost ) yesterday as they are both our main rivals for the league , but there is right and and there is wrong and Liverpool will be receiving an apology from the pgmol for Michael oliver’s error in favour of Manchester city..
It was a goal from the van djke header, simple as that
I disagree mate. City has been ascending over recent weeks while Liverpool is in the midst of a ludicrously expensive psychodrama of its own making. From our perspective, a draw or Liverpool win was our preferred outcome. Instead, those oil kleptocrats had a massive confidence boosting win.
Any other view and you’re being Panglossian.
Of course a Liverpool win or draw was a better result for us.
The Liverpool player was in an offside position and had to duck so the ball didn’t hit him – if that goal was scored against us and allowed Wicksy and all the other fanboy’s would be going apeshite.
You’ve got to be some really special kind of moron to comment “It makes no difference to me (or Arsenal) who won (or lost ) yesterday” Liverpool are all but out of the title run in after that result and their recent performances. If they keep up their current form for a month or so and Slot’s position will be under pressure.
With reference to your views on Michael Oliver, I’d be fascinated to hear your thoughts on, say, the top 8 PL referees and you concerns on their perceived anti-Arsenal bias. It will give us all something to consider as we appraise their performances in future Arsenal games. If you could cross reference it to previous games of our’s that they’ve officiated then even better.
El B will be aware of the heavy breathing on the back of his neck from non other than his old teacher. Pep will be muttering in El B’s ear ‘ only a few points between us now’. With two tough games straight after the international break I would imagine Pep will have a wry smile on his face.
Players kicked out by El B had a good weekend. ANM scored a particularly good goal vs PSG.
KP
“Any other view and you’re being Panglossian”
Had to look that one up but prior to the game I would have been happy with any result with a draw probably being the favourite.
I said at the start of the season that the title will be won with a fewer points total than normal due to the strength in depth of the league, so there will be many twist and turns as teams drop points against supposedly weaker opposition.
I wasn’t as impressed by city’s performance as many , decisions went their way and their first 2 goals had a huge element of luck with deflections in their favour.
City are away to Newcastle after the break who sit 14th in the league, let’s see how they get on against a side in the bottom half of the table who’s fans will be on the officials back from the start, city will be getting no favours from the officials ( unless oliver is the ref) and they will do extremely well to come away with maximum points.
We should beat Tottenham with ease fter the break as they are in a false position in the league, they will be mid table by December, Liverpool are at home to forest
To be Panglossian, by the end of that weekend we could be back to Arsenal having a 6 or 7 point gap at the top with Liverpool 8 points adrift.
Have to laugh at Marc’s feeble impression of Dermot Gallagher in trying to convince even himself that the Liverpool goal was rightly disallowed.
Norg
“’. With two tough games straight after the international break I would imagine Pep will have a wry smile on his face.”
Are you serious?
After the break
Arsenal home to Tottenham .
City face Newcastle at st James park.
Wicksy
I am probably your senior and have supported AFC for 60 years and 3 weeks. The NLD does not always conform to form. I can remember being a guest of one of my suppliers in the 80’s. He had a box and we had a good meal served prior to the game. We were short odds favourites to win the game but lost 2-1.
After the game box holders and their guests were allowed to mingle with the players from both sides in the bar. It was good to chat with big Tony but there was a big surprise – players that had lumped shit out of each other during the game were best mates in the bar.
So am I being serious. Howe is knocking at the door of the departure lounge and his players are not singing from his hymn sheet whereas the mighty Lillywhites have a manager still finding his feet on a raised platform. He is getting there slowly and if previous performances are to go by (with Brentford) he could provide an upset. Age perhaps makes me cautious when it comes to football – in business it is a different matter.
on another note the son of a friend from Tanzania phoned me today (he lives in South Africa). My friend is a gooner but his son chose the team that resides in Old Trafford. The draw at the weekend was big news for all non arsenal fans. Tamy who works for him is also a gooner – she is bringing up her two boys to be gooners.
Norg
2010 was the last time Tottenham have beaten us at the Emirates so maybe due to your age your memory is playing tricks on you …..that’s banter by the way.
In comparison city have only beaten Newcastle at st James park once in the last 4 years(2 drawn),
We shall see who’s take on this is correct , oh and I have been supporting Arsenal for 60 years and FOUR weeks so it appears that I am your senior.
Marc
“Liverpool are all but out of the title run in after that result”
Liverpool will be 2nd or 3rd by Christmas , they are definitely not out of the title race..
Younes Kaboul with a brace iirc. I remember feeling sick that day.
You both beat me for longevity. I couldn’t honestly say more than about 55 years. My epiphany came at the start of the 70/71 season. Which at least suggests I have brilliant timing.
Wicksy 2010 is much later than the the late 80’s. I wouldnt call our next home game a dead cert. Many thought we would win handsomely at Sunderland but …..
Will our manager try to keep something in reserve for the following game when an ex Spurs player will be hoping to keep up his record against us.
Wicksy
Liverpool have lost 5 matches already they lost 4 matches in total last season, 4 the season before (finishing 3rd) and 9 the season before that (finishing 5th).
They might finish 3rd but that will be more about others being poor not them being in contention. City finished 3rd last season losing 9 but were 13 points off the title.
For Liverpool to be in contention you have to admit Arteta’s a massive cunt who will lose or drop points in a serious number of matches.
So what is it? Liverpool all but out of the title run in or Arteta’s a massive cunt?
Of course the answer is both.
Marc
As I said prior to the season starting, this season will not be like previous seasons due to the strength in depth of the league.
Away from home is where the likes of Liverpool, city and Arsenal will find it especially difficult , many points will be dropped so in my opinion it will be a topsy turvy season.
City’s last 2 games have been good victories at home and I believe fans, pundits etc have been fooled into thinking we are now seeing the city of the last 5 years but I disagree with this assumption.
City’s next 5 away league games up until January 1st are on paper against teams they would expect to get maximum points, they are playing Newcastle, palace, Fulham, forest and Sunderland……4 out of those 5 are in the bottom half of the table so it will be very interesting to see if city are as good as some seem to think.
Yes Liverpool have lost a few games but in the same period only have 3 away games(5 at home) …west ham , Tottenham and Leeds.
Arsenal have 3 away games …Chelsea, villa and Everton (5 at home), whereas city have 5 away and 3 at home.
We will drop points that’s for sure as the Premier league is very punishing but I know which run of fixtures I’d prefer in the run up to Christmas, we have in all comps 7 home games and 4 away in a very punishing fixture schedule, city 6 away and 5 at home , Liverpool, Liverpool 4 away and 6 at home.
What a great time for The Arsenal to have a number of our players coming back from injury , yes they can’t be rushed but they can be gradually eased into the side , plus we do have league cup and champions league ties to give them game time.
I prefer to look at the wider picture than over react to the odd result as many are inclined to do , I am confident in my assumption that after this run of games up until the new year that Arsenal will be at least 6 points clear at the top of the league with Liverpool and city neck and neck ..
The league will be won by the team who can cope physically with the tough away games throughout the season …..away at Sunderland, Fulham, palace, forest, Everton, Bournemouth, Brighton, Leeds could prove to be as tough as playing the likes of united, Chelsea, Newcastle, villa away.
I see that Howard Webb has said the offside “goal” by Liverpool was rightfully disallowed which contradicts his statement regarding the city goal against wolves last season when he agreed that that silva was not interfering with the keeper.
The way I see it is both incidents should have had the same outcome, both were very similar with the linesman flagging for offside, both had a player offside not directly in front of the keeper, though you could say that silva (unlike Robinson) did make contact with the keeper , but for me the outcome should have been the same otherwise what we have is accusations of bias in favour of city.
There is also another video circulating of another city goal being allowed when akanji was offside and looking like he tried to either flick the ball or at the very least trying to avoid the ball.
Consistency is what is required , whether I or any one else thinks they should be goals or not is irrelevant, unfortunately Howard Webb has opened another can of worms by trying to defend the decision at the weekend , is he so thick that he doesn’t think that his previous comments won’t be highlighted, no different to kier Starmer I suppose who has spent the last year embarrassing himself on a daily basis.
Pricksy—I can’t fathom wasting so much of my life on any singular devotion yet seemingly learning so little along the way…no wonder you wear your tin hat so proudly…it likewise explains your delusional attempts to convert those who, unlike yourself, are willing to become another mindless fanboy for a club who has never taken winning seriously since the ribbon was cut at the Emirates…without focusing your energies on such inane endeavours you might have to actually come to terms with just how wrong you’ve been for all these years..let’s face it, if this were some 15 years ago you would have been peddling the same nonsense when Wenger was selling his version of the same lie and blaming everyone and everything except himself for our championship failures…as such you epitomize the rinse and repeat Arsenal lifestyle…simply put, you and your ilk are the reason why this club doesn’t do whatever it takes to bring championship level football to North London….why the fuck would they do all that heavy lifting when they have saps like you who would blindly settle for considerably less