Did you really think I will miss out the North London derby against those cunts? Not a chance. After 2 boring weeks of no football, we restart our journey for the title with a game against our shite arch rivals at home. Both City and Liverpool lost yesterday, and it looks like Slot is out of the title race without his magician performing, so that’s some more encouragement for the boys to grab a win and show em who the real bosses are.
It’s a crucial day for Mikel’s side. Pep will always be a trouble but it’s the Chelsea that has done some catching lately. We are only 3 points ahead of them having played a game less, and we surely would want to take that lead to 6 points by not dropping any points today. Secondly, players were away playing for their countries and they need to get back into the system they are accustomed to at Arsenal. The sooner the better as we can’t afford to look rusty. Third, its’ fucking Tottenham.
There’s some fresh problems after the international break. Our best defender, Gabriel, picked up an injury playing for Brazil and will not be available for couple of months. Calafiori missed his both games for Italy and didn’t train, so he will not be available most likely. Madueke, Odegaard and Havertz are still not available. Before going into the break, both Gyokeres and Martinelli missed games and it remains to be seen if Mikel takes a chance with them.
So, we would be going into the game with a 19-year old partner for Saliba, a 18 year kid at LB, without our most prominent creator and a midfielder at #9. I am a bit nervous with that, and I don’t think making these many changes after a 2 week break will not cause any problem for Mikel’s side. But, hey, that’s not a reason to not beat Spurs 3-0 at least.
Right, I will keep it short today. I have been given the evening off for the NLD but I need to go get a coffee and the bike need some care as well. See you during the game but before that, do share your predictions in comment section.
Of course I hope we secure a decisive victory today, but I can’t remember a time when I was less interested in just hunkering down and watching our matches from start to finish…the football is drab, but maybe just maybe the return of Noni will inject some much-needed life into this rinse and repeat set piece-athon…it’s like being served prime rib in a fucking dog bowl…I will say this though, this might be the only year where such a simpleton approach to football might be enough to see us through, at least League-wise, but I highly doubt such an uninventive brand of football will be enough in Europe…I’m sure our resident “i told you so” halfwit will think otherwise and let us know on a seemingly endless loop
Ambarish
I hope all is well with the family – I do need to point out that as a father you now have to set an example so just watch the language OK!
Agree with all you say but there’s an additional reason to not drop points today – we’ve got Chelsea away next week. It’d give them real motivation if they thought a win in that would bring them level or within a point of us.
Who will it be at LCB? Hincapie or Mosquera. Mosquera has looked better than decent when he’s played but HIncapie is more naturally left sided.
TVL
I know what you mean – I’ve sold my ticket today because I’m trying to get my knee settled down, there was a time I’d fucking crawl to be at a NLD.
Marc—of course, it’s not just us…besides Bournemouth and the odd showing by another top-half side, the football has been horribly underwhelming this season…even many of the European matches I’ve watched involving supposed top clubs have left me wanting…Barca and Bayern might be the only exceptions thus far and even they don’t have an unbeatable feel…it’s interesting because this malaise has impacted most of the top Leagues in North America, where various highly favoured clubs in the NFL, NBA and NHL have struggled mightily out of the gates…not to suggest anything conspiratorial whatsoever, but I do wonder what role gambling might be playing in all of this, as the pressure clubs/players feel from the outside world has never been higher
BBC showing its Hincapie in at CB.
TRVL
I can’t speak for American sports but I think with football its players being overplayed which will only be worse next season with a world cup in the summer.
Marc—not surprised, as Moq is really a left-side defender…I’m not sure about the whole overplaying gig as players from previous generations were never load managed…I would say it has more to do with the new wave of younger managers who’ve come to dominant the footballing landscape, to very mixed results, combined with the willingness of clubs to adopt a full-bore park the bus mindset…it reminds me a bit of a previous era in the NHL when many teams adopted the “trap” and the game became incredibly dumbed-down for several years
TRVL
Current players fitness levels compared to those 30 years ago are huge. It sounds backwards but players today are like an F1 car – great for tearing round at 180mph but try and run slowly and they’ll overheat and breakdown. With players today I think the levels of fitness almost push them into an area where burnout is easier to achieve.
I’m not sure the park the bus mindset is anything that new – if anything we see the lower teams playing better more attacking football. Of course the money going into the PL means any club getting into it instantly becomes on of the 25 – 30 richest clubs in the world giving them far more spending power. With the amount of money you’d think player rotation would be more common.
I think we can agree on the whole thing is Artea’s fault!
Marc—I do agree with your F1 analogy, but I think the burnout has more to do with the off-field “complications” that have emerged as a result of the insane-level monies involved and the whole branding nonsense
as for your last comment, imagine if MA had said from the off that the end goal objective of his multi-phased plan was to spend well over a Billion dollars simply to pay homage to Tony Pulis’s Stoke, he would have been suitably laughed out of the room…what a sneaky little gutless cunt
Merino needs to stop going to ground so easily – he’ll end up not getting a free kick we deserve.
The Spuddies playing for a point – if it remains level late on will Arteta have the balls to go for it?
I can’t believe what I just witnessed, Merino was touched by an opposing player and he didn’t immediately flop to the ground like he was fucking shot…there’s still hope for him yet
Marc—clearly we’re on the same page in that regards
if they’re actually playing for a point that really favours us, as I doubt this particular Spurs side can hold on for 90+ minutes with taking a stupid red along the way
Great build up play and a great finish.
I must admit for a second I thought Tross had lost the chance before he managed to swivel on it.
That one will make Kroenke very happy.
great to see Eze getting on the scoresheet
Eze who? That’s what Thomas Franc had to say.
@Mark – noted, though she still can’t read 🙂
I have a feed directly into the Arsenal dressing room and Arteta’s furious that we’ve scored 2 goals from open play.
What the fuck are the players thinking?
Two terrific goals. Swarming all over them and they’ve been struggling all of the half to beat our press. Everyone looking on form and we’ve dominated them so far. I think Eze gives us something very different from Ode in that role. I loved his reaction to scoring. Why the fuck we let him go all those years ago is bonkers.
Good piece Ambarish. I hope the three of you are all well. LiR is just the right place to let your swearing go up a few notches if you ask me. I trust you’re getting enough sleep 😴😴😴
I have a feed directly into the Arsenal dressing room and Arteta’s furious that we’ve scored 2 goals from open play.
Lol
I wouldn’t be surprised if they actually try to monetise that in future. I’d probably listen to it .