You didn’t expect Wolves, who are sitting in 20th position, to do you a favor, did ya? Man City closed down the gap by 3 points today and it’s now in our hands to extend the lead back to 7 points by beating our legacy rivals. Man Utd are crap, lets be real. But they still sit at 5th position, ahead of Chelsea, Newcastle and Spurs. They are only a point behind Liverpool and they know few wins could get them into the Champions League. They have something to play for, so do we – and we will find out tomorrow who wants it more.
Calafiori and Hincapie will be assessed before the game but it’s fine to say we will have a fully fit squad for the first time this season. Mikel will have everyone in front of him to pick for his playing XI, and our next game in a not important CL games against Kairat. So, yeah – lets go for everything.
If I have to pick, I will do the usuals. Raya in goal, with Timber, Saliba, Gabriel and Calafiori in defence. A midfield of Odegaard, Zubimendi and Rice will do where Rice plays in a more advance role. I would pick Saka, Gyokeres and Martinelli as front 3, but won’t mind Trossard if Mikel finds him more contributing to our game.
16 games left. 7 points lead (4 but then City has played one extra game). A Premier League trophy we have been dreaming of since THE INVINCIBLES. That was in 2003-04, about 23 years ago. There are some Arsenal fans who can vote, marry and have a kid but haven’t seen us lift the trophy.
And then, we have a billion dollar squads, most of which have finished 2nd three seasons in a row. Most of them had the heart breaks, some of them were exhausted, some would have punched a wall. Some of them are on big fat wages, some renewed, some joined from other clubs to be a part of red and white in the hope of winning something. NOW IS THE TIME. Mikel and the team does all the talk, but we need to walk the walk.
I know there is still a long way to go, 16 weeks of Premier League football and we would see a lot of ups and downs, but I am not wrong to say it’s ours to lose now. Man Utd, under Carrick, will try their best to stop us. Can we sustain the pressure? Can we keep our winning run?
We will find out. See you in the comments.
TRVL
Wicksy can’t comprehend that the league being so tight between 5th and 15th or so is not down to everyone being great (that’s what he wants to spin so he can say Arteta won the most difficult PL in history – I’ll leave it to Art to explain what someone who thinks that is!) its a lack of quality and consistency. The changes in management at Chelsea and ManU are so far looking like positive moves but the idea that two teams who have had awful seasons and sacked their managers could both be above Liverpool come 4pm today would have got you sectioned if you suggested it at the start of the season.
At some point someone is going to come up with a tactic that reduces the effectiveness of our corners and then everyone will copy it – if it reduces our goals from corners by 50% or so it’ll fuck Arteta royally.
Art,
🙊🙊🙊🙊🙊I hate it when they do that too. It’s like something out of a cold war spy film without any real secrets of course.
You watching itv 4 by any chance? Arsenal v Spuds from 75 with your mate Alan Ball. Highbury like a ploughed field and Brian Kidd has just stick the opener in. Liam Brady in control. Better times!
That Hammers – Rent Boys game was fun I agree. Anthony Taylor is a dopey twat though. There should’ve been more cards following that incident. Baby oil boy Traore and João Pedro to name but two.
Geoff Shreeves also thinks he is a cunt.
When named after 30 fucking years who is most difficult interviewee, two fucking guesses were his reply.
Alan Ball. RIP
More talent in his left bollock than 99% of the midfielders since.
Souness , said he could not get near him at Southampton , when he was 38 whilst playing for his tasty Liverpool side. He won the World Cup at 21. So thats 17 years at the top level.
He was popping it , left and right and toying with him at The Dell, and Souness simply could not get near to nail him.
Every time you think Jamie Carragher has reached the absolute pinnacle of TV punditry cuntishness he goes on to prove he’s still got plenty in the tank.
He’s just criticised a Villa player for feigning injury and getting a Brentford player sent off after the Brentford player kickout and raked his studs down the stomach of a Villa player. How about criticising the Brentford player for committing the offence?
Up the nylons!
I can probably count on one hand the times I’ve wanted Spurs to get a result against their opponents.
City have been pretty woeful again. I’d say they were to a degree lulled into it by shockingly poor Spud’s first half but City of old would have finished the half 3 nil up to put the game out of sight.
The most worrying thing for Pep is they don’t seem to be able to shake themselves out of the lethargy.
The second goal by the Spud’s deserves a mention – stunning finish.
We’ve had some cracking goals this weekend.
Arsenal scored from a set piece and got an own goal!
A perfect weekend for any Arsenal supporter except for the entitled few on here who are desperately hanging on to the ” own goal / set piece narrative” , TRVL actually refers to Ai for information confirming what a clown he is.
I’ve called it right all along, next week we are at home to Sunderland whilst city are away to Liverpool , so expect the gap to widen as Liverpool could rip the city defence to pieces..
.let’s hope so.
The return of Havertz has helped gyokeres , it was noticeable against Leeds that we were prepared to hit our strikers quicker instead of inviting the press from Leeds by fannying around with the ball at the back
Of course I did warn the entitled ones that the return of Havertz and Jesus would give us a different dimension to our attack and as the season goes on we will see Havertz and gyokeres play more of a Kennedy/Radford role for the first 60 minutes or so to batter the opposition defence, we can then bring on the likes of jesus supplemented by Eze, martinelli and Odegaard to utilise the spaces and destroy the opposition with one and 2 touch pass and move football.
Chelsea in the league cup on Tuesday has the makings of a great open game of football, Chelsea are more than capable and it is a game that could swing either way as the may leave themselves open at the back.
Don’t be surprised to see Chelsea losing their cool if things don’t go their way, players like Enzo and caciedo play on the edge so a red card is a possibility .
Thicksy
I didn’t bother reading that so have no idea what you were crapping on about. Racism? Reform? Arteta’s genitals? I haven’t a scooby. 🐶
Much more importantly than the penultimate post (whatever it said…), Arsenal Women won the inaugural FIFA club world championship tonight. 🏆🏆🏆
Kp
I wouldn’t put you quite as an entitled fan as you can be balanced in your views on football, it’s just unfortunate that you allow your loony left thoughts to scramble your brain when it comes to world matters.
I sincerely hope you cure yourself of this affliction….
Arsenal women are still setting the standards in the women’s game. Given Arsenal’s trailblazing support for the women’s game over decades now, it’s fitting we become the first World Champs along with our European glory. Those involved with the Arsenal women from the days of Vic Akers onwards can justifiably be proud of yet another monumental achievement.
I went with the kids, it was odd not having home game trimmings at a home game but both sets of fans kept it lively.
Great to see Wenger in the house presenting trophies, less great seeing that twat Infantino infesting the stadium. I’d have thought he’s be off sucking off paedos and r*pists like Trump elsewhere on his weekends.
As we were there the Spuds result came through. Another good weekend and we end our bad run of form no worse than when we started it, perhaps slightly better as the list of teams we need to be concerned about has reduced and our GD has improved over our rivals.
I used to love me a Stevie Bould near post flick on in the old days Tets has taken that and dialled it right up. One set piece, first prem goal for Madueke, rightfully awarded even if I love the lols that come from so many teams being panicked into just giving us goal. On top of that, back to clean sheets and the strikers are starting to look lively again. Havertz’s return is going to be a boost to our title hopes but it’s a real shame that Mikel Goal machine Merino looks to be out until the rest of the season. Winning titles is rarely a smooth process unless you’re Liverpool and the football world acts like you’re owed a favour.
Looking forward to Tues and singing ‘she wore a yellow ribbon’ for the first time in far too long.
Hopefully everyone is enjoying this as much and finds it in their hearts to let their, sometimes barely rational, hostility towards Arteta go for a minute and jump on the ‘fun bus’ as he’s dubbed it. We’ve got 14 league games, potentially a few more Cup and Euro games, getting angry at Arteta whenever we do well isn’t going to be productive.
Aitcho
I watched it with one of my daughters. Arsenal women had it all stacked in their favour and only won in the tensest of fashions. The Corinthians penalty was poorly judged but they earned the right after winning the Champions League against the odds earlier in the year. I hope the 2 million bucks prize money will be swiftly and sensibly reinvested into their team even though they already have some terrific players. That said, it can be highly frustrating watching them play some beautiful build up only to lack composure in front of goal. In Slegers we trust…
I can’t say the same for Arteta of course!
Calling yourselves Corinthians ought to mean something. Sporting, good natured and fair just like their predecessors in ancient Greece. This lot weren’t. I had a different reaction to seeing old chihuahua head sharing a rostrum with that slug Infantino. I expect to see his head pop up again if the men’s team convert one of these 4 trophy chances. The man who brought us on field mediocrity, all in the name of paying for the stadium ahead of time. He should have sent Stepanovs, Squillaci or Sylvester to represent him.
As for the other dunce that posted something last night…no, I didn’t read it again. I’m off spam because it’s full of pigs’ eyelids and dung encrusted scrota.
If you can’t/won’t learn anything from me, try thinking about what Aitcho posts. Well structured, original, eloquent and most of all readable and thought provoking. The guy can write and accurately recount his impressions. Everything you cannot do. Learn and get better. You’re nowhere.
KP, not only the team, the Corinthian fans were a disgrace.
At one point in the second half they started chucking bottles and (plastic) beer glasses as a ball boy because he hadn’t retrieved a ball fast enough for their liking.
If it had been a prem match there would have been arrests. As it was the poor kid was sat on his stool until stewards came to escort him away, I felt for him.
As for Wenger, he’s one of the greats. It’s been a while, I’m happy to give him his flowers even if I believe that ultimately his lack of self awareness, often a trait in short supply for people used to being at the top in any field but especially sports, indulged by our irresponsible owners put us in the hole we’ve had to dig ourselves out of over the last 6 years.
Despite all that he’s still globally respected and even in the dog days he pulled a few trophies out.
Apparently City are putting together a shortlist of candidates to replace Pep if he leaves. The 3 names mentioned are Alonso (figure he’s got to be on Liverpool’s list to replace Slott should get the bullet), Maresca (someone’s been on the sauce) and Cesc.
Can you imagine Arsenal fans reaction if Cesc got the City job and was not only successful but played some good football?
Strange how Arteta doesn’t get a mention though – I wonder why.
Marc
Pep was glad to see the back of him. According to Cesc’s uncle his nephew has always wanted to manage AFC. Currently he has Como punching well above their weight and apparently their 0-0 result yesterday against Bergamo was still very entertaining.