Bad news first, City has been catching up lately and are only 3 points behind us in the table. Though they have played a game more, you don’t want them breathing on your neck.
With years of experience of winning ‘titles’, Pep and his team knows how to handle themselves under pressure. We, on the other hand, have folded 3 seasons in a row and are trying not to repeat it one more time.
Now, the good news – it’s in OUR hand. We win against Brentford today and we will go back to a 6 points lead with only 12 games to play.
We have few injuries but we have enough bench strength to not to worry about it. Both Saka and Odegaard will be assessed before the game. Mikel Merino will be out for some time after his foot injury. Kai Havertz has picked up another injury I’ve heard and is a doubt for next 2 weeks (rumoured).
Back 4 is sorted, but the midfield is going to be a mess for Mikel. Rice and Zubimendi are starters, and he is left with only Eze to fill the spot. His favorites, Merino and Havertz are not available for selection while Odegaard is both out of form and half-fit for the games. Eze – it’s your time to shine man.
If you ask me, I would stick with the usual back 4 with a midfield of Rice + Zubimendi and Eze in an advance role. Madueke and Martinelli on either side with Gyokeres in the middle would be the front 3. You can pick Trossard over Madueke, I wouldn’t complain.
Every game from now onwards is a final. Carabao Cup is a literal one, but with City closing the gap, we have to make sure we don’t drop points in Premier League. We have a game in April against them at their home ground, and we surely won’t want to leave it to beating them at their home to win.
We are in the knockout stage of Champions League after winning all our group stage games. Every game would be a one to win to move forward.
But hey, if you can’t keep your head down for 2 months and beat the likes of City and PSG, you don’t expect to win a trophy.
Right, that’s me done. See you during the game.
Also, it’s sad to see Thomas Frank getting sacked. His Tottenham Legacy lives with us in the form of the cup.
Ambarish
Saw El B frowning and looking displeased on seeing how the 2nd goal came by .
Bastardo Incopotente for a reason
OK one more before half time and then a nice no drama no injuries 2nd half.
Shame Dowman isn’t ready this would be a perfect match for him to get 45 under his belt.
Own Goal strikes again, a beautiful goal from 12th man.
3rd goal and El B still frowning
I went to see a game between 2 teams in Wigan’s division yesterday, namely Cardiff v Luton. Cardiff were terrific and won 3-1 with some beautiful play. A world away from this Wigan team.
Our old mate OG getting back up the top scorers’ list! Three nil.
This could end up double digits if Wigan don’t get their shit together.
Lovely finish by Jesus.
Luton’s manager is Jacko Wilshire of course.
To the tune of guantanamera, Cardiff fans were singing to him…
Shit Aaron Ramsey, you’re just a shit Aaron Ramsey.
Ramsey is an ex Cardiff player for those not in the know…
Jesus is a cheeky little geezer.
Remember that player Glenn Whelan on their bench? Ex Stoke. A really dirty cunt.
Good to see Matt Smith coming on. He was a decent pro when he played for us.
This game reminds me a bit of those late Wenger CL mismatches when we’d get hammered by Barca and Bayern.
Chihuahua headed bastard.
Job done! I respect the players for continuing to dominate and not going too hard at Wigan to run up a cricket score. City wouldn’t have done that.
Hoopah—spot on with your 4:50 post…unlike our resident I told you so/low hanging fruit fucktard, you get it…Cheers
TRVL
“Hoopah—spot on with your 4:50 post…unlike our resident I told you so/low hanging fruit fucktard, you get it…”
Hoopah
“Both goal assists by Eze from central midfield position.”
Hoopah does get it , but where did he “get it ” from, oh yeah me , as I have been calling for a few weeks for Eze to pick the ball up in deeper positions as he is the one player in the team who can put the ball on a sixpence for a runner in behind the opposition, and I’m pleased to say that today Eze showed how my analysis of his game was spot on.
I imagine TRVL had steam coming out of his ears watching Eze coming deep to create our first 2 goals , picking out the runners perfectly like an American quarter back , exactly how I predicted..
Pricksy—context matters you mental midget…we should field a starting 11 like that more often…even against the bus-sitters we could play a far more attractive/direct brand of football with that midfield/forward unit, especially if VG was starting instead of Jesus, who had a nice goal but isn’t known for his direct play abilities…if you weren’t such a self-aggrandizing fuck you would have showed some restraint, considering the opposition, and left well enough alone,,,btw you misread the room when it came to Hoopah’s comment you stunned cunt
Wicksy
Wigan are over 60 places below Arsenal in the league pyramid. Look at the value of the squad we started with yesterday.
The idea that good players should be able to beat a team that’s about to be relegated to the 4th tier of English football isn’t something to boast about – its the fucking bare minimum expectation.
Marc
Wigan are probably celebrating they kept a clean sheet for the second half. Wigans team is worth less than 10million GBP – less than Arsenal Ladies Team. In reality AFC should have been close to reaching double figures unless they were being kind to the opposition.
Mansfield away…despite the incontrovertible fact that Arteta is an utter bastard and the devil incarnate, the gods of football are looking favourably on us this season.