‘Did you think you had Eze’ – asked a reporter from Thomas Frank. Thomas, appointed only recently as the manager of a shite club, responded in an attempt to create some humour by asking back –
‘Who is Eze?’
Well, he just scored a hattrick in a NLD after 47 fucking years and by the time 90 mins were done, Spurs fans were already at home, probably sobbing and blaming the cold. If you are one of those and delusional enough to think you own North London, let me just say that even with a 4-1 win, we were more frustrated than you lot because we couldn’t keep a clean sheet. You are used to losses so that was just a regular day for you.
Right, that was a brilliant evening for us Gooners. A 4-1 victory over Spurs, at Home, hat-trick from the man who had almost joined Spurs but the club brought him to Emirates in the last minutes, Saka dancing and fans staying and singing once the match was over. And we did all this without our first choice striker, and our best defensive player while Hincapie started his first game in place of Gabriel. Our captain was missing too.
We took the lead in the 36th minute when Mikel Merino set up a beautiful ball to Trossard who, very precisely, put it into the nets. Eze, doubled the lead in 5 minutes when he put the ball into the nets courtesy of Rice’s assist. We went into the break 2-0 and Frank made some changes hoping he could turn it around. I am pretty sure he is aware of the spursy nature of that team but hey, he is paid enough to at least try. Eze made it 3-0 only 1 minute into the second half, assisted by Timber but that lad was dreaming of something more.
Richarlison scored a good one from far away. When you play a high line and your goal keeper is involved in setting things up, this can happen. I don’t mind it more than Raya, who would be furious to not add this game to another one of his clean sheets. Frank made some more changes but Eze scored his 3rd in the 76th minute and made sure that no one but the red and whites celebrate the day.
Spurs were so shite we didn’t even need to use set pieces to beat them.
We had finished 2nd, three seasons in a row. We lost points in dead games, injuries derailed us and there were some very odd decisions from the manager. This season, we lost our best defender and yet Hincapie finished his 1st full game with a 9.5/10. Odegaard is out injured but Eze comes in and does better. I was doubting Trossard but he has proven that he can play better than Martinelli when he is given a chance. We have a saucy striker who looks adapted now, was out injured but we didn’t miss him. Saka was world class and will remain so.
Now, onto the next game in Champions League tonight against Bayern. Only 3 teams are with a perfect score so far, and two of them are playing each other today. Bayern sits at top of the table with equal points and same goal difference but have scored 3 extra goals than us. That also means we have conceded 3 less than them, in fact, we have conceded fuck-all so far in 4 games in the group stages and Bayern will test that today. We will be without our best CB partnership but Hincapie dropped a bombshell of a performance against Spurs so I am not really bothered.
To finish in top 8 and avoid 2 extra qualifying games later, we have to win at least 6 of the 8 games. After today, we will be playing Club Brugge, Inter and Kairat. Inter Milan is the third team with all wins so far. Frankly, it’s not a do or die situation for us but there’s always some uncertainty in Champions League. We saw Chelsea beating Barcelona last night, and Newcastle losing to Merseille thanks to 2 goals from the ex-Arsenal man, Aubameyang. Anything can happen, so make the most out of what’s in front of you.
Martinelli and Madueke are back in the team. Odegaard might also be available, though I doubt Mikel will bench the hattrick man for him. Mikel, when asked about facing Bayern, had to say this –
For sure, this is the kind of game in the competition that we want to face, and we’ve been very consistent in both competitions; they have been as well, and tomorrow is a great test for us to see where we are.
source:Arsenal.com
A very challenging game indeed, and the one which will highlight whether we have progressed to win something of importance of this year. Beat Bayern today and the boys will go home in confidence. Also, there can be only one team sitting at the top and we would love to be the one.
See you during the game.
Still sore about our ‘petit contretemps’ a week earlier on the subject of your nasty politics, you couldn’t help involving yourself in another one between me and Sturmbahnfuhrer Wicksy by becoming a crude apologist for his equally crude politics of racial division. All wrapped up in your unhinged hatred of more inclusive fairer politics.
Calm down Marc and stop clutching your pearls. You’re too shrill and way too scared of things. There, there…
Merino is a fucking embarassment when it comes to his on-field antics, much like Havertz before him…it’s all the more difficult to swallow when you have fake news clowns like Pricksy spewing their nonsense about how we’re always the victims of the supposedly corrupt officiating classes
KP & Marc—I’m not sure what Ambarish is getting so rattled about, as I’ve really enjoyed your back-and-forth…that said, I might not be the best judge of such matters in light of my oftentimes contentious posting predilictions…the only difference in this particular case was that there was the third party involved, who eagerly stirred the pot…don’t let that trolling fuck destroy your perfectly well-managed love-hate relationship
Sorry Tom. Just seen your comment from yesterday. Thanks for the support. I hope you enjoyed the game tonight. A straightforward-ish win but there were some moments when we ceded too much territory and possession. You should dip your toe in the water more often mate. Not everyone bites on here (!).
Not bad for a no nothing eh TRVL
9.33am wicksy
“The first goal is important in this kind of game, Brentford’s away form is poor but they are quite dangerous offensively so we must not be too complacent as it’s vital we maintain the 5 point gap at the top, hopefully a match without too much drama….2-0
A special mention for Merino and Hincape who was a rock at the back.
I have to say that the in the first half we played some of our best football of the season with some lovely intricate moves.
The injury to mosquera had a negative effect on us but when Saka and eze came on we settled down again and but for a couple of slips from Merino and saka after their keeper parried the ball we would have run out more comfortable winners.
I think Brentford will hold their own in the league this season , they always posed a threat tonight and the save from Raya in the first was world class.
Villa will be another tough test at the weekend , especially if saliba isn’t fit as it may mean Timber filling in at centre back again which is not ideal though he did well tonight which is no surprise.
It’s not desperation yet regarding our defensive injuries as calafiori also can play centre back as can Ben white.
Brugge away and Brighton in the league cup should be games in which Arteta rests our defenders as those 2 games are way down the list of importance, play some kids if needs be.
How will Emery set villa up against Arsenal, I look at them as more of a pure footballing side who Like to move the ball quick , rather than a physical side like Sunderland and Chelsea who we drew with away from home recently.
Will Emery stick to his footballing principles or will he look at our last 2 away games and instruct his players to try and bully us the way Sunderland and Chelsea tried to do .
I can’t see Emery moving away from his footballing principles, it has served him well so far at villa as they are on a remarkable run of form after a disastrous start which is a credit to Emery.
It should be another tough game , a game which our defensive injuries may prove too much , especially if rice is unavailable, unless saliba returns, a draw will be acceptable as it will be another tough away fixture put to bed, it certainly is a very tough league this year as there is no let up as other teams are finding with Chelsea losing to Leeds and Liverpool only drawing at home to Sunderland last night.
We play villa home and away this month and that may have a pivotal outcome on the title race as villa could be threat to our chances.
Saturday’s game v villa is a similar scenario to our match v Chelsea, 6 points clear knowing a defeat will leave a gap of only 3 points meaning another tension filled game .
The top 2 form teams at this stage of the season face each other this weekend. Will Emery be donning his Count Dracula smile after the game?
Just imagine where we would be now if Emery had been supported instead of being thrown under the bus by Raul to save his own slippery slimy skin.
KP – Keeeep posting.
The chelsea manager showed how naive he is last night with his team selection….playing 2 teenage wingers was destined to fail as Leeds were guaranteed to give Chelsea a dose of their own medicine with their home crowd behind them, it was not a game for kids especially as they had Neto guarnacho available
Arteta has learnt that these tough away trips are games for the more experienced players as the aggression and physicality from the home team and the usual weak referees who are easily intimidated by the home crowd makes life very difficult to play controlled football .
Of course nobody can blame these home teams for trying to intimidate the opposition in front of their own fan base as they certainly wouldn’t be able to do it on their travels..
This is a very tough physical league this season, that is why many of supposedly top 6/8 sides are languishing in mid table, in fact palace and Sunderland (2 very physical sides) are currently sitting in 4th and 5th spot.
Winning football matches is not quite so difficult when the pressure is off , villa have been on a great run recently with little or no pressure, let’s see how they cope with the extra pressure on Saturday in the knowledge that they will be 3 points behind us if they win.
As a truly nauseating right wing warmongering rapist, paedophile and corrupt misanthropic nearly-dead motherfucker, Trump really deserves his FIFA peace award. Infantino succeeds in being an even worse cunt than Blatter.
International football and the World Cup is fucked.
KP—the only saving grace of that amateur hour event was watching that fat orange fuck “dance” to the music of the Village People…clearly he still doesn’t understand what they were getting up to on their free time…or maybe those were the tunes that were playing when he was servicing Clinton on Epstein’s Island of Misfits Cocks
if it weren’t for the fact that I had just watched an animated promotional video starring Putin and Modi, this “first ever” peace prize sham would be the most despicable PR stunt I’ve witnessed in some time
So looking like when we have the players fit Eze will be starting from the left – not sure that gets the best out of him. You’d have thought Gyokeres would be getting close enough to fitness to start even if he can only manage an hour.
Hopefully Saliba will be back all OK for next weekend, we’re really short at CB at the moment.
Emery has always been a problem for Mikel. Not much so far except some Saka brilliance
Konda caught with evidence in his hands
A piece of shirt he pulled off Eze with a hard pull at the back. Right foul
Eze should have read the flight of the ball. Was long time coming
2nd half
Arteta has thrown in the sink and the bathtub.. and his usual prejudice Tossard into the fray
Let us see
Some relief, Trossard doing what he does best. Saka as usual involved in that
Ufa
1-1
Tossard kicks in the excellent Saka pass which Gyokeres missed
Villa should be scoring there.
A lucky escape.