‘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.
Hincapie caught the player with a painful one but I don’t think there was anything malicious in it..
We seem to be struggling with basic things like trapping the ball and passing!
Enzo should get a yellow atleast surely for the face challenge?
we need to get Merino off and put Noni on, then have he amd Marts take turns up top so we can stretch the shit out of this 10-men side
Fucking ada. Feels like a 20 year time warp. Chelsea rotational fouling and worse. If ever you need a ref to stand up to dirty cunts like Chelsea, Anthony Taylor isn’t the man to do it. He’s getting played by Chelsea at every opportunity and his weaknesses as a ref are bring laid bare.
Assuming he’s fit, this game is made for Gyokeres to come on with 25 to go and power his way past their defenders. Get that curly haired Brighton reject wanker red carded as well.
MLS coming on for Calafiori. Good move considering the yellow he is ON.
Fucking hell
Players have a habit of scoring against their old clubs – maybe time for Madueke although I wouldn’t take Martinelli off.
We really are being stupid with picking up soft yellows – no need to foul a player when they’re in their own half.
if MA can get his head out of his ass the fact that Chelsea scored so early might help us get back into this one, as they will go into full protect mode…clearly Enzo brought in both Delpa and Garnacho to keep us somewhat honest
Madueke and Odegaard for Martinelli and Zubimendi..
Arteta’s going aggressive – his mum must have given him some big boy pants as an early Christmas present.
wanted Noni, but not at the expense of Marts
Nicely worked goal.
Merino sucks defensively, so MA must be hoping for another set piece tally
Saka has taken Cucurella personal; beat him to it and we levelled. Brilliant goal.
Lets make it 2-1
#COYG
TRVL
Unfortunately I think now the only question regarding Martinelli is will he go in the Summer or January.
Only Daka could have done that , although Merino headed in
not sure what Chelsea were doing there, as they left little Cucerella to cover both Merino and Noni…good on Merino for taking full advantage
we should get all 3 now