Forgive me for I have been busy a lot and I’m typing this on my mobile while returning home and my work shift starts at 6 in the morning, almost 6 hours from now
BUT… I can’t skip a NLD match day can I?
Am I selfish in hoping we will be 4-0 up by half time so that I can sleep early?
Biggest match of this season, win this and we get to celebrate the St. Totteringham day after years, and we do it at Shite Hart Lane. We also qualify for Champions League without going into any permutations and combinations.
Good news is, Saka’s injury was a minor one and he is back in playing XI. White could only make it to bench but I would prefer Holding anyday over him. Rob is good in the air and can counter Harry Kane efficiently.
It’s sad to see ESR on bench, it must be a dream for those 2 kids to score in as many NLDs as possible but I’ve a feeling it’s one of those matches when Martinelli proves why he deserves to start every fucking game.
Eddie, if scores today, should be given a knighthood and declared better than Bruno Fernandes for a decade.
Our only problem will be the duo of Kane and Son. Son has a habit of scoring against us and it would be challenging to stop them. A lot depends on Gabriel and Holding, we might see a deep block where Xhaka supports in defence. Ode has lost his form a bit in recent games and we need his best today.
I will keep it short today. We win 3-0, a goal from Eddie and 2 from Martinelli.
What’s your prediction? Let me know in the comments.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/13/irelands-eurovision-misery-continues-as-it-fails-to-qualify-for-2022-contest
Almunia
As if last night’s result wasn’t bad enough, here’s more bad news! 😊 Ireland’s Eurovision fortunes mirroring those of Arsenal’s footballing ones. Dana and Johnny Logan will be horrified. Two major powers fallen on hard times. You’ll have to get your Undertones, Pogues and Microdisney albums out instead tomorrow night and waltz Ms Almunia around your living room. I hope the pain is diminishing. There’ll always be results like that round the corner while the basque bantamweight remains in charge.
Looks like Conte completed owned Arteta in the press conference – last night will have damaged our confidence (how often do we go runs of wins or losses?) and put the Spud’s sky high.
Newcastle will be a tough match.
Marc
Thanks again for the words of wisdom last night – they made good sense as usual.
I agree about Newcastle potentially being difficult but it will be much more tricky if the team isn’t properly prepared psychologically. We have something real to play for, they don’t, we have a better team on paper, the relative league positions, the fact that we usually win there (4-4 draws notwithstanding) plus the important point that we’ll be up against a team not looking to low block and to show a bit of showbiz to their fans. Circumstances suggest that it should be 3 points. I’m wondering if the team selection should be a little more bold than last nights, ie swap Cedric for Nuno and being in ESR at the expense of Elneny or Arteta’s golden boy GX. Start like a train, get a few goals up and start shithousing after 65 minutes. Sounds easy doesn’t it.
Kroenkephobe,
I’ll just watch the Will Ferrell film of the same name,slightly more entertaining (only slightly mind you).
Yeah,Newcastle away are difficult to predict but I’m convinced that it’s one of those grounds that is more intimidating under lights. We shall see. It is not a given that spurs will beat Burnley. Either way the idea that we are progressing and will continue to progress under the present regime is still a difficult concept for me to grasp. I really believe that this is not a journey. This is it. What we have been watching for the last 2 and a half years is Arteta’s vision of how his teams should play.
Almunia
Sit in a review meeting with your boss / line manager after performing really badly and not only missing out on targets / KPI’s but setting a new company low and tell him it’s a process and see what he says!
The FA Cup final is a strange phenomenon. If Arsenal aren’t playing, I have to resist the urge to feel like a kid with his nose pressed against the window of a sweet shop. If we are in the final, it’s one of those games you only feel relieved about not losing. A strange day all told.
Almunia – I was struck by something you said about Monday’s game being played at night and therefore under floodlights. Is it that you think we’re particularly shit in those kind of away games, or is it a more general belief that night games favour home teams.
Monday is one of those games where the players need to do it despite Arteta. The likelihood of there being no discernable leader on the pitch is a possible concern.
“The likelihood of there being no discernable leader on the pitch is a possible concern.”
Don’t worry little ones we’ve got Super Xhaka!!!
A good observation courtesy To Pierre
“Was Holding marking Son part of rhe Arteta strategy going in to the game or was conte smarter rhan Arteta and asked Son to play narrower , meaning Holding had to engage Son.I would find it difficult to believe that Arteta put Holding on Son , mainly because Son is the type of player that makes life difficult for Holding, hence why i think Conte was very clever and Arteta was too slow to recognise that their was a problem.Holding was getting pulled into areas that a central defender playing in a back 4 should avoid as he knew that if Son skinned him there would be a massive hole in the back 4, hence why Holding felt he had to stop him at all cost.Prior to the game i thought putting Tomiyasu on Son was the best option as he is a good man marker , and playing with wing backs with Tomiyasu as a centre back if white was unfit which would allow him to follow Son in the knowledge that we had 2 centre backs covering.Arteta was naive and Conte was very clever in the way he isolated Holding , who clearly looked uncomfortable playing in areas he is unaccustomed to. “
I think the atmosphere at night games is more intimidating for whatever reason(alcohol? Less children/family?) Perhaps this intimidates refs more. Perhaps it motivates home teams more. But it certainly affects Arsenal,we tend to go into our shell. And amazingly even when we explain to the opposition that we are the youngest team in the league they don’t show any sympathy. What’s that about?
With regard to Pierre’s comment posted by Hoopah.
Not only do I think that it was Arteta’s tactic for Holding to deal with Son but I think Holding was given instructions to rattle him with physical challenges, Arteta got Holding so wound up that he was playing recklessly and couldn’t get his head back once booked.
Can anyone remember Holding playing like that before? Xhaka can lose it, Mustafi was always capable of that type of stupid play, Gabriel can lose it as well but I’ve never associated Holding with being that type of player.
People always talk about Arteta micro managing matches from the side lines and his constantly gestating etc why didn’t he calm Holding down or tell him to be more careful?
Lukaku being the propah LUMP. Asks for the ball when he is covered. Makes himself relevant pointing to spot he wanted a pass a micro second after the ball is played.
But a good match going on FA Cup
Really enjoying this,hard to believe it’s scoreless. Pity one of them has to win though!
Hi Hoopah
You must have balls of steel or a huge masochistic tendency watching those two teams of gobshites battle it out. And don’t get me started on their fans by and large. Fair do’s mate!
Actually Hoopah, you have me thinking now about the most expensive flops ever. Torres at Chelsea,Shevchenko at Chesea, lukaku at…..Pattern or what. Pogba gets my vote though.
Alumias
Good got you wound up.
Agree with your list of flops.
But Lukaku is specially exasperating.
Among the lesser evils don’t want a Liverpool quadruple. And no other Invincibles ever… unless it is Arsenal again
Hoopah,
I’m leaning towards Chelsea aswell,imagine! Football can be a special type of hell sometimes….
Let’s do a running commentary on the match.
When LondonIsRed why do we need the Cambridge Analytics bog 😷 ?
Lads
The Lukaku thing is a bit mystifying. He looked unstoppable in the first few games of the season. I’d still have him at Arsenal in a heartbeat. I hope that’s not too controversial. 🙂
Hope Cholsky don’t come to rue the number of chances they missed earlier.
By the way the Mane elbow was much more damaging than the Holding offence, but then Mane was in attacking position where players get more latitude
Here’s a question,if it goes to pens will tuchel change keepers again? Would be madness in my eyes.
Almunia
I assume you’ll be straight onto speedialling your brothers if Chelsea win. Give ’em internecine hell if they do.
Since LegoHead is there for another 3 years, guess Lukaku might do well with the aerial service at Arsenal. Should score off at least 2-3 out if 25-35 crosses
Alexander Arnold kicked his own leg, fell over Mount and got a free kick.
We were talking of EPL referee standards, right?
Lukaku looked like he was collecting his winnings off all the lads on the bench. Must have bet them that he wouldn’t score!
Forgot about Timo Werner,Christ Chelsea do pick them don’t they?
Kroenkephobe,
Delicate one that. Gave them dogs abuse after the Spurs game. Needless to say I was inundated after Thursday. Going for the aul ceasefire now,they have more ammunition than me!
Aluminas
By the way Chelsky got cuter supporters. Just bring that in the convo, might put your brothers in a quandary
Game into extra time.
Will the lumpit still play?
Aha – the old NPTP (non piss taking pact). I used it the other day with two of my son’s MUFC supporting mates up at Bramhall Lane while watching us beat Manure and waiting for the Bluebirds to kick off. Its the mark of a real man to observe that one.
I’m getting positive vibes about Burnley getting a draw tomorrow – their caretaker manager will shithouse the fuck (one of my more eloquent idioms) out of the spuds.
Kante got an impressive short burst Saw him Nick the ball twice off Mane and Luis Diaz.
Also noticed he now is the main backpasser of Chelsea. Exactly what Mikel loves
.