The stats and the score line do not match for PSG game. We had only 35% possession but we won 2-0. A goal each from Havertz and Saka in the first half made sure we are picking up our first win in the Champions League. Kai’s header of a Trossard cross was a brilliant one and to beat Donnarumma for it in the box is some achievement. Second goal was Saka and some luck. Saka took a free kick from near the box and couple of Arsenal players tried to get some touch on it but failed. It failed so bad that not one Arsenal player, nor the PSG GK was able to get a touch on it and we got our second goal.
It’s a concern that Mikel had to replace Timber with Kiwior in the second half, we have a partnership developing between our back 4, and the introduction of Calafiori on the left is helping Martinelli. While attacking, we have 2 solid CBs covering our ground and both the fullbacks are part of the attack causing Chaos in the opposition half. They are good, both defensively and in attack, they are fast and they recover back very well. With Zinchenko, we had the problem that he was poor defensively. With Kiwior, we lack the recovery speed and he isn’t that good in attack. Ben White has been phenomenal and he will be part of the team and with proper rotation Mikel can keep everyone happy. But the Timber/Calafiori on either side looks very promising to the way Arteta sets up.
Merino made his debut in Arsenal shirt and the time frame was too small to judge him. We needed him though, that midfield should only have one of the Partey and Rice.
Right, lets get back to Premier League where we are playing Southampton at home tomorrow. It looks to be easy one but when you consider the fact that we dropped 4 points against them last season, it’s NOT. Southampton were relegated at the end of 2022-23 but they made us suffer in both ties. We had 1-1 away in the first leg and shared points again at home in a 3-3 score when we were trailing 3-1 till 85th minute and braces from Odegaard and Saka made sure we didn’t lose at home against a relegation fighting team. They are back in Premier League this season, and we should remember what they did to us.
Are we going to see Nwaneri in the starting line up against Southampton tomorrow? Remains to be seen, but we fans have been waiting for it. There is some excitement when we see an academy player get into the team and perform. Perhaps, Wenger ruined us all when he used to get results with 17-18 year old Wilsheres and Walcotts. Saka is one of the best winger in the world and comes from the very same academy. ESR/Nketiah made name for themselves but fell short for a title winning team; earned us some money while serving for years when needed though. We are in a title challenge and we can’t afford to drop points so playing a youngster gets riskier. There is a learning curve with young guns and that curve sometimes costs you points. Nwaneri’s case is different in the sense that he looks ready and from whatever we have seen of him, he looks to be a part of that team already. Let us see what he does when he gets his ‘game’ and whether he will sort out the Odegaard situation for us.
Right, a short one today. I took my laptop to service centre and got to know I have burnt the RAM. Got it fixed and I don’t have to watch another game on a mobile phone like the PSG one. Hope you have a good Friday and I will back with a match day blog tomorrow.
Cheers.
Brixton Market is just around the corner from Ferndale – good food at half time
Just like last season this season also will have two leagues with 5 spots for the Champions League. We just need to hope that the other EPL teams don’t crumble and finish in the bottom part of their respective competitions.
Just like most of you, these interlulls are are a PITA and ruin ones daily routines. Glad to be back to real football but not that it matters much with El B calling the shots. The Athletic had an interesting piece on him and his time at Man City.
KP
Sounds interesting with the form and aspirations of the clubs there.
Looks like the game had its moments with the red card. Good win for Haverford a great night out image. Great stuff, KP. Now 3 points from B’mouth Saturday and we’ll be up there or on top depending on results with City & Pool.
TRVL
For me winning the trophy is the only option for El B. two 2nds we should have won does not give El B room for excuses any more.
My thinking is: win or fcuk off to some other poor club.
No excuses, where I was heartened when Ambarish said the same at the beginning of the season albeit not as forcefully worded.
I see the logic in your top 4 finish, just that the start to the season has been so iffy throughout the games. We don’t control a game once in front. We have too many lapses during a game to let other teams score.
We are disjointed at best. We should lose the cohesiveness we had that kept us at the top last season.
This is because selections are poor again – look at the selections since Ode was injured. Very poor midfield calls.
Add that to our run in is difficult, at a time we traditionally capitulate and I have big concerns.
We just have to hope El B get’s it right from here on in, but I’m not holding my breathe.
Kilroy
Amplifying your thinking above and agree I detest international breaks.
I imagine with Toucal now the England manager wanting an out and out attacking play going forward the press are going to have a boring heyday but hopefully they will stop blowing smoke up El B/s and Jai’s collective arses.
I’m really looking forward to the rugby next month. My time is coming to an end in Thailand, so will live in a 1st world country again: Australia or America are my choices with guaranteed visas.
Are you from the States? Have to say I hope the next president is a better leader for the country or Australia will be a better optic to take in even if they do piss off the Chinese. lol.
like with El B I’m not holding my breathe.
Tony—don’t get me wrong, I totally agree with your managerial assessment…for me, MA is our weakest link and I would like nothing more than for him to hit the bricks, but we do have a top 3 squad…this has little to do with his tactical acumen or his eye for talent, as neither rise above a pedestrian level, but far more to do with whom he inherited and the seemingly bottomless pit of money he was gifted by our absentee landlord…I can’t help but think what might have been if a far more tactical astute coach and a Dein-like DOF were afforded the very same luxuries…Cheers
“the Athletic reported that Havertz was convinced to join Arsenal in the summer of 2023 by an hour-and-a-half video call from Mikel Arteta. The Arsenal manager had a bespoke presentation to show the striker, including words from family and previous coaches, pictures of his dogs, and a general message that he would be a long-term signing for the Gunners. Arteta stressed that Havertz would have a caring and nuturing environment in place for the player to express himself, having lacked that kind of support at Chelsea”
not sure if this says more about the lengths in which our little manager needed to go in order to convince even underwhelming players to come to North London or the sad state of player entitlement in this day and age…regardless, I’m not impressed…frankly I wouidn’t be surprised if this was leaked by MA’s PR management team in the hopes that it would be lapped up by all the usual suspects or a total fabrication meant to deflect attention away from the real reasons why he made the move, the exorbinant wages and unjustified assurances
maybe instead of endlessly trying to convince us of the genius behind a move that both failed to meet the requirements of the original brief, to find a suitable replacement for Xhaka, and stymied our ability to acquire a world-class Striker, he should spend more time looking in the mirror…after all, his first move out of the transfer gate saw him make a concerted push for Sesko, a more traditional number 9, which was quickly rebuffed by the player in question (maybe his little video montage dark arts routine wasn’t up to snuff on that occasion)…so if he was so convinced that our gangly Bavarian was the answer to our Striker question, why oh why would he be sniffing around Leipzig in such an aggressive manner…just more house of mirrors bullshit!!
Brilliant TRVL excellent posts on Havertz and our squad potential.
Before coming to LIR I was winding Pedro and his bots up that we had the squad to land a trophy with the top sides all rebuilding bar Pool and City. I remember you also feeling similar because of the drop in form of some in the to six. Pedro had no answer to that. I said that we’d win nothing that pissed Pedro off to ban me, but the El B obsessive has been proven wrong as with most, if not all of his El B predictions. Not surprised but there you are.
It makes sense as I totally agree with your thinking process that we have a top 3 squad – 3 years later: I just feel the repeat mistakes by El B we have witnessed this season are going to continue, and we’ll eventually hit a slump big enough to slide out of the top 4.
I hope I’m wrong but you but you & I have nailed our predictions and why the last 3 seasons.
Do I want to slide out to 5th+? To get rid of El B I’ll take it hoping that Josh and daddy wake up and smell the managerial coffee.
I doubt they will because there is too much P fcuking R blowing smoke up El B’s arse with his decisions and tactical prowess et al.
My gut says Slot will lift the trophy, but rightly or wrongly I’ll make a more finite prediction after Xmas. I know you feel differently with Slot being new, but are an admirer.
We’ll see buddy. I hope you prove me wrong. 🙏
TRVL
You have to wonder if it was the presentation that put the 9s El B wanted off. Only Havertz bought into it with nowhere to go anyway and then be top highest paid player.
Was the ridiculous pay deal at the beginning of the presentation one has to wonder?
If El B is looking for a new 9, it just pours scorn on Havertz’s presentation one season later.
Was the continued 9 search program part of the Havertz player tactics talks?
Jack Wilshere took another step up the managerial ladder this week and has succumbed to the delights of Delia’s home cooked fare. The locals are keen to see what he can do and more importantly if he can prise away any disgruntled young starlets.
Hi NORG
I doubt Jacko will cut the mustard (geddit?) in Norwich. I can think of nothing less appetising than a country supper (!) chez Delia and her perma-pissed husband.
He’s a little enigmatic our Jacko. He always came across as someone intent on diminishing his own talents, not solely because of his self styled bad boy image but also because of the recklessness with which he played. I admired him at the time but in retrospect I can’t help thinking he conspired along with Wengo (who over played him at times) in his own demise. Moreover, he’ll never possess the gravitas and heft to become a top manager.
He could go a lot worse than Norwich however. A fine city as the signs say and a good solid club, notwithstanding the mediocre celebrity chef nexus. How do you see things going against the 🍒🍒🍒 tomorrow?
Hi KP
Clearly Jacko is doing well with the U18’s but dealing with ‘adults’ is a different ball game. He will never be a top manager but a good No2 is probably what he hopes to achieve. Olivia & Co are keeping the family name going and her red haired Irish mate is also living locally – hot stuff.
Tomorrow could be trickier than most believe. Their manager likes to attack whilst we have the best defense – that normally equates to a draw. We could catch them on the counter but Martinelli is doubtful and breaking fast to Havertz means the first meal of the day.
You seem to be fully embroiled in Welsh football at this time – do you still clamber for foreign shores?
NORG
I do. Nearly 5 years have elapsed since I secured residency in Spain but the dream transfer remains elusive at the moment.
I’m a little more sanguine about Bournemouth despite the murky injury picture. A couple of early goals, no lapses in concentration and it’ll be OK.
Back from BKK driving because most 4 and 5 star hotels have hard beds, so I take my own topper.
Got my first reminder of hours of monsoon rain driving today, as I’ve been luck last few drives.. In such countries it’s not only the rain that you need your wits about.
Anyhow, I enjoy driving so all good.
Made the start of the Hammers v Spuds at 1:1 start of the 2nd half.
Fulham v Villa could be a fun game unless you are continuing to enjoy the Manure debacle. That it must be pissing off old red nose is a nice bonus.
Can Franck grab points at OT? Would make me 😊
Spuds 2:1 Bissouma netting from 12 yards.
Spud’s fans delirious being 4:1 up playing Ange ball.
To the Spudettes it must be like winning a trophy. 🙄😂
If and when we’re fully fit it will be interesting to see who MA views as our best 11…with questions regarding both backers and all 3 midfield positions, there’s plenty to be sorted out…for me it’s rather simple:
Raya
Timber Saliba Gabs Calafiori
Ode Rice Merino
Saka Havertz(I wish it were otherwise) Marts
So ESR has managed to appear in every match this season for Fulham and has averaged 70 odd minutes per match.
So either A) Arteta’s a cunt and his training was responsible for ESR’s injury problems B) Arteta’s a cunt and was lying about the extent of the injury problems C) Arteta’s a cunt and it’s a bit of A and B.
Either way Arteta’s a cunt.
Reports Saka hasn’t made todays squad – fucking international football should be banned outside of tournaments.
Funny as Marc laughed at that one.
Leno and Emi playing well but Ollie Watkins with a bullet header leaving Leno no chance.
Great game end to end stuff.
TRVL
Agree with your selection let’s hope we see it deployed.
Ollie Watkins is such a good fit for us.
Morgan Rogers looks a player, too