7 years since we last played a Champions League knockout game! Luck has favoured us a bit, we are visiting Porto in couple of hours and I’m all excited for it.
Mikel Arteta in his pre-match conference acknowledged the experience Porto have in Champions League, that we haven’t played a CL game in two or three months and the other teams are well prepared and can beat anyone on a given day.
In the team news, ex Porto man Fabio Vieira and Thomas Partey were back in training but remains to be seen if they make the bench. Jesus, Zinchenko and Tomiyasu are out for the game while Timber is not yet recovered. If I have to guess, we would play with our strongest playing XI, Havertz in the middle with Declan Rice, and a front three of Saka, Trossard and Martinelli.
There’s something exciting about today. We are playing Porto on the back of two big wins 5-0 and 6-0 in PL and the confidence of the lads would be touching the ceiling. With a 2-legged system, you can always make a comeback if things don’t go in your favor at first, but I don’t want it to happen. I would love it if we bury the tie today with a 2-0/3-0 win and make sure we don’t let the 2nd leg come in the way of our Premier League run.
Premier League has a very certain way of play. Most of the teams prefer playing from the back, the movements and player’s position can be read in advance and Mikel or anyone for that matter can plan their strategies accordingly. Everybody knows how Pep is going to play and how he is going to set up the team on the field. It’s not going to change. He can tweak the system a bit but on a high level, it remains same. Teams from other leagues are not that predictable. You know very less about them, they can just sit back and keep a wall, or play on counter, or play a quick one touch football. And for some of these clubs, winning a game against Arsenal or Madrid is all they want. That’s what make them dangerous and that’s why the results often in CL (or Europe) are random. It comes down to “who put their body on the line”.
Can we do it today? We will get to know soon. Short one today, game is too late for me (1.30 AM IST) but I can manage a 4 hour sleep after a 7 year wait. See you during the game.
been busy with the bread and butter job.
Ambarish
I thought you were an IT Tech guy. I didn’t realise you had a side hustle running a sandwich shop. 🥪🥪🥪
I just want a routine comfortable win tonight with the added bonus of seeing those Geordie maggots (supporters and players esp. Trippier) crying all the way home. Not sure I’ll get it but one can dream.
Marc
He’s an utter arse, and his stubbornness and intransigent ways will fuck him eventually.
Jorginho was a difference maker against the bindips. Not sure we need two pivots against the barcodes.
You not going tonight Marc?
Eddie Howe is a twat too. His face would not look out of place on a Toby Jug.
Oh no it’s Tierney.
Kroenke
He’ll fuck us and the players.
Kroenke
Just couldn’t be arsed with such a late kick off on a Saturday – May or early season in the nice weather yeah but Feb – do me a favour.
If they keep taking the piss out of the match going fans eventually they’ll see attendances drop off.
Ode shdve walloped that
Poetic justice. Dodgy goalline goal. I hope they keep their feet on Newcastle’s necks.
Those nasty cunts can stick these two up their arse. Come on, show some physicality now, you bums.
Bruno G getting his own medicine today.
Genuine question – can anyone explain why we didn’t/couldn’t do this in Portugal?
Newcastle end half-empty for their goal. And they call them brilliant fans. Fickle cunts.
just finished watching the Saturday Night cake walk…Newcastle were so woeful that the in-game betting line gave them a 0% chance of winning in the 59th minute only down by 2…good on the boys for making the most of almost every opportunity that this poorly managed side gifted them …Howe better hope they win their mid-week Cup tie or he’ll really be feeling the heat, especially considering the lifeless nature of that showing…maybe the fact that they scored at the Emirates for the first time in about a decade will somehow lower the temperature in the room…if so, how terribly pathetic is that…fact remains, he deserves some heat after opting for such a defensively-minded gameplan with Karius starting and Burns on the bench…I’ve never been a fan of his, except as a stop-gap option…like MA, I just don’t think he has what it takes at the highest of levels, regardless of the operating budget…that said, I will give him his flowers for what he achieved early on at Bournemouth, but even that ended rather unceremoniously
I was quite impressed with the manner in which we pushed for corners from the get-go, especially considering their Keeper and our propensity to score from set pieces…still not sure if that was a manager-driven tactic or simply happenchance, but I truly hope it was the former…we were likewise really effective when pressing high, which was helped immeasurably by Howe’s inexplicable desire to play out from the back far too often…if it weren’t for the fact that Ode was way off the mark early on, we likely would have won by even more…Ode let his emotions get the best of him, which was nice to see, but it certainly didn’t lift his performance…following that, it was basically the Jorginho’s show, which is fine for a one-off, but surely not a recipe for success against better sides…hopefully we’ll face some stiffer competition before our return fixture against Porto, as our cream puff schedule before our first leg clearly didn’t help matters…regardless, the 3 points and the goal differential benefits were much-appreciated
Good morning one and all.
KP the Toby jug reference got me laughing. Quote of the week.
Do we put something in the away dressing room’s water or pump some type of Indica THC fumes or similar? Because lately away teams don’t turn up until the second half – if at all.
For at least 30 minutes in the first halves teams come to the Emerites full of fear with their deer-in-the-headlights football where our lot are playing as if they’d had a bowl or methflakes pre-game. If I were the marketing people at Duracell, I’d be using a few whippets from the PL, and add some Tik Tok style clips.
Not sure Raya was too much at fault for Willock’s goal, as we had collective switched off by the 84th minute with game won at 4:0. Also, we are still not there yet for a 90+ minute flat out pressing game. We haven’t learnt when to let them have the ball to take quick recovery rests.
I was thinking it was fortuitous we were at home at fortress Emirates. A trip to geordie-land after the Porto fiasco may well have fared differently.
The result was the right one on the night, but let’s not lose sight Newcastle have shipped more goals than Sheffield this season, with the most in the PL I think. Very easy to carve openings at will for us and others.
Along with you all, my gripe is why we needed to play our potentially – Havertz notwithstanding – best 11 against a side we could and did so easily dispatch.
Perhaps El B thinks the Dubai rest did all the recharging that was necessary and on reflection of results, it’s hard to call it any different.
Apart from the mid table player, Eddie is, and our frustrations of selling Monaco’s Banging’em-in Bolagun, our subs should all have been youth players including Ethan Nwaneri who should have had a run out at false 9 with his fleet of feet, at speed dribbling. That coming through the middle would be a new dimension for us. Sadly stunted El B’s visions are continual reruns.
Any questions of why no real rotation will be met with our next fixture is March 5th at Sheffield where a fully rested squad should make light work of Sheffield who are propping up the table in last place.
Another game to get our youths involved as much as possible. Only Eddie fails to constantly deliver, and paradoxically Havertz is not much better, but is a pet so starts.
No-one is going to buy Havertz unless we subsidise his leaving package. Forget the shop window and play players who are better, such as ESR, Nelson and Ethan Nwaneri who really looks a player to be equal or better to Saka in the future.
The kid oozes class and has that Nwanko Kanu feel with his football, and the way the ball seems glued to his feet. We’ve only seen glimpses, but what we have seen has been golden at times, as Saka was. I got high hopes for that kid.
Brentford at fortress Emirates on the 10th, and another late start. I am a fan of Thomas Franc’s brand of no nonsense in-your-face football. Pretty much the way our harassing football is played.
Toney will want to make a name for himself in the continuing “will he or won’t he” come in the summer. After reading TRVL’s thoughts on El B’s choice, Toney would be far better, but not perfect: a Giroud type play with less silky feet.
Here’s a thought, could we swap Havertz or Zinchenko for Toney?
Throw in Cedric now Alo Alo is finished, and Faulty Towers has had its day. If they really wanted to drive a hard bargain, we could blow the cobwebs off Elneny – tune him up a bit, and throw him into the pot on the table.
If needs must, Havertz and Zinchenko should be a sweet enough pot for Brentford. 🙂
All in all, this will be a tough game and a difficult 3 points to win, even at home. Franc’s side’s always turn up with high octane, quick football with the players to cause any side problems.
Porto midweek where, if we’ve dispatched Sheffield & Brentford, Porto at home should be a no-brainer. I know Marc the stats from history, but on law of averages being my scientific model, I feel we’ll win and win easy at the Emirates.
Just a gut feeling, so don’t shoot the piano player if I’m wrong. My gut told me we’d get 9 from 9 from our last 3 games and we did.
Lastly, in this short group of games, we will be entertaining the Chavs and the perfect time to really lay our marker with a convincing win before our trip to City on the 31st.
All in all I see positivity in spite of El B’s shortcomings.
I see no reason why we can’t collect maximum points including making the Chavs look pre Abramovitch poor, as we so often did. I’ll never forget Winterburn’s 30-yard screamer from out wide left.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10154238818212713 Happier days…….. He had a sweet left foot like Pierce had.
That and dispatch Porto with a bloodied nose and march up to there Etihad telling them to give it their best shot swagger.
We’ve waited 20 years, so why not?
Have a great Sunday Gooners everywhere.
surprise surprise ESR had minutes on the pitch ahead of Cedric. Howe has had injury woes this season but his tactics have shown him to be a mid table manager. He was Wengers first choice to replace him – obviously by the time he made it Josh & Stan could see that Wenger was well past his sell by date.
Tony
Thanks for that clip reminding us of Nutty’s shooting prowess. Sumptuous goal.
Yeah, Eddie Howe just sounds a bit deeper and more erudite that other English managers rather than ever being the real thing. I don’t think he be there much longer (along with that awful idiot assistant) and will probably be relieved when it’s over. They ve already spent hundreds of millions with little to show from it, other that to have shaken off the yo-yo effect of relegation after promotion. But money’s no object do they’ll go for a bigger European name and shake the tree again. When Willock scored last night, he looked a little sad that he wasn’t still in red. Iwobi had a decent day yesterday for ‘one f in Fulham’ too.
If we’re going to follow the line that Arsenal have a genuine chance at winning the PL this season we need Chelsea to win the LC this afternoon.
With that said even with Liverpool’s injuries I think they have the edge.
Marc
It’s great to see them getting even more knackered in Extra Time. I hope the rent boys win as well.
This cup seems ultra meaningless these days. It reminds me of what the great Argentine writer Borges said about the Falklands/Malvinas war in the 80s – he described it as 2 bald men fighting over a comb. Maybe losing to the Hammers when we did was a blessing (but it didn’t feel like that at the time).
interesting to note that Klopp gave more minutes to his up-and-comers in the second half of a cup final than MA has since he’s arrived on the scene…now that’s a culture building moment…I so wish Arsene could have graciously given up the reigns several years earlier, when Klopp was on the make, as Jurgen would have never settled for a top 4 Wengerian reboot, unlike our makeshift MIT…as for the Final itself, it had it’s moments, with several posts being struck, a few glorious saves by both backup Keepers and a VVD goal being overturned, but with the lack of star power available for Pool it was always going to be a bit of a scrappy affair…right now I find it difficult to imagine us winning anything of consequence, but I’m certainly not without hope, as we’re a manager and two seminal pieces away from being a top 5 club in Europe…unfortunately by this time next year everyone will likely be vying for second best considering Real’s projected lineup next season
KP-good pull with the whole Borges “bald men” quote…I remember that from my University days when one of my Profs, who had just recently moved from the UK, spent an inordinate amount of time discussing Thatcher and the Falklands War…I still have my copy of Hugo Young’s One of Us
I’m going to own up to have batted for Howe as a replacement for both Wenger and Emery back then but I’ve been seriously underwhelmed by his lack of ambition since striking it lucky getting the Bar Code gig at just the right time.
He’s playing small time football and I’m sure Saudi patience is likely to wear thin by the end of this season. They can’t do a Chelsea or Mancs with FFP starting to kick in but taking clean sheets and solid defence as a marker of progress has limited value and their brief UCL jaunt has shown.
Forget him. The atmosphere at the Ems was cracking yesterday, likely helped by the late start and also the two for one offer on prematch beers. I also felt there were more irregular attendees than normal in my section. With all the ballot nonsense these days they seem, no diss intended, more grateful to be there and more committed to playing their part. I’m enjoying new faces with more enthusiasm than the regulars institutionalised to the silent grumbling of a few years agom
Our experience with Chelsea cast offs had been unimpressive in the past but Jorginho is still quality and has showed his balon D’or- worthy class whenever he’s been called on. He was top notch last night, always secure in possession and knowing when to recycle simply and start again and when to play more progressively.
I don’t think Havertz will ever be a good finisher, it’s just not in his locker but strikes me as the sort of player that other players like to have on their team and other teams find hard work. He disrupts, he grafts, he gets into positions that enable other players. I never trusted he’d score that one on one but there was still plenty to enjoy.
Both of them are a credit to Arteta’s imagination, he saw what both could add to our team, both have fitted in. Some of us just let flashbacks of Gallas and Wilian direct our emotions.
Although, I’d still say Havertz was a little overpriced, I remember the Wenger days of being frustrated with the endless penny-pinching, Suarez, and focus on perceived “value” with the net spend merchants taking comfort on both. We used to rant about just getting the deals done. Things are different now. We act like a big club, we get the deals done and we get the players Tets targets. At least in terms of culture and how we operate, I see it as a positive. We’ve probably overpaid for quite a few of the squad but the results are a better squad and it’s not my money.
It was pleasing to see ESR get a decent run out and he looked like he really wanted to make something happen. We all wanted the same. I hope, think, he gets more minutes in the run in.
The crowd feeling deflated by their solitary goal speaks to where we’ve got. But most of us seemed okay with it being Willock who scored. Round of applause, he’s one of our own and from memory, we received a decent fee.
Not far to go but I think this squad is good enough to keep us chasing down that title.
Interesting thoughts on Havertz, and I can see where your views of Havertz’s disruptive play works for us.
I just don’t share the same views, as Havertz was not what we needed, still isn’t, and there were much better options when we paid double of what Havertz is worth in my humble opinion. It’s just that is my opinion. We needed an elite potential striker.
ESR is already proven to be a far superior player, is just one point that made Havertz purchase all the more unnecessary and pointless. Jorginho, also, now we have Rice can do a good job at 8, and again better than Havertz, which isn’t saying much for Havertz, I know, but sadly true.
£65m a tad overpriced? On what £250K+ a week. Do you honestly feel that Havertz represents good value at that price and has delivered on his price? A few goals against poor opposition that didn’t turn up. He’s missed more sitters than he’s scored.
Sorry Aitcho can’t see any reality with your Havertz views. I don’t have your prism from inside the Emirates where you get chance to witness off camera views, however, I do have a 153inch screen pushing 8K, but 4K more realistic from a HD signal. I get 980mbps download so streaming no issues. The picture is as clear as you see.
I don’t see what you can as a 180, but my picture is very detailed and clearer than what you’d see from distance across the pitch or down the other end. Swings & roundabouts. I get to watch replays at my own leisure afterwards while you are going to the Tolly.
That said, I envy your game time at the Emirates, as you said, the Emirates was rocking and in my EAVR room with its 17-speaker tech, the sound for me was probably equal to what you heard in the stadium only I can turn my sound up and have sound choices for improvement you’d expect from a £24K+ Trinnov processor. My room sound, the compression is kept in the room where as at the Emirates, it’s open for the sound to dissipate. Also, I use Line Source L3s from Wisdom for pure sound that far exceeds traditional Point Source.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFyPkZWGEPE
I’ve sectioned out Havertz to watch his utility play closely and he is disruptive but no more than Jesus in the deep lying role. Up top he’s useless for his price. Swings and misses too many times. Is aerially challenged and crumples with mere touches throwing hissy fits, and can’t tackle to save his life or without fouling.
Personally, if we’d have kept Balogun and Willock and not bought Havertz and others, as well as selling Eddie, we would not be having this convo and probably be top now with Pool looking up at us.
I’m ever hopeful for this season, and we have the squad, same as last season, but with the addition of the indestructible Rice and immovable at 6. Partey hasn’t been missed compared to last season.
The Arteta imagination you mention here is really copied Pep’s game. That, and stubbornly playing players until they drop while overlooking the quality of his Hale Enders with ESR & Nwaneri both deserving starts and substitution time.
Never happen, Aitcho, because Arteta is in fact myopic and lacks youth trust, plus rarely playing players in their best positions vision.
Klopp, on the other hand, shows us all along with Pep, how to blood youth players, and save the club money to buy its real needs, such as a 20+ goal 9 instead of Arteta’s marionette Havertz is.
Always good to see you here, Aitcho.
Tony
Havertz basic wage is north of the figure you quoted – with win and appearance bonuses added he is the highest paid player at AFC.
The Chelsea negotiating team couldn’t believe the ease in selling the player at their starting point as they were expecting to go down by some way.
Because he is a El B favourite his place in the team is assured.
Norg
I imagine all clubs feel like Chelsea when negotiating with Garlick & co. In the Amazon series in Edus office I think they talked about what Arteta wanted in ridding the club of Auba and it was done with such flippant attitude as the millions we were going to lose.
I could never get my head round the club is run and in such a wasteful way for money and talent.
In 5 years how much will a PL title have cost us? Assuming we can topple Liverpool. Then add hat to Wenger’s deceitful way he didn’t buy for self preservation. It was ok to not spend and fail so long as there was CL income.
Are we back in that same boat With Arteta and Josh? 2 fools golden boys this far……..
Tony
Stan has had an easy life on his way to his billions. His in laws provided the market for him to receive guaranteed income. The Waltons will never invest in his sport investments but they do contract valuable Mall space.
On his first visit to Highbury Stan noticed the fans holding posters showing their adoration of Wenger – he turned to Josh and said ‘we need to keep hold of this guy’. Over the next few years IG was desperate to get rid of Wenger and spent time with Klopp & Pep but Stan would not agree to a change – until it was too late.
Now we Wenger Mk II. His age dictates his enthusiasm but he mirrors Wenger in his stubbornness. El B hasn’t yet surrounded himself with a complete set of ‘yes’ men – the day he does will be the start of the slippery slope.
Tony, I expect we’re agreed on our need for an elite striker the only questions are who and for how much. With Toney at 90+m as a bench mark I’m not sure the handful, maybe less, of strikers who fit the bill were realistically attainable.
Jesus, Havertz and goals spread around the team seem a sensible compromise given our numbers this season. Even if we were to bring in a straight not there’s always the possibility of a negative effect on our overall game. Thinking of R9 at ManU or even the fears over Haaland before he arrived at City. Its not an unreasonable consideration if we’re going to put up in the £100m plus region.
We’ve spent years bemoaning the lack of spend, I’m not going to get upset over perceived waste. The only question I have is whwther a player improves the team. If they do, it’s not a waste. When we dumped Auba and Ozil at a loss very few of us wanted them to stay, the only issue was the financial. But we were better off without them at that point in time. Job done.
Going back to Havertz, he’s a different player to Jesus although I think Jesus might be the better finisher, it’s close. I’m tempted to think of him as Giroud type, never going to put up fantastic numbers but brings a lot to the team he plays for. I agree, I wouldn’t pay what we did or put him on the wages we have but then, I grew up with GG and his no superstars here or Wenger and his penny pinching, value is hardwired into me.
Your audio and pics probably come close to matching my experience but theres no way having seen what we’ve both seen over time that I could advocate for either Willock or Balogun as the players to take us forward. Over the years where I used to catch the odd youth game, I’d say the players who made it through are the ones who caugh the eye as potentials. The Willocks were decent. I fear Nketiah may have peaked at youth level, he looked a bully back then. If we can get Balogun money or close to it for him, I won’t complain. Nelson, Saka and ESR were obvious ones to watch. My son was lucky enough to get a selfie with him at a youth game a few years back with an eye on potential future bragging rights.
I don’t see not playing youths as a negative if we’re playing well and I’m unconvinced that chucking in Nwaneri in for playing youths’ sake is essential at this stage if we’ve spent all that money trying to assemble a title challenging squad. Again, I go back to the dog days of late Wenger, chucking it all away on a mystical project youth in a bid to look smarter than Fergie, save money or maybe both. How much Vela or Denilson did we need to see to work out they weren’t going to cut the mustard
Anyway, I hope you get to enjoy a thrilling run in with your set up, I don’t even know what half that stuff means but it sounds grand.
Aitcho
A lot of teams have all tried to emulate the young team that Fergie introduced. They all peaked at youth level at the same time and all went on to win international caps. Wenger trained youngsters to play the same way as his first team and in league cup and European dead rubber games they were introduced to the world. Some went on to have careers but others faded into obscurity. Only a few make it to the top and those that do can perform as well at a young age as their older team mates.
In my opinion Balogun will make it as he is starting to click in his new team. Eddie should have been the one we sold and not given a huge new contract which ultimately make him harder to sell at a decent price.
The youngsters that are clearly better should be afforded more opportunities especially when we are in a strong winning position. Why bring on Soares, a defender when you a 4-0 up and you have a hungry Nwaneri sitting on the bench.
Aitcho
Have you seen Nwaneri at the recent run in he had ?
Factor in that the fluency is achieved over a few games one plays with the team in a competition. In fact , I would say that’s what got Odegaard playing at his current level, having also seen Odegaard during his frustrating first spell of loan to us. Yes, that should help us understand what Nwaneri could be to us …..if El B Incopetente is not around
Hookah, I was at the Hammers game.
Nwaneri did look tidy, games like that are ideal to bring along youngsters. He could be all that to us but as you pointed out and we’ve all seen, there’s a lot in between where he is now and what we think he could achieve. I don’t think he’s ready to supplant our given starters right now as excited as we all are about his potential. I admit, I’ve seen a lot less of our recent crop of youngsters to identify who looks capable but we’ve all seen loads who looked amazing at youth level and never quite reached that top tier.
Odegaard had already shown his promise by the same age. That’s what prompted RM to jump in for him. He just neeed good management.
If we had more dead rubbers I’d have been all in for chucking in Nwaneri and would have loved to see Sweet and Heaven on the same pitch. One day.
I’d agree with you on Eddie, I think he’s peaked like I said. Balogun had a decent spell in an inferior league and we got decent money for him. It would have been silly to turn it down given our priorities.
I don’t think El B is an obstruction to EN’s progress, probably the opposite
Sorry, Hoopah