Ten games into the season and we should now accept the fact that Tottenham is doing exceptionally well and might just provide the third axis to the title challenge. I almost puked saying that. I’m sorry. At the very least, they are going to disrupt things. Ange is doing well with that shite and a bit of luck is favouring them too. They won 2-1 against Crystal Palace with ‘only one shot on target’.
Anyway, to hell with them. We are playing Sheff United in a 3 PM kick-off at home. A crucial game to get all three points and also to improve our home performance.
In team news, Thomas Partey is unavailable due to injury. Gabriel Jesus is out too (again) for few weeks due to muscle injury he picked up during Sevilla game. Timber is out for long anyway, rest all are fit. Jesus injury makes thing difficult for us because we are playing 2 games a week and Eddie Nketiah has failed to convert the chances he has got till now. I have been asking to put Trossard at CF because Havertz was not clinical in front of the goal while playing at Chelsea and he is not going to be clinical at Arsenal.
Will we start with a midfield of Odegaard, Jorginho and Declan Rice again? There’s a lot wrong with this. First, Rice should be the DM. Second, Havertz / Vieira provides a better attacking play at LCM. Third, Odegaard needs some rest and ESR should be given some games as he is fit now and is a direct threat. Playing ESR provides something different to our play from the wings strategy. It will happen eventually because Mikel has noticed Ode form but again, why wait till something goes wrong!
Our defence is stable. Tomi again at LB is we all want to see, and he should start ‘if’ performance is the parameter. He was superb against Chelsea in that LB role and it won’t be long before he develops a brilliant chemistry with Martinelli.
—
Right, a short one today. I would love a 4-0 score line, with couple of goals from Martinelli and Saka each. See you during the game.
Too many rumours for my liking linking Partey with a move in Jan and not for a huge fee.
So we could be looking at a situation whereArteta brought in Rice (a good signing) as a replacement for Partey and Havertz as a replacement for Xhaka.
Does this absolute cunt have no concept of actually making a squad stronger or does that demand expectation?
Morning all
I’d completely forgot about the game when I got up this morning and saw the score first. Then watched the game well, most of the first half and half the 2nd half. That was enough punishment to subject these old mince pies to.
My waking vision yesterday was really a nightmare that ran true last night, only the score was 3:1 and enough to provokes Bob’s alter ego; the one and only Art Fraud.
KP, I think you’re being too kind to Arteta, he didn’t throw the game; he lost to Moyes superior tactics including Turnip Head, long ball football or direct as the aficionados would have us believe. Simply put, Moyes and millions of other football fans know Zinchenko is always being caught out of position and that is when he’s offering his best powder-puff defensive displays, as he did last night and probably why he got hooked off on 57 minutes.
Anyone think we were robbed because of the shirt pull on Ramsdale for the first goal? Untold and LG no doubt, but where was our defender who should be protecting poor Rammy. Ramsdale kept the score respectable – sort of.
You literarily have to feel for him as a person. Arteta has hung a target on Rammy’s back letting everyone know he has issues playing from the back, and that was why he was dropped; Raya was seen by Mikel as the much better distributor. Now, every time Rammy is between the sticks he’s going to get the life pressed out of him as Moyesyball did last night.
Expect to see Raya against the excellent Newcastle who saw off Manure 3:0. A much better game to savor. Maybe I was wrong and ETH is not for the PL and Ajax will be calling out for his return after hitting rock bottom in the Dutch league. I think ETH has been shafted by the Glaziers’ money making interests where the football comes 2nd, and long may it last. ETH will be like Emery and do better here with a club who supports his management at his 2nd attempt is my thinking.
Arteta will be thinking 5 games less for his favourite pets to endure, so in a sense for Mikel, that is part of his rotation plans and gamble of getting to the Jan TW for new toys as replacements. Will the FA cup go the same way? Probably, but who really knows?
Eddie proved he is a bit part striker for The Arsenal. Mavs (Mavropanos) remember him who wasn’t good enough for Arteta? Well he kept Eddie from scoring and Moyes only needed 2 subs to maintain his tactical plans; he gave us 71% possession, but more importantly, kept our shots on target down to 3 in 96 minutes. Let that sink in slowly.
This from a £billion+ squad assembled by Arteta who kept Vieira and Havertz on for the full 96 minutes who offered zero creativity other than Fabio’s asset for Ode in the 96th minute.
I don’t know how Gooners are thinking this morning, but it’s looking dicy for A&E’s gamble on a lack of injuries, and no key players suffering from a lack of top form or any kind of form really.
Reality is too many are.
The idea that form drops when you take players out of their comfort zones has yet to materialize or metabolize in Arteta’s brain. 60, 70 or more games should come with a fluent consistency for Arteta’s warriors; it’s expected, and those who don’t make it are cast aside in the ‘Rejects’ column.
Either that, or they make the Ramsdale mistake of Arteta’s rule number 1 – That Arteta should be obeyed to the letter with no exceptions, you are not allowed to use your best judgement!!!!!!
“No excuses”, Arteta would howl unless he has to make them himself, and that is perfectly ok because he read it in The Football Narcissists’ 101 handbook; a leaving City present from Pep.
So what did last night mean?
The Bar Codes are going home feeling very positive about our impending Saturday visit, and Arteta has got to rally his players who got out muscled by a stronger West Ham that is not hard to do when you have such lightweights as Vieira & Havertz to entertain at St James Park. Only a win will do to keep us in the PL trophy running with at least Pool and City looking far stronger than us physically and mentally.
Hey Hoopah
Like ESR my medicinal combustibles are organically home grown with TLC and the plants used for their herbal properties when juicing or cooking from Bong Appetite recipes for health benefits.
Marc
My thinking is a resounding NO!
TRVL
Hope last night’s performance didn’t ruin your Vegas fun with your son.
Billions https://g.co/kgs/MptJFf
Latest season is its usual well honed nuthouse of traders. Excellently scripted is a touch wordy at times. Plots are full of twists and kicks.
Hi Tony
It’s a interesting rhetorical question, but I’d say throwing a game deliberately is far worse than simply being shit. Americans call it ‘tanking’ and, if proven, can result in harsh disciplinary measures to do with betting etc. I think. If Arsenal come up against a reasonable team in the FAC (eg Forest or Southampton who have both knocked us out during Tetsy’s reign of terror) it would be worth doing a Toney/Tonali and betting we’ll lose cos that stubborn little twat ain’t for changing his mind.
If you can, watch Tetsy and his behaviour on the touchline again yesterday. No emotion, very little gesticulating, in fact nothing. And there are moments in the last 15 minutes where we’re all in their half passing around and there is no one in any scoring positions.
He threw the game and is a fucking arsehole for doing it. That, to me, is worse than being useless.
You could be right KP, Arteta can’t deal with more than 2 competitions in a season anyway. 2 seasons ago Mikel couldn’t cope with just the PL when he was supposed to win it or top 4. I feel we’re both right; Arteta didn’t really care about the loss as well as his useless selection and subs. Nothing new there.
I, too, noticed how quiet Arteta had been on the touchline but Mikel said earlier before the game he was going to be less animated now he has realised that gravity will never allow him to take off no matter how much he flaps his arms. He knew he was going to lose and was resigned to it was the way I read it.
Let’s see how we fare up toon-side, and hope we can keep the famed ‘Jarrow’ end quiet after a pregame prerequisite of 14 pints of Newcastle Brown ale each with a 2 pint top up at half time. After a couple of pints have a look for the bridge on the bottle label.
I digress.
Newcastle have got a long list of injuries but still crushed Manure. That’s something to take stock of and in need of a tactical plan that can allow our knock carrying stars to shine.
That, or it’s Jorginho Vieira and Rice midfield again.
What can I say A&E threw the dice in the TW, so let’s see where the chips fall.
I am on the players side as they looked mortified they were losing except Eddie who fluffed his 2 big chances and went into hiding again. £100g a week for that showing after being a flat track bully last week our women’s team could have scored again. Meanwhile Bolagun is…………. at Monaco.
Here’s a thought for you lads: Zinchencko should have been sold last summer and is now our new Xhaka. I said we’d have huge problems on our left but we’re soft in the middle and the right is too congested and were were get our pockets picked too easily.
Nice guy shit defender and footballer really. Red Bulll level maybe.
Forgot to mention that I hope those of you in the UK are home and safe away from today’s version of the crazy and freaky changes in this world of ours.
Just seen news pics and it looks awful. Kind of monsoon weather we can get in S E Asia.
Liam Brady Arsenal GOAT for my time supporting the club. Broke our hearts when he left.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12704363/Ex-Arsenal-star-Liam-Brady-narrowly-avoided-sharp-end-Graeme-Souness-kung-fu-tackle-nurtured-young-Gunners-Jack-Wilshere-Bukayo-Saka-knew-Ashley-Cole-best-left-Europe-let-Harry-Kane-away.html
Another interesting news is
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/fulham-manutd-referee-rebecca-welch-31347986
Rebecca to be the 4th official as woman referees are to be introduced to the PL.
My thoughts? Can’t be worse than men so bring it on. Try them in the VAR rooms as well as the men have completely fucked that side up.
What say you LIRs? Should women ref PL games?
Hi Tony
Yes, they absolutely should. Refereeing calls for intelligence, judgment and keeping one’s cool. Women are just as good as men at this. Overall, we’re all flawed as human beings but one gender isn’t better or worse than the other in this regard. Other similar but more important roles include being judges, lawyers and magistrates and women are widely represented in these jobs. So yeah, bring it on. They cannot be worse than Dean, Riley, Madeley and some of the other ‘wankers in black’.
There could even be clear advantages. Women MAY (and I stand ready to be corrected) be less steeped in clubs’ histories and therefore be less prejudicial in forming views about certain teams. And hey, there might even be a caucus of women referees who don’t all originate from the NW of England. I’d like to see them trained to stand up to the likes of Tetsy, Klopp and Guardiola meeting them head on. Female Collinas!
But they need protection in the early running yeah? Any male so-called stalwarts and traditionalists thinking they can intimidate female officials should be called out as tossers and cowards by fans and pundits.
Despite deliberately losing in east London this week, I think we’ll beat the injury depleted barcodes. Expect a totally different performance with fight, commitment and energy. 0-2. Martinelli and Saka.
” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta again confirmed on Friday that Emile Smith Rowe is facing a number of weeks on the sidelines. “Nothing has changed,” the Spaniard said regarding the versatile midfielder’s injury.
“I think he will be out for weeks. How many will be determined by how he will progress in the first few weeks especially.
“It’s a big blow because he was getting some momentum and some minutes and we were starting to get the Emile that we needed. Unfortunately, though he’s going to be out again.”. Have not come accross any journalist report on injury type of ESR , except the quote.
There. No mention of what exactly ails Smith Rowe. Can diseases be cut and pasted to suit a narrative ?
PS – ESR reportedly has an indeterminate knee issue which would keep him out for several weeks. Meanwhile Odegaard has miraculously cured of a knee issue after 4 -6 days and will play on Saturday
Hi Hoopah
About the best that can be said about injuries at the club right now is that it seems almost as bad as the late Wenger period. Put that down to a lack of properly managed rotation of trusted players by our old friend Tetsy.
Any guess at ESR’s transfer valuation these days? It must have been as high as 40 million when he got his England cap and was a regular in the team.
Hi KP
I think it would be hilarious is women’s referees were actually better than men. They’d be under the microscope constantly until they have proved themselves.
I’d have Marina G negotiating for us any time, so why not women being officials for PL games including VAR?
Now there’s a thought.
I don’t know about tonight’s game. Fortunately it’s half past midnight so just about watchable time wise. Mind you I’m not confirming I’ll watch the whole game. Junior is away for 10 days playing in a school basketball tournament: 6’3″ and still growing, so tailor made for the game.
If we play the good stuff we play for 90% of last season, I’ll stay up but if it’s boring horseshoe football Arteta seems to covet so much, then it’s off to bed and see the score in the morning feeling a lot fresher.
I have a lot to enjoy in other aspects of our family life to kind of wait out Arteta and take the pragmatic route: love my club but not the management, so will tick over until it either improves or Arteta is moved on.
If, as I believe, we will be scrapping for 5th, Arteta simply has to go. However, the only glimmer of hope for A&E is to replace Xhaka in the Jan TW along with a very high ceiling young LB, so Zinchenko can be shipped out, as well as finding the solution to the striker conundrum because Jesus aint the answer. I’d keep Jesus as our reigning ‘chaos’ maker/bringer.
Arteta’s ‘miracle pixie dust chest’ is running on empty; I mean even poor ESR (Arteta’s break glass in emergency or get me out the shit again) go to player is injured when Arteta really needs him. Such a shame for ESR that he wasn’t eased into 4/5 games before becoming a starter. That seems a tad too complicated for Arteta and his medical clinicians to work out a simple game fitness plan, no?
Is Arteta going to be shit out of luck at St James Park this evening? Will on-form Willock show Arteta how well he can play 8? Another Arteta statistic doing really well for the Bar Codes under 2 managers no less.
The one thing that IS going to happen tonight is Arteta is going to play his pets carrying knocks.So I expect an Ode – Rice – Havertz/Vieira/Jorghino midfield.
Saliba got a night off from our cup exit game, so will have had some rest at least. Kiwior is another not up to our level yet or maybe never. So, it has to be White- Saliba- Gabs- Zinchenko and we can expect Newcastle to blitz our central and left midfield.
Up top the usual suspects even though Saka is off form and Eddie is hit & miss but the saving grace is all hopes pinned on our flying left wing Martinelli to get the goals.
Newcastle as you say, KP, have mucho injury problems, but I feel Eddie’s squad is better coached by Eddie Howe where the sum of their parts work in better unison to Eddie’s tactics.
Same with Brentford, they play different systems for each game. Now, Thomas Franc is using the old and tested ploy of him wanting to keep Toney for life.
I’ll go with a low score draw with us struggling with creativity against a tougher side than Sheffield was.
Although losing is unthinkable for the £B+ squad A&E has assembled – when we still have no playing identity after 4.5 years and everyone has lost all reason with ‘The Process’, and where the phases were yesteryear, losing tonight is a distinct possibility if Arteta is true to form with his selection and in-game management; that predictability hasn’t changed since Arteta was smuggled down from Manchester by Vinai all shrouded in the secrecy of the press. You couldn’t make it up if you tried.
Personally they should have smuggled the cnut straight out the country to Saudi to manage the goats – not the four legged kind. 🙂
Anyone have any idea really?
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Rice, Jorginho, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah
Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, Kiwior, Cedric, Trossard, Vieira, Nelson, Elneny, Zinchenko.
I feel a groundhog day coming on. Only 2 decent subs of Trossard and Nelson who could get a gold if needed to change the game for us.
When you look at it you have 2 x 6 and an arguable 9 playing midfield expected to create.
I’ll stick with my draw so as not to be completely negative.
Tony
So Ode not in the squad after playing the last 10 mins and scoring against the hammer in the week? What the actual fuck?
Just back from seeing County – big 5-0 win! I’m sticking with a 0-2, goals by Saka and Martinelli.
Praise be! After Tuesday’s (e) motionless, couldn’t give a fuck display, Tetsy has regained the ability to wave his arms like a wanker. It’s a miracle Tony!
Where’s pumpkin right now?
Hi KP
In Bangkok but has been primed. Great win for Haverfordwest.
Good end to end game good to see Zoe mental strength back👀
Rice really makes a difference if only we had an 8 as good as Rice.
I’d quite forgotten how much Geordies fucking whinge. Moaning bastards.
Here we go Havertz with a nasty studs up but lucky the studs don’t catch the Newcastle player.
I sense the ref could be in a sexual relationship with their LB. Two bookable challenges – no cards.
That Havertz challenge gets my full approval!
Bruno G should have gone off for that Jorginho elbow to the side of his head.
Barcode Bruno is an even bigger cunt than his manure based namesake.
Havertz’s best half in an Arsenal jersey?
He’s been getting stuck in and been more robust in the challenge. Doesn’t help Havertz having chopstick legs.
As Havertz is playing the CAM his display isn’t good enough whereas Rice is creating more with his verticality of his runs with the ball.
Arsenal’s off the ball game has been very good let’s hope we don’t run out of energy. Rice MOTM for me so far.
Time to sort these Geordie cnuts out.
Speechless 😶
Ball had moved outside
A disallowed goal to the power of three. Fucking mad. And they still give it.
Looks like ref balanced his fuckup regarding Havertz who should have got a red for a nasty challenge
WtF substitutions of light weights in a physical battle.
Arteta is pushing his luck
Can’t fault the effort but we need more than effort and our squad isn’t good enough. We were bench-lite today.
The ghost of Hector Bellerin…. Is inhabiting Fabio Vieira
The throw was definitely foul throw. Does Mikel know how it cannot be done like ?
Doesn’t look like Arteta is going to be invincible this year then.
KP, keep the Haverfordwest result to the forefront of your mind and we’ll hang on vicariously through you.
good night one and all
And that’s the reward for throwing the game against WH… Newcastle have got some seriously cunty lads in their team. And the ref was shite.