On this Sunday afternoon, every team will play their 38th game, the last one of this season 2023-24. Premier League never disappoints you, who will be crowned the champion is not decided, yet! There’s not much to play for the other teams however.
Relegation battle : We already know the three teams that would be relegated. Luton, Burnley and a piss poor Sheffield United are going down.
Europe qualifiers : Newcastle and Man United are hoping Chelsea loses it’s last game and that they can win (while the other one should also lose) to secure a place in Europa League. Aston Villa have already qualified to Champions League football next season, so a 5th position Tottenham can’t do much about it.
Title challenge : This is the most important bit. Man City and Arsenal have two points difference, and there are 4 conditions that can happen.
- City loses, Arsenal Wins – We run away with the title. For this to happen, David Moyes needs to do us a favor, while we need to get pass the Dyche’s football.
- City draws, Arsenal wins – We win again since we have a better goal difference to City (60 to 61).
- City wins – irrespective of what happens with any other teams, if City wins, Pep will have another trophy to show in his cabinet.
- Arsenal draw / loss – If we draw against Everton or in worst case lose, City will be crowned Champions irrespective of their result against Moyes.
If you ask me personally, I would love the second scenario, a nerve breaking one where we beat the best team on the planet on goal difference of just ONE, on the final day of the league. That would be a WOW! moment. It’s not happening though, don’t keep your hopes high.
The best part of all of this is, that we are in contention for the title. The worst of it all, we depend on West Ham to beat City for us, and it’s not happening. Not on the final day, not when City needs a win to secure 4th title in a row, not at Etihad. There’s a very slim chance the west London club do us a favor, since Spurs and Son went on full Spursy mode against Pep. A very slim that one, but it won’t let me not be all excited for the game.
I was full ballistic in December when we dropped a lot of points. I was mad when we let Emery school us when we needed a win. The lads couldn’t sustain the pressure, nor the manager towards the end of the last season, but we have improved in that area. We have hold the fort since our Dubai’s training, and we have been giving some sleepless nights to Pep.
Lets not underestimate our achievements. Klopp fought against Pep for 8 seasons and only won one of those titles. He was second with 97 points in one of them. He had the best front 3 in last decade, Salah , Mane and Firmino and along with the best defender in VVD, he still couldn’t win more than once. Arteta has a lot to do before he matches Klopp. He is learning, and we are improving. I hated the pace at which we did, and I still do, but now since that bad phase has gone, I am very optimistic about the club in coming days.
Doesn’t mean I am not critical how we are letting go of Reuell Walters for free. A 19- year old Right Back, who made the Arsenal bench numerous times but couldn’t make it should still cost a couple million dollars in the market. Arthur Okonkwo is also leaving as a free agent, he should have costed more than a couple of millions. Aaron Ramsdale have been dropping hints of his transfers, and in his latest Instagram post, we saw a farewell message to him. The rumours points out a 15m fees to Newcastle. Now, how in the hell do you sell a player who was starting every game last season, and who is not playing not because his form dipped but because Mikel prefers David Raya over him, for only 15 million to a club that has all the money in the world. It’s not like we are selling him to Crystal Palace or Bournemouth.
Elneny and Cedric are leaving at the end of this season. I’m okay with that, they had their time here, and it’s over now.
In other news, Arne Slot will be the new Liverpool manager after Klopp. He is currently managing Feyenoord and is considered a top manager. We have seen what happens to those ‘top managers’ in the premier league – Ten Haag, Ralph Ragnik, Ange – and I will not have kept my hopes high if I was a Liverpool supporter. Plus, they will go through a rebuild now. Man United is in shambles, Chelsea are shit, Spurs will remain Spurs for the foreseeable future, and it’s going to be another City v Arsenal.
Right, that’s all for today. If you have a lucky charm in your house, hold on to it for 90 dear god minutes tomorrow, and pray West Ham sees Milwall in City. We also would have to win against Everton for sure. Lets close the season on a banger, irrespective of what happens.
See you tomorrow.
If Tets would have not gone full galaxy brain and play Partey at RB and if we would have used the formation everyone screamed for, we would not only have won that game but also the title. But what do you expect from an OTJ manager.
Hoopah
What do these pundits know – eh. Foden definately their star player and Palmer the best transfer. But who do they think is the best Manager – all but two chose Emery. If it wasnt for Raul trying to save his bacon and Josh having a pair he would still be our manager and probably succesful. I like the 3 – 4 – 3 format that TRVL mentions. With the right players that system can be very strong in defence and attack. The two wing backs would probably need to be subbed more than any other players because of the physical output required. Doing away with the inverted full back system will make both sides of the pitch strong in attack. Perhaps Havertz could retrain as a goalie.
Cheers to you Tony, Hoopah and Norg…it’s by no means a coincidence that as soon as Achole mentions Bob’s name he magically appears…I think it’s vitally important to note that my issues with the two aforementioned posters started as a result of them making personal attacks towards me and not the reverese…so how ironic it is that they would go on another passive aggressive rant about the supposed abusive nature of this particular blog…simply put, this is how these sorts of individuals operate…they start the beef then continually fuel the fire in the hopes that the intended target goes just far enough that a couple things occur, (1) the perceived aggressor will be excommunicated and/or (2) they will cajole the powers that be into a blog reset that best fits their preferred narrative…this is why I spoke specifically of their divide and conquer agenda…the absolute gall of Bob to actually suggest that he wouldn’t name names, speaks directly to the passive aggressive nature of his weaselly quest…so before you buy into these two peas in a cancel culture pod, please look at the underlying facts so that you too don’t fall victim to their manipulative practices…I get it though, if one lacks the mental capacity to go toe-to-toe, it might be in your best interest to find a way to eliminate the “competition”…frankly, I feel for these sad, entitled mopes
Norg-in order to pursue the 3-4-3 model a manager must have tactical courage, an eye for talent, the proper financial backing and a willingness to utlilize his depth pieces…Gasperini has all but one of these variables, the financial capacity required to compete with the best, whereas MA tragically comes up short in the remaining 3 categories
Vera
“Eliminate the competition”
You’re funnier when you try less.
the competition of ideas, you lightweight, lacking in nuance clown LOL
Gasperini is definitely punching above his weight – Atalanta should win tgheir last two league games and they could end up 3rd. Inter have run away with the league this season. A business contact loves him. She said the atmosphere at home games is so positive these days and to reach a European final is beyond there wildest dreams. She doubts they will inflict a loss on Alonso’s last game of the season.
I think Zirkee (excuse the spelling) may be an Arsenal player by the beginning of June. He may follow advice and wear extra thick shorts to avoid splinters in the bum. ESR has offered to pass on his short pads.
Vera,
What sort of dimwit would want to eliminate competing ideas?
Says it all.
I’m not convinced by this new found Gasparini love in.
No doubt he’s been a rated coach for some time, seen his name bounced about over the years, and maybe punched above his weight at times but he’s not won very much and achieved very little on the big stage bar a Euro final this season.
He flopped on the bigger stages and there’s nothing to suggest he’d be a good fit for us any more than there was for Tets when he joined. He’d be learning the Prem on the job and we’d probably regress.
Good question, Senor Dimwit? Thanks for helping the cause…your contributions are greatly appreciated
People, Emery’s a good coach. Nobody with any sense doubts that. This doesn’t make Tets a bad coach. Both can be good coaches.
But it was four years ago and we were dire then. I think it’s possible to move on from him, Emi, Wilian and still have relevant discussions about Arsenal. Worth trying.
My contributions are great Vera.
It’s why you’d want them ‘eliminated’.
They make yours look silly.
“Get in Gasperini because he’d play a 3-4-3” is peak facile. And then you cobble together an imaginary 343 to show us what what this coach we’re not going to get would do for us.
But yeah, you think some coach who’s achieved little has the ‘tactical courage’ to play your made up formation.
He might, y’know, play a system that suits the personnel. That’s what smart coaches do.
Your strategies are always full of intangibles like having “balls” “courage” and “guts”. So 1980s.
I remember the old days when we were always told the “continentals” didn’t “like it up ’em” in lieu of strategy.
Bobby Robson’s team talk v Germany in 1990 springs to mind.
England were shit in those days. Its a good thing you’re not a real coach Vera.
Vera
You said “cancel culture”
Don’t let it happen to you again. I suspect the problem is you if it keeps happening.
Aitcho
I think the conversations about Gasparini are more about his style etc etc. He has achieved a lot with a small team from Bergamo. Half an hour from Milan and a cheap train fare meant a lot of the locals were Milan or Inter supporters. The local supporters enjoy what he has done – could he be prized away from Bergamo – I doubt it very much. He loves cheese – Bergamo is the shopping place for Italian cheese.
Well aside the gorgeous weather and a few cold beers yesterday was really hard work. We really didn’t look sharp, as always Arteta was slow to make changes and when they happened they really didn’t set the world alight.
What I really need someone to explain to me is the logic or thought process behind the Gabriel substitution – not that he was taken off he was injured but the replacement and shifting of Tomi?
Most people (at least ones who aren’t fuckwits) having their LCB pick up an injury and a LCB on the bench would make a like for like swap unless they were changing formations. Not El C though he starts with a RB at LB because the £35 million LB he bought isn’t good enough (although he is on the bench) so when his LCB gets injured does he bring on Kiwior? Don’t be fucking stupid he moves the RB playing at LB to LCB and brings the LB on who’s too shit to start at LB.
Now we won the match but what if we’d dropped points and City had had a wobble? Until Arteta can stop doing shit that makes no sense other than trying to look far too clever he’s going to continue coming up short.
My guess is in a years time we’ll be having the same conversation about much the same end of season result and the fanboys will be making the same excuses.
They could at least try to come up with some new ones!
On another note great to see Timber back and the crowd gave him a really special reception.
Marc
So Timber at RB , new LB and a back three of White, Saliba & Gabriel. How would that look to you?
Guys, no fights. It’s just 2 days without football, atleast let a month pass..
Marc / NORG,
I will stick to White at RB, Timber at LB, Gabriel and Saliba as CBs. I will keep Tomiyasu and Kiwior because they can play in that back line in any position, without a severe downgrade in performance.
Zinchenko needs to go. And we need a specialist CB back up as well.