Hello, Ladies and Gentlemen! A lot has happened in this year already and we are only a week into it. We beat Brighton comfortably on the new year eve, but then shared points with New Castle in what can be a called a disaster of refereeing. We have also upped our bid for Mudryk but Shaktar thinks we are Manchester United who will overpay for anything and want us to fork a 100m+ for a 22 year old player who has A LOT to prove.
First thing first, we are still enjoying our TOP OF THE TABLE stature. We are only 2 game short of half-of-the-season and sitting comfortably at the top with 44 points.
That’s five points ahead of Man City.
For the next 4 games, we have to play Spu*s (A), United (H), Everton (A), Brentford (H). City on the other hand has United (A), Spu*s (H), Wolves (H), Spu*s (A) and one extra game against Villa at home before they play us at Emirates on 16th of Feb.
Both of our game against Spu*s and United are winnable but are going to be tough. Same with City, playing a Derby has always been a lost cause for them. United for once, can do us a favor, a tough one this is.
Our game against them will be a six pointer. If, and that’s a big If, we managed to beat them, it would not only give us a 3 point advantage against the previous year winners but also instill that confidence among players to push an extra bit for the title.
I’m being too hopeful here but never say never. Not when you are 5 points ahead of the best team assembled in recent years against the best manager on the planet with the best striker in the world!
Coming back to the New Castle game, I would have been happy if we shared points on merits. Refereeing was sh*t and someone needs to do something about it. You can’t grab the collar of a player and pull his tshirt to an extent where he won’t know if he is wearing it inside out! What confuses me even more is the VAR’s role. It was obvious as a day, and should have been a penalty. Arteta made sure he was heard and here’s my middle finger to the disciplinary action being taken against the club.
I am not really in favor of Arteta shouting on the touchline, but hey, that was a cheating and needed to be called out.
I still remember my last year’s article and there is no improvement – Same Old Arsenal, Same Old Referee
Right, onto the Mudryk situation. Rumour has it that we had put up a second, improvised bid which Shaktar thinks is not enough. Well, Edu needs to sit with them and make them realise that we are talking about a 22-year old playing in Ukrainian League. Do they realise that what they are asking was paid for Eden Hazard in his prime who had won everything with Chelsea and was in the top 10 players at that point of time?
And, someone needs to sit with Edu and remind him the priority. We need a Partey’s back up first, Xhaka’s competition and a CF because Eddie alone can’t play twice a week. I know Jesus will be back, but we still need a CF. 3 strikers may be a lot this season, but we are qualifying for Champions League and we would need it soon.
If you say we can use our academy to fill Partey and Xhaka’ position, I won’t mind but where are they? Can we see them having a bit of game time in FA cups and towards the end of Premier League games when we are in a comfortable winning position?
Ok, a lot of frustrations but that 2 points loss against New Castle has rattled me. Lets hope we bounce back and thrash the Spu*s at toilet bowl.
See you in the comments!
Hi Tony
Just in case you’re making plans, NLD is Sunday. 4pm uk time. Be good to hear what you and junior think during and after the game. Come Sunday, I’ll be feeling a bit more tense but I genuinely think we have too much for them right now. If the players refuse to be overawed, and keep their discipline we’ll be OK.
I’ve got this idea in my head that you’re knitting a full red and white kit for pumpkin! 🐱
Hi K’phobe
My daughter loved the knitting Pumpkin an Arsenal beanie. Ryan bought us Arsenal Covid washable masks.
I’m absolutely buzzing about today’s football. I agree with you we should have too much for Conte’s counter football and Arteta will have been savvy enough (we hope) for extra work off the ball to cut supply to Kane, Son and Perisic.
The team sheet should pick itself with the exception of Xhaka. I’d throw in ESR with Partey. Zinko LB and Tomi RB, but White will no doubt get the nod. Ode at 10 with ESR in support of Ode with Eddie, Saka and Gabs interchanging around the edge of the box waiting for Dier to leave gaps. Looks a nice picture in my head. We’ll see what Arteta actually has in store.
My weekly PL concern is us running out off gas at around 30 minutes and then the last 20 to 30 of the 2nd half. If Arteta wants to play to such a consistent tempo pace, then he needs to be correct with his subs and the timing of putting subs on. For the latter you can only read the game as it unfolds.
Will City crumble? I hope so. Was Pep’s cry for immediate replacements a faux pas of emotion or a pathetic attempt at gamesmanship. Who cares.
I fancy a 2:1 win for Manure. The fall out from Pep will be worth the optics. 🙂
Moving on to Brighton v The Bin Dippers I’m comfortable with a 2:2 draw as is my gut feeling.
Now the all important NLD I’ll go for a 1:3 to us.
Junior & I will be in sofa attendance for all 3 games slo see you there K’phobe.
With your comment I checked my Live Score and it’s showing the NLD match twice 11:30 pm Sat and then Sun.
Thanks K’phobe. Seeing it on the Sat on LS I never bothered looking at Sunday’s games. Haven’t read the papers yet.
So Chavs v Palace hard one to predict with both on a poor run of form.
Then the NLD so see you there for that.
Even though that fernandes goal benefits us hugely,I have to say that the interpretation that Rashford wasn’t interfering with play can only have been created by people who have either never played the game or have no concept of it at all. 2-1 now to utd as I write. The stars have been aligning for us all season long.
As horrible as it is seeing utd win,that result should work in our favour,even though it puts utd only a point behind city. I’m beginning to see tomorrow’s game as season defining. Win and psychologically we are proving that the favourites tag won’t interfere with us. Lose and a Pandora’s box of criticism and doubts will be opened. I am genuinely thinking of not watching the game. I don’t know if I would survive the stress!
Hi Almunia
City losing means we can go 8 points clear is the way I’d view it. That’s got to be worth seeing and the Bin Dippers continuing their demise. Brighton played brilliantly. Best football I’ve see all season. Shame we can’t play out from the back like Brighton.
If I were Edu, I’d buy Mitoma. Kid can only get better and could slot in Xhaka’s position.
Great results for us today and amazing what new managers can do in their first year and produce quality football. Ten Hag has the dressing room now, and was my pick after Unai.
Just see the Chavs lose tomorrow and us take 3 points from WHL and it will have been the perfect weekend.
Have faith and Guinness Almunia or do the Guinness first. 🙂