Last season, West Ham ruined our new year celebratations with a 2-0 win at Emirates. We had 75% possessions, 8 shots on target to theirs 3, a much better pass accuracy, lots of misses and 3 drop points. We took the revenge in reverse leg beating them 6-0 at London Stadium with 2 goals from Bukayo, both our CBs on the scoresheet, Trossard and Declan Rice scoring the other two goals. However, we can’t afford to be complacent today by keeping in mind the last visit and not the 2-0 loss at home. They aren’t doing good this season so far, but under Mikel, it’s the minions that has brought us damages.
We are playing well since Odegaard is back. Against Forest and Sporting, we looked in control, the right side looks refreshed and Saka gets all the help he needs to create chaos in the opposition half. That kid is going to be one of the best in the world. Martinelli is still not what we need from him, and that’s the reason we didn’t see him against Sporting. Hopefully he will pick up his last season’s form soon enough, we need that same level of chaos on the left as well.
We need to win today. And hope Pep do not loses tomorrow against Liverpool.
Team News
With Odegaard back into fold, we look much better. Mikel has his best options available. Timber and Calafiori are fit to start on either side, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard, Merino – all are available for the midfield and there’s no injury on the front.
If you ask me, I would stick to the back 4 of Timber (RB), Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; a midfield of Odegaard, Thomas and Rice and a front 3 of Saka, Havertz and Martinelli. I am tempted to give Nwaneri a start but it’s a very important game to do so. Gabriel may be a doubt after he was limping against Sporting but he is tough lad and he should make it. If not, I see one of Ben White or Tomiyasu making into the team today.
Expectations?
We need couple of early goals to not put ourselves under pressure. A 2-0 scoreline at half time will also put us in a condition to rotate, as we are going to play 8 games in a month (counting today’s and 01st Jan). Partey is in some form this season and we clearly see a lot of improvements in the midfield. Marti did score one against Sporting but he is still far off from his best days and if he gets to start today, I would love to see him build up his confidence on that goal in our last game.
2-0 to Arsenal, Marts and Saka on the scoresheet is what I am expecting.
Title challenge is getting crazier!
Liverpool are doing great under the Dutch manager. They have accumulated 31 points out of the 36 they have played in Premier League and have won all 5 of their Champions League games so far. Arne Slot is doing better than what everybody expected after Klopp’s departure. I don’t buy the ‘easy games’ narrative now since almost 1/3rd of the season is over and we are already in December (almost). Now, why am I talking about it? We are way behind the bin dippers and so does everyone else. We need to catch up and they need to drop points, and it’s one of those weeks where it ‘can’ happen.
A win today for us against Hammers will move us to 25 points, and there’s a City v Liverpool tomorrow. A 6 point difference will suit both us and City, I won’t mind if they both drop points as it will turn out to be a 3-team fight at minimum. Leave aside Liverpool, and there are 7 teams within 4 point difference and everyone’s going to make each other life’s miserable at some point.
Right, so to keep it simple, we need to win and hope Liverpool don’t.
Wrapping it up now. Happy Thanksgiving, and stay warm. Winter is here.
Oh, and I did get a chance to watch a West Ham game at London Stadium on 19th Sep 2021. CR7 started for Man United and since I was sitting in the West Ham stand, I was allowed to call them cunt through out the 90 min. Felt good.
Nice piece Ambarish
West Ham should be up for today wanting a little revenge for what was a serious humiliation last season – tens of thousands of fans walking out of the stadium at halftime is a terrible optic.
As for the title race I really think City are almost at a lose tomorrow and the PL’s gone point at the moment. Obviously there’s a lot of points to be played for but the run they’re on is shocking and I don’t think it can be solely put down to the absence of Rodri. After that if we’re in it so are Chelsea (new manager) and Liverpool (new manager – shouldn’t Slot need to spend a billion and need 5 years?) are clearly favourites. After that there’s plenty of teams who are capable of taking points off each other.
Madhu
It’d be good to know what you think of the Michael Holding book. He was a wonderful bowler with a beautiful action. I also enjoy hustle commentary.
Marc
Today’s game is one of those we have to win given City, Liverpool or each of them will drop points tmrw. We keep that high energy press up (a la Sporting), we’ll create plenty of chances.
Another very good scene-setter Ambarish. If Martinelli is matched up against Soufal, he’ll dominate him with pace and dribbling. He’s also getting many more back post chances when the ball goes down our right. I think we’ll be OK today.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Havertz.
Subs: Neto, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Tierney, Nichols, Martinelli, Nwaneri, Sterling, Jesus.
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So, Partey is not the squad at all. Trossard starts ahead of Martinelli. Good to see the Scotsman back in the team, we need him fit to sell later. Jesus, who wanted more game time as a CF, can’t replace Havertz, tell everything about him.
Marc
Agreed, City has something wrong in their dressing room. They are not a team who would lose 5 games in a row just because they don’t have Rodri available. Pep’s face in that post match interview showed the frustration he had towards himself. But, he will bounce back, he is the best manager in the world and he will figure out to motivate those bunch again.
KP
Martinelli on bench today unfortunately. He is out of form, so I won’t complain on that.
Kroenke
We need to win today.
We should win today.
But with Captain Fuckwit in charge you never know.
Ambarish
I wonder if the FFP court case is causing issues.
The threat of multiple relegations could easily distract players.
Great finish.
Someone please tell me we’ve reupped Gabs on a new contract?
Gabriel opens the account. 0-1 Arsenal. #COYG
Marc
Certainly those 115 charges would affect the players.. good for us, good for the premier league.
Beautiful header by Gabriel and it is in.
Setpiece coach is the only other reason why we are here. The other being our Defenders
Hoopah
And it’s those defenders scoring on set pieces, not Havertz..
Saka is such a quality we all expect him to score that, every fucking time.. tight angle it was even to his standards.
Woooh 2-0 Arsenal.
That was purely Saka + Odegaard’s goal. Trossard was just there to put it in..
Was anyone expecting a 6-0 score?
Oops
Dozing and Arsenal scores
Another one before halftime and we’ll empty the stadium!
Saka giving it to Captain to convert the penalty so that he can do the kid celebration.. brilliant.
3-0 Arsenal.
And Havertz makes it 4…
Marc
You got it.
Rice touched the ball first, told the referee he did.. who was like 5 cm away from him.. and he still gave a foul just outside the arsenal box.
West ham scored their 2nd. Fuck.
What’s happening here then?
7 goal first half?
Anyone remember the last time that happened in the PL?
Saka converts another one.. 5-2.
Fabianski should have got a red for that challenge on Gabriel.
Ambarish
Nah he went for the ball it wasn’t a deliberate punch.
The free kick for West Ham’s second on the other hand wasn’t a foul – although a great finish.
I think it was not a penalty. Flipiyanski knocked the ball and follow through his forearm slightly grazed Gabriel.
Gabriel ,guess didn’t even feel it because he was feighnting a blow elsewhere on his head , not even the neck
Ok yes, replays were clearer.. Rice challenge was a genuine one though, as you said, great finish but wasn’t a foul.
Welcome LF at LiR.
Arteta can’t send the team out to defend what we have – it’ll just invite West Ham to attack us, lead to a goal and give them confidence.
Don’t go gungho but look to kill the game and then make changes on the hourish mark.
Marc
3 goal difference should be enough to make whatever changes you want as a manager.
I would love to see Nwaneri in place of Rice. Lets see what 2 attacking mid does with a Partey/Jorgi in the middle.
Surely this is a good time for youngsters to get a run out? 60-65th minute we need a Nwaneri appearance
Zinchenko for Calafiori. Kiwior in the middle for Gabriel.
We should still be confident enough to bring in Nwaneri. Scoreline’s enough to win, and Odegaard could do with some rest.
Crap, Saka slipping and getting a bit. We don’t want him injured, not at this moment, not any other time.
Saka twisted leg just before the shot. Might have affected the knee
Jesus and Sterling for Odegaard and Saka.. So, no Nwaneri today.
Trossard has a good game today overall except for the West Ham’s 2nd goal where he lost track of Wan Bisaka.
Nwaneri should be played regularly and that’s how he will get better, not by sitting on bench or playing lower levels. If the manager cannot or doesn’t want to bring in Nwaneri when we are leading 5-2 then when he will bring him on. Clearly there is no one challenging MA. Per as academy boss surely have to have a say. Cannot understand this.
KP Micheal holding book is about his conversation with various black players in sport. There is chapter with Thierry Henry as well. Haven’t yet gotten to this chapter yet. But seems to a fascinating book to learn their struggles due to race.
Nwaneri finally ON for 10 minutes.
Arteta for very good reasons suffers from imposter syndrome – he’s too negative, too scared and just not good enough when it comes to thinking on his feet.
Back to 2nd place, lets see if Pep can beat Arne tomorrow and make it a bit easier for us. Saka player of the match for his performance.
If you check that counter (on the right on desktop, at the bottom on mobile devices), Saka is the joint top scorer for us in Premier League with 5 goals, and assisted 10 till now (best in whole of Premier League). He is there in the top 4 Goals and Assists player in Champions League.
He is phenomenal.