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.
It’s time to take Liverpool serious now for the title. Today’s win not only gives them 3 important points against Man City, it gives them that confidence to go all through..
This being Salah’s last season at Anfield is going to help them even more. Mo Salah needs to sell him, needs to win another title before he leaves. Not good for us or anyone else who is looking at the title.
P.S. – Bernando Silba is a cunt.
https://youtube.com/shorts/6UO7-Kcl_xs?si=p5agWZWkxkTQOjN2
Mr Arsenal. Probably our most popular ever player (at least for Gooners of my age). Seeing him play regularly at Highbury was an absolute privilege. RIP Rocky.
Great goal by Rocky, KP. May He rest is everlasting peace.
Ambarish
I thought exactly the same about the sore loser Silva and I said that Slot would win the league after the first couple of games. I still stand by that prediction, same as Ethan will become and elite player.
TRVL
Do you see this City squad improving enough to reignite their title challenge? What I saw was a team bereft of confidence who are a former vision of the 6 times PL winers they were.
Operative word: ‘were’.
Really poor in midfield where MA has also always had still unresolved issues at 8 & 9 and accommodating Rice’s fantasy football – did MA get from Pep? Any team can get at City’s midfield, especially with fast counters, and I don’t think Pep has the elite squad he once had with Rodri and KDB being their biggest player losses who are irreplaceable currently.
Their spine is broken, where until fixed, they may even drop out of the CL.
If there is a Pep resurgence, I feel it will be short-lived because teams are no longer scared to play City where before they only parked busses and new managers are out thinking Pep and his useless apprentice: both could flame out this season. What will the Saudi prince think about playing in the Europe Conference league next season?
What a fcuking paradox? I love watching Pool play under Slot, but hate they are going to win the league, where the scousers will be crowing for all their worth, so, I’m glad I don’t have any Scouser mates.
Do hub caps still exist in Scouseland?
So, MA put Slot on notice that Slot will capitulate in the same manner MA has in his last 3 seasons, and Slot’s response?
To embarrass City with a men against boys performances where City were 2nd best all over the pitch. Slot could and should have won by 5:0 had they had their shooting boots on: how often do you see Salah sky the ball with only the keeper to beat?
If I were MA, I’d shut the fcuk up because very little comes out of that cnut’s mouth worth listening to, which you can’t say about most other PL managers today with Slot being the outstanding elite manager this season who speaks calm sense all the time.
Our MA? Just BS lip service, stupid mind games no one is interested in, and repeat mistake making being his best points.
Only 3 points separate 2nd to 6th. Then, 5 points from 2nd to 8th and 6 points 2nd to 10th. We are joint b2nd with the Chavs who are playing the far superior football with a manager who like, Slot is improving the Chavs no end in his first season.
Slot’s pool are sitting comfortably at the PL summit and are their being very deserved of their lofty position
Can anyone catch Slot? Not for me, but there are still 25 games to go and football’s fortunes can change in a couple of off weeks from injuries, suspensions and loss of self belief drop of form, City are experiencing.
I see a very mentally strong Pool squad who have all 100% bought into Slot’s football identity, which is a slightly improved Klopp identity who press the life out of the teams they play, and have a manager who almost changes every game by clever use of subs, something we’ll never see from MA.
Ethan and ESR are 2 reasons why MA is clueless with substitution tactics?
I’m off to a resort for 5 nights in the north and will post from there but will be home for our Fulham game; will ESR spoil MA’s party at Fulham?
The Manure and Fulham games will be the litmus test of our total challenge potential.
2 draws anyone? Spuds could only draw with Fulham at home. Can we do better?
A very important week for us game wise.
Tony—as you know I’ve been on Team Slot long before he arrived in the PL, it’s just unfortunate that he landed at Anfield and not in North London…if someone were to write a bio of his relatively brief managerial career you would read the words “first time ever” or “first time in a significant period” over and over again, which speaks to his well-deserved and rather precipitous rise
meanwhile, with half a decade under his belt, our manager is still more of a “work in progress” than finished product, which is probably why he’s never been held accountable for his actions or lack thereof….after all, how could you possibly blame him for making mistakes when you knew full-well that this be a recurring theme when you hired someone with no managerial experience whatsoever…the big question then becomes at what point will this lazy narrative no longer shield him from being held to the same standards as our former legendary manager…it’s not like Wenger didn’t finish 2nd in the table a few years prior to his ousting
of course, this isn’t to suggest that nothing has been achieved, as no one could possibly argue that were not in a better place now than when he first arrived on the scene…that said, you likewise can’t ignore the contextual differences between now and then…Neither Wenger or Unai were given gobs of money and the latter wasn’t even given any input when it came to roster construction…so whereas there has been some noticeable growth, if it weren’t for the unprecendented backing MA would have never survived his first couple managerial blips
as such, it’s high time that he be given a proper mandate, secure some meaningful hardware or hit the fucking bricks, otherwise our window will pass and all will be for naught…simply put if you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backwards, which would definitely be the case if a first year manager, not Pep, lifted the title come season’s end
have a great trek up north…Cheers
Tony and TVRL we are close to a third of the season and we are 9 points away from the top. Pool are the early leaders in a marathon. PL is all about endurance and sustainnace. Will they drop pints yeah sure they will and chances are that we will as well. if pool is still leading by 9 points end of Dec they will do something in Jan. Will be buy some pieces of puzzle in Jan is a big question. City will plough through get some results and will be thereabouts. They are just 2 points off from us in probably the world ever season under Pep.
Chelsea is purring and they will give us a good run for the money. Man U might have an uptick and spoil few teams fun. Spurs may do the same and so will Brighton.
It’s going to an interesting season and it depends on how MA handles the squad. Iam not sure if IAM seeing differently but him bringing in Kiwior for big Gaby in second half seems to be a progress in terms of his presenting his best players. Gaby seems to have a bit of trouble and in two games he is not afraid to bring in Kiwior once he is comfortable with the score line. Is it one of or is something that MA is willing to do as he is growing up in his job. It remains to be seen. If he manages his squad and takes care of Ode, Saka, Saliba and Gaby we may have a chance. Let see how the season progresses.
Some things like the treatment of ESR deploying a “niggling” issue as an excuse to play power games might be one thing Pep Guardiola learnt from his apprentice. Watching City out of ideas , leadership and a teenager Lewis playing full time and , each time dispossesssed by Liverpool it seems so
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/pep-guardiola-de-bruyne-city-34227531
TRVL
If Slot goes on to win the PL in his first year after Liverpool having a couple of off seasons and spending a pittance (in football terms!) its going to make a lot of the fan boys squirm.
All the talk about Arteta and sauce, generational yada yada yada is going to look like the emperors new clothes especially after the sheer amount of money he’s spent.
Marc
The writing is on the wall – the El B fanboys will blame the squad that he had to use sourced by Edu. In reality those with sense know differently.
KP – Rocky at his best. That season should have been won with several games still to play however George decided to keep us all on tenterhooks until the last few minutes of the season – one of the best end of season games ever.
Tony and NORG
It came up on YT and I had to share it. I’m wondering if the commemoration of his sad death is coming up.
That season’s ending will never be surpassed by any team. Period.
Manure at home in the FA Cup. Yes!
NORG
You have to wonder what the Kroenke’s will make of it – they’ll know who pushed for the players and after almost €800 million spent finishing 2nd or 3rd behind Liverpool and City might not go down well.
Marc
The Kroenke’s have Japanese blood in their veins – they will never admit to making a mistake to appointing a managerial set up that employed El B. El B is Pep Mk II and new young managers have placed him as their benchmark and then beat him. They know what he earns and that is their ambition. El B does not have the vision to succeed.
Luckily we have a very hungry Saka & Odegaard who now have an understanding and will start dictating play as they want to – not as instructed from the sidelines.
Cast your mind back to when Cesc was captain – a few of his chosen players entertained with super cool passing play. A bit part player Flamini became a monster defensive midfielder for a season – he is now richer than all of his peers.
If we do make top 4 this season it will be on the back of the players and El B will take the applause.
NORG
You see I disagree there Arteta convinced the Kroenke’s to fund / underwrite massive spending and he hasn’t produced.
Hoping that the team manages itself to being Champions just isn’t going to happen.
Slot wins the PL in his first attempt, with a squad that has finished behind us for 2 season and only spent £40 odd million last summer and questions are going to be asked.
There appears to be a goundswell of support, particularly amongst the usual pro-Arteta suspects, surrounding the signing of Robert Olabe as Edu’s replacement…I want to share a few of my thoughts in this regards, which will include a few excerpts from online sources that I found somewhat concerning/intriguing:
“Olabe was once on the radar of Real Madrid and Aston Villa, and he will not be short of top suitors once he leaves the La Liga club at the end of the season…Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta knows him as he was the one who signed the former midfielder for Sociedad back in 2004, and a reunion could now be on the cards in the coming months…The Gunners will be desperate to get the right sporting director to replace Edu and help them sort things out in the 2025 summer transfer window, and the English-speaking Olabe fits the bill”
I’ve watched a shitload of La Liga football and never once have I heard a single reference to this particular individual…now that doesn’t mean he’s not the administrative savant we so desperately require, but I find it rather disconcerting that MA appears to have a longtime personal connection with this particular candidate…that for me is a serious red flag, as it strongly suggests that MA has been given carte blanche when it comes to picking what should functionally be his superior…therein lies the problem, our organizational power dynamics are completely askew, which is likely why Edu started sniffing around in the first place
on the positive side of the ledger, this might be a calculated hiring ploy simply to lure two of MA’s supposed high priority targets, Isak and Zubimendi, to the Emirates, as both were recruited by the now Sociedad Sporting Director…not to mention, I can only assume that both Merino and Ode were privately consulted in some capacity, as why wouldn’t you pick their respective brains about their former boss during the vetting process…even so, I just can’t imagine MA signing off on any hire who might legitimately challenge him, which is why this could be a disconcerting option, as we need another meaningful voice in the room if we want to get over the proverbial hump
of course, this doesn’t mean he’s got nothing on offer, as Sociedad’s profile has risen during his time in office, but certainly nowhere near the level we’re hoping to achieve…as such it does makes me wonder if this is really about us having higher aspirations or simply a marriage of convenience…now if you believe that we’re an Isak and a Zubimendi away from challenging for things both here and abroad, then this could be looked upon as an incredibly savvy hire, but if you’re under the impression that these sorts of two front pursuits are far more nuanced that that, you might be justifiably perturbed by this kiss the ring type hire…not to mention, it kind of speaks volumes about MA’s inability to recruit key pieces without considerable “inside” help
for those firmly within the pro-Arteta camp such pessimism/skepticism might seem totally unfounded, but one has to only look at the fluffed-up responses by a variety of “pocketed” media-types to understand my consternation…below you will find one of the more agregious examples:
“Roberto Olabe is a name synonymous with strategic brilliance. His track record at Real Sociedad shows he can scout hidden gems, build cohesive squads, and foster an environment for players to thrive. For Arsenal, who are hungry to sustain their return to Europe’s elite, this is precisely the calibre of leadership needed…Arteta has proven he can develop young talent and implement a clear philosophy on the pitch. Imagine this duo shaping the future of Arsenal: Arteta moulding the team’s identity on the pitch while Olabe constructs the foundation off it…This potential partnership is a clear statement of intent. Arsenal aren’t just chasing short-term success; they’re planning for longevity. If Olabe’s appointment becomes a reality, it could herald a golden era for the club, blending sustainable growth with a relentless pursuit of trophies”
I guess only time will tell…Cheers
TRVL – by the sounds of it Arteta is moving to fortify his power and get a Yes man in the mix. He is building his own empire without a proven track record of winning. If this happens it will be worse than Wenger era. Initial days of Wenger DD was the voice of reasoning, descent or check and balance , then slowly after his departure it was all Wenger and then the chaos. At least the man won few things. Now we have a novice who has no track record in anything other than couple of second places, patchy squad building and dubious buys like William and sterling.
I believe that this season of we don’t win any trophies the likes of Saliba will start the murmur of quitting the club. It appears that we had our chances in the previous two season and we missed it. We pretty much had a free run at City with some semblance of challenge from Pool. Next season onwards we will have Chelsea, Man U in the mix as well. city are going nowhere and Pool will be stronger as well. So from next season onwards the competition will be fierce in the TW and on the field. Are we equipped to best in both places against competition? Million dollar question.
The question that keeps haunting me is why in the Modern world any rational question to the power is always considered as descent/discord that needs to be quashed. There is no patience for any real rational , intellectual argument leading to a considered decision. I see it all the time in Corporate world and off course in politics. Everyone seems to be insecure about anybody asking few questions. If there are questions from any quarters the answer is to crush them. MA seems to be another one trying to do the same. May be Edu did question some buys and squad decisions. He was probably eased out. With all the technology advancements and more information has only converted humans to a much more insecure being.
Good posts TRVL & Madhu completely agree with your collective thoughts.
I said before I hope MA doesn’t interview his boss ALA Wenger with Ivan G.
Looks more like that to me. Amorim is already started negotiations for VG, Isak for us we hope. I’d look at Palmer for our 9 as well. Chavs would never sell, though.
Just got to hope we get the right TD, as it’s all we’ve got!
Big game tonight which we should win but I’m not confident we will. Leaning towards a score draw.
Too late for me, so will watch in the morning.
Are you at the game tonight Marc?
Let’s look at tonight’s game in the present. We’re MUCH better than them in every department, scoring goals for fun and out thinking and out muscling teams like Sporting and the Hammers. Plus drawing with Liverpool City and Chelsea when we should have beaten them. United drew with fucking Ipswich lately. There’s no comparison between our clubs at the moment and so it’s basically nothing more than akin to a home game with say a Palace or Wolves level team. Hoping finally for proper revenge for that 8-2 game. Let’s put them to the sword.
“Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli. ”
Can’t say I’m thrilled to see Zinny in the line up – he’s really not good enough and a mistake waiting to happen half the time. With Gabs injured the rest is about as strong as we’ve got.
Match day post is live..