Basically, every one of the our games this season is a must win for the title race but I like to hype things up a bit hence the title.
Yesterday, Man City showed us why it’s not going to be easy. They were 3-0 up by half time against Leicester, replaced half of their first teamers including Haaland, Stones, Rodri, De Bruyne by first hour mark and managed a very comfortable win. They further improved their goal difference to 50, seven more than us having played equal games. With only 8 games left, we are not going to win on goal difference anymore, covering this 7 goal difference AND matching the high number of goals City scores, is almost impossible.
So, what do we need to do? We need to win, every game for the rest of this season. There are other permutations and combinations, but we aren’t in that territory as of now. If we beat West Ham today, we go 6 points up against City, with an extra game played and I’m sure chasing us every week along with Champions League football will cause trouble even for Pep.
Back to today’s game, Eddie is back in the mix but Saliba remains unavailable. William has been phenomenal this season for us, and we needed him at this juncture but looks like the back problem will haunt him for some more weeks. Holding has been decent enough as a cover, so it shouldn’t be a problem till it’s a Holding v Haaland.
West Ham are not really rocking under Moyes but they are a very tough team to beat. Moreover, we are visiting them, they are in a relegation battle and these sort of games comes with a chaos that can benefit any of the two teams on the pitch. We need to maintain our calmness and composure, do not allow them balls in dangerous areas and keep up the high octane pressing throughout.
I’m guessing we will see somewhat a similar playing XI we have been seeing. Ramsdale in the net, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko in back 4 with Partey and Xhaka along with Odegaard managing the midfield. Saka on the right, Martinelli at left with Jesus leading the line at the top. One thing I would personally like to see is Trossard playing the Odegaard/Xhaka position, rotating with Martinelli and Jesus, but I doubt we will get to know. Mikel is very strict in his team selection.
Good news is, this team should be enough for Moyes.
Whatever happens in the end, we must go to Etihad in winning confidence and with the point difference advantage we have on City. That is why winning today and the next ones are very important. Hopefully we get a 4-0 win but I would take a hard fought 1-0 today, considering Moyes.
I will go with a 0-2 prediction for the boys, just because Ramsdale is not getting his deserved clean sheets from last few games. Hopefully, we keep a clean sheet today, we score couple and it turns out to be a easy afternoon for the Moyes.
Short one today, see you during game.
#COYG
Ambarish
Your piece sets things up nicely for today. I’m looking forward to keeping in touch during the game not least because my kids are all off doing something and I’ll be a nervous wreck. I read Tony’s equally good piece on the last stream too.
I’d like to see Tony’s (and my) bete noire Xhaka drop to the bench today, replaced by Zinch in a more forward role with Tierney coming in for left sided defensive duties. Will it happen? Will it fuck! It’ll be the same team that faced the bindips. It should still be enough to overcome the hammers who pride themselves on not low blocking and shit-housing games at home. Moyes, and the club more generally, have some integrity, and still regard themselves as the ‘academy’. They have a decent team on paper but they don’t gel together that well, and they’ll feel under enormous pressure from their fans. Yes, I’m probably in a minority of one on here by revealing I’ve always had a soft spot for the Irons even though I desperately want us to banish the two goals conceded at Anfield and secure a straightforward, injury free win.
Come on you rip roaring reds! I have a feeling Odegaard loves the London Stadium and will have a field day today with Trossard coming on later to deliver the coup de grace.
For anyone who didn’t catch it, watch the highlights of that Spuds-Bournemouth game from yesterday. It’s fucking priceless, especially the final 10 minutes. Spurs fans doing an Eboue on Davison Sanchez.
Oh, and anyone reading LiR today, please dip your toe in water and put something on here during the game. It’s great to hear new voices.
Kroenke
How dare you try to steal my thunder over hating Xhaka.
Nice piece Ambarish – today should be a win as should Southampton on Friday night, after that we’ve got City A, Chelsea H and then Newcastle A. If we managed to get a draw (I can’t see us beating them) against City it should give us the impetus in the following 2 matches if we get beaten I can see us dropping further points.
Its in our hands and there are no excuses.
KT fills in today for Zinchenko, rest as predicted. Not having Zinchenko doesn’t dent our winning chances as KT is as good as it goes on his day.
Ambarish
I didn’t know Zinch was out. A Zinjury I guess? Still KT is better equipped defensively to cope with Bowen who I see as their main threat.
Hi Marc
Just because I wish he was much more competent and level headed, I’m happy to take my place being you in the long queue of Xhakaphobes. I reckon he’d make Tets’s starting 11 even if he’d lost a limb in the warm up.
I’m starting to get the pre-match wobbles.
Behind you…
Ambarish
Managers have to deal with players being unavailable on occasions – there’s players you don’t want to lose for certain matches but today no excuses.
Kronke
I’m waiting for the big contract extension for Xhaka..
Zinjury 😂
Marc,
Yes, and it’s not like we are switching from the likes of Saliva to Mustafi.
In fact, I am more of a KT fan than Zinch, so I personally like this .
Marc
Are you ready for an eight year mudryk-esque extension for the suave Swiss? Watch this space… He could morph into the first ever player to transition into becoming manager after telling the fans to fuck off. Tony – sorry if this image runs the risk of ruining your day! Is Pumpkin ready for the big game?
Nice piece in the preamble with an interview with Per, Saka, ESR, Eddie Unket and Reiss.
There’s something about playing at this stadium that makes it almost feel like a home game or at least one on neutral territory for us. Hammers fans hate it for the most part and the players don’t feel for it anything like they did for the Boleyn.
Evening lads. Pumkin’s purring like an old shovelhead.
3 points and lots of goals is the order of the day, and a hat trick from Xhaka just to piss us Xhaka Out brigade. I’ll take em, though and still hate the cnut. You don’t own the rights on that Marc it’s a shared issue.
Trossard for Xhaka makes the left side much quicker and effective
4 more please. Such a well worked goal.
Marc
I hope you’ve cut some air holes in the back of your sicks for this. 🧦
Beautiful close play and precise passing. Goooooooool
Jesus with a beautiful tap-in. COYG
All going Pete Tong for Moyes
Second one from Odegaard.
Martinelli has probably the best first touch in the league currently. Exquisite.
Beautiful cross. 2 nil
Almunia’s cousin Fabianskisaynomore is smiling on us today
At the risk of sounding like a Christian fundamentalist happyclappy evangelical, Jesus is (fucking) everywhere today! 🙏✝️
Why do we slow down after going 2 up so early.
Get Xhaka off he’s doing nothing and we’re playing with 10 men. Need Trossard
I hope Arteta has plenty to say and increases our energy levels even if making 5 subs. The last 15 minutes was typical of Arteta’s tactics. Score and hold on.
Tony
I agree the last 15 minutes are unsustainable for the second half. We need to put the Hammers on the back foot again. A deeper lying but running Tross for Xhaka ought to be the solution. Xhaka is not affecting the game. I’d even put Jorginho on instead of Xhaka. And stop the pedestrian passing at the back for fuck’s sake… Why does Arteta programme this into our performances. We’re emboldening West Ham.
Why isn’t Arteta making changes. This is utter rubbish
West Ham playing Turnip Head’s Watford football
Look behind you supermik and get Trossard on for Xhaka you fucking twat.
Xhaka’s forward run keeps him on the pitch. Just stupidity on Arteta’s part
And still Xhaka is on… Unbelievable
20 minutes to keep our title hopes alive
Substitutions are good but for wrong guts. Like everyone is saying why not Tossard in place of Xhaka if you want to change things?
Guess Arteta has a single template, and has not tried combination during practice. In such circumstances the pegs are factory made to fit only a specific slot.
Phew
Can see how Saliba was crucial to get Arsenal up!
His calmness has also made Gabriel less rash, has improved him
Now the substitutions are an expression of a list manager. It has become a game of dice. Throw them in and, who knows, if luck is on his side Tetsie will be hailed
Hey Hoopah Saliba is a huge miss but Arteta bottled his selection persevering with Xhaka and reducing us to 10 players.
Arteta the great pretender being found out yet again
Arteta’s face says it all. Serial loser.
Entirely avoidable
Entirely down to that prick of a manager
Got to beat City
Fucking awful
Arteta realised, unfortunately only in hindsight, that he has crapped his pants.
But on a positive note, we are sure shot in Champions League where Arteta will be shown, and hopefully the Board will be educated. Looking at Arsenal bench 20 minutes back, there was no way we could not win this