Leicester didn’t do us a favour today. Spu*s won and moved back to 4th position with 1 point lead. It’s about time the game starts, we are playing West Ham at their home and winning is as crucial as it can get. It’s a must win game against a team whose priority lies in Europa League and this could pan out in our favour.
We are in good form, winning back to back matches against United and Chelsea. Just so you know, Arsenal have lost only 1 away games in last 13 encounters against Hammers. However they are unbeaten in their last premier league games at home, so it’s not going to be an easy one. As usual, in first 10 min we will get to know which team shows up today and it will surely be a measure of how much Mikel Arteta was able to motivate a team and sell Champions League dream.
In team news, Martinelli replaces Emile Smith-Rowe, Tomiyasu is back in defence and Nketiah keeps his place.
White has an injury due to which Holding makes his Premier League start after a long time. It’s probably the best line-up bar ESR not starting. Martinelli has looked out of form and although we have seen some individual brilliance from him, ESR has more end results in him. This could be because Martinelli is sidelined on the wings most of time and ESR drifts in centre thus having better chance of creating something; I would have preferred Smith Rowe in a crucial game like this.
I’m going to have to keep this short due to lack of time. Apologies for showing up late (and not showing at all this week). There’s one more hectic week before I get back to my easy routine. As always, thank you for showing up at London Is Red.
We can get 3 points here, go back to being 4th and our run of games are easier to Spu*s. I’m going to tune in to the game now, no one can this 90min from me. #COYG.
Kroenkephobe,
Rumours of Trump’s demise were greatly exaggerated?
Almunia
Yes, some fight from Trump. I think the TV companies and fans desperately need a meaningful final session so everyone’s happy. It’s nicely set up. I didn’t see much of it this pm because I was mending a toilet… Unsuccessfully. A wholly accurate metaphor for life at the moment. 💩
I agree with what you and Marc have said. Rare is the game where we dominate anyone these days and the final 15 minutes is a procession. When we lose we’re poor, when we win we just about do enough. Yeah, I know… Call. Me a bedwetters!
Almunia
Agreed Arteta is a safety first manager. I think he’s in trouble next season – I don’t think he’ll be able to juggle PL & CL and I just can’t see all of Chelsea, ManU, Leicester and the Spud’s all being as bad as this season, that’s before Newcastle start spending big and pushing for a minimum of top 6.
Arteta will have be then a squad that is almost entirely his players, two and a half seasons under his belt and will have spent plenty of money – I would say they’ll be no excuse but the fan boys will still search for them.
Marc,
That’s my reading of it also. I believe that in time we’ll look back at this period as an opportunity lost to close ground on the top teams. All we have done is returned to bare minimum for a club of our size. The progress made has been marginal and at a huge cost in terms of finances. No telling if Kroenkes will back a manager like this again. Arteta orchestrated the great giveaway that a more frugal manager could have put to better use on incomings. Now if he’s given the money he needs them obviously he felt it expedient to simply rid himself of unwanted players. But if he’s not,then it’s a horrendous misuse of assets.
Kroenkephobe,
Toilet fixing,if that’s not a metaphor for just about everything then I give up….it certainly sums up my job! Still think Ronnie does it but like you said at least we’ve a match now.
One of these days I’m going to sit down and write down every player that has been bought,sold, released by Artedu and the financial implications of each deal. For two guys making a living in football wheeling and dealing I have a feeling their business acumen is an insult to a club of our size.