Ahhh, it’s been a long wait since we played meaningful football, but it’s over now! The mighty Red and White go to goal shy Molineux where a wall of dirty-orange will await us. Bruno Lage has build further on Nuno’s Portuguese bulwark and they are currently the PLs second meanest defensive performers. I enjoy watching Wolves for its great and well drilled passing football and have a lot of respect for their BoDs adherence to their values and style of play. They, like us, are going places!
So how are we going to crack that wall without a beast of a CF upfront? Auba once was that beast but he will not be missed. He clearly was ‘the problem’ and struggled with motivation and concentration over the last two years. Give me Laca any day. He works hard, links up well, can actually pass a ball, and will always go to sleep knowing he did his epistemic best in the last game he played.
But a Beast of a CF Laca is not, and we have to ask ourselves whether we actually need one. Man City let Aguero and young and promising Torres go but keep scoring goals for fun. I reckon Arteta also wants goals to come from a large number of players, as we are much more unpredictable that way. Fly like a butterfly sting with multiple bees.
And how better to try and crack Wolves’ orange wall than by pummeling it left, right and centre?!
So here is to the ‘new’ Auba-less but fully in harmony, Arsenal – a team with a 17 battles mission.
The team. There are question marks re Tomiyasu: will he be fit enough to play? Xhaka and Partey are back and I think everyone else is available.
The question is which two will start from Laca, ESR and Martinelli? Laca, our captain, is likely to start, so I think it is between Martinelli and ESR. I would like Laca to play 65 minutes and then Martinelli to take over as CF……
Ramsdale
Tomi-Ben-Gab-Kieran
Partey-Xhaka
Bukayo-Martin-ESR
Laca
Enjoy the game.
Come On You Rip Roaring Gunners!!
By TotalArsenal 🚀 ⚽ ⚽
Bergkampesque 
This game against the Wolves will not be easy.As you mentioned, they are a well drilled and well organised side..but then Arsenal are hungry.Haven rested for over two weeks and desperate for points, I believe we shall carry the day.With the rampaging runs of Saka and Martinelli, and a balanced midfield of Partey and Xhaka etc ,three points are assured COYG
Chairman Galant, what a great blog name!
I think it will be tough too but, like you, I also think we are ready for it. Tge break was long but necessary. Seventeen battles to go. First one tonight. Bring it on. 🙂
Goedemiddag Total, great post and yes, it’s wise to not underestimate the Wolves, Molyneux can be a difficult place for Arsenal teams to escape without being mauled.
If we have our first choice XI then the chances of a positive result increase, but no Tomiyasu and Soares will open a clear avenue for his countrymen to take advantage of, he needs to step up if called upon.
Neves will be keen to impress as he’ll be well aware of Arsenal’s long standing interest and Xhaka has to be mature and responsible as there’s no room left for histrionics, he has to play with the team in mind and not himself, likewise Partey who owes us a Man of the match performance. Moutinho is a bandit, he knows more tricks than Tommy Cooper…
Haha, more tricks than Tommy Cooper! 😁
Agreed re Granit and I hope the refs realise their bias towards him too. I am willing to bet with you a tenner that Granit will not get sent off again this season.
Talking of Tommy Cooper – here are a few of his jokes.
1. I went to the doctor the other day,
“I said with all the excitement of Christmas I can’t sleep”
He said “try sleeping on the edge of the bed, you’ll soon drop off”
2. So I said to the taxi driver, “King Arthur’s Close”. He said,
“Don’t worry, we’ll lose him at the next seat of lights.
3. I went to the doctor, He said “you’ve got a very serious illness:”
I said “I want a second opinion”
He said “all right, you’re also ugly”
4. When I was with the scouts, the leader told me to pitch the tent.
I couldn’t find any pitch, so I use creosote.
5. I’ve always been unlucky,
I had a rocking horse once, and it died.
🙂
Soares and Martinelli start. Rest is the same as above.
Come On You Rip Roaring Gunners 🌋 🌋 🌋
Ha! You guys are a hoot. Great to wake up to. Love the use of “epistemic”, Total. No Tomi, Cedric’s in and ESR on the bench.
I learned the term from Descartes, Stuart. As long as I know I did my epistemic best then I am happy to accept any outcome (it’s God’s will after that), or something like that. But as you know to do one’s epistemic best is no mean feat. 🙂
T,
I really love the angle your viewing from. 1 of 17 is the way I prefer looking at it.
Makes it seem more achievable, especially when you think of the garbage we’re battling for top 4. United mercenaries and Spur losers. I have more respect for Wolves and West Ham.
ONTTA! 😁
Hey J, good to hear from you. Yes we are on a mission.
The boys are fighting for every ball. 11 Gunners in fiery harmony.
Good half by the team. A bit of a worry that both cental mids are on a card, so fingers crossed in the second half. There is more to come from our attackers.
Ah, the Analytic Geometrist. I usually prefer French footballers to French philosophers, but do have a soft spot for Rene.
Boys are doing very well. I may take that tenner off you tho’, Total. Our Centre midfielders will need huge concentration and maybe the relief of a tactical substitution to get through this.
Haha, the bet is on if you want it to, Stuart.
Rene liked to think and when I was a student this was said of me too. So yes I also like Descartes 😜
Harsh for Martinelli, technically correct, but this would never happen to a Pool or City player..
Nerve wrecking stuff
Never in doubt 😁😁
The sweetest, most hard earned points of the season. Our Rob is the man for these ocassions. I am planning to come to the Old Country in your summer, Total. So I’ll have the tenner off you then…
Well you only have sixteen chances left…
Look forward to possibly seeing you then.. 👍🏻
One thousand, four hundred and forty minutes…
It is a bet I will be happy to lose. But it won’t be just down to our Swiss Rock, the ref’s and VAR will have a say. But if he does get another red, and I do catch up with you, I’ll use the tenner to buy us a couple of beers. Hopefully to celebrate a top four finish.
Wow, that was a hard-earned win but well deserved by the guys. Martinelli showed his immaturity and probably gives Pepe a chance of redemption. Laca played well and worked so hard it’s such a shame he couldn’t find the net and make life a bit more comfortable for us. Defensively we were great and kudos to Cedric for a solid performance.
Xhaka will stay clean, Stuart.
Good shout re Soares. He got better as the game went on.
Are you Covid-cured now OX10?
Agree Total, Oliver didn’t really do anything wrong regarding the laws of the game and I must confess that my immediate reaction when watching the game was a lack of discipline by Gabby, but on reflection it was a decision that Oliver didn’t have to make and as you alluded to I doubt that he would have made it if it was Mane or Salah or Kane or Rashford or Sterling who had made two bookable fouls in one passage of play where he’d played advantage. But it’s Arsenal and we just take it without complaining.
Lacazette played so well but his finishing is so so poor and I worry that it’s going to cost us big time.
How on earth did he miss that header in the first half from that brilliant cross from Saka, it’s almost as if he ducked out of the way on purpose. 🤭
Then there was that slick so typical Arsenal move in the first half a succession of first time passes opened up Wolves, which set him up for the coup de grace and he just fired directly at the Wolves keeper. ☹️
The third was probably the most difficult given the angles he had as the Wolves keeper closed him down but at that stage of the game and how the game had developed it was the match winning moment and he missed it. 😩
Still I’ll take 16 more 1-0 wins
Yeah agreed, Kev. But Laca was in the right place and all three chances were not guild-edged imo. He also had the assist.
Arteta defending our team says you have to want to give a red right there for that to be done.
I was sensing frustration from Oliver for quite a while before that.
Three points guys. The card brought us closer. Bring on the next battle.
Phew that was sick watching it. If we are not getting into Europe it’s only because of our propensity to get red cards when we don’t. Gabi showed needless agression. Now it can’t be put down to inexperience. It’s just unnecessary and not being game aware. Another worrying sign of Gabi is that he is not taking shots. He is an absolute shot monster and should continue it. Honestly iam his big fan but got to say he seems to have lost his form.
The whole team seems to be shot shy. Laca wasted so many oppty to shoot and pass the ball. He just waits for fouls and he is in a territory where referees are noticing it and will not give. He had 3 chances and should have atleast buried one.
Time for Pepe to put his name in the hat. tA I will take that tenner mate.
Haha Madhu, I only take on one bet at a time OBAAT and that’s with Stuart! 😁
New Post 🙂