Arsenal v Spurs Line-up and Preview: Just One Change | Kai, This is Your Day

TotalArsenal

It is the NLD and the Spuds are coming to THOF. Both teams are in great form and a win today would be extra sweet. We don’t really know how our opponents will play, but post-Kane they look different and have started well.

However much I despise the team with the skinny chicken on the ball, I must admit I like Postecoglu. Finally the silly Spuds have gotten themselves a manager who knows his stuff, is humble and gets the best out of players: quite a difference from the Conte and Mourinho days. Of course, it’s early days and a red and white thumping today may yet unsettle the manager and the fans, but it looks like they have got something to build on now.

Arsenal had a great game against naïve PSV. If only we could have as much as space and time as we had on Wednesday in every game, hey?! This turned out to be a great practice game even though it was the CL season-opener. What was especially pleasing to the eye was both our defensive calm v a rampant Eindhoven attacking line-up and the quality of our finishing. The shots were like snooker-game long-pots: you could almost hear the satisfying sound of the pockets sucking the balls in. Saka pounced on his opportunity and used his weaker foot to put a diagonal placed shot past the keeper; The Tross exquisitely riffled a shot past the keeper’s left from the edge of the box after a precise lay-off by Bukayo; from acres of space and time, Jesus put a hard diagonal in the same corner Bukayo had scored in, and; in the second half, Martin Odegaard cued a technically perfect shot, also from just outside the box, to beat the keeper at his left once more. It was slick, precise and deadly, and the boys are ready to peel the Spuddies today.

We have seen Arsenal struggling to get the attacking game going in the PL, but we also really loved our sturdiness at the back. Today we need both, attack and defence, to be at their best to secure the win and three points. It looks like the Spuds will play with two deeper midfielders, Sarr and Bissouma, with Son up-front. In between these three they are likely to play the creative, attacking trio of Maddison, Kulusevski and Solomon. We all know that Maddison has a good shot from distance and is good with set-pieces, Kulusevski has been a good signing for the Spuds and Son may well do well, especially now he is no longer in the shade of half-moon-faced Kane. I guess we will see Hojberg, more than a half-decent deep-laying midfielder, at the start or at some point later, too.

We need , as almost always, to control that midfield to win this game and I reckon today is the game we all start to appreciate Havertz a lot more. As Kev said in the previous post, Kai covers a lot of space and links up the lines as such. He has good defensive qualities too and passes the ball well. He will need to support Declan AND the Ode today as both will be targeted, no doubt.

I expect the following lineup:

——Ramsdale——-

Big Ben, Tequila, Big Gab, Zinch

——-DECLAN RICE——-

–Ode————Kai–

– BuKA—-Jesus—-Tross-

I only expect one change and that’s in goal.

Come On You Rip-Roaring Gunners!

By TotalArsenal.

103 thoughts on “Arsenal v Spurs Line-up and Preview: Just One Change | Kai, This is Your Day”

  • We almost always won this fixture in the past decades, regardless of form and table position.
    But what is even better, these are usually exciting, entertaining games, even for the independent spectators.

    This year both clubs have decent teams, great form, so we have every ingredients to see a remarkable North-London derby. Let’s keep the winning tradition alive.

    p.s. WordPress seems to be working well, at least for me (Firefox 117.0.1).

  • Nice preview, TA, as always.
    If you think Ramsdale will start in goal, is that because the nature of competition, or was Raya’s stint planned for only 2 consecutive games?

    I read somewhere that Trossard was not seen on the pictures of the Saturday training, so there is a chance that Nelson or Smith-Rowe might start.
    I sincerely hope that Havertz will score his first competitive goal for the club, which could help him winning over the harshest and hardest of fans.

  • Good preview, TA, to set the tone for the day.
    It is true the spuds are playing better than they have done under their last three managers, which has propelled them up the table and boosted their fans. On our part, we have also ground out wins (plus that unexpected draw against Fulham) and have only started to improve our fluidity, culminating in that scintillating display in midweek.

    The Spuds manager has, in a bit of gamesmanship, suggested he won’t change the way they have been playing, meaning they will go gung-ho and stay on the front foot; suggesting he was “going to scare the hell out of Arsenal”. I dare him to make it an open game at the emirates! The only way Spurs keep the scoreline decent is by being conservative and playing on the break. Anything else, it will be a bagful of goals against them. In any case, if we persist with how we know to play, keeping the ball, they would have little choice but to stay back and hit on the counter.

    We would need to be clinical, take our chances early and resist the natural urge to “hold what we have” to give them a chance to come out to attack our area. They still have some good players and new entrants who won’t be weighed down by the old derby nerves. This is where I agree with TA that we would need to sustain that balance we have had between attacking well and defending sturdily. I would love to see Ramsdale back in goal just to douse all the distracting talk; but David Raya looks a likely starter and it will be a good chance for us to see quite how good he would be for us when facing a real test. We already know how good Ramsdale can be. We would need possession with the help of the keeper, which is the area where Raya is that bit better than Ramsdale, no sentiments. All said , we do have two fine keepers and with the number of games we’d get to play, they will get a lot of game time. We have David Raya’s parent club in the Carabao cup midweek and if Ramsdale plays the NLD, he, Raya, may get the nod midweek.

    We need to keep up with the City juggernaut so a win is paramount.

    COYG!!!

  • Thanks PB, I think Arteta rates them both and Aaron just deserves this game.

    A start for Vieira or ESR is also conceivable, PB. If Trossard is not fully fit or Arteta believes somebody else should get the chance, this could happen. Martinelli could even start, it appears

  • As for my views about the starting 11, I feel we should see two changes from what you have suggested, TA; David Raya in goal and Declan Rice for Havertz, with Jorginho playing deep midfield. That’s what I would do, but Arteta probably would go with Havertz. 🤷🏽‍♂️

  • Except that is about keeping up with Citeh. This is a big game and we want to win for the North London based Gooners especially. For bragging rights.

    We need to play our own game this season and not look at Citeh. Do our utmost and see where we end up. Leave the ‘Arsenal need to keep up with Citeh’ narrative to the press. We will not get distracted to our (OGAAT) cause!!!

  • I hear you, TA. That narrative conflicts with the OGAAT principle. Having said that, it is about competing though, right? Looks like Trossard is injured as Nketiah starts upfront with GJ9 and Saka on the flanks. Oh dear. Wanted Trossard to be a part of this so badly.

    Well, it is all good.

  • 22 Raya
    4 White
    2 Saliba
    6 Gabriel
    35 Zinchenko
    41 Rice
    21 Vieira
    8 Odegaard (c)
    7 Saka
    9 Jesus
    14 Nketiah
    Substitutes
    1 Ramsdale
    17 Cedric
    18 Tomiyasu
    15 Kiwior
    20 Jorginho
    25 Elneny
    10 Smith Rowe
    24 Nelson
    29 Havertz

    From Arsenal.com

    GN5

  • Wow again no start for Aaron. You were right Eris.

    I like our attack today. Big game for Vieira. Let’s hope he will show some of the steel of his name sake. 🙂

  • 1-0 to the Arsenal! Own goal but we will take that. Now, we need to keep at it till they give up on a come back.

  • We have had two opportunities to punish them as we hunt them down in a high press. Gabby Jesus need not smash that ball; either side of the keeper and it would have been 2-0.

  • It was an eventful half of football. One thing is for sure, Ange Postecoglu has given them confidence to play and believe in their style of football. We could easily have been 2 or 3 goals up had Nketiah first, and then Gabby been more composed, while Nketiah had oprutinities to be stronger and purposeful on the ball but he has been sloppy, to be fair; he lost the ball in a forward momentum we had, for the Spurs equaliser.

    As a matter of fact, there was a period of all-round sloppiness before that equaliser. We need to take our chances when they come. I think that we are allowing them make us play to their tempo. We need to really go after them and still defend well, to win this game.

    Studio analysts saying Raya could have pushed that save out for the corner kick, but that’s just to be expected. At least, they acknowledge his very good save though.

    Second half to come.

  • Declan Rice must have picked up a knock. He is off, along with Vieira, for Jorginho and Kai Havertz.

  • 2-2! Right after our going ahead. I didn’t even get to see that one by Son. I said it before, composure is lacking.

  • Truth be told, Spurs look an improved team but we had them against the ropes in the first half and may have gone on to win it well, had we not lacked composure at the critical moments. I can’t rule out midweek exertions having an impact on our physical levels; man city, Man U and Newcastle were also in midweek action but won their games, against not so accomplished opponents and certainly not derbies, it must be said.
    An apparent injury to Declan Rice and Saka looking off form (I know he had a hand in both goals, but you get my drift; he is better than what he showed) didn’t help our cause either, in the second half. These are two key players now; Bukayo was limping badly and avoided going forward right before he was subbed off. I do hope those injuries aren’t as serious as they looked or we would be down to our second choice players; hence, the need to keep every player in tune.

    Starting both Eddie and Jesus didn’t work a treat today; we may have gone with Reiss and Jesus first, with Reiss starting from the right and Saka from the left to throw them off their tactics. Saka never really got the measure of the tigerish defending of Udogie the spurs left back, who seemed ready for the fight. It was even more disappointing to see how Saka has not just gone on to terrorize him further after he was booked. Rice’s departure affected Odegaard, it would seem.

    We move on to the next game.

  • David Raya was brought in and fielded over Ramsdale because of his better feet and distribution. I am not sure what he did that could have been better than what Ramsdale would have given us. He hoofed the ball in similar situations as Ramsdale would and kicked out of play more times than I have seen with Ramsdale. Not nit picking but felt it needed saying.

  • Eris, I cannot understand why you are mainly talking about Bukayo, who clearly as our most effective andsuccessful player on the day. Every team have tactics in place to nullify him and was up against a strong LB, yet he delivered on both goals, helped out in defence and was involved throughout the game and gave his all.

    There were a few players who would deserve a more critical assessment, but not Bukayo.

  • TA, critical assessment is not what I would call what I was doing there and I mentioned quite a few other names up there, no? With Udogie on a yellow card, the team should have created overloads around the right wing to force the LB into errors or another caution. Saka had a few one-on-ones with him but held back from really burning him. He has ran better defenders ragged so it may be down to fatigue for him or, midweek exertions. I had to make the observation is all.

    He is our most effective player, of that there is no doubt and I expressed concern he may have copped an injury.

  • In the story of another derby, Atletico has beaten Real Madrid in the Madrid derby, stopping their unbeaten run in La Liga.

  • Nope, I can’t log on via my old iPad and I can’t log onto ArsenalArsenal either so I won’t be posting as often and certainly not during matches.
    The WordPress changes make that impossible, but I’ll still do the prediction quiz…

    Disappointing result in the end, we lacked the cutting edge we displayed vs PSV, Arteta has gotta do some serious work on our finishing because it’s going to cost us in the end

  • No Eris, you were only critical of Saka in that comment, which was disproportionate imo. Saka definitely tried to ‘burn’ his opponent, but he was a great match to him DESPITE being on a yellow. Yet Bukayo delivered so I don’t understand why you had to focus on him rather than the poor Jesus, Vieira or Nketiah for example. It’s was and is just an observation.

  • Comment from J who is also struggling to post…

    Meanwhile please post this comment for me.. thanks

    I would’ve started Nelson as a true wide forward.. Eddie could’ve come on late for Jesus at CF with some energy.
    As usual, we smothered them with our press for most of the first half, yet we only got 1 goal to show for it…
    — and it was on a big deflection. By rights, we could even have had nothing to show for all that dominance.

    Until we start putting away chances with our early dominance, we won’t be in for the title… champions league is always a possibility as a trophy, because we are one of the best clubs in Europe… but we won’t match city over 38 games unless we beat them TWICE ourselves.

    We played without our most productive player (TROSSARD), Martinelli, Partey, Rice for 1 half or just part of the first half that he was able to play…. and still it took a bad mistake from Jorginho for them to get a draw.
    Perspective.

  • All agreed re cutting edge, Kev and J. I am also concerned that we haven’t had a clean sheet at home this season. Are we too adventurous? The space behind Jorginho when he lost the ball was enormous… And that after we just scored. That was so poor.

  • Competition results.

    For the week.

    1st Total with 5/6 plus 2 correct scores and share of most correct predictions =10 points
    2nd PB with 5/6 plus 1 correct score and share of most correct predictions = 8 points
    3rd OX10 & Stuart with 5/6 plus share of most correct predictions = 6 points
    5th GN5 with 4/6 plus 1 correct score = 6 points
    6th Kev with 3/6 plus 1 correct score = 5 points
    7th Eris with 3/6 = 3 points
    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
    Season to date.

    1st Stuart with 35.00
    2nd Total with 34.00
    3rd OX10 with 30.00
    4th PB with 29.33
    5th Eris with 27.33
    6th GN5 with 27.00
    7th Kev with 22.33
    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
    Just how I hoped it would be only 12.67 points separate the group – very competitive.
    Total had surged to within 1 point of the lead – I think he wants to win the shirt?

  • Next weekends predictions.

    Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion *
    Everton v Luton Town *
    Manchester United v Crystal Palace *
    Wolverhampton v Manchester City *
    Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool *
    Almería v Granada *

  • Kev, On my system I’m now asked if I want to post on FB or WP – I click WP and it asks for my email and one more click and I enter my password, then I just click reply and for all subsequent posts I only have to click reply.

  • Yeah, I can do that on my iPhone 8, GN5 as it’s fairly up to date, but my iPad is about 8 years old and WP doesn’t work on it and I tend to do most of my blogging on my iPad.
    Thanks anyway

  • I have to agree with J. I would also observe that Rice going off affected the balance and equilibrium of the team. I was surprised at the decision to replace Fabio at the same time as the forced decision to replace Declan which meant that we started the second half with two midfielders in key positions. Kai wasn’t as effective yesterday but neither were a number of our players in the second half.

  • Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion * 2-1
    Everton v Luton Town * 2-0
    Manchester United v Crystal Palace * 1-0
    Wolverhampton v Manchester City * 1-3
    Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool * 2-2
    Almería v Granada * 1-1

  • Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion * 2-2
    Everton v Luton Town * 2-0
    Manchester United v Crystal Palace * 2-1
    Wolverhampton v Manchester City * 0-3
    Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool * 1-1
    Almería v Granada * 1-1

  • The thing is Total my friend, although my iPad is circa 2015 there’s actually nothing at all wrong with it, it’s just the corrupt Silicone Valley built-in and dishonest obsolescence and I’m not really in a position atm to pass on anymore of my hard earned dough to some Billionaire socialist living in a mansion in California…

    What about saving the planet eh?
    What about making things to last?
    Never let that get in the way of Big Tech making even more money…

  • The other thing, Kev, is that we on BK enjoy a regular dose of Kevprose. My morning reading consists principally of the three B’s: Bible, Beeb and Bergkampesque. Not to overstate things but taking the Kev out of BK is somewhat akin to taking the Psalms out of the Good Book.

    And btw, is it time for me to give you the keys back for your taxi? GN5 has you propping up the rest of us…
    Well done, Total. Is that a whiff of Heineken I can detect on the breath on the back of my neck?

    Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2
    Everton v Luton Town 2-0
    Manchester United v Crystal Palace 1-0
    Wolverhampton v Manchester City 0-2
    Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool 2-2
    Almería v Granada 0-1

  • All agreed, Kev. It’s terrible. We have a great ipad like that too. Solid as a Trabant, nothing wrong with, but the capitalists need to keep reinventing the dream.

  • Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion * H 3-2
    Everton v Luton Town * H 1-0
    Manchester United v Crystal Palace * H 3-0
    Wolverhampton v Manchester City * A 1-5
    Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool * A 1-3
    Almería v Granada * D 0-0

  • I don’t want to intrude on your conversation HOWEVER.
    If we did not have progress we would still be stuck in the dark ages.
    I come from an era where the conditions in our house looked like this:-

    No running water.
    No electricity.
    No bathroom (hence tin bath) with water brought up in buckets from the scullery in the basement and heated over the fire.
    One toilet for two families (of 10 people.)
    Toilet paper cut up newspaper.
    Heating by coal fire.
    Cooking done in a stove heated by the fire.
    Radio for news and entertainment.
    Washing done by hand and hung in back yard to dry (it froze in the winter)

    I could go on and on but the point is where would we all be without progress.
    I love progress and try hard not to get behind – but it does get harder and harder to keep up with the technological changes. Fortunately my children are tech wizards.

    But I do agree with Total that your posts will be sorely missed.

  • I lost a really long comment in limbo, so you all dodged the bullet. 🙂
    I was trying to defend my brother Eris – not that he needed that – about focusing on the Saka criticism.

    My point in summary was that while Saka wasn’t any worse than the team average, he wasn’t any better either (2nd highest being dispossessed from the 30 players, made some uncharacteristically poor decisions on the ball, lost Maddison way too easily before the equalizer). And while every other player on the pitch received their fair share of blame during the broadcast and in the post-game articles or player ratings – apart from Saliba, who happened to have a truly great game – (imagine a long list of Arsenal players and critical feedback here), Saka had the narrative of being the sole hero of the squad despite the somewhat lucky deflection (OK, he was indeed calm slotting the penalty, but that’s the bare minimum).

    So the reason to criticise Saka and ONLY Saka here is not because he was particularly poor against Tottenham, but because he isn’t untouchable, even though it surprisingly often seems that he is.

    Damn, even my synoptical comments are really long!

  • Hah GN5, all agreed and yet with all that kapitalist progress we entered the brink of extinction and our kids are sad, scared and angry about the world they inherited of us.

  • Yeah PB, I have noticed your critical stance on Saka over the years. I guess not everyone can love him. 😕

    Re Saka losing Maddison…. Where was our full back at that moment? Saka will cover but White was not positioned well.

  • Total,

    That was the brink of extinction I was describing – it was during WW11 we had air raid siren’s going off on nightly which caused us to rush to the Caledonian Road underground station for shelter. The next morning we would go home wondering if we had a home to go to. We all inherited a Nazi free Briton due to the bravery of our armed forces, I will NEVER forget that or the family members that we lost. It was an awful time to grow up and a period that shaped your life forever.

    I personally cherish every moment life has to give me – of course everything is not perfect – but it’s way. way better than hiding from bombs and rockets. Dwelling on the things that are not what one would hope them to be achieves nothing.

    My little sermon is over.

  • Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion * H (3-0)
    Everton v Luton Town * H (2-1)
    Manchester United v Crystal Palace * D (2-2)
    Wolverhampton v Manchester City * A (1-3)
    Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool * A (2-3)
    Almería v Granada * D (1-1)

  • Great stuff, GN5. Frozen washing! Closest I got to those conditions growing up was having only rolled up newspaper for shinpads. I did lose my grandfather tho’, in the Italian campaign. 15 years before I was born so I never met him. I have his documents which are family treasures.

    In defence of our Ben, he does an astonishing amount of overlapping and getting back every time would require an engine no human is capable of.

  • Great stuff, GN5. Frozen washing! Closest I got to those conditions growing up was having only rolled up newspaper for shinpads. I did lose my grandfather tho’, in the Italian campaign. 15 years before I was born so I never met him. I have his documents which are family treasures.

    In defence of our Ben, he does an astonishing amount of overlapping and getting back every time would require an engine no human is capable of.

  • Yes GN5, World War II left an indelible mark on the generation that lived through it particularly if they’d also lived through the War to End all Wars.

    The National Socialists and their friends the Soviet Union carved up Poland, and the Communists continued to support the Nazis with raw materials until they turned on each other, two bastards from the same mother, both loved a gulag, both controlled their media’s, both ran one party states complete with a vicious secret police, Gestapo, NKVD, spot the difference? Both murdered millions.

    Our youngsters have many issues for sure, but I remember the Cuban missile crisis, I remember my parents looking afraid and I couldn’t understand why. Yes we have many issues, both genuine and otherwise,.

  • GN5, thanks for the report. That was quite the jump by TA….. and PB, for that round. Good job, fellas.

    It is hotting up.

  • Wow, Kev. That’s sticking to your guns right there. Recall I had the same challenge a couple of years ago; I rather gave in to the need for an upgrade as I need my device as a work tool as well.

    Technology has transformed the way we do things, but there was a time when good tech was building things to last. In the present age, that’s all changed with the commercialisation of everything and products having been rigged to go obsolete after a few years, while the billionaire tech companies’ owners get richer. Tech is a two edged knife that has its good and the bad side, I guess.

  • Come on, TA. How can anyone not love Saka?
    However, that shouldn’t cloud our assessment, should it? I kind of assumed that regardless of our inevitable biases the aim should be the objective view. And you are partly right, that it should have been White’s main responsibility to guard the left wing, especially as it was not a blitz counterattack, but the Spurs players have been around our box for quite some time for Ben to come back. Yet, it was Saka facing Maddison, and Bukayo lost James way too easily, especially for a former fullback/wingback. That doesn’t make Saka the main culprit, as indeed he could have received more support from White, and our central defenders could have isolated Son a lot more; only an observation. An unbiased one.

    By the way you brought a very important point on Wednesday from JNYC, but I was kind of preoccupied with my access issues to respond. Despite my sympathy to Eddie I have to agree that in his current form and skills he adds more to the team as a super-sub, as he is simply more effective against tiring defenders. And the same way Wenger made recurring mistakes by trying to squeeze both Lacazette and Aubameyang (our two most expensive signing at the time) into the same line-up, similarly it is just not working with Jesus and Nketiah from the start. We needed Nelson’s direct approach, and Vieira was more ineffective than Havertz ever, so Mikel shares some of the responsibility of losing points against Tottenham for the second time in the last 8 home PL fixtures. But I guess he is also untouchable…

  • My predictions fir the selection follows:

    Aston Villa v Brighton * 3-2
    Everton v Luton Town * 2-0
    Manchester United v Crystal Palace * 2-1
    Wolverhampton v Manchester City * 1-3
    Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool * 1-2
    Almería v Granada * 1-1

  • Well said, PB. Saka is my boy; our star boy and the desire is to see him at his best always as his role/form is key to our success, usually.

    He was stepped on a lot and limped for long periods in that game; maybe that was responsible for his effort (lack of it) for that Maddison incident.

  • …… And I do expect a couple of academy youngsters on the bench. Ethan Nwaneri to have a cameo too, the venue being the site of his record setting EPL debut.

    Hopefully, he gets a longer stint so we can see just how ready he is for the big time.

  • I’m going to go along with my Francophile ami from the land of William the Bastard: this is what he suggested and I concur.

    Ramsdale
    Cedric, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Sousa
    Jorginho, Elneny
    Nelson, Havertz, Smith Rowe
    Nketiah

    Eris, unfortunately Big Tech has us over a barrel and like you my friend I’ll be forced to invest in another piece of hard wear to be able to continue my past time.

  • Mikel likes to surprise us and if he’s thinking of playing Ramsdale against Bournemouth:

    Hein
    Soares Tomiyasu Gabriel Kiwior
    Elneny
    Havertz Vieira
    Nelson Jesus ESR

  • Eris, when considering our growing injury list and with three big games in nine days from this Saturday, I think it would be daft not to have at least three or four of our best academy players in the squad – and to use them if the circumstances allow it.

  • Hey GN5, have you noticed that there is (was) a Manchester United vs Crystal Palace game in the Carabao Cup yesterday, and an identical fixture in the PL round at the weekend?

    I assume the prediction challenge is about the latter as all other game from the list take place in the campaign. But would you consider if someone guessed the correct score of the cup game, not the PL match?

  • It never struck me PB as the games I select are always weekend games and are posted as such. Usually 5 EPL games and one random. However it was a strange coincidence.

  • Kev, one of my (many) cousins has been a London black cabbie for over 50 years. He tells me that it’s not as much fun these days with restrictive speed limits and road closures however he’s still on the roads at 76 years old.

  • Arsenal: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Kiwior, Jorginho, Havertz, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Sagoe Jr, Nketiah

    Subs: Hein, Cedric, Sweet, Walters, Zinchenko, Elneny, Odegaard, Cozier-Duberry, Jesus

    Enjoy the game

  • Just seen the line-up for Arsenal and other than Sagoe Jnr for Vieira, I did get quite close.

    Yes, I know. Who the Vieira is Sagoe Jnr.?

  • I hope I’m still driving a cab at 76 GN5, good on your cousin and he’s right about the roads in London, Sadiq Khan has been appalling but after Boris Johnson I guess he’ll be the leader of his party one day – and good luck with that..,

  • Kev, guess you have to do what you have to do, mate.
    You also were spot on with the academy lads on show. Pity, Nwaneri didn’t make the cut though.
    Couzier – Dubbery, we know. Walters, we know. I ask again, who is Sagoe Jnr.?

  • Oh, thanks, Kev. Never really heard of him (though I read many names when I follow the games of the academy boys.

    Let’s hope he is good and gets us a goal.

  • Well PB, maybe you are a tat jealous of young Bukayo and so fel the need to pick. I am certain there is a lot of bias when it comes to Saka, including on this blog. He was trice MoTM in the PL already but he gets seldom or never praised, yet when he makes a (debateble) mistake people pick on him. Funny that.

  • Well done Eris with your predicted starting eleven.

    Sounds like the boys are putting in a shift, and Nelson will love to have scored.

    A goal for Kai would be great.

  • Yeah, it would be, TA, but that would be if only he shows the hunger when the chances present themselves. He has already struck a shot against a Brentford defender; I thought he delayed his shot to allow that block. Also had a moment to turn and be in on goal but chose to pass backwards, as he is wont to do.

    Nketiah has been in the wars, it must be said.

  • We had a dominant first half but the hosts have come out in aggressive fashion in the second half. There will be more of same till we silence them with a second goal. As I type that they have had a blocked shot.

    Game is changing against us now, but we defend manfully.

  • Ramsdale has saved a shot against the post….. It is a barrage of Brentford attack now. We look leggy, tired even..

    I wanted a bit more from Nelson, who got the goal, but he has so matured in his game, he doesn’t take risks anymore.

  • Arteta brings on Jesus and Zinchenko for Sago Jnr and Ben White. Helps to get a bit of control back.

    Nelson misses a chance to make it 2-0.

    Zinchenko then misplaces a pass but the Brentford chap shoots high over the goal.

  • Kiwior saves on the line. We need to be on game management mode now, since we have rarely tried to increase our lead.

    Elneny came on earlier and so did Odegaard. Now, Nketiah is off for Cedric. We are sending a message to the players here….. Defend the one goal. What’s the rule? Extra time, penalties or a replay?

  • Brentford are taller. Cedric may not be my idea of a sub at a time like this though. These guys have been launching it forward.

  • Ramsdale is cheeky and enjoys the banter with thfans behind his goal. When he makes a save, he has time to look behind at the fans.

    Full time. 0-1, Arsenal. Not a easy second half but the lads seemed up for the onslaught.

  • Thought that Sagoe Jr tended to stay too wide, hugging the touch line – maybe he was playing to orders to occupy Hickey?

    Did a couple of nice things on the ball but he needs to get into the gym and work on his upper body as he was eased off of the ball very easily.

  • Nelson and Tomiyasu both had stand out games in two or three different positions and Gabriel was massive.
    Brentford are as tough as they come and they had a strong team out so we did really well, particularly controlling the game and keeping the crowd quiet.

  • Brentford were always going to create chances but despite the mayhem I never thought that we was going to concede.

    West Ham (a) is going to be tough but Arsenal should get a good log of tickets so I’m hopeful of finally getting to see a game in the Olympic Stadium. 🤞

  • Neither did I, Kev (think we would concede). It just felt like that sort of game..

    So, it is West Ham away next, eh? That will be some game.

  • Not sure not having predictions is going to make a lot of difference GN5 😉

    Aston Villa vs Brighton….1-3
    Everton vs Luton Town.. 2-1
    Man Utd vs C Palace..… 2-2
    Wolves vs Man City.…… 0-4
    Tottenham vs Liverpool.. 3-1
    Almería vs Granada.…….2-1

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