Arsenal have almost played 1/3 PL games and so we should be able to come to some early conclusion about our chances this season. The Spuds and Aston Villa are hanging in there, but I expect the title race to become a three-horse one over the next 8-10 games. Pool have almost got identical stats to Arsenal, with just one more goal scored (27 v 26), equal number of goals conceded (10) and equal number of games won, lost and drawn (8-1-3). Citeh are one point above us with nine wins, one draw and two losses. They scored six more than Arsenal but also conceded two more.
Citeh have to play Pool, Spuds and Villa in the next three rounds, and this may give us an opportunity to move above them. Of course there is no such thing as an easy game in the PL, and the best thing to do is simply focusing on our own games on an OGAAT basis. Pool, who have a decent set of games coming up after they have played Citeh on Saturday, have, like Arsenal, a good opportunity to collect a lot of points in the next six+ games. They may well become our nearest rivals for a while.
After three inter-lulls, the season will now truly start and it’s Hammer-time as they used to say in F1 races when Lewis Hamilton had a car he could compete in. Arteta and the boys will need to get the bit between their teeth and power forward.
The first 12 games have shown that we can defend very well, although for some reason we have let in goals at home too often. If the team can get this right, then the defence is as strong as any in the PL, and give us a real edge. I thought they were awesome and against the Oil-dripping Barcodes this month.
Midfield is getting stronger and stronger and Rice-baby has just been a joy to watch. A fit Thomas Partey would be very, very welcome, especially when we play Pool at the end of December. Jorginho adds a lot to the team and I somehow feel that Kai will start settling in next month. The big question is whether the Ode can get back to his best and shrug off his injuries now: let’s flipping hope so!
Attack has been a bit of an issue at times. We lack a bit of bite up-front at times, or is it fluency? When Jesus plays we certainly have an extra dimension to our attack; something Eddie just struggles to offer to us. But Gabriel looks now injury-prone and a title-winning team needs a CF who can play week in, week out. Eddie has still done a very good job, and so has my favourite, the versatile Trossard. If we can add a fine CF in January then that would be the icing on the proverbial, of course.
Finally, I would like to talk about Arsenal finest guns on show: Bukayo and Martinelli. They have not had as good a service as they got during last season with Odegaard and Xhaka just brilliantly spreading the ball as they saw fit. This season, at times, we have looked static, lack creativity and are too slow as a result. Still, Saka and Martinelli have given us an edge in almost all games and the better the service they will get – and that includes movement and continuous threat from our CF – the more they will shine.
So my question to you, fine fellow Gooners, is what would you like Arteta to do to get the balance right in our attacking game so we can start scoring more goals (especially against the park the bus/ low block teams)?
TotalArsenal
Bergkampesque 
TA,
So many points I agree with as usual. I thought Liverpool would be better than last season, but it looks like Klopp is resilient with new faces. They must be considered title challengers again, though I had expected it to be a 2 horse race between Arsenal and City as we came into the season.
No doubt United with their terrible money culture (like Chelsea) will fall apart a few times. How else could it be with a captain like Bruno and an arrogant, overrated manager.
Newcastle/Stoke are not title material, and Spurs used up a seasons worth of luck in the first 10 games.
Trossard is my favorite in the middle, at false 9 also, and should share some wing time with Martinelli who expends so much energy compared to Saka, and needs breaks. Basically, more match minutes for Leandro.
So I’ve reworded most of TAs thoughts… but he did make a point I hadn’t been thinking of yet… that being how Xhaka is missed, not for his goals, but more for his consistent, accurate forward passing … in the middle third and final third, he was relentless that way in driving us forward.
I still think Havertz can be pushed to go for goals a lot more, and can eventually be a winner of an acquisition, but he won’t be exactly as good in the less obvious parts of the game. I’m supporting him because he’s working hard in midfield, even if not scoring, yet. He is going to test Arteta’s skill as a teacher of attackers, but he has a great track record.
The team is settling into a more together unit Total and you are correct to point out that the attack has been somewhat lacking. However very few of our games this season have shown us the overall growth that we need with many games having been a scramble. The flowing football we witnessed last season has sadly been missing – although we do see it – but only in spurts. I look forward to the time when can dominate our competition and not win by a scrappy outcome.
Last weeks competition results:-
For the week:-
1st Stuart with 4/6 plus 1 correct score and most correct predictions = 10 points
2nd Total & Eris 3/6 = 3 points
4th GN5 and Kev with 2/6 = 2 points
6th PB – No predictions received.
“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Season to date :-
1st Total with 71.13
2nd Stuart with 69.80
3rd Eris with 66.46
4th PB with 60.66
5th GN5 with 52.80
6th Kev with 49.13
“”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Next weekend selections:-
Manchester City v Liverpool *
Newcastle United v Chelsea *
Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion *
Brentford v Arsenal *
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa *
Eintracht Frankfurt v VfB Stuttgart *
Thanks for the post, TA and you are spot on with most of your points, as always. I feel that what we lost in attacking fluidity of last season, we gained in defensive solidity (albeit, in the away games). Some of the defences have come to realize our strength is in the wing play and tend to double/triple up on Martinelli and Saka, but this would be an advantage if we had more slippery midfielders to distract the opposition, at times.
To take some pressure off the wingmen, we have missed the guile of Partey as he glides through midfield spraying passes long and into the channels for the equally nippy Odegaard and Gabby Jesus to cause the opposition problems. I guess what I am saying is injuries to Jesus, Partey, ESR and Odegaard, at various times, have not helped us much. Oh, to have all of them fit at the same time.
Total Arsenal posted: Still, Saka and Martinelli have given us an edge in almost all games and the better the service they will get – and that includes movement and continuous threat from our CF – the more they will shine.
Your quote above says it all. Odegaard and Gabby’s movements can take some pressure off Saka and Martinelli. Jorginho and Rice are not the sort of players who are always seeking to thread the ball into dangerous areas, as they are more of the “ball retention” ilk; it is always a joy to watch Rice make those mazy runs through the heart of midfield, though. No one does that better; it needs to improve in end result, however. We are competing, which is very important at this point in the season. To press our advantage and announce our ambition for the title this season, we would need to have our boys fit for much of the season. Here’s hoping Odegaard and Jesus return after the break, as speculated.
Thank you for the report, GN5.
My predictions for next weekend’s selections:
Manchester City v Liverpool * D 2-2
Newcastle United v Chelsea * H 2-1
Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion * D 2-2
Brentford v Arsenal * A 0-1
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa * D 1-1
Eintracht Frankfurt v VfB Stuttgart * A 2-3
Great comments, guys. Will get back to you soon. 🤗
GN5, thank you for another update. You are doing such a great job for us with this competition.
Well done to the Kiwi Gooner. Ten points is a fine achievement. I doff my 🧢
All three of our boys started the game for Brazil who lost 1-0, at home, to Argentina. Not a good result as it gives Brazil a mountain to climb, in getting qualification to the world cup.
Gabby Jesus looked fit enough playing all game, and so did Martinelli until he was subbed off at about the 80th. Just happy to have Gabby back fit; but Brazil need to do better as a team.
Manchester City v Liverpool * A (1-2)
Newcastle United v Chelsea * H (2-0)
Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion * A (1-3)
Brentford v Arsenal * A (2-3)
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa * A (1-3)
Eintracht Frankfurt v VfB Stuttgart * A (1-3)
WP woke up Total.
Still doing strange things but at least I can post.
I’ve only received predictions from Eris and myself.
Hope this gets through…
Manchester City v Liverpool 2-2
Newcastle United v Chelsea 1-0
Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2
Brentford v Arsenal 0-2
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa 1-1
Eintracht Frankfurt v VfB Stuttgart 0-1
Hi Total. Thanks for the post. I lost a couple of replies, I think due to my laptop having a tizzy fit.
Good question you pose, “What should Mikel do”?
He and his coaching team have innovated since last season. Defence, as you mentioned, is so improved, somewhat at the cost of the spontaneity and fluid attacking of last season. But pragmatism is not a dirty word.
Our offensive corners are bearing fruit, most goals scored from corners in the PL. We can admire the choreography of Ben Whites role in legitimate obstruction and the movement of the big boys at set pieces.
Declan fills me with joy. His form is superb and his demeanour on and off the pitch are a living epistle of how a top footballer should operate.
We need Martin fit. He is a sabreur, a ballerino, a chess grandmaster.
If we cannot see Jesus regularly starting, then I hope Mikel and Edu will sign a striker. It may be that young Martinelli can be a central striker, somewhat in the mould of Super Nic Anelka was for us.
My Sarah is in the UK at present. Her Dad passed last week. A finer Father in law I could not have wished for. He was a Londoner who went to Arsenal games with his Dad in the 50’s and early 60’s.
My condolence to your family, Stuart. Nothing like a good Father in-law. May his soul rest in peace.
Condolences**
Total & Kev, I’ve not received your predictions the tomorrows games. If you post them prior to kick off tomorrow I will include them.
My deepest condolences to Sarah and you, Stuart.
Manchester City v Liverpool * 2-2
Newcastle United v Chelsea * 1-1
Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion * 1-2
Brentford v Arsenal * 0-2
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa * 2-1
Eintracht Frankfurt v VfB Stuttgart *1-2
Sorry for your loss Stuart
Man City vs Liverpool….. 2-2
Newcastle vs Chelsea…. 2-1
Nottm F vs Brighton……. 2-1
Brentford vs Arsenal…… 0-1
Tottenham vs Aston V…. 3-1
Frankfurt vs Stuttgart…. 1-1
It was always going to be that kind of game where one goal was all that was in it. A late fixture where a consequential result was expected from the Etihad and all the pressure to go top.
Fitting that Kai Havertz got the only goal too, I think. Hopefully, he gets going soon.
Buzzing from the result.
Such an important win today, after a very mature performance. TotL baby!
Keeping in mind Brentford has only lost 2 of their last 22 home games… this was always going to be a difficult task. Fans usually underestimate opponents like this because they’re not a sexy team that provides much attacking threat… but 3 points there is a big accomplishment. Happy for Kai.
Brentford are so well drilled, I have to admire them. Huge credit to our boys who, despite not being in top gear hung in there and got the points their efforts deserved. Happy for Kai but I feel deeply for Aaron, brilliant last season, short listed for the Yashin award, loved by his team mates, fans and admired by opposition, and now confidence dented and seemingly on the out. I guess Leno got the short shift before him, and ruthlessness in management is not that unusual, but I am saddened by the treatment he seems to have received.
New, Post 📯