An Attacking Monster, More effective Zinchenko and much more Fluidity in Attack: 8 Quick Observations

TotalArsenal

A very quick and to the point post, today.

Eight Observations:

  1. Arteta and the team have worked hard to change our attacking play. Rather than buy, the manager has opted for a different approach; and although I would welcome an extra attacker, I love it that Arteta is putting up a big finger to all those so called experts who just keep telling us that: ‘Arteta need a proper forward’.
  2. Of course, after every game in which we don’t score (enough) goals the pundits will tell us all how much we miss a world-class forward, but making the goal scoring a team responsibility goes also a very long way. We become less predictable and dependable on the one player, and in the long run this may still be our big advantage.
  3. What was really different was the movement up-front. Bukayo was seen a lot more in central attack and Jesus ventured more right than I ever saw him do before. Our attacking play was much more fluid and unpredictable and I liked it.
  4. The inclusion from the start of Trossard made sense. Leandro takes his chances well whereas Martinelli has been wasteful this season, and it was not surprising that it was the Belgian Zombie who scored the first goal in open play. A pass from the right by the busy bumble bee from the right offered a great opportunity to the Tross: rather than shoot straightaway he manoeuvred himself with the ball into the best possible position after which he scored very composed. That’s the way aha aha I like it.
  5. Bukayo is still not firing from all cylinders, but he carries such a threat from the right that opposition teams will leave space on the left, and this time we made much more use of it. The Zinch is a much better player when he does not have to defend in deep positions a lot, and on Saturday he really helped the Ode with spreading the game to both sides, whilst also carrying a threat through the middle. This was one of the better games from the Ukrainian rocket.
  6. The two set-piece goals were beautiful to watch. They were well-planned, positional little chess games and Big Gab looked like a monster of an attacker. He scored two goals, even though for some strange reason he was denied the second one because the keeper was deemed to have scored an own goal. Bizarre!!
  7. I really like it that we did not stop playing after the third goal. Martinelli benefited from this to the max with two finely taken goals which will do his confidence a world of good. Of course, Palace, who started so disciplined, gave us a ridiculous amount of space to play in at the end of the game, and they were punished for it; but it was still good to see our hunger for goals lasting the whole game.
  8. Finally, it was good to get a clean sheet again at home. We have not had many of them and it is important to aim for one each and every game. So, all together a fine game and result, and Arsenal can build on this going foward.

By TotalArsenal.

262 thoughts on “An Attacking Monster, More effective Zinchenko and much more Fluidity in Attack: 8 Quick Observations”

  • Nice. Perceptive and encouraging. Total to a T. Thanks mate.
    Our Zinnie has something of Liverpool’s Trent about him. A fine passer of the ball but a little suspect in defending. I should be interested to see Timber come in at left back and our Ukrainian form a midfield partnership with Declan and Martin.
    I saw one camera angle which showed Big Gab’s header was actually going across the goal rather than into it, hence an own goal was the correct call.
    A lot of fans missed those last two very Thierryesque goals, leaving early to miss the queues for the tube. Shame, they were such lovely counter attacks, as was the move which led to Leandro’s goal.
    Looking forward to the Forest game. Fellow Kiwi Chris Woods is hitting his straps up front for them. His sister plays in midfield for our Kerikeri woman’s team.

  • Nice accurate write up Total. We were always in control, but that’s been the way in the games we lost. However Big Gabs goals changed everything and we then went into overdrive in offense and retained a stout defense. It was also god to see the little Gab score a brace as he did indeed need to raise his confidence level. An easy game to watch for a change with one “but” – a top team will not give up as easily as Bournemouth.

  • Last weekend’s results.

    For the weekend :-

    1st Stuart with 5/6 plus most correct predictions = 9 points
    2nd GN5 with 3/6 plus 1 correct score = 5 points
    3rd Total with 4/6 and Kev with 2/6 and 1 correct score = 4 points
    5th PB with 3/6 = 3 points
    6th Eris with 1/6 = 1 point
    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
    Season to date :-

    1st Stuart – 112.80
    2nd Eris – 112.79
    3rd Total – 112.13
    4th PB – 102.99
    5th GN5 – 84.80
    6th Kev – 77.46

    That’s amazing – Stuart comes roaring back leaving the top two separated by only .01 and the top three separated by just .67 – with PB less than 10 points behind. Thank goodness for having a spreadsheet to keep the numbers aligned. I will conduct an audit just to make sure that I have not made any input errors, when complete I will publish the results of my audit.

    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
    Next weekends selections and my predictions:-

    Everton v Luton Town * H (3-1)
    Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle * H (3-0)
    Leicester City v Birmingham City * D (2-2)
    Fulham v Newcastle United * A (1-3)
    West Brom v Wolves * D (2-2)
    FC Union Berlin v Darmstadt 98 H (1-0)

    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

  • Here’s the results of my audit :-

    Week 5 – Only gave GN5 2 points for most correct predictions.
    instead of 4 points.

    Week 6 – Only gave Total, Stuart & PB 1 point for most
    correct predictions instead of 1.33.

    Week 7 – Only gave GN5, Eris & PB 1 point for most
    correct predictions instead of 1.33.
    ”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Here are the corrected season to date standings :-

    1st Stuart – 113.13
    2nd Eris – 113.12
    3rd Total – 112.46
    4th – PB 103.65
    5th – GN5 – 87.13
    6th – Kev – 77.46

    Strangely the standings and the separations in the top three remain the same. I wonder what the standings would like if PB had not missed three weeks of predictions?
    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

  • Spot on with the article, TA and positive, as always (not that there was anything to be negative about with that performance).

    I feel Bukayo Saka would start to fire soon enough, now that Martinelli has led the way with that brace; I hope they can both have a goals competition going, while retaining team play. That way, they can both bring out the best in one another. Perhaps, Arteta can keep Martinelli’s hunger by bringing him on from the bench more often; Trossard needs to be playing more regularly and so does ESR.

    One curious observation I made during the game is how Arteta withdraws for the set piece coach to take centre stage, whenever we have to take or defend a set piece. Never seen that anywhere. Does it, somehow, remind the players of the training ground routines, or is there a decision for some responsibility accounting? Someone needs to as Arteta.
    If we can win at Forest, it is fair to say we are back and ready for Liverpool.

  • Thanks for the game update, GN5. That was a roaring come back by Stuart and a reversal of fortunes for me.
    I need a winter break in sunny UAE….. 😜

  • Everton vs Luton Town * H (2-0)
    Leeds United vs Plymouth Argyle * H (4-1)
    Leicester City vs Birmingham City * H (2-0)
    Fulham vs Newcastle United * D (1-1)
    West Brom vs Wolves * H (2-0)
    FC Union Berlin vs Darmstadt * H (1-0)

  • Everton vs Luton Town…..2-1
    Leeds Utd vs Plymouth….3-2
    Leicester vs Birminghm…3-0
    Fulham vs Newcastle…….2-1
    West Brom vs Wolves……2-2
    FC Union vs Darmstadt…2-0

  • Morning all.

    I’m missing predictions from Total, Eris and Stuart – unless you are letting Kev and myself an opportunity to catch up? LOL

  • Everton v Luton Town * 2-0
    Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle 3-0
    Leicester City v Birmingham City 3-0
    Fulham v Newcastle United 1-2
    West Brom v Wolves 0-2
    FC Union Berlin v Darmstadt 98 3-1

  • Nice to be called a “continent”. We always acknowledge Australia as a small island off our coast.

    “Everton v Luton Town 2-0
    Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle 2-1
    Leicester City v Birmingham City 2-0
    Fulham v Newcastle United 1-2
    West Brom v Wolves 1-2
    FC Union Berlin v Darmstadt 98 3-1

  • My predictions for the weekend’s selections:

    Everton v Luton Town * D (1-1)
    Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle * H (4-1)
    Leicester City v Birmingham City * H (2-0)
    Fulham v Newcastle United * A (1-2)
    West Brom v Wolves * A (2-3)
    FC Union Berlin v Darmstadt 98 H (3-1)

  • I immediately thought that di Zerbi will be 1st choice as his successor but Alonso will be a candidate, not least him being an ex-player.

    Would love to see Gerrard get the job

  • My guess is it will be Alonso, seeing as he is coaching, relatively successfully, in Europe and had always shown promise to be a good manager.

    The job is pressure packed; reason why Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger would always hold a special place in the history of the EPL/game.

  • More like flightless bird syndrome, Total.
    Also love to see Stevie G get the job, Kev, but my cold one is on Alonso.
    Also fancy Basque boy Zubimendi in a red and white shirt.

  • Bayer Leverkusen hierarchy must be seething at the timing of this news as it could turn Alonso’s head in a manner that could disrupt their great season.

    Win the league and Leverkusen could look attractive to stay at, suddenly. Liverpool would have to pay big.

  • I would also prefer if Liverpool goes for Gerrard.
    And it would be even better if at some point Alonso gets to manage Arsenal…

  • Kido Taylor-Hart plays his first minutes since September for those non-league giants Bromley. Surely he should be in the Arsenal first team…

  • Morning all,

    Here are last weekend results:-

    1st Total with 4/6 plus 2 correct scores and share of most correct predictions = 9.33 points
    2nd Eris & Stuart with 4/6 & share of most correct predictions = 5.33 points
    4th GN5, Kev & PB with 2/6 and 1 correct score = 4 points.
    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Season to date:-

    1st Total with 121.79
    2nd Stuart with 118.46
    3rd Eris with 118.45
    4th PB with 107.65
    5th GN5 with 91.13
    6th Kev with 81.46
    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
    Next weekends selections:-

    Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace *
    Burnley v Fulham *
    Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers *
    Manchester United v West Ham United *
    Arsenal v Liverpool *
    VfL Bochum 1848 v FC Augsburg *
    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

  • Yeeya, looking good, Total. Impossible to tell the difference with that body double of yours.
    Lengthening your stride, mate. But I got ya’all scent in my nostrils and I ain’t nothing if I ain’t a hound dog.

  • Brighton vs C Palace……….3-1
    Burnley vs Fulham…………..2-2
    Chelsea vs Wolves………….3-0
    Man Utd vs West Ham…….3-1
    Arsenal vs Liverpool..……..3-0
    Bochum vs Augsburg…..…1-1

  • Watching Newcastle easily winning 3-0 at Villa Park, wheels coming off for Unai again?

  • Good to see Emile get a start this evening, had a very steady 1st 45, came close to scoring a couple of times, but faded a bit in the 2nd 45, not surprising but nice to see him involved again.

    Trossard looked sharp when he came on, I think he was unlucky not to start after his Palace performance.

    Rice and Gabriel came through safely, so everyone can relax.

  • It’s great when you’ve got no skin in the game, they can kick each other to pieces and I’ll lap it up. 😀

  • 10 minutes to go, Watkins had a 2nd goal narrowly disallowed for having a toenail offside

  • Total, the 1st 45 was a tad frustrating with everything being played at such a pedestrian pace but our control was complete, 2nd 45 it opened up a bit which helped us, but a game where the result was more important that the aesthetics as we build up for the crucial months of February, March and April where it’s all about getting the result. If Arteta can keep everyone fit then we have a good chance in what we have left to go for..,

  • Lino Sousa set to join Aston Villa, probably for a nominal fee but add-ons and sell-on clauses in the deal.

    His contract was up in the summer and he probably would have left anyway, so this way Arsenal get something in return.

    Transfermarket had him valued at €2million.

  • Stu, we play the Cruyff/Guardiola style but we’ve not got the prolific quality striker that City have or a de Bruyne type who can score out of nothing, I saw Bobby Pires sitting in the stands and he’d be perfect for this team.

    When faced with a block so low that it was in the Stands you can end up getting frustrated and make a mistake. Go a goal behind and it’s goodnight nurse, as we found out against West Ham and Villa.

    Frankly the ends justify the means and if Arsenal win anything a la George Graham then I’ll be at Islington Town Hall and the knockers can do one.

  • Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace * H (2-0)
    Burnley v Fulham * A (0-2)
    Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers * H (3-1)
    Manchester United v West Ham United * H (3-1)
    Arsenal v Liverpool * H (2-1)
    VfL Bochum 1848 v FC Augsburg * D (2-2)

  • Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace * H (3-2)
    Burnley v Fulham * A (1-2)
    Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers * H (2-0)
    Manchester United v West Ham United * D (1-1)
    Arsenal v Liverpool * A (0-2)
    VfL Bochum 1848 v FC Augsburg * A (1-2)

  • Thanks, GN5 for the report. Hahaha, Total. Love that video of your body double. It is really tight at the top now.

  • Kev, I agree with you, re our game at Forest. It was all about the result and with the hosts happy to just remain in their own half, it was always going to be that type of night. We do not have players to unlock the doors to such defenses, but we created a handful of scoring opportunities which, had they been taken, could have made for a more deserving scoreline.
    Liverpool will be more open but they do look increasingly confident and we’d have to be at our best to get the 3 points we need.

    Chelsea don’t look like doing us any favours to make the clash on Sunday a more thrilling prospect.

  • Here are my predictions for next weekend’s selections:

    Brighton v Crystal Palace * D 1-1
    Burnley v Fulham * H 2-1
    Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers * A 1-2
    Manchester United v West Ham United * D 2-2
    Arsenal v Liverpool * H 1-0
    VfL Bochum 1848 v FC Augsburg * D 1-1

  • Stu, I would be delighted to buy you a pint or three at the Famous Cock, Highbury Corner, along with my boys in tow and then you can join us as we follow the open top bus to the Town Hall, I’ll even pick you up at the airport.

  • Cheers Eris, it’s a hard watch at times but you need two teams having a go to get a game, Liverpool won’t pack their box, it’ll be a tough game, but we mustn’t lose.

  • Charles Sagoe Junior to join Patino at Swansea, funny how Sagoe Jnr, who had won his debut before Cozier Duberry is now going on loan whilst Amario’s future could be elsewhere?

  • Sounds a plan, Kev. “Your boys” being your sons? Or you local firm? Hope to be there in May. I have weddings booked into April, as soon as the last vow is uttered I’m on a plane.
    You going to the match on Sunday?

    Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace 2-2
    Burnley v Fulham 1-1
    Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0
    Manchester United v West Ham United 1-1
    Arsenal v Liverpool 2-1
    VfL Bochum 1848 v FC Augsburg 1-2

  • It’s my grandsons 3rd birthday this Sunday Stu and although I’m absolutely sure that he’d be fully behind his Dad and Grandad going to the game my sons better half has put her fearsome foot down so it’s the TV for us.

    Highbury Corner in May it is then…

  • Miguel Azeez set to leave on a permanent deal.

    The midfielder’s potential transfer to Atletico Baleares comes as Arsenal looks to streamline its youth development strategy (according to James Benge), moving away from the cycle of loans in favour of securing permanent moves for players unlikely to break into the first team.

    This approach aims to provide these young talents with a stable environment to develop, while also including clauses in transfer deals such as sell-on fees, matching rights, and appearance add-ons, ensuring Arsenal could benefit financially from the player’s future success.

  • Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace 3-1
    Burnley v Fulham 1-1
    Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1
    Manchester United v West Ham United 3-2
    Arsenal v Liverpool 3-1
    VfL Bochum 1848 v FC Augsburg 2-2

  • So, if there’s any action it will be outgoings, most likely of young players. 19 year old left-back Lino Sousa is set for a permanent move to Aston Villa, who will then loan him immediately to Plymouth Argyle who are scrapping in mid-table in the Championship. It’s quite funny to read some of the reaction to a player like this departing. On the one hand, people are frustrated at times by Oleksandr Zinchenko and want an upgrade, but then go mad because a kid who has never played a first team game and is – perhaps – just about ready for a lower league is allowed leave.

    (Andrew Mangan, Arseblog)

  • Good point, Kev.

    It looks like this round of youngsters is not reaching the grade of say Willock or Iwobi, let alone Saka’s. Therefore, a new strategy has to be taken. I really hope one or two can still break through. A very big challenge for them right now.

  • It’s huge Total, the step up to Premier League, Arteta’s priority is winning games, his career is still in its infancy, yeah Klopp can give debuts to 5, 10, 50 youngsters but nobody is on his case, Wenger gave debuts to hordes of youngsters and the majority disappeared although one of the Hoyte brothers is at Maidstone.

  • Can’t blame Mike much, either. You know he would love to “discover” some academy players with potential, but no one would forgive him if it costs us wins. With enough older first steamers needing playing time, as we enter the run-in phase, our kids must be patient and enjoy the time they are afforded playing with the first team and opportunities on the bench.

    Maybe, sone point, when a game is a foregone conclusion, or where we stand no chance of winning the title, Mike would have no choice but to allow them enjoy the limelight.

  • Will Thomas Partey ever get a chance to stay fit for one season (or the majority of it) at Arsenal? Such a special player but just hasn’t been there for us. Could do with him on Sunday. Man can’t catch a break.

    Well, get better soon, Partey.

  • Eris/Total, I can’t help thinking that Thomas Partey is drinking at the Last Chance Saloon, into the last 18 months of his contract and absent for around an entire year of the 4 years he’s been at Arsenal, some 370 days I’ve read.

    He always seems to break down at crucial periods of the season leaving us short in midfield and in a role where we struggle to find an alternative, given his obvious and unique qualities. Jorginho is the closest that we have but he is far from being as dynamic as Thomas who on his day can run the entire game.

    The uniqueness and quality of Thomas and his influence on the team have meant that Arteta is loathe to move on from him but this saga is reaching Wenger/Diaby proportions, where the manager is increasingly holding out for an unrealistic miracle. You cannot hope to build a team thaf is capable of winning Leagues and Cups if a major component is regularly missing.

    Injuries are part and parcel of football but the frequency that Thomas breaks down makes it highly questionable that his time as an Arsenal player will go beyond this summer and almost certainly the summer of 2025

    A new contract for Thomas Partey would surely be bordering on the irresponsible?

  • Watched some of the Swansea vs Plymouth game. Sagoe Jnr and Patino were subs, entered the game on 77th minute. Swansea losing and throwing everything for an equaliser and should have scored through Charlie in added time, with just the keeper to beat Charlie tried to slide the ball past him instead of putting his foot through it and the keeper blocked it.
    Sagoe Jnr with a great effort minutes afterwards, with his back to goal he feinted one wag but spun around onto his left foot and drove it on goal where the keeper somehow parried his shot.
    Sousa came on for Plymouth on 77th and was anonymous.

  • Fine analogy, Kev. Always loved Diaby, and fully understand why Arsene went the extra mile with him. On his day Abu was Vieraesque and gave the three maestro’s Rosicky, Fabregas and Hleb (in the immortal words of the great John Mayall) “room to move”.
    Arsenal vintage 2008 was one of the finest manifestations of the beautiful game that I have enjoyed in my lifetime.

  • Kev, I thought I would look up how much time Diaby was out injured. I knew it was an extended time – but the exact time surprised me.

    This is from Wikipedia, I don’t know whether to believe it or not!!

    The French midfielder spent more time out injured than any other Arsenal player since the turn of the century – a remarkable 2,156 days (431.2 weeks)

  • GN5 that’s some statistics to ponder, Diaby could have been an absolute star for us, whenever I think of him I remember seeing him at Anfield and when you actually see the game it gives you a complete perspective and he was amazing that day, he totally dominated a Liverpool team that had Henderson, Coutinho, Gerrard and Lucas in midfield…

  • Abou Diaby dropped a masterclass in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Liverpool back in 2012 and fans are getting emotional thinking about what could’ve been. Snapped up from Auxerre for £2 million in 2006, the midfielder was gifted with incredible technical ability and looked to be a natural replacement for Patrick Vieira.

  • That article does make the point about GJ9. It is always great to have a prolific scorer in the side but that usually means a tweak to team structure and approach play; which means you need a summer to perfect such a change.

    Victor Osimhen at the AFCON is another one who fits the beautifully written piece. He is a natural goal scorer, as seen in his key role in Napoli’s charge to their first Italian league title since Maradona. However, he’s only scored one (a pen) at this AFCON with Nigeria reaching the semi-final stage and Ademola Lookman as our top scorer. Reason is the sacrificial play of Osimhen who has just been a nightmare for opposition defenders, creating space for midfielders who make the right runs. What’s even more curious is the glee on Osimhen’s face when others score because he occupied some defenders.

    I thought we needed a clinical scorer, but I won’t drop Gabby for such a striker anyway. He’s just got to feature, for me.

  • Great comment, Eris (as always). I think we can improve on GJ9 but he is doing a god job for us this season. Osimhem sounds very exciting. 🙂

  • …. And Gabby Jesus doesn’t even feature for us today. Out injured, apparently.

  • Team news
    Arsenal XI:
    Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz.

    Liverpool XI:
    Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Mac Allister, Jones, Gravenberch, Jota, Gakpo, Diaz

  • Subs:

    Arsenal:
    Ramsdale, Cedric, Walters, Kiwior, Elneny, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Trossard, Nketiah

    Liverpool:
    Adrian, Kelleher, Thiago, Nunez, Elliott, Robertson, Clark, McConnell, Quansah

  • Still can’t fathom why Ben White needs forever to take throw-in, even when there is so much movement to pick from.

    He has replicated the same hesitance taking that free kick and earned himself an unnecessary yellow card. We should be, at least, 2 goals up by now.

  • What a way to concede when the easier action would have been to get rid. Saliba has not done well there.

  • At the 46th minute there was a great team attempt from Arsenal resulting in a blocked shot by Martinelli. It all started by genuine creativity from Odegaard.

    And while I was typing Liverpool equalized with the lamest of goals. But it still worth exactly as much as a Puskas-winner.

  • Another horrible own goal. Reyes should have been more commanding. But, other than that what beautiful half of dominant football. Some stunning one touch football.

  • Martinelli seems to have lost a yard of pace there. I had my money on him to get to that ball before Ibrahima Kone.

  • Indeed, Eris, it was an equally lame defensive mistake.
    But the important part is that we regained the lead.

  • I don’t understand taken off Martinelli, when he is the only one with the pace to keep their defenders honest.

    Ref is allowing some crazy tackles to slide.

  • Now, Bukayo is down. He is the one who may have been taken off, at a time like this. Martinelli would have been more dangerous in the closing stages.

    We are going to have to defend well to avoid anything untoward.

  • Indeed, TA and PB. A real statement win by the boys. Now, can we go on from here to rack up some wins in our next few games (next 3 away)? That will be the test.

    Kev and TA, well done with predicting the correct score for this game. Kev, in particular, seemed to have hit a purple patch. 👍

  • There’s a reason why I don’t watch any of the post-match analysis after the player/Arteta interviews (which I can get on YouTube anyway) and it’s summed up by the same, monotonously sad people attempting to rain on our parade, I don’t need to name them because you all know who they are and to a man none of them had the quality to stay in the game and have a career in it – and therefore they now nick a living criticising people who are actually talented enough to still work inside the industry or players who can do what they wished they still could.

    These people are driven by petty jealousy’s, tribalism and envy and we should thoroughly ignore them and that’s exactly what I do.

    It’s also why the MSM is slowly dying as more and more people move onto other platforms for their information and entertainment. Just ask Channel 4.

  • You are so right, right, right, Wrighty. I’ve just sent him an invitation to our local church pulpit…

  • Mika Biereth scored a cracker on his debut for Sturm in the Austrian Cup.
    If he can have a productive run in the Austrian Bundesliga then he can return to Arsenal much as Balogun did last summer as a valuable asset we can sell for pure profit or as an alternative to Eddie if we decide to cash in on him? Khayon Edwards will be next off of the production line, even if they aren’t quite up to Arsenal 1st team level they’re still a key part of the clubs’ financial strategy going forward.

  • Last weekend’s results:-

    For the weekend:-
    1st Kev with 4/6 plus 2 correct scores & share of most correct predictions = 9.33
    2nd Eris & Total with 4/6 plus 1 correct score & share of most correct predictions = 7.33
    4th Stuart with 3/6 plus 1 correct score = 5.00
    5th GN5 with 3/6 = 3.00
    6th PB with 0/6 + 0.00
    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
    Season to date :-

    1st Total 129.12
    2nd Eris 125.78
    3rd Stuart 123.46
    4th PB 107.65
    5th GN5 94.13
    6th Kev 90.79
    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
    Next weekends selections:-

    Fulham v AFC Bournemouth *
    Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion *
    Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brentford *
    West Ham United v Arsenal *
    Aston Villa v Manchester United *
    Real Madrid v Girona *
    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

  • thanks for the report, GN5. A good week for Kev too.

    Your La Liga selection for next weekend will be a humdinger of a game with Girona looking to get back into the title winner conversation in Spain.

  • Really enjoyed reading that article, TA. About time our boys made them eat some humble pie, come May 2024.

    In oother news, Nigeria made it into the AFCON final, against all odds. The Eagles will be meeting the hosts, Ivory Coast, who literally came back from the dead to fight there way to the final.

  • Here are my predictions for the weekend’s pick of games: 

    Fulham v AFC Bournemouth * D 2-2
    Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion * H 2-1
    Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brentford * H 3-2
    West Ham United v Arsenal * A 0-2

    Aston Villa v Manchester United * D 2-2
    Real Madrid v Girona * H 3-2

  • Yes, Eris, Sunday morning our time will be busy. Hammers away at 5am, Eagles v Elephants at 9am, The Lord’s House at 11 am… A veritable feast day.

    Just fell in love with Moby again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81wBu2RzVsI

    Fulham v AFC Bournemouth 1-1
    Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1
    Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brentford 2-1
    West Ham United v Arsenal 0-2

    Aston Villa v Manchester United 1-1
    Real Madrid v Girona 1-1

  • Moby was the music I played on every trip to Cardiff in the early 2000’s for all those cup finals, it became a tradition and whenever I hear those tracks now I’m immediately spirited back onto the M25/M4.

    Eris, congrats, if should be an intriguing final.

  • Fulham v AFC Bournemouth * H 3-1
    Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion * H 2-1
    Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brentford * D 1-1
    West Ham United v Arsenal * D 1-1
    Aston Villa v Manchester United * D 2-2
    Real Madrid v Girona * D 1-1

    Furthermore I’d like to voice my appreciation towards GN5’s game selection as he constantly avoid easy (?) fixtures with huge gaps on the table (and TransferMarkt’s market value), and brings the football from other leagues that has 3 similarly probable outcomes. At least 3. 🙂

  • On Biereth,

    I have seen a YouTube compilation on his 11 goal contribution in Scotland (scored 6 and assisted 5), and I was really surprised on the quality he brought to the team. Many of his assists were top class, and his goals were well beyond his age and experience.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aw4vr_MoTw

    I would prefer to say let’s not right him off just yet, but that ship has obviously sailed.

  • Thank you PB, I do in fact look at the league tables before I make my final selections.

    Many times I’m tempted to add fixtures from other leagues, but I stick mainly to 5 EPL games and 1 from the top European leagues. However from time to time I might reduce the amount of EPL games selected as a good separation between teams is getting more difficult.

    I’m loathe to change that as you all have jobs and may, or may not, have the time to be looking up form or position in multiple different leagues.

  • Fulham v AFC Bournemouth * D (1-1)
    Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion * H 2-1
    Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brentford * A (1-2)
    West Ham United v Arsenal * A (0-3)

    Aston Villa v Manchester United * A (2-1)
    Real Madrid v Girona * A (2-1)

  • My regular journey from St Albans to Somerset to court my Sarah was M25 M4 M5, Kev. M25 was Chris Rea’s “Road to hell” (according to legend written after a rush hour experience on that particular orbital). M4/M5 was U2 all the way with “With or without you” at full volume as I pulled into her parents driveway.

    Thanks for the Mika clip, PB.

    Unity and faith, Peace and progress, Eris. COYSE…

  • Ah, tthe article I referred to was posted by Kev, not TA. Thanks, Kev.

    Stuart, looks like you have your Sunday morning all planned for you. Enjoy the games; and thanks for rooting for the super Eagles. I feel they have done well just getting to this stage so, winning the cup against the hosts would be a bonus.

  • Fulham vs AFC Bournemouth….2-1
    Tottenham vs Brighton……..…….3-1
    Wolves W vs Brentford……………2-2
    West Ham vs Arsenal…..…………0-3 Aston Villa vs Man United…….…3-2
    Real Madrid vs Girona……….……2-1

  • Stu, I look back on those journeys to Cardiff with a lot of fondness, I saw all of the FACup finals in Wales, didn’t bother with the League Cup or Charity Shield, Liverpool was hard to take, Chelsea was amazing, Southampton was indoors as they closed the roof but a poor game. The best was Man United in 2005 and the manner in which we did it.
    The trips to Old Trafford for the Semi-Finals were pretty cool as well, Tottenham being the highlight.

    I think I had Moby on for those trips as well, M25/M1/M6. There’s a great chippy close to OT, quite delicious but I gave the mushy peas a miss (ugh).

  • An 8pm kick-off Eris this Sunday, I think I’ll watch it, take in Osimen in a major game.

    Eris, if Arsenal sign Osimen will it be as big as Arsenal signing Kanu in Nigeria?

  • Yeh, Kev, Mic#ae# Ow*#’s name is not mentioned in our house. Never got to a cup final. Did pay 50 quid for a seat at Wembley for the ’93 semi v Spuds. Tony Adams at the back post… 2005 and PV. 4’s farewell last kick for us was an unendurable game with such a magic denouement. My fave final was one we lost and didn’t play particularly well in, ’72 v Leeds. Watched it as an 11 year old in the West Auckland home of a bunch of rabid Yorkshirefolk. Just loved those darker red shirts with no advertising and loved that team. Still do.

    Only other time I got to Wembley was to see U2 with the Pogues opening. Great gig but I was gutted that I missed Lou Reed who opened for them the night before.

  • Fulham v AFC Bournemouth 2-2
    Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1
    Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brentford 2-1
    West Ham United v Arsenal 1-3
    Aston Villa v Manchester United 2-2
    Real Madrid v Girona 3-1

  • Yeah Stu, I think Lou Reed before The Pogues any day of the week.

    Saw Jeff Beck at the Rainbow back in the day, that was quite memorable, unfortunately I don’t remember much about it thanks to recreational stuff…

    Ah, those were the days Stu, everyone knew what a woman was and they were damned glad of the fact…

  • Kev, Kanu did arrive unheralded save for the knowledge he was already a Dutch league, Champions league and Olympic gold winner.

    For me, while signing Osimhen is likely to create a greater buzz in Nigeria than Kanu’s did, he is unlikely to make the impact Kanu made, especially the Invincible status he attained. Kanu had incredibly sublime skills and an understanding of the game, while Osimhen is more of a gangling physical specimen who is always business-like in his approach to the game, not entertainment oriented.

    It will be up to the recruitment team what they want out of him, but he will score us goals for sure.

  • Let me revise that a bit. Nigerians were excited to hear Kanu had signed for Arsenal, being a well loved player here (because of the story about his heart condition and Wenger taking a chance with him) but that was before the advent of social media and fan forums. Today, the fans know more and with Osimhen’s larger than life status at Napoli, it would generate more interest.

  • 🤣 Amen, Kev. God made Adam and then had a better idea…

    Glad those recreationals didn’t thwart your writing for Bergkampesque. You make the world a better place, mate. We’ve had some big gigs down here; Magazine in a tight sweaty venue was a highlight, and The Who were incredible just a few years back at one of our stadiums. They did a 14 minute version of Pinball Wizard which transcended time and space.

    I’ll never forget Kanu’s leapfrog over Wiltord at Old Toilet. Nor his bravery in overcoming his health issues.

  • Eris/Stu, I was there that day with my son James, we parked across the river in Battersea and walked to the Bridge, it was a filthy day weather wise.

    In those days the away fans stood behind the bench’s so we all went crazy together, but it was all doom and gloom at half time.

    Kanu was like a man possessed, I think some Chelsea fans abused him after the first goal he scored as he celebrated and he took it to another level after that and destroyed them.

    What about the goal he scored at Tottenham when he looped the ball over his marker who must have thought that he had Kanu boxed in and Nwankwu just spun around him and blasted it into the net. A truly unique player.

  • Eris, I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t initially sold on the prospect of Arsenal signing Osimhen not least because he’d had some fitness issues and we’ve had enough of those, also the suspicion that Napoli might be extremely difficult to negotiate with.

    Then there is the prospect of losing a vital player every two years in the middle of the season, which isn’t ideal given the monster in Man City we need to compete with, but it’s been forever thus for a long time now so you have to adapt and you have to have players in place who can cover an absence and we have in Kai Havertz, our German army knife!

    Transfer fees and sums reportedly in the region of £120m aren’t realistic for a player coming into the Premier League where you need to prove your resilience among some of the best and most physically imposing opponents in world football. That’s why you pay a tax when you sign a player from another English club, you’re paying for the fact that they’ve done it already. Serie A has many fine qualities but preparing players for the physicality of the Premier League isn’t one of them.

  • Khaylon Edwards is on the bench for Leyton Orient at Barnsley.

    Monlouis isn’t even in the squad at Reading!

    Swansea at Hull City have Patino and Sagoe Junior on the bench.

  • I’m watching Sambi Lokonga for Luton Town and he’s doing ok.

    He needs to play regularly and he isn’t going to get that at Arsenal, he wouldn’t be on loan if that was possible, so it’s a case of Luton increasing his value so that we can get back our outlay and maybe get a profit?

  • Swansea and Leyton Orient both winning 1-0 away from home.

    Sambi has made a couple of nice interceptions playing left-side of a double pivot. Luton don’t play a complex style, they keep it simple.

    A passage of play following a Sambi gaff should have seen United score but the player missed a virtual open goal and two minutes later he does score, big goal for Sheffield.

  • No changes at half-time for either Swansea or Leyton Orient.

    Here we go, VAR at Luton, penalty for Luton Town.

    This is a great game.

    Big big chance for Luton.

    Luton 1-2 United

  • 65 minutes gone, still no changes by Swansea who are still leading, whilst Leyton Orient have made 4 changes but still Edwards sits on the bench, Orient also still leading.

  • Patino on at 79 minutes at Hull, Swansea still leading, Sagoe won’t get on today.

    And Swansea hang on to win, Charlie did ok in his cameo

  • Edwards doesn’t get on for Leyton Orient who concede an equaliser on 88 minutes.

    Barnsley then have a player sent off and then score the winner deep into added time.

  • Not a memorable day for our four players on loan in the Football League. I wonder how the players Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Man City loan get on, do they actually play?

  • Kev, great correspondent’s job from multiple grounds of the championship. Happy for the young lads who are getting a chance to strut their stuff as professionals.

    Sambi LLokonga did very well, if not the MoTM in the 4-4 draw with Newcastle, last week. He is a linchpin in the side these days. I wish him well.

  • To be honest, I don’t think we should fork out the kind of sums we’ve been hearing for Osimhen (no disrespect) since he still has to prove himself in the EPL. Going by current prices for strikers though, he would be good value for between £90m – £100m. He can be a handful for defenders, Iwhen fit, assure you.

  • I aassure you, I meant to type. Some new WordPress feature is messing with my Caps and first few alphabets.

  • I was at the Bride that day, too, Kev. One of two visits I made there. Saw another win we had there when Super Nic Anelka made his debut off the bench.

    Watching the big Bundesliga clash…

  • Thanks for the informed opinion on Osimhen Eris, I guess if we can spread any deal for the Super Eagles centre forward over 5 years with add-ons and other incentives then we can make it affordable but going over £90m might be stretching it.

    Yes, WordPress are becoming a right bloody interference to simple blogging. It just seems that everyone and their dog wants your personal blogging information and will go to any obtrusive lengths to get it…

    I’m watching Forest vs Newcastle Stu

  • Your Swiss mate deserves all the praise you prophesied, Total. He was probably the most influential player on the pitch, carrying on his form from last season. Harry didn’t get a look in.

  • Fair to say Granit Xhaka is on his way to winning the Bundesliga, in the very first season of his return. Whipping Bayern 3-0 is a statement win..        

    Xhaka has continued his standard of being the first name on his manager’s team sheet. He controls everything good that Leverkusen does.

  • Yeah, I switched over from Forest vs Newcastle after Stu reminded me, Alonso looked very calm on the touchline whilst everyone was going crazy after Leverkusens 3rd goal, but don’t write off Bayern just yet and I’m sure that Alonso is clear about that.

    The thing about Leverkusen is that they’re very much a team of equal parts, no big time Charlie’s.

  • That’s a great win by Leverkusen and what a statement. I wasn’t able to watch it as we are in the Highlands for a week, but glad to hear Granit played well. Like Giroud and Mertesacker, he gets better every year all based around experience, intelligence and love of the game. 🙂

  • Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Havertz, Trossard: 

    Subs: Ramsdale, Cedric, Walters, Jorginho, Bandeira, Elneny, Nelson, Nwaneri, Nketiah

    Injuries: Partey (thigh), Timber (knee) Vieira (groin), Jesus (knee), Zinchenko (calf)

    West Ham XI: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson; Soucek, Alvarez; Johnson, Ward-Prowse, Kudus; Bowen

    Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Phillips, Mavropanos, Cornet, Ings, Ogbonna, Mubama, Scarles

    Injuries: Antonio, Paqueta

  • Brilliant first half except for the fecking poor Sky Sports commentary (until they had to sing our praises with 4-0 up).

    Such power in the air we have, and what a good balance in attack today: left, right, middle, all areas are working and the boys are finding gaps anywhere. Boring, boring Arsenal. 🙂

  • Hahahahaha! TA, I told you WordPress been playing tricks with my posts, lately. That should be Martinelli.

    Well, it has been magic in the game, so far, so it may as well be a pair of Havertzs starting for us.

  • second half started and Moyes brings on Mavropanos (in the hope he repeats his feat in the league cup) and Calvin Phillips. We need to keep up the aggressive defending and pick them off as they try to get one back.

  • I’m writing at 0-6 (66. min) and this is not only a huge statement that nobodíy is safe from the boys even in their own castle, but also that we don’t really need a different striker.

    Probably the best thing in the current squad that you never know if somebody is going to pass, dribble or shoot in the attacking third. That delicate balance could change with a striker that always shoots. Even if he scores more, that could hamper the attacking contribution of the others.

    And I also appreciate big time that we didn’t stop playing after the significant lead. Now if there would be some academy players getting some minutes, I could be even satisfied. 🙂

  • Well, Than Nwaneri is on, alongside Cedric. Boy’s got some nice confident touches.

  • And there you have it, Nwaneri came on and there was no drop off in quality, the other players in the team will tell you about a youngsters quality.

    When Arsenal played at Brentford in the League Cup I noticed that the senior players continually looked for an alternative pass more often than use Sagoe Junior, that wasn’t the case with Nwaneri who looked at home and was being used by his team mates because he is the right quality, the quality you need to compete for the top honours.

    Odegaard was looking for him all the time as was Ben White and Kai and all the senior players and although Ethan is still only 16 I fully expect to see him getting more minutes this season.

    That is the level of quality we need our academy to produce.

  • Commiserations, Eris. And to Kev, a little conservative with your prediction for a change, mate… 😉

    Whopping win, and a lovely cameo for young Nwaneri. Jover earning his corn again, against a tall team like West Ham those innovations were superb.

  • There is a list of impressive features from last night (afternoon), and among them are scoring 6 on a 4.00 xG, but maybe even more so limiting Kudus, Bowen, Ward-Prowse and co to a single goal on target (at 0.11) with all their 5 attempts at 0.19 xG combined. Poor Raya had the lowest rating from the starting line-up, but that’s OK.

    Last but not least our passing accuracy was through the roof! Apart from Leandro all starting lad made it above 90%. Raya (21), Elneny (25), Nelson (12) and Nketiah (8) managed to find their teammates 100% of the time. To put it into comparison with West Ham only Ward-Prowse managed 90%+ (92.9%), many of the players ended up in the sixties (Zouma, Aguerd, Philips, Soucek), and Areola finished the game with 46.2%

  • Last weekends results:-

    1. GN5 4/6 plus 2 correct scores and most correct predictions = 12 points

    2. PB 2/6 plus 2 correct scores = 6 points

    3. Eris 3/6 plus 1 correct score = 5 points

    4. Stuart 2/6 plus 1 correct score = 4 points

    5. Total and Kev with 3/6 = 3 point

    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Season to date:-

    1. Total – 132.12

    2. Eris – 130.78

    3. Stuart – 127.46

    4. PB – 113.65

    5. GN5 – 106.13

    6. Kev – 93.79

    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Here are next weekends selection and my predictions:-

    Brentford v Liverpool * D (2-2)

    Burnley v Arsenal * A (0-3)

    Fulham v Aston Villa * A (1-3)

    Newcastle v Bournemouth * H (2-1)

    Nottm Forest v West Ham * D (2-2)

    Freiburg v Frankfurt * H (2-1)

    The EPL games all look pretty straightforward so lets hope for a few upsets.

    ””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””’

  • Commiserations acknowledged, Stuart. The Ivory Coast did deserve to win it, on the night. I recall thinking they will be a different animal once they survived the group stages as worst placed 3rd place finishers. They were great hosts and showed they wanted it more.

  • Brentford vs Liverpool……..……2-2

    Burnley vs Arsenal………..……..0-4

    Fulham vs Aston Villa……..……2-3

    Newcastle vs Bournemouth…3-0

    Nottm Forest vs West Ham….3-1

    Freiburg vs Frankfurt…………..1-2

  • Brentford v Liverpool * A (0-3)

    Burnley v Arsenal * A (0-3)

    Fulham v Aston Villa * A (1-3)

    Newcastle v Bournemouth * H (3-0)

    Nottm Forest v West Ham * A (1-4)

    Freiburg v Frankfurt * A (0-3)

  • Brentford v Liverpool * 1-2

    Burnley v Arsenal * 0-3

    Fulham v Aston Villa * 1-1

    Newcastle v Bournemouth 3-1

    Nottm Forest v West Ham 2-2

    Freiburg v Frankfurt 1-1

  • My predictions for next weekend’s selection follow:

    Brentford v Liverpool * A (2-3)

    Burnley v Arsenal * A (0-3)

    Fulham v Aston Villa * A (1-2)

    Newcastle v Bournemouth * H (4-0)

    Nottm Forest v West Ham * H (2-1)

    Freiburg v Frankfurt * H (1-0)

  • Brentford v Liverpool 0-2

    Burnley v Arsenal 1-2

    Fulham v Aston Villa 1-1

    Newcastle v Bournemouth 1-1

    Nottm Forest v West Ham 1-1

    Freiburg v Frankfurt 1-1

  • Arsenal FC.       Starting XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli

    Subs: Ramsdale, Cedric, Sweet, Bandeira, Elneny, Jorginho, Nelson, Smith Rowe, Nketiah

    Burnley:

    Starting Xi: Trafford, O’Shea, Brownhill, Berge, Assignon, Ramsey, Fofana, Amdouni, Esteve, Delcroix, Odobert

    Subs: Taylor, Cork, Gudmundsson, Rodriguez, Benson, Vitinho, Cullen, Bruun Larsen.

  • Yeah, TA. When we went ahead, you’d have wanted us to press the advantage to settle some nerves.

    Allusion tto nerves is in the uncharacteristic actions/selections by our right sided CB, Saliba. He looks unsure at times, which is affecting the others (Saka and White) on that side. My guess is the tactical approach that has White playing the Zinchenko inverted role from the right, appears to have some struggling with the learning curve. Nothing a few more goals can’t overcome.

  • All going to plan until now. Never easy when expectations are high. Good to see Martinelli get an assist. All four attackers have contributed. Just need to get Kai to add a bit more with the final ball. 🙂

  • Its 0-2 as they go into half time. Arteta tried to hype Havertz a bit during his presser and you knew he was only demanding more from him.

    He does most things well except when it has to do with that final ball. I expect him to get in on the goals today. He will be subbed off by about the 70th,either way.

  • Saka, Trossard and White off for Nelson, Nketiah and Cedric. Wise move, what with our midweek fixture in Europe looming large. Nketiah just missed a header, after rising highest.

  • Fair to say Arteta may be looking to play Cedric against his country men in midweek. The way he’s been easing him into match readiness.

  • Ends 5-0 to the Arsenal. I like that our goals difference has been improved to match those free scoring sides around and above us. Nice going, Mikel.

    Not bad for a side criticised for not scoring enough despite being dominant most times.

  • Five goals and not one of them via a corner, Jover needs a good talking to as it’s not good enough!

  • I’ve looked at Arsenal from both sides now

    Defence and attack and still somehow

    It seems an illusion holding me in its thrall

    I really love this goalfest football…

  • It was on the hymn sheet, Kev. Sung it all the way to church with Joni’s guitar and vocals backing me up…

    We are racking up some astonishing stats (job for PB to list ’em all). Best start to a calendar year in Arsenal’s history is my fave.

    Have ya’all seen the vid of shots by opposition against Arsenal in the past four matches? It lasts for about 4 seconds.

  • Eris 😉

    It’s a kind of a backhanded compliment when other clubs are seriously interested in your players and coaching staff but as with Guardiola I’m sure that Arteta has replacement’s in mind. If Carlos leaves then Mikel will, I’m certain, have another talented guy in mind to replace him. In a way it offers a new perspective and voice to the coaching staff and keeps things from going stale. I hope that Arsenal will demand compensation if Carlos joins Norwich…

  • Stu, funnily enough I’ve lately been humming some tunes from Madness, you know ‘Welcome to the House of Fun’ and ‘Night boat to Cairo’ but now I’ll probably be humming ‘Big Yellow Taxi’…

    If any of you ever listen to the Arsenal Vision podcast you’ll know that the guy who runs it, Elliott, always signs off with ‘And we’ll talk again after Arsenal 10, Tottenham 0’ or whoever the next opponent is. It always gives me a chuckle – but recently I’ve begun to wonder, you know???

  • I noticed that Nuno Tavares had another encouraging game for Nottm Forest where Nuno Espirto Santo seems to like him, could be a Portuguese thing?

    Always good to see with the prospect of many more mid-range Premier League clubs looking to sign both Nuno and Sambi next summer as their profile and value continues to rise.

  • I’m sure that when I was watching the pre match preamble’s yesterday that Sagoe Junior was named in the Swansea starting XI, maybe it was a dream? Anyway neither Sagoe or Patino started for Swansea although Charlie came on late in the game. Elsewhere John Jules was injured as per, Edwards started and played 75 minutes in Leyton Orients home defeat to Burton and Norton Cuffy returning from injury came on at half-time for Millwall but couldn’t prevent them losing 2-0 at the New Den.

  • I am happy as the next guy, just maybe slightly less enthusiastic.

    We were playing against an extremely poor opponent, and while the scoreline could theoretically have been higher, it is still flattering. Many of our goals were fortunate – either the last touch or some before (was Havertz’ nutmeg intentional?), and scoring 5 from 7 shots on target is a bit lucky.

    Anyway, I am really proud – unlike the first half of the season – we are taking the goal difference seriously. The combined GD of the last 3 games is +3 for Liverpool, +4 for Man City, +5 for Aston Villa and +13 for us. The team of the recent weeks and the team of the months is full of Arsenal players, and our 2 representatives in the (current) team of the season is not bad either. Saka leading both the WhoScored average rating and the total MotM awards is encouraging, and his 4th place on the G+A board is also impressive.

    But before we open the champagne bottle we should wait as the mid-week games are back, and we will have a string of though games in the second part of March. But we have Timber and Partey close to fitness, so I’m – surprisingly – optimistic.

    By the way, why was Martinelli denied of his assist from Odegaard’s opener? Was it deflected?

  • That seems a suitable theme song for you, Kev. I’ve aways favoured her hauntingly beautiful, “Come in from the cold”.

    Sambi and The Hatters doing well at Kenilworth Rd this morning, despite the score line taking the game to Manure.

  • Last weekends results:-

    1st Eris 4/6 plus 1 correct score and share of most correct predictions = 8 points

    2nd Stuart 4/6 plus share of most correct predictions = 6 points

    3rd Total, Kev and PB 3/6 = 3 points

    6th GN5 2/6 = 2 points

    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Season to date:-

    1st Eris 138.78

    2nd Total 135.12

    3rd Stuart 133.46

    4th PB 116.65

    5th GN5 108.13

    6th Kev 96.79

    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Next weekends selections and GN5’s predictions:-

    Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton *

    Crystal Palace v Burnley *

    Bournemouth v Man City *

    Arsenal v Newcastle *

    Chelsea v Liverpool * (EFL Cup Final)

    Real Betis v Ath Bilbao *

    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Eris has been loitering in the pack – but once again bounces up to first.

    Well done Eris – but can you stay ahead of Total and Stuart ?

    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

  • Thanks for the update; plus you have well and truly thrown down the gauntlet there, GN5. Time will tell, I guess. 💪😜

    thanks, TA. Lucky guesses, to be honest.

  • Making the grade from the Academy to the Premier League is problematic for youngsters at a club like Arsenal, the jump in all aspects of the game and quality is huge but the best of the best like Saka and hopefully Nwaneri can do it minus loans.

    Others take a longer journey as did Ashley Cole via Crystal Palace and Hector Bellerin via Watford, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult.

    Sometimes you just have to be around when an opportunity opens, an injury or the Premier League finally acting on clubs who overspend and so there could be an opportunity for Mika Biereth.

    I’ve not seen a lot of his performances whilst he’s been on loan and you really need to see the whole picture to judge but if you go on just the goals he’s been scoring then there’s plenty to be positive about, not least if the club decide to cash in on Eddie this summer and decide not to sign a striker?

    ’What about Balogun?’ I hear you cry and yes, there’s some similarities in terms of goals scored but we did actually get to see Foloran play 1st team football for Arsenal and he didn’t get me off of my armchair. I think that Arsenal made the right choice in selling him just as they made the right choice with Iwobi and Willock.

  • “Got a feeling ’24
    Is going to be a good year
    Especially if you and me
    See it in together …
    … I have all reasons to be over optimistic    “

    No thrill like a cup night’s, is there?
    Look boys, I’ve watched Porto a couple of times since I saw them against Sporting, and – I know the superstitious among you will curse me for this, but – I really don’t see how making our way to the QFs could be anything else but plain sailing …
    Their Brazilian guy upfront will end up in the PL soon, I have no doubt about that, but right now he’s no match for our Twin Towers, as for the two speedy midgets on either wing they’re good players, but that’s about it, the rest of the team is mid-table PL at best, and there’s no way our light cavalry won’t wound them deeply; 41-y-o salty dog Pepe is simply no longer able bodied for anything resembling top-level football …
    The only thing we might have had to fear would have been the ref and his VAR-acolytes, but they’re from TA’s homeland, so rigor will be on the menu on that front. It’ll have too, since I’m pretty sure Conceiçao will have wound up his players into jumping down our throats from the getgo, which is the only thing they’ll have up their sleeve, imo …
    O ye of little faith, Kev! Do I have to be the one reminding a lifelong British fan that pre-1995, British teams, made up of British players only, put all European clubs to the sword, bagging I don’t even know how many trophies (including a certain red-and-white team, who were the last to inflict European pain on the Great Ajax themselves, right before they went undefeated for four seasons in Europe). Do British fans need someone like me to remind them that 1970 England were the only team who made what remains the greatest team of all times – 1970 Brazil – shake in their shoes… But lo and behold, the Bosman ruling was passed and overnight British players became plagued with so many insufficiencies that average at best (French, not to upset anyone) players like Kamara, Maupay, Badiashile, Mateta, etc. etc. can make their way to PL squads, while loads of young British players are shown the door out of their boyhood clubs.
    No, no, no, no; I don’t buy this – the level of young British players has nothing to do with their being rejected, but everything to do with capital (which professional players are) having to be moved around constantly in order to grow indefinitely. I don’t judge (well, I do …a lil’, but that’s not the point) … that’s the world we live in, but I just refuse to acknowledge that there was no match in English academies for the players above, as I refuse to acknowledge that Charlie Patino is no match for Fabio Vieira, for instance …

    Stu, this story came to me all the way up from somewhere in your Paradise Islands, and it made my day:

    “So in “What’s Happening in Small City New Zealand” today, a guy in a BMW honked a person in a wheelchair getting into a car, outside a hospital. And a nearby construction worker calmly walked over and tipped his lunch of biryani and butter chicken all over the BMWs windscreen. And people clapped.
    And the reason I know it was biryani and butter chicken, is because he then–in the chillest way possible–told the BMW driver that they owed him for another lot of biryani and butter chicken because he’d missed his breakfast and needed to keep up his energy.
    (Today just keeps giving. Have I said how much I love this place lately? I really love this place.)    “
    I can’t hug the construction worker, nor the clappers, so I I hug you instead, man, this reminded me of the number of times I had to grizzly myself up in order for my daughter to be respected …
    COYG!!!

  • LG’s back in town, quoting The Who and a major event in New Zealand’s recent history. I’m a fan of The Who but not so much George Penny. Love Patino, tho: “What about the boy? What about the boy? What about the boy? He has it all”

    Not sure if I would have given up a decent Biriyani to sort out (likely an Australian visitor) driving a Beamer. The Butter chicken would have been smearier. I’ll accept the hug on behalf of my countryman, tho’ I’d trade it for the image of you going all “grizzly” for your girl. A mighty cause, ami.

    Charlie George (2) and Jon Sammels, just to further the reminder. Seems like yesterday.

    You’re right, Kev. We sold the three of them at the right time for good money.

    Nothing like a European venture to start the day down here in “Last, loneliest, loveliest” smallville. COYG!!!

    • Raya

    • 4White

    • 2Saliba

    • 6Gabriel

    • 15Kiwior

    • 8Ødegaard

    • 41Rice

    • 29Havertz

    • 7Saka

    • 19Trossard

    • 11Martinelli

    Substitutes

    • 1Ramsdale

    • 10Smith Rowe

    • 14Nketiah

    • 17Cédric Soares

    • 20Jorginho

    • 21Fábio Vieira

    • 24Nelson

  • How’s that for sloppy?

    Our 4 boys upfront just can’t connect, MA will have to sort this out at HT

    There’s much more intensity to everything they’ve been doing tonight, these Porto boys, than there was in what I saw of them in Primeira Liga, but that’s no excuse for allowing their keeper to have such a quiet night.

    Taking Declan off and bringing Jorginho on might be a good idea, nothing’s easier to get than a second yellow …

    COYG

  • I don’t see how did we get from: ‘we didn’t need Raya to compete with Ramsdale who is an England international and one of the best GK in the league’ to ‘it makes perfect sense not to give Aaron even a sniff in CL games when we have crashed out from all domestic competitions’.

    I would have also selected Nketiah over Trossard. Eddie needs minutes and confidence, and Leandro would have been rested before the Newcastle game in less than 3 days.

  • Nightmare on Dragon St. …

    Intensity-wise, we were ready, but no shot on target was bad enough (Eddie’s speed and power would have caused their CBs more problems in the last 20 minutes than Havertz’s ponderous presence imo, but what do I know?), and now this – what was Martinelli thinking of, attempting such a pass, at that point in the game?

    BW4 is Mr. Reliable, what a defender, what a pro. As for those melees in the 6-yard-box they are great fun, but a plan B on CKs might come handy, don’t you think lads?

    March 12th will be a moment of truth for this young team, COYG!!

  • The referee gave some very strange non-existent fouls against us yesterday evening and meanwhile ignored a whole lot of body checking, holding and shirt pulling on our players at every Arsenal corner.

    l hope we never see this referee again and that he fucks off back to the Eredivisie for good…

    Somehow we came out of that game with more yellow cards?

    It was a classic example of how to illegally break a teams rhythm at every opportunity and we’d better learn how to deal with that because there are some really serious bandits out there in europa and a heck of a lot more referees who are equally inept.

    That said, it doesn’t excuse some of our lacklustre passing and poor decision making when there were opportunities to exploit. At the Emirates there will be more snap to our game as the home crowd will be on it and the influence of the home crowd should ensure that the officials take a firmer hand of the Porto shithousery.

    As for rotation, well you need a fully fit squad for that, not a bunch of academy kids!

    I probably would have started with Jorginho, but other than him the options were stark, well they were stark if you was being realistic.

  • It’s really frustrating and quite tedious trying to post nowadays, it’s almost deliberate, by the web designers, as if they’re trying to force us onto other platforms. Frankly the whole bloody palava is bleeding boring.

    Good night

  • Sorry aabout that, Kev.

    A shame we couldn’t leave with something. I was unable to watch the game and couldn’t even follow it as it coincided with the Service of songs held for my Father-in-law. I shall be watching the return leg so, hopefully, we get the win that we need this time. 👌

  • Here are my predictions for next weekend’s selections:

    Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton * H 2-1

    Crystal Palace v Burnley * H 2-0

    Bournemouth v Man City * A 1-3

    Arsenal v Newcastle * H 3-1

    Chelsea v Liverpool * (EFL Cup Final) Liverpool Win in extra time 2-1

    Real Betis v Ath Bilbao * D 2-2

  • Kev, the post went straight to trash for some obscure reason. It’s back up now. Sorry mate, I pay a decent amount of money to WordPress every year to avoid this happening…

  • TA, knowing your profession, I’m sure you are familiar with the concept of ikigai.

    And since in this fine blog we have many wise friends I don’t think I need to explain, but to be on the safe side ikigai – one’s true calling, or purpose in life – should something that (s)he 1: loves, passionate about, 2: talented and good at it, 3: adds value to the community/society, and 4: marketable.

    Unfortunately the concept is imperfect. I think it needs a 5th aspect: namely no matter how keen and good you are at something, you won’t succeed unless the world (or the professional elite) acknowledges your competence.

    I’m afraid my football managerial skills are appreciated by only computer games and yourself, so my future in the industry is unlikely. It’s sad news for Arsenal, and probably all mankind. 🙂

  • A fine concept, PB. Thanks for sharing it.

    There is a lovely verse in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, “God has placed eternity in our hearts…” (Chapter 3:11). It allows for the understanding that, in this life we will not fulfil even a small portion of the longings/dreams/hopes/ambitions which are in our hearts. Realization of all those things can eventuate in the life to come. This offsets the pain, angst and frustration for those who die young or before they are born, and for those for whom circumstances limit opportunity.      This particular antipodean member of mankind appreciates your skillset and would encourage you to keep going in your apprenticeship. I think “Ki tudja, mit hoz a holnap” is the phrase in your mother tongue.

  • I share your angst, Kev. That was anti football from Porto, well coached anti football. Horrible to play against, horrible to watch.

  • Stu,

    exactly mate, perspective is needed when critiquing our performance from Wednesday but it did annoy me as the players didn’t seem to have learned from their previous disappointments in europe, they are in the final analysis the major arbiters of where we’ll finish this season and we again showed a worrying inexperience and nativity at times in dealing with Porto’s tricks.

    I guess if we’d got the 0-0 then the feeling of angst would have been lessened, but we know that there’s some smart operators waiting to bushwhack us, a lot smarter than Porto, so we’d better start learning and fast…

  • I’ve done the following predictions while sniffing Old Spice…

    Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton 2-1

    Crystal Palace v Burnley 2-0

    Bournemouth v Man City 0-1

    Arsenal v Newcastle 2-0

    Chelsea v Liverpool 2-1

    Real Betis v Ath Bilbao 1-1

  • Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Everton * H 3-1

    Crystal Palace vs. Burnley * H 1-0

    Bournemouth vs. Manchester City * A 0-3

    Arsenal vs. Newcastle United * D 1-1

    Chelsea vs. Liverpool 3-2 (in Wembley, so technically neither H nor A)

    Real Betis vs. Athletic Bilbao * A 0-2

  • Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Everton * H 2-0

    Crystal Palace vs. Burnley * H 2-1

    Bournemouth vs. Manchester City * A 0-4

    Arsenal vs. Newcastle United * H 2-1

    Chelsea vs. Liverpool * H 2-1)

    Real Betis vs. Athletic Bilbao * 2-2

  • Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Everton 3-1

    Crystal Palace vs. Burnley 1-1

    Bournemouth vs. Manchester City 1-3

    Arsenal vs. Newcastle United 1-1

    Chelsea vs. Liverpool 2-1

    Real Betis vs. Athletic Bilbao 1-1

  • I did the following predictions whilst drinking a huge mug of Gods own refreshment… Courtesy of Twinnings.

    Brighton vs Everton…..……3-1

    Crystal Palace vs Burnley..3-0

    Bournemouth vs Man City..1-4

    Arsenal vs Newcastle……….4-0

    Chelsea vs Liverpool………..2-3

    Real Betis vs Atletic Bilbao..1-2

  • I kinda fancied watching the Sunderland vs Swansea game but with Patino and Sagoe on the bench I’ll look elsewhere.

  • John Jules not in Derby squad, probably injured.

    Norton Cuffy on the bench for Millwall.

    Monlouis on the bench for Reading.

  • Taylor Hart, on loan at Bromley and had not played much, came on after 74minutes. Alex Kirk another Arsenal youngster seems to be playing in midfield for Bromley, who lost 2-0 at Eastleigh.

  • Got to agree with you there, Le Gall. I have seen us dominate teams in one half but that was not mere domination; we also made one of the top teams look so ordinary, it was painful. We didn’t let them get as much as a sniff and the pressing was furious.

    4-0, as I typed that. Kiwior may be given the goal even though the final touch was off a Newcastle player.

    We have also been racking up the number of set piece goals we have scored this season. Jover is a miracle worker.

  • I actually did watch most of the Sunderland vs Swansea game, it was like old times watching a game without VAR. By the time I’d tuned back in Swansea were leading 0-2 and looked fully in control. They played a short passing build up from the back style synonymous with those clubs attempting a more pass and move style, like Burnley for example. I never saw them go long either from the keeper or defenders but they used a style that would I thought suit Charlie Patino so if was surprising to see him out of the team again. Even in the 2nd half when Sunderland raise their level and become more rigorous Swansea still played their football – and credit to them and their new manager. Patino came on around the 75th minute and did ok despite the increasingly desperate attempts from the home team.

    There was no sign of Sagoe Junior which given Swansea’s precarious position isn’t surprising because when you’re fighting for survival you don’t use kids.

    Swansea held onto to win 1-2 and I thoroughly enjoyed the game.

    Khaylon Edwards was a late sub for Leyton Orient who also won and likewise Norton Cuffy at Millwall who won as well.

    Looking forward to see how Biereth does for Sturm later today.

  • It’s taken awhile but just as with Ben White we no longer constantly read boorish criticisms of Arteta and the fee paid for Kai Havertz

  • “O, what a night”, alright. That, indeed was some first half. Jorginho. Isn’t he just. He finds that ball through the lines, constantly looking for Martin O. Unlocks that mid block thing all the tacticians are talking about.

    How did Biereth do, Kev?

  • Stu

    I’m watching Wolves vs Sheff Utd, scouting Neto… 😉

    After 25 minutes play Sturm are winning 0-2 but I don’t whose scored?

    Rhian Brewster has to be one of the most overrated players since Solanke plied his trade at Liverpool.

    Somehow Liverpool seem to sign these guys and even when they don’t work out they get a good price when reselling them.

    What’s their secret?

  • Jorginho did well, but he cannot be complimented separately, as the Ode and Rice Baby were also awesome: a triangle of mesmerising football.

    Bukayo was once again superb, and I am really liking that Martinelli is getting more assists now.

    We are flying like butterflies and stinging like hornets.

  • Liverpool defeat Chelsea AET, to win the 2024 Carabao Cup. Seeing the number of players they are missing and having quenched a thirst with this cup, expect them to have some sort of dip in form. Finals take a toll.

  • Last weekends results:-

    1st Kev 4/6 plus 1 correct score and most correct predictions = 10 points

    2nd Stuart 3/6 plus 1 correct score = 5 points

    3rd GN5 & Eris 3/6 = 3 points

    5th PB 2/6 = 2 points

    8th Total 1/6 = 1 point

    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Season to date :-

    1st Eris 141.78

    2nd Stuart 138.46

    3rd Total 137.12

    4th PB 118.65

    5th GN5 111.13

    Kev 106.79

    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    So close at the top – only 4.66 points separate the top three.

    ””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Next weekends selections:-

    Brentford v Chelsea *

    Everton v West Ham United *

    Fulham v Brighton & Hove Albion *

    Newcastle v Wolverhampton *

    Manchester C v Manchester U *

    Arsenal Ladies v Tottenham Ladies *

    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

  • Total, a polite request from moi?

    257 comments is a lot to scroll through, can you put up a short post, doesn’t have to be in depth, just so it’s easier to scroll and post.

    Thanks in anticipation… 😀

  • GN5, thanks for the report. Nice going Kev; the only correct score prediction too. Well, bring it on! 💪.

    On another note, GN5, I could have sworn I had 4 correct predictions…..

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *