The Set-Piece-Clean-Sheet Monsters March On – Who to Play v Brighton?

TotalArsenal

Just four goals scored in the last three PL games and still 9 points. The reason for this is of course our mean, lean defence-machine. Open up the Arsenal laundry cupboard and you will see where Raya and co have been squirrelling away their treasured clean sheets. Make sure you’ll put sunglasses on, though, as you may be blinded by their radiant whiteness.

The depth in defence is just incredible. I have not seen Hincapie in action much, but I sense he will be awesome too. We have double cover in all five positions (including goalkeeper) and that’s so different from our squads over the last twenty years or so. The king of the defence and Set-Piece FC is Big Gabby, and Arteta needs to try and keep him fit for the whole season as he is quite irreplaceable at the moment.

The win against Palace was a vital one for which the team had to dig deep. Fulham, Atletico Madrid and Palace in just eight days was challenging, but three clean sheets and set-piece magic saw us through. There is a lot of talk about the strength of our squad, but not much is said about the fact that we have been missing four internationals for quite a while now: Madueke, Havertz, Jesus and Martin Odegaard. That is a hell of lot of creative/fire power unavailable to Mikel. I thought Bukayo and Viktor looked a bit jaded, and Eze, despite his beautifully taken goal, also lacked spark and concentration yesterday.

The Eagles are a solid team with both strength and penetration up front, and I thought the boys managed them very, very well. The Gunners won three very important points in the PL and many should now get a rest for the Brighton cup game. The next big one is on Saturday in Burnley. We don’t play that many games in the North-West any more; remember the days when we had to go up there a lot to play the likes of Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn (and Stoke)? It was never easy, was it?! If Arsenal push through now a nice gap with the likes of Citeh, Pool, Chavs and MU can be obtained. It is my experience that during the busy December schedule teams more or less gain and lose the same number of points, so now is the time to make the gap as big as possible. Burnley will be no push-overs, so our focus needs to be on that match.

Having said that, I do look forward to the Brighton game on Wednesday. This is a great opportunity to use the wider squad against a very good team that will give us a tough game. Fabian Hurzeler loves to get one over Arteta, and this competition is a great way to win some silverware for the South-Coasters.

What do you think will be our line-up?

By TotalArsenal

95 thoughts on “The Set-Piece-Clean-Sheet Monsters March On – Who to Play v Brighton?”

  • Brighton will field their strongest eleven and play like it’s the final of the world cup as this is their only shrine cup to win.
    Do we play some bench squad players to start with or field the A team then rest them at half time. If it wasn’t a premier team like Brighton we could start with a bench squad team, but I have a feeling it will be a mix and match of the two selections that Arteta will start with, based solely on fitness and injury risks. Against Crystal Palace there seemed to be a lot of unfit players rating just a 5 and 6 out of 10. They may need to be rested.

  • Granit Xhaka (Sunderland): Loads of people will look at all of the new signings, look at the young players that Sunderland have. Xhaka is the general on that pitch. He organises, tackles, has people doing his running for him. He reminds me of what John Terry used to be like at Chelsea towards the end of his career. He’s just a level above everyone else. The way he wraps the passes in, he gets everything right. For me, he was sensational.

    Troy Deeney on Granit.

  • Welcome daveg.

    I think you are spot on re the lineup being a mixture and it is hard to guess who from the normal starting 11 will get to start on Wednesday. I would hope Saka, Timber, Gab, Zubi, Gyo get rested.

  • Eze’s goal was his first in the Premier League since joining from Crystal Palace for £67.5m in August. “He did it very similarly last year, but against us,” Arteta said smiling. “We know against a team that defends with so many bodies, doesn’t allow any space, you have to generate chaos or open spaces to generate big chances. He took the goal really well.”

    The story of structure and chaos is fascinating this season.

  • Hi, dave
    You (and T.) got a point about the importance of the game for BHA of course, and about how 100% sure it is they’ll field they very best XI – and an excellent one that is.
    But … I think Mick has no choice but field his “bench squad players”
    “Positive” argument, the lineup would look like:
    Kepa
    White-Mosquera-Hincapié-LewisSkelly
    Nørgaard-Merino
    Martinelli (Nwaneri)-Nwaneri (Eze)-Trossard (Martinelli)
    Gyökeres (Martinelli)
    It’s incredibly strong, isn’t it? I don’t even think BHA will feel disrespected, they’ll get the rationale behind MA’s selection and won’t think for a moment this is gonna be plain sailing for them.
    “Negative“ argument(s)
    1. We’ve had an extraordinarily (literally extra-ordinary: Utd-‘Pool-City-Newcastle- away game to Bilbao-home game to Atleti …, I don’t think there’s ever been a tougher one) exhausting schedule so far; some of the boys need a break, some even look like they’re walkin’ the thin line between fatigue and injury.
    2. Everything’s been said-written about the strength-depth-balance etc. of our squad, but … in order for it to deliver on its promises it has to be managed very carefully, and there’s no way (imo of course) Mick could bring forward a listenable explanation to Kepa-White-Mosquera-Hincapié-Myles-Nørgaard-Merino-Ethan for not picking them Wednesday …
    3. … you’d be in great danger of “losing“ them, so early into the season, which we can’t afford. T. mentioned how important the December period always is, which is indeed very true, but the 4 months we’ll need all of our 25 boys to be physically 100% fit and mentally 100% sharp, available, responsive … spread from Feb 1st to May 30th – if Mick and his lads are to be true to the immense promises born from these first two months of competition(s). We can’t afford to have players being made to feel they might as well put their tools down already, because after all … why bother? if they’re not even trusted to deliver in a Carabao home game against Brighton.
    Last, but not least …
    4. 😉That’s the team I wanna watch come Wednesday… Kepa, Nørgaard, Hincapié, and … Ethan in particular
    Anyway … I’d bet quite a hefty amount on the above XI, and on a very entertaining game too!!
    COYG

  • TA, surely you meant to say we have only conceded 3 goals in the 9 league games, right? Might I add, only one goal from open play. That’s scary for rivals. Is it sustainable? Why not, if we make it habit?

    LG, I agree with your line up. We don’t have what may be described as a “weakened side” but because Arteta will want to win this, he won’t make wholesale changes so we can keep some relationships going. White, Mosquera, Gabriel/Calafiori, MLS. Hincapie to come on later, as he feels his way back in. Norgaard, Merino, Ethan in midfield. Martinelli, Trossard, Eze, the forwards, to operate with fluidity.

  • Sub Bench will carry some big hitters for when we need back up. Gyo, Saka, Zubi and Rice need a rest .

  • Were the Blacks on your plane, Stu?
    Twickenham two weeks from now, will you still be around? London?

  • Great comments, and thanks for taking part.

    My guess is that Saliba, Rice and Eze start to give the team a bit of a spine.

    Kepa
    White, Sal, Mosq, Hincapie
    Norg, Rice
    Ethan
    Martinelli, Merino, Eze

  • No, LG, the AB’s have their branded Air NZ jet for international travel, and it only transports royalty. I tend to go Air Singapore, tho’ have nothing against our national carrier.
    Purpose of this trip is family in Somerset (son and grandkids), so I am unlikely to get to any matches. I toyed with Cardiff for the Wales match but it falls on the same day as my granddaughters 3rd birthday. Cuddles and cake will prevail in my affections.
    We blew hot and cold in the Rugby Championship, so the prospects for a Grand slam are minimal. IMHO Fozzie should still be in charge.

  • Oh, I get it now, Total. And, I like your starting 11 too. Arteta tends to play these games with a solid defence and will play one of Saliba or Gabriel, for sure. Certainly, it has to be MLS at left back, though I see the sense in trying out Hincapie, but it may be throwing him in at the deep end in front of home fans.

    Rice went off injured on Sunday or I’d agree he should start to help Norgaard against a tricky team as Brighton.

  • Adrian’s back!
    His pick for tomorrow:
    Kepa
    White-Mosquera-Hincapié-LewisSkelly
    Nørgaard
    Dowman-Nwaneri-Eze-Martinelli
    Merino
    Wenger-esque, tantalizing lineup, isn’t it?

  • Ah Eris, I am never sure whether a player is injured or just following script, especially with late in the game subs. If not Rice than the other Rolls Royce, Zubi for me.

  • Same here, TA.

    Arteta confirmed Martinelli is out of it but Rice is okay. Saliba is also out while Calafiori looks likely.

    Adrian Clarke’s predicted line up has not considered the now confirmed injured. Glad he agrees Gyo needs to start from the bench.

  • Thanks Eris, clearly some players are just getting a rest tomorrow. Interesting stuff re attacking options. Would be good to see one or two youth players getting some involvement.

  • Noticed that Zubimendi, Saka and Gabriel were active during training fir the game (courtesy training pics on the club website). Of course, Rice and Gyo were also in the pics. I maintain we rest Gyo and one of Zubi amd Rice (more like Rice to rest).
    So, very possible we see both Norgaard and Zubimendi from the start. Ethan, Eze, Trossard and Merino will be my front 4,in a fluid formation.

  • Morning gents,

    Looking forward to this game at the home of football tonight. The lineup remains a bit of a guess for me. Is Dowman available for this one?

    Eris, and start for Norgaard and Zubi would be great.

  • Dowman is available. Arteta insists the club would manage his appearances wholesomely, with his other engagements (U-19s, U-21s, England and School).
    He may not start this one though; Brighton are a serious Premiership side.

  • They are, Eris … but I’ve just taken a look at the EPL injury table, and it turns out they’re one of the clubs with the most sidelined players – seven, including their very best, Mitoma, whose inspired tricks can hurt any team.
    In his absence, the biggest threat is very likely to be good ol’ Danny W. who’s looked like he stepped right out of a Fountain of Youth bath lately; but whatever the XI Mikel will pick tonight, it’ll have what it takes to hush those troublesome gulls.
    Looking forward to watching a domestic cup game, with new faces donning the red-and-white, and a little less pressure to be felt than on PL/CL matchday.
    COYG

  • Hilarious stuff, Eris …
    Don’t know how the Arsenal haters can stand looking at themselves in mirrors

  • Wow! Arteta has stunned every pundit or team prediction again.
    Front 3 of Ethan, Harriman-Annous and Dowman.
    Hincapie starts as CB and it is Norgaard, Merino and Eze in midfield, as most predicted.

    Like you suggested, LG, Brighton has equally put out a team of relative unknowns, with a strong bench.

    Looking like a game that may go into extra time.

  • LINE-UPS:

    Arsenal:
    Arrizabalaga, White, Hincapie, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Eze, Dowman, Harriman-Annous.

    Subs: Raya, Gabriel, Saka, Timber, Gyokeres, Trossard, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice

    Brighton & Hove Albion:
    Steele, Kadioglu, Van Hecke, Coppola, Boscagli, Baleba, Kostoulas, Rutter, De Cuyper, Gomez, Tzimas

    Subs: Ramming, Dunk, Minteh, Watson, Welbeck, Ayari, Wieffer, Knight, Simmonds

  • Starting 11

    Arrizabalaga
    4
    White
    49
    Lewis-Skelly
    3
    Mosquera
    5
    P. Hincapié
    16
    Norgaard
    23
    Merino
    22
    Nwaneri
    10
    Eze
    71
    Harriman-Annous
    56
    Dowman

  • Well I certainly hadn’t seen that one coming … if only because, to tell the truth, I’ve been very disappointed by what I’ve seen of Andre so far this season.
    Make no mistake! I’m truly delighted for the boy, and I sure hope he’ll make me look like the old fool I am, for writing what I just wrote – let you be our shining star tonight, kiddo!
    COYG

  • That’s exciting stuff. Look forward to the pairings of Hincapie and Mosquero, Merino and Norgaard and of course our attacking players.

    Eris, do you think Eze will play behind the attack or will Ethan play there with Eze on left wing?

  • I always love to see a youth player being tried out like this. Ajax used to be masters at this. I don’t know H.A. at all but I hear what you say, Legall.

    Come on you Young Rip Roaring Gunners!

  • Merino skipper … and a vocal one at that, too; I thought Ben would get the armband, but a more central player makes sense.

  • Team growing into the game and become more of one as it goes on. Rode our luck a few times, and we need to step it up quite a bit in second half. Max doing great.

  • TA, just saw that question. My answer would have been Eze out wide and Ethan central as my first expected line up indicated.

    With the decimation of our usual starting side, it was always going to take time for the team to settle in and get going. We did ride our luck a few times but nothing too incisive.

    The second half will be a lot more intense, especially when some of the big guns get introduced. I’d like to see Gabriel, one of Rice/Zubi, Saka, Trossard and Gyokeres, at some point.

  • We’re likely to end up with
    Gyökeres
    Trossard-Nwaneri-Saka
    upfront …
    from what moment on, exactly? is the question
    (even though the youngsters ‘ve been excellent! with Max outstanding – what a kid)

  • Ethan’s the kind of guy who can bring this to you, even on an “average” day … that’s priceless.
    C’mon kiddos, wrap this up now!

  • Two youngsters, MLS and Ethan combine to make it 1-0 to the Arsenal. Not to ignore Merino’s part (a lovely back heel) in the move.

    Our corner kicks haven’t been as precise as when they are taken by Rice, Saka, Odegaard ….

  • So, 5 changes done and it is Trossard who comes on. Gyo gets the night off, from playing against his old club.

    Happy for Norgaard.and Mosquera for coming through the 90 mins very well (so far).

  • It is Arsenal vs Crystal Palace!

    Cardiff v Chelsea.

    Man City v Brentford

    Newcastle v Fulham

  • Dowman again showed his excellent dribbling ability and in one notable run left Brighton’s Diego Gomez scrambling to keep up.

    He completed the most dribbles (five), won the most fouls (four), and won the most duels (nine) of any player on the pitch.

    What a prospect, young Max is.

  • Everything looks so easy for him. He just glides past senior professional defenders, as though it were the most natural thing in the world to do. Sometimes when he’s done it to one of them you’re under the impression the lad is feeling like swiveling and running right back to his position at the start of the move, and do it all over again, just for the fun of it – after all, why should geniuses bother with the actual result of a game, beauty is all that matters.
    I thought Andre didn’t put a foot wrong either. I loved his move on our second, the timing of it was perfect. It was not easy to fine-tune it to the pass, since the power and speed of Jurriën’s run had left him with only a fraction of a second to deliver his through ball. How the experienced player and the rookie were of one mind then was an absolute thing of beauty.
    Now the boy’ll have to … score more, whether it be for the U21s, the U19s, or … the U18s (Youth Cup?). He was on target on our second, and their GK did very well, but … I wonder if he’s been drilled enough into chipping the ball over the keeper in that exact situation (right-footed player in shooting position from the right wing, in a tight angle), it’s the only way of having an outside chance to score – barring a GK error – and should be repeated, over and over again, ’til it has become natural, instinctive …
    A night to be proud of Hale End it was, which soothes – a little – the pain of how humiliating our run in the Youth League has been so far, but I loved too:
    the peace of mind a backup keeper like Kepa brings
    the Nørgaard-Merino partnership, both are class acts – what a luxury it is to have them right behind Zubi-Declan …
    Hincapié’s first steps; I though he was huffin’ and puffin’ at the start – which was to be expected – but he did show what a natural-born defender he is, especially when he bailed out Mosquera in the second half
    the clean sheet!! tbh, after the first 15 minutes, I didn’t think we would add up another one to our collection
    etc. etc.
    to cut a long story short, this night turned out to be everything a League Cup home game draw allows us to look forward to
    COYG

  • I love the joy in that comment, Legall. All agreed, and it was great to get a couple of open play goals. Agreed with the elusive Kiwi that the pre-assists were a thing of beauty.

  • Lovely to read that the club has established a new record, the first in English top flight history to go through an entire month winning every game (6) and not conceding a single goal.
    The boys are making history.

    I thought Kepa had a fine game, his positioning during those jittery opening twenty minutes was that of a well experienced pro. Amen, LG, “peace of mind” indeed, his performance exuded a sense of ‘Relax boys, I’ve got this’.

  • Busy day, LG. Burnley v Arsenal at 3pm, quick trip back to my digs for dinner, returning to the pub for A.B.’s v Ireland at 8pm. I’m picking 2-0 at Turf Moor and A.B.’s by ten points in Chicago.
    Amuse-toi bien avec les jeux, mon ami.

  • Chicago indeed … it had escaped me. Hence the unusual ko time, then (10pm here).
    Crazy if you ask me, but then again the RFU have allowed Twickenham to be branded “Allianz” Twickenham, so nothing about what’s becoming of rugby should surprise me anymore, I guess.
    “Too old for this s..t”, that’s for sure, but … looking forward to the game anyway

  • The power of the dollar, mate. The game should be in Dublin and, if anywhere in the States, in Boston. I hope, before I shuffle off this mortal coil, I never witness an EPL match played anywhere other than an English stadium (unless a Welsh team gets back in the top flight).

  • That’s dystopia to me too, Stu …
    Willie Young has passed, 73 years of age only. What a sad way to start November “which only believes/In a pile of dead leaves/And a moon/That’s the colour of bones”.
    I think I told you before that the “Terry Neill” years were the years where I “identified” with the teams more, because – for multiple reasons – that’s when I could attend the most games at Highbury.
    They probably were the years when we “loved being hated” more, simply because “they” feared us – Willie in particular. I’m afraid “that” tackle on Allen will be mentioned, over and over again in the hours to come, but on a day like this, who cares anyway?
    We, the fans, will remember him for the fabulous defender we were so proud of, and that’s all that matters.
    RIP Willie.

  • Despite that period being in the midst of my lost years, I do remember that tackle well, and the defeat to the Hammers. Willy was, along with big Frank probably our best Scottish players since Alex James came down in the thirties. I have Alex James biography and I have a signed copy of Terry Neill’s which I found in a National Trust property book sale a few years back.
    Lovely line from Tom Waits. You’ll probably want to slap me for saying that I always thought him a better poet than a singer.

  • Thanks Stu! Indeed a great photo of Edinburgh with the resting elephant, Arthur’s Seat, in the background. I will go and see the exhibition at the fabulous Portrait Gallery.

  • Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Calafiori, Saliba, Gabriel, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres]

    Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Hincapie, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Merino, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman

  • Burnley

    Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Laurent, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Hartman, Florentino, Cullen, Ugochukwu, Anthony, Flemming

    Subs: Weiss, Ekdal, Pires, Mejbri, Tchaouna, Barnes, Bruun Larsen, Broja, Edwards

    Pires on the bench! 🤩

  • Olé Olé to start with again. I can’t help but burst out laughing when we crack the safe this way now. But there’s much more to this half than that, of course. They’re a very good side, Burnley, but whenever the lads mean business as they do today, they’re a class apart from most of the teams.
    Were it. not for Dubravka, who looks like he’s got something personal to settle with Bukayo, we’d be at least 3 goals up. Both of our skipper’s opportunities were set up by Gyö who’s found his feet once and for all – you can feel the weight his 2 CL goals have taken off his shoulders, I loved the one he scored, genuine poacher style – 30 like this for me this season Vik, who cares for that “Puskas” reward?
    I loved the duel between the grizzled vets Walker-Tros, but wtf was Walker thinking when he decided to take that throw-in that far up on our … right (!!) wing; he depleted his own wing and guess what BigGab won the duel, 3 seconds later the ball was in the back of their net from an assist coming from the portion of turf Walker had deserted. It was a move to be shown in academies – if only for the calm the boys handled it with – over and over again, but I seriously doubt Parker is patting his RB on the back right now.
    Anyway, what an excellent game of football this is; I mean no disrespect to this highly respectable Burnley side, but scoring the 3rd asap would be great – Mick could rotate quickly and heavily …
    What a season, COYG

  • Jealous you can watch it. Legall. Thanks for your observations. Yes shame Saka didn’t get his goal in the first half.

    Gyo off, hopefully just a rest.

  • Just call me ‘Nostradangus’, fellows. Hope my prediction for the A.B.’s is as accurate.

    Super result, three points, clean sheet, no opposition shots on target, seven clear at the top, good rotation of squad, just the one (unfair IMHO) card.

  • Not as much fun, but absolute control … ’til that late FK! The schedule’s so insane it was to be expected, I guess.
    I do hope nothing’s the matter with Gyö (I watch the games with the sound turned off – music on though, Leonard Cohen today – so I don’t know what the useless chatterboxes of Canal said about it). Interesting changes; I thought Hincapié and Nørgaard looked less rusty already, I definitely love Ethan’s style and Myles given minutes (too few for my taste but …) higher up the pitch makes sense, since that’s where he has a future imo.
    Mission accomplished, bring on the Bohemians; COYG!

  • Just what the team needed. Three points and calm second half. Tuesday in Prague and Saturday in Sunderland, dark November days with brilliant light from the Gunners.

  • FC Rouen 2 FC Villefranche Beaujolais 1
    (you can’t make up such a name, can you?)
    “National” table so far:
    1 Rouen GP12 Pts27
    2 Sochaux-Dijon-Versailles-Orléans GP11 Pts … 20 !!!
    Smells like promotion to Ligue2, doesn’t it?

  • Hearts are doin’ very well too this season, do you happen to pay ’em a visit sometimes, T.?

  • Just the kind of result we all hoped for and the clean sheets numbers we’ve racked up do our chances a lot of good. Gyo being on the score sheet was even sweeter for me.
    I could only see the game through a link that I fear may be risky and likely virus infested but, I had to see it. Liverpool will certainly play with a lot of nerves and will do well not to lose again (not that I won’t like that) so we can stretch our lead over them.

    On to the midweek and Granit Xhaka’s Sunderland at the weekend.

    COYG!!

  • They are flying at the moment, Legall. Once my vision is good again, I will try and watch them at Tynecastle.

    My boyhood team Roda JC are also doing OK this season, but long way to go.

  • Emi Martinez just made a blunder that’s just put Liverpool ahead. Before that, Villa appeared to be doing well keeping it even.

    Salah looks like a man reborn. Maybe, chasing that milestone goal?

  • Soldier Field looks very much like a battlefield, doesn’t it? This pitch is a disgrace, which might go a long way to accounting for this 1st half not being a classic.
    Ireland are much better than I expected them to be though; they dealt with that (harsh, don’t you think?) red card remarkably well. As for your try, your boys make this kind of slick move look so easy you feel they could do it with a blindfold on … Now, I think your boy McKenzie is needed if you really want to turn things around asap, but well, what do I know after all?

    T., what’s wrong with your vision?

  • Duc, it’s to do with cataracts. Had surgery on one and now waiting for the next one. A couple of years ago I saw a live game at Sheffield Wednesday and and it wasn’t great vison-wise. But once it is all done, and it has been and still is a long wait, I will go to stadiums again.

    Glad you are enjoying the rugby.

  • Still in Canada, TA. In Nigeria, we get to see every game on paid cable TV.

    Sorry about your eyes.

  • The Barrett boys took a bit of punishment but all down to misfortune rather than undue aggression on the part of the Irish lads. I like the 20 minute ruling but felt a yellow was sufficient (if anything at all). The Sports Bar I watched the match in had Liverpool v Villa on the big screen and the rugby on a small screen beside it. Once again I was struck with the difference in dynamism between the two codes, rugby is too stop start, the Anfield match was end to end excitement. I’ll never give up on watching the A.B.’s but I fear for the future of the sport as a spectacle unless some tweaks to rules and tactics are introduced. Already in NZ we are seeing numbers entering the game at grassroots faltering with football and League becoming more popular. What’s it like in France, LG?

    All the best for that eye op, Total.

  • I know next to nothing of grassroots rugby in France, Stu (things have been changing a little lately, but rugby still remains a South of the Loire thing) …
    For what it’s worth, I do know that all of my former football teammates who had taken to coaching once our playing years were behind us, have given up for quite some time now, and not only because they were ageing. They still loved the game but they were fed up with having to beg – or to threaten – their players into turning up to training sessions, even at the fifth and sixth tiers of French football (National 3 and Régional 1, “Division d’Honneur” and “Division d’Honneur Régionale” in “my” days), where you’re supposed to have players who still have a desire to keep improving, win games, earn promotions. Sign o’ the times, I guess, but it sure makes me wonder what it’s like in rugby, because of the specific demands of the sport, and of the sheer numbers of present players needed for a training session to simply be worth the name …
    As for the rules, I don’t know; there’s quite a lot already, isn’t there? The time taken yesterday to analyse that potential-yellow-finally-turned-red was just ludicrous, it sure was a kill-joy moment but most of the very same situations are dealt with in no time. This might be the effect of the impression the last thirty minutes of your boys left me under, though; rugby didn’t feel like stop-start to me then. Once your boy McKenzie was brought on it looked like awopbopalooploppopbambboom rugby to me …

  • Yeh, LG, DMac, as we call him back home is, along with Ardie my favourite A.B. in the present team. In fairness the Irish tired not having the benefit of much recent competitive match play, allowing us to find gaps and create overloads.
    Rewatched the Burnley match last night and, once again I found myself considering this Arsenal defence as the best I’ve seen since I started following in 1970. They are astonishingly good, especially when consideration is given to how they not only defend well, but to their crucial involvement in attacking set pieces and the, seemingly maverick but imho highly choreographed rampaging activity of the fullbacks all over the pitch. Tactically this team is a revelation. A song. Move over City and Gershwin, this is a rhapsody in red and white.

  • Yes Stu, the defence is amazing, a rhapsody in red and white indeed.

    I am still buzzing about the Rice goal too. The Gyö diagonal raking long ball over the ground was a work of beauty; Leo had all the time to receive the ball and plan his next move, and the cross was perfect; and then Declan jumped in the air like an eagle and headed in beautifully, no doubt aided by his auntie’s presence right then.

  • Easily, the greatest baller to not win the FIFA Ballon d’or – Thierry Henry!!

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