“Our actions may be impeded… but there can be no impeding our intentions or dispositions. Because we can accommodate and adapt. The mind adapts and converts to its purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” (Marcus Aurelius Meditations 5.20)
We are getting towards mid-January and it is all going swimmingly well with Arsenal. This is an insane month of games without any rest and plenty at stake. Luckily, Arsenal have a strong squad and players returning form injury are starting to outnumber those becoming injured. The defence (especially the full-backs) remains an area of concern, but it looks like Mikel has found an answer to everything. The summer signings have all made vital contributions to the success of the team until now, and our manager’s use of Norgaard in defence as well as Hincapie as a left full back have been inspired.
What I liked most about our victory over Portsmouth is the level of energy and commitment on display. Nobody looked like they did not care too much; all were able to match the aggression and desire of the home team and crowd. When Arsenal have leaders in the team like Big G, Merino, Eze and Jesus you know that the standards will be high. This is the sort of game Portsmouth and their fans will have looked forward to: nothing to lose but let’s give those spoiled Gunners a game and see what will happen! Home-hubris was high and the early goal against us could have made the game go south. Previous Arsenal teams may have wilted, but the early adversity got the troops riled and boy did Arsenal play well. What stands in the way becomes the way.
Well the boys raised their level and the game finished 1-4 to the good guys. Ethan progressed well in the game; Norgaard stood strong for 90 minutes, Ben White showed everyone who is boss, Martinelli leaped liked a salmon and scored a beautiful hattrick, Jesus and Kepa gained more match-fitness, Kai had some minutes, Noni produced two fabulous assists, MLS enjoyed himself, Eze may have found himself again at the end of the match, and young Salmon had a little piece of the action. The highlight for me was Jesus assist after quick acting by MLS.
Next up are the Chavs and I predict Arteta will field a very strong team, more so as a preparation for the away game v Forest, which will be another crucial one, than a huge desire to win the League Cup. It’s all about form and momentum now, so let’s give the Chavs something to remember on Wednesday.
By TotalArsenal
Bergkampesque 
Arsenal v Wigan in the FA cup next. Home draw always preferable.
That Jesus assist, eh? So much playground football in it, a shot of nostalgic electricity ran up my spine. The lad did everything perfectly, in a succession of split seconds.
First the move – or to be precise, the body language – that triggered Myles (gorgeous) pre-assist: he just positioned his upper body at exactly the right angle so Myles could see the channel his pass should go through – he might as well have drawn it onto the pitch.
Then the lower part of his body, identical to 800 or 1500 metres’ athletes; Myles, my boy, the moment you kick the ball will be the starting gun.
The brain, now: he knew where Marti had been waiting all along, had spotted him at the far post as soon as the ref had blown his whistle – and of course, cherry on the cake, the technical perfection of the cross …
What a wonderful game football can be. To trigger an assist, the forward doesn’t have to run so hard as to dig a 30-yard swath into the ground; GJ9’s move had “street football” written all over it – he (and Marti) looked like they had done exactly that hundreds of times in the tiniest pockets of space, on whichever nondescript playgrounds that started to learn their trade.
A magic moment it was indeed …
Wednesday?
Gyökeres
Martinelli-Eze-Madueke
Merino-Nørgaard
Timber-Gabriel-Saliba-White
Kepa
(Raya-LewisSkelly-Zubimendi-Rice-Saka-Ogegaard-Nwaneri-Havertz-Jesus) … looks like a very strong side to me. Gyö has to start imo, he has to be given that chance to shine again – with Kai’s back, it might even be his “Last Chance Texaco”.
COYG
https://www.arsenal.com/news/mertesacker-step-down-academy-manager
Per to leave at end of season. A humble giant.
*they* started to learn …
Kai’s *return*
Street football indeed. I think the boys enjoyed themselves thoroughly.
Rickie LJ, now you are talking. There is so much Zen in that woman’s music.
I like the line up, duc de Normandie, but i think Dec, Leo and Bukayo will all start.
Thanks Total. Great quote and a very fitting call for our boys.
Yes, LG, the poetry and the science, the Voronoin geometry of the game is, for those with eyes to see indeed a thing of singular, cascading beauty.
Ahhh, Ricki Lee, up there with Joni.
Charlie Patino a starter for Deportivo in their Ro16 game against Atletico (0-0 at HT) …
He’s not there yet, far from it, he’ll have his ups and downs again, but the boy’s clearly back on his way to being the player he was always meant to be (I watched him against Las Palmas lately – he didn’t start that day -; I hadn’t seen a Secunda Division game in a long, long time, I found the technical level jaw-dropping, but the lad looked like he felt snug as a bug …) and well … all of this is a just sight for sore eyes (mine, at least).
Lovely header for the post, TA; and what a rallying cry in that quote. Just what our boys need to live by. The attitude has to be win every game, no matter what….let’s see where it leaves us at the end of the season..
City looks dead certain for the final now, with that 0-2 win in the first leg at Newcastle. Hope we repeat a similar result to set up the final before the run-in. Imagine beating City to the cup and the league title. Bliss.
Hard to predict what kind of 11 we will go with at Chelsea, (because Arteta can pick and trust any one of them and they will pull up trees for the manager) but I expect a very strong side. We can afford to rotate for Forest and even Inter, next week.
We must eliminate the Chavs and seek to lift the Carabao Cup to boost confidence for the rest of the season.
Morocco vs Nigeria comes up same time/day as Chelsea vs Arsenal. Got to make a choice….. 🤔
Split screen, Eris? I’ll be watching Arsenal live and record the international for afters. We have rain forecast for the morning, so perfect for being indoors watching football.
Lovely to read those words about Charlie P, LG. I long thought he’d be our next Liam Brady. Grand to learn he is lighting up in Spain.
Shitty faced down a big test v Newcastle this morning. But for the cross bar, post and a wonder save the Geordies could have had a draw. The Manc’s central defence looked a bit creaky. Let’s hope they don’t add Guehi in this window.
Good luck tonight, Eris.
Thanks, TA. We will be needing it against the hosts. Good luck to us too, as we go to Stamford Bridge for the 1st leg of our Carabao Cup semi-final tie.
Hoping for double victory for you, Eris.
New post 🫎
Interestingly, Arsenal’s fixtures against Palace (Cup), Brighton and Villa all coincided with Nigeria’s group stage fixtures against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda. Both teams won all 3 fixtures.
Long may the charm continue.