Momentum is such a crazy phenomenon; it can be both positive and negative, just ask Liverpool fans! I am writing this as Arsenal are flying high and have as much momentum as Max Verstappen in F1. It is all going swimmingly well but the end of momentum will come at some point, whether it is a negative or positive one. It is hard to predict when the swing will come and to know how to either avoid it or make it happen. Momentum is an untameable beast; only values, principles, discipline and humility have some control over it.
For me it is clear that the Premier League has become even stronger this season, and almost any team can spring a surprise. Look at high flying Sunderland or Brentford beating the Chavs and Pool yesterday, for example. Underestimate an opponent at your peril.
Luckily, nobody who follows football believes that Crystal Palace are an easy three points for Arsenal today. The boys will have to play at full strength and intensity to get over the line. With the 51 year old Glasner they have a very good manager who seems to make his team excel against top opponents. Yes they played and lost on Thursday but this fixture, in which they can see themselves as underdogs with something to prove, they will be up for it.
Palace are just six points behind us in the table and they will want their PL-momentum to swing back after a very strong start. In fact, over the last five PL games they gained as many points as we did, so let there be no doubt that this is a very tough encounter. This will of course be a very special game for Eze. He is still finding his feet in our team, but we can all see the quality that he possesses, and once he is settled in I think we will really benefit from his experience and maturity. I am sure most of the Palace fans will serenade him today, as not many will begrudge him the move to this Arsenal team.
The lineup has been announced, and there are no surprises (and there is of course a midweek game for the League Cup to use those who will be disappointed not to start today). Starts for Calafiori and Trossard, and the rest is as expected.
Starting Lineup:
Raya
Timber – Saliba- Gabriel – Calafiori
Rice – Zubimendi
Eze
Saka – Gyokeres – Trossard
Bench:
Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Hincappie, Martinelli, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Merino, Lewis-Skelly.
That is indeed some bench there!
Anyway, enjoy the game and here is hoping for three beautiful points to move us to new heights.
By TotalArsenal.
Bergkampesque 
Strong line up, as it should be since we need to give Palace due respect for how far they have come. Besides, with Liverpool losing rather surprisingly yesterday, it is a chance to extend the gap further.
Trossard would need to show why he’s been trusted over an equally in-form Martinelli. Hopefully, we are able to get comfortable enough to get to see Hincapie, Ethan, Martinelli and Norgaard, late on.
COYG!!
Yes Eris, using the bench today would be great
Olé Olé
Well the guy who committed that ludicrous foul on Bukayo must be given some lecture right now …
Truth is they had done a hell of a homework during the week. Jurriën and Bukayo had only 2 v 4 to deal with, before his goal Eberechi was cornered into giving the ball away 2 times out of 3, our favorite pockets of space – where our game takes shape – were so well covered they even turned Zubi into a sloppy passer of the ball, etc.
Credit to them, really. Now our lads are mentally so strong that even against such a well-organized bunch, you never feel they are under any real threat, that’s really impressive. I liked Big Bill’s long balls, one for Gyö at the start of the game was an actual thing of beauty; otherwise this is a genuine team performance we’re producing – as always
COYG
Mick – give Ethan a runout, please …
Summed it up to a T, Legall.
Mosquero on for William.
Well this didn’t win the beauty contest, and it wasn’t easy, but Eze still did it. 1-0 to the set-piece assassins.
“How sweet it is to be an Arsenal fan. It’s like sugar, babe”. Fine weekend of results, let’s hope Everton turn over the spuds to complete our joy.
Great to see G.G. watching from the stands. He must be in his mid eighties but still the ultimate 1-0 to The Arsenal man. The match, tho’ uneasy on the eye at times was a fitting tribute to him.
Hardly believable set of results in our favour … starts smelling like coronation season already, doesn’t it?
Now, William (?) Declan (?) the uncertainty about BigGab before the game, Bukayo taken off too, on top of our four already sidelined attacking players … starts looking like a League of Attrition again too.
No disrespect for BHA intended, but I do hope rotation will be heavy come Wednesday,
Time for …
Kepa
White-Mosquera-Hincapié-LewisSkelly
Nørgaard-Merino
Martinelli-Nwaneri-Trossard
Gyö
… or so I think anyway
Was not pretty, to be fair but when you saw a rival beaten yesterday and hold the hope Villa can get something off City (they took 3 points), then what you get is a ground out result. It is strength when you win in games you played badly.
Palace are the reigning FA Cup champions and have added a bit to their game and would give any team a game, on their day.
Good spot, Stuart. I also saw GG in the crowd but didn’t see the “romantic side” of it at the time, relating to the result.
It is great to see the table today, knowing we could stay there another two game weeks.
I hoped we would be comfy enough in this game to enable us give a run out to Norgaard and Ethan too, if they would start midweek. Alas! Palace made it a grind. I didn’t feel, for a minute, that we were at any real risk, mind you, but our team didn’t have the luxury of some complacency.
As it turns out, Chelsea FC score plenty of corner kick goals now. Sunderland scored from another long throw-in. ManU go through some fancy set-piece routines too these days….Brentford also scored from a long throw-in. But it is Arsenal’s set piece goals everyone notices and gripes about. Arteta is a pathfinder. 👍🏾😁
I think we really missed a couple of quality players today. Gyo could have done with a break after running his socks off v Fulham and AM. Odegaard would have made our triangles work better in those right situations. Madueke would have brought some extra spark.
I agree with Legall that Ethan should have had some game time, but we are missing Odegaard, Madueke and Havertz quite a bit, and then there is Jesus of course.
So let’s hang on and lean on defence and midfield a while longer.
Big games in the North coming up.
Still no “Breakdown” of the Atletico game …
Adrian “dereliction of duty” Clarke??
Might be something to do with image owner rights, Legall. Amazon have the rights for this one.
New Post 🙂