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Another epic battle and defensive masterclass, another referee who sticks to the rules when it comes to Arsenal but lacks consistency, another great result: this Arsenal is up for the title battle alright!

Manchester City 2 – 2 Arsenal: 8 Observations

1. What a battle of the Giants this was. This certainly was the battle between Big Gab and Saliba on one hand and the Norwegian Berserker on the other; and then there was the battle between the rest of the two teams. Haaland scored a fine goal, benefiting from the space the defenders left between them – we conceded a similar one against Brighton – and the goalkeeper coming out of his goal where it would have been better for him to stay between the poles. But after that he was in the pockets of our Brazilian-French central defenders and looked more and more pathetic. Throwing the ball against big Gab’s head from the back at the end of the game was cowardly, but our Brazilian giant did not even notice it; that’s how cool he is. Gabriel’s goal was a thing of beauty: they all knew it was going to happen and so it did. This mini-battle within the big battle was a joy to watch.
2. What a goal by Calafiori! And what a first start in his Arsenal career! Tomiyasu, White, Timber and Calafiori, Zinchenko, Kiwior and Tierney: have we ever had a better lot of full backs to choose from?! I know they are also cover for our centre backs, but boy oh boy what an army of defenders we have at our disposal.
3. The sending off: the referee makes a bad call, not by the letter of the law, but by his inability to understand the disconnect between the severity of the offense and the impact on this top, top football game. There was also inconsistency, as a similar action by a City player went unpunished. Football is emotion, and I cannot see why Trossard’s kicking the ball away is worthy of a yellow card when time simply can be added on. To me it looked like the referee was trying to make good on an advantage he had been perceived to have given to Arsenal which led to our equaliser. 11 v 11 would also have been a tight game in the second half, but I think we all sensed that Arsenal were on their way to a glorious victory at the blue oil rig.
4. I am happy with any set of rules as long as they are clear to all and consistently applied. The latter is a pipe-dream, and we have to learn to live with it. |Therefore, Mikel, I think you need to substitute anyone who receives a yellow card in the game immediately. If experienced players like Rice and Trossard can fall victim to this then anybody can. Of course I am joking, but this double-yellow-card-becomes- quickly-a-red-car change in refereeing is definitely a risk for our title-campaign.
5. The second half was a masterclass of keeping out a team, and what a team performance this was. Everybody fought like lions and stuck to the task tremendously well. The equaliser fell very, very late and was the result of fatigue. For once the boys left too much space and our defensive walls were finally cracked open. But we all know that this defensive performance, whilst building further on similar stellar performances against Brighton, Villa and Spuds, will frighten our next opponents significantly. Let’s just make sure we keep all 11 players on the pitch in the foreseeable future.
6. Going forward, one thing to do better is breaking out of these deep, defensive positions, especially with a man less. For this we need players who are strong and good at keeping the ball for a few seconds to allow fellow players to come out and find a bit of space. None of our attackers excelled at this, and as a result the team struggled to get breathers in the second half.
7. This was another brilliant performance by David Raya: he reacts so quickly and his arm is so decisive and strong and he almost looks unbeatable.
8. Saka’s delivery from corners is as important as Big Gabs timing and finishing. The two Gunners have such a great connection when it comes to time and space and long may it continue.

By TotalArsenal.

It is quite unbelievable that Arsenal’s fifth game is the third hard-away game of the new season. Villa and Spuds were put to the sword, but the today’s challenge against the alleged money-dopers is of course the biggest challenge of them all. Arteta has been brilliant in front of the camera regarding this tough sequence of games, which was made even harder with an opening away game against Atalanta for the CL. These three away games in a row after the first International break is as hard as it gets.

The good news is that we have a strong and highly motivated squad and these recent hard games will have the boys in the right frame of mind and form to deal with the Blue Oilers of Manchester. Martin Odegaard, our captain and talisman, will be missed in the coming weeks (hopefully not months), but against City less so. Whether we like it or not, we will have to sit deep and play on the counter, and this would also have been the case with the Norwegian Mozart in the team today.

The line-ups for today’s game:

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard.
Subs: Neto, White, Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Kacurri, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Sterling, Jesus.

Man City: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Bernardo, Savinho, Doku, Haaland 
Subs: Ortega, Carson, Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Nunes, Foden, Lewis, McAtee

So Calafiori will play and I reckon we will see a far stronger left side than we have had recently. The main reason for this the Italian is likely to push and play next to Partey AND that Rice is back. Declan will now be able to push up and support our attack on the left side much more than previously has been the case, and I am very excited about it. The one who will benefit most of this all is young Martinelli, as he will now get much more support, similar to what he had during Granit Xhaka’s last season (and boy was he more effective back then).

Havertz and Trossard will support midfield constantly whilst also both able to produce a through-ball when possible. I think this formation will suit us very well against the Blue Mancs today, and let’s see how it will all unfold.

Come On You Rip Roaring Gunners!

By TotalArsenal.

Totts 0-1 Arsenal

A day after the sweetest 1-0 to the Arsenal victories and I am still buzzing. Arsenal were dealt with a very cruel start to the season, with three away games in the first five fixtures against opponents that can all hurt us. Villa, Spuds and Citeh away are never easy but to play them straightaway and in quick succession carries a real risk of making a poor start from which we could possibly never recover during the remainder of the season. But we have a manager who knows that a successful campaign is only possible by having a mean defence, and our lads are as mean as it gets. Two away games have reaped six points, and next up are the blue Oilers of Manchester. So far so very, very good.

White, Saliba, Gabriel and Timber, what a Spuds-crushing wall you all presented. Theo Walcott was right in his observation that this Arsenal reminded him of the early Mourinho-days. It is not the first time that Mikel has set up the team not to lose and count on us taking one or two of our chances; when needs must Arsenal can suck the life out of any opponent. And that is exactly what Arsenal did yesterday: no space, no time in all the areas where we could have be hurt: masters in the air, on the wings and through the middle.

In a way it felt like we were playing the entire game with 10 rather than 11 players. We sat deep and absorbed pressure and we let the Spuds bounce around the pitch as long as they did not come within 25 yards of our goal. The Gunners played with a Joan of Arc-like singularity of purpose and belief which were a joy to watch. The Spuds supporters thought we were there for the taking without Odegaard and Rice (Merino and Calafiori), but Arteta – sometimes accused of not having a Plan-B – made sure they all went home with their chins on their chests.

It is clear that we depend a lot on both Rice and Odegaard for playing the football that Arteta really wants us to play. In a way, we lacked springs between defence and attack, and Arteta knew that he had no solution for this. Calafiori and Merino could have been the like for like substitutes but they were both not available, and so Mikel had to come up with something else. I thought Jorginho was immense. Such an intelligent player who has a humble but effective, Marcus Aurelius like, way of getting the best out of the people around him with his serving leadership style. Partey was also fantastic. He will always give the ball away unnecessarily, but his presence and footballing qualities add so much to the team.

All our attackers worked tirelessly to support midfield and defence, and yet they also offered real danger if and when we were able to spring an attack. Martinelli was a great support for Timber and Saka doubled up wonderfully with White. I think we may have shown the Spuds too much respect with the way we set ourselves up, if I am totally honest, but it paid off and left us with the sweetest of 1-0 to the Arsenal victories.

By TotalArsenal.

Yesterday’s game is a fine example of how football remains unpredictable and nothing can be taken for granted. Arsenal were not particularly cruising when Declan got his second yellow card, but it was 1-0 to the Arsenal and we were mostly in control of the game. Then the referee decided that Rice deserved a second yellow card and the whole complexion of our battle with the Seagulls changed in an instance. Nobody can argue that Kavanagh, the ugly and venomous toad, was not in his right to issue a second card, but a decent referee would have understood that the severity of issuing one was not merited at that moment. This was certainly what Rice was counting on, but he should also have known better. When you are on a yellow card make sure you stay disciplined for the remainder of the game; Declan did not do that.

It is obvious from the first three games that Arsenal are not firing from all cylinders as yet. The team has been riding their luck at times and relied heavily on both the form of Raya and the attacking sharpness of both Saka and Kai. Our midfield players Rice and Odegaard are out of form and they are both trying desperately to regain it. Partey has been a big plus, even though he will never lose his ability to play a bad, unforced pass or two in each and every game. Because of the stiffness and lack of confidence of our English and Norwegian midfielders the whole team was too static and predictable, but I am confident this will improve significantly from this month onwards.

Key is that we got 7 out 9 points from our first fixtures and have conceded only one goal. And that one goal only came very soon after Rice was sent off. It was the gap that he left behind that led to the goal; both central defenders hesitated at the crucial moment and after that the damage was done, despite a fine initial safe by Raya. In hindsight, Arteta should have acted quicker with bringing one an extra defender, but hey ho life does not always work like that.

It was obvious that the departure of Rice did not only mean we were a man down, but a key one at that for whom we did not have a like-for-like replacement. I guess if Big Gap had not landed on Merino we would have seen him play his first minutes in the mighty red and white, but it was not to be. Zinchenko would have been a good option, but combining Calarfiori with Timber was also sound. It just came a bit too late and the damage was done before we knew it.

I am very proud of how the team managed the game from the equaliser onwards. Credit to the Seagulls who had guts and quality to push us into our own half and try and force a winner. They almost did but Arsenal arguably had the better chances from a couple of counter attacks. In the end, I think we should be happy with the point and move on to the next game. Life throws these sort of situations at us and every team will experience them during the season. It’s the way the boys responded to the adversity that matters and, on yesterday’s evidence, we are going to be okay.

Finally, a three week PL break for Declan may do him good (and I think he should also get a break from international games). To me, he did not look ready to start the new season, despite no lack of trying his utmost. He will return in the game against Citeh and that may be just what we need then.

Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.

Shakespeare

By TotalArsenal.

GN5 Remembrance PL competition

ANNOUNCEMENT

To follow the long tradition of Bergkampesque and to honor the loving memory of frequent author, fellow Gooner, but most of all our dear friend GN5 (Cyril) please welcome this season’s competition in his name.

Without usurping his trademark weekly game-scoring prediction contest, but keeping the focus on the PL with a slight bias towards Arsenal the competition is a simplified forecast of the final table.

In fact, to participate you only need to comment 5 groups of clubs (4 teams each) and a single 3-digit number (see later).

Nevertheless (you knew this word was coming) don’t rush and give some time to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Premier League.

Is Manchester City stronger than in the previous season? Can Arteta increase the total points with a further 2-3?

Is the marriage of Bohly’s money and spending spree with a coach from Guardiola’s school will be enough to qualify Chelsea to the CL?

Could Emery further improve on his squad or did he fall victim to the summer transfer megalomania?

Will Ten Hag be capable of integrating his recently signed stars into a competitive team soon enough to fight for silverware?

Is Dominic Solanke a Champions League level striker (whom we should regret not signing)?

Has any team completed a more effective transfer window than West Ham United?

Do you think the passivity of Liverpool – and Slot – is a sign of impotence or a sign of pure genius?

Shall we start calling Fulham little Arsenal, and can our former gunners (Leno, Iwobi, ESR) lead them to greatness?

Can Crystal Palace maintain their quality without their star player(s) and substantial reinforcements? (At the time of the post Nketiah was not yet transferred.)

Will any of the promoted teams be able to stay in the PL or will they share the fate of the previous year’s commuters?

APPLICATION

Don’t worry, you don’t have to answer these questions – however feel free to participate in the discussion in the comments.

You simply (?) need to divide the 20 PL teams into the 5 categories below and list them regardless of their further order within their groups.

1. League of Champions – England’s and Europe’s finest (1-4)

2. The challengers – competing for a spot in Europe (5-8)

3. Mid-table mediocrity – still stronger than most from the Top 10 leagues (9-12)

4. Climbing up or falling down –teams that also played (13-16)

5. Tested and found wanting – 3 frustrated and 1 relieved (17-20)

+1: the sum of Arsenal’s final table points and goal difference.

SCORING

You get

+4 points after each team’s final standing in the proper designated category

+1 point/team if they end up in a neighboring category (regardless of direction)

-2 points if your predicted and the actual final categories are 2 groups apart

-5 points per team if a club happens to deceive you by 3 whole categories

If you manage to err by 4 categories (you predict a team making CL while it gets delegated; or vice versa) you get disqualified, TA will ban you from the blog, and we inform your internet service provider to make the necessary steps.*

In the probable case of a tie the deciding factor will be the accuracy of your prediction about – the sum of – Arsenal’s final table points and goal difference.

* The same penalty applies if you predict the sum of table points and goal difference using only 2 digits.

In the highly unlikely case of a second level tie the person who submitted their predictions sooner will be awarded.

MONITORING

I will do my very best to share the standings 5 times during the PL campaign: after the 6th, 12th, 19th, 25th and 31st rounds before announcing the winners at the end of the season.

Obviously, the mid-league standings have no significance whatsoever, they will be only snapshots of the entire process. It could be interesting though.

(For the sake of simplification I will use a linear model to proportionally adjust Arsenal’s final table points and goal difference.)

For a single game at hand I will assume a 0:0 draw. If more games are missing, I will apply a more sophisticated but rather uninteresting model to forecast the unavailable results thus balancing the games played by each team.

In case you would like to audit the fairness of the competition I will store the prediction and evaluate the scores in an excel table – feel free to ask for a copy at the end.

REWARDS

Following Stuart’s generous offer the first prize will be a signed copy of Liam Brady’s autobiography: Born to be a footballer

Born to be a Footballer: My Autobiography: SHORTLISTED FOR IRISH BOOK AWARDS – EASON SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR

The second prize will be a 3D puzzle on Arsenal’s Emirates stadium.

As a third prize you will be invited to the brainstorming about next season’s competition.

Logistics will be communicated via e-mail or private messages of a selected social media.

DEADLINE

It would have been reasonable to set the submission deadline before the PL starts to the 15th of August.

However, the 2 weeks between the start of the campaign and the end of the summer transfer window could seriously impact the squads and thus their competitiveness.

And it is indeed important. Would Toney leave England or only Brentford? Will Crystal Palace lose Guéhi? If yes, would it reinforce Newcastle’s defense? 

Could Chelsea or Arsenal be the final destination for Osimhen? Will Fulham snatch McTominay? Is Chelsea going to give away their surplus to requirement players cheaply to their competitors or loan them out?

Therefore, after careful consideration, the deadline for submission is the start of the 3rd round, specifically the kick-off of the Arsenal vs. Brighton game on the last day of August.

(The summer transfer window will have been closed for half a day by then, so you will have had plenty of time to incorporate the last minute transfers to your prediction.)

The channel to submit your predictions is a comment: either under this thread or under a subsequent post that follows – before the deadline (13:30 GMT).

PARTICIPATION

Everybody is most welcome to take part in GN5 memorial PL competition**.

For the core community and recurring guest authors it’s kind of a moral obligation, but there are no restrictions applied.

Anyone can submit, regardless of age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, hell even football preference.

So you can be a first time visitor – even supporting a different team – feel free to share your predictions, as long as you behave as civilized adults.

(Do not worry, being a Chelsea, Tottenham or United fan will be considered grey zone from the civilization point of view.)

Past Arsenal employees and affiliates are welcome to join. The more the merrier. 

** However, current first team players and coaching staff members are excluded due to conflict of interest.

Nevertheless, I’m willing to turn a blind eye as long as you offer a signed jersey for next year’s competition.

For the sake of excitement – and to increase the number of participants – I will submit 2 dummy predictions. One from ChatGPT (or the first AI that is willing to answer my PL forecast inquiry) and one solely based on TransferMarkt’s order of squad value by the time the transfer window closes.

In the (sad) case of an artificial entry getting into the top 3 the prize will be awarded to the next humanoid participant.

Don’t hesitate to share your questions in the comments. But be kind. 

And don’t forget to submit your 5 sets of teams by Saturday!

By PB.

The annual summer transfer window bolero is nearing its crescendo, and it is all looking good for Arsenal. We kept all our key players and strengthened defence and midfield significantly. Arsenal allowed Emile to leave and a few others have left on loan. There is every chance that a couple of others will be allowed to leave before the window shuts, and it looks like we may get another player in attack, especially if indeed Eddie is allowed to leave.

Talking about attack, I think the BIG question is whether to buy and then play a beast of a CF OR to stick with the philosophy of spreading the responsibility of scoring our goals throughout the team. Arsenal score a lot of goals: 84 in 22-23 and 85 in 23-24, about 2.3 goals per game. Citeh have scored even more but we are meaner in defence, and this is likely to continue this season.

Last season, we had 7 players who scored more than 5 goals, and White (4), Gab (3) and Saliba (2) scored 9 goals between them. During the 22-23 season only five managed to score more than 5 goals and our defenders hardly contributed. I like the philosophy of spreading the goals between all the players as it makes us less predictable and protects us against the main striker’s inevitable off-day significantly. But every time we lose a game we will hear again and again that Arsenal are lacking a top CF blah blah blah. So if only for that reason, I welcome the arrival of one.

In the meantime, I am hopeful that we will have a much stronger attack on the left side this season. Martinelli and Rice managed just 13 goals between them, and especially the young Brazilian saw his tally reduced significantly: from 15 to 6 over last two seasons. Rice has as many goals this season as Xhaka managed to score in the one before that (7).

I think the main reasons for this is that Xhaka was very effective playing next to Odegaard, and Rice is playing a deeper role than Granit. What I am really excited about is that Mikel and Edu have now invested heavily in strengthening the left side, and the arrival of Merino and better quality left backs is likely to mean that Rice will be pushed up and play the ‘Xhaka-role’ going forward. As a result, I expect both Martinelli and Odegaard to benefit a lot. Both managed 30 goals between them when Xhaka was still a Gunner, whereas last season they managed just 14 goals between them. Both Martin and Gabriel worked their socks off but appeared often isolated and having to do too much non-attacking work, last season. Often when it came to finishing a chance they looked tired and fluffed their efforts.

What saved us was super-sub/irregular starter, Trossard, who scored a quite impressive 12 goals in the PL last season. Furthermore, in the middle we had a decent improvement: in 22-23 Jesus and Eddie scored 15 goals; and in 23-24 Jesus, Havertz and Eddie managed 22 goals between them.

Bukayo and Odegaard, who operate mainly on the right, managed 24 goals between them last season, down from 29 in 22-23, so there is work to be done here as well, although Saka managed to improve his tally by 2, from 14 to 16.

In conclusion, it all does not seem as simple as just buying a beast of a CF and we will score even more goals than our 2.3 per game in the previous seasons. Both Kai and Jesus work hard and offer a lot more than the typical CF does. A top CF will score more than them, no doubt, but we may create less chances as a result of introducing such a player. It all remains to be seen whether a top CF would make us score more goals over a whole season.

Instead, I am much more hopeful of Mikel now getting the balance right on the left:

1. Calafiori and Timber improve our quality in left back
2. Merino can play deep (and higher up) in midfield
3. Rice can move up and partner Odegaard

I have a beautiful feeling that this rather than a beast of CF will finally turn us into champions again.

Come on You Rip Roaring Gunners!

By TotalArsenal.

Oh what a win. Three precious points to take away from Villa whilst the boys are getting sharper and sharper by every game. We rode our luck at times, it has to be said, but their best chances were the result of defensive lapses and a lucky deflection.

It started as a chess game stifled by well thought through tactics on both sides. Time on the ball and space were hard to obtain and it was not easy on the eye. Enter the Tross and it all changed; we finally found our mojo and after that there was only one winner.

Eight Observations

1. David the octopus. Ollie Watkins is a fine CF who has the knack to be in the right place at the right time regularly. To do this against Arsenal’s defence is special. But his poor finishing last night let us off the hook. I reckon David Raya’s reputation is making attackers nervous, and boy did he make another fine safe last night! Attackers must feel that David has eight arms rather than two. I say it again: what a signing.
2. Should Ramsdale go before the TW shuts? No, give it one more season Aaron; you deserve to be part of this team and reap the rewards. A winning team needs two good goalkeepers.
3. Saka was not selected for the 2023-24 PL team of the season: what a disgrace! By far our most efficient and lethal attacker, whilst also working as hard as anybody else. Effectively, he produced two assists today, whilst also getting close to scoring a goal twice. My player of the match.
4. White’s rage when his mate Saliba got ball-battered, was awesome. Look after each other lads and you will go far. And well done to Oliver for treating it lightly.
5. The sublime and ridiculous by Gabriel. Big Gab knows he got away with one when he got overturned in the first half. He needs to work this out of his game. But then there was also that beautiful ball over the Villa defence that reached grumpy Tross and led to the second goal. More of those, please!
6. Trossard the SuperSub. He is our special agent; what a weapon to have on the bench. He clearly studies the game when on the bench, and when he comes on he has a plan. Very few are capable of this, and once again he found the breakthrough by being at the right place at the right time. Top man.
7. Partry our Tank Engine – Rice and Odegaard still struggling a bit. Villa were strong in midfield, especially with Onana the giant. For once, I thought Partry looked a bit small but he is still as strong as an ox. We really needed his physical strength and defensive nous yesterday. Our other two midfielders are still a bit rusty but were clearly working very hard. Hopefully they are soon at their best again.
8. Added physicality and speed of Timber. I think Timber made a significant difference on the left. Attacking wise this side was still below par until the Belgian insomniac joined the team, but defensively we were solid on the left. I guess Zinchenko will be disappointed not to have featured, but this was a game for the big boys and JT filled in wonderfully.

By TotalArsenal.

1. The force of SaKai is upon us. Each a goal and an assist is a great start to the season for both. Do we need a more clinical CF than Kai or Jesus? Always welcome of course, but only if they also work as hard as our two boys do and are as multi-skilled as they are. Finding such a gem ain’t easy.
2. Saliba and Rice looked a bit rusty to me. Hopefully they can step it up when we face Emery’s Villans.
3. So good to have Thomas Partry fit at the start of the season. If we can get 30+ games out of him this season we will have a great chance to win the title. Unfortunately this is unlikely, hence Merino is likely to join us imminently.
4. Raya was rightly celebrated for his incredible reflex-safe, but I also was impressed with his calm distribution and presence in the box. What a bargain signing he is.
5. Other than cover for Partey, the left side is an area in need of improvement this season. Calafiori is an exciting signing and of course Timber is also rearing to go. The link with Rice and Martinelli will be key, and looking at Saturday’s performance, there is still work to do.
6. Martinelli needs to break through this season. I don’t think he will ever be as balanced and deadly as Bukayo is on the right, but he should do better in his decision making, producing more assists and forming an integral unit with his left-side colleagues. Sadly, I am not sure whether he is capable of this.
7. Martin Odegaard is one of us. Hallelujah.
8. So glad football is back and what a season lays ahead of us. 😃

by TotalArsenal.

Fresh, fierce and on fire…

It was a joy to be at the Grove yesterday evening. I remember my first visit to the new stadium after years of my love affair with Highbury. I felt underwhelmed and disappointed, (in hindsight it was probably due to grieving the move). But steadily over the years my biannual pilgrimages from New Zealand to North London have seen a shift in me. Yesterday I felt the magic, the stadium felt like a home from home, the atmosphere was, though lacking the delicious angsty tension of a competitive match, warmly loving. It cascaded down the terraces (first time I’d been in the middle tier, what a great view) wrapped itself around our boys (and Granit, too) and they responded with some beautiful flowing football, mostly in the first half, a display of real intent. 

I know Kev is going up on Sunday to watch the Lyon game, he has a real treat in store. As do we all with this coming season. I so look forward to the interaction on this blog before and after every game.

The match itself: Jesus looks up for it, he likely senses he is on notice with all the kerfuffle about Arsenal needing a new striker. He buzzed and pestered the Leverkusen defenders like a blue arsed fly, along with our outstanding Norse skipper, harrying the German champions defence (meanest in last seasons Bundesliga (24 goals conceded)) into mistake after mistake. His goal was a snooker shot, as was Zinchenko’s. In fact, the pitch reminded me of a green baize perfectly manicured in a very pleasing plaid. Kudos to Alan Russell and his team.

Kai (forgive the pun if you know Te Reo Maori) looked tasty. “Stroller” Graham came to mind as he languidly bossed the midfield along with MO8 and Jorginho. Granite sat at the base of the Germans midfield trying his best (he was warmly received, getting two standing ovations, one as he was welcomed back and secondly when he was substituted in the second half), to penetrate the screen, and whenever a ball did get through it was dealt with by the very tight unit of Big Will and Gab. 

Fabio still has a point to prove, tho’ he did produce the pass of the game with a forty metre cross field ball into the path and immaculate touch of Leandro, who himself had some lovely moments wide on the left bamboozling the German fullback.

It was grand to see Bukayu, Declan and the two youngsters get a run out (Myles quickness and determination offered shades of a young Ashley Cole), even if the second half petered out a bit with the plethora of changes. We finished with a defence of three academy boys and Jacob. No sign of Justin or our Italian lad, but there will be reasons for that.

On the way to the stadium I paused beside the ESR mural and gave thanks for that truly lovely lad. I shall miss him in the red and white. What price we sometimes pay for progress.

Managed to catch the late train from Paddington and got to bed at 2am buzzing with expectancy for all that lays before us.

By Stu