Morning all.
Not one single player name on the injured list. Gabriel and Partey might lack match fitness but they’re back. Both might get minutes tonight, both might have to wait until Crystal Palace turn up at The Emirates for our next League fixture. No idea what kind of a team Mikel Arteta will select for tonight’s match but whoever he picks, have to keep up the momentum of the last three fixtures.
Newcastle Utd are where we were just a couple of weeks ago. 15th place on the table and grateful that a handful of clubs are going through worse times than us. League form goes out the window though when the FA Cup comes around. Again, Arsenal fans know that better than most as just last season, soon after Mikel Arteta arrived, our League results weren’t brilliant but our Cup ones were perfect. I wondered at the time how we’d beat Sheffield Utd away from home, let alone Man City and the Chelsea to win the big jug. We did though and it saved our season. It gave us Europa League football and with it, the opportunity to field more youngsters. Miguel Azeez being the youngest I think.
Absolutely. I love the FA Cup, in fact I don’t think I’ve ever met a football fan who doesn’t but it’s not quite the same without p fans packing the stadiums. Football in general just isn’t the same and there’s no sign of that changing any time soon. With the number of positive Covid cases in the game, I’m surprised football carries on.
But it does and Arsenal have recently woken up to the fact that in order to win football matches, they need to play better. Mikel Arteta seems to have realised that young energetic players will work harder for the team than a few of the old carthorses. Ok, ok, harsh maybe but if Mikel Arteta wants his team to play fast and free flowing football, he needs players who’ll move about and pass the ball forwards instead of backwards.
It’s great to win the last three games. The spirit, the energy around the place and the vibe is always better. I feel better myself. In this Christmas period, to win three games in a row is never easy in this league and we’ve done it, so hopefully we can pick up a much better run.
Again, absolutely right. A much needed three match winning streak was great but that run needs to continue and regardless of which competition we’re playing in.
- Arsenal have only been eliminated at the third round stage of the FA Cup in one of the last 24 campaigns, with that coming against Nottingham Forest the last time they entered the competition as holders (2017-18).
- Newcastle have been eliminated in 10 of their last 11 FA Cup ties against fellow Premier League opposition, with the exception being a 2-1 win against Blackburn in January 2012.
I can still remember that awful match against Notts Forest. We lost 4-2 despite having the majority of possession. Arsene Wenger had picked a much changed and very young side for that fixture, probably not expecting a strong Forest performance. Yet here we are just three years later and as Steve Bruce says to play a weakened team or one full of youth devalues this great competition for Arsenal, it’s been the youth who’ve played a big part in our mini recovery. It’s all about the balance. The right youth with the right experience and plenty of energy, pride and passion.
Arsenal are the holders of this great Cup, lets keep it that way for as long as possible.
See you in the comments, don’t forget it’s an early kick off, 5-30pm in the UK.
With all the fuss of transfers going on maybe a good time to give Balogun a full 90 mins let’s start giving him the playing time he wants. And we can see what all the hype is about.
Talking of strikers I’m also a little perplexed about Nketiah and his lack of game time recently. Also reading him being linked (along with Willock) to West Ham albeit on loan. I think the experience would be perfect for him as he can operate as a loan striker and he’s such a handful in a similar way as Antonio imagine both of them hassling defences that would be an interesting scenario. Although unlikely as David Moyes tends to play with one up front. This would clear some room for Balogun to get more game time as well. Let’s hope we can keep them both and integrate them both into the squad for 2021/22.
Mig, I’m giving up on transfers, in or out.
Interesting call for Balogun to play,
Newcastle have 4 centre backs in their squad Schar , 6 foot 2″ , Lascelles 6 foot 3″ , Clark 6 foot 1″ and Fernandez 6 foot 4″
They simply tower above any forward that we have and Balogun although looking quite a powerful unit is still only 5 foot 10″.
Going through this lot whoever they pick is going to be on the floor with quick movement of the ball.
Get 3 up by half time and bring Balogun on for the second half , but that is wishful thinking .
Kev’s having a curry , I suggested a rack of ribs with patata bravas and my wife said , ” You know where the kitchen is ”
I think she is a bit fed up with so much football on the telly , at least it will be over by early evening.
Chicken tikka jalfriezi I reckon Potter, as for the Mrs, you need to put your foot down mate, show her whose in charge….
Good luck. 😆
Balogun looks a lot taller than 5’ 10”. I reckon he’s grown since he was last measured.
Rico, if Balogun does decide to leave it’ll free an avenue for Tyreece John Jules next season as he’s followed the same path as Smith Rowe, learning in the Football League.
One door closes and another opens…
I understand that Kev, Moller too but there are some players who slip through the net which I wish didn’t.
You can’t keep them all , that’s how Chelsea have done it for years they keep producing and loan them out and 6 million here and 8 million there , they are about 5 years ahead of us in that.
The moral of the story now is to sell them when they have a value which is a mistake that we are famous for .We can’t afford to allow people first team or otherwise to keep running their contracts out..
Anyhow we have compromised Chicken massala kebabs and the patatas brava with rice.
And a bottle of something nice.
Playing Newcastle in the FA Cup brings to mind the biggest disappointment of my young life when we were beaten 1 – 0 in the 1952 Final.
After losing Wally Barnes to injury after thirty odd minutes and then suffering injuries to Cliff Holton, Don Roper and Ray Daniel we held out with only seven fit players on the pitch, no subs is those days, until the 84th minute when George Robledo scored the only goal of the game.
We listened to the match on the wireless, when Robledo scored I heard my father swear for the only time I can ever remember.
A little payback this evening please.
Home cooked chicken Madras with brown Basmati rice and popadoms tonight. Luvvly jubbly.
Something spicy on the menu for everyone it seems… 🙂
Kolasinac is playing for Schalke.
First win of the season?
Come on Arsenal!
Salad for me Kev. 😂
Kolasinac is playing for Schalke .
4 nil up 10 minuyes to go , Amine Harit 23 years old
Midfielder (Schalke ) 3 assists and a goal . .
Interesting
Home made cottage pie with cheesy top. Plus fresh seasonal root veg. No jubbly though bit too cold for frozen iced drinks!
2-0 to the men in red no matter who is in the team. I hope😊
TEAM NEWS: Leno, Cedric, David Luiz, Mari, Tierney, Elneny, Willock, Pepe, Willian, Martinelli, Aubameyang
A really disappointing line up. Pepe, Willian and Aubameyang with only handful of goals between them. Pepe and Willian will compete with each other to get a pot shot from the right corner of the penalty box, while Aubameyang will lurk on the other side hoping for the same.
How many times have Mari and Luiz played together?
If we don’t win Arteta will have a lot to answer for.
Good evening Rico and everyone.
I like the article a lot today. but why calling the old carthorses simply that is being harsh Rico? Truth hurts…but better that than a painful lie.
Do I like the team put out by Arteta?? Yes and no. Granted….Holding, Smith Rowe, Saka, Xhaka all need a rest. But whenever I see Luiz its heart in the mouth with high blood pressure. Couldn’t the club doctor find something resembling a virus in them every Friday?? something that quarantines them for two weeks each time?? Not wishing them any ill luck or ill health, but lets say his tests are a bit faulty and they yield positive results which quarantine them for two weeks only to discover at the end of it all that its been faulty.
Is it Willian or Pepe at No 10 instead of ESR? My guess is that its Willian.
Still no Partey tonight. But its good to see Chambers.
Salad Rico? It’s below freezing, not time to be eating salad. A nice hot and tasty cottage pie if not a curry. 😉
And why no AMN tonight and Tierney does not get a rest?? Granted, Tierney must be the first name on the sheet and that speaks volumes. But he still needs to rest.
Only in the subs DG.
Tieney needs a rest.
No Bellerin, Mustafi, Balogun
Partney not fit yet
yes I noticed that Cicero. But I expected him to be in the first XI instead of Tierney.
the only positive thing about some of the players is that Luiz, Pepe and Willian will hopefully up their game knowing full well that their place is not guaranteed now with others playing so much better.
Then again…..if they perform badly….they deserve to be dropped and not picked again.
Martinelli hurt. In the warm up
.looks like Martinelli has suffered a bad injury in the warm up..
Bad injury?? what happened then?
Evening Devil, just covering my back. 😂
We have central heating down south Cicero. 😂
Nelson takes Martinelli’s place. That puts three attacking players on our right, Pepe, Willian and Nelson. Willock and Elneny are going to be overloaded.
what injury did Martinelli get?
Tierney is going to be burnt out. he needed a rest.
we have already had 3 shots on target and 4 off target. they had only 2 off target. and possession wise we are better now.
I hope we score one soon. as it will open them up more.
There’s no point lobbing high balls into the penalty area, the Magpie defenders just lap them up as we have nobody to compete for them.
yes I noted that Cicero. but we have to alternate between lobbing high balls and playing on the ground. because with lobbing high balls the defenders go square and keep that shape. when we play on the ground the defenders go diagonal and park the bus. so we have to draw them into thinking the ball will be crossed. otherwise it will be difficult to penetrate them
Hmmm, extra time and penalties anyone.
Martinelli has rolled his ankle. It was only a passing drill so was not challenged. fingers crossed its not serious
E S R to come on, hopefully for Willian. And let’s have Lacazette for Aubameyang.
Nope, it’s Nelson coming off.
Another missed chance by Aubameyang. Just hook Willian off! He’s bloody rubbish.
Evening rico, house. How many chances do Willian and Pepe get? They just don’t offer enough. It’s not often I’m happy for Xhaka to come on!
I said it at 6.17.
Var got that one right.
Poor from Arsenal, or certainly some of them.
Predictable 90 minutes after line up. Great reaction Leno. Ref so quick with a red after shout, rubbish ref.
at last. 1-0 up
Smith Rowe with a shot. Lacazette assist.
2-0 up now. Auba with a shot.
Its been a struggle to get past their defence. although stats show a different story ….more shots than them, more on target, a lion’s share of possession. However we were not much good. we should have killed the game in the first 20 minutes.
Lovely finish by E S R. Even Aubameyang couldn’t miss that tap in from a super cross by Tierney..
2 – 0 🔔🔔🔔
Evening Andrew, good game from Xhaka I thought. Wicked shot which deserved a goal.
Tierney Man of the Match for me, great layoff from Laca for ESR goal, which was superbly taken. Leno important save. Downsides, Willian and Pepe back in just make for predictability. Sure we all want Pepe to succeed but it looks less and less likely.
personally I would give Willian back on the trades description act . Auba proved what I have suspected, he is not a centre forward Even with Willian, Nelson and Pepe on the pitch he drifted to the left hand side. Only when Lacazette came on did we pressure them down the middle and look what happened.
Hopefully Arteta has now learned who he can depend on and when we play this lot again with Gabriel and Partey we should roll them .
We need points from these and Palace and then the big climb can start .
Agree re Auba, he’s not a central striker, not in the true sense of the word.
Imo Lacazette needs to be kept. But Auba, Pepe and Willian need to be sold.
Leno had a quiet evening, but made a couple of really important saves. I reckon we need to bring in a backup as a priority. Free transfer I suppose, Matt Ryan has been told he can leave Brighton. He would be great but I doubt we could afford him.
A salad, a bleeding salad, in the middle of January, are you having a tin bath Rico?
Well my curry was flipping amazeballs, hot and spicy, just like me, er, I’d better leave there!
Lacazette actually tipped the balance when he came on, if he carry’s on like that he will get a new contract, maybe an extension on the same money with a little loyalty bonus at the end?
Delighted to see Smith Rowe score, he’s ready now, forget all that old guff about his youth, he’s ready and as for Willian, if I never see him play for Arsenal again it’ll be too soon.
Willock needs to sort himself out and quick or else he’s gonna be on the A train signed ‘exit’…
Nelson hasn’t played for ages so I’ll give him a pass, maybe they both need a spell on loan with another Premier League club?
Xhaka was superb when he came on, I know that he’s a bit of a Marmite player but I think he’s been key to our midfield over the last 12 months.
Leno, what a save near the end of normal time, those are the kind of saves that win you trophies…
Saka was excellent again, Pepe was just above average, Tierney is like the Duracell bunny, he never stops, must be all those deep fried Mars bars…
Soares was ok, Mari and Luiz were decent, Aubameyang struggled but he got a typical PEA goal and hopefully that’ll kick start his season.
Now for a home draw in the 4th round and a home draw in the 5th round…
We can’t play without him at the moment. Lava is the nucleus for the others
Bloody autocorrect Lacazette is mr Indispensable now. We cannot have to rely on the likes of Willian, he came free on large wages . We should sell him for a small profit to supplement his wages . He ‘s still an able player but not for us . He doesn’t gel with our players , for some reason it isn’t working out.
He needs to look at Ozil and move soon to protect the end of his career.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9129725/Martin-Keown-hits-exile-star-Mesut-Ozil-undermining-Arsenal-tweets.html
I love salad Kev, matters not the weather for me. Lol
William and Pepe are definitely a problem for Mikel Arteta to solve. Agree re Joe Willock, I was pleased he started but his first touch is letting him down. If Mikel plans to field a strong team in Europa, a loan with week in week out football would do them the world of good. Although for Nelson, perhaps a long run in the first team is the answer, it’s not like Pepe is causing defences too many problems.
Good morning Rico, Kev and everyone.
Now why are you all berating Rico for eating a salad?? Farm animals eat grass and cold produce on any day. even in winter. So if she ate salad??? why not?? 😛😛😝😝
Kev, so you’re still hot and spicy. I never doubted that for a moment. I noticed that 18 years ago when I saw you and am not amazed you still have it. Intrinsic qualities never leave us do they. Why not change your name to Hot and Spicy Kev?? sounds better than Allezkev 😛😛😝😝
yesterday’s game was frustrating. and even though PEA scored at the end from open play, I still say the game changer was when Laca/ESR came on and PEA was shifted to the left, thus taking attention away from him. He is never a focal point in attack. Laca is for everyone. I still say that Laca needs to be given a new contract. As soon as Ozil kicks himself out.
Rico, Willian and Pepe dont cut it with this team. They keep on running blindly and do the same things over and over again. Notice how it all changed when the above mentioned two and Saka came on. Willock needs to go on loan, not sold. on loan to a team that plays him.
Nelson did well imo. But he needs game time. And in his appearance he did more than Pepe and Willian combined. Until he gets a run in games his performances will be yoyo like. One minute world beater and another plain average.
I like the look of Mari. But not with Luiz. He needs a right footed player alongside him If Chambers is kept he should be that man. Holding and Gabriel together, with Chambers and Mari together could be a good partnership. That is, unless another Gabriel type player is found. And the above are the right age as well s they are in the 22-27 range. However, the way forward is to get the academy to produce and maybe buy (Rekik??) other players which can play in the future. The club needs to go down that way. The best investment it can make is to employ Uefa A coaches which are good with development of kids. Not only buy the best players around, since if a coach is not that good the money would be wasted.
What a player Tierney is. I still cannot believe he is showing others older than him the way how to play the game, how to channel the aggression and how fight for the shirt. And only at 23 years of age. Can we find a couple more like him?? Yet, I still feel he should have been rested yesterday. Or he will burn out soon. He needs a game or two resting.
On that issue I did not like the fact that AMN did not play. Yesterday would have been good for him. I think he would have been a better option instead of Pepe or Willian on the flanks. That is, unless he replaced Tierney as a LB.
Now for a home draw. Chorley would be good. However I dont mind anyone in the FACUP. Even if it is one of the top teams. Yes, a low team would be great to rest players. But every time we get an EPL team and win it will be a feather in the cap for the players.
William Saliba played the full 90 for Nice away to Metz, 1-1 draw, reports say he played well
Nice draw in the 4th round, Marine preferably! or Chorley at home.
Limey….Saliba lost his player (and this player scored the equalizer) for the opposition goal. Overall he was ok, but he lost his concentration for a few seconds and was punished.
I prefer Marine at home. But Chorley are not a bad draw either. having said that I am sure we will get the spuds away
This is a good read…..
https://untold-arsenal.com/archives/84900
Morning Devil, Limey and all.
I’m not surprised Saliba is rusty, he’s barely played competitive football for six odd months. At least he’s playing now though.
I agree Devil re William and Pepe. Pepe is too predictable as he has to get the ball on his left foot so playing on the right is hardly helping him. Imo, he might be better off playing on the left or central even. Or just sell him and move on.
New post up now
The report I saw (twitter?) said he did well, I’ve read that link DG, interesting.
I fear you may be right about the 4th round draw, whatever happened to lucky Arsenal?