Morning all.
If there’s one good thing about be an Arsenal fan not born and bred in north London is one always has a local team to support. Right now I’m fortunate because as Arsenal are huffing and puffing their way through 95 minutes of football twice a week, my local team, Reading FC are flying high in the Championship. My days of watching on from the stands at Elm Park are long gone but it still feels good to see them doing well. I loved it when Reading were in the Premier League as at least once a season I could kill two birds with one stone. What an awful expression that is. Probably the best match I watched at The Mad Stad, suitably named for that night, was the 7-5 Arsenal win in the League Cup. A crazy score line ending an equally crazy game.
Back then, our defending was all over place and I don’t just mean on that particular night. We’d conceded four times against Reading before Theo Walcott kicked off the comeback. Incredible really.
Fast forward to today and we’re struggling to score one goal, let alone seven. Aubameyang is going through a drought, Lacazette looks like he’d miss an open goal if it presented itself and our midfielders are shot shy. They’re all shot shy. What Arsenal need is to give a team a right thumping although with the League fixtures we have coming, I’d take a 1-0 win in all of them.
However, tomorrow we’re in Europa League action and without being disrespectful towards the opposition but Arsenal really should be winning this match by a high score line. Dundalk FC might be flying high in Ireland’s top League but if Arsenal struggle to get three points against them then Mikel Arteta really does have huge problems to try and solve.
Arteta has already muttered the ‘fatigue’ word so I don’t expect to see many of our key players in the starting eleven for this fixture. Especially with a trip to Old Trafford around the corner. I hope we see the likes of ESR, Willock, Nelson, AMN, Balogun etc in the squad along with Chambers, Mari, Elneny etc, fitness depending of course and what about our new keeper, or Macey?
As suggested in yesterday’s article, the team needs an injection of something different, something exciting, something quick and imaginative.
To end, here’s a teaser for you.
Which Spaniard won the Africa Cup of Nations, an Olympic Gold medal and the Premier League with Arsenal?
No cheating. Lol
Nice one, Rico. Good old Elm Park.. went there quite a lot as my Mum used to get free tickets. Managed to see Merson there, playing for Middlesbrough in the league cup, he assisted the only goal! Was a nice ground…
Your teaser… well, I’m lost for words 😂 haven’t got a scooby… although once you reveal the answer, I’m hoping it’ll be a case of “of course it was” 😂
Lauren?
Thanks Sue, I think your Elm Park days were after mine. Lol
Wavy, you have spoilt my day. It was indeed Lauren.
The Spaniard bit threw me!!!
When did you start/stop going then, Rico?
Wavy you are too quick off the draw as I also thought Lauren as I read the post but then saw your comment, well done…
Yes Rico I remember that game, I was listening to my radio while at work but turned it off in disgust as we were losing. It was so Arsene and Martinez was in goal….
I visited a friend and as I drank my cup of tea and we chatted I checked my phone and bit by bit the chat declined and the phone watching increased, it seemed that every time I checked, that another goal went in, crazy game…
Mark McGuiness made his debut for his loan club Ipswich yesterday evening and was man of the match as the Tractor Boys ended a losing streak. Now if he can stay fit and stay in the Ipswich team we might have an interesting option for Arteta next season?
We actually have three young centre backs/defenders on loan and it’s probably why currently our U23’s are so rubbish, but Harry Clarke has played regularly for Oldham Athletic and he’s kept his place and the Latin’s are doing well.
Daniel Ballard has played the last three games for Blackpool, two wins I think and a defeat, he was man of the match in both the wins and got sent off in the 68th minute yesterday as Blackpool lost, at least he’s committed.
And then there’s McGuinness, so hopefully an internal solution for the manager?
Lucky guess!
I promise to spend my winnings unwisely! Just off to the co op to buy a packet of Earl Grey in celebration.
Good to hear that the loanees are doing well. Let’s hope at least one of them makes the grade and stays with us.
Not sure Sue, probably late 80’s. I was young. Lol
I think I’ve told my story a few times before Kev. Sat in with the Reading fans watching was a weird thing, especially going 4-0 down. Chamakh and Theo the hero’s that night.
Any idea how Medley is getting on Kev?
Yes, I remember you mentioning that story Rico, was you ejected from the stadium when we equalised as that’s something you’ve never admitted? 😆
I know of the manager at Gillingham and he’s not a particularly nice person from the info I’ve heard from his time in the Conference.
Anyway, Trae Coyle who is also on loan, started a couple of games for the Gills at the start of the season and is now permanently on the bench, but Medley despite losing his place after a cock up in one match has played all but one game for Gillingham, usually at centre back but he’s had one appearance at left back where he didn’t do great.
In general Rico, Medley has been ok’ish but Gillingham aren’t playing well, if you want a prediction from me it’s that Medley is a League One defender who might one day be Championship level but he’s not good enough for Arsenal.
😂 Kev.
That’s not so good then re Medley, I had high hopes of him.
I reckon many of ours who out on loan will already be considered for selling next summer. Money makers.
If the FA get their way and restrict the number of foreign imports to the Premiership all those youngsters out on loan could find themselves back at Arsenal and playing in the first team or being sold for quite high prices.
Either way it’s win win situation for Arsenal.
Nice post rico,,,,,,,,, except when your local team is Southend United. The last 12 months have been far far worse than Arsenal. Hopelessly bottom last year and relegated from L1, transfer embargo for owing HMR&C, players unpaid, Sol leaving, and selling our last three players of note. Now rock bottom and probably going out the league playing kids with little experience. Only good thing is no crowds having to watch the shambles.
That’s why we get them it’s been the Chelsea modus operandi for a long time . It’s just that they seem to be better at selling than we are .In fact a lot of teams seem to be.
If we don’t see an injection of youth tomorrow then I will start to lose faith with our leader , they need competition and this is how to give it to them .Who knows what we might discover .
Surely Nketiah has to start at centre forward, have Lacazette on the bench if you must, but Eddie really needs 90 minutes, with Aubameyang given the night off.
And Nelson, Saka was kicked out the game against Leicester and we’ll need him at the Toilet, doubts still over Willian so surely, surely Nelson must start, he needs some minutes on the pitch and we need to have one eye on the team that goes to the Toilet… 😉
Luiz isn’t fit with Holding and Mari out till late November and Chambers out till early December (physio,com) so we’re down to the bare bones, we need to protect Tierney and Bellerin so I guess Cedric Soares comes in rwb with Niles lwb, Kolasinac, Mustafi and Gabriel (who needs a rest) because Sokratis and Saliba are cup tied, gotta hand it to the medical team if they were guiding Arteta when he named his European 25…
Thanks Andrew. What a pickle Southend is in.. ☹️
Potter, did you send me an email with a link in it? If not, I think your email account has been compromised.
I agree re tomorrow evenings game Potter and I think those younger players will feel the same.
Mari was due back after the last break so he must have had a set back.
Saliba must fancy his chances of a start.
Itried to forward a gif to you that I thought you might be able to use but as I am a computer luddite it probably didn’t work.
Thanks Potter, I didn’t want to open the link until I knew it was genuine.