Morning all.
Me and technology don’t really go together so when I accidentally click on something behind the scenes which breaks HH, I don’t know how to fix it. Thankfully, a QPR supporting technical genius I know, does. If the season stopped right now, we’d both be very happy.
Anyway, since I managed to crash HH, Gabriel has signed a new long term contract and he’s chuffed to bits:
I’m very happy to sign this new contract with Arsenal, because it’s such a big club, It’s my dream and today is the best day of my life. I’m so happy to extend my contract here. Every game the supporters are pushing the team in the stadium. It’s why I’m so happy to stay here. Arsenal is my home. In the future, I want to win games for Arsenal, I want to win trophies with Arsenal and stay here for a long time because it’s my home.
Good man. I hope he’s the first of many Arsenal players who commit to the club for a long time. Sounds pompous but why wouldn’t young players want to commit to the club right now?
Also, Arsenal battered PSV Eindhoven in every department bar the scoreline on Thursday. Granit Xhaka was the hero with a swing of his right foot. Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Bukayo Saka and Xhaka himself had had opportunities to score, as did Gabriel Martinelli late on in the game but as it turned out, one was enough. I thought PSV lacked imagination. Van Nistlerooy’s tactics were boring and defensive. Two exciting young wingers in the team yet apart from on a small number of occasions, it was hard to believe they are PSV’s leading goal scorers. I’m sure though, in a weeks time, PSV will play a very different game, or at least try to.
We’re just a point away from securing top spot having won all our Europa fixtures and we couldn’t have asked for anything more. Apart from goals, I’m sure we all want more of them. It’d be great if we can get that point in Holland next Thursday but even if we don’t, we’ll have another opportunity the following week when bottom of the group Zurich come to The Emirates. There’s always a chance Bodo/Glimt will beat PSV on the final group fixture day too because as Arsenal found out, playing on an artificial pitch is not easy.
Anyway, it’s back to the Premier League today for Arsenal and a trip to the south coast to play Southampton this lunchtime. Back in April of this year, Southampton couldn’t buy a win, Chelsea has just thumped them 6-0 and we rocked up in desperate need of three points. We bossed the game with 70% possession and twenty odd shots on goal. Fraser Forster, all 6’ 7” of him, was in fine form. We lost but to this day, I don’t know how. Well, I do, we couldn’t score.
Cedric Soares, Sambi Lokonga and Eddie Nketiah started the fixture back in April but unless Arsenal have suffered a glut of injuries since Thursday, it’s unlikely we’ll see any of them starting eleven today.
Southampton are in a very similar position to what they were last season, probably most seasons really. Win some, draw some and lose some. Ralph Hasenhuttl has been under pressure and he’s been booed by his own fans. I’m sure their midweek win over local rivals Bournemouth won’t have made much of a difference. Perhaps it’s not about results though but the way they play because with no disrespect meant, Southampton have always been a mid table club at best. Other than 2005-2012 when they were playing in the Championship.
Enough about them, Arsenal are still top of the league and on a good run, but having already played six fixtures this month, players must be getting knackered, and there’s still three more games to go including today’s. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
During his press conference, Mikel Arteta was asked if Arsenal have a score to settle with Southampton after what happen back in April?
Well, obviously there was an experience that was painful with the way the game turned out and the consequences of it. We know where the danger is with their team.
I’ve not watched any Southampton fixtures this season so I’ve no idea how they play but I’d imagine it’s little different to seasons before under Ralph, just with a few different players. If we have the majority of possession as we did six months ago, I think we’re better equipped to take a number of the chances we create. We’re certainly better equipped to nullify any strengths Southampton have too.
With Liverpool losing at Nottingham Forest, yes, I’m still smiling and Utd and Chelsea playing out a boring draw, we have an opportunity to put a bit more space between them and us.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
Results so far this weekend went well for us, the exception being City’s win over Brighton, so three points today is a must.
I expect to see our strongest possible starting eleven regardless of next Thursday’s match.
One thing missing from our Thursday win was an interview by Martin Keown with the Ajax manager. That could have been fun to watch. 😉
Morning Cicero, all.
I’d like to have seen that take place. The rant on Sky Sports after the Chelsea game was entertaining apparently.
Southampton forecast, partly sunny, light breeze, 17 c, thunderstorm in second half. Get the game over early.
Welcome back after your holidays Rico, yes it was all happening whilst you was on the beach, anyway today would be the perfect day for it all to click up front, where some of our approach play actually ends with that perfect final ball and Jesus doesn’t scuff the ball but hits it sweet and true, maybe ‘Lurch’ is the Saints goal might throw a couple in this season, maybe we’ll score a few and then Arteta can give Matt Smith his debut?
I heard thatthe PSV fans did a load of damage in th3 away End last Thursday, which is a good reason to give them a good spanking next Thursday.
Yes let’s see Arsenal start dishing out a few spankings by scoring the goals we deserve.
Welcome back Rico, I hope you’ve got a nice tan… 😄
Thanks Kev but what’s tan? 😆
Rain, rain and more rain. What a ghastly lot the PSV fans are then..
I thought you’d popped over to Dubai for a bit of sunshine Rico. 😉
Arsenal one nil up away to Liverpool. Live on BBC 2
Make that 2 nil.
Ha ha Kev, you won’t catch me going there, I’d end up in prison. Lol
Are you watching Cicero? Arsenal look a bit sluggish, two nice goals though.
Yes Rico, Arsenal taking it easy I think, a lot of games to play.
Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Partey, Odegaard, Xhaka, Martinelli, Jesus, Saka.
I deduce that the technician only has the defect of being from the QPR.
Today’s game is very complicated. The 5th game was very demanding and practically everyone who will start tomorrow played.
Same as the men Cicero.
We play today Jm. The good thing is only a few played 90 mins on Thursday.
Should be a good match, hopefully our strikers can have a field day.
Comfortable 2 – 1 win at Liverpool, same here and I’d be very happy.
Wow! What a strike Granit.
Surely a penalty on Jesus.
jesus is dropping too deep and getting involved in the build up
getting the rough end of decisions.
Like to see the push in the back on Ben white again I thought he should have been given a penalty.
Saka goes down too easily
Saka was pushed, Jesus was tugged back.
Dreadful officiating all round.
Another on Jesus gone unpunished. Who is this idiot with the whistle..
Afternoon rico, all. One booking, Saka!! Since when has two hands round a player been allowed? Fine if it’s against Arsenal apparently. McTominay must be a bit peaved. Come on 2nd goal please, Jesus needs one.
Afternoon Andrew, this bloke is hopeless!
Arteta needs to change something we look tiered.
Where were our defenders? Far, far too casual.
From now to the end of the game Southampton will pull every stunt to waste time and break up the flow and the ref will let them get away with it.
This ref has won the wanker of the month award
Party was crap today, this lose is worth more than just 3 points.
I blame Arteta and Edu for this lose, they have made us to thin and no real striker.
If the ref did his job properly, VAR too, we would have won that match. Saying that, I do think we tired very quickly. We lacked zip and energy in the way we played imo.
With 3 players unavailable and in my opinion, insufficient player rotation, the 2nd parts are always of lower quality and much more balanced than the 1st parts. It was like that in Leedds and we didn’t draw/lost by chance. In between, we were lucky enough to have a week with a game postponed mid-week that rested the players. It is very heavy to have 2 intense games a week (including national teams) for a long period, to have started the season very early and to have a short squad. Xhaka has “n” minutes in her legs. In the 2nd part it didn’t run; Partney has to be managed carefully and it’s too intense for him to play 2 games in a row; Tomiatsu saw the difference, etc. The physical freshness of the team and the players in particular, in the 2 parts is notorious. You do what you can and it has been done well to date.
Too many games, too many tired legs.
As we’ve already qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League Arteta can, and must, rest all of today’s starters.
A single point would see us finish as group winners but there is a much bigger, and more important, game to come next Sunday. Personally, I’d be happy to see a team made up from U21s and academy players and settle for the runners-up spot if necessary.
I forgot to say that, on the other side, there is always a team that legitimately wants to win, is healthier and that from the first half-hour onwards, it becomes physically bigger.
The positive I take is a year ago we lose that game, the referee, Mr Jones, from Liverpool, need I say more other cheat.
than cheat
We were brilliant in the first half but ourfinishing is still below par, we can’t seem to overcome the low block
I’m going to put up with the Totts on tv now
Tough though Cicero as the last thing we need is two more fixtures if we finish second.
You must like punishment, Quim. 😉
Okay Rico, let’s select the eleven biggest players we have wedge them all in our goal mouth and settle for the draw,
I’d settle for not seeing Nketiah and Jesus in the team at the same time Cicero. Seriously though, I think Mikel will rotate but I think he’ll want to get the top spot secured in Holland too.
I thought Partey looked particularly tired in the last twenty minutes. Maybe we should play Tomiyasu in the holding role with Cedric filling one of the fullback positions.
Well that made me much happier. Spuds lose 2 – 1 at home. 😊
Only if Cedric is fit enough .Jesus is finding it tough physically . During his time at City he made approx 30 appearances a season and often as a substitute .I think that he is looking jaded . although Eddie comes on a runs around a lot , we could still use a 6 foot 2 lump up front that would not get wrestled to the ground so often with no refereeing protection.
However Jesus is not alone and the loss of our midfield alternatives seems to be affecting Partey as well.
Maybe the world cup will come at the right time for us and that a lot of our players will be bench warmers apart from Saka who Southgate will flog like an old donkey.
Still it is what it is and with Spurs losing at home we creep a further point away from them.
I did too, he went for one ball and looked totally off his game..
I think the world cup will do us more harm than good because most of our starting 11 will be involved. Saliba is likely to play a lot now that Varane looks set to be ruled out.
I make it 11 players going to Qatar as I am sure White will get the call with Saka and Ramsdale , the three Brazillians , Saliba , Turner , Vieira , Tomiyasu, Partey and possibly Lokonga if Martinez doesn’t hold grudges will make it 12.
Cicero totally agree Arteta needs to rest the whole team for Europa match,
I would start all the bench players and make up the rest from our under 21.
Xhaka too Potter.
New post up