Morning all.
According to The Mirror, Aubameyang and Lacazette are in a tussle for the number 10 shirt. Apparently our current number 9 wore that number at Lyon and wants it again now but imo, there’s only one player who deserves to be awarded the number worn by such a special player we had in Dennis Bergkamp and that’s Emile Smith Rowe. Bukayo Saka would be another contender but he looks settled in the number 7, following in the footsteps of Tomás Rosicky, Robert Pires and of course, the late great David Rocastle.
Just a couple of weeks ago we played Newcastle Utd in the FA Cup. We needed the introduction of ESR, Xhaka, Saka and Lacazette to get through. Plus an extra thirty minutes of playing time. Newcastle stayed with five at the back and four in midfield, clearly intent on protecting their goal. It worked too for a long time.
I imagine tonight’s starting eleven will be different from the FA Cup fixture. Tierney is expected to return, as could Partey, Gabriel and Martinelli. When every player is fit, Mikel Arteta has a pretty strong first team which in my opinion, is capable of beating all the other teams in the league.
Anyway, only one matters today and that’s Steve Bruces’ struggling team. The only team to have been beaten by Sheffield Utd in the league this season. Steve Bruce is sitting where Mikel Arteta was just a few weeks ago. Newcastle fans want him gone according to NN headlines, but Bruce he says he won’t give up. He wants his players to respond to the defeat to Newcastle, suggesting they show some pride in what they do. How familiar that sounds eh.
Our last performance against Crystal Palace was a timid one. Reminiscent of those which lost us far too many points during the first half of the season. One can only hope it was a blip because to return to those awful performances/results would be an utter disaster. Start with Pepe and Willian and that’s likely to happen.
Mikel Arteta needs a team with pace, quick passing and movement to beat a team who’ll probably put defensive solidarity before attacking prowess. Slow, sideways and backwards passing will suit Newcastle all day long.
Will he have the courage to leave Aubameyang on the bench in favour or Martinelli who together with Tierney, gives our left side a strong attacking force? Our right hand side isn’t too shabby either with Saka and Bellerin working well. Lacazette through the middle with ESR pulling the strings leaves space for just two more in addition to Leno, Holding and hopefully Gabriel. If Partey is fully fit, I’m sure he’ll start. But who partners him? Elneny, Ceballos or Xhaka? Of course, it’ll be Xhaka.
Lastly, Arsenal are reported to be chasing Newcastle keeper Freddie Woodman. He’s on loan at the moment with Swansea so I’m not sure how that works. Also, the Emi Buendia rumours have resurfaced on NN as have links to Celtic’s Ryan Christie. Another Celtic player? Yes please, if he brings with him the kind of attitude and ability of Kieran Tierney, a big yes please.
See you in the comments guys.
https://youtu.be/GZ696MZqvXE
Ryan Christie.
Nice one, Rico 👍
Woodman’s Dad is one of our goalkeeping coaches.. interesting!!
Little anxious over tonight! I thought we’d beat Palace and look how that panned out!
Carroll has scored more against us than anyone else – surprise surprise – so no doubt he’ll start! Although we’ve moved up the table (🤏😆) I’m still classing this as a 6 pointer… and if we fail to secure all 3 points – which we really cannot afford to do – the mother of all meltdowns will ensue!!
COYG
Christie would be a cracker of a buy, skills in abundance, but you’ll need to bulk him up, a breeze would blaw him over.
Thanks Sue. I didn’t know that about Woodman.. perhaps that’s behind the link to him.
I’m not so concerned tonight, not if Tierney, Martinelli and Partey are back.
WG, I take it your a Celtic fan? It’s not as windy down south. 😆
Nice one Rico, another Scotsman in the squad would do me nicely although I don’t know anything about Christie, as for Woodman he’s been around for awhile and was really being touted as the next big goalkeeping sensation a few years back, but it’s not really happened for him, yet?
We could loan Runarsson to Swansea and take Woodman if it’s within our KSE budget, being English would of course be a big plus…
Thanks Kev. I didn’t know that re Woodman. There’s nothing on YouTube so I assumed he was a young, relatively unknown keeper.
G’day all.
Done and dusted. We arrived five minutes early for our appointment were shown straight into the reception area, a quick temperature check, hand sanitiser and into a consulting room, jab jab. five minutes later we were sitting in the waiting area in case of a bad reaction, 12 minutes and we were out in the carpark. Friendly, efficient and reassuring.
Well done The Market Surgery team.
Pictures on the web of a happy, smiling Ozil arriving in Istanbul.
Hopefully Arsenal can now move on and put the whole sorry saga to bed.
Good for you Cicero, pity you can’t celebrate in the pub, but I guess that’ll return sooner than later…
I guess that we’re in for a few more months of the media and his fan club rattling on about Ozil every time he makes a decent pass for Fenerbahce…
Personally I couldn’t give a toss.
We’ll be celebrating tonight Kev, with yesterday’s left-overs. cold roast beef and half a bottle of Cotes du Rhone. 👌
Hi Rico and all we must win today and hopefully arsenal finally announce that the Ozil saga is finally over for all involved
Latest from arsenal.com…Gabriel Martinelli right ankle. Gabi is now back in full training and is available for selection.
Pablo Mari
Right calf. Pablo has sustained a mild strain to his calf and will continue to rehabilitate in the coming days.
Kieran Tierney
Right calf. Kieran has recovered from his tight calf and is back in training with the squad. Kieran will be assessed and tested ahead of Monday’s match.
Nice one Cicero, sounds delicious.
Shame about Mari, he wasn’t flashy he just got on with his job and gave us a sense of security at the back. The sooner we get shot of Mustafi and Luiz the better.
We’ve got two away games vs Southampton and then Man Utd at home over a 7 day period between Jan 23rd and Jan 30th.
Southampton are going to be really tough, Man Utd are the best team away from home this season so that’s going to be hard core, Tierney can’t play all of them but we’re going to need him so maybe resting him tonight might well make sense because I can’t imagine how we’re going to cope without him if he breaks down?
Another Scottish player, if anything like Tierney yes please. Thinking about it Arsenal have had a tradition of Scottish players over the years.
Bizarrely they don’t count as homegrown, I blame that Jimmy Krankie lookalike Sturgeon!
Hi Geoff.
Yep, anyone would think Arsenal fans give a toss about Ozil leaving. I know this one doesn’t.
A bit more info on Ryan Christie:
I.C.Thistle; 76 apps (63 lge), 10 gls (10 lge).
Aberdeen; 58 apps (35 lge), 15 gls (10 lge).
G.Celtic; 124 apps (75 lge), 38 gls (25 lge).
Scotland, 14 apps 4 gls.
Age 25
He signed a new contract in 2018, but I’m not sure if he’s one of their major players, otherwise we might have had a few more Celtic fans on here telling us to all bugger off… 😉
I guess it all depends on the fee and of course if there is any truth to the rumour in the first place, he could be seen as a short term signing whilst Azeez and Smith Rowe are developing and to solve any cash flow issues at Parkhead.
Arsenal XI: Leno, Tierney, Cedric, Luiz, Holding, Partey, Xhaka, Smith Rowe, Saka, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Newcastle United XI: Darlow, Krafth, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis, Shelvey, Matty Longstaff, Almiron, Joelinton, Carroll, Wilson.
Ha ha Kev, WG reckons he’s good if not a bit lightweight.
Bellerin and Gabriel rested then.
I’m not keen on Shelvey, should be an interesting midfield battle.
Jack Wilshere has returned to play for Bournemouth till the end of the season
He has, really pleased for him too.
Yes a talent like his is a waste if he is not playing. Its a pity he had so many injuries.
That looked a deliberate elbow into the face of Saka.
How did Auba miss that?
the angle was a bit tight though. yes , Auba in his pomp would have gobbled that. but I felt that the angle was tight
A striker of his quality should bury it. The first I mean, not the second chance.
Aubameyang couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat atm.
Yawn.
This has all the hallmarks of another nil nil draw. Aubameyang has wasted is it four good chances?
I would have Auba off and Martinelli on and possibly Xhaka for Elneny we have to move it quicker in the middle
Arteta needs to speed things up, Gabriel for Luiz and Martinelli for Aubameyang. And do it now, not wait for the sixtieth minute.
Absolutely agree, we need more zip up front. Martinelli will bring that. Is Ceballos on the bench?
Dani has a tight calf, Rico… I offered to rub it 🤣
I bet you did Sue. 😆
Subs
R. Rúnarsson
Bellerin
Gabriel
Elneny
Willock
Willian
Pepe
Martinelli
Nketiah
And then he does that. Excellent Auba.
Take him off . Shows what I know
Potter and Cicero…..AUBA must have read your comments on HH to score a goal like that 😂😂😂😂
Reminded me of the NLD when we all wanted Walcott off at halftime. Lol
Great goal… great assist from TP… so pleased for Auba, he needed that 🙂
As soon as I bagged him he was a moral to score bahaha
What a lovely goal.
ESR>Saka – love it!!
Saka’s defensive work rate is really high.
Great block by Holding too.
Great nutmeg from Cedric. 😀
Crikey, two in one night. 😀 🥅
Auba’s on a hat trick – been ages since I last said that!!
Great 2nd half – just the job… Come on Gabi! Another superb performance from ESR – love him!
Scott it gets worse he just scored his 2nd goal looks like that boat is in water not dry dock
Not sure I agree Auba man of the match. Saka or ESR for me.
Another clean sheet, Rico! Auba/Croydon De Bruyne motm for me!
Yay, we’re in the top half of the table!!
Excellent in the end Sue, took a while to get going but a few positives to take from the game that’s for sure. ESR is a real gem.
Newcastle lucky to finish with 11 . Lewis stamp on Saka . Lascelles for persistent fouling compounded with aan elbow on Martinelli
Saka was elbowed in the face too, early in the game.
Aubameyang got the MotM on the strength of a counter attack goal when the entire Newcastle defence went awol and a tap in laid on a plate for him. I hope he can get back into his scoring mode and not just sink back to his lackadaisical style which we’ve been seeing lately.
I think Partey will make a real difference in midfield once he gets fully fit.
Cedric was doing what a proper wingback should do, get to the by-line and put in a good low cross.
Another good game from Holding.
ESR and Saka were outstanding.
Auba man of the match? ESR! Everything he did was well done, he ran a lot, he has a lot of talent.
Arsenal played well and another clean sheet. M. Niles is injured? I wasn’t at the bench.
In my opinion, (as in the previous coach, Emery …, but who never found out why) Auba and Laca don’t work well together. The reason is that they do basically the same. With Martinelli instead of Auba, for example, there are more solutions and, above all, different things.
On the other hand, Auba cannot play in the middle. When playing at St. Ettiene, he played on the left and was very fast (more than at present). In speed and with space, that’s where it’s right.
No space and one-to-one is a weak player. Playing with him in the middle is a mistake.
In Newcastle, there is a player who stands out and should evolve in another team, with another football: Almiron.
Luiz had two great chances with headers, lost his markers, wasn’t challenged but missed them both, poor finishing from Mr Big Time.
Pleased to see Aubameyang score a brace, thought that Lacazette deserved a goal for all his hard graft, delighted to see Partey get a good solid 66 minutes, we’re gonna need him from now on. Relieved to see Tierney come through unscathed…
Soares was excellent, dare I say an improvement on Hector, seems like a proper competition for that spot in the team now. Holding was superb, two Newcastle players tried to take him out and they just bounced off of him – proper defender, won everything in the air, didn’t put a foot wrong.
Xhaka had a solid game and did everything expected of him, Partey covered for him a couple of times when he went forward and couldn’t get back but good early signs of a partnership growing between them. Saka was all over the place, perpetual motion, strong as an ox, fouled numerous times but he just gets on with it and scored a great goal.
Smith Rowe is the oil in the engine, he lubricates the team, it all revolves and works off of his movement and quick passing – liquid intelligence as the advert goes.
Sensible substitutions by Arteta, protecting Partey, giving Willian a run out, allowing Auba and ESR a chance to get their breath back, reintroducing Martinelli and giving Elneny some minutes to shake off the rust as he might be a starter in the FACup?
Gotta give some thought to what team he’s gonna pick next time out, 5 subs will be a big help.
Morning all.
If two goals and receiving a MOTM award give Auba a kick along, then let him have it 🙂
Enjoyed last night, especially the 2nd half, Cedric was outstanding from the word go, someone on Arseblog news said it was our best right back performance for a long time, that’s right and credit should go to Arteta for team selection.
I must admit I thought it would be the same old story for Aubameyang, his 1st goal was a beauty, the second classic Aubameyang. We need him back scoring to climb the table. Saka has added goals to his already brilliant game.
I don’t care about bringing in an overpriced midfielder, I do think we need a backup goalkeeper, but things are looking good.
Glad to see us trying long shots at goal it keeps the pressure on their keeper and back line not knowing who is going to shoot for goal
Morning all, new post up.
Oh no it’s not. 😉
https://highbury-house.com/2021/01/19/a-second-half-drubbing/