Morning all.
Who would have thought it, Vinai Venkatesham is joining Totts in the summer as their new CEO. What is he thinking? Traitor! lol
Arsenal have added a couple more fixtures to pre-season. AC Milan on Wednesday 23 July (7.30pm local time), before taking on Newcastle United on Sunday 27 July (7.30pm local time). Both matches will be played in Singapore.
Back to Premier League football this evening as Arsenal take on Brentford at The Emirates. The sun should be signing and the mood amongst the fans upbeat after Tuesday’s fantastic performance and result against Real Madrid.
The weird thing is, I bet Brentford prove to be harder to beat than Real Madrid. Not that Real Madrid were easy to beat, we just scored three fantastic goals and kept very tight at the back. Something we’ll need to do again today.
Back on New Years Day, at The Gtec Stadium, we went behind to a Bryan Mbeumo strike in what was Brentford’s first real attack. Just before half-time, Gabriel Jesus headed home our equaliser and then shortly after the break, Mikel Merino gave us the lead. A third came along soon after, Gabriel Martinelli with the goal. A good one it was too.
We didn’t have things all our own way that day and I doubt we will today either. Results so far this month have seen Brentford narrowly beaten by Newcastle and before that, they held Chelsea to a 0-0 at The Gtec Stadium.
With the second leg against Real Madrid just four days away, I’m pretty sure we can expect to see a few changes this evening. Perhaps similar to those we saw last weekend against Everton. I know the dream is that Liverpool drop enough points to let us into the mix for the League title but as we all know, dreams don’t come true. Slot’s side only need ten more points and the title is theirs.
I think their plan is for Howard Webb to lift the trophy together with Virgil van Dijk……
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are fit for this game despite picking up an injury on Tuesday and there’s good news re Riccardo Calafiori too as his return isn’t far away. Gabriel, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu but Mikel Arteta hinted that there’s a chance Kai Havertz could make an appearance before the season ends.
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
In recent weeks, Frank has settled on a regular 4-2-3-1, but if he wishes to focus on solidifying central areas, he may repeat the narrow 4-3-1-2 he deployed against us in the reverse fixture. No matter the shape, you will regularly see their central midfielders drop between centre-backs to congest space.
They can pass the ball short with distinction but will often choose to go direct – they rank second for the most successful long passes – while they also test opponents with deliveries from the flanks. Winger Kevin Schade possesses a long throw, and Frank’s men have scored multiple goals this way.
Led by Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo, they currently boast the best conversion rate (14.2%) in the division, and across the side they are powerful in the air. Alongside Nottingham Forest and ourselves, the Bees have found the back of the net with 10 headed goals, plus no-one has won more aerial duels than them this term and they have conceded just twice from set pieces.
When the Bees do get onto the front foot, they have leaked seven goals from fast breaks – a joint division high – showing they occasionally leave themselves over exposed.
We might not be winning the league this season but we still need points to secure Champions League football next season.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning all!
I can’t watch the game live today. It’s raining here. Potter was unlucky but I hope he can watch the game.
Will be interesting to see what changes Vinai Venkatesham brings to Tottenham, lucky he has been away from us for 2 years and should not know what our plans are in the future.
Good morning all.
Conflict of interest for me today, do I watch what I expect to be dull chess game sort match against boring boring Brentford, or watch my favourite Rugby Union side Northampton Saints play Castres which is likely to be a hard fought thunderous game. Or the England Women play Ireland in the six nations which could be a try-fest. All take place at roughly the same time.
Morning guys.
Rugby Cicero 😜
Jm, it won’t be raining in the pub. lol
Geoff, maybe he’s gone there to make them worse…..
Walk time before the temperature soars to a mighty 21c
My family always say I should take holidays in areas of drought because wherever I go it always rains . I spent 3 weeks in Southern California and Mexico and it rained for 9 days . The weather is always good when I am out of the country so you all have until Tuesday to get your gardens in order . 8 euros for an uber to the golf club so will meet up with them later .
Shame that you will not be there JM but essa e a vida .
Rico, after football Rugby Union has for along time been a favourite of mine, I’ve never played it and never attended a single game but for sporting entertainment its unbeatable.
I don’t expect Saka to feature this evening, maybe just a ten minute run out as a late substitution. I just hope that Sterling doesn’t play in his place. Martinelli on the right, Trossard left and ace striker Mikel (hot shot) Merino central.
The weather is due to change Potter so you’ll be about right. 😜
Ditto Cicero although I did have a go at playing it many years ago. It was far too rough for me though. Ashes v Football? Always a tough choice to make too.
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2025/04/12/jack-henry-francis-and-nathan-butler-oyedeji-with-arsenal-first-team-ahead-of-brentford-game/
I’d love to see Butler-Oyedeji start..
Yes please,he can’t be any worse than Sterling.
Man City losing 0 -2 to Crystal Palace,at this rate they’ll be lucky to get into the Europa Conference league.
Afternoon All, yeah seeing a couple of youngsters playing today would make it a far more interesting experience, we already have a 5 point gap to Forest so we shouldn’t need to lose our sh*t just yet over finishing 2nd.
Righto, off to Tesco.
Brilliant, come on Palace…
Out of nowhere City are level 2 -2
Rico, could he make them any worse than they already are
Man City 4 – Crystal Palace 2 a big turn around after the first half hour.
Hopefully Geoff.
I switched the game on and it was 2-2, at 4-2 I turned off again…
Radio saying Partey Right Back,we shall see. Zinchenko in midfield?
Brentford are usually hard to break down. COYG
Raya, Partey, Saliba, Kiwor, Tierney, Jorginho Rice, Zinchenko, Trossard, Martinelli, Nwaneri.
Arsenal XI to face Brentford: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney, Jorginho, Rice, Zinchenko, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Trossard
Subs: Neto, Timber, Lewis-Skelly, Henry-Francis, Odegaard, Saka, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji, Merino
Yep, Partey at right back..
Partey at right back does my head in. Why when we have 2 RB’s sat on the bench…
arrived at the club got the beers in . let battle commence
Enjoy….
PArtey at the back again????? very dissappointed. Yes we do need to manage White and Timber but imo Arteta could have began with Josh Nichols. Partey might get an injury playing at RB and then we are simply f***ed
Good article Lady.
Forest lost against Everton.
A win today will see us practically with a couple of fingers on 2nd place at the minimum. And if the dippers lose we would get nearer to them as well.
Thanks Devil.
2 left backs and 1 midfielder, risking the midfielder doesn’t make sense.
Ffs, shoot!