Today’s fixture will be another tough test for Mikel Arteta and his team. Both clubs are in a similar situation I think with two managers early into their new career. Carlo Ancelotti is possibly one of the most experienced managers in the game, successful too but his best years are done in my opinion. His was one of names mentioned many times when discussing who could replace Unai Emery but I’m glad the Arsenal board went in a different direction. A younger man, possibly more ambitious and hungry for success. A risky option admittedly but like Mikel Arteta, Arsenal are about the years to come, not what’s gone on previously.
Neither manager, or head coach as they’re called these days, has a squad of his choosing. I’m not suggesting that either manager wouldn’t want to keep most or many of the players they have but perhaps neither would have chosen many of them initially. All they can do is get the best from who they have.
Both squads are full of talent, experience and game changers. For Everton, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Sigurdsson, Bernard and there’s Digne too.
Like Arteta, Ancelotti has steadied the ship since taking over from Silva but I’ve not watched them so I’ve no idea how they are playing. I did read Anceltotti was less than impressed after their 3-1 win over Crystal Palace, ‘the only good thing was the result’ he said.
Ironically, this fixture earlier in the season was the last game for caretaker managers Duncan Ferguson and Freddie Ljungberg before each club appointed a permanent coach. Whilst Everton have worked their way up the table, Arsenal have been steadying the defensive ship but struggling to score the goals to win maximum points. Last weekends victory over Newcastle was the first for a while. The first of many more between now and May hopefully.
Despite being listed as doubts, both Ozil and Torreira were in training yesterday, as were Bellerin and Mustafi. No sign of Mari or Sokratis though.
Everton are returning from their winter break so they’ll be well rested, we however have had two fixtures within a week but that should make us sharper, ready for what Everton throw at us later today. We’ve started slowly in both of our last two fixtures, something Mikel Arteta needs to resolve sooner rather than later because at some stage, it’ll hurt us.
Chances have been a plenty for this Arsenal team but the finishing has left a lot to be desired although after the goal fest last weekend our confidence will be high, the energy spot on and the free flowing football on show. I hope we’re out of the blocks early and put this Everton team under pressure from the first whistle blown.
There’s much to play for. Arteta has the opportunity to get one over his experienced opposite number, beating his old team in the process and the chance is there to leapfrog Everton on the league table. Sheffield Utd dropped two points, Toots dropped all three and Leicester lost too so it’s also an opportunity to make up some ground on the club’s above us.
Make it count Arsenal.
New post up now
Morning Adam. Who doesn’t smile when things fall apart for Mourinho? These managers are fickle when it comes to bad challenges and should be sending offs. As you said the other day, Lampard forgets the game agains us…
Morning Rico. We have to be pleased with 3 wins in a week. If that offer actually has any truth in it then the club would surely take it and that would put them in the market for Sancho perhaps.
The high boot is an interesting and irritating one. Anywhere else on the field and that’s a foul which means it should have been given as one. You can bet your life that had we scored like that we would never have heard the last of it.
One funny thing over the weekend was a morbid Frank Lampard getting all high and mighty about opposition players who should have been sent off and the possibility of that player coming back to score. Yes, we know Frank. I do love a manger with high moral ideals.
But, as I mentioned the other day, who could possibly not be delighting in Mourinho’s race to the bottom and abject negativity. I bet Daniel Levy is delighted. Act in haste, repent at leisure seems apt.
£96 million for Auba is a lot of money if of course the rumour is true which I suspect not.
If Auba commits to a new contract then fine but I really don’t think we can afford to let him leave for free. Arteta certainly seems to want him to stay, so I hope he puts pen to paper.
I’d take the money though. 😀
Geoff, that phone thing was probably an internal joke etc. I doubt very much he was trying to imply anything sinister.
Dangerous boot from Calvert-Lewin all day lone for me. Wasn’t Mane sent off for similar? All others like his have been penalised too I think. Still, it’s done now, Luiz is ok and we won. Chew that over Toffees!
😄 No Kev… good old North Bank upper.
Geoff, it easily could’ve been ruled out for the high boot but at least it didn’t hurt us in the end.
I wonder if Luiz went to ground for Everton first goal would VAR had cancelled the goal and said the Everton players boot was far to high and dangerous
did not like the way Nketiah cellebrated after his goal looks like he is trying to get a transfer with plenty of money attached might be time to drop the young kids to give them a reality check and let them know 1 or 2 good games does mean you are worth a lot of money.
If the 96 million is true, I’d sell and invest it on a young gun striker.
If….
£96 million is a tidy sum, although I’m a bit sceptical about that rumour Cicero…
But if it’s true it might prove too much to refuse?
I’ve got a ticket for West Ham and I’m really looking forward to it, not been since Leeds so it’ll be interesting to compare.
I was listening to a Brighton fan on the radio yesterday following their draw at Sheffield Utd, discussing the difficult run in they have as they have many of the bigger teams to face, but he commented that they, if they’re to beat anyone, should be able to beat Arsenal…
That’s how we’re viewed, the possible big scalp because of the last year of Wenger and 18 months of Emery, the team that’s like a Malteaser, soft in the middle.
I’d really love it if we went to the Amex and gave them a walloping.
Were you in Club Level with all the toffs Sue? 😉
Our most valuable player according to Mikel Arteta, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.
I read somewhere today that a club, unnamed, is willing to offer £96 million for him, should we sell him?
Didn’t see the beginning as a bar full of disconsolate Irish in a Sitges bar but they soon left. After the egg chasing we settled into a decent game. From my vision between a few glasses Mustafi looks to have regained his international status and in an open game we always had the edge .
Give the manager his due a few more wins and we are back in the mix
Just got home… what a game! Excellent result… a lot of positives…. Mustafi had a great game.. as did Auba (joint top golden boot now!!)
Hope my man recovers asap.. be amazed if it wasn’t a dislocation. Poor Sead.
Up the gunners!!
Just looked at our remaining fixtures,6 look winnable,a nightmare run in April/May of Wolves, Leicester,Spurs & Liverpool,plus Man City away to be rescheduled.
The week has ended well.
Fantastic result.
Great weekend!
We win, Women win, Spuds lose, England win Rugby, Fury wins and I planted 2 Magnolia Stellata`s.
I stuck with the rugby, great result, so I’ve just finished watching the recording. Phew!!
Arteta heard you re Torreira Andrew..
Leno more than made up for his earlier error in the second half. Excellent to keep us in front.
Tough week physically I’d imagine so that’s a great 3 points won over a very good Everton team.
Painful watching last 15, out of steam, no movement, couldn’t keep any possession. Very good performances from Ceballos, Leno and Auba I thought.
Some good, some bad, lots of sloppy. Three games in 7 days including a trip to Greece and back. Very tense. 3 points.
Guendouzi – what we have we hold it seems…
Laca and Torreira rico
Could do with Lacazette on now for his hold up play and hard work.
Some interesting changes by Ancelotti, two very technical players replacing two more physical players. A lot of niggly stuff going on it seems.
Richarlison is a right irritating little shit.
Massive 45 minutes coming up…
Disappointing way to end the half
Lucky Richarlison….
Great response by Arsenal, Kolasinac going off could have been a blessing in disguise?
Sorry to hear that Rick….
Great second too, you could see that through ball coming a mile off. 😂
How are you Rick, I hope you are well buddy?
Edie Edie
Abloody awfull month has just got a lot better
Cross and finish!
Eddie Eddie Eddie
What a goal…
Nearly always start sluggish. And still giving so many balls away. Come on, get a grip.
No clean sheet and no Martinelli,long time to go, fingers crossed.
This could be a long afternoon…
Well that’s our run of clean sheets gone for a burton… 😕
No clean sheet then… ☹️
Arteta does like to surprise us…
Afternoon Limey. I hope you’re right.
Rugby is going well, unlike the England women in the WCT20. Too many dropped catches!
Kev, could do with one of Real etc coming in for Nuno….
Leno, Bellerin, Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac, Ceballos, Ozil, Xhaka, Pepe, Aubameyang, Nketiah
Great news Cicero, I’d forgotten about the rugby.
Kolasinac back in the starting XI, Bellerin and Nketiah start, some big big calls there…
England lead 17 – 0 at half-time.
🎵🎵🎵 Swing low sweet chariot🎵🎵🎵
Afternoon Rico/everyone,
I see Ramsey scored (a rare start too) yesterday.
Clean sheet and Martinelli to score today hopefully.
COYG
Gotta admire the way Wolves have kept going this season, we’re gonna have to go some to catch them.
Keane always pipes up Kev. He’s boring.
Not sure the social media stuff but I suspect they’re all at it.
That’s right Rico, didn’t Roy Keane pipe up as well?
I guess after all the social media stuff post Spurs and that 4-2, that we’re a bit of a target for the knockers in the media, I wonder if other clubs’ players post stuff like that, because we seem to be the only club commented on in a negative fashion regarding social media?
Click bait stuff from the pundits, who nobody hardly listens to anymore so I suppose they need to be controversial to try and remain relevant?
Re the celebration, wasn’t that against Newcastle more about Lacazette breaking his drought? I read Souness have a moan but just a few weeks ago, he was moaning about us being a group of individuals.
Can’t win can we…
Afternoon Kev, thanks.
A clean sheet against a side with Everton’s attacking force would be a real achievement I think. But we need to see our own attacking force up the anti because I actually don’t think their defence is that strong.
Afternoon Rico, thanks for another great post.
I hope that Cicero gets his wish of another Arsenal clean sheet, watching our defence gain in confidence in each successive game is exactly what we’ve all wanted to see, it’s a far cry from the nervous, schizophrenic defending we saw under Emery, Arteta has just simplified everybody’s job and the wreckage of our defence is now taking on the look of back four who actually look as if they’re enjoying defending.
Everton have a terrible record at Arsenal, but Ancelotti is a smart operator and he’s finally getting a team of misfits to actually play to their potential, Everton are a very dangerous team with potential goals from all areas, it’s going to be a tough but enjoyable 90 minutes.
These are the games we follow Arsenal for, games that mean something.
I’d take a draw if you offered it to me now, in fact a score draw is my prediction.
If we lost it wouldn’t be the end of the world, Arteta has a long road ahead of him and at this stage it’s all about performance, a bit like when we lost to Chelsea, it was disappointing but the team looked so improved in so many areas.
If we won it would be marvellous, but it shouldn’t trigger social media pictures of the players celebrating because it’s just one game and we’ve won big games before and then folded in the next, so a bit of balance methinks.
Morning Cicero. That’s one thing we can’t do anymore and that’s guess the team correctly…
Good morning Rico.
I’m looking forward to the pre-match entertainment provided by Arteta’s team selection. There’s always a surprise or two and it’s never predictable, Thursday’s surprise dropping of Martinez being just one example.
Conditions at The Emirates should be more or less ideal. 10/11 degrees, overcast, light winds and only a small chance of rain. Hopefully only Leno will be wearing gloves so there will be little chance of any getting thrown to the ground by substituted players.
I’ve no idea what the result will be, I’m hoping for a clean sheet and a couple of goals but I don’t think we’ll see a repeat of Tony’s last game a 7 – 0 home win.
There’s a small matter of England versus Ireland before the football, I’ll be glued to the screen for that appetiser.