Morning all.
First up is Santi Cazorla and Per Mertesacker, two players whose contract expires at the end of this season. According to The Mirror, Arsenal have a one year extension option on both players but that decision will be made next month. ‘The decision will be taken in January.’ said Arsene.
With the EFL Cup done and dusted for us, it’s back to the Premier League this weekend with a tasty trip to West Ham at their new stadium for the first time. The London Stadium isn’t proving to be a happy home for the Hammers as they are struggling to repeat any kind of form they showed last season. To make matters worse for the home team today, they could be without their top scorer Michail Antonio and defender Aaron Cresswell after both suffered injury against Man Utd in midweek. Diafra Sakho is out injured but Andy Carroll is back, although it’s unlikely that he’ll start and Arthur Masuaku is fit again too.
Andy Carroll was the pain in Arsenal’s backside last season in this very same fixture. 2-0 up thanks to goals from Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, we were looking as if we would take West Ham to the cleaners but no, sloppy stuff allowed Carroll to grab a quick fire hat-trick. Two goals in as many minutes just before half-time and then a third soon into the second half and from nowhere, Arsenal were losing. Koscielny spared us with an equaliser later in the game but two points dropped proved costly.
The moans and groans after the match focused on Arsene’s team selection, why oh why did Mertesacker not start in defence to nullify Carroll’s aerial threat. The Frenchman said he wasn’t aware he was was on the team-sheet. Or something like that. Anyway, it’s likely he’ll be playing at some stage tonight and Arsene should be well aware of the threat he poses by now. Both fullbacks need to be on the ball tonight to prevent crosses flying into the box. But it’s not only Carroll who will cause problems, Cresswell, Payet and Antonio can too if Arsenal let them and then there’s our old boy Havard Nordveit in midfield, he’ll want to show Arsene Wenger what he’s missing.
For Arsenal, Carl Jenkinson won’t be playing at right-back. Arsene Wenger has reportedly said that he wants to take him out of the limelight after fans lambasted the player for his performance in midweek. That leaves either Maitland-Niles or Gabriel to fill the void and I suspect it’ll be the latter. Who starts up front is a tricky one, does Wenger continue with Alexis or push him out wide with Ollie in the middle? We could certainly do with his height on set-pieces considering Carroll returns but the Frenchman faces a late fitness test apparently, as does Elneny who was struggling with a sickness bug in midweek. Other than that, we have no additional injuries to our already long list of absentees.
Be strong from the start is Arsene Wenger’s message to the team, he says that’s always the message but recently, that message clearly hasn’t got into the heads of all the players. The tempo needs upping, the attitude needs to be better and the level of performance overall needs to be much improved if we are to stay in touch with those ahead of us in the table. With City and Chelsea facing each other at lunchtime, someone will drop points. Ideally for us, a point a piece for both clubs would be ideal but the most important result for us is at the London Stadium where we need to get three points..
Basel on Tuesday can wait, the Premier League is far more important….
Morning Rico and all..
Morning Bt…
We will destroy the Hammers.
Carve them to pieces.
Players having a rest during the week will fire for us.
But then, we really had to go on and win the League cup.
It’s absolutely vital.
I know we won 2 FA cups, but the League cup is where it’s at 🙂
Morning Rico and fellow Housers.
On a serious note, the PL is what we want, and what we need.
In my opinion, all other competitions are secondary to this.
Morning Sott, you say that every week… 😉
True, but this time, I mean it 🙂
Well, they are having an awful season so far, so you’d think we could win… However…..
Gutted for Jenko, boy is a proper Gooner as well. Perhaps the plastics need to get off his back!
Ditto Ross, poor bloke has been out for a long time and now thrown in at the deep end… He’s one of those players who improves game by game imo..
True Rico, but factor in it being a derby, their awful form and perhaps the appearance of Big Andy and then it could well be…However…
On paper it certainly looks a nailed on win, it would be great to see a dominate ruthless performance from start to finish…
However, those kind of performances seem quite rare…
Today’s word is However…lol
Those factors are exactly why the ‘however’ came in Bt 😉
I hope AW isn’t thinking about Basel when he picks his side today…
No such thing as a nailed on win against the Pikeys from the east end. A win is essential though!
Will our team be awake by 17.00 this afternoon? Let’s hope so. A win is the only acceptable result for our club’s serial under-performers.
Here’s hoping!
Morning all. Bright and moderately warm today.
As is a much improved performance Ross.
They have no excuses tonight Wavy, it’s not even cold… lol
Rico, did you happen to see the article on Just Arsenal?
I didn’t Bt…
In many ways I blame social media ,it is pretty obvious that The Arsenal does have an intolerant section of support and the internet , twitter , facebook et al gives them the abilty to facelessly insult and destroy people with little or no recourse. I saw the PSG game and actually thought that Jenks did alright . Yes he made a few mistakes but so did many others. Mustaphi was talking to him and as the game wore on he got better . However the criticism that he got afterwards in my opinion was unwarranted. People need to accept that we will not have 11 world class players on the pitch and one that is not a regular first teamer will not be at the same standard until he has time under his belt.
I hope that he is not hounded out as others have been in the past.
Agree re social media which is just what AW said too, give the poor bloke a chance and a run of games and see how he does. Imo, he’ll only improve.
He may not be world class, but he’ll sure give 100% which perhaps can’t be said of a few others…
Your right Potter, I remember Bellerin getting crucified after a performance against Dortmund. Unfortunately we have a larger global support base that just tees off on a player if they are not a global superstar these days. Would hate to have seen how bad they would have reacted to a Gus Ceaser or a young Tony Adams when he had a few errors in his youth!!!
Post of the year, Potter.
Morning Rico…
Morning All
Yeah Rico, my Dad used to talk fondly about watching an Irish winger called Joe Haverty back in the 1950’s.
Morning Kev. I struggle to remember Brady… 😉
Rico ?
Great comment Potter, Jenkinson is not going to be at the same level as Bellerin, expecting him to be so is idiotic…
He’s just feeling his way back after a long injury lay-off, same as Perez, it’ll take them a few games to be to the same level as the others, but patience is a rare commodity in the crazy world of Facebook and Twitter, glad that I don’t indulge in either…
I remember Joe Haverty but was not aware of a hate campaign but I was young then. I remember the vitriol hurled at Jon Sammels though albeit I could never understand it. However all that took place in the ground , Now it just spreads it wings and gets everywhere in a matter of seconds and then the press pick up on it and it becomes fact.
Potter I don’t think that there was ever a hate campaign against Haverty, football crowds were a different animal in the 1950’s
I remember Sammels getting stick back in the day…
I cannot really see what difference it makes if people have a different opinion and post it on social media. The mistake is reading it and giving it any credence in the first place.
And Geoff Strong. I could never understand the crowd’s dislike of him. He was a good footballer, hard as nails and perhaps not very ‘cultured’, but he did his job and did it well. When he was pushed out of the club he went to the dippers and played for years under Shankly. I think he approached near ‘legendary’ status. Our loss was their gain….again. You have to congratulate the ‘knowledgeable’ Arsenal crowd and their judgement, on occasions.
Same went for Ray Kennedy and same outcome! John Jensen too, (I wonder why?).
And so on. Joe Haverty? I remember him, he was even smaller than the manured pygmy! But he was direct and could do a trick or two. Not a bad player and I felt he was a bit og a crowd favourite. I’ll stand corrected though.
The truth is though that the crowd has its favourites and it has its prejudices but once they get on the back of a player they never ever let go, they can be truly vicious. They need to give some of the players a bit of slack for all the reasons that Potter identified. There’s enough hate in this world without the crowd adding to it and especially singling out our own players!
Morning All:
I hope even if he doesn’t start that AW gets Jenkinson in the game when we are 3-0 up just to give him some confidence . The kids work rate is unquestionable and as Potter said next to Mustafi he will improve.
Btw, watching City and Chelsea, Cesc is done, he’s just a pedestrian 20 minutes and he has touched the ball once – corner kick. City is playing some beautiful football for all the football purists out there, but it’s still 0-0.
Payet is a very good player, but he’s not played up to the level he showed 12 months ago. Makes me wonder if he tried to engineer a move last summer and isn’t as motivated at West Ham as a year ago?
Wenger complimented him recently in an interview with a French media outlet and that’s been interpreted as Arsenal bidding for Payet this January by the click-bait internet sites…
Well Payet is 29 and West Ham are going to want big money from him, even if Arsenal are interested, which I doubt and even if West Ham were prepared to sell him, which I also doubt, but I guess that the ‘Payet to Arsenal’ rumours will rumble on and gain intensity as January approaches, after all the click-bait sites have advertising to sell…
Afternoon guys..
All the home teams are winning the 3pm matches bar one…
Good game of rugby going on… 🙂
Great result at Twickenham then Rico…
Smashed the Aussies 4 times on the trot, it’s almost getting too easy Rico, btw, where is Scott ?
Fantastic Kev. Terrible start but what a comeback from 10-0 down…
English rugby is in a very good place…
You know what Scott will say, ‘they’d be rubbish without an Aussie coach’ 😉
We certainly need the 3 points this afternoon. Anything less would be horrible.
Nice to see a couple of red cards at City…..
Could have been more Rico. High intensity game though. City threw it away really with missed chances.
Gabriel at rb and Giroud out…
Agree Adam.
Ramsey on the bench.
Good old Anthony Taylor. What a dick!
He’s the worst!
Adam @4:56 Yup. It all started when he failed to booked Luiz for that hockey cross body check on Aguero. A definite red because it was a goal scoring opportunity.
Come on then boys, put in a shift…. 3 points please!
Obi, he often bottles the big calls. Especially early on in a game.. at the end of the match, it was easy for him…
West ham are a big team… we look like tiddlers alongside them…
Arsenal dominating, but as usual, the opposition keeper hasn’t really been tested.
I’m listening to the radio and it’s all Arsenal, so it’s set up for West Ham to score on the break ☹️️
There ya go, almost a goal for Lanzini ?
If we could cross better, we’d be 4/5-0 up by now!
Cech was all over their chance Kev…
Ox is so wasteful. We need at least three goals
We aren’t ruthless enough…
I think this game is proving that our players aren’t all that. So much time and space and we keep messing it up. Very poor.
That was fecking disgraceful by Ozil. Four on two break plays a shit pass and then just stands there as they break away.
Rico at 4.32-no need for further comment 🙂 🙂
Seems Aussie coaches have sorted plenty of your sports.
Ange Postecoglou to take over from Arsene-you heard it here first 🙂
100,000,000/1 but I tell you, this guy is a superb manager, and even coming from this lowly Football arena, he’d have absolutely no issue sorting out the biggest egos in the game.
Vote 1 for Ange!
Morning all.
Kev, I’m always watching, so be warned 🙂
Solid start, but 2 more required in the second half.
Improve our final pass and we’ll score….
🙂 Scott..
Every game is the same.Can’t put a game to bed.The ox is poor and Walcott don’t get me going.
We’re even worse than I thought.
It’s not the players Kelsey, imo of course…
2-0
Now we can all relax
What a goal.
What we do and where would we be without Sanchez ?
What would out Aunty be if she had balls???
🙂
Alexis and Ozil are must keeps.
Wenger loses them, he will lose every supporter he still has.
Exactly why it’s important we secure a deal for him Kelsey.
Some might say they don’t care if he signs or not, but I do. Big time, he’s superb….
Chamberlain deserves that, I think he’s been good tonight. Great strike…
We’re not that bad then…… ?????
Can we consider this game killed off guys 🙂
Rico, we are always shit according to some lol
We are scott… ?
Wasted so many chances in the first half, but we’ve certainly made up for it in the second…
Shocking first half performance Rico, you’re right. West Ham were woeful.
In all honesty, we needed this performance.
It’s a confidence booster, and just when it was needed.
We can go on a run now.
We need to.
Come on Adam, I can’t be expected to watch both halves, can I?
Seems I chose the right one this time hahaha
It wasn’t that bad Adam, better final ball needs sorting out but overall, I thought we were good going forward just didn’t make it pay. Second half, some really good goals..
West Ham weren’t the best but there’s positives to take from our performance for me…
Rico, did you notice that the performance lifted once our lads realised Aaron was warming up and again when he came on?
Can’t even be put into words the confidence he gives the others.
Just inspirational.
Scott. 🙂
Errrr, no Scott.. 🙂
Ramsey mut have holidays!
TW : he’s always waiting for the defenses to fail!
When they do not fail, we not watch him on the pitch!
Rico, damn, you’re harsh 🙂
Only a little thing, and I realise he wasn’t on for long, but he kept things simple-I wonder if he’s had someone in his ear.
I hope so because the kid hasn’t forgotten how to play, he needs to be reminded of what made him so effective a few years back.
Harsh Jm… lol
Ha ha Scott, trust me, I really want Ramsey to find his form again, he’s a super player on his day, but those days are few and far between this season….
He hasn’t had a great day for longer than I can remember, Rico, but as I’ve always said, when he goes back to basics, thee performances flow from there.
I guess you could say that about all players but it especially applies to him.
Maybe I’m clutching at straws but I do hope Arsene has spoken to him.
I think you’re right Scott, back to basics and stop trying to do something he can’t right now..
Yep,
Build the confidence and allow things to happen, don’t force them.
Anyway, job done and Alexis is just incredible.
Evening all 🙂
From the earlier comments in the 1st half you`ld never expected that scoreline hahaha
Did I not say that we would beat them because of our resting of players on Wednesday !…….fine tactics by me and Arsene hahaha
Now will we please just give Alexis £300K per week……….I dont care if his agent only wants £250K per week !
Although we are on occasions playing incredibly shit for such a talented squad there are 4 players currently who would get in my best ever Arsenal team……Alexis, Ozil, Cech ( for how good he has been for us and Chavs ) and Bellerin ( for how good and quick he is and how good he will become )………………groan if you like ! hahaha
Cant wait for MotD tonight.
Agree Scott
LC, you’ve missed Kozzer 🙂
Well, I rate him as World Class and have for years.
Can’t disagree with your 4 named though-quality, quality and more quality.
Keeping Alexis is a must LC, in fact I’d say out of him and Mesut, he’s possibly more important but ideally, keep both at all costs….
Strictly and the jungle for me now so night all….
Have a good one…
I agree with JM…
Morning rico & all,
Wow! Gr8 result!
I can feel a Title coming on?
Talk about fickle fans, that’s what… two hattricks in his Arsenal career, 55 goals in 112 games and suddenly Alexis is world class, I’d have him in for extra training in the morning to work on his finishing if I was boss lol !
Morning all..
Morning Rico. Beautifully clear, frosty morning here.
Morning Adam, same here. Lovely day for a nice long walk…
After a few days at home with a really horrible cold I think I might have a walk too Rico.
I’ve had one of those too Adam, and a nasty bug….. A walk will do us both the world of good…
Especially now I read we are buying Fabregas. 🙂
🙂 Surely not…
I read it somewhere. But, even he couldn’t be as anonymous as Theo was yesterday. I forgot he was playing. 🙂
I spotted Theo, when he headed over the bar…. 🙂
Oh yes, you’ve reminded me now. He must be one of the World’s luckiest men. 🙂
He did have a couple of shots as well… 😉
New post up now.
They must have passed me by Rico. I guess he’ll be leaving at the end of the season? 🙂
What Theo?