Morning all.
This week, Declan Rice sat down with Freddie Ljungberg to talk all about the desire to win trophies, Sunday’s game against Chelsea and more – the whole chat can be read on Arsenal.com.
Freddie: When I arrived at Arsenal, Pat Rice was the assistant manager. He said to me ‘when you come to Arsenal, you have to win trophies’. That was the mentality but unfortunately we came second three times in a row, which he wasn’t happy about. Then we did the double. You’ve had some amazing seasons but how do you keep the standards and keep on going?
Declan: It’s so important to keep believing in the process, still pushing and believing that you can win it. You might have setbacks, but they will help you to push. Missing out last year was so gutting, but it’s another chance to get the Premier League title now. It’s not been the greatest start in terms of points but there’s such a long way to go. There’s a lot of noise, but we’re still positive.
And positive Arsenal have to stay too because as Declan Rice says, there’s a long way to go this season and so much to still play for.
Chelsea are enjoying life under new manager Enzo Maresca who had the luxury of spending £200 million on players back in the summer. Only goal difference separate the two clubs as we go into this game though. Whether Maresca proves to be the real deal with Chelsea remains to be seen but like Liverpool, the new manager boost is working well. Mind you, I do think both managers have a lot to thank their predecessors for.
Anyway, it’s Arsenal what matters to you and I, how we play today and taking three big points back to the north of London.
Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke on what we can expect from Chelsea:
The Premier League’s best central midfielder this season has been Moises Caicedo, so this is a contest where we will need to be especially strong inside the engine room. The Ecuadorian’s ball winning qualities have really come to the fore in a more defensive role under Enzo Maresca, and his partnership with Romeo Lavia is blossoming very nicely. With Chelsea a side who also like to invert their full backs, we must try not to get overloaded in those central areas. Maresca’s desire to slot at least one of his full backs into central midfield is also a ploy we may look to exploit. If right back Malo Gusto is left stranded in an advanced position for example, the Gunners will look to raid quickly down our left.
Chelsea’s front four have been very good this term. The wingers want to stay wide and isolate full backs 1v1 and inside them, Cole Palmer has been one of the players of the season. No one has created more chances in open play than the England international, who boasts seven goals and five assists. The pace of Nicolas Jackson is also something to look out for. He has been rejuvenated, finding the back of the net six times, and he will look to sprint in behind William Saliba and Gabriel Maghalaes as often as he can. In those situations, Palmer and Caicedo are especially good at sliding through balls in behind for him to run onto. His goals at West Ham United and Liverpool were both from Caicedo passes.
Considering the size of his squad I have been very impressed by Maresca’s management this season and his clever use of 4-2-3-1. He has gone about his work calmly, tweaked the style of play, and somehow found a settled side that he can trust. The one issue that should give us encouragement is their lack of clean sheets. Across their last ten matches the Blues have only shut out minnows Barrow and FC Noah, conceding once or twice in the other eight fixtures. There are eight top-flight teams with a better expected goals against record than Chelsea, so if we attack with positivity and conviction, we should create plenty of chances at Stamford Bridge.
Did you catch the part which said ‘if we attack with positivity and conviction we should create plenty of chances’? We certainly attacked Inter on Wednesday night, especially in the second half but what we’ve lacked for too long is conviction in front of goal. We’ve lacked a bit of luck too. Shots which might on another day take a deflection towards goal have gone out of play or to an opposition player. Shots have been blocked or cleared off the line when another day in another game, they might go in. Sounds like I’m clutching at straws but I’m not. We just need a bit of luck to break this difficult period we’ve been through. An impartial Michael Oliver might help too but perhaps that’s a bit too much to ask…
Catch up in the comments..
Morning Rico and all.
It’s amazing why the officals havent put the Aussie ref in VAR aswell, On the bright side, sooner or later the bubble at Chelsea will burst and hopefully we can burst it for them and then take advantage of other results this weekend to re-kick start our season.
Morning Geoff, I hope it bursts at Chelsea and Liverpool but more than that, I hope Arteta can get this group of players back to winning ways and playing well.
Partey not being selected for Ghana is good for us.
Morning rico, Geoff, all. I fear if Rice is unfit, and Palmer makes it. Lets hope it’s the other way round!
Afternoon Rico, good post.
When one listens to all the pundits (I tend to get it second hand and ignore the majority) and on-line grifters you’d be forgiven for thinking we’ve lost already and that there’s no point in turning up – but the talk coming out of Arsenal has been pretty well non-existent!
That’s how I prefer it.
Chelsea go into today’s game in really tip-top form, they’re above us in the table and the talk of a title challenge to Liverpool and City is gaining momentum among the pundit class and that’s understandable given our recent results and issues with putting the ball in the net.
Michael Oliver is a problem we’ve just got to deal with, he’s a cheat but that’s just a feeling I have. Referee’s are human and they show favouritism,
of that there is no doubt.
I lost count at the number of times players stopped opponents taking a quick free kick yesterday and the officials did nothing, but we kinda knew this was going to be the case.
I’ll wait with interest to see the team sheet announcement and then it’s shit or bust – it really is…
After today we’ll have 27 games left to somehow make this the greatest title race and result for us in 26 years…
36 years
Good day to you all.
A bit of gossip, Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko, 21, has a “gentleman’s agreement” with current club RB Leipzig that he will be able to leave in the summer if a bid comes in between 70m-75m euros (£58m-£62m). (Philipp Hinze, Sky Sports Germany),
He could be ours if we’re quick.
Incoming Manchester United manager Amorim will not make an approach for any Sporting players in January, leaving Arsenal with an opportunity to sign Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 26.
Among many other things, I hope Arteta has already realized that they are putting 2 players covering Saka and that the attack without Saka crossing decently or causing imbalances becomes inefficient.
Yeah, Arteta has a habit of missing a lot of things that bloggers suss out.
Sometimes you have to wonder if he has a clue about coaching? 😐
Afternoon guys, thanks Kev.
The sun has come out here, perhaps it will bring a change of fortune for Arsenal.
Andrew, fingers crossed..
SpecSavers Kev…
Cicero, just hope we can get one, other or another over the line on the 1st Jan..
Rice, Havertz, Merino and Odegaard have travelled.
Arsenal team news – Odegaard, Rice fit to start
Team to face Chelsea: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Odegaard, Rice, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
Subs: Neto, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus.
That’s a very strong line-up, probably our best.
Yep, no excuses 🤣
Arteta knows it’s now or never, Palmer will start for Chelsea so it’s all or nothing…
Forest losing 1-3, I think they probably deserved a penalty before Newcastle took the lead? PGMOL center of the debate, just how Howard loves it…
I reckon that the Kroenkes should try and get the Sesko deal done in January.
Palmer is overrated 🤣
Whisper it so my wife doesn’t hear, Tractor Boys plough Spuds down 2 – 1 at the New Swamp.
🤫
Talk about try and wipe Odegaard out…
We not going to get any 50 50 decisions are we! If they had scored from Palmer free kick after we should have had a clear corner it would have been maddening. Similar dangerous position foul given to them after ignoring foul on Rice. Keep calm White, can’t have another sending off, not that I think he touched Neto’s head.
should switch the wingers . Cucurella and Saka always cancel each other out . If Oliver stops falling for every dive this could go either way or finish nil nil .
Oliver is falling for Chavs dropping to the ground yet let’s Caicedo get away with a his challenge on Odegaard..
I wish our wingers would often switch sides throughout a game. The element of surprise eh…
Omg, how did we not score at the end.
Trossard’s touch took it away from a Havertz tap in!
At least we scored a goal and got a point. Not sure how either side finished with eleven players on the pitch, Chavs in particular.
We shot very few on goal and even “spoiled” 7 opportunities due to offside…
I will happily forget all about football while watching the first episode of Hillary Mantell’s Wolf Hall trilogy on the Tele. I’ve read all three books and have them on a shelf in the summer house. The Mirror and the light is the finale.9 o’clock BBC one. I highly recommend it.
I think Havertz would have been offside..
Just started watching The Day Of The Jackal..
I did not enjoy that game one little bit, we should have won but at the same time I was expecting an Oliver stitch up.
Question: how many of you would offer Partey a new contract next summer?
And how did Caicedo get through that game and not get a yellow card?
This time last year I’d say no Kev but now, well, he’s been good and stayed fit. Plus he’s been dropped by Ghana..
Goodness only knows! He could easily have seen red with a neutral referee.
As far as the day of the jackal goes watch the original! The new one is woke personified.
I’m quite enjoying this one 🤣
Didn’t get to see the as it started around 3:30am, in oz, however a point is better than nothing
Cicero, the original is a masterpiece and I had no intention of watching the current film but your critique has confirmed my fears, who made it, Disney?
That’s the problem Rico with Partey, just when you think you’ve got the player we all hoped for when we signed him, he goes and breaks down!
Although:
I’ve gotta admit that he is playing so well that I’m beginning to soften my stance on him staying, I just have this voice in the back of my mind whispering ‘Walcott, Ozil and Aubameyang, remember what happened to them when they re-signed?!’
I guess it all depends on a number of circumstances like what he’d expect to be paid to extend, for how long and what would his agent want as a kick-back?
What other parties would offer him?
If he can remain fit for most of the rest of the season?
And who we can bring in to replace him, if anyone? (Lewis-Skelly)
Personally I’d offer him a one year extension with a one year option, on the same money with a reasonable but not excessive signing-on fee.
If he prevaricates then I’d wish him cheerio and move on.
Oliver was everything I expected from him Rico, he’s an awful referee, full of his own self importance with an inflated ego to match.
It’s all about you , It’s all about you , Michael Oliver it’s all about you.
Was heard loud and clear in the second half and I think both sets of fans were singing it.
With Saka being subbed with what looked like a groin injury, will he pull out of the England squad?
It was great to see Odegaard back, but he looked knackered by the end of the game. Would playing an International help with his match fitness? Or should he pull out and rest too?
Rice too out of the England squad?
Morning all.
it could have been worse or better depending how you viewed the game .
Odegaard and Rice were not 100% fit so not sure how much of a gamble that was playing them.
Merino does nothing for me and Jesus as usual did sweet f all.
Nwaneri should have come on,he’s an exciting raw talent .
Trossard should have scored .
Surprised Martinelli was withdrawn.looked our best player up front . Ah well two weeks off for my wife to have her must needed operation and my 6 month cancer revue .
Morning Andrew, Kelsey, all.
Thanks Andrew and no, neither Adams or Keown would have turned their back. I’m surprised Gabriel did.
Thought Merino did well. Yes, a few misplaced passes to begin with but I like him a lot.. He’s still finding his way in this league don’t forget.
Had Trossard scored, I’m sure offside would have ruled it out.
As said, I’m sure our luck will change and if in January we can make a couple of signings and oik out Jesus, we’ve still a good chance of catching Liverpool imo.