Morning all.
What’s on offer today? Three points and an opportunity to be top of the League on the only day of the year when Father Christmas goes to work. There’s no denying it, Mikel Arteta and his young squad have got people talking about whether or not we are serious title contenders. All the time we’re top of the League, the answer has to be yes, but we’re not even half way through the season.
I thought this was interesting from Pep Guardiola yesterday:
Mikel, we worked together three years but he was taught since he was born and has experiences in England. Maybe I learned more off him when we worked together. Arsenal has the work ethic, the talent, the support. Mikel had the bad moment in the beginning, but people see how he works every day, the commitment. He’s patient, all the managers want time to build something. Arsenal have given it to him, the rest is the position they have.
When a manager as successful as Guardiola, admittedly, greatly assisted by having vast amounts of money to spend at each club he’s managed, says he learned things from a rookie, any sceptics out there might think differently about our manager. If there are any sceptics left that is. The way the team have been playing should be enough to convince even the harshest of critics that Arsenal are very much improved. Enough to win the title? Title talk in November always seems odd to me because so much can happen over the next seven months. Injuries, suspensions and referees to name just three. What, if anything, Arsenal can do in January is another.
But wouldn’t it be great to still be topping the table at Christmas? Of course it would but we need to beat Wolves to achieve that. Saying that, if Brentford pull off a shock result at The Etihad this lunchtime, regardless of what happens at the Molineux Stadium.
A few stats for those interested:
- Victory for Arsenal will mean they are top of the Premier League table at Christmas for the first time since 2007. However, it’s 1947-48 since they last led the top-flight table at Christmas and went on to be champions.
- Arsenal have their best record after 13 league games of a season, with 11 wins and 34 points.
- They are the only side to have scored in every Premier League match this season, while they also have the joint best defensive record.
- The Gunners have kept a clean sheet in five of their seven Premier League away fixtures this season. They only managed six in the entire 2021-22 campaign.
- Gabriel Jesus has gone five league appearances without a goal but he has scored five times in four starts against Wolves.
Mikel Arteta was asked about being top at Christmas and to no surprise, he’s only focused on the here and now:
The focus is to play better every single day and to try to play better tomorrow than we did against Chelsea. If we do that, our chances to win the game will increase and that’s where our focus is.
Wolves might be sitting one place off the bottom of the league but I think the players need to be careful. It’s the last game in charge for interim head coach Steve Davis whilst new manager new boss Julen Lopetegui will be watching on from the stands before taking over on Monday so every Wolves player will be out to impress.
Injuries:
Wolves – Raul Jimenez, Sasa Kalajdzic, Matheus Nunes and Toti Gomes are all ruled out through injury, Jonny is and doubt and Diego Costa is banned.
Arsenal – it’s just Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu who are missing.
With the World Cup just a few hours away for many Arsenal players, ten I think at the last time of counting, more about the numbers on another day, the last thing they’ll want today is an injury. Mikel Arteta touched on this and I agree with his theory. A player is more likely to pick up an injury if he’s trying to avoid doing so.
We’ve discussed that topic before and I always said to them, if you are thinking about an injury, it is probably going to happen. I don’t know if it’s going to happen today, the next day, or the first day of your preparations for the World Cup, so get it out of your minds. You are professional athletes, and this risk is always there for you. Do your job and commit yourself to everything that you do in every action, and the risk will be less.
England need Ben White, Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale so perhaps referee Stuart Attwell will see any bad challenges on them more clearly than he might otherwise. Wolves do have an England player in their squad in Connor Coady but he’s currently on loan at Everton.
A factoid, Wolves are the dirtiest club in the League in the Premier League Fair Play Table and I strongly suspect we’ll see evidence of Wolves ‘strong tactics’ this evening. Strong but fair is fine but overstep the mark and I hope Attwell gets his cards out of his pocket. That applies to both teams but especially Arsenal as we don’t want to give Wolves any kind of advantage. We don’t want to give Attwell a decision to make either, or Mike Dean on VAR.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico. Top at Christmas is an ideal incentive for the team in tonight’s match. Win it and the entire squad can relax for month without the nagging worry that we may be dropping into a mid-season slump.
Morning Cicero, all.
Stats aren’t good for Arsenal being top at Christmas though… lol
Morning Rico and all.
Let’s hope Man c loose or come a draw then that should take some pressure of our players, then hopefully Jesus can score early and take the weight off his shoulders.
Morning Geoff, I think City will batter Brentford.
Focus will be all important, lets get this right , what would you prefer, England doing well and likely Kane getting all the credit. Or, Arsenal winning this evening ? I grew up supporting Arsenal . So for me it will always be Arsenal before anything or anyone.
Of course I would love to see us win 10-0 .
I see a narrow victory for Arsenal 1-0 Martinelli 48 mins.
Good preview rico, thanks. Played Wolves three times under Attwell and not won. Might need Dean to help us out again!
Lets hope we end up with eleven on the pitch, last two visits to Molinuex have seen Martinelli, Leno and Luiz sent off.
Arsenal every time Les. My point though was about the protection previous England favs have had from the officials…
Thanks Andrew. Attwell is one of the worst in the league imo. A Riley special for this one no doubt.
Oops, Brentford are 1-0 up. 😂
Brentford v man c equal at half time but man c keep looking for VAR to help them.
Well it’s 1 -1 in injury time ( 10 minutes ) havent been watching so don’t know where it came from
And Brentford score in the 8th of them
Well well, good on Toney.
Man c loose at home, we are top for Christmas
That’s a bit of a surprise. Welcome though.
Win today and we go into Christmas 5 points clear.
Good on Toney …………Trying to send Southgate a message
I wouldn’t mind Toney at Arsenal but that suggestion didn’t go down well a few months ago on here. 😜
Merry Christmas, Rico 😄 What a result!! That defeat to Brentford means we are now the only team with a 100% record at home in the Premier League this season 🙂
come on Arsenal!
Ha ha Sue, a win later would be massive, just hope we can get it..
Leeds 2-1 up at Totts.
Let’s stay Wright away from Zaha, in the January transfer he just took a penalty and totally missed the goal,
Afternoon all. Good summary Rico, of course!
Top at Christmas! Who’d have thought it or even dreamed that could have happened ever again?
Marvellous. Just got to beat Wolves later to emphasise our EPL credentials. Let’s finish on a real high. And let’s hope we pick up the same winning form on Boxing Day and thereafter until the end of the season
Champions? Well, it’s not impossible. I’m keeping everything crossed!
COYGs
Thank you Wavy. Amen to that…
Jammy Totts
Santa Toney has delivered just the right kind of present.
Top of the shop.
COYG
Arsenal XI:
Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Subs:
Turner, Tierney, Nketiah, Holding, Cedric, Vieira, Nelson, Elneny, Marquinhos.
Regarding Pep comments, if I remember correctly, didn’t Wenger wanted Arteta to be his successor?
Chelsea is a very poor team for all the money they have spent….
That, I believe, is our strongest starting eleven.
No excuses, three points are there for the asking.
Obi, I believe Wenger offered him a coaching role when Arteta retired but he decided to accept Pep’s offer instead. At least that’s what was written at the time.
Ok. Thanks Rico.
Come on, too predictable, too slow. Not sure Viera the right sub.
Why do Saka and Odegaard always cut in. A bit of width down our right and we’d be better imo.
Good assist Viera 🙂
Brilliant Vieira
Excellent result at the end of a very tough game. Goodness only knows why/how Wolves are bottom of the league.
Disjointed and rather weird performance all round. But, 3 points. Well done Martin O.
Two goals, a clean sheet, three points, five clear at the top of the table. Just another day at the office. 😉
We desperately need Jesus to start scoring, hopefully he’ll get a few goals in the WC and come back with his confidence restored and begin knocking them in for us.
Good night all you happy Gooners…. goes off singing….Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, oh what fun it is to see Arsenal win away. 🔔🔔
.Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, oh what fun it is to see Arsenal win away. 🔔🔔
1983 Right tart Lane.
Story :- I went with a work colleague a Spurs supporter, Before the match he took me into the Spurs supporters bar to meet his father a rather distinguished gent who was wearing the full three piece in Navy blue with his tie with a cockerel on it . He said to me ” you are from Norfolk aren’t you ” Where’s my turkey ?
I replied ” you are wearing it.” My mate ushered me out.
Very calm, measured and mature performance, seemed as if a few of our players had the World Cup on their mind and avoided contact, but our quality shone through and our goals were excellent.
Saw the other goals on You Tubeearlier, thought that Brentford should have won 1-4 at the Etihad, City looked rattled and a bit unnerved by this challenge by Arsenal. Leeds lookedgood going forward but their goalkeeper threw a couple in and that killed them. Newcastle are looking a serious threat.
Nice win not only are we 5 points clear at the top of ladder, but we have now brought the goal difference between us and Man C down to 4 goals. Now the boring world cup, let’s hope our players don’t get injured.
New post up