Morning all.
I watched a bit of football yesterday. Arsenal women’s 2-0 victory over London City Lionesses in the FA Cup was a bit of a bland game but what I found quite amusing, rightly or wrongly, was hearing the “oooooooooooooooooh you’re sh*t ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” being shouted loudly by what sounded like a few thousand young fans, most of whom sounded like girls/women. I won’t repeat what else I heard.
Following that match, I tuned into Plymouth v Liverpool at half-time. Both Robbie Fowler and Karen Carney were talking about how difficult bottom of the Championship table club were making things for the current league leaders. A clear and obvious handball in the box didn’t go un-missed by the referee and without VAR to intervene, Plymouth were awarded a penalty. It was well struck, it gave the home team the lead. A lead they hung on to, in fact they could so easily have doubled their lead. Liverpool nearly equalised right at the end of the game but goalkeeper Conor Hazard made two superb saves to first deny Jota and then Nunez.
That’s Premier League clubs Chelsea, Liverpool, Southampton, Leicester, Everton and Totts knocked out of the competition this weekend. Both Manchester club scraped through, Utd with a winning goal so obviously offside, even Michael Oliver would have spotted it….
I reckon a Newcastle domestic cup double might be on the cards…
We might be out of the domestic cups but I’m not giving up on this season, not just yet anyway. Liverpool play their game in hand on Wednesday night so for 95 minutes only, I’ll be cheering on David Moyes team. I’m sure he’ll want to do his mate Mikel a favour.
As much as we need to stay within reach of Liverpool in case they do slip up, we need to keep an eye on the clubs behind us too because there are a handful who, “if” we were to drop points here and there, could easily catch or overtake us.
Here is our remaining fixtures. * denotes which clubs are ten or less points behind us.
February
15th – Leicester City A
22nd – West Ham H
29th – Nottingham Forest A
March
9th – Man Utd A
16th – Chelsea* H
April
1st – Fulham H
5th – Everton A
12th – Brentford H
19th – Ipswich A
26th – Crystal Palace H
May
3rd – Bournemouth * H
10th – Liverpool A
18th – Newcastle* H
25th – Southampton A
I know the old “top four” finish was often ridiculed during Arsene Wenger’s day but now we’re back in the Champions League, it’s important, crucial even, to stay in it. More importantly, it’s crucial for the club to remain competitive at the same time which I’m quietly confident they will.
Winning the league isn’t any clubs right, it has to be earned by having the officials on your side being better than the rest and right now, it’s Liverpool, with a bit of help from the officials I have to say, who are top. Yes they’ve had a bit of luck along the way, especially on the injury front whereas any luck we’ve had has always been bad luck. Hopefully Mikel Arteta, his players and coaches packed up the bad luck in its own suitcase and shipped it out to Dubai with them and when they return, the bad luck suitcase is left behind with an Anfield return address label slapped on the front.
Ben White is back in training, likely to return to the squad this coming weekend which is great news, Riccardo Calafiori seems to be over his injury woes and then next month, after the international break, we might just get to see Bukayo Saka make his slow and steady return. Gabriel Martinelli too.
There is an international break at the end of March, after our home fixture against Chelsea. I’m not in favour of international breaks at anytime during a season but to have one in March is simply stupid. A lot of clubs around the world are still fighting hard for something whether that’s to avoid relegation, to earn promotion or to secure a place in a European competition. A lesser number are actually fighting to win a European competition or domestic league title. The last thing any of those clubs, regardless of who they might be, want is an injury or two to their players which could potentially dent their chances. The international fixtures might be World Cup qualifiers, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a higher than usual number of players dropping out of them. I certainly hope to see a few Arsenal players dropping out.
Anyway, I think those out in Dubai return tomorrow or Wednesday, I read they were away for six days. It’ll be interesting to see whatever new ideas Mikel Arteta has been working on, play out on the pitch and of course, whether or not Nicolas Jover has come up with a few different set-piece routines.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, again 😀
There is an article in today’s Telegraph demanding Arsenal abandon it’s sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda. According to U N agencies six thousand people have been killed in the city of Goma In the Democratic Republic of the Congo as Rwanda steps up it’s campaign in the region.
The article claims that the Rwanda deal is a stain on the reputation of the club.
I confess to feeling uncomfortable about the link with Rwanda, but we are by no means the only club with ties to unsavoury regimes.
Morning Cicero
I’m in agreement re Rwanda but as you say, is it any worse than what other clubs are doing? I don’t think so. Club ownerships would be a good place to start.
Apparently the Rwanda President is an Arsenal fan, perhaps he and Kier Starmer can get together, in a hospitality box at the Emirates, and sort out the difficulties over the plan to send illegal immigrants to Rwanda.
That ship has sailed I think. Or never taking off… lol
With all the talk of illegal migrants and Rwanda you have to remember where Kier Starmer is coming from . By his very nature he is a human rights lawyer that made his career raking in legal aid payments to defend the rights of the people to stay here .
He’s already made a few U turns but I can’t see his paymasters letting him do this one .
As for football it’s the old cliche of one game at a time . The scousers went out last night but most of the team that will play against Everton were sat firmly nowhere near the pitch and will return refreshed on Wednesday ..
I know that hope springs eternal but I can’t see a nine point lead disappearing in time for us and in all fairness I doubt that we will run out at 100% ourselves.
It’s gloomy over Norfolk today and bloody cold. Still they don’t put windmills where the wind don’t blow , just ask Millitwat , Starmer’s mate.
The only way we have a chance imo is if Liverpool suffer a few injuries to key players, even then I’m sure the officials will help them scrape over the line.
I’d like to see a bit of tit for tat from Arsenal, let’s see a ‘reliable source’ putting out in the media that the Gunners are looking at the prospect of making a bid for Mbappe or alternatively Bellingham maybe a cheeky bid for Vinicius Junior?
Maybe put it out there just before the CL 2nd leg with Man City, that’ll go down a storm..,
Bellingham is having difficulties with the Spanish equivalent to the PGMOL . Seems an ideal target.
But he got the winner tonight 3-2 to Madrid next week the Bernabeu.
Hilarious eh, and to think City thought they’d won it when Haaland tucked away a penalty which to say the least, was dubious.
Now it looks like we have lost Havertz for a few weeks . Leaves the forwards a little stretched to say the least. Maybe put Gabriel up front and toss in a few high balls.
Not sure that he was in the area when the tackle was made , but Ancellotti pulled Ceballos off immediately after.
I didn’t think he was in the box either. VAR missed it too.
Wonder who we’ll be stitched up with this weekend..
Think we’re more likely to see Trossard or Sterling play in the middle if Havertz is injured. Or Nwaneri…
Agreed agreed Rico. Unless another starlet from Hale End is called in to help out, ( to coin a phrase!)
I think Trossard would be the striker,Sterling left,Nwaneri right if Havertz is out. Until it’s confirmed by the club there is still hope.
It would leave us down to the bare bones for attacking players.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji is the elder of the academy options Wavy. Could be his lucky day… lol
No sign of him in training yesterday Limey, not that that means much.
Good afternoon everyone.
sorry to be the harbinger of bad news but I just read that Kai might be out for the season. So gutted for him as he was heading for 20 goals this season. And he is my current favourite besides Nwaneri and Saka and MLS.
I hope what I read isnt true but if it were I feel that we can write our season off.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/13307780/kai-havertz-arsenal-striker-could-miss-rest-of-the-season-with-hamstring-injury-sustained-on-dubai-trip
☹️☹️
Arsenal’s injuries
Kai Havertz (hamstring – out for the season)
Bukayo Saka (hamstring – back in March at earliest)
Gabriel Jesus (ACL – out for the season)
Gabriel Martinelli (hamstring – out for over a month)
Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee – second surgery being considered)
Ben White (knee – set to return)
Yesterday it was a muscular problem which was being assessed, but not thought to be serious. Today it’s a hamstring injury which has ended the season for Havertz.
I’ll wait to see what Arteta says in tomorrows press conference.
Glass half full, folks! 😯
Havertz hamstring injury announced by none other than David Ornstein. So it’s most likely true. Ho hum!
That’s that then… ☹️
Nah! Ornstein has just jumped on the bandwagon…..I hope.😉
6 free agents…..including Vela and Perez
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/gallery/arsenal-free-agent-transfer-options-34663262
tbh I dont think that Arteta will get someone who is on a free. I think he will promote from within and work with what he has.
How old is Vela these days?
New post up guys..