Morning all.
- Brighton – Away
- West Brom – Away
- Crystal Palace – Home
- Newcastle – Home
- Southampton – Away
- Man Utd – Home
Add in the FA Cup match against Newcastle at home and if we happen to win that one, a next round fixture too and that’s January’s fixtures for Arsenal. Not quite true really as tonight’s is still in December. Just. Lol
Six, potentially seven fixtures in one month is tough on the players but that’s why managers have squads. The only important one though is today’s, away at Brighton and Hove Albion. Mikel Arteta v Graham Potter.
As far as injuries go, Brighton are again without Arsenal linked Tariq Lamptey. Adam Lallana and Aaron Connolly are doubts too. For Arsenal, Gabriel Magalhães is self isolating after testing positive for Coronavirus and Thomas Partey hasn’t quite recovered yet. Willian or Luiz will return to the squad on New Years Eve. At least they won’t feature tonight I suppose which gives another opportunity for others to cement their place in the first team. Time to prove once again that youth, energy and a bit of good old fashion pride sometimes works.
Arsenal haven’t won an away fixture since the victory at old Trafford, mind you, they hadn’t won at home either, not since the 4th October. Brighton have faired marginally better having drawn a number of matches but recent defeats against Leicester City and Southampton, plus our victory over Chelsea has kept them below us in the table. That won’t change regardless of tonight’s result.
We need another win though, one which could see us jump to the dizzy heights of 12th place. That’s how tight the table is.
Graham Potter has described his team as being “tactically flexible, attacking, & possession-based.” He literally does switch tactics throughout a game in order to maximise the teams chances of winning, or in some cases, not losing. They press high and defend well as Liverpool found out earlier in the season and they don’t give up until the final whistle blows. Lewis Dunk needs marking properly on set pieces as he’s a threat in the air and of course, there’s Danny Welbeck who’ll want to get one over his old mates. Maupay too, the guy at the heart of the Guendouzi incident which didn’t end well for our guy. But for all their huff and puff, they’re still struggling, just as Arsenal have been.
Both clubs are facing a relegation battle if things don’t improve and stay improved. Arsenal need consistency, to build on what we saw at the weekend and maintain that level of performance. Move the ball around with pace and purpose and defend well when required. The forward players must press high, try and force defensive errors. Hopefully Ryan will start in their goal as all 6’ 6” of Sanchez will be hard to beat.
I fancy us to win this one, but then I always do.
Transfer gossip from NN. As already mentioned, Tariq Lamptey is being linked to Arsenal, a replacement for Hector Bellerin who is wanted by Barcelona. Interestingly, Tariq was at Chelsea for a number of years with Eddie Nketiah so if the right back does join us, he’ll link up with his old buddy again.
Dortmund’s Julian Brandt is another name being linked with a move to the red side of north London and finally, Diego Costa. Apparently he’s had a fall out at Atletico Madrid and wants out. Very unlikely to be true in my opinion.
See you in the comments.
Test
Morning rico, games certainly thick and fast now and during January. Good for us fans. Surprised we didnt go for 5 subs when all other major leagues have, but do like that 9 reserves are included to keep more involved. Cannot see Costa in an Arsenal shirt after the well-remembered episode with Paulista, nasty player.
3-1 to the good guys 🙂
Morning Rico and all.
The Chavs win will be soon forgotten if we put in a poor performance today, so fire up lads!!!
Morning Andrew, Scott and all.
I like the quick turnaround of fixtures too and hopefully Arsenal will get into a good rhythm of winning matches. Build some confidence and move up the table.
However, goodness only knows what kind of performance we’ll see tonight, let alone for the weeks and months ahead.
Hi Rico and all if we play like we did against Chelsea then we should win.
did read that Barcelona have come out and said they are not interested in Bellerin as for the story of arsenal interested in Diego Costa I hope they are false we don’t need him.
Glad that the new post arrived…eventually. 😉
It’s truly amazing what a decent performance and three points can do to gag, at least temporarily, the media. Mind you the fact that other teams are now entering “crisis” territory helps a bit. Mourinho’s non-football and finger pointing at his own players is a pleasant diversion, as is Lampard’s underperforming and expensive new signings.
A plethora of drawn matches is serving to narrow the gaps between clubs and there is no sign of any one team breaking away from the rest.
Hi Geoff.
Not sure what happened this morning Cicero, better late than never I guess. Maybe. Lol
It is amusing how the media are so fickle in their reporting. It was obvious that as soon as the Toots hit a sticky patch, the media would be on it and Mourinho would blame everyone bar himself.
Not sure what happened this morning .
Blame Boris , Brexit , the Chinese or the Russians , The World Health organisation , Tony Blair , Trump the list is endless . Whatever happens just remember it’s all their fault.
There is too much football and games are coming thick and fast and squads are being stretched and of course Covid is claiming players . consequently results are all over the place ,
BTW , Marcelona has replied , he says it’s all Koeman’s fault as he doesn’t trust youngsters however his main difficulty getting time on the pitch or even the squad is Messi . He plays a similar role for Barcelona B and people that go to the Mini to see them rate him highly , but even if Messi sits a game out there are still others in front of him to play .
The thoughts are that he could be a loan as they are thought to have offered him a new contract to tie him to the club , he also thinks that a loan in Spain is more likely.
One to watch though.
I asked if the Bellerin rumours had any legs he said probably not.
A bit like Bellerin, these days! Eh, Potter?
Afternoon all.
I wonder to what extent post COVID after effects have played in the returning athletes? Long COVID does seem to be a ‘thing’. Even amongst the fittest of humans. Eg the Dr. Who ran and cycled miles and miles for fun but now can only manage 200 mts with the aid of a stick! Is there a comparison to be made with some of our players and their performances?
I wonder.
Brighton 1 Arsenal 2…………..it’s all about the result, not the performance tonight.
Can’t be Brexit, that’s sorted.. lol
Away from home against West Brom, yep, any win will do I reckon.
There is not much scope for not winning 3 points in all games going forward.
In addition to the desire for victory, I hope that Leno will not suffer an injury like that of the last game. Worse than any player who leaves in January, is having to play with the goalkeeper Runarsson to nº1.
I already read some players associated with Arsenal in January. A basic principle is that to enter someone, someone has to leave. In addition, Ozil and Sokratis were not registered. I don’t remember Saliba either. That is: will have to leave 3 or 4 to enter one.
I don’t see any interest in Diego Costa, except to increase the likelihood that we will be playing with 10 during the games.
Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Mari, Tierney, Xhaka, Elneny, Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Aubameyang.
Elheni again… he is tired.
Tonights Team
One change Auba in for Laccacet.
Once again No Nelson in squde
Ceballos, Runnarson, Cedric, AMN, Mustafi, Pepe, Willock, Nketiaah.
If Diego Costa is coming to the Premiership I hope we sign him. Better to have him inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in. 😉
For what? To be sent off in each game and Arsenal be playing with 10?
Has anyone seen he playing in the last 2 seasons in Spain? only me?
I fear the Nelson sale rumours are true.
Well as so many of my school reports said, “Must do better”!
Not easy on the eye at all.
A better second half surely..
What’s the point in ESR and Saka both standing by the corner flag when we don’t take a short one?
All is does is keep ESR from being on the edge of the box to pick up a stray ball if there is one.
That’ll do nicely…
Away from home, three points is what mattered tonight.
One nil to the Arsenal🎵🎵🎵
Saka MotM again, 🎵🎵🎵
I missed the first half and probably lucky I did, but I thought we were terrific in the second.
We looked sharp and created some fantastic chances, and were solid in defence.
2 in a row, confidence is slowly building and let’s not count our chickens, but West Brom are a mess atm so really, we should be getting 9 points in a week.
Cicero, that kid really is something special!!
What a footballer he is.
First half was crab football, second half, more energy, more forward passes and generally better all round.
The team is physically exhausted. They played almost the same 11. I did not understand this new tactic of scoring corners by being ESR and Saka to score him. There is a player missing somewhere. The attacking duo is Laca-Martinelli. Auba and Martinelli have almost similar characteristics. Does Nelson have any proposed exit?
They can’t be exhausted Jm, apart from a few, they have been having rest days.
I think the young players do better with Lacazette than Aubameyang because he brings them into the play more. He is less selfish where Auba is single minded.
Next up West Brom , they got a hiding today hope big Sam doesn’t tighten them up too much .
Four days rest then this team needs to go again at the Hawthorns with Lacazette leading the attack, then we’ll have a week off before the FACup where Arteta can rotate a bit if he thinks it’s necessary, maybe rest Martinelli and Saka vs Newcastle?
I’m beginning to think that Nelson is set to be sold because they’d involve him in the squad if he was just going on loan? I can’t say that I’m in favour of selling Nelson whilst retaining Pepe and Willian…
Unfortunately Nelson may be this windows Martinez being sold to fund something else.
Given the choice of the three I would keep him too but Willian is unsaleable and Pepe we would lose too much whereas Nelson should bring in enough to supplement where Arteta thinks we need it .
I hope as we go forward our young fringe players don’t become our only saleable assets
Puig got 4 minutes today for Barca .
Nice win noticed that the young players lifted when Laca come on hopefully we can continue and with the other side’s above us playing the way they are a strong second half of the season we can hopefully make around 6th place on the ladder
Afternoon Geoff.
Funny, but for all the recent panic and frustration we’ve had, we aren’t actually as far off top 4 as you’d think if you didn’t see the table.
We have some extremely winnable games over the next 2-3 weeks and even getting 6-9 from the next 12 would see us progressing nicely, but we can’t fall away again.
Funny old season.
I do hope Arteta will find the time to watch Leeds’ five nil demolition of The Baggies, doing so may give him a clue or two about how Arsenal can extend the winning run.
Cicero, pay that defender to bang in one or two own goals and we will be sorted hahahaha
Morning all.
New post up now