Morning all.
Another match tonight, our penultimate for the season as far as the league goes. I expect Aston Villa to make it tough for us because it’s do or die time for them. Arsenal can go a long way towards relegating them tonight by giving them a good hiding. Oddly enough, if Man City thump Watford in tonight’s early fixture, Arsenal could again play a huge part in the relegation battle on Sunday when this League campaign finally comes to an end. If Bournemouth beat Everton, West Ham beat Aston Villa and we beat Watford, it’ll be Bournemouth who escape for another year. For Watford, it’s simple. Beat Man City tonight and they’re safe.
With Wolves beating Crystal Palace last night, the chance of an automatic Europa place for us is fading fast. We need a big scoring victory tonight and then on Sunday, fingers, toes and anything else crossable, crossed. We need Toots, Wolves and Burnley to draw their final fixtures or better still, lose.
But of course, there’s still a lot of hard work to do before Sunday, and on Sunday itself. Mathematically, we can still finish 6th but we could also finish where we are today, 10th. With our game in hand tonight, three points would see us jump into 8th. We simply have to beat Aston Villa. We have to give ourselves the chance on Sunday.
More importantly though, this is about Arsenal continuing the good work, building on what’s been going on since Mikel Arteta arrived. Continued improvement, building momentum. Confidence as we head towards an FA Cup Final and through to next season.
I don’t care who gets relegated as they’re where they are because it’s where results dictate they should be just as it is for us and every other team in the League. Ultimately, League placements are about how much money clubs are awarded one way or another. The higher up the table a club finishes, the more they earn but there’s only one big prize in the Premier League and that’s gone for another season.
The media can bleat on about this season being our lowest points tally, our lowest league position for however many years it might be but so what? Winning the League is what matters to the top clubs and Arsenal FC are a top club. Our aim next season will be to win the League. Not a scrap for a Europa spot or even a top four place, the aim will be to finish top.
The aim today is to beat Aston Villa. Nothing more, nothing less. A win away from home with whichever squad Mikel Arteta selects. Mustafi misses out with a hamstring injury, others might get a breather too after two very tough fixtures.
Even so, those coming in need to be at the races, ready to prove they are on board with the Mikel Arteta journey.
Villa are fighting for survival, Arsenal need to be ready for one heck of a battle out there tonight. Especially if Man City have already beaten Watford. Villa need goals too, lots of them just in case, so the game itself could be entertaining for the neutral.
See you in the comments guys.
Super post, Super Rico 🙂👍
Watford will play a huge part tonight..as you say if they win, they’re safe… Bournemouth and/or Villa could go tonight… we just have to win!! A heck of a lot riding on these next 2 games!
Now Watford have parted ways with their manager, teams usually have a winning spurt… so the excitement levels are rising by the minute – we shall all be glued to our screens!!! 😉 I ain’t moving for nowt haha!!
I can’t believe it’s nearly over, this restart has flown by!
Another beautiful morning… the sun is shining, the birds are singing (think I just heard one say Come on Arsenal 😜) Let’s hope tonight is just as beautiful! Pierre needs to bang in a few, as he’s 3 behind Vardy and Ings has overtaken him now!
Hi Rico and all It’s a hard decision do we go with a full strength team and hope we do not pick up a injury or do we rest the main players and only use them if we really need to and try to keep them ready for the FA cup.
I Think we should rest them and not take a chance
Thanks Sue.
I think I’ll been tuned into both later, unless the sewing bee is repeated. Lol
Agree, this restart has flown by. I quite like having the condensed version of football. It’s like a mini World Cup…
If any need a rest Geoff, this is the one to let them imo. Then play the week before the week before the final. But I bet they all want to play right now. Barring the two in the naughty corner.
Just read a story that Arsenal are looking at Danilo Pereira who has a release clause of 53.8million pounds does any one know any thing about him
That’s an old story I think. He’s at Porto and rumoured to be an alternative to Partey.
Morning Rico and all. Nice post.
I see Lord Pep now has no respect for Arsenal, as a club, after they (apparently) were not supportive of the financial doping his club (reputedly) engaged in. It’s a bit strong when you consider the extraordinary decision taken by the Court Of Sports Arbitration which the Pepster seems to think proves that nothing untoward happened. Yes mate, pull the other one. You still got a £9 million fine but I suppose that was for nothing too.
Obviously inflamed by the blow to his ego that Arsenal delivered on Saturday the Catalan has most definitely got the hump. Actually he’s been rather stroppy and furiously deflecting for a while now with a deeply unpleasant sense of entitlement that isn’t new in football and which that miserable sod Mourinho had made as the rancid centrepiece of his whole character.
Morning One and All. Morning Rico, good postie.
So the media have been talking about Arsenal finishing lower than they have in years – yawn!
And that this is our lowest points/goals/whatever since the ‘Old King died’ – double yawn!
Well I haven’t read any of that rubbish and mainly because if the headline looks bollocks then it usually follows that what has been hurriedly written is also bollocks, so I swerve it and I’d advise all you good people to do the same. They only write bollocks because we click on it.
I read stuff, headlines mostly about what Rio Ferdinand has said or Michael Owen, Paul Merson, Steve McManaman, Uncle Tom Cobbley and all, but I don’t read the content because I’m not in the slightest bit interested in what these talking heads who’ve done absolutely zero in coaching terms have to say. It’s why I turn down the volume when I’m watching the game, the artificial crowd gets on my wick in any case, but I’m not interested in the commentators hyperbole or the zero analysis from the ex-pro sitting next to him and who shows why he failed at coaching has to say, because it’s all bollocks.
Anyway, I’m glad I’ve got that off of my chest 😀
One thing every Arsenal supporter will be certain of is as our level improves and we look competitive again the criticism and snidiness of the media will increase.
Is snidiness a word?
If not, then I’ve invented it, footballistically of course.
Ok where’s that paint brush…
Morning all,
Adam, I’d say Pep wants out of England.
One last crack at the CL title and then gone.
Kev, stop ya whinging 🙂
Rico.. The sewing bee – I’ve not seen it – but is that the one with Joe Lycett presenting? I love him, he’s bloody hilarious!!
Good morning all.
Guardiola also had another moan about us “tapping up” Arteta. Apparently we spoke to him without informing the oil sheiks that own City of our interest.
Anything to deflect criticism from their failings at the Emirates. Perhaps he got too close to Moanhio when they were both at Barcelona, should have observed social distancing perhaps. 😉
Certainly a big game this evening, it’s important to keep the winning run going and reinforce the growing confidence in the team.
Sue, the sowing bees is a documentary narrated by whispering David Attenborough, about a rare species of bumble bees, native to Inner Mongolia, they plant flower seeds to provide them with nectar for their honey production. They’re ingenious little devils.
We need bees , I have a nest of tree bees in my garage they have been there for a couple of months now , When my wife goes near them the soldiers all come out and guard the area but they let me in without a problem , strange Is it because I talk to them / or sing and we hate Tottenum and we hate Tottnum we are Tottnum haters.
Afternoon Kev, Adam. Thanks re the post.
Pep is turning into another bitter chap imo.
Kev, I like the channels which just have commentary. It’s great to hear Mikel barking his orders.
It is Sue and he’s very funny. I’d love to see him live. Have you seen the ‘missing cat’ sketch? Hilarious.
Rico, I really think Pep is bored.
😂 Potter
You could be right Scott. I just think he’s sulking having been beaten to the league and by teams who’ve not spent as much as him. Anything to get the focus deflected I guess, like Mourinho.
Maybe, Rico.
You’d think that getting smashed by LFC would have him fired right up though.
Yes, I’ve seen that, Rico.. it was hilarious!
Did you ever watch ‘Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back?’ That had me belly laughing most weeks!!
Funny you should say about mo crowd noise, Rico… Brighton v Newcastle last night… Matt Ritchie said to the linesman “How have you given that, you wee d**k” 😄😄 How many times have the commentators apologised for choice language?! 😂
I’ll take your word for it, Cicero 😉
Cazorla goes to Qatar. He made his official farewell on Sunday against Eibar.
Emery, may be the future coach of Vilareal, as well as Pellegrini of Betis.
Mérida, said goodbye to Eibar and I think of football
Of course I know Danilo Pereira (Porto).
He is a good player but has been managed by “tweezers” due to injuries.
He would play 10 to 12 games in a season for Arsenal right now.
Not that we care Scott. 😂
Haven’t seen that one Sue, I’ll have to check YouTube, thanks.
BBC you can lose the canned crowd but still have the commentators Rico, but Arsenal as far as I know are one of the few, maybe the only team who’ve not been free to air on Pick or BBC.
So all the games I’ve seen on them I’ve only had a passing interest on, Sky and BT are just irritating.
Apparently Arsenal have no money so why would any of us take any notice of any multi million pound transfer rumours, swap deals could have some traction but Coutinho, nah, I don’t think so and Willian will want a big signing on fee, big wages and three years and do we want another Ozil type deal? Not me…
Didn’t take much for Sterling to go over, did it??!! Sheesh!!
Well at least Eddie Howe will be breathing a sigh of relief right now!
Maybe I just had the volume of loud Kev. Lol
City 2-0 up. Game on for Villa.
Team to face Aston Villa: Martinez, Soares, Holding, Luiz, Kolasinac, Saka, Torreira, Ceballos, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Nketiah.
Subs: Macey, Bellerin, Tierney, Sokratis, Maitland-Niles, Pepe, Willock, Xhaka, Smith.
No Reiss Nelson?
Injured perhaps?
Auba wants that golden boot I reckon..
Kev. Both Sky and B T Sport provide crowd noise free commentary. Trouble is the commentators can’t be switched too.
Nelaon misses out due to a slight groin muscle issue….
*Nelson
KDB on 19 assists now…..
So both Nelson and Nelaon have got groin injuries, strewth Sue, it never rains but it pours. 😉
Silence is golden Cicero, it gives me licence to sound off…
Enjoy the game, Forward Arsenal
😂😂 Kev
Has the game kicked off yet? 😂
Kicked off but not come alive yet, Rico.
It has now 1 – 0. 😠
That’s what I was alluding to Cicero.
Strange old game really.
Bloody hell, wakey wakey Arsenal!
‘Back Arteta – Kroenke out’ banner flown over Villa Park.
This has been pretty poor….. wouldn’t this be typical Arsenal – beat Liverpool, City then lose to this lot!!!
Well that was all a little bit lethargic.
After the Lord Mayors show!
Have we had a shot on target yet? Pretty poor show so far.
Saka seems to have forgotten how to get behind his fullback. But there is no point in him trying as there is nobody in the box to get on the end of a cross anyway.
There’s a lot of tired legs an£ tired minds out there wearing yellow shirts.
Nelson would have started if he’d been fit, Nelaon might have had a run out as well… 😁
Lacazette is getting fouled a lot but not getting any help, Eddie is looking well off of the pace, he’s not a wide forward. Cabellos has been superb but he’s not getting enough support from Torrieira and Soares is quite average, I thought that he could have done more to block the shot that Villa scored from.
Pepe this half and Maitland Niles and Willock perhaps?
Cup final on their minda
Why are we just playing in front of the Villa defence, we’ve got to get to the by line. It’s all too easy for them to keep us away from their goal.
£72 million pounds of backpass
Very ordinary.
That was awful…. fair play to Villa, they clearly wanted it more…
No St Totteringham’s day…. no golden boot…. now last chance saloon for EL….
Typical bloody Arsenal…
Kev… I blame Nelaon, bloody useless 🤣
Yeah Sue, he’s the first one out the door for me… 😉
Lacklustre to say the least .Just watched city scoring 4 .With Watford’s defence we might get a shot on target
Tbh I was a bit surprised that Arteta started three strikers, it didn’t really work, Aubameyang looked knackered, Nketiah wasn’t involved enough and Lacazette was fouled all the time, I think the boss got his selection wrong.
I guess he knew that Villa would set up like Tottenham and sit deep but everything he tried didn’t work, if Chelsea play like that at Wembley we could be in trouble.
Tierney, Xhaka and Pepe improved us but our forwards were just not at the races.
It happens, we’ll probably smash Watford now it doesn’t matter.
Night all.
Well that was a load of old tosh, if the boys were playing to Arteta’s plan, he needs to get a new one.
Back three, back four, back five, all in the same game is just too much tinkering…and that’s before we get to the (virtually non-existent) attack.
We’ve seen almost a full season of Pepe, I’d be quite happy if I didn’t have to watch him for another. £72 million down the toilet. 🚽
Good night all.
Me and my son had a chat about this game before kick and both of us were of the same opinion…………………………….put all our eggs in the FA Cup basket!…………………..that`s all that matters!…………………………………I then met Scott and we flew a plane over Villa Park!
Plus……………………I rather Watford went down and Troy Weenie disappears quicker than Harry Kanes receding hairline!
LC, Stan will spend.
Just not on us :)!
I agree, Cicero. People keep saying “Give Pepe time, he’s in a different country, a different league”….. for that money, he should be the finished article and should’ve hit the ground running…. it’s so frustrating watching him….sorry but I think impregnating his wife and watching her give birth has wiped him out…. I’ve seen more get up and go in a sloth…
Yes, Le Coq, I’d love to see the back of Troy and his cojones!
Getting a bit worried about the FA CUP our players look like they need a break as I said we should of rested them today.
Scott you are not going to believe this but I actually stuck up for Arteta after my nephew a Man u supporter call him a one hit wonder, As I pointed out it is a bit hard to judge any new coach on this season due to the virus break,
As I said when was the last time Man u were any good plus the thumbing they got from Chelsea last week he hung on me in the sh-ts
Geoff,
I have faith in the guy, but I’m also not getting carried away as we are a long way away from being a top club again on the pitch.
Glad you’re defending him, though 🙂
This is our worst finish since 1995….
Sue, unless we win the FA Cup hahahaha
😄 Scott 👍 Just change the subject – your compatriot – Simon Whitlock – had a great win in the darts last night, he knocked out the one and only Michael Van Gerwen!!
Funny how we hadn’t beaten Liverpool in just over 5 years and City (5 in league, 3 in cup) so put those to bed….. yet it had been 22 (!) years since Villa last beat us at home!! Yikes!! 😳
Sue, Whitlock burst into the scene and looked like he could be anything.
He’s done very well for himself, but not as well as we thought.
Great man though.
New post up now.