Morning all.
Probably not a night off for all our first team players as a few are bound to be on the bench just in case. Mustafi is likely to start because Mikel Arteta’s options are limited. Only he and Gabriel are fully fit.
Mikel Arteta held his pre-match press conference yesterday and besides the stupid questions about Mesut Ozil being on social media, Mustafi’s alleged new contract offer which he’s supposed to have rejected, he was eventually asked about tonight’s opposition Dundalk.
We’ve got some Irish staff here and there are a lot of positive things about them. From what I’ve seen they’ve got a really determined coach that has found a really good cohesion with the team. You can see in every reaction when they are playing, how united they are. They’re really well organised, they make it really hard and they will be coming here with incredible passion. They’re underdogs and that will give them a lot of energy and I expect them to be at full gas tomorrow, trying to beat us here.
Not sure about them being a full gas, in fact I’d imagine they’ll turn up in a number 52 bus and park it in front of their keeper and why wouldn’t they? Dundalk lost their opening Europa League Cup fixture against Molde so a point at The Emirates would be a good result for them. Manager Filippo Giovagnoli will know all about our tepid attacking play so he’ll probably try and emulate Brendan Rogers tactics. Boring defence and hit us on the break. After all, as a player he was a defender.
Filippo Giovagnoli arrived at Ireland’s Premier League club this summer and has steered his team through the qualifying rounds in this competition to reach the group stage. He’s reported to have said that he’d have loved to have been in the same group as the Toots. To meet Mourinho he said but I reckon it was more about fancying his teams chances against them.
Seriously though, it seems to me that this journey for Giovagnoli and his players is a bit of a dream come true. No one really expects them to progress from the group so they have nothing to lose. To be playing in a stadium such as ours will be something to relish rather than fear. They’ll fancy an upset that’s for sure. An interesting factoid, apart from four English players and one American, their squad is made up of home players. Something rarely seen in the English Leagues.
For once though, Arsenal fans might get to see a few more homegrown players in action as Mikel Arteta will surely rest a number of first team players. One should be Reiss Nelson who turned down a season out on loan to stay and fight for a place in the first team.
It was mixed reasons, Reiss was really convinced that he wanted to fight to stay here. And when you see that willingness and that passion and that security in a player, you feel tempted to keep him even though you know that opportunities are going to be restricted and he is not going to have a lot of continuity in his play.
I wonder though if Mikel Arteta’s view on Reiss, others too, might change. He’s talked about how he has to find a solution to our lack or creativity and killer instinct in front of goal so perhaps that solution is right under his nose but he just doesn’t see it or isn’t prepared to take the risk.
I’m not trying to suggest that all the ‘younger’ player should be thrown into the first team tonight or on any other occasion but just sometimes, a player can spring a surprise. Willock, Nketiah, Saka, AMN have all had minutes on the pitch under Arteta when he first arrived but this, season barring Saka, they seem to have been cast aside. Especially Reiss Nelson.
Surely tonight is the night for a number of these English guys to get minutes on the pitch. If they do, I truly hope they give Arteta something to think about and something for Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang, Ceballos and Xhaka to worry about…
Enjoy the game guys.
Morning campers, morning a Rico, thanks for an early post. 🙂
I saw that presser and it was interesting to see that the English journalists skirted around the game with their questions, mainly because they’re not really interested in it but the Irish journos asked Arteta what he knew about Dundalk and their Italian (?) manager and stuff attached to the game, not for them the same old mindless, moronic Ozil questions.
I mean some of those tossers even asked Mustafi about Ozil when he was put up for some questions, interestingly Mustafi kinda let everyone know that he was starting, but then that was hardly top secret.
Morning Kev. Until Ozil, Mustafi etc have gone, stupid questions will always be the agenda for the media. Boring isn’t it.
RIP Bobby Ball. Funny guy in his day.
Arteta has 5 subs in this game so he has the opportunity to switch half of his outfield players and I hope he does so.
We not only need a win after being mugged by Leicester we also need a few goals and a 90 minute performance would be welcome, and whilst you try not to underestimate anyone we need to remember that this Irish team has qualified for a competition we only just scraped into, at the same time we need to go out and start dominating teams.
It is boring Rico, but it kinda says more about the unimaginative turds asking the questions.
It does Kev, there’s little else for them to talk about really. Other than us not scoring goals which again brings a Ozil into the picture.
Morning all. The media’s obsession with Ozil will not go away even after his departure, any game where we fail to create chances galore will open the way for comments about lacking creativity due to allowing the man they consider second only to God in the creativity stakes.
Mind you, we really could do with a few of those assists he produced in his early Arsenal years.
Morning Rico/morning all,
I’m looking forward to tonight, hopefully lots of youngsters, perhaps the new goalkeeper. Probably Elneny, Soares, Mustafi, maybe another experienced player.
It’s a bit of a no win situation, if we score 3+ people will say it’s only Dundalk, if we score less or heaven forbid don’t win, all hell will be unleashed.
COYG
I hadn’t heard about Bobby Ball, very sad. People forget how Famous Cannon & Ball were, only three TV channels then, unimaginable today.
….creativity stakes leave….
https://awordofarsenal.com/2020/10/16/the-final-acts-of-arsene-wengers-arsenal/
C’mon guys, it’s time to sign up with Movember. Grow a moustache next month to raise money for charities supporting men’s health.
In the interests of inclusivity, Rico and Sue, women are welcome to join in. 😉
Movember fundraisers are a global community of fired up Mo Bros and Mo Sisters – aka rock stars making a difference in mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
Movember fundraisers are a global community of fired up Mo Bros and Mo Sisters making a difference in mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
Sign up and join the Movember community in having fun doing good.
Sorry something went wrong there, but the sentiment remains.
The chances have come though Cicero, we’ve just not taken them. Should have been 3-0 up v Leicester by halftime
😂 Good one, Cicero!! An excellent event.. as Sunday is the 1st, I shall be putting my Christmas tree/lights/decorations up and will think about a tash after 😄
Morning Limey. Spot on re Cannon and Ball, very good back in the day. Old fashioned comedy. Bobby Ball was great in’ it going out’ too.
Ditto re tonight, the mere chance that the second string might play makes me look forward to this game. Really hope Arteta doesn’t play all first team players.
Nice one, Rico.. their nickname is the lilywhites (vomit 😂). I’m all for an underdog normally, not tonight though!!
It’s a huge occasion for them – David and Goliath – I hope they enjoy it, but leave NL empty handed!! Would love to see ESR…
No time for complacency or squandered chances 😂 COYG
I enjoyed reading that Kev.
Thanks Sue. Seriously, 1st December? Mine go up on Christmas Eve 😂
ESR, Nelson, Eddie and AMN are the ones I hope Arteta picks. Willock too at some stage so I guess that’s all of them. Lol
Elneny, Cedric, Kolasinac and Mustafi and probably Gabriel which is annoying because we’ve no other options really. Xhaka or Thomas? Xhaka I reckon.
No, 1st November, Rico! I can’t wait 😁
In the training photos, Chambers and Holding had blue bibs on – as did ESR – beginning to wonder if he’s not quite match-fit yet….
Cripes Sue, that’s mega early…
No ESR later then. Shame..
Here ya go Rico:
How is Zech Medley getting on away from Arsenal at Gillingham?
We take a look
By Jake Sanders 29/10/2020
When Gillingham signed Arsenal’s Zech Medley on a season-long loan deal in August, it appeared the perfect opportunity for the youngster to gain valuable first-team experience, and that’s exactly how it’s panned out so far.
Medley moved to Priestfield just days before he was joined by Gunners teammate Trae Coyle, and has enjoyed an ideal loan stint in Kent, featuring 11 times in all competitions, including seven League One starts.
The 20-year-old’s only other senior experience prior to his loan switch had come in the Europa League and Carabao Cup two seasons ago – with the defender failing to make a single appearance for Arsenal last term, although he did feature in the EFL Trophy for the club’s U23s.
However, Medley’s lack of first-team football hasn’t been noticeable for the Gills, and despite their wretched run of recent results which has seen them lose four matches on the bounce without scoring, he’s looked at home in their back-four.
Whilst it appears Medley remains quite some way off becoming a part of Mikel Arteta’s plans in north London, he’s already showing his potential at League One level, and if he continues, might earn continue his development with perhaps a Championship move next time around.
Gillingham’s form has been poor in October, but turning out at grounds like the DW Stadium and Portman Road are going to stand Medley in good stead moving forward for whenever his chance may come at a higher level.
Christmas lights go up around December 1st and they stay up until the New Year.
November 1st is a bit on the early side but good luck to ya Sue, I love Christmas…
Lockdown ain’t gonna stop me enjoying it.
I normally put them up on 1st Dec, Kev..but as this year has been like no other… I thought sod it, the earlier the better!!
I love Christmas!!
Good for you, Kev 🍻
Thanks Kev, pretty much what you thought yesterday. Still, you never know I guess..
I reckon it’ll be a zoom Christmas for us all… ☹️
You may well be right, Rico!
Whispers about Balogun on the bench tonight….
Just had a glance at NewsNow to see if there’s one or two pieces worth reading in among all the usual bollocks on there and I had to laugh.
I’m sure you’re all familiar with this kind of headline “Michael Owen gives his view on blah blah blah” or something like “Danny Mills tells Arteta he must sign this player etc” and you can replicate that headline a hundred different ways with a hundred different no marks.
Now in what World do the wankers who put this crap out really think I or the majority of other sensible Arsenal fans could give the slightest toss what a prick like Michael Owen thinks about anything and certainly not about Arsenal?
Arsenal: Runarsson, Cedric, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Elneny, Xhaka, Nelson, Pepe, Nketiah
Subs: Leno, Hein, Bellerin, Tierney, Gabriel, Saka, Ceballos, Lacazette, Partey, Willian, Aubameyang, Balogun
Wow, that team is a major risk, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s picked that team with Old Toilet in mind….
I might be putting my Christmas lights tonight. 🙂
I wonder if either Xhaka or Elneny will drop into part of a three at he back?
Xhaka again?
How many games (including with the Swiss team) has Xhaka played this year?
Emile Smith-Rowe won’t be involved tonight. Arsenal hope he’ll be fit and available for next week’s game against Molde.
The only surprise for me is Pépé 😂
Sadly Sue, yep.
But he doesn’t tire Jm, can’t think why. 😆
Yes they will leave it until the last minute and shut us down afterall city of London business would largely be shut down until new year so the exchequer wont miss too much . They might relax the kids in the six but that’s about all and schools will be off too so it won’t interrupt parents working patterns either.
Football . Runarsson; Cedric, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles; Willock, Elneny, Xhaka; Pepe, Nketiah, Nelson
Subs: Leno, Bellerin, Tierney, Gabriel, Saka, Ceballos, Lacazette, Willian, Aubameyang, Partey, Hein, Balogun
Feel sorry for AMN , once again deficiencies in the squad have him playing out of position . Comparing Pepe and Nelson should be an interesting watch.
Yep, I’d hoped to see AMN in midfield. Shame Saliba can’t play and we have so many injuries.
And he is in midfield. Good.
How nice to see a keeper catch the ball and follow it with a quick throw up the pitch..
2 centres 2 catches . Up the other end the corners have been better except one
The Runt’ the new number one? Have we unearthed another ‘goalie’?
Willock or Nelson mom?
Surprising what happens when a shot is taken and on the goal too or two!
Now three! Pepe.
Willock or Nelson mom?
Close but I think Willock and yes what difference a bit of energy makes. I know you have to account for it being Dundalk but until we made substitutions the ball kept going forward.
I quite enjoyed that. Bit of pace, width, and energy.
Did you realise that according to BT Dundalk did not commit a foul during the whole match . Whereas we committed 20
.Have not got a recording so can’t look back
There were fouls committed, the ref just didn’t give them. The shirt tug on Willock towards then end, and both Nelson and Eddie were fouled too..
Good old BT Sport… buffoons..
Correction Potter, the referee did not penalise Dundalk for a number of fouls.
Good workout, good result. No new injuries.
Goodnight folks.
I believe those statistics are right but tell yet another story of the ineptitude of referees. Every time one of their players crumpled to the floor, the ref, who spent the game getting in the way, blew up.
That’s right Adam, he was a bloody nuisance always plonking himself on the edge of the box so when our blokes turned to come inside they had to dribble around that idiot.
I’ll tell ya what, if a Man Utd player gets his foot touched in the box on Sunday as what happened to Nketiah and he goes down Baked Bean will be there like a shot pointing at the spot, you mark my words…
MotM for me was Reiss Nelson, Willock was great but Reiss for me just pipped him.
If Arteta needs someone who can receive the ball under pressure and retain possession then Reiss is his man, he went on some lovely jinking runs, it’s what we’ve missed all season.
We’ve not had that type of player since Jack or Robbie P ? The time has come for another weaver and dribbler, it’s time for Nelson and/or Willock!
We need game changers
And the time is now!
Willock mom for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed our match. Willock nicked motm imo but by a fine margin.
New post up now
Morning all.
Missed the game due to work, but seems the young guys did pretty well.
It’s early in the season still, but at some point Arteta may need to give these kids their chance if performances don’t improve.