Morning all.
The clubs around us at the top of the table barring Leicester, have enjoyed a good week in Europe, with all winning their fixtures comprehensively to progress further in their respective competition. None though faced an opposition in the class of Barcelona so as much as the media want to ‘big up’ their victories, it’s perhaps best for us fans to keep things in perspective.
I think it’s fair to say that when the 2015/16 campaign kicked off, the majority of fans wanted Arsenal to go all out to win the Premier League, perhaps for the last time under Arsene Wenger and that’s still achievable. As other clubs continue their fight on the European stage, it’s very likely, we’ll be left fighting for the FA Cup and Premier League. If we don’t beat Hull City on the 8th March, just the league title will be left. Meanwhile, Totts and City will be clocking up the miles in between league fixtures.
So all is not lost, despite losing on Tuesday night.
This weekend we face Man Utd who will be brimming with confidence after their 5-1 battering of FC Midtjylland, a team I’d forgotten existed until Utd lost to them a couple of weeks ago! No doubt LvG will think all is now rosy in the camp as the headlines calling for his sacking will be far away. Until the next time they cock up.
Perhaps for the Arsenal players, the Barcelona result should be forgotten, not the performance – well, the performance up until the crazy moment everyone bombed forward because up until then, they’d denied one of the best, if not the best attacking force in football, from scoring a goal. I know I’ve said it before but as much as they had chances, so did we and but for slopping finishing, we could so easily have caused a shock that night.
That’s how it’s been of late though and scoring goals, or rather a lack of scoring goals is a real concern. We certainly need Ollie to rediscover some form in front of goal, Alexis too and half the problem of late, especially on Tuesday was that our chances fell to the wrong players. Hopefully on Sunday, that’ll change, it has to at some stage of the season because we all know that Arsenal do score goals, just not enough.
We’ve just beaten the team at the top of the league and shown that we have the desire to do well and grab silverware at the end of the season. – Francis Coquelin
He’s right and the players shouldn’t lose sight of that. The team sitting pretty at the top of the table, a team who most other clubs in the league have struggled to beat, were beaten by Arsenal. It took a late goal, but nevertheless, three points were added to our tally and with them, we closed the gap to just two points between us and top spot.
Forget the Champions League, forget the return fixture in Barcelona and just concentrate on performing the best they can in the two domestic challenges left.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain won’t be involved in that challenge for a long while it seems as the injury he suffered on Tuesday is serious according to Arsene Wenger. He’s said Ox could be out for 2-7 weeks and that’ll please a few. He’s been awful this season. Hopefully his absence will see the return of Joel Campbell. Both Welbeck and Gabriel could feature on Sunday although the latter faces a fitness test over the next couple of days.
Sunday is a huge game, it’s a game we must win, they all are from now on but this is when Arsenal will show how good they are says Arsene:
We work hard for this period of the season. It is where you show your quality.
History would suggest he might be right….
Morning rico, all, good rallying post. Makes you realize just how important that late late Welbeck goal was against Leicester. He has a knack of important goals.
Morning All
Morning Rico,good post, it’s a bit nippy this morn…
Higuain linked again as a possible summer signing…. ???
Ah, the Summer Transfer Window, a complete and utter fcuking waste of time and energy…
Yes, we’ll get the usual summer platitudes and mendacity from the Arsenal hierarchy, desperate to sell season tickets.
But it’s all a croc of shit, it’s all false…
Morning Andrew, Kev and all again..
Agree re Danny’s late goal and hope he starts on Sunday. He looks lively and a goal threat and he may just be the one to get the goals flowing again. Someone certainly needs to..
Morning all.
Who’s the ref on Sunday? For it is he who will be tasked with manipulating the result!
And, who will replace the Ox? Will it be Welbeck, Campbell or Feo?
And, does anybody have a clue what the score will be?
I would begin with Danny, Campbell and Gabriel for Sunday.
Cech
Bellerin, Kos, Gabi, Nacho
Coquelin, Aaron
Campbell, Ozil, Sanchez
Danny
Introduce Ollie later on and also Elneny.
I hope Flamini and Theo stay seated for as long as possible.
Clattenburg I think Wavy…
Craig pawson is the ref.. whoever he is.
I reckon Walcott will start…
Another softie no doubt Kel..
Most likely rico.. but we should take care of business imo I think Danny is their kryptonite..
I think wenger will start with Alexis, Danny, Theo
Felt a little sorry for Welbeck against Hull blatant pen he should of had and no Ozil and a two DM’s made things a little tougher… he should start on sunday but how many times have we called Wenger to make the right striking choice and he plays welbeck left winger or right wing…
Walcott can’t cut it up top Danny is big strong and run between the lines we have to start stretching teams and open up space for Ozil to be more effective… center forward position is clinical in the prem against most teams… Ramsey has been a issue recently as well and I’m one of his biggest fans’ away from home I’d prefer to see protection in front of the back 4 play 2 DM there is it any conindence that Chelsea have lost once (away to PSG) since they’ve adopted that approach. Wenger needs to get his head out of his arse and stop playing people who aren’t in form…
Sanchez although hasn’t scored recently has looked good and needs to start every game along with Ozil we have 12 games left in the prem they need to play every game along with Hull away the teams that are left are beatable (unless we get Chelsea Wenger still can’t find a way to beat them)
two rants in two days but I feel like I’m talking on behalf of most just read we’re 19th in the prem for missing clear cut chances only Swansea have missed more….
Absolutely Kel re the ref. It’s down to the boys to give him nothing to do….
That would be my guess at the front three too…
Campbell will put in a shift. Theo does not.
I agree with Danny though. He should play.
Pawson is in the middle but I think Dean is in his ear on the touchline . Anything contentious and his influence will be felt . It’s United and the spectre of Riley haunts the place.
I didn’t think the Danny tumble as a pen tbh Steven. The handball was a dead cert though…
If the OX has knee and ankle ligaments than its not between 2-7 weeks. Ankle ligaments take around 12 weeks before the Ox can play properly.
Utd v Liverpool
Dortmund v spurs
Dev imo you’ll not see the Ox until Xmas… just in time to be like a new signing 😉
Start with Walcott?
Absolutely no way, he was crap on Tuesday and been average at best all season, £140K P.W we are lumbered with the waste of space!
Cracking idea putting him on a bumper deal.
Coach, you know, when I read what Wenger said about AOC’s injury and how long he was gonna be out, I just thought, ‘well that’s the kiss of death’, he’s out for 6 months then…
Wenger spends £15 million on two players in the last two transfer windows…
Syrup spends £750 million on a ranch so he can play at being John Wayne…
Good to know where his priorities are…!
Well tbh, we already know where his priorities are…
The LA Rams…
I wonder how much of the £220 million Arsenal have in the bank, will be used as security for Inglewood bank loans?
Well it won’t be spent on players will it?
Brudder. 🙂
Carrick?
Pores is a free agent now as well. Why not resign him?
Pires not pores. Damn autocorrect
Ipards is shizz isn’t thay???
As for our projected list of new players, the last time I looked it was just a blank sheet of paper!
Dream on! If anyone thinks we’re going to sign any obviously world class players, now or anytime soon, they need to go and find a really good therapist to cure them of their ‘dirty little habits”! Mind you the road to redemption is quite quick and the cure is total!
Kalou?
Heard that Gervinho has flopped in China. Cut price of 1mill is a bargain for AW
And Bendtner will be released …that is a no brained.
Chamack will prove difficult though. Pardewwants big bucks
Forget Bender, he’s signed a new contract.
New contract? Oh no. That has seen all the plans go up in smoke.
What about Hankin? Can he still kick a ball?
Should have given Eboue another chance methinks
Obafemi Martins and N’zogbia to be linked any moment.
Have you seen Na$ri’s new look? The little squirt.
Darren Bent
You cynical bunch…. ??
Afternoon….
Rico for president
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-reveal-135m-cash-reserves-7449691
The article sums it up. Interesting about Usmanov.
Joking and cynicism apart…….
I feel that next season will see Toral, Akpom and Iwobi form part of the squad. With MA, MF and TR all leaving and Sanogo failing to impress I have a feeling that they will take their place. Maybe all that AW will buy will be another defender who can play RB/CB (Aurier anyone), but not more.
I’d bank the money Devil… 😉
Seems the big guy has no intention of selling his shares…..
I reckon Jeff will be in the squad Devil but Akpom will be sold. Zelalem might get a few games and Maitland-Niles is doing well on loan too…
As for who comes in, more of the penny pinching is what I predict….
Looks like we’re stuck with Kroenke for the duration…
What a bum that is Kev!
Catch up tomorrow guys…
Not sure about that Kev, he now is sole owner of 30.4% of the shares . As he doesn’t have to consider a partner he might get a bit more vocal . Then again maybe not.
Morning guys..
I’ve hit the ‘publish’ button by accident again… 😉
New post up…