Morning all.
Can you believe that it’s 13 years ago today that Highbury House was born. The best present would have been England’s women lifting the World Cup but it wasn’t to be. What they achieved though was pretty special although it’ll take a while for them to realise that. Right now they’ll be hurting badly.
Arsenal’s men know a similar feeling I’m sure as the Premier League trophy was just fingers tips away when a few rotten performances and results saw their challenge slip away. A fully fit squad might have made the difference but that’s just the way football is. It’s up to the club to ensure that when injuries come along, there’s enough depth in the squad to keep calm and carry on regardless.
Arsenal have added depth this summer but already, Timber has suffered a nasty injury so as far as the defence goes, we’re back to where we were when the season ended. Numbers wise that is rather than fitness because right now, Saliba, Tomiyasu and Zinchenko are all fit which if my memory serves me right, they were at the beginning of the season when the team was firing on all cylinders. The biggest problem I foresee is the same as what became a reality last season, an injury for Saliba. We have the numbers in the squad, too many right now but when it comes to the reliability, there are too many question marks hovering over Holding’s ability to play the Arteta way, the physical strength and fitness of Zinchenko and Tomiyasu. Kiwior is still relatively new to the side but could prove to be the real deal. Personally, I think White is too good at right back to move him back into the middle but that’s just my opinion.
Ten days remain in this transfer window and whilst a number of exits are on the cards, I still think Arsenal might make another signing purely because of the injury to Timber.
Tonight we face Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace. A team no doubt buoyed by Michael Olise signing a new deal instead of running to Chelsea when their money came calling. Zaha has gone though, as have Milivojevic, McArthur (retired) and Butland. Matheus Franca moved to Palace this summer from Flamengo as has Jefferson Lerma but I think that’s it as far as additions go. So far anyway. Olise is ruled out of tonight’s match with a hamstring injury, Will Hughes and Matheus Franca are injured too..
Roy Hodgson has pretty much made miracles happen since taking over from Patrick Vieira. From relegation contenders to finishing 11th, one place above Chelsea. Last weekend’s opening fixture saw them beat Sheffield Utd 1-0.
Arsenal’s opening game ended in victory too but having gone 2-0 up, allowed Forest back into the game and could so easily ended up with a draw. Many chances came and went for Mikel Arteta’s team but I’m hopeful that very soon, the chances we create will start hitting the back of the net. The players we have are too good for that not to happen.
Last season, London derbies were our thing. We played twelve, won ten of them and drew the other two. One of the two draws though was down to the officials royally cocking up their job. With everyone bar Timber and Jesus being fit, it’ll be interesting to see how Mikel Arteta lines his team up. Will Partey start at right back again or will he slot back into midfield, Will Nketiah start again or will we see the return of a false number 9 and will Trossard be that player if it does? Will Arteta finally use all five substitutes? Lol
It’ll be a tough game I’m sure, any side managed by Hodgson can be tough to beat but there’s no such thing as an easy game in this League. West Ham might disagree though….
Catch up in the comments.
Afternoon Rico and all.
Happy Birthday HH and thanks Rico for the opportunity to discuss Arsenal with you and everyone at HH
Happy Birthday to Highbury House, I first entered this debating chamber in 2008 and have spent many enjoyable times blogging with online friends past and present, all thanks to you Rico.
Hi Geoff, thanks. I don’t know where the years have gone…
Thanks Kev, it’s been a blast although hit with great sadness earlier in the year.
I’m still waiting for us to win the League so I can retire on a high. 😆
Are you sure Kev, 2008? 🤣
Yes, things ain’t the same are they, in many regards, but yeah, I really thought we’’d cracked it last season and you’re far too young to retire btw… 😉
Yes Rico, 2008, I used to go to the local library and sit on a PC.
Now I do it on a phone… 😄
Ha ha, never too young to retire. I don’t think we’re winning the league any time soon sadly.
Sit at a PC 🙄
Not here though Kev, honest. 😆
Perhaps it was Avenell Road or Le Grove when we first chatted.
There used to be so many Arsenal blogs back in the day, not anymore, so you need to hang on in there Rico, well at least until we win the European Cup. 😀
My first comment should read 2010 not 2008
Happy Birthday House! Friendliest fan site to be on😃
Fewer blogs now Kev, just sites without a comment section which I guess is about making a living.
Thanks Andrew 😀
Congratulations Rico, I’m a relatively new boy but agree with Andrew about the friendliness of HH. I confess to hoping that you can retire at the end of the season, but if we do finish as Premiership Champions I reckon you’ll have second thoughts.
Thanks Cicero, you’re an old boy now. 😂
Not many of the original contributors are left. I think social media is favoured these days. I’ve been looking around at other websites and the comments section has reduced a lot as has the frequency of posts. LG and Arseblog are still going strong though, not that I can follow the comments very well in the latter.
Your’e doing a fine job , don’t get too depressed when the comments are few and far between as the contributors here are even minded and tend to say interesting things as opposed to just filling space with banality .
And then there’s me,
Feliç aniversari
Thanks Potter. You’re an original aren’t you?
Quality over quantity eh….. lol
Congratulations to HH!
Feliz Aniversário !
Thank you Jm.
Happy birthday HH. It has been a blast. From Wenger to Emery and now Arteta, our new Herbert Chapman! Rico you’ve been magnificent and long may you remain so😊
Really kind words Wavy, thank you.
Arsenal: Ramsdale, Partey, White, Saliba, Tomiyasu, Rice, Havertz, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Subs: Raya, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Gabriel, Jorginho, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Vieira, Trossard.
Palace: Johnstone, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Doucoure, Lerma, Ayew, Eze, Achlupp, Edouard.
Subs: Matthews, Clyne, Tomkins, Richards, Riedewald, Ahamada, Rak-Sakyi, Gordon.
No Gabriel again, is he in the naughty corner or on his way out?
Happy birthday HH. Dear Rico, thank you for the blog. My concern is, if the numbers here are too low, why not migrate us to social media 🤔?
Thank Kyalo, HH is on social media but I’ll be honest, I don’t really use it other than for reading up on things.
That was a crunching challenge on Tomi and he’s got up and carried on. Maybe he can stay fit..
Ever seen two softer yellows equalling a red?
It’s not great for the nerves is it, watching Arsenal?
Havertz if anyone should have been booked for taking 15 seconds, then throwing to Tomi. Tomi takes 8 seconds and is booked.
No, and no it’s not easy. Coote made two big mistakes re Tomi imo.
Great battle to win it though.
I can’t warm to Havertz, not yet at least.
I thought Rice had a good game , but I would have taken Eddie off and left Martinelli to run into the space . At least he’s quick .
Just another day in the long line of refereeing stitch ups.
After he gave us the penalty he did everything in his power to even things up .
And I see that Eze and Ayew have taken over from Saha as irritating , diving, referee conning cheats.
Unfortunately Potter it’s what you can expect from players who never quite make it and are running out of time.
Coote seemed happy to book players for time wasting but took no action against the half dozen Palace players who were constantly in his ear.
One goal, a clean sheet, finish with ten men, three points and back in the top four. JADATO. 😉
How can Tomy get his second card for his tackle and yet their player is all over Saka and only gives a free kick away, not impressed with the ref.
Howard Webb apology incoming later today…
He’s probably got Arsenal on speed-dial and if not then he should because he’s gonna be ringing the Emirates on a weekly basis it seems.
I like Havertz, I’m not sure that he’s found his niche yet but a centre forward whose second touch is a tackle when the ball bounces off of him would be a great help, I look forward to seeing him link up with Jesus…
‘Isn’t a tackle’
Declan Rice is growing into the role as the axis of the team and will be flying by the time we face City
Not sure of the level of truth in the rumour that Balogun’s people have agreed terms with Chelsea, if so then our prices should be £65m, I’m sure that they could spread it over the next 8 seasons?
Morning all.
I loved that Arsenal performance!
New post up now.