Morning all.
So, after the 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Man City yesterday afternoon, a perfect result for Arsenal by the way, the race for the Premier League title is close. Very close, in fact I can’t recall the last time there was three clubs in the race at this stage of the season.
My perception is that anyone who doesn’t support Arsenal or Man City, want Liverpool to win because it Klopp’s final season in England. Or at least that’s what I’d thought until the officials denied Liverpool a penalty very late in yesterday’s game. I’m quietly convinced that no one, other than those of us who have an interest in Arsenal, want us to win the league. I don’t care about that one bit, as long as it’s not the officials who decide where the trophy ends up.
I think City might, or at least should be in a similar boat to Arsenal really but for different reasons. Yes, City have a great squad and a fantastic manager but they have 100 odd financial related charges hanging over them so why would anyone who believes in fairness want them to win another trophy?
Arsenal are the underdogs in what looks like a three horse race. They’re also the most disliked and have been for many years. When we brush teams away, the opposition has always been poor. When we beat Liverpool, it was because of their injuries and on Saturday, despite being on the end of a few poor decisions, the talking point on Sky Sports was about how Kai Havertz shouldn’t have been on the pitch when he scored our winner.
So let’s have a look at the run in.
1 – Arsenal: P28, Pts 64, GD+46
- Manchester City (a) – Sunday, March 31st
- Luton Town (h) – Wednesday, April 3rd
- Brighton (a) – Saturday, April 6th
- Aston Villa (h) – Saturday, April 13th
- Wolves (a) – Saturday, April 20th
- Totts (a) – Saturday, April 27th
- Bournemouth (h) – Saturday, May 4th
- Manchester United (a) – Saturday, May 11th
- Everton (h) – Sunday, May 19th
- Chelsea (h) – TBC
2 – Liverpool: P28, Pts 64, GD+39
- Brighton (h) – Sunday, March 31st
- Sheffield United (h) – Thursday, April 4th
- Manchester United (a) – Sunday, April 7th
- Crystal Palace (h) – Sunday, April 14th
- Fulham (a) – Saturday, April 20th
- West Ham (a) – Saturday, April 27th
- Tottenham (h) – Saturday, May 4th
- Aston Villa (a) – Saturday, May 11th
- Wolves (h) – Sunday, May 19th
- Everton (a) – TBC
3 – Man City: P28, Pts 63, GD+35
- Arsenal (h) – Sunday, March 31st
- Aston Villa (h) – Wednesday, April 3rd
- Crystal Palace (a) – Saturday, April 6th
- Luton Town (h) – Saturday, April 13th
- Tottenham (a) – Saturday, April 20th
- Nottingham Forest (a) – Saturday, April 27th
- Wolves (h) – Saturday, May 4th
- Fulham (a) – Saturday, May 11th
- West Ham (h) – Sunday, May 19th
- Brighton (a) – TBC
All three clubs are in Europe, at least for now anyway. Liverpool go into their second leg Europa League tie against Sparta Prague on Thursday with a 5-1 advantage so they’re pretty much through to the next stage and City are already through to the Champions League quarterfinals and hopefully, Arsenal will join them tomorrow night. Both City and Liverpool are still in the FA Cup too and I hope it stays that way after this coming weekend.
The upcoming international break is something every club could do without. After tomorrow night, Arsenal won’t play again until the final day of the month. The Man City v Arsenal game is a big one I know but as we saw on Saturday, any Premier League fixture is a big one. Any team can beat another in this league, especially at this stage of the season when clubs are trying to get into Europe or desperate to avoid relegation.
If anything is going in our favour right now it’s instead of having an injury plagued squad in March, the squad is probably the strongest it’s been all season. If Gabriel Martinelli has suffered a bad injury, he’ll be a huge miss for however long he’s out. I just hope no one else joins him on the injury list after the international break. Talking of injuries, I don’t wish them on any football but seeing Ederson go off injured did bring a little smile to my face…
Catch up in the comments…
Morning Rico and Co.
Yes Potter we certainly have never been anyone’s favourites to win the title, but it makes it all the more sweeter when we do win the bloody league.
Pete, my son sits, well stands at North Bank, by the corner flag to the right of the goal and yes there was no booing there as you allude to, proper fans. I’ve only been to three games this season but the support there has been beyond reproach, well it has been in the plebs seats.
I’ve had to read some right old nonsense about Ramsdale’s mistake and it tanking his value when we eventually sell him Rico…
Of course interested clubs aren’t going to be influenced by one mistake, you scout a player more than once, it’s obvious but bears repeating, it’s also interesting to compare the reaction of the media because I don’t recall anyone piling onto the Liverpool goalkeeper after Martinelli’s goal a few weeks ago – double standards?
Who would’ve thought it eh Potter?
Morning Kev.
As said on the last post, every keeper has a blooper in him, even Ederson as yesterday proved. I think we’d be foolish to overly criticise him bearing in mind he’s not played many minutes, the very thing which keeps players focused. Watching Saliba, Gabriel etc interact with him at halftime and onwards shows just what his teammates think of him.
I know it was avoidable but our strikers/frontmen don’t get as much stick when they miss chances. Havertz, who I’m beginning to enjoy watching more and more, should have buried his one on one with the keeper but cocked it up. Look at the ball Ramsdale played out to Trossard (I think it was) but he couldn’t make the most of it.
There were many moments of great things from Ramsdale and I’ll miss him when/if he goes.
Morning Rico, all…
I watched the LivVsManC highlights on MoTD, so probably missed a lot of detail, but there are some things that stood out:
Liverpool’s first team is light. They are performing miracles with a patched up squad. That can’t last, surely? They need Salah fit to get goals.
Man City look like they can be got at. Liverpool has some really decent chances to win the game. Haaland does very little outside scoring (which he does v well). De Bruyne is playing like he may be nursing an injury (is that why he was taken off?)
Porto will be mighty tricky on Tuesday, but winnable. Patience needed…
Hi Kev
I’m glad your son had the same view on the Wissa goal. Yes, there was a sense of disbelief where I was standing/sitting, but no booing of Ramsdale. I didn’t hear any. Clearly, I can’t hear what is happening in other parts of the stadium, but the past few seasons the crowd has been v positive and right behind the team, so I find it hard to believe a section of the crowd were booing him. In fact I heard a lot of backing for Ramsdale as he walked off.
Kelsey can you ask your daughter where the booing was coming from? I will gladly ask the Club to ban the season ticket holders sitting in that section. There are plenty who will happily take the ungrateful idiots’ seats.
Good morning Rico and all.
How ironic that last week when heading for a goalless draw against Forest a gratuitous refereeing error in added team granted Liverpool an extra two points. This week, what looked a nailed on penalty, in added tie, was not awarded, and almost certainly denied them two extra points. What goes around, comes around.
Morning Pete, I watched it and I think you’re absolutely right. Liverpool were unlucky not to win as they were imo opinion the better team for much of the game. I think they should have had a second penalty and they hit the woodwork too.. Great to see Pep and KDB having a few words after the player was subbed. Hopefully all is not rosy in the camp.
Morning Cicero, not only a denied penalty but perhaps a red card for the City player missed too. Little things make a difference.
Rico, on the Ramsdale/Raya debate there has been a lot of bile aimed at Raya from a range of Arsenal fans for some time. It’s only fair that both are judged by the same standards.
I think both are very good keepers. Ramsdale is a great shot stopper and has a big frame. Raya is calm and good with the ball in hand or at his feet. I think Arteta wants more composure and better distribution from his keeper and ultimately is why Raya is No.1.
The Wissa goal on Saturday was a reminder of issues Ramsdale had at the end of last season. He hasn’t had much playing time, which didn’t help, but it was a howler from Ramsdale. He made some great saves in the 2nd half, but without the Havertz goal he would have cost us points.
Raya will undoubtedly have a few moments later in the season, but to me he feels the safer option right now. It’s not personal, it’s what is better for the team…
Interesting ref watch. No, Havertz shouldn’t have had a second booking, Bothroyd says even the first wasn’t a booking and the foul on Trossard should been a penalty…
Fair view Pete. It’s a shame we couldn’t put both of their qualities into one keeper…
I don’t watch many games where Arsenal are not playing, yesterday a recorded the Liverpool/City game and watched the entirety. To me Haarland looks very ordinary outside of the six yard box. Little pace, not much good running with the ball and ineffective in midfield although he is useful defending corners. The key to playing him is to keep the ball away from him in the penalty area, just cut off the supply.
I think Haaland is suffering second season blues because opposing defenders are more away of what he can do.
“”He made some great saves in the 2nd half, but without the Havertz goal he would have cost us points. “”
Conversely though had he not made those saves we would have lost 2 -1 . Certainly the Toney lob was 100% in Raya’s weak spot. the second was a reaction save , also not Raya’s strong spot. It’s all conjecture.
, Which one is best for us I would suggest that when we play teams that we dominate Raya suits the style that Arteta requires . When however we are struggling and play against the teams that will get to our keeper Ramsdale is the better choice.
For me Ramsdale is the better goalkeeper but Raya suits the style that Arteta wants .
My son and I discussed how Seaman would have got on in the current set up , He remembered reading an article by Lee Dixon who said that Seaman was dodgy on crosses when he first came , so he and Nigel worked on stopping crosses coming in until the coaches had worked on it and he improved .
I have said before that Pavon’s choice is Raya and I wonder how much work he is doing to help Ramsdale through his problem.
I recall an article which detailed the home and away performance by both keepers and I’m sure it was Ramsdale good away from home, Raya good at home.
Agree that Raya wouldn’t have kept the Toney shot out. His height would have been a problem for that one.
Not sure of the veracity of all this but here goes:
I’ve read
‘through the grapevine,
rumour mill,
smoke signals’
that Martinelli trained on his own today and a decision will be made on him tomorrow?
Timber is also coming along nicely with his comeback training…
Afternoon all
I think he gashed his foot. In that he pointed to his bloody sock for the refs inspection! No action taken except to see him subbed off. Depending on how bad the gash was will determine how long he’ll be out. Usually takes two to three weeks for a cut to knit together well enough for it not to split open again when put under pressure. So I doubt we’ll see him tomorrow but he should have recovered by the 31st. Which will be good! Lucky for Porto not so good for Citeh😊
Well, that’s certainly more positive than him hobbling around on crutches Kev.
Wavy, and not such good news for Brazil then. 😝
s Martinelli’s injury serious?
When Partney enters, he walks at a different pace than the rest.
I am only guess but I reckon Raya and Ramsdale are getting the same help, but sometimes looking at Ramsdale manner I’m not he would be a good listener.
I reckon the best thing for all would be Ramsdale move on as I can’t see Arteta giving him too many chances.
Morning all
New post up.