Hi all.
The countdown to the second North London Derby of the season is well underway and pre-match chat from the players has begun. As a player at either club, this is probably the one they want to win the most. A rivalry between the two clubs and fans has been around since before you or I was born and it’ll live on long after we’ve left this world too.
Mo Elneny:
We know it’s a special game for all of us in the derby, and we go there full of confidence and we’ll go for three points.
Emile Smith Rowe:
I can’t wait and the lads can’t wait as well. I am sure we will do well. I think it would be massive for us and it couldn’t come at a better time. We are feeling really good at the moment. All the boys know what it means to play in these kinds of games. We are all going to rest up now and get ready for it.
Once upon a time, our rival’s experienced lifting silverware at the end of a season. Not very often admittedly but they, honest. They even managed to win the old First Division back in 1950-51 and again in 1961. I know Arsenal haven’t won the League for a while either but at least our last League title win was this century. They have the FA Cup eight time, the last being back in 1991, in fact the only silverware they’ve won this century is a League Cup. Arsenal however have won numerous FA Cups this century, the last, Mikel Arteta’s first, was just two and a half years ago.
Tottenham have Conte, a manager who history would tell us, likes to have here and now players and plenty of money to spend on his squad. Mikel Arteta has spent money, not huge amounts in comparison to Chelsea, Man City etc, but his plan has been to sign mostly young players, Zinchenko and Jesus being the exception but even they are still very young in footballing years. The Spaniard is not only building a squad for the present, but for the future too. Conte, we’ll I’ve no idea what he’s doing barring moan.
As far as form goes, Arsenal go into the weekend’s game in the best form we could wish for. The draw against Newcastle Utd was frustrating but they seemed to have little interest in winning the game so unless Conte decides to park the bus, the game should be more open. In this same fixture earlier in the year, Arsenal had a shocker losing 3-0. Rob Holding got himself sent off with just 33 minutes played.
But look at the team Mikel Arteta started with:
No White, Tierney or Partey. Since then the club has added Saliba, Zinchenko and Jesus although the latter won’t feature. Nor I suspect will Soares, Elneny or Holding. Sometimes in sport, it’s not only about which players are missing from a team but the quality of those who replace them on the day.
We haven’t won a League game at Tottenham’s ground since 2014. We’ve not finished above them in the League since the 2015/16 season. Seven years! I want to know who broke one of the mirrors in the Arsenal changing room….
I think we have a great opportunity to put an end to the rotten run we’ve been on in this fixture. To take back control of north London and widen the gap between ourselves and them on the League table.
In transfer news, or rather, gossip, the Mykhailo Mydryk saga might just be coming to an end. That’s if back pages have got it right. I’ve checked David Ornstein’s Twitter account and there’s no update but The Daily Express reckon that Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk have come to an agreement on the transfer fee for the player. I’s just need to be dotted and T’s crossed.
I’ll believe it when I see him in Arsenal kit…
See you in the comments.
Morning rico, thanks for report, didn’t realise recent history v Spurs so bad or long! Had to chuckle at Felix’s departure after hearing Chelsea’s anti-Arsenal chant!
Morning Andrew, all.
Me neither, seven years is far too long.
I thought Felix getting sent off was funny too but apparently, he was very good before then.
Time to set the record straight at Spurs. Expect lots of diving from the usual suspects.
Seeing how FA has declared an all out war against Arsenal, I’m expecting we will lose this game and referee will prove once again that PGMOL is indeed brazenly and openly fixing football matches on live TV, sadly not one club does anything as they all have their hands stuck in the same TV rights sponsorship money jar.
Exactly Pete and a hopeless ref who does nothing about it..
Anthony Taylor is the ref.
We urgently need a midfield player. Danilo looks like he’s going to Wolves. The left side of the defense is also limp… Arsenal are in 3 competitions and the League is not yet halfway through, unlike in previous years.
Joaquim , I think most of us can see that. Maybe if Mudryk is done that anything left over can be used for a loan. I doubt that it will be purchase , maybe a loan with a clause inserted.
I hoped Lokonga would solve our midfield issues but I don’t think he has or will. A loan deal for a midfielder makes sense.
Hello HHers, been watching clips of Ben white playing the Party role. I liked what I saw.
Morning all.
Loaning a player for the midfield may help as long as we don’t pay the ridicules amount that Chelsea is paying for Felix. as I said late yesterday I recon we dodged a bullet with Felix far too expensive and a straight red card on his first match.
Another T.V change to the detriment of the travelling supporter .
Arsenal travelling to Man City on Friday night, 27th January at 8 pm for the F.A Cup .
Well played ITV. thanks for your support , I will wear it always.
Depends thought Geoff, if Felix plays well, scores goals and helps them to a top four finish, he’d have been worth the money I guess.
Friday night in Manchester is bonkers, what on earth were the FA thinking…
what on earth were the FA thinking…
Give me the money !
Of course… Making things tough for Arsenal fans an added bonus.
https://twitter.com/KennySansom03/status/1613631304867741696?s=20&t=UDsyUqJNG61_UqE58gtZ-Q
So so pleased for him…
What a great picture Rico, Kenny looks amazing, so pleased for him…
Ditto Kev, there was a time when I wouldn’t have been surprised to hear he’d left this world. The turnaround is great news..
New post up now