Morning all.
I’m sure I’m not the only Arsenal who wants to see more of Viktor Gyokeres’ goal scoring celebration over the next four and a half months. There’s been a lot of negativity around him since the day he arrived at Arsenal. He’s too slow, he can’t hold the ball up and he doesn’t get into the right positions – just a few of the comments I’ve read about him and mostly, the criticism is coming from his own fans.
It’s clear to see he’s struggled a bit to adapt to the Premier League and the way Arsenal play but then I think the rest of the team/squad have struggled to adapt too. Has the Swede been disappointing? I’d be a fool to say no but he’s an Arsenal player so of course I want him to do well. Lambasting him at every given opportunity is pointless in my opinion and in any case, I’m a glass half full kind of person. This is a good time for him to show why Arsenal believed he was the right man for the job.
I suspect there will be many a debate going on between Arsenal fans about Sundays game against Manchester United and who should start up front. Gabriel Jesus or Viktor Gyokeres? Admittedly, Jesus scored two very good goals in the week but then Gyokeres scored a cracker too. The type of goal which many of us having been hoping to see more often. Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t care less how the ball crosses the goal line but when there’s a shot on, take it because sometimes they go in.
The 6’ 4” frame of Senne Lammens will be the man to beat on Sunday. He’s an excellent shot stopper apparently and very good on crosses but, and this is only what I’ve read, he’s not comfortable playing out from the back. His preference is to go long with the majority of his distribution. He won’t like Arsenals high and hard press then will he?
Against City, this overnight success story created by Carrick, Utd did play out from the back and then through Martinez or Casemiro, they got the ball forward quickly. Mainoo also played a big part in their attacking play. But as good as Utd might have been, Man City were awful for large periods of the game. They had the majority of possession but managed just one shot on target. 109 backwards passes compared to Utd’s 50.
I’m not suggesting Utd got lucky, although they were very lucky not to be down to ten men early in the game, they played City at a good time. City have defensive injuries, they are going through a bit of a blip, a big blip I hope, Carrick had just replaced Amorim and of course, the game was at the old toilet.
Of course I was pleased Utd won because it helped Arsenal but this Sunday, I hope our attacking play is at its very best. Scrap that, our performance as a whole has to be at its best because we need all three points. The performances against both Liverpool and Nottingham Forest weren’t good enough in my opinion. Certainly not as far as our attacking play is concerned. If we can go to Milan and beat a very good Inter side, surely to goodness we can see of Utd?
Regardless of whether it’s Jesus who leads the front line or Gyokeres.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
If it’s a straight choice between Jesus and Gyokeres as to who starts on Sunday my feeling is it should Jesus. Not because he scored two goals against Inter but because he can run the United defence ragged for an hour, by roving all over the pitch.
Arteta can then bring on Gyokeres to administer the coup de grace.
I don’t, for a moment, believe that Jesus has suddenly morphed into a goal scoring machine but, used judicially, he can be an asset if only as an irritant.
Morning Rico and all,
Between Jesus and Gyokeres, Going by the matches I have seen Unit play this season, they will tackle very hard and take a cheap shot at their opponents’ ankles, when defending. while they do like playing a quick break from a goal kick in their defenders have been court out by teams that do the same thing.
Morning Cicero, Geoff, all.
That makes sense re Jesus, I’d like to think he could run Maguire ragged.
Shaw and Martinez will go hard on Saka, of that we can be pretty sure. Casemiro is a spiky old so and so too.
A conundrum indeed ,
Jesus who will spend much of the game dropping deep looking for the ball leaving McGuire and Martinez with nothing to do but cover or Gyokeres who will keep them moving around and give some physical pressure, To me Jesus is an old fashioned inside forward that breaks into the box whereas Gyokeres is more of a centre forward.
Shaw and Martinez are both short whereas Dalot and McGuire are taller in fact McGuire is 6 foot 4 tall and his strength is with his head either in defence of from set pieces at both ends . However he is not blessed with speed either on the run or especially when turning.
If I was Arsenal’s attacking coach , which I am not , in fact I don’t know who is , however I would play Vik and tell him to get picked up by McGuire and the ball is centred peel off him and head for Martinez and make use of his 5 inch advantage.
What’s more the Arsenal social media sites should be flooded with videos of Dalot’s assault on Doku they should heap pressure on him and especially on Pawson and Tierney who will have the whistle and coffee at Stockley park . Pawson has history with United having denied them a penalty against Brentford which subsequently got an apology from Webb . Lets hope he doesn’t try to make amends .
Oh I forgot we have to remember that Tierney was born and bred in Manchester but he claims to support Wigan because strangely his step son plays Rugby for Wigan Warriors however Lewis joined the Warriors in 2013 and Paul was born in 1980 so who he supported for those first 33 years is not mentioned.
Are you suggesting a conspiracy Potter?
Afternoon Gooners, Gabby or Viktor, there’s a conundrum?
I’m not sure that Arteta will start Jesus in successive games, he’s more than likely pencilled in for the CL next week.
So I reckon Gyokeres will start this weekend.
Hopefully one of both of Calafiori and Hincapie will come back into the squad this weekend to aid rotation and recovery?
Afternoon Rico, the new defender for the women’s team is a looker, I might take in a game?
I think Arteta will go with Viktor and for what it’s worth, as would I. Having rested him midweek, it makes sense not to cast our Swede aside.
Afternoon Kev, can’t say I’ve noticed. 😜
I did! cor!
Yes Cicero I’m checking up on the ladies fixtures right now. 🤭
To a point Kev there are too many Manchester based people in PGMOL for my liking and they always seem to get our big games .
As for the new signing Holmberg , her picture on .com looks like she has a high forehead and teutonic cheekbones .
I had to look as the two of you were slavering over her .
😂 Potter
Potter 😁
Cicero is a bad influence on me 😉
I’ve heard that he is the ghost of Blickling Hall chasing the ghost of Anne Boleyn.
Mock not that which ye have but little knowledge of.
The headless ghost of Anne Boleyn’s father is seen furiously driving a carriage pulled by four headless horses in the grounds of Blickling Hall. 👻
Did they make it to Potter Heigham bridge ? was it the the Phantom Coach that crashes into the bridge after abducting a bride
In Potter Heigham during the 18th century Lady Carew sought the help of a local witch to ensnare the wealthy bachelor Sir Godfrey Haslitt of Bastwick, for her daughter Evelyn. The witch created a potent love potion, but would not accept any monetary payment. Instead she made Lady Carew swear that if the potion worked, whatever the witch asked for would be granted. She agreed.
The potion was given to Sir Godfrey at a hunting party in King Lynn and subsequently worked with Sir Godfrey and Evelyn marrying on the 31st May 1741. Following the lavish wedding in Norwich the bridal party return to Bastwick for the reception, but on the stroke of midnight the party is interrupted by the doors busting open. Framed in the doorway is a skeleton which kidnaps the new bride and carries her away in a coach drawn by four black horses.
The rest of the party give chase as the coach heads toward Potter Heigham but as the coach reaches Potter Heigham bridge the coach bursts into flames and falls in to the water, with Lady Evelyn still inside.
This was to be the payment the witch demanded for her potion.
It is now said that on the night of the 31st May you can hear the sound of horses hooves and the screech of the wheels until a fiery coach appears over the bridge before plunging into the water.
You can’t beat an olde English ghost story, don’t have nightmares…. 💀
The ghost of Anne Boleyn, England’s second queen, is famously said to haunt Blickling Hall, her birthplace, appearing most vividly on the anniversary of her May 19, 1536 execution, arriving in a ghostly carriage pulled by headless horses, clutching her own severed head before vanishing into the hall. She is often seen dressed in white, roaming the corridors, a tragic figure linked to the historic estate where her spirit allegedly reenacts her gruesome end, a legend that has cemented Blickling Hall as one of the UK’s most haunted locations
Should have posted these and many others for Halloween because Norfolk is full of such tales
….and Black Shug still wanders on Halvergate Marshes.
The drummer boy of Hickling Broad , The Ludham Dragon , The headless stampede at Ludham Bridge, The monk that rows between St Benet’s and Ranworth broad after Henry 8th destroyed the abbey in the dissolution .
All good fun , often repeated in the Dog , Kings Arms and Norada . They get scarier as the drinks go down.
I forgot to mention earlier I would go with Jesus,
That’s what the drummer boy and most of the monks said , see where that got them.
Joking !
I am going with Gyokeres. He was bought for these moments give him the opportunity to prove his worth and also to increase his confidence. Jesus did his job in CL and it’s up to Gyokeres to step up in EPL.
Arsenal in talks with Brazilian side Corinthians over signing of 16 year old central defender Iago Machado.
You boys gave me a scare, I thought my old history teacher was back and I detested him. 😂
Morning all.
6’ 4” and still growing. Didn’t Edu start out at Corinthians?
New post up.