Morning all.
Can’t write much about yesterdays victory over Leicester as I didn’t see the game and nor have I seen any highlights. A late own goal secured all three points against a team who according to reports, really weren’t very interested in trying to score.
Cech made one outstanding save apparently. A Mahrez shot from close range and that was their best chance.
Alexis Sanchez is on the end of a few critical headlines for dropping to the ground like he’d been shot after Fuchs threw the ball straight into little Chileans face. Deserved criticism I don’t know, I’ll leave that for you to answer. There were a couple of ‘tasty’ challenges too according to the manager, Huth on Alexis and Benalouane on Giroud, a dark orange card was the way Wenger described the latter. Quite what that means goodness only knows. Alexis suffered a cut lip but he’ll be fine according to the manager and he won’t require stitches…
Three points is three points I guess and Arsene Wenger won’t care how they were won, not after the boys played 120 minutes on Sunday and as he attempts to chase down a top four spot. Tonight the two Manchester sides face each other and a draw would suit us best. I wasn’t overly fussed about getting a Champions League spot but now that a Europa place is already secured, well, unless the Tiny Totts pip Chelsea to the league title, I’ve changed my mind. We don’t want to be playing Sundays and Thursdays so best Arsene Wenger achieves what he says we need to do and that’s win all our remaining fixtures. Not an easy task I know, but it’s not impossible.
Next up in a short trip to the neighbours who also won last night late in the game against a Palace side which shipped three goals past us.
Since that day though, we look more assured at the back and certainly when the opposition attacks our area, there’s plenty of red and white shirts on show in and around the box. Sunday will be an interesting midfield battle with the feisty pairing of Alli and Xhaka up against each other.
Sadly, Laurent Koscielny looks like he’s going to miss the match as he’s injured:
‘Koscielny has a knee problem but I don’t know how long he’ll be out for. I have to check because I don’t know yet’ said Arsene Wenger after the game.
That’s the best I can manage this morning…
Just seen the Koscielny injury Rico, I reckon he’s out of Sunday, so unless Mertesaker is going to be thrown in, which to me is too risky, then our back three will be Paulista, Holding and Monreal, with Gibbs and Ox as wing-backs, 3 English out of 5 defenders, in a very English type game.
I wonder if, despite his average performance yesterday, if Wenger will go with Walcott again?
Theo does have a very good record again ‘them’…
Mind you, I can’t remember Theo doing anything much at WHL so forget that… ?
Snap ☹️
Mustafi could be back Kev, he was training yesterday I think…
That’s good Rico, Mustafi could be well suited to being the sweeper in a three…
Is it me, or do you think that there would have been about 100 comments by now if we had lost yesterday? ?
Apparently, there was a lot of empty seats at the Emirates yesterday, with tickets going on general sale.
That could be a glimpse into next season Rico.
Still, speaking for myself, I’m quite looking forward to the Europa League, it’s just something different ain’t it? And the the CL was getting boring anyway.
Let Tottenham have a taste of entering a competition with absolutely no chance of winning it, just as we had for the most of the last 10 years…
Watching Tottenham continually fail at Wembley should be hugely entertaining…
If chelsea win the League we are in the Europe?
i’ve watched the game yesterday. We didn’t shoot!
TW is annoying! Hide behind the defenses waiting for everyone to fail! It looks like only AS can shoot! Nobody prepares to shoot at the goal!
It’s difficult inderstand why we have Giroud and Welbeck at the bench until the 75th minute
I’ve watched, maybe 50th minutes of Toots game. They were lucky. Unfortunateley, had a player injury and that turn back the game.
Monreal scored twice (more or less) Maybe score one more next sunday. If we have a clean sheet, surely I’ will be happy!
Palace had a player injury…
It was a chilly, funny old night at the Emirates yesterday. Odd vibe from the crowd I thought. Somewhere between apathy and anticipation.
Afternoon all. Saw highlights, 11pm on sky. 20 minute slot. Dreadful boot, not knee, high up on Girouds back, definite red! Sanchez booked for chuck into his neck, but I cant see he done wrong as are you not allowed to be a yard or two into the pitch at a throw in?
I expect so re the comments Kev…
Well, you could very well be lucky re Europa… 😉
yes, Leicester tunisian back must be sent off. Clear one.
AS had been advice by the referee. Anyway, I didn’t understand what have done the linesman. If he was not in the right distance (and probably wasn’t) the linesman must high up the flag; second, if AS stayed at the same distance, he must penalized by a yellow card; if the throw was allowed, with permission and if AS was back to the right distance, Leicester player must be penalized (was a clear aggression; if not, was a right yellow card. But he question is : where was the linesman?
English referees,,,
The problem with the Alexis issue, is that he went down a second or so after being hit (and he was hit), so it looked like an afterthought. He didn’t need to go down, but I guess if he hadn’t, no-one would know how the ball thrown at him, had actually hurt. He has a cut on the inside of his lip from it.
After a long, hard game against city, we played fairly well for most of the 90 minutes.
I hope people aren’t relying too much on Welbeck, because he is junk atm. I never did rate him at Manure, neither did they, that’s why they got rid.
Xhaka too is a disappointment. Too slow, likely to give away free kicks in dangerous areas, gives the ball away. Perhaps he improved a bit last night, but I wouldn’t rely too much on him.
Mustafi is slow and not tall enough in defence imo. Giroud is tall enough up front, but thats about it with him. He does better coming on late in a game, when the opposition are tired.
All in all, we need a good clear out, but with le prof staying, and saying we can’t compete financially with the big boy’s, I can’t see how we will improve on the players we have.
Merts and Cazorla will be well past it for next season.
We have a billionaire owner, but unlike others, he won’t invest and isn’t interested in football.
Until he goes, nothing much will change. Other than his syrup, which he now dyes grey!
Well, three points last night, an FA cup final to come, perhaps we shouldn’t complain, LOL.
The ball hit him on the shoulder, not his face..
Hi Rico, all.
It’s Europa (at best) for us as we can’t get into top 3. While Mo’reen has a devious plan of getting to UCL using the back-door – by winning the Europa. If you asked me I’d rather we had next season without either of the European tournaments.
Knowing how fragile our team is, it wouldn’t play on a cold night in Kiev or where there are flares in Turkey, we could be out in group stages next season. That would be a plus IMO.
Well, he has tweeted a close-up photo showing his mouth injury this morning, a cut inside his bottom lip.
I thought it looked like it hit his neck that side, which at the force it was thrown, could have also clipped his lower face, or made him bite his lip.
Whatever.
He probably bit his lip Bt….
Hi Marshall. If Utd win the Europa, do they automatically take the place of the 4th club? I thought it was an additional spot allocated to make the Europa league more interesting.
Have you seen it Rico?
No Bt.
Just have Bt, slightly embarrassing….
Winners of League Cup and winners of FACup go into Europa League, I don’t think either runners-up qualify, so Arsenal have to win FACup or qualify through their league position.
I think we’re pretty well in the Europa as it stands.
If Arsene is still our manager next season, we aren’t winning the EPL, so I’d take a cup, any bloody cup, including the Europa.
The price of season tickets should be intriguing as CL are, I believe, grade A, or bloody expensive, but even the brass neck of our club couldn’t claim that the Europa is in the same catagory so there should be a price cut…
Should be…
Wouldn’t we take the place of Chelsea if they win the league Kev?
If we get into Europa, he should play the reserves and go all out for the league, if he’s still at the club which I suspect he will be.
Nighty…
Morning Rico and all.
Morning Adam and all.
Still no contract update…
Allegri has signed a contract extension at Juve according to reports…
Morning all
Allegri has resigned at Inter as he’s heard Wenger has signed his new 2 year contract so, there is no vacancy! Yet!
Inter Wavy?
New post up.