Good morning.
One game at a time, one performance at at time, that’s what Unai Emery is about and how he and his players will approach the rest of the season. Less than two months to go now and by the time you’ve eaten all your Easter eggs, even less. I’ve no idea where this season has gone as it’s flown by. It seems like only yesterday that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was missing sitter after sitter against Man City on the opening day of the season. The following match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was the same. Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Iwobi all missed excellent opportunities to score. It really was a case of what could have been.
Emery is right though, one can’t look ahead too far, certainly not further than the next game. Be prepared for that one isolated match, the opposition, the tictacs, the plan. The players to execute his plan too. It’s all very well Emery focussing on Everton and their strengths and weaknesses but if his players aren’t on board, then we’ll be in trouble.
Going back to the Chelsea game though, even though we lost, the signs were there that a new Arsenal was being born. Small signs, but nevertheless, signs. At 2-0 down, we’d have crumbled in years gone by. Losing by 4, 5 or even 6 goals but we fought back to 2-2 and had our chances. Ok, the defending let us down in the end but when hasn’t it over the years gone by? Cech was still in goal then too, struggling to adapt to playing out from the back. Koscielny was injured, Mustafi was, well, Mustafi and Sokratis was trying to adapt to the Premier League. Rob Holding wasn’t even in the squad.
How things have changed since then eh? Guendouzi is proving to be a real steal, AMN is producing the kind of performances to really challenge Bellerin and Kolasinac has been born again. Iwobi is much better than last season, Lacazette is a grafter with seriously strong attitude and even Xhaka has popped up with the occasional solid performance. Sokratis has turned out to be a high quality signing too. The heart of our defence and whisper it quietly but we have a really good keeper in Leno. He’s overshadowed by the City, Chelsea and Liverpool keepers for one reason. Signing on fee. Right now though I’d say Leno is up there with all three. Can’t go without mentioning Torreira either, our little midfield warrior. Another very good signing made last summer. Lichtsteiner was our only other signing and I don’t think he’s been that bad. I don’t think for one minute Unai Emery believed he’d have to call on his services as much as he’s had too. Europa, both domestic cups and the odd game in the PL was about it I’d have thought. At the most. A bit of experience that’s all and to be fair, we needed someone like him in the squad in my opinion.
Another positive to take from the season so far is the academy players and we’ve seen quite a number of them in Europa and the domestic cups. Enough to get excited over a few of them I think. They seem to be doing well and being part of first team training will only expedite their progress. Next season could be a big one for one or two.
Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, I’d say we’re heading in the right direction. Wouldn’t you?
Good morning Rico, a very fair summing up, it’s reasonable to say that in the past few seasons fourth place and still in with a chance of Europa League glory, as Easter approaches, would have been hailed as a success. Under a new manager and regime I’m more than satisfied with what has been achieved. Yet, I also believe that we can secure third place, the team are playing with confidence, even the defence is doing well, and our rivals for that third place, are beginning to look a bit ragged.
One game at a time is rightly the mantra. Hammering the Toffees tomorrow will put even more doubt into the dressing rooms in The New Swamp, Old Toilet and the ramshackle stadium on Fulham Road.
C’mon the Glorious Gunners!
Morning Cicero, throwing new players in their first season and the injuries, yep, pretty happy. Then the youth too so we’re looking better for sure.
Good Morning Rico and the House.
It could be a very big day for the U18’s
They are away to Reading and close to h/t they are winning 3-0.
Balogun has a hattrick making it 23 for the season.
culatter.
Morning Rick, can they win the league today?
Balogun 4 Reading 0
He has scored 4 in 57 mins.
It all depends on the spuds away game to Villa
At the moment they are winning 1-0 so we cannot.
I’m watching my local team, Norwich, playing QPR. A win today will put them eight points clear at the top of the Championship.
….and they’ve just gone one nil ahead.
On The Ball City!
A close match then Rick… lol
I’m staying quiet Cicero, the very nice man who looks after HH is a QPR fan.. lol
Two up, and cruising.
So was I, Rico, when I was about ten, I could get to Loftus Road for one penny on the bus. Free to get in the ground through a hole in the fence. Arsenal was my preferred team but dad couldn’t afford to take us to Highbury very often.
Finished 8-0
Unexpected visiters be back later
Spuds now 2up
Emery has done really well in his first season, interesting to ponder how many points will be needed,OGS said 76.Im thinking as many as 78,won’t be easy but if we have the right attitude,and work hard we can do it.
We’re in a great position, that’s for sure.
Do Tottenham U18’s still have a game in hand?
Arsenal are 4 points ahead, isn’t that right and Arsenal have one game left?
I like that ‘hole in the fence’ Cicero…
Just checked Kev and that’s a yes…
We are Limey, just have to take the chance now it’s fallen our way…
Norwich down to ten men, no problem Pukki makes it 4 – 0 on 86 mins with his second of the game.
I always thought that the hole in the wall was so that you could escape when Brian Bedford scooped another one over the bar.
Anyway we are where we are and I see this season as progress and will be a little disappointed should we not end up with something even if it is the much coveted fourth place trophy.
Looks like Cicero and I have a local match coming up next season and the locals will get all vocal for a couple of weeks.
Potter, Norwich could do with a defender, and we could use a fox-in-the-box. Maybe we could swap Mustafi for Pukki, he’d get us a hat full of goals. 😉
Mustafi might get them a few too , but at which end is another question
Hi Rico & Kev
After todays results the league positions are,
Arsenal P 21, Goals for 83 against 23 goal diff 60 Points 57
Spuds P20 goals for 76 against 22 goal diff 54 Points 53
The final games of the season on the 27th April are
Fulham v Arsenal and Spuds v Leicester both ko 11oclock
The spuds in hand game is next wed away to Chelsea.
If it is a draw or chelsea win we win the league
If the Spuds win it will go to the final game.
In the meentime Arsenal u19’s are playing in the Dallas cup
from 14th to the 21st April. Got beaten 1-0 in the final last year
hoping one better this year
Kev the player who has impressed me this season (for u18’s)
is the captain Mat Smith . He has played every min in the league
has scored 5 and has a number of assist to his name.
Hope to see him in the u 23’s next season
Its 14 assists
Thanks for that Rick.
New post up now