Morning guys.
So Mourinho thinks his side shouldn’t be seventh in the league which is funny really because it’s results which determine that and his Utd side results have been poor. A few of the victories they have achieved have been fortunate to say the least. For a change, we’ve had our own slice of good fortune here and there too but I’m not complaining. For us though, a slice of good fortune, together with some really good football and dogged performances I hasten to add, has seen us up to fourth place.
Mourinho doesn’t expect things to stay that way though and suggests the top six as they are right now, will change before May 2019:
“Everyone knows that two of these teams are staying outside the top four, last season it was Arsenal and Chelsea and this season two of the six are going to stay outside of the top four.
“Who is the best team of the six? Who is the team with the most potential? Who is the team with the least potential? Who is the team that is performing better? Who is not performing so well?
“I think we will be around the questions and the answers, but I think in the end of the season top six will be done by the six we all know to have the responsibility to finish in the top six.”
See, if you wait long enough, even an idiot like Mourinho can come out with something sensible. There’s far too much football left in this season to start thinking the top four at the end of May will be as it is now.
What’s important for us though is to keep improving, building on performances like the one at the weekend and the squad. Until January, Unai Emery can’t do anything about adding to the squad but the improvement, of course he can and judging by what’s been going on since he arrived, it’s likely he will.
Manchester United – Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly are doubts. Ashley Young serves a one-game suspension and Phil Jones is reported to be injured. Luke Shaw and Romelu Lukaku were forced off with knocks on Saturday so with a bit of luck, they too will be missing.
For Arsenal there’s a forced change tonight as Xhaka has to sit this one out having reached five bookings. The options are Guendouzi, Ramsey or Elneny I’d have thought. Otherwise, I think we’ll see a very similar team to the one which beat Totts. This coming weekend might be a better time to rotate if it’s needed. Just an opinion though.
Where Utd outdo us is height. Lukaku, Matic, Fellaini and Pogba are big guys so set pieces could be a problem. No silly fouls in a dangerous area is the message there. Martial is a wonderful player, one of the few I’d love to see in an Arsenal shirt, Rashford is another but after them, no one, certainly not who’s available for this fixture. Both are dangerous players as is Pogba depending on whether or not he’s in the mood. Lingard is another who can pop up with a goal, just like Mata can so well need to have are wits about us.
The days of predicting the starting eleven for us are long gone but if Torriera is fit, I think we can assume he’ll start. Ozil won’t though I’m sure as his back problem continues to be an issue. Rumour is the Drs don’t quite know what’s wrong other than his MRI scan showed no sign of a backbone.
A victory tonight would be pretty special. Emery getting an early win over that awful little man would be great and if anyone can, I’d have thought he can. Utd have been nervous in front of their own fans which has led to little bit of unrest and booing, certainly after the draw with Palace. They’re there for the taking, we’ve just got to take them.
It’s been twelve long years since we last won a league match at Old Trafford and Unai Emery has never beaten a side managed by Mourinho.
For Arsenal and Unai Emery, tonight presents a great opportunity to put an end to both of those little factoids which the media like to mention when this fixture comes around.
Stay safe in this awful weather guys.
Rumour is the Drs don’t quite know what’s wrong other than his MRI scan showed no sign of a backbone.
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By the look of him, suspected he was from another planet
This is ourl chance to do the double on united this season, just as they did to us last season. United are in a slump. We are playing better football, our players and coach are more motivated .Our strikers are firing from all cylinders, and revenge on our mind. If Arsenal can decimate spurs like they did last weekend, who is united to stand in our way.I predict a 3-1 victory for us tonight .COYG.
He can’t help his looks bnsb.. 😜
Cg, it certainly appears to be a good time to go to OT as they are in a right old pickle. Mourinho is under huge pressure, many fans want him gone according to the internet.
But, we all know what Mourinho is like, he’ll know we had a tough game on Sunday, he’ll get his team ready that’s for sure. That’s what he does when he faces us…
Getting focus back will be key for us after the derby I think but I’m sure Emery will ensure they’re up for this one. Just hope tired legs don’t kick in…
Welbeck to leave on a free is a headline in The Times…
Morning Gooners.
Morning Rico, beware the spectre of OT and the dead hand of Mourinho…
He may have lost the dressing room but he retains his psychological ability to motivate and despite a stumbling season any team containing Lukaku, Martial, Rashford, Mata, Pogba, De Gea, Lingard, Valencia, Herrera, et al, cannot be dismissed.
Let’s go there with confidence and humility, I’d take a draw if you offered it to me now…
Rico, it would not surprise me if both Welbeck and Koscielny are allowed to leave in the summer, both have big salaries which can be diverted elsewhere.
Reiss Nelson and Zach Medley could replace Kozzer and Danny, it’s just the normal progression of football, the King is dead, long live the King etc.
With our budget being so tight, we’re going to have to hope that 5 or 6 of our current group of youngsters can develop enough to a high enough standard to be able to come into our 1st team squad and keep us competitive, maybe even drive us on as Merson, Adams, Quinn, Thomas, Rocastle, Hayes and Keown did back in the late 1980’s.
Morning Kev, I’d take a draw right now too.
Me neither Kev. I reckon Ozil too could be gone but then I know you do too.. 😜
G’day all, in previous seasons we would all be talking about watching the game from behind the sofa, but this time around I think the ball is our court and we’ve got the wind behind us.
To my mind Mourinho has run out of tricks, he and his team are there for the taking.
In the words of the ad, Just do it.
We’ve got the manager and players to win but as others have said, we gave a lot on Sunday.
Mourinho will want to stop our good run that’s for sure and I bet he sends his big lumps out to get at our key players. Fellani and his team of elbows will be right in our faces.
Anyone know who the ref is?
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistants: Scott Ledger, Simon Long
Fourth official: Chris Kavanagh
Yes Rico, but who would take Ozil, pay all his wages and give us a fee?
Emery has been saddled with a mess, not of his making, thanks to Ivan and Arsene.
Maybe the Chinese whispers we heard about last summer are an option?
If not then Mesut is our man until at least 2021, we’ve just gotta get on with it and he’ll have to adapt to being a squad player.
I see that Gazides has just been announced as the new Milan CEO…
Mesut Ozil also remains one of the stand out faces of Adidas, who will be our shirt sponsors next season, I’m not sure if that situation will effect things?
Can’t see Adidas worrying about Ozil Kev, bearing in mind we were with Puma when he moved to us.
His wages are a huge problem, who ticked that deal needs their head tested.
Perhaps Mourinho would like to reunite Ozil and Sanchez? And yes, I’m being serious… lol
I’d swop Ozil for Sanchez (but don’t tell Scott 🙂 )
Or swap him for Martial or Rashford..
Mourinho wants “mad dogs”, does Ozil fit the bill? 😉
Time to avenge the 8-2.
Same team as Sunday bar Mkhitaryan and Xhaka who are replaced by Guendouzi and Ramsey.
No Ozil in the squad again..
You’re killing me, Andrew hahahaha
Nah, it’s all just opinions mate.
I was hoping/predicting Ozil would have more impact now he has 2 top class strikers in front of him, and at times, he has but the consistency is still lacking, so it’s disapponting.
I can’t see how we can let him go, though, as the wage will be an issue for a potential club interested in him.
We should set about attaching this mob as they’ll fold if we pinch an early goal.
This Utd squad lacks heart and spirit.
If this ends 11 v 11 I’ll be amazed…
And why Rashford wasn’t booked for the foul on Holding I’ll never know..
Five live saying their goal offside if VAR used? Is Ramsey badly injured, if so that’s two lost in 45 mins.
They believe may be cruciate for Holding
Can anyone tell me how the hell is Rojo still on the pitch? Offside goal for United and a leg breaking challenge on Guendouzi. It’s a disgrace!!
I think it was offside Andrew.
Same old shit at Man Utd. Horrible foul on Holding and no foul at all on Martial.
Inspired change 😜
Dearie me….
2 crazy goals and 2 concentration lapses. As usual we come away from OT half a dozen wounded.
Was a clear offside. Rojo must be sent off twice! first, in the fist half in our area. That fualt wasn’t a yellow card but a red card. Then in our second goal, he must had at least, an yellow card, and nothing! The law is clear., but not a colour card ???
Off course, Mourinho relace him quickly…
Moreover, do not you know what a foothold in England is? We lost two balls in the midfield that made dangerous moves because our players took their feet in time. The laws of the game do not apply to MU. Anything goes. From pulling hair, totally different fouls penalized in the same way, a clear offside goal, etc.
In spite of all, the best team at the pitch was Arsenal.
Andre Mariner doesn’t even come up Mike Deans pathetic standard. He dishes out cards for innocuous “fouls” and allows much, much more serious ones to go by without even awarding a free-kick.
Mourinho wanted mad dogs, he’s created a pack of rabid ones.
Good night Gooners, everywhere.
🎼🎶🎶🎶 Unbeaten in twenty 🔔🔔🔔 😉
We Var finally comes in teams like Utd will suffer most as yet again we see the referee ignore blatant fouls, even resorting to pulling hair, he was also yet again influenced by the Utd crowd.
proud of the team tonight they fought well unfortunately yet again amateur hr in defence cost us.
Guendouzi is a baller, the kid has it all given time he will be one of the first names on the team sheet.
if kolansic and bellerin had a final ball we could have scored 4 or 5…
loving the fight in this team..
Man U the new Stoke?
The BBC are reporting our 2nd goal as a Rojo own goal – are they fecking blind or stupid or just a bunch of wankers?
Allezkez
It was announced that way on TV over here. Replays showed Lacca touched it last. I don’t know who decides, probably the ref.
BBC have no say.
Reg
Morning all.
New post up now.