Morning all.
No, I’m not referring to one of Dido’s big hits, but the words of Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner after his Crystal Palace side battled hard against Bournemouth for a point at the weekend. He said his team aren’t heading to The Emirates to wave a white flag.
Bearing in mind Palace played against Bournemouth with ten men for half a game, it was a good result. Chris Richards, the player sent off, will miss tonight’s fixture at The Emirates.
Glasner could be forgiven if he decided to rotate a few players for tonight’s match, after all, his team are going to Wembley this weekend for an FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa. The Austrian rarely rotates though, preferring to play his strongest team whenever he can. I know that because I read it. Lol
Crystal Palace haven’t won away in the league since February 22nd when they defeated Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage.
Injuries:
Palace – Both Chadi Riad Dnanou and Cheick Doucoure are out for the remainder of the season and as already written, Chris Richards is suspended.
Arsenal – Same as the weekend. Bukayo Saka should be fit but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him sit this one out.
I think this game will be tough. Palace have a lot of strong players who can cause the best of teams problems. Eze, Mateta, Sarr and even our old striker Nketiah although he he’s often on the bench these days.
Newcastle thumped Palace 5-0 at St James Park just over a week ago. Man City thumped them 5-2 at The Etihad the week before and that was after the home team had gone 2-0 down. Oh, and we thumped them 5-1 back in December at Selhurst Park.
Mikel Arteta on the temptation to rest everyone ahead of PSG:
We cannot think in those terms. I think when the players are fit and they are available and they want to play, they have to play. And they are at their best when they are playing and they have consistency in their performances. And physically they are good, emotionally they are good, their understanding and their rhythm and the way they make decisions is at their best. And that’s why we need the players. If they are not available, there’s no discussion. And if they are not in good condition to perform, we’re not going to play them. And if they are, we are going to play them.
On not forgiving himself if any player gets injured on Wednesday:
There’s always a balance. And obviously you want to balance the risk and make sure that you are sensible with your decision making. But that’s what we have as well. Our very top staff to guide us and to tell us what we should be doing and what the risks are when we do that. But unfortunately in football, you know, anything can happen. And the game starts when the game finishes, to write the story of what should have happened, you know, and that’s easy. So do it before.
I’m not sure about anything can happen but it feels like everything has happened as far as injuries go. From day one of the season, the injury curse hit us hard and it’s not left us since. Maybe next season, that curse will drop over Anfield. Seriously, they’ve been so lucky not to have had many key players out, let alone many at the same time. Gabriel, Calafiori, Jesus, Havertz, Tomiyasu, White, Saka, Odegaard – we’ve missed them all at some stage and for long periods of time.
Yet here we are, second in the league and through to a Champions League semi-final.
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
Glasner has built a very settled side, with a 3-4-2-1 formation that suits his players extremely well, which contracts into a compact 5-4-1 when they are defending inside their own half. The key men in this system are twin attacking no.10s Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr – when Palace turn defence into attack, they come alive to spring dangerous counters and transitions.
Our opponents’ super strength in 2024/25 has been their high-intensity football inside the middle third. They allow teams to play out from the back until a certain point, before engaging with them physically either side of the halfway line. A lot of their ball-winning comes in the wider areas too, where the wing-backs Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell offer plenty of aggression. In attack, both have assisted several goals, with the right-sided Munoz chipping in with four on the back of some marauding runs into the final third. That front four of Mateta, Eze and Sarr are also worthy of further mention. They have power and pace aplenty and tend to combine seamlessly with one another too. The Eze to Mateta connection has supplied six goals, the second-best combination in the Premier League.
In the air they can be a little susceptible. While they have not conceded many goals from set-pieces, the Eagles have lost more aerial duels than any other top-flight outfit. Balls sent into the danger zone could cause them issues.
Personally, I think Glasner would be bonkers not to protect a few of his key players in this game, not when his side has a chance of getting to an FA Cup Final.
I think Mikel Arteta will rotate his, perhaps in similar numbers which we saw at Ipswich although with different players having a bit of a breather. Two games in four days could be too much for Ben White although I suspect he’d say not, and after coming on from the bench on Sunday, MLS could return at left back although I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kieran Tierney again. Thomas Partey is quite likely to return to the starting eleven too.
Both managers have one eye on a semi-final and there’s no better way to head into them by winning this one. We need the points, let’s go and get them.
Catch up in the comments.
Mikel Merino has scored 8 goals this season, 7 of them coming since his emergency move up front. Maybe his success in that position could save Arsenal some badly needed finance which could be spent in other depts, as maybe one striker is all we’ll need in the summer – personally I’d still like to see us sign two.
It also puts into stark contrast the failure of the guy we signed last summer to actually do the job Merino is doing as our support striker, one goal Raheem.
Don’t get me wrong, I was willing Raheem to be successful because not only would it aid our campaign, but it would also be another slap in the gob for gobby Chelsea fans.
Unfortunately one League Cup goal, a tap in from under the crossbar, is all Raheem has contributed although he’s come close a few other times. You kinda want him to score because you support the team/players but it just doesn’t go in for him.
Maybe I should get myself a T Shirt made up with the words: ‘I saw John Jensen and Raheem Stirling score for Arsenal’..?
I wonder, if he had actually got those 8 Merino goals, instead of MM himself, if Arsenal would now be looking to make his transfer permanent?
(Pause for laughter)
As it stands he’ll be returning to Chelsea and will probably go out on loan somewhere else next summer, Chelsea might even come to an arrangement over his contract and give him a free?
Behind the scenes he’s been apparently very professional and helpful with the young guys, but we never see behind the scenes do we?
Good post Rico, you’ll soon be able to take a well-earned break from the editors chair, an exciting summer coming up – for all of us hopefully?
Thanks Kev.
Ditto re Sterling, I really wanted him to do well but the longer he was overlooked, the more it became clear that Arteta really didn’t rate his performance in training. He’s proved to be little more than a player to fill a gap as and when.
Merino has been really good up front and as an emergency, he’s good but I really hope we don’t go into next season with him as a striker option.
I hope a club will come in for Jesus despite his injury, maybe even move Trossard on too and we reinvest well.
My summer will be busy and exciting Kev. 😂
I hope we can keep Partey for another season and then add a midfielder to this squad.
Two forwards/wingers and a keeper.
Minimum I reckon…
Yes Rico, I’m warming to the ‘Partey must stay’ party, but I reckon he’ll be looking for a significant raise in salary and at least two years plus an extra year option contract extension.
Every day we get mixed messages over Zubimendi, which is click bait heaven, but until that is resolved there will be uncertainty over Partey and his future. From what I understand (Charles Watt) there hasn’t been any discussions between Arsenal and Partey’s reps!
I wonder Rico, if there might be an internal solution regarding a back up goalkeeper as the Spanish lad, Garcia isn’t it, sounds seriously overpriced to me?
A busy, successful and satisfying summer Rico.
Never know though Kev, Partey might be settled and happy here in London. The guessing is fun though…
I suppose another thing is speculation around the investigation going on who none of us know who it is or what the outcome might be. If it ever gets to court of course.
Hein Kev? Or one of the other ten keepers we signed last summer although they’re very young…
Yep, for me one top top quality striker/goal scorer, a younger back-up striker, someone who can fill in on the flanks if need be.
A possible replacement for Kiwior if he leaves, as I have question marks over the durability of Califiori.
An attacking midfielder, young prospect if possible, who act as cover for the left 8 and a sensible, affordable goalkeeper if there isn’t an internal solution at the club?
Next season Dowman will step up and opportunities must be open for him and possibly Salmon a young defender who could progress into the senior squad?
Indeed Kev….
Ah, the many many charges fiasco Rico, I gave up on that ages ago.
Hein is a possible, it depends on him and what he wants to do and any bids we get in for him – plus his contract situation, but it’s an option for sure.
Happy Saint George’s’ Day Rico btw…
Always guaranteed to trigger a few odd souls…
Not sure his loan has been brilliant though Kev.
Happy St George’s Day to you too. 🏴
Who Hein?
Well I’ve gotta admit Rico, that whenever I read Jeorge Birds weekly review on the Arsenal players who are out on loan, that Karl Hein seems to be conceding 3 or 4 or more goals on a regular basis.
Now his defence in front of him might be a total shambles and he might also be making a succession of great saves as well as conceding a few, but it’s not a great look is it?
Karl Hein’s La Liga record this season is thus:
Appearances
28
Goals conceded
63
Clean Sheets
5
Happy St. Georges Day to you Rico, Kev and our fellow Gooners.
A few words from the man who died on this day in 1616, “This royal throne of kings, this sceptr’d/ isle This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars/ This other Eden, demi-paradise set in a silver sea. This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England”.
Shakespeare of course.
Transfermarket value him at €3m
Nice one Cicero, you always hit the spot.
Hein has had a similar season to that of Ramsdale , trying to protect a hopelessly outmaneuvered defence.
Valladolid have shipped 76 goals in 32 games but In a recent match between Valladolid and Villarreal, Karl Hein, the Arsenal loanee, was recognized as the man of the match by Spanish media for his heroic performance, particularly his impressive saves. While Valladolid ultimately lost the game, Hein’s individual performance was praised.
Perhaps the experience may be to his benefit but as he has had a season of first team football he may be reticent to spend a year on the bench.
Exactly Kev, hardly convincing from Hein although much depends on the players ahead of him.
Agree Cicero, nice one.
Happy St George’s Day to you too. A day which should be celebrated more than it is imo.
Playing is certainly better than drifting along on the bench.
I see Utd are linked with Ramsdale..
If his record on getting relegated keeps up it could be interesting.
However I still rate him and would want his career to be fulfilled but not there of all places.
Let’s hope it does now he’s no longer in our goal. Lol
I do too, I wish he’d stayed. Great character as well as a classy keeper.
I’m sure there will be some rotation from Sundays game,even with 6 days to the PSG first leg. It would make sense to play Partey for this one,I’d like to see Tierney as well,maybe rest anyone carrying a knock (Saka for one)
So Oliver Glasner isn’t one for rotation,I didn’t know that but I wonder if Nketiah might get a game tonight.
I’m sure it’s been said before but if we had signed a big money striker in January and he’d scored as many as Merino everyone would be well pleased. I still hope we sign at least one striker in the summer.
Tonight could be a tough game but I’d still expect us to win,will at least keep the scousers waiting for a few days.
I’m pretty sure it’ll be Mateta up front, he’s a big fella but if it is Eddie, he’ll certainly be out to prove a point.
potter: How was your trip to Portugal?
Really enjoyed it , did obligatory trips on the Duoro , cable cars ,trains and buses .Lots wine tasting and Port , Francesinhas and Bolhao market all good fun in the rain . Made it to Matosinhos and met the Arsenal guys and watched the Brentford match with them . Spent a day at WOW , sometimes it’s fun being a tourist. BTW my wife loves the Ginga in a chocolate cup so looks like we might have to take a flight to Bolhao again.
Thanks again for the information it was very helpful , we have a picture of the supporters club and the boys and girls I will email it to Rico and see if she wants to print it .