Afternoon all.
Arsenal have played 17 matches in total this season, winning 14, drawing twice, and losing just once, with an aggregate score of 37-7. We are four points clear at the top of the Premier League and joint top of the Champions League group stage with a perfect record. Not to forget we are still in the League Cup after overcoming Brighton a few weeks ago.
The team//squad have kept a club-record-equalling eight clean sheets in a row between October and November, their best run in 122 years. 812 minutes of football had been played without conceding a goal before Ballard stopped the run.
Two weeks of international football means a number of Arsenal players will get a bit of a breather but not many as many will be away with their respective countries. Two fixtures in two weeks might seem a doddle after being used to playing more within that same timeframe. Plus, I don’t think international football is always as brutal as the domestic game.
Brazil have a couple of friendly fixtures, both of which are at home. France are at home before a relatively short trip to Azerbaijan, England face Serbia at Wembley before travelling to Albania, Spain play Georgia away before going up against Turkey at home. Italy are away to Moldova before playing Norway at home, Netherlands travel to Poland before facing Lithuania at home and Ecuador play Canada away and New Zealand at home. Belgium travel to Kazakhstan before playing Litchensutein at home and lastly, Denmark play Belarus at home before travelling to Scotland for their second match.
Then it’s Jona Lewie time except we will be welcoming the cavalry…..
November and December fixtures are challenging to say the least but what a boost it will be to have Havertz, Odegaard, Martinelli, Gokyeres and Madueke back. Jesus is more likely to return in December, not that December is a million miles away.
November 23rd sees Arsenal go up against its bitter rivals, the first north London derby of this campaign. It’s a fixture I love and hate in equal measure.
Honestly, is our November/December schedule any worse than what we’ve already been through? I don’t think so, not when one considers we’ve already played Liverpool A, Man Utd A, Man City H, Newcastle A and Fulham A. Plus we’ve beaten a very good Crystal Palace side. When we face Palace again in December in the League Cup, they are likely to be without Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), Christantus Uche (Nigeria), Chadi Riad (Morocco) and Cheick Doucoure (Mali).
I’ve read comparisons to Man City’s fixtures which in some quarters, are suggested to be easier but I don’t think they are. On paper they might look that way but in this league, any club can beat another if it’s their day. Any day, injuries can hurt any club too as they so often seem to hurt us which is why any talk about league titles winners and favourites to be relegated is far too early. I just pray our own injury woes are over.
Catch up in the comments.
There are very few easy games in the premier league , there are 20 teams 38 games and it’s sods law in which order you have to play them .
However it is what it is and 3 points today count the same as 3 points next week and every week after.
As I am running out of cliches I will just add that it’s so far so good , and following the break we have to go again. It will not be easy but we should not allow ourselves to think that it will be .
Another cliche coming up , It’s a marathon not a sprint, and that is why unlike certain domestic cup competitions where you can pick up a cup for 6 games it is the one that we want.
That’s not to say that I would turn my nose up at a cup to go with the league.
I’d love a cup…
Pep Guardiola and the Man City fans must go to church every week to pray that their cyborg doesn’t pick up an injury because if he’s out of their team for a couple of months it’s curtains for them.
I’d love a cup of tea
They say, whoever they are, that the taxi trade is a very good barometer for the economy, therefore I reckon we’re in for a very tough 2026, so watch those pennies very carefully…
I would too Kev, PG Decaf please..
26th November will confirm the tough times which are around the corner…
A Cup of Darjeeling with the Telegraph sports section starts my day off very nicely.
I see the return to the PL of Ivan Toney is predicted for January. I’d forgotten he still played. Lol
Morning Cicero, all.
I suspect he will have to accept a pay cut if he’s to return from the Saudi Pro League. Rico.
Agree Cicero, and a monstrous wage to go with it.
Chelsea written all over it.. lol
A good player but will be mighty expensive,ideal for the England squad.
Morning Gooners, morning Rico, for me it’s a cup of spicy chai to start the day.
If the price is right I can see Toney ending up at Tottenham.
It’s noticeable that Arsenal aren’t linked with all and sundry quite as often anymore since our squad became overstocked and I like overstocked. In fact there’s more vacuous rumours about who we might actually sell – for money!
Odegaard to Barca, White to Man City, Myles to a whole host of middling clubs and Jesus to Everton.
I wouldn’t want us to sell anybody, certainly not this January and not even next summer except for some serious dough.
When asked why MLS was not in the England squad Tuchel replied that he needed to play more. Hence half a dozen clubs are supposedly now vying for his signature. Myles knows what side of his bread I buttered and won’t be looking to move.
Toney seems to have dropped off the England radar. Perhaps that’s why he wants a PL return.
Morning Kev, I think it’s good that our players are linked with other clubs, shows how good they are.
Lime Cicero, I cannot see MLS being tempted away any time soon.
I hope Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri for that matter take a look at other players careers who have left us. It’s not always about the club but who plays in the team, Lewis-Skelly has great defensive players around him, Nwaneri has the same in his position but go elsewhere and not have the same kind of team support, a young players career can go downhill rapidly. The right manager is super important too.
Chido, Heaven and even ESR spring to mind.
Afternoon Rico an all, nice write up.
Rico I totally agree with you about the young players, with the right manager and players around them can help guide and set up a young player for a long career as long as the young player is willing to listen and bide his time but unfortunately some kids have a big chip on their should and think their better than they are, and don’t want to wait for the right time or are pushed too hard by their parents.
Afternoon Geoff, I do think some young footballers believe they can run before they can walk. I don’t think 16, 17, 18 years old is a good time to be making such important decisions though.
There’s still a long way to go in this campaign and both Nwaneri and MLS will get plenty of playing time I’m sure. Especially the way our injuries go.
Arsenal are close to appointing leading Italian scout Maurizio Micheli to a senior recruitment role.
Head of the scouting department at Napoli, Micheli, 57, has built a strong reputation during his time in Italy and is seen as one of the architects behind much of club’s recent success.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has been keen to add to the group working closest to him ever since joining the Premier League club in March.
What are the chances that we can emulate Mourinho 2004/05 Results:
24 clean sheets.
72 goals scored.
15 goals conceded.
29 wins 8 draws 1 loss = 75 points?
Unlikely I’d have thought…
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