Morning all.
The next three fixtures are huge. Two matches against Olympiacos with a north London Derby in between. One is for pride and three points, the other two are not only a chance to progress further in the Europa League Cup but to gain revenge for our exit from this competition a year ago. A late late goal at The Emirates knocked us out.
Much has been said by Mikel Arteta about how the team are playing better than this time last season, how his players need to be calmer, to cut out the errors. Since 2017, we have conceded the most penalties in the Premier League (23), made the most errors leading to a goal (35) and been shown the most red cards (14). (Arsenal.com)
It’s very difficult because a lot is expected in the situation of a football match, but then emotionally we have to be much more calm and much more secure. We have to manage the games much better in certain situations and that comes with maturity and that comes from learning, so every time you do that hopefully you learn and it doesn’t happen again to the same player, but then something happens to a different one.
Playing out from the back will continue. Of course it will because that seems to be the way these days but, it doesn’t mean at all costs.
I will always do that as long as we, all the time, follow our principles and the rules that we have. It’s the way we play, when we decide when to play, when not to play, the type of football we have to play with the right distances, the right feet. If not, we don’t play. If you don’t have the right structure, you don’t play. It’s too risky. It’s what you gain from the risks that are there, and the rewards have to much bigger than the risks. When it’s not, you don’t have to play. If it’s a no-play zone, you don’t have to play.
Common sense says don’t faff around when an opposition player or two is pressing hard from the front.
Which is exactly what Arsenal need to do tonight. Put pressure on the Olympiacos defence which should include Sokratis. A player who also knows what it’s like to make errors in the box. He’s a pusher and shover so get at him and force a mistake. Youssef El-Arabi was the heartbreaker in last season’s tie so he’s one to watch. Ousseynou Ba, although tall and strong, can be clumsy as he was against Man City in the Champions League fixtures. Yann M’Vila, is another player we’ve heard all about after the years of being linked to Arsenal but his stint on loan at Sunderland was to be his only time in the Premier League.
Olympiacos are flying high domestically, sitting top of their League table but in all honesty, I reckon Arsenal would be top of the Greek League. Perhaps more significant is them winning just one of their Champions League group fixtures and that was against Marseille with a goal in the 92 minute.
Arsenal are very hit and miss. Mostly miss when it comes to scoring goals of late. ESR is the only doubt for tonight’s fixture, the rest are fit. Martinelli is fit. He’s South American, he’s determined, he’ll run at their defence and he’s likely to bring more to the team than Willian, or Pepe for that matter. Certainly from the bench. I think we need a goal, probably more if we to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself. Everyone needs to be on their A game. Mikel Arteta as much as the players because his substitutions can change a game.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico,
The NLD bragging rights look to be dead in the water for this season, so Arteta must play his strongest possible team tonight. No resting of players because there’s a big game coming up on Sunday, Olympiakos tonight is the biggest game on the horizon as far as our season goes. Win well tonight to give us the best chance of advancing to the next round and let Sunday’s game take care of itself.
Morning Cicero, have to agree. Securing a good win tonight is all that matters today.
Morning guys,
Win tonight, belt the Spuds and we can all have a lovely week 🙂
We will win both games.
All three you mean Scott. 2 Europa cup games and the NLD
I think we will win 10-0 against the Toots. Auba getting 9. Willian the other. And Willian will have 10 assists to his name as he will be assisting himself as well.
Morning everyone.
Good read Rico……seems you have studied Olympiakos more than me.
Thanks Devil, not really but I saw Ba v City and sometimes he looked a bit like Bambi. 😆
Quiet old day considering we’re playing in a few hours.
plus we will get Mourinho the sack as well.
Morning Devil, we will only need a draw next week to progress 😉
Afternoon all. Rico, it’s a bit dangerous being excited or too optimistic these days, leaves you deflated afterwards. Just watch in hope is best can do! And shut eyes when we pass in our penalty area. Vaccine today so that’s a plus.
Can’t say I’m looking forward to any of our next three fixtures Andrew. Expect little and enjoy a surprise if it comes..
We must be in the same age bracket then, mines Tuesday.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56354534
A good read. I admire Arteta’s positivity and we all can see the progress being made.
But I still feel that we need a character who turns us into winners like Cantona did for Man Utd. Or like Zlatan is doing with Milan this year. We still need someone who can grab the team by the scruff of the neck and propel him forward.
Will not play
Olympiakos Arsenal
Papadopoulos A.(Thigh Injury) Centre back Questionable
Smith Rowe E.(Hip Injury)
Semedo R. (Knee Injury) defensive midfield
Vrousai M.(Knee Injury) winger
Questionable
Ba O. (Injury) centre back
Match Information
Referee: Siebert D. (Ger),
Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium (Piraeus)
From Bet 365
Afternoon all.
Rico, you’re right in thinking that the next three games will define our season.
The Europa? If we’re in it we may win it (possibly). If we’re not in it we cannot win it……..unbelievably!
Beat the spuds and who knows where we’ll finish. Lose on Sunday and it’s this season over and next season too, I expect. With no European football in sight the attractiveness of the club will take a massive nose dive, from which it may take many, many years to recover.
A good win tonight should see us on our way up the greasy pole. Let’s hope the team turn up with their ‘A’ game and do the same on Sunday! How happy we shall be😊
There’s a lot of ‘if’s’ in there Wavy.. lol
Afternoon Rico and the House.
Still having big problems not only logging on but finding you.
Did try logging on to WordPress but it all went wrong.
Still plenty of rading to do when I finaaly find you.
Afternoon Rick, sorry you’re still struggling to log on.
Next Tuesday your birthday Rico???
Happy Lucky Birthday then
No Devil, my vaccine.
Plenty of Reading
63 rico, but I keep hearing friends in late 50s getting it!
oooppssss. I thought it was your birthday.
its 16th March on Tuesday. That is I wished you happy lucky birthday. 😅😅😅
my team for tonight…..
Ryan; Bellerin, Holding, Mari,Tierney; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Lacazette.
I did not go for Auba simply because tonight we need someone who brings the others into play.
Then again Auba can hit on the counter and outrun Sokratis and his fellow CB
But I will never play LAca and Auba together
Afternoon, Rico! The calm before the storm
😄 I’m not sure what to expect tonight tbh! As always we never know which Arsenal will turn up. I guess we’ll be in the blue kit? Urgh..
As long as we don’t gift any goals and Sokratis doesn’t put in a motm performance!!
Let’s start the week from hell in style!!
potter: Ruben Semedo – central back
Tonight we dine in hell
It’s the 55-59 years old in the South Andrew.
Afternoon Sue, me neither. But we won there last season so there’s hope.
Afternoon House,
Who knows if we turn up tonight,a couple of goals and a clean sheet would do nicely,we’ve had enough Greek tragedies in the last few years.
ESR took part in full training yesterday. Is Odegaard cup tied?
AC Milan have already had two goals disallowed. Shame.
Limey, north London ones too.
I think so Cicero, he’s shown as playing twice for Real in the CL.
He was added to our EL squad though..
Arsenal make two changes from the game against Burnley as Bellerin and Gabriel come in. Nicolas Pepe and Emile Smith Rowe are on the bench.
Leno; Bellerin, Gabriel, Luiz, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka; Willian, Odegaard, Saka; Aubameyang.
Oh and Sokratis starts…. COYG
Subs: Ryan, Cedric, Chambers, Holding, Pablo Mari, Elneny, Ceballos, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Martinelli, Lacazette, Hein. #OLYARS
I will get ther in the end Rico.
What is it about Luiz which makes Arteta keep picking him?
It might be a HH problem Rick.
I hope Ødegaard isn’t cup tied with him being in the team. I didn’t think a player could go from CL to Europa.
A good mix of age, experience and youth. A night for Willian to show his class and earn his corn
What a miss by Ordegaad.
Bad miss.
Should be 2-0 up already.
He’s made amends for the earlier miss.
That was a bit harder than the early chance he had!
half time. we should be 2 to 3 nil up .
We are having so much possession, overall shots on target and so many more attacks its worrying because we are not more ahead.
I hope we keep up the pressure and score more now. AND DONT CONCEDE
Love this referee.
He hasn’t been conned yet by a dive!!!!
Great goal!! Luiz doing his best to give me a heart attack 😂
By both sides.
We should be out of sight .
That was a screamer by Odegaard.
Oh wait.
it will be soon coached out of him
Cicero, yes, by both sides.
I am happy to call out divers no matter who they play for.
Their defenders are taking in turn to kick Saka.
My worry is how many more can he take.?
well there you have it….they decided to make a carbon copy of our goal.
1-1
What an almighty cock up!
Elneny coming on? WHY?
Gaby has scored to make it 2-1.
We need another to make sure.
Gabriel where did he come from? VAR checking
The goal stands.
Well that’s why he came on.
Elneny came on to score Cicero. That is why
Barring an almighty cock up at the Emirates next week….we need to lose by a difference of three goals or by the result of 1-3 (and it goes to penalties) or 2-5…we are in the hat for the next round.
Job done, bring on the Spuds!
Ok, so clearly Arteta allows our guys to shoot from range, and does not demand we play out from the back under any circumstances.
We saw examples of both, so these brain fades are on the players, as is the want to walk the ball into the net at times.
Job done.
@ 9.43pm. DG.
I didn’t see that score coming before the game started
Right result. But again, we make it hard for ourselves at a time they were no threat. 2 cracking strikes, pays to shoot😀
3 excellent goals! What a night *phew, wipes brow*
Another clanger by Leno.
I shudder to think what he will do on sunday.
We huffed, puffed, but finally got the job done. Not without scary moments at the back, again and some terrible finishing.
Three cracking goals though….
Well,that’s settled one ‘if’. Rico! Still a couple of buts to come though😊
Good result. Same score against the spuds and I’ll be well pleased, as will we all.
Agreed Rick , carbon copy of Burnley with Xhaka , this time Ceballos , he must see that they were over him like a rash . Boot it out , get it wide anything but put a man in trouble right in front of goal. It was a hospital pass.
Ha ha Wavy. Fingers crossed eh.
Leno scares the heck out of me these days. I’m starting to wonder if we’d be more calm at the back if Ryan played.
Gee have faith you lot.
3-1 is a given 😉
Another “own goal”.
The opponents’ opportunities are, in the majority, in the “modern version of football (?)”, to try to start playing from 1/3 of the field.
At this point, Arsenal have an advantage over all the others because we always put our goalkeeper, making a short pass, in the center of the area, for a player who has his back to the game and is outnumbered around.
Do we want to have a clear sheet? Really???
JM, we dominated that side for the best part of 85 minutes, got a great result, scored two goals under pressure (after hurting them one) and we are talking about one error.
No question it’s be nice to eliminate such mistakes, but the past few games we’ve been fantastic overall imo
Good Morning Rico, Scott and all
A bit of fresh air this morning. Great result away from home. Good performance yesterday. Goals distributed among midfield and defence (I really loved it). Two long range goals (like the proverbial buses), a looping header. A lion’s share of possession and a mammoth’s share of shots on target. What more could we want? Ahh yes….another assist from Willian.
Now for the Toots. Kane had a lump of ice on his knee yesterday.
I wonder if Arteta will go with the same team of yesterday for Sunday’s game. Does he rest them or he plays the same 11 again and then pick a totally different team for the return game of Europa lge?
The return game might well see us play with the following…….Ryan, Soares, Holding, Mari, Tierney; Elneny, Ceballos; Pepe, ESR, Martinelli; Lacazette. It still is a good team. Especially as in the EL we can have 5 subs.
What do you think?
Morning Devil, all.
The Mourinho mind games have begun already then. I bet there’s nothing wrong with Kane’s knee.
Sunday, play the strongest eleven because on Sunday, only that game matters. Imo of course.
Good win but poor finishing again and a stupid mistake at the back again. Watching this team, I nearly always think they’re half asleep. Maybe when the fans return, the game in general will go up a level or three.
Fantastic Scott? We’re clearly on a very different Arsenal page. Lol
Overall yesterday we played a very good controlling game. But I counted around 4 individual mistakes which could have led to a goal for Olympiakos. Ceballos (goal), Luiz, Odegaard, Luiz(again) did passes which they should not have done
This year VAR cost us 11 points. And mistakes by our players have cost us 8 points. That is 19 points which would have us 2nd – 3pts above Utd
Rico, nothing new there lol
Fantastic v Leicester-yes.
Apart from a horror moment, fantastic v Burnley, mostly, yes.
Fantastic yesterday, mostly yes.
Not sure what else we can ask than dominating sides, creating a heap of chances etc etc
Small margins, Devil.
That’s why I don’t think we’re fantastic Scott. Too many cockups in defence, too many missed opportunities to score, our buildup is slow and negative all too often. Without Tierney and Bellerin, we’d have little pace at all in attacking play.
https://highbury-house.com/2021/03/12/more-arsenal-howlers-but-three-stunners/
New post up by the way.
just watch match again Didn’t Leno learn anything from his and Xhake mistake last week.
2 matches in a row same mistake not good enough