Morning all.
Watford outplayed us yesterday in every department barring goals scored. They had energy, desire, passion, heart. They didn’t give up on the very slim chance of Premier League survival they had before kickoff. Watford had nothing to lose. They were relegated barring a miracle so for ninety minutes they could afford to play at 100mph.
Their season is done, Arsenal’s is not.
Aubameyang put us 1-0 up from the penalty spot, a VAR overturned decision which clearly cheesed Mike Dean off.
Tierney made it 2-0 with his first goal for Arsenal before Aubameyang grabbed his second of the game in style. 3-0, game over. Or it should have been. In the end we were rather fortunate. Three goals were enough to win the game but Arsenal really were all over the place. Martinez was certainly our saviour.
The rest of the final day’s fixtures played out as many of us probably expected. Chelsea won at home to secure fourth place and Man Utd were awarded another soft penalty which gifted them third. Norwich, Watford and Bournemouth said farewell to the Premier League. Leicester City and Toots secured a Europa League spot. Arsenal of course have a chance to join them.
It’s tempting to believe that Arsenal were taking things easy yesterday. Players not wanting to pick up injuries or bookings because they want to be on the Wembley team sheet. Also, certain players have played many games within a short period of time so fatigue played its part. I’m hoping that Nketiah won’t think about passing to a golden boot chasing Aubameyang if a goal scoring opportunity comes his way next weekend. That Luiz won’t give away another penalty against his old club and Martinez won’t need to be anywhere near as busy as he was yesterday.
Mikel Arteta has five days to concentrate on his squad, the way they’ll approach the FA Cup Final and to drill home how important this fixture is to the club, the fans and Arsenal’s future. I fully expect to see a very different Arsenal performance next Saturday evening.
The transfer window is now open until the 12th September and with the news about Mustafi expected to be out injured for quite a while, Mikel Arteta has hinted that Arsenal will need to bring in another central defender before the new season kicks off. A hint which pretty much confirms that Sokratis days at Arsenal are done and Zech Medley is not considered to be either ready, or good enough to play for the first team. Perhaps he never will. If reports in The Sun over the weekend are to be believed, Rob Holding could be sold this summer which would make the need for a central defender even greater. Chambers and Mari are certainly not going to be available for a while yet.
I’m glad the season is over as far as the league goes as for Arsenal it’s been pretty grim. To finish 40 odd points behind Liverpool is reflection of how poor the team has played over the ten months of actual football. Our defensive frailties saw us drop points from winning positions in far too many games. Our link up play from back to front has been unimaginative, pedestrian and boring. Our midfield neither Arthur nor Martha for much of the season. Pépé, Lacazette and even Aubameyang with his 22 goals, have disappointed on too many occasions. Martinez, Tierney and Saka have been the highlight of an otherwise dismal Premier League season. As well as beating Liverpool and Man City of course.
Our Europa and League Cup campaigns weren’t much better either. Not in as far as being knocked out of them but the fashion in which we were beaten. One under Unai Emery, the other in February under Mikel Arteta.
All that’s left now is a one off match. 90 minutes, 125 minutes, perhaps penalties too. One last big performance from everyone at Arsenal Football Club. Nothing less will do.
See you in the comments guys.
Spot on, Rico! Ewww that picture!! That face! That beard! Gross…….
We only managed 56 goals -.our lowest since 95/96. Not liking Auba’s Dad’s message either. Apparently he wrote the same sort of thing just before he left Dortmund 🙈
I’m so nervous about Saturday… Giroud.. Pulisic…Luiz 🙈… now it looks like Kepa has been dumped, so in comes Willy ‘the penalty saver’…it will be unforgivable if all of our players aren’t up for it.. as lately only Martinez, Tierney and Auba have been!
I hope it all comes together, like it did against City, but right now, I’m not so sure….plus Baku is still fresh in my memory 🥺
Write that season off now.
Best we all forget it, but I hope the club don’t.
Our guys will fire up on the weekend, no doubt at all.
Whether they’re good enough on the day is another thing but it won’t be for a lack of intensity.
Holding-Rico,
Damn I hope you’re wrong on that one.
He’s just coming good and will be even better next season.
Sokratis can go.
Buy another CB for sure…..and one or two others positions 🙂
It’s better to be the underdog Sue. 😂
It’s The Sun Scott so probably garbage, however, if a good offer comes in for him, I wouldn’t be surprised if Arsenal sell. In fact, if good offers come in for many of our players, I think the club will sell. There’s a handful I’d imagine who aren’t for sale at any price but the rest, so be it.
Hi Rico and all I recon Auba will only stay if we win the fa cup. Also sounds like their maybe a couple of deal offers for Guendouzi.
The great thing about football is anything can happen, no more so than The FA Cup…………….Sunderland, West Ham, Wimbledon, Wigan all come to mind!
Yes we have been average, yet we beat the best ever Man C and Liverpool teams, ridiculous isnt it!
Spuds have had their best ever team over the last 3/4 years and what have they won?
One final, two teams, it`s a 50/50 chance and no one is favourite and two things are guarenteed……… one is that come the end of Saturday night we will either win or lose………….two is that I will hide behind my sofa for at least 3 hours, just in case it goes to extra time and pens!
I never get excited on Final day as I am always nervous dreading the worst whether we play Chavs or were we to play say a lower league 3rd tier team like…………….Swindon!
Saturday I/we will end up either deliriously elated or seriously depressed!…………………looking back to Baku is as meaningless as Chavs looking back to 2017 FA Cup Final………….when remember they were the Champions going for the double and we had Mertesacker playing his first game since the war!
I think about 10 minutes in, we’ll have an idea how the game will go – whether to pull the sofa out, or turn over 😄
Now Wrighty’s worrying about Chelsea coming calling for Martinez 😬
You are brave, Sue, 10 minutes in!…………………..I will be behind my sofa as soon as I wake up that morning!……………total lockdown from friends, family and media !…………………..I`m a shaking nervous wreck now just thinking about it, doesn`t help that I suffer from Essential Tremor!
Haha, Le Coq….the amount of trembling I’m doing right now, just thinking about Saturday, could be measured by the Richter scale 🤣
Hahaha…………………….Earthquakes in Oxfordshire and Cornwall!
I can’t wait 🙂
Rico, good old newspapers, hey hahaha
Well I hope they’re wrong but if we sell, as long as we upgrade……
Good summing up rico, morning all. Not felt like much online last few days, woke up during week and completely deaf in one ear. Ignored doctors phone advice of drops, and went to A&E who got me straight to ENT for tests and an MRI booked. Seems likely complete permanent loss as nothing back after 5 days Steroid treatment for nerve that transmits to brain is problem as ear looks ok. Such a shock, you worry about talking CV precautions, and something else comes from nowhere. Oh well, life goes on.
I’m really worried we see Leno as number 1 next year, because Martinez surely proved he is a very good first choice, with someone else if not us. He’s so commanding, and calm, and what a fantastic save from Welbs. One of the few bright points for me this season, along with Martinelli, Tierney and Ceballos.
That’s terrible news Andrew.
I hope they manage to sort it out for you somehow.
The keeper situation is a quandary.
Leno has been superb and we can’t forget that, but Martinez has been at the club a long time awaiting his chance, and hasn’t he taken it well?
Interesting to see what happens.
Hi Geoff, if you mean Barca’s swap offer including two OAP’s for Guendouzi, they can shove that suggestion where the sun doesn’t shine. Lol
Europa Cup vs Chelsea.
League Cup vs Man City, two finals Rico, the two heaviest defeats in the clubs history.
Third time lucky eh?
Thanks Andrew. That’s awful news re you hearing. I too hope something can be done soon to help.
I hope we can keep Ceballos for at least another season. Seems he wants to stay now which will help. Gabriel, Martinez, Tierney, Saka are IMO, unsellable, the rest have their price I reckon. Even Aubameyang.
Oops Kev. My mind clearly opted to forget the City hammering. I should have know you’d be right. 😝
Sorry to hear about that Andrew, that’s really an odd thing to happen, did you have an ear ache or anything untoward beforehand. I’ve never heard of that kind of thing happening before, so strange…
Yes Rico you should 😆😆😆
And before you say it,byes, I am a toad 😆
byes 🤔
yes I meant
Good day all,, sorry to hear about you problems Andrew, no pun intended of course, I hope it can be sorted out. Chin up mate.
With Chelsea already qualified for the Champions League doesn’t the Europa League place automatically got to to Arsenal win or lose?
Only if we win Cicero
Hi Kev, absolutely no warning. One of my hobbies is Iem/headphones, not over loud, and I listened to a few albums afternoon before. Woke up at 3 in morning and somehow knew I’d lost hearing. Put on music player beside bed with earphones in, turned up right full on and nothing! I’ve since realised that just turning over is quite a noise in your ear, you only realise once it’s gone! SSHL only affects 5 per 100,000 a year. Now have non stop tinnitus and balance problems if I get up or down quickly. Trying to remain positive, hoping precautionary scan shows no ear tumour. There’s worse happening out there.
Bloody Nora that’s awful Andrew, so sorry mate, we do take these things for granted, finger crossed that they can find some treatment?
Off to the neuropathy clinic I would think Andrew ,
Sounds similar in symptoms but not in cause. I had a hip replacement and got damaged nerves which means that like you I have tinnitus and balance problems turning and getting up . Feeling in feet continually pulsing like an ear ache . Basically after MRI’s , Cat scans , x rays , Lumber punches . Electric shock treatment , they don’t know what it is and after 4 different diagnosies they just call it peripheral neuropathy .
At the last visit to my consultant he just said . Learn to live with it..Keep taking the tablets.
I have had this now for 3 years and I agree that there are a lot of pepole worse off . When people ask how I am I just reply :- Still breathing.
It is strange how you adapt , so keep positive , at the grand old age of 73 the one thing that gets me down is not being able to play bat and ball with grandchildren and Arsenal’s form at present.
Hi Andrew hope all goes well and you get your hearing back or at least some of it
😂 Kev 🐸
Rico that was one but sorry can not remember the other deal I would prefer a straight sale for Guendouzi
You’re right Kev, we’ll just have to win the cup.
That’s it Cicero, simples…. 😉
Sorry to hear all that Potter, thanks to the pharmaceutical industry we’re all hanging on in there, they do have the technology and they can rebuild us, hopefully…
Do any of you out there watch the TV series Yellowstone and if so have you any idea when series 2 begins?
Afternoon Rico and all.
Andrew, that’s horrible for you and I am sorry.. Let’s hope that something can be done.
I`ve had tinitus since 1980, I block it out and literally speaking about it right now I can hear the ringing!.
I suppose the benefit of losing hearing, well for me, would be not hearing the wife nagging!
Reading the news bit on newsnow, there`s a safari park in Merseyside that it has been reported that baboons armed with screwdrivers, knives and chainsaws going on the rampage!…………………..add missing wheels, hubcaps and some bin dipping and you probably know where I`m going with this! hahaha………………………first title in 30 years at Anfield, let them have their day!
Thanks guys. Potter, that is bad luck after a hip op and must be very frustrating for you. Thankfully my wife’s hip operation went reasonably well, but she’s had other problems. Getting older is not fun! Until late 50’s we were pretty good, but last 5 years we have taken it in turn, one thing after another. Just ask for a little cheer with Arsenal and Southend United ………
Afternoon Adam.
Funny isn’t it, we all chatter away to each other on a daily basis without really knowing each other at all. The wonders of the internet.
I didn’t mean to extract sympathy only to tell Andrew that he will adapt if he keeps positive . He is right though getting old is not fun , Kev is also correct we are learning all the time how to extend the quantity but sometimes I ask myself at the same time do we look at the quality in the same way.
Rain in the morning in Manchester then dry the rest of the day, it’s going to be like a one day’er tomorrow.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/53540077
Looking forward to it too, hope it’s over before lunch as I have to go out 😂
It’s probably going to rain in Manchester until midday so it looks like you’ll have to watch the highlights Rico.
Hope you’re wrong for once Kev… lol
New post up now