Morning all.
I used to love Christmas Eve as a child growing up. The excitement of Father Christmas popping down the chimney sometime overnight, the smell of mince pies cooking and knowing that behind a locked dining room door was a tin of Quality Street and many other treats which we didn’t have throughout the rest of the year. Christmas Carols and songs played throughout the day before the television was switched on and then at some stage during the evening, we’d have a sandwich filled the warm gammon our mum had cooked. Such happy memories of so long ago.
Fast forward to now and I still love the Christmas songs and Carols, just as I love Christmas itself, all be it a very different version to my childhood days. Funny enough, I no longer expect Father Christmas to come tumbling down the chimney but only because we have a wood burner. Lol
Football doesn’t stop for Christmas though, although this year, with Arsenal not playing until the 27th, perhaps the players will have Christmas Day off unlike those who have a Boxing Day fixture. What a stupid time of day 8-15pm is though for Arsenal to be playing Ipswich. I doubt much thought was given to the away fans when deciding on the kickoff time.
Mikel Arteta held his pre match press conference yesterday and with it came bad news:
On Bukayo Saka:
It’s not looking good. He’s going to be out for many weeks. I cannot be too specific because I don’t know, but it will be many weeks. Yes it’s a huge (blow) one. Obviously he’s a big player for us. You just have to see the impact that he has on the team, but it’s going to be a really good exercise for all of us to think about ways to overcome another challenge, because we’ve already had a lot in the season.
Bukayo Saka is one of the last players we Arsenal fans want to see injured. Don’t want any players to be injured of course but Saka is such a key component in this Arsenal team. He scores goals, he creates goals and his corners are wicked. This is when Raheem Sterling should be ready to step up and into the team. However, he’s injured too and will be out for a while.
Gabriel Martinelli seems the most likely to play on the right although there are options available to Mikel Arteta too. Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri are another two or as Arteta mentioned in his press conference, Kai Havertz or Leandro Trossard too. Personally, I think we’ll see the first three on that list sharing the role until Saka returns.
Anyway, with Liverpool thrashing our noisy neighbours on Sunday, we need a win just so we don’t lose further ground on them. Chelsea drawing with Everton on the same day means the gap between us and them is now just two points. Hopefully, Fulham will nick another point or three off of Chelsea on Boxing Day.
Anyway, it’s Christmas Eve, whatever your plans are, have a great day and stay safe.
Catch up in the comments.
Nice post Rico. Happy Christmas to you and everyone else on H H.
Re Arteta’s press conference, he also said,
“We started the season with one of the thinnest squads in the Premier League-we knew that.” As one of a handful of teams with a realistic chance of winning the league, C L, and two domestic cup competitions, there can only be one word in reply. Why?
Thanks Anthony.
My thoughts exactly. I mentioned on the old post, we have 22 senior players reg when we could have 25. Crazy really.
Good morning Rico and all.
Christmas Eve was always when my two older brothers decided who would stay awake until my parents went to bed, so he could wake us up and we would all sneak down to the kitchen where the presents were lined up on the table. There would be a moment or two of grabbing a present and tearing off the wrapper before my father would appear at the door and send us back to bed with the threat of a clip round the ear. Later we would have our gifts after breakfast before heading out to the underground station to catch a train to Liverpool Street station then a bus to my Grandparent,s house in Hoxton. Yes buses and trains ran until midday even on Christmas Day.
The whole family congregated there, my mother’s brother, her five sisters and their husbands with all their kids as well as my great grandmother.
Christmas dinner was roast chicken, home raised in the back yard, and eaten in relays. Despite much food still being on ration we never went short.
Every one of the adults, present then, are gone now and only a few of my cousins are still around. Christmas is now a time of memories.
Morning Cicero.
Love your early memories of Christmas Eve. How things have changed eh, kids know what they’re getting these days so the surprise is gone. I loved the surprise element myself.
What a great post Rico, my Mum, who had a miserable time as a child, made Christmas for my sister and I magic, the whole day was a planned occasion, a few prezzies in a pillow case at the end of our beds in the morning to keep us amused. Then after Mum’s amazing Christmas dinner we’d open the prezzies from under the tree and at tea time we’d open the little prezzies tied to the tree, both my parents worked, both came from poor families but they did everything for us as kids. I was very lucky to have them.
Yep, Martinelli on right and Trossard on the left for the duration of Saka’s absence I suspect.
The squad only has 22 senior players but Myles and Ethan push that up to 24 despite their youth.
Is there scope to improve the squad in January? Yes.
Will we improve the/ squad in January? Maybe…
Did I read on here recently that we are at the limit on loan players? If so all the more reason to send Sterling back to Chelsea and make room for a loan as signing a top class winger in January will be difficult and very expensive.
As expected, Saka would not be available for all games. I always said that Sterling wouldn’t add anything to the team, much less be the alternative to Saka. Furthermore, he is an expensive player.
What a stupid time of day 8-15pm is though for Arsenal to be playing Ipswich. I doubt much thought was given to the away fans when deciding on the kickoff time.
Or those of us that live even further away. Ticket exchange here we come. Hopefully someone that can walk to the ground like I used to be able to might get the chance.
Christmas day was always interesting . Most of mine were spent playing football on Hampstead Heath with my mates, wearing the new boots or socks or shin pads until 12 oclock when we got called back to our respective houses for the family bit.
In fact I spent so much time there that my nickname was Hampstead because my Christian name rhymed with Heath and I was always playing various sports over there.
Not now unfortunately by reputation it’s no longer a safe place for kids . But that’s London now I guess.
We do have a couple of tractor boys in my village but most of the time the Norwich lads keep them under control but I guess it will have to be my turn on Friday .
Anyhoo have a great time folks and lets hope that we don’t prove to be a one man team .
Thank you Kev.
But MLS and EN don’t have to be included in the squad do they Kev because of their age.
I think your Christmas story represents a proper Christmas. Family and making the best of what one has. Unlike these days when siblings count how much they’ve had spent on them…
I think we all suggested that about Sterling Jm but tried to be positive..
Sorry Hampstead, how rude of me… 😜
Another great Christmas story…
Happy Christmas everyone, be a quiet one this year with daughter away in the Far East. Just my son, then grandchild for the afternoon, and me doing most of the dinner with Barbara still recovering from last week’s replacement knee. Have a good one everyone!
Quiet is nice Andrew, good luck in the kitchen. 😂