Morning all.
Arsenal v Man Utd, a fixture which used to bring out the best and sometimes the worst of both sets of players. It’s probably wrong of me to confess but I loved watching it but I know, sometimes certain individuals went too far.
These days, this fixture hasn’t been quite as feisty but as I suggested a few weeks ago, I’ve a feeling that the fight for the Premier League title will soon be between these two clubs again. Both ten Hag and Mikel Arteta are building for the future, albeit Mikel Arteta is a couple of seasons ahead.
Gary Neville reckons his old club are the real deal right now, probably because of their results but as any football fan will know, results can be deceiving. Since the return of domestic football after the World Cup, Utd haven’t lost. But who have they played? Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Burnley. Man City too but needed help from the officials to open the scoring.
Arsenal haven’t been beaten during that same time frame either, having played Brighton, Totts, West Ham and Newcastle Utd. Tougher opposition I think but, points are points however one chooses to look at things.
As far as absentees go, Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson remain out for Arsenal whilst Utd are missing Casemiro and possibly Anthony Martial and Diogo Dalot.
Top of the League versus 4th place, both clubs hoping to pull off what would in my opinion, be a surprise Premier League winning season. Arsenal are currently five points and a game in hand ahead of Man City, eight points and a game in hand over todays opposition.
Ten Hag reckons he has a plan on how to beat Arsenal:
We have a plan. I think we have a good plan, like against Manchester City, sometimes you have to surprise the opponent. We spoke about it, have given the instructions, trained it, now we have to deliver.
Mikel Arteta:
I think [Ten Hag] turned things around pretty quickly. He has implemented a very clear way of playing. I think the players seem like they’ve bought into it, they have really good energy around the place. And a lot of things have changed in a very short period of time so credit to him and the coaching staff for what they’ve done. When you look at the squad that they have, it’s just incredible. The individuals and the collective organisation can beat any opponent in this league.
That’s English football I think. Any team can beat any other on their day.
I’ve not watched much of Man Utd this season but Casemiro is going to be a huge loss for them, just like Thomas Partey is always a huge loss for Arsenal when he’s been absent. Like at Old Trafford earlier in the season. A few things went wrong that day, from an early Arsenal goal being disallowed, a clear penalty not given against Martinez, through to a number of what proved to be, questionable substitutions made by Mikel Arteta. We’d not long brought the scores level when we lost shape and discipline and subsequently got caught out on the break. Twice. I very much doubt we’ll see two of the three again today.
New signing Leandro Trossard is likely to be on the bench, ESR is back fit and ready and with the likes of Fabio Vieira, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the squad, we’re looking good. We’re a bit short up front with Gabriel Jesus missing but I read Trossard say that he is composed in front of goal so who knows, we might just see him play centrally if needs become a must.
Anthony Taylor is the referee for today’s fixture, with fourth official Andre Marriner and Michael Salisbury and Dan Robathan on VAR duty. Let’s hope for fairness and consistency from them all today.
Enjoy the game guys, it should be a cracker.
Jakub Kiwior’s agent: “Just before New Year, he had a phone conversation with Mikel Arteta discussing many details… he was enchanted”, tells @Meczykipl ⚪️🔴 #AFC
“Jakub will sign on Monday/Tuesday for Arsenal — he will be in VIP Box for the game vs United”. pic.twitter.com/Qjf5BCJm73
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 22, 2023
Keep an eye out for Arsenal’s second signing of the month.
See you in the comments.
It’s another day spending time waiting for something to happen . It must be kind of waking up at 6 am for your 12 o’clock execution.
How do you fill the time with your nerves getting worse by the minute . I have a bulb out on my car but it’s too cold to feel my fingers , My gate and fence need painting but they are too wet and frosty to do it . Can’t cut the grass , can’t concentrate on a book and reading news now is just a regurgitation of yesterday’s news.
Survived last week So roll on 4.30 and lets get it over.
You’ve made me chuckle there Potter..
Today’s game is, no doubt, bring billed as a big test our qualifications for being top of the league. Let’s not forget, it is also a big test for our opponents too. Their manager may have a cunning plan, but implementing it in the face of Arteta’s, almost, strongest starting eleven will not be easy.
Take a deep breath Potter, remember the old saying “Keep calm and carry on”.
I’ll be following the game on the BBC Sport website, hoping for the best.
Last full day here we leave 16.30 tomorrow, arrive Luton 1.30 am. Then a two and a half hour drive home. I shall need a holiday after that journey. 😉
Potentially you may be alright , the weather is due to break overnight and the warmer weather is coming in and will go above freezing overnight and bring more rain to add to the high river levels but at least you won’t be driving on frozen roads .
Agree, the focus always seems to be on Arsenal and their challenge but what about free spending Utd? I hope we thump them…
I assume Ten Hag’s ‘plan’ might include a series of favourable, yet wrong, decisions from the officials as per usual. He has started the classic triumphal crowing that so many MU managers have felt obliged to indulge in.
Potter: you can go for a walk, run or swim to “air out”.
Jm , My road is an ice rink ,I haven’t been able to run since the operation , and swimming I go once a week but it costs a fortune to hire a pool and the nearest public one is 15 miles away , If I went locally to the River Thurne I would have to break the ice first. Our local ducks have learned to skate in the last few days.
I am just sitting by the log fire and trying to keep the blood pressure down .
Add in a few tasty challenges on Saka and Martinelli Adam.
Potter your description of the Norfolk weather is making me seriously think about seeing if the hotel has a cheap offer of an extra week. 🏊😎
Problem is I’m getting desperate for decent cup of tea and a bacon sandwich. 😉
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Partey, Gabriel, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saliba, Nketiah, Xhaka, Zinchenko.
Subs: Turner, Tierney, Smith Rowe, Holding, Tomiyasu, Trossard, Vieira, Sambi Lokonga, Marquinho.
Expected team , I expect Shaw to give Saka special treatment and McTominay anyone near him . As usual it will take Taylor an age to get his card out until an |Arsenal player tugs a shirt. Thet are playing their 6 foot 6″ centre forward , so keep corners and free kicks down to a minimum.
Action packed after last couple of games watched! Good we got back quickly.
Neville missing point completely, Arteta was pointing out Shaw 3rd or 4th foul on Saka.
Neville is a plonker!
Again, Nketiah needs to anticipate a little better…
A biased plonker at that ,
no more relaxed now
What, like for his goal? Harsh on Eddie I think..
Wonderful!
Biggest yell for ages when VAR cleared the offside which was close.
Great anticipation Nketiah to flick in!
Odegaard so superb and what can you say about Saka. Lovely introduction for Trossard. Really hope Mudryk watched what he could have been part of.
What a game and what a result. Brilliant.
Brilliant performance. Proud of them all.
Just got back to the room from dinner and what a great dessert it was to find that Arsenal had won with a Fergie time goal by Eddie Nketiah. Brilliant result, I’m ecstatic, possibly the effect of the best part of a bottle of red.
Just going up to the roof terrace bar for a nightcap.
Good night to you all. 😴
🎶Top of the league, 🎶top of the league 🎶top of the league.
Eddie Nketiah post game, “You could see how much we wanted to win and how bad we wanted it for ourselves and our fans. We kept pushing and pushing and thankfully we found the goal.”
Enough said, EPL title winning quote.
Well said Andrew.
A well deserved win. The mentality in the team is great! And Man U fans just think Arsenal would lose in their own backyard? In other news; “BREAKING: Todd Boehly has submitted a £45m bid for Chelsea to buy the 15 points deducted from Juventus.”,😂😂😂
🤣 Kyalo.
Just watched the game again. The last 25 minutes, Arsenal went from 60 mph to 200 mph. MU players were desperately trying for the draw.
Btw, Trossard technical abilities is off the chart. He changed the game when he came on. What a bargain?
Stick that up your pipe Todd Boehly, Trossard theguy you laughed at and Nketiah the player your dumb club discarded.
Adam 6:40pm could not of said any better.
Great to see Jesus and Elneny out their celebrating with the players. and possible our second new signing in the stands.
Good morning all.
Does anyone know why Ben White was subbed at half-time? I hope it wasn’t through injury, perhaps as a precaution following his booking.
Cicero not 100% but from what I have read some are claiming that Ben White was subbed due to 2 reason, 1 Arteta wanted to protect him from a yellow card and 2 Ben White seemed to be off his game today and struggled.
Morning Rico and all.
Morning all.
New post up now