Morning all.
I hope the big fella in red and white delivered plenty of Christmas fun and joy to all of you yesterday.
Now though, it’s back to business, at least it is for Mikel Arteta and his players. We’ve played every club once now so today is the beginning of the second half of this 2021/22 campaign. A time when Arsenal can get revenge against teams who beat us and pour more misery on those we’ve already beaten.
I’m not sure where the ‘Mikel Arteta is a dictator’ originated from but he’s had to defend himself for his handling of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Rubbish I think and if anything, the Spaniard has been too soft with him. Arteta clearly has high standards and expectations and if any of Arsenal’s footballers don’t like it, then tough, move on. They get paid ridiculous amounts of money to do a job with so few rules attached to it, life should be a breeze.
I don’t establish my authority by being dictatorial or being ruthless. I just ask for respect and commitment. At this level, if I don’t get that I pack my bags and go somewhere else because that is the minimum I can ask for. I am sorry but I am going to expect that from everybody who works for the club. First of all myself, and the day I don’t do that I walk through that door and go and do something else. It is as clear as that.
Personally, I don’t think that’s a lot to ask. Arsenal has always been a club known for doing things the right way and it’s down to the manager to ensure that remains the case both on and off the pitch. But, players should want to do the same too, they’re not children who need watching over every hour of the day, they’re grown adults who should know how to behave, how to represent the club.
To be successful you have to be passionate about something and you want to represent a club of this size with its history, that is the minimum standard you have to bring.I am not going to ask anybody to put the ball into the top corner every time they hit it, but I will ask them to do the right things every single day for this club. That is for sure.
Amen to that, although I think our players could hit the top corner of the net more than they do. Anyway, we’re up against Norwich City this afternoon, a team now managed by Dean Smith, the man who orchestrated Aston Villa’s success against us last season, and the one before. Our opponents have had the last ten days off because of players testing positive for Covid. I read yesterday that Tim Krul has now been added to their list. In addition to Covid, Milot Rashica, Mathias Normann, Grant Hanley, Christoph Zimmermann and Andrew Omobamidele are all out injured.
Calum Chambers, Sambi Lokonga and Pablo Mari miss out because of Covid, Seas Kolasinac is injured and I think Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is still in the naughty corner.
Going to places like Norwich often worry me. They’re bottom of the League, have a -26 goal difference and unless a miracle occurs, they’re heading for the Championship in May. We’ve already played them this season and after an awful opening three matches, we got a win. We had 30 odd shots at Tim Krul’s goal, but managed to score only one. An an important one it was too because after then, we slowly but surely climbed the table to where we are today.
Now it’s time to kick on.
See you in the comments
Can’t see many exits next month Kev. Perhaps Balogun on loan.
Only bits Geoff, I’m going to watch more later hopefully.
New post up now
Morning all.
Rico have you seen a replay yet.
As I said earlier Xhaka yellow card was harsh, Norwich coach had a go at Xhaka in the tunnel during halftime, other than that we out played them and looked much better again with out Auba,
Laca was lucky he never gave away a penalty.
I recon the players respect Arteta more since he finally took a stand against Auba.
Holding showed his worth today, didn’t put a foot wrong but it was only Norwich
I hope not Rico, we’ve been lucky so far with injuries but that could change suddenly in a couple of games, we need Niles – I think he has Covid anyway, so it’s probably a load of bollocks or his agent?
Yeah I agree Rico, the Auba decision could turn out to be the turning point of our season?
Andrew mentioned Keith Chegwin, but I didn’t know they were related Rico.
It’s been a really tough year in so many ways…
Can’t see AMN going anywhere in January, not with Partey missing.
I can’t say that at that I’m at all happy about the rumour that Niles could join Roma on loan, I mean on loan, really? What on earth would be the benefit of that, especially as its Mourinho’s Roma…
The same Mourinho who took the piss over Xhaka last summer and stitched us up over Tammy Abraham by getting in his ear. He can Foxtrot Oscar – maybe keep him hanging on until January 31st and then change our minds, do a Demba Ba on him?
Cheggars was her brother wasn’t he Kev? He went even earlier in life. So sad for their families.
Certainly makes you wonder Kev. I think I’d be pretty cheesed off if a teammate wasn’t pulling his weight. Could turn out to be the best decision Arteta has made this year.
Yeah Rico, 66 is no age at all…
Yes Rico, the squad has really pulled together, big time – which again begs the question about how many of them were really happy with the way that Aubameyang conducted himself?
Terribly sad re Janice Long. One of the first female DJ’s to make it I think. Very popular too.
Enjoy the banter with the farmers Cicero and Potter, give em hell.
Top performance and at no time did I notice that Tomiyasu was absent, credit to Benjamin and Holding.
Players for ACoN not required to report until January 3rd so a full, on form and rested squad available for Man City, well those not with Covid.
Let’s go for them this time, but with three in midfield…
Thanks Kev. I too doubt Arteta would have dealt with Auba differently other than how he did. What I think is good is the way the others have stepped up. No sulking.
Andrew, that’s rather sad about Janice Long, I didn’t even know that she was ill…?
I always found her a really likeable person, or thats how she appeared, as well as a very able presenter.
Good post Rico and it’s equally good to hear our manager laying down the law, or course that’s always easier to do when you’re winning but I doubt that Arteta would be different under any other circumstances.
Is it any coincidence that the team have discovered a more unified element to itself since the demise of Cicero’s favourite? Long may it continue.
It was only Norwich. 😂😂
So impressed with how we played today. But waiting for the experts ‘it’s only Norwich’ comments.
On the one hand good as they have had 8 days off. On the other we are playing well, tiredness hits most when you are losing, so would have liked to keep momentum going.
Reckon they chickened out
Arsenal v Wolves is off.
Hi guys, good win eh. Looking forward to watching the game at some stage.
Xhaka can’t finish a game without getting sent off or getting a yellow card?
5 nought definitely got the bragging rights round here Cicero. Have fun.
Great goal, once again ESR off the bench and scoring straight away, didn’t expect such a big win. But I will take it.
And ESR, makes it five
Yer ‘avin a larf , Laca not Lava.
Lava makes it four with a penalty.
Saka makes it 3 – 0
Saka great goal
Laca lucky he never gave away a penalty, we need a change maybe bring on ESR
Commentator reckons ref, after brawl, ‘if in doubt…… book Xhaka’
We were taking them apart with swift quick passing. So Norwich turned it ugly which was working till Tierney scored.
We need to be careful with Norwich player Pukki he seems quite happy to fall over in the goal square
Dean Smith having a go at Xhaka trying to get him off
Nice first half, Xhaka yellow card harsh, did anyone else notice Norwich manager waiting for Xhaka and talking to him as they made there way down the tunnel
Tierney makes it two nil.
Yessss. Dirty bastaaaads, after two near brawls, take that.
Some fantastic quick passing, need a second.
Great move and goal.
Saka opens the scoring..
With the chance that Covid will affect more of the squad it is even more important that we get three points today and avoid at least some of the fixture congestion caused by postponements .
why would you leave smith Rowe out when he is our leading goal scorer this season.
Cedric, AMN and Tomiyasu test positive for Covid.
I can never predict this one it’s a little like Spurs which is ingrained but just as it’s local and we have to live with it with all the locals . By rights we should win this but Norwich play the type of football which means that we always give them a chance.
Not happy with Odegaard starting in front of Smith Rowe I don’t want him held back just because we paid a lot for the Norwegian.
Interesting not bringing Soares in. Assume White at right back? We have a lot of CBs, Mari is back in squad.
Soares, MN, chambers and Mary sick
tomiatsu and Kola injury
Lokonga and Patino at the bench
Nor is Tomiyasu.
Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Saka Odegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette.
Aubameyang NOT in the squad.
Afternoon rico, house, a game we have to win, otherwise rising from 20th to 4th will just signify a long yo-yo of fortunes. No Auba pics in training, think that settles he’s not being brought back.
Janice Long, rip, only 66. Remember her many a year presenting TOTP, Live Aid and radio shows. Didn’t realise her brother was Keith Chegwin, also gone a few years back.
The Spuds / Palace game has not been postponed. Vieira has tested positive for Covid and will not be present at the game.
Very quiet here this morning, everyone sleeping off yesterday’s over indulgences?😉
Morning Rico and All.
Well back to the grinding stone for the players and hopefully we can grind out a few good wins. Todays match could turn out bad if we give them a inch, we need to come out fighting straight away and not let there defenders and keeper have a break.
Lets hope that Arteta has learned that dropping players like Auba who don’t perform will give other players who are starting to drop off the kick up the rear end the need and the players who perform week in week out a boost knowing that there hard work has been noticed by the club.
I guessing a 2-1 win for us
Morning Cicero, all.
I think that’s best under the circumstances 😜
I do hope we’re not going there to give Norwich a boost for the future..
Good morning Rico, my lips are sealed on the taboo subject. 😉
Grey, cold and wet here in Norfolk but the locals will be out in force at Carrow Road this afternoon. For a small club with a small ground the atmosphere in and around the stadium is always good and The Canaries always get noisy support.
Despite a horrible first half of the season, Norwich are not that far adrift of safety and there are enough clubs around them, scrambling to avoid the drop, to provide at least a semblance of a chance of them staying in The Premiership for another season.
I’m making no predictions about the result, just hoping for a few goals and three points.