Morning all.
Everton today, a club we haven’t lost to at home for years. Twenty two to be precise and on that day it was Andrei Kanchelskis who delivered the sucker punch. Four draws is the best they can boast during that same period of time.
Over the years though, the blue side of Liverpool have improved as a club and now with the financial backing of a man once invested in Arsenal, even better things are expected. If they get the right the manager they might just topple the red side one day, just as City have in Manchester. Marco Silva might turn out to be that manager but like Unai Emery, this season is his first at his new club. Silva though is no stranger to the Premier League after spending time at Watford before having his head turned by the Toffees.
One of the first players Silva went after in the summer was Richarlison from his old club. A tidy player who on his day can be brilliant but also has a nasty streak. In fact today he returns to their team after a ban for head butting an opposition player. Nice!
Everton have hardly set the league so far this season though, yes I know, neither have we, but at least we’ve won a few. Unlike them who have just the one victory behind them which came against Southampton. The rest have been draws with a whopping 3-1 defeat last week at home against West Ham thrown in. Players to watch out for are Walcott for obvious reasons, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin. Sigurdsson has been known to pop up with a goal or two so he’s worth keeping in check.
What I’d love Arsenal to do is fire a hatful of goals past Jordan Pickford who I think is overrated. He’s not the tallest of keepers either so high and wide is the way to go. Inside the two posts and below the crossbar of course.
Alex Iwobi wants to score goals, he needs to score goals. He said so himself after the match against Vorskla and he’s right, in fact all of our midfield players need to. We’re getting in and around the box, we’re creating chances but we’re not converting enough. At the other end though, we’re conceding far too many which has been the same old story for far too long. The trend under Arsene Wenger was that it didn’t matter which defensive players he signed or selected, we still leaked goals galore and worryingly, that trend continues now under the new coach. Sokratis has picked up his game in my opinion which is a good thing. Mustafi has to do the same, as do those around him.
Mkhitaryan is a doubt for today’s fixture after suffering a knock on Thursday, Torreira too although the latter is expected to be fine. I hope he starts as long as he’s 100% because we’re far more organised and disciplined with him in the side as Thursday showed.
This fixture produces goals and red cards, or it has done in the past and as much as both sides are conceding many goals this season, both are scoring plenty too. Nineteen for us, seventeen for Everton. Not bad for just five matches played and if either side could defend, they’d probably be leading the league table right now.
Here’s a factoid. We have scored more Premier League goals against Everton (105) than any side has managed against any other opponent in the history of the competition. The 7-0 back in 2005 has to be the best, certainly one I’ll always remember because at the time I was sunning myself in St Lucia so called my Mum to get the score. When she said 7-0 I asked her who got the goals. Her reply was ‘everyone.’ I just smiled grabbed another drink from the bar and returned to poolside.
This contest has produced just one goalless draw in the past fifty three matches so as said, it should be an entertaining affair this afternoon. There’s also been a sending off during this fixture in each of the last three seasons. Last May it was Koscielny who saw red, the season before it was Jagielka and the year before that, Gareth Barry.
And with Jon Moss in control this afternoon, anything could happen…
Who got the goals?
Everyone hahaha
Simple, but classic response lol
Morning Rico.
I’m sure our defence will improve as the season goes on, but it’s imperative we keep racking up points so a 6-5 win will have to do 🙂
Mustafi is all over the place, so thinking back to a few fantastic games he has played for us and one thing stands out-his aggression.
When he is in his opponents face, he’s just better.
It’s when he’s hesitant that he is poor but then, that could be said for any defender.
The problem is he’s hesitant too often.
Morning Scott, sure made me chuckle at the time. I think i’ve mentioned that before here.
I’ll bet it did, Rico lol
You talking about Mustafi’s aggression Scott, such a shame Wenger didn’t hang on to Gabriel as he might had done a lot better under this new regime.
Gabriel was a ripper, imo.
Whatever happened, it was a damn waste.
I’ll never forget that real hard man Costa running and hiding behind his team mates while our lad was chasing him.
It was THE moment we had a defender who intimidated opponents for the first time in quite a while, but signalled the beginning of the end.
Morning from a very wet Southend. 19 goals from 5 matches rico? Think we have 10 if you just counting league matches? Love to see us pile in a few today. In fact we must, as it be a real change not to let in two!
Scott, remember Gabriel walking backwards into Costa and getting sent off. After Costa had put his hands into two of our defenders, or was it Kos twice, and not being seen!
Agree, just the type of CB we had been waiting for.
Andrew, Gabriel was pretty widely criticised for being sent off but you’re right, Costa bloody well assaulted Kozzer and got nothing, and as soon as our guy went near that scumbag,
Off he went.
He made a stand, and it was needed badly by us as a club at that time.
He was like a sheep after that.
Anyway, kip time so here’s hoping our boys get the job done today.
Later guys.
Blame the Beeb Andrew… – they’re clearly bad at Maths.. 😉
Unless they are quoting goals scored in all competitions.
The only thing Gabriel did wrong was to allow Costa to to get him and then to kick him.
But any proper ref would have sent Costa off long before that occured.
Afternoon all and thanks Rico.
0-0 it wont be !
If you want to watch Arsenal Women against West Ham it`s live on Facebook !……………………kick off in 5 mins !
2-1 to Hammers atm………………..Arse`Women showing some Arse`Men keystone defending !
Torreira starts at last…
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Sokratis, Mustafi, Monreal, Xhaka, Torreira, Ramsey, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Subs: Leno, Elneny, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Iwobi, Guendouzi, Welbeck.
Very surprised, and disappointed, to see that Ramsey starts.
We’re a mess in defence..
Aren’t we always rico?
Cicero, I’d rather have seen Guendozi than him.
We are Andrew.
Actually, we’re awful all over.
Utter, utter rubbish. Ramsey, Ozil and, to an extent, Torreira are doing absolutely nothing. Not that any of the others are much better.
What a superb strike
Got away with one there. 3 against one and they nearly cocked it up. Makes up for pen not given first half, right in front of Moss.
And it was offside, even sweeter. 😜
That was what I meant. Balanced up bad pen not given. It’s shocking but players have to go down to get one even 3 yards from ref. But again yes, nearly flunked it even so.
Come on Iwobi and Welbeck now.
Cech MOTM for me.
Clean sheet!!!
A clean sheet, I will celebrate tonight with a takeaway tandoori mixed grill, bring it on…. 😋
Same here re Cech.
Amazing how we are playing not too good and yet win 5 games on the trot !……………………………something has to give, we either lose a few games from not playing too good and we can slate thge manager or we can start playing good all over the pitch and win !………………………………or I suppose we can play great and lose !
🙂
Some of the defending is looking just as bad as last season, so luck is on our side.
Agree though that Cech has earned his wages today and Rambo had two assists ! 😉
Anyway, bring on Part 3 of our cup runs !……………….Part 1 : Checkatrade Trophy……………………………Part 2 : EL…………………………..Part 4 FA Cup or is that Part 5 as 4 Place Trophy is Part 4 ?……………………………….I feel The Quintuple coming on !……………………………and !………………….Dick said he`d rather win cups than 4th place !………..sorted ! hahaha
Morning.
New post up now.