Morning all.
The first heavyweight battle of the weekend has been won by Arsenal fan Anthony Joshua, who last night beat Wladimir Klitschko in eleven rounds. Well done to him I say and maybe, just maybe, he and the rest of us will be celebrating another victory for Arsenal later this afternoon in what will be the last ever North London Derby at White Hart Lane.
Prior to our match, Man Utd take on Swansea, Chelsea face Everton and Man City travel to Middlesbrough. I mention those because if both City and Utd drop points, it could open up the top four race in our favour. But of course, we have to win every one of our matches left this season to be in with a chance of securing a Champions League spot. If we don’t, it’s Thursday/Sunday football and we really don’t need or want that!
In a very familiar fashion, we can’t win the league at this stage of the season but there’s still a lot to play for. Pride being the biggest.
This is one of the only times where Spurs look in people’s minds as the favourites. I expect an open, committed match with high pace and there could be goals as both teams play positive football. – Arsene Wenger.
And whose fault is that Arsene?
Michael Oliver is the man in charge for today’s fixture and I think it’ll be a tough one for him to officiate, I really do. Both teams will want this victory, certainly the home side and they’ll have a lot of noisy fans right behind them. The place will be hostile, of that we can be sure and there’s bound to be clashes between both sets of fans before and after the match. That’s what happens on derby day.
The home team have a few injuries with Harry Winks, Erik Lamela, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Michel Vorm and Danny Rose all missing. Mousa Dembele is a doubt too.
For us, well it seems Lauren Koscielny is fit to play as he trained yesterday and Lucas Perez was back in training too so that’s good news. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is ready to start too after sitting out the match against Leicester.
I know it’s often said but we really need to win the midfield battle today because that’ll stop the supply to Kane. Xhaka needs to be disciplined and strong, as does whoever plays alongside him which is likely to be Ramsey if the FA Cup semi-final is anything to go by. I’d prefer to see Elneny in there because I think he and Xhaka are our strongest midfield pairing.
Talking of the match against City, if this Arsenal team can put in a similar performance, if not better, then we can come away from the final NLD with heads held high but if they give us a pasting, it won’t be at all nice.
We all know what this team can do when it wants to and if they don’t want to or can’t be up for a match like today’s, then they don’t deserve to be at our football club.
COYRRG’S!
It’s one game. Sure, it’s the spuds, but if you look at our squad we should hang our heads in shame if we can’t beat them. The mess we are in is down mainly to AW – albeit I think a clutch of players have also been to blame. We need to man up, play like we actually mean it and get the result we know we can. King Kane and Deli counter are so over-hyped/rated it is untrue. Let’s put this one to bed and hope next season brings a much needed new manager and some fresh faces.
Well said Db.
NLD day and it’s really rocking on here. ?
Thanks for making the effort Rico…
Welbeck leading the attack for me, this really isn’t a game for Girouds static pouting.
Fingers crossed that Koscielny can last the 90+ minutes. He has the physical presence of Holding and Paulista to do the enforcing.
Central midfield is a worry with the Spuds being very strong and physical.
Xhaka and Ramsey need to man up, as I expect them to start.
Hi BT, do you have many Spuds in your neck of the woods?
Had to laugh at BBC5Live…
The pre-match preamble re:ManUre vs Swansea had a nice play on that pretentious rubbish ‘Theatre of Dreams’ when the commentator announced that he was at the Theatre of Draws…
I give Mourinho 12 months, maybe 18 max before the criticism forces another meltdown from the Septic One and he is sacked.
Football moves so fast, it changes from season to season and we moan about Wenger being out of time but the game has already passed Mourinho by, he looks every bit yesterday’s man, outmoded tactics, a style of play guaranteed to drive away sponsors.
His demise cannot come quick enough.
Hi Kev, there are a few knocking about here that i know, a couple of them are ST holders at The Drain..
I actually spent New Years Eve in the company of a young Spud fan,not a bad lad.Had put him in his place the same time the year before…lol
A couple of school friends back in the early 70’s were Spud fans,most i know are old timers, don’t see many young ones about..
Afternoon Rico and All.
Arsene has to pick the players that will take a booking
for the team..Leave the lightweights on the bench for this.
This game can go anyway I think.
Spuds will start like a house on fire I suppose
this is a must win game for them.
If we can hold the the fort for a while
we could nick this.
The Chavs stuck 4 pass them last week..so who knows.
The mouthy yids will be giving it extra large,lets hope our
great fans stick together.
Kev, I don’t know why I bothered really. I guess all the blogs are struggling these days as we’re fed up with what’s going on at the club..
Afternoon Fred, spot on re the lightweights. I know Ozil can win a game on his own on his day but he needs to start getting stuck in a lot more…
This will be judgement day no matter which way the result goes. Lose and we’ll all be full of vitriol about the manager. It’ll be deserved as well imo. Win and it’ll still be Wenger out but with not so much acid. Draw and, well that would be a chart stopper! We won’t be going to anywhere in Europe next year. A good thing perhaps. Kronkes cream cakes will dry up and Wenger will be judged, in May. Adjudged a failure and he’ll definitely go.
Imo, as fans, no matter the result, Wenger is on a lose lose scenario! Oh deep joy!
A new man at the helm next year. Just the job?
Nice day here.
1-1 at The Theatre of Draws…
Utd dropped two points, we need a win later…
Wavy, I’m sure we would be in Europe regardless of the FA Cup result…
Oops, sorry Bt.. lol
Interesting point you make there BT, out here in Essex and even in London, I never see young kids with Tottenham shirts on, youngsters like to be associated with winners and glamour and the mob from Middlesex fail on all counts…
Rico, I’m always glad you make the effort, I know how you feel as I must have started a piece for you some 50 odd times over the last 2 years and after a couple of paragraphs lose the will to live and just chuck it in the bin…
How many times do we have to write the same thing before the situation changes.
Anyway, Theatre of Draws, lmao ?
Afternoon all and thanks again Rico.
Amongst other things, I call WHL …….The Theatre of Screams !…………I cant tell you how much I hate that mob without being arrested !…………………..If there was a choice and it was guarenteed I`d glady lose the FA Cup Final if it meant Spuds not winning the league !
Ever wondered what all the squads cost ?………………………..
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/pics/sports-pictures/12152/Every-Premier-League-club-s-current-squad-transfer-cost-sportgalleries
Rico, i’ll let you away with it this time…lol
Arsenal ladies are live on the BBC website !……………..0-0 currently Vs Sunderland away .
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/apr/29/david-rocastle-arsenal-north-london-derby
A great read, spoiled by a following piece about that knob Mourinho.
It’s about time you finished one Kev… 😉
Ha ha Bt..
Lc, can’t see them winning it, not really and fingers crossed we stick a dent in that challenge later..
Boro up 1-0 v City.
2-0 Chelski…2-1 Boro
I like the Boro score, hope they can hold on.
Oops, they’ve just equalised…
2-2 Jesus saves City, Rico
Oops sorry Rico…lol
Chambers scored Boro’s second..
Touché BT…. lol
I wonder where Chambers will be next season….
Two results in our favour today, but will we take advantage?
Great result from the Chavs !…….it will piss Spuds off !
Team !
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/858690445429395456
No Holding but both Gibbs and Monreal start, as does Giroud!
I will do one if we beat Spuds, I promise Rico ?
Thought Holding was doing well in the system, maybe Arsene`s going for experience in such an important game !………..`cos the semi wasn`t as important ! 🙂
It’s a cunning plan Rico..
BT, Jesus saves, ?
I would like to say I would kiss my mother in law if we beat Spuds, but I cant !…………I`m going to throw up…excuse me …………………………….
Deal Kev…
I’m surprised Lc.
BT, you are? We are talking about Wenger here..
I don’t agree with Gibbs in for Holding…
I think Monreal is in for Holding and Gibbs is in for Monreal, Kev !…..is that clear ?
🙂
From my link…..I make it a 3-4-2-1 formation !…………………….this will mean the two Spud CB`s will have to look after Ollie and restrict their numbers !…………….total tactical bollox from me ! hahaha
Perhaps i should have put cunning in its simplicity, Rico..
Thank you Cocker, crystal…
Still don’t agree with it.
Gibbs, Monreal, Giroud. Three names to ensure my fears will be realised.
Giroud is only effective being brought off the bench late on, when the opposition are tiring.
Having said that, I don’t think Welbeck works hard enough, and wastes chances.
This is going to be one where I hide behind a cushion.
Coyrrgs…..
Just a cushion M`kat ?………………………………………..I`ve broken into DFS and have my choice of any sofa to hide behind !…………..shit !……….is that other Gooners in here …………….fcuk off and find your own DFS store !
I’m disappointed Ozil has started this one…
Here AW goes again with the team selection. I just don’t get it……
Giroud is a useless lump!
Poor and lucky so far.
He really isn’t great huh rico.
Certainly not a player I’d choose for this game.
Me neither Lewis, in fact I’d never play him again and get rid in the summer…
Ozil and Giroud off at halftime with a bit of luck.
*giggle nervously* Le CM.
Phew, nearly half-time, can I look yet??
I feel sorry for the Ox, he’s getting no help whatsoever, he must be absolutely shattered!
I’ll take the 0-0
I haven’t bothered watching it guys.. but it seems nothing much to be positive about.
What was the second line Kev ? Jesus saves but St John gets the rebound was on a church in Liverpool.
Problem for Rico is there is little new to say.We are treading water ,going nowhere fast.
That’s right Potter ?
You’re right there Potter.
Alexis passing today has been awful.
That is a sloppy sloppy goal to concede!
We’re utter shit
Game on..
As usual
1-0 and now a penalty. The floodgates are open.
2-0.
That’ll be that then…
Shoddy stuff.
Hung a foot out and dived
Game over Bt.
Had that poster in his pocket for 20years
Certainly is Rico
This lot couldn’t fight their way out of a paper bag
That’s it, all over now, the Scum will get us on the break, we’ll probably lose 3-0…
Hardly surprising is it? All we had today was hope because we all knew before kick off they’re the better team.
I don’t think they have the better team, they have the better manager…
We even make wanyama look like maradonna:
So Fucking shit.
They’ve both imo. And it’s clear to see.
Have to disagree rico.
Bar Sanchez they are better in every position. And even he’s been awful today.
And their manager is infinitely better than ours
We’ll have to agree to differ guys 🙂
How is giroud still on the pitch. Wenger watches different football games to me I swear!
Lord knows Lewis, but he is French.
I’m sick of hearing the words Arsenal Wenger.
Took long enough but Walcott?
Sidefooted straight at the keeper
So am I Gg, I wish he’d just tell us now that he’s leaving.
How can anyone in their right mind allow Arsene Wenger to have a 2 year extension?
Arsene Wenger Arsene Wenger Arsene Wenger…… all the time, it’s all about him Arsene Fuck’n Wenger!!!!!
I’m sick of hearing those words Arsene Wenger.
I am just fed up .Not surprised but fed up
A disgraceful performance. Whatever the argument for extending Wenger’s contract is I simply cannot imagine.
Look, I hate losing to the Scum, but we need to finish outside of the top four, otherwise we’ll be stuck with Wenger and Kroenke forever…
The fact that Allegri has signed a new contract with Juventus tells me that Wenger is going to stay…
So suck it up Gooners
It`s OK Kev`……………..not much chance of finnishing in the top 4 ! 🙂
Remember, this and last season were Totscums best chance of winning the league and if they dont do it this season they will never do it playing home at Wembley !
https://twitter.com/ArsenalGent/status/858731512283500544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Farsenalarsenal.net%2F2017%2F04%2F30%2Fone-cockerel-does-not-a-summer-make%2F
Wenger and his players should be embarrassed after that performance- dire!
There isn’t one Adam.
rico, to think around this time 13 years ago we were busy wrapping up the league at Shite Hart Lane !
Arsene’s 50th and hopefully last North London derby today, all too easy for the Scum.
I have this funny feeling that Wenger will announce whether he stays or goes after the FA Cup Final …………………………….I also have this funny feeling that whether he stays or goes will depend on the result of the FA Cup Final …………………..I`m good at stuff like that ! hahaha
That’s it for me, I refuse to have to hear, read & write those two words ever again. I’m done till he is gone.
What 2 words GG9 ? 😆
Amazing eh Micko. How the mighty have fallen eh….
I get how you feel Gg.
If Wenger stays, HH will be paused…
Im sick of wenger mugging us fans season after season, nothing will change until all the fans are united and make kroenke see sense and get a new manager with new ideas and a manager who practice drills in training. It pains me to say this but spurs are miles ahead of us at the minute and if wenger stays the gap is only going to get bigger. Change is needed, not good enough to not be up for a nld, the players and manager need to take a long hard look at themselves, there is alot of average players, on world class salarys. Wenger out.
It’s been nice knowing you folks but I fear Rico will be jacking it in.
Not jacking it in Potter, just going to scale back until changes are made…
There’s little point in writing the same stuff each day, for me, or you guys.
Many of us feel the same Joseph.
Just of Twitter there, appartently fellow goners at the match where chanting me may have lost the match but you have still lost ugo. If this is true this is disgusting. Ugo family are mourning and disgusting individuals give us a bad name. There are sick individuals out there, this is below the belt. They should be turning anger towards, board, manager and players, not a dead man, shame and disgrace.
It’s bloody awful at Arsenal right now and it hasn’t happened overnight. It’s hard to see any ‘rational’ man actually wanting to carry on as it appears Wenger might do. Does he somehow imagine that all the crass decisions he has been making will suddenly start working and let him take the club to the next level? Upwards that is.
If that’s true Joseph, it’s sick, wrong and utterly disgusting… To sink so low is just wrong on so many levels.
The only level he’ll take us Adam, is down.
Disgraceful stuff today, and not the kind of stuff Arsenal should be about.
Scaling back rico, he could see us all buried yet lol.
Rico, simon rowntree is a reporter who was at the game today, its on his twitter page, disgusting if true.
Ha ha Micko, I still hold hope he’s off…
Agree Joseph.
The Durrells and Line of Duty for me so night all…
Catch up tomorrow….
Night Rico.
If your quick you might catch Arsene on the Antiques Roadshow rico…nite matey.
I’m been in Spain and didn’t watched the game. Probably tomorrow.
Our performance was so bad?
2-0 and a gap of 17 points between them and us?
Line of Duty was good Rico…
And they’re making a new series…
I’ll be amazed if there isn’t a chance that red members will be offered FACup final tickets.
Who in their right mind would pay £100/£140/£180 to watch that shower of shit?
They”re welcomed to them Kev..
It was Kev… Great news about the next series, it’s one of the best…
Morning all..
Line of duty I must get around to watching that.. I worked security on season 2 few yrs ago..
So now that Allegri has signed a new contract who’s available?? Who can bridge the 17pt and widening gap?
It’s really good Kel..
Has Allegri definitely signed up?
New post up
Allegri, unbeaten at home since August 2015 last I heard, he’d only turn our place into a fortress, we don’t want that.
As far as most reports on the net go rico it seems like it..
All this was so avoidable a little bit of forward thinking 3 or 4 yrs ago to get things in place or at least have a contingency plan for wengexit. So so poor from the club and Wenger can’t see he’s finished himself we truly are in a mess.
I’m sure you are fed up Rico writing everyday about something that never changes i thank you for doing it as i read it and enjoy it. Buti cant blame you if ya wanna take a step back.