Morning all.
Ok, it’s not good seeing the Arsenal players hitting the headlines in the way they have. They’re professionals and I guess they shouldn’t have put themselves in a position where they can be caught on camera/film having a bit of a let your hair down night. The club won’t have liked it, nor would the manager and I’m sure it will have been talked about soon after the headlines hit the back pages, or front in some. But before everyone gets carried away, nothing they’ve done is illegal.
We’ve all done it, well, many of us I’m sure. I know I have and it’s bloody funny. Inhale the helium balloon, walk around the party talking like Donald Duck whilst everyone else is on the floor laughing. No big deal in my opinion, but it’s bad press and everyone and anyone not involved with Arsenal will love it. Honestly, I don’t think it’s a big deal, not really.
We’re on a run of twenty matches unbeaten. This is about trying to stop the run in my opinion, an attempt to upset the changing room, to cause divide between the coaches and players. To stop us in our tracks. Emery is no fool, he’s been in the game long enough to see and know how the media work and it’s probably no different here in the UK than it was for him in Spain. He’ll deal with this behind closed doors according to reports and if I were him, I wouldn’t waste too much time and energy on it at all.
What’s more important is what’s been going on since the start of the season and that’s not at all bad as far as results and certain performances go. Just don’t ask Mesut Ozil and co to blow up your Christmas balloons as you never know who’ll leak the pictures to the press…
Today we face Huddersfield and David Wagner, another team struggling around the bottom half of the table with just one point between them and the clubs in the relegation zone. Tricky.
Rob Holding is missing for this one of course after rupturing his ACL on Wednesday night. He won’t play another game this season I’d have thought which is really bad news for him and the team. But just as Hector Bellerin found out, it only took one injury to Debuchy for his career to kick off so now perhaps it’s Zech Medley’s chance, or Mavropanos if he returns to full fitness. Both no doubt will be desperate to fill the void, although Koscielny might have a say in that.
More bad news on Jordan Nobbs who suffered a similar injury to Holding. Not only is her season over but so are her World Cup chances. Next summer she’ll be a frustrated spectator, muttering the words ‘if only’ no doubt. She’s young though so hopefully the 2023 World Cup will her time.
Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey are both doubts for today’s game, especially the latter. Ozil was training yesterday so maybe he’ll make into the squad at least. Granit Xhaka is back after serving his one match suspension and a return for Laurent Koscielny is imminent.
Huddersfield’s Abdelhamid Sabiri is out with a broken collarbone, while Phil Billing and Steve Mounie are banned. Chris Lowe hopes to return after suffering from a shoulder injury.
This is the kind of opposition we should be stamping all over. Not literally of course as Arsenal don’t do that but we should be winning this with confidence. Man City put six past them at The Etihad so there’s our marker. Last season, we won 5-0 and we’re better now than we were then. The attacking side of our game is good but that’s not to say it couldn’t be better. More clinical.
Huddersfield won’t roll over though and perhaps their results don’t truly reflect the way their playing. I’ve not watched them but apparently they’ve been unlucky on a number occasions which should ensure complacency doesn’t set in. Then again, I don’t think the Spaniard knows the meaning of the word, let alone allow it to creep into the players.
David Wagner has said that their plan is to stop us scoring which suggests they’ll be very defensive which is understandable. They need points even at this stage of the season.
We need them too, all three.
See you guys in the comments..
How shallow is Mourinho for bleating on about FFP now. The same man who spent millions after millions at every club he’s managed since leaving Porto.
Good morning Rico, as you say we have all probably inhaled Helium from balloons, I know I have, however our players were not inhaling the relatively harmless gas, they were using Laughing Gas otherwise known as Nitrous Oxide. NO2 is a widely used anaesthetic, it’s also used to boost the power of petrol engines and is used in rocket fuel. Possessions of the gas is not illegal but the sale of it is, as is supplying or giving it away. It can have quite serious effects if used over time and can cause memory loss and impaired sensory functions even when used in small amounts. Not something to be trifled with.
I’m looking forward to today’s game even though it’s not being shown live, three points hopefully or at least a draw to keep the unbeaten run going.
Morning Rico. As long as they don’t inhale it on the pitch I can’t see a problem myself.
Morning Cicero, or did the press and that bit to their story. Seems a lot of assumptions have been made in this story.
Morning Adam, agree, otherwise their feet would leave the ground and land on another pitch.. lol
No harm done I’d say…
Rico. It’s just the usual old bullshit. That’s football today for you. Tackle an opponent with scant regard for their welfare and put them out for a season, ‘reach out’ to them (how I loathe that stupid expression) and all is forgiven. Amidst the absurd “He’s not that sort of player” crap you sail on to fouls anew. Do something that is not illegal before the season starts and get video’d And the brave Sun newspaper rides in and make it seem as if you were snorting coke off a model’s bum at half time.
You won’t hear me disagree Adam. I certainly looked at the incident in a similar way, it’s just a bit of fun. Yes, if they were snorting cocaine or assaulting someone etc, then fine, let’s be concerned but it’s just a un night out. Naive of them all to choose such a location, but that’s all imo.
Tomorrow’s chip paper….
Morning all.
3 o’clock kick off, jumpers for goalposts, carols on the terraces. A real game of league football, add in a few mufflers and the odd rattle and we could be back in the good old days!
Today should be a routine ( whatever that means) game 3 or 4 -1 would and should not be a surprise but the opposition should not be taken lightly. Every team has their day. It would be shocking to have our unbeaten run ended at home by the not so mighty terriers.
I’m really looking forward to 5.45 and results time. Just like the days of my youth. Roll back the years I say.
Bright and breezy here. Neighbour’s fence has already called it a day and uprooted itself. It’s just the beginning of another unpredictable Saturday😀
Morning all.
Howdy, not by RICO 🙂 🙂
Heaven forbid the media focus on a poor challenge by a Utd player, so best rustle up something they’ve sat on for just such an occasion.
A rare thing these days Wavy. The only annoying part is not being able to watch…
Those are the very words Scott. 😀
Totally agree, if these journalists focussed on the stuff going on on the pitch, they might come up with a half decent article…
I liked the boozy bit and the naming of Muslim players. Something doesn’t fit.
The Muslim angle Potter?
Another liverpoll goal offside
another penalty unmarked.
Muslims don’t drink alcohol. Or shouldn’t.
How come the Liverpool offside goal is debated and replayed, when the Arsenal one is just dismissed? Although they are very similar circumstances AND the Arsenal one was clearly more of the player in an offside position.
Is the Premier league corrupt ???? surely not. !!!!!!
Leno, Mustafi, Sokratis, Lichtsteiner, Bellerin, Kolascinac, Torreira, Guendozi, Xhaka, Lacazette , Aubameyang.
potter, don’t believe in that
It is not a case of “corruption.” It is a question of having Clubs / teams constantly favored, especially in cases of doubt.
0-0 at halftime. Have we been good or poor?
Both Mustfi and Sokratis have been booked, both now on five yellow cards, both suspended for the next game. Is that the Europa League on Thursday or the Southampton match at the weekend?
Mkhitaryan and Iwobi on for the second half, Lacazette and Lichtsteiner off.
Southampton I think – league cup doesn’t count..
Three bookings for diving. Really?
At last.. 1-0
It’s the Terrier again. What signing!!
Bicycle kick wasn’t it? Looking forward to seeing that..
7 mins added time? What kind of a game has it been guys?
Lots of bookings and, of course, the refs always give Arsenal’s opponents every chance to even the score.
Are we going to have a defence for the Saints game… 😜
Up to third in the table, Will it last ?
ufff!
Wrong subs,
Mustafi maybe out for 3 weeks
Iwoby, did not “catch” the game.
Mytharian, lost after the first 10 minutes.
wrong subs, because taking Aubeymyang, all players played in the sides, the Huddersfield defenses populated the central zone, where only Aubeymiang was, easily intercepted aerial game and our remaining players to flee the area. Result: a few shots, few opportunities, players canceling each other because the side backs were wingers.
Just got home from the game.
They came with the simple tactic of dragging the game into a Neanderthal slugging match and in the first half we fell for it. They are a deeply unpleasant team but we showed them that we can mix it now. Second half was much better despite Iwobi looking well out of it. Torreira had the shit kicked out of him all afternoon. Once we started to play our game we looked a lot, lot better and our little Uruguayan completed what was probably the best move of the game from close range. Lots of bookings and walking wounded but Nacho’s return gives us defensive options as he looked very assured I thought. The boys need a few days rest from what I saw.
7 points from 9 this, a pretty tough week.
We’ve done well.
They’ll get two days apparently Adam. I guess Wagner watched the Utd game and followed suit..
Citeh beaten, so only the Scousers remain a threat to the Invincibkes, and if Salah remains able to play as though the rules don’t apply, they’re a chance.
How could official possibly miss his offside????
Anyway, they’ll fall apart, as they always do, and we can sit back, watch and smile 🙂
I thought City had already lost one? I’d have rather they won today tbh….
Spuds score In first half injury time with their only shot on target.
Had they, didn’t realise that, Rico.
Bloody Liverpool top of the table, and Scousers are like “it’s our year” again hahahahaha
They hadn’t Scott, you were right.
There’s always a first hahahaha
Morning Rico.
Now, for the Scousers bastards to get rolled!!!
We are at their place just before new year , and we like sorting them out up there when it’s important.
Potter, that would be just perfect 🙂
Morning Scott, Potter and all.
Chelsea fan shouting at Sterling should be banned for life. Hard to believe people are so racist still. I wonder what they thought of Cole, Drogba and other black players who helped then win trophies…
Rico,
The hypocrisy of “fans” like that is astounding!!!!
Let’s hope he’s dealt with properly.
Agree Scott. Beggars belief really. The Met and Chelsea are dealing with it so my guess is he/they will get banned for life. At least.
New post up now.