Morning all.
David Ornstein had some news for us yesterday as he reported that Andrea Berta has reached an agreement with Arsenal to become their new sporting director. Berta became available in January after more than a decade at Atletico Madrid — where he was central to the Spanish team’s progress.
It’s been a bit of a lengthy process to replace Edu but it seems that this is the man Arsenal wanted and if Ornstein is right, which to be fair, he usually is, they’ve got him. He could be one of the reasons Arsenal didn’t move in the transfer window as perhaps he has his own views on who or what the club needs and together with Mikel Arteta, will thrash out a few summer deals. Berta certainly has a lot of experience.
More on that story to follow I’m sure.
Man Utd v Arsenal is the big game today and we need the points, especially after Nottingham Forest defeated Man City yesterday lunchtime. The league title race is over, it has been for a while now so for Mikel Arteta and his players, it’s about securing second place again. Obviously the guys need to play like the title can be won but I think we all know that Liverpool have been “selected” to win the league this season. If an Arsenal player had done what Nunez did yesterday, does anyone truly believe he’d have stayed on the pitch? No, of course not.
We have an opportunity to win back-to-back games at Old Trafford for the first time since 1979 and become the first team to win five-straight matches against Utd in Premier League history. Yes, I read that on Arsenal.com. To be honest, I just care about todays result and getting the three points.
Thankfully, we have no additions to our already long list of injuries after our game in the week but no one returns for this one either. Other than Myles Lewis-Skelly of course who has now served his one match suspension.
Utd have a few injuries of their own to contend with. Maguire and Ugarte missed Utd’s 1-1 with Real Sociedad in the week so could be a doubt for this one. Dorgu is suspended while Diallo, Mainoo Mount, Evans, Shaw and Martinez are definitely ruled out.
Mikel Arteta:
The manner of the way we [beat PSV] lifted everybody, but that is in the past unfortunately. It is about what we do today, the preparation for tomorrow and trying to replicate a great performance. Watching the game against Real Sociedad, it became very clear that [Man Utd] are very capable of putting a really strong performance in and beat you on the day. We know the difficulty of the match and that’s what we’re preparing for.
Man Utd v Arsenal might not be the kind of fixture it once was but I’m pretty sure it’ll still be a tasty affair. Just as I’m pretty sure Maguire and Ugarte will start.
Manager Amorim is in a tricky situation I think as the only way Utd can ensure European football is theirs next season is by winning the Europa Cup so with the second leg of their tie against Real Sociedad to play on Thursday, and with so many players injured, he might be tempted to protect a few who are fit. Especially as he was moaning about how tired his players were in the second half of Thursday’s match and it being more difficult to deal with the Europa League fixture schedule than the Champions League. Does that man ever not moan?
Confidence should be at its peak as Mikel Arteta’s players go into this game after thumping PSV Eindhoven 7-1 on Tuesday night and after a four day break before this game, their bodies should have recovered well. Unlike Amorim, Mike Arteta knows he can pretty much field whatever team he chooses on Wednesday because barring a total cockup, our Champions League tie is already won.
This will shock you but I’ve not watched a Man Utd game since we last played them and that was a game I’d rather forget but cannot. How we didn’t beat them that day in the FA Cup I just don’t know but we didn’t. 70% possession overall, 26 shots and only one of the 7 on target hit the back of the net. It was one of a number of occasions when the need for a ruthless goal scorer or two was glaringly obvious.
On Tuesday night, we saw two sides of our captain as he went from looking rusty to being back to his best. It’s the latter we need today as he’s key to how we attack but he needs movement around him which was clearly evident against PSV. He’s also the guy who often leads the press which bearing in mind how easily Onana can be unsettled, Arsenal need to get right. Utd’s defending in general has been all over the place according to what I’ve read about them but if they sit back hoping to hit us on the break, we have to be careful.
Personally, I think Rasmus Højlund is underrated. (Tin hat on as I type) He’s a dangerous player just in the wrong team. A bit like Bendtner used to be for us. We all know about Chido Obi too who I’d imagine will play at some stage in the game. He could start bearing in mind he’s illegible for the Europa League. We all know what Fernandes and Casemiro are about so we cannot afford to fall for their antics and nor can referee Anthony Taylor.
Honestly, I hope we go to Old Trafford and tear this awful Utd team to pieces. Not for any other reason than as a team and a club, I don’t like them.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico.
Only a win will suffice today, hopefully we will continue where we left off on Wednesday and a bit more to offset that crushing 8-2 defeat in 2011 where they even showboating against us.
If ever Arteta needed to motivate them that would be a strong candidate.
My only wish on team selection is please Mikel don’t use Sterling again….ever!!
Good morning Rico and all
Anthony Taylor is ref with Tierney as VAR
Martinelli is back with the squad for today.
Good morning Rico, I hope you enjoyed your day by the sea and remembered to keep clear of wet dogs emerging from the water. 😉
A good pre-match thanks, just a quibble or two Anthony is today’s referee and Paul Tierney the Var.
Beaten to it! Damn! 😕
Morning Berg, Cicero, Devil, all.
Oops, I’ll change the official right now…
Thanks Cicero and I did.
I’ve a feeling we’re going to win today… Makes a change for me… 😂
Is he Devil? Brilliant news if he is..
Morning Rico ando all.
We to need to win, to keep a small distance between us and 3rd place as their confidence will be high after they beat Man C the other day.
Morning Geoff, everyone beats Man City these days. 😜
Rumour is, Victor Osimhen is close to agreeing summer move to Arsenal 😂
Also, no talks to extend Partey’s stay at the club…
I hope Andrea Berta is not too much of a mate of Arteta, as it will be his job to sack him if we don’t win something soon.😕
I wonder what gems there are in Athletic’s academy. Berta must know all about them. 😉
Said that the PGMOL fix was in yesterday ,
Andrea Berta is an interesting appointment an Italian that was at Atletico Madrid when Partey’s effort to try to return there was rebuffed. He has the experience of running a club that stood against Real Madrid and Barcelona two teams that have been streets ahead financially and has taken the underdogs to success.
Osimhen of course is playing in Turkey but his contract is held by Napoli maybe an Italian connection is important there.
Time will tell if it’s a good appointment but the man is used to handling petulant managers so if Arteta was responsible for Edu’s departure his experience with Simeone could stand him in in good stead here .
I reckon that Josh would be the one doing the firing should that day come about..
The Pgmol have had their foot in the Liverpool door all season haven’t they. So many decisions have gone their way, it’s so obvious that Arsenal weren’t going to win the league this season regardless of our results/performances.
Good point re the Italian connection.
During our four-game winning streak over ManUre, Taylor has refereed two of them so hopefully he’ll continue to frustrate them.
Raya, Timber, Saliba Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Merino.
Subs: Neto, White, Zinchenko, Tierney, Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Jorginho, Martinelli, Sterling.
Sterling off… ufff…!!!!
Bournemouth will be kicking themselves after being 2-0 up against Totts.
Excellent news re Berta. At long last Arsenal have appointed an awesome scout. Now watch who we will get next season and see us win the Premiership. Exciting times are ahead for us supporters and Arsenal.
This appointment should now give the team today a real boost. COYG 🥳
Victor Osimhen has scored 16 league goals in 20 appearances for Galatasaray, he also, I believe, has a sketchy fitness record.
£62m is the price quoted…
I’m on the fence on this one…
COYG’S!
He certainly appears to be the real deal Laura..
Kev, at least if it’s in the papers, it’s likely to be false. 😜
You guys still awake? 😜
Gary Neville really is a snivelling little rat,relentlessly negative about Arsenal.
Isn’t he just. Awful know it all pundit..
Well, I hope we play a lot better second half.
total domination and then the inevitable happens . As usual taking too many passes and always trying to set things up instead of shooting
Absolutely agree.
Just hope we up our tempo second half and play with a lot more belief. This tippy tappy stuff gets us nowhere.
Nwaneri is really struggling in this game..
Might as well swap Trossard for Sterling or Tierney and move MLS to winger..
Given them belief and the struggle goes on
Great strike Rice.
That’s an odd change.
Looks like The Gummers are back totally toothless. 😠
We could play until midnight and not score.
Gabriel threw himself to the ground??
What is Neville smoking? .
Arsenal the gift that keeps on giving
Turned a rubbish team with a tentative crowd into world beaters
Yep.
We were dire, absolutely dire..
I don’t normally comment straight after a game,and not much to say anyway but I was pleased to see Declan Rice score. He always gives 100 %
Lovely goal it was too.
And what a tackle from Dec as well.
Another 3 wins before St. Totteringhams day.
Yep, the Gabriel one was good too, as were the Raya saves..
Thankfully Raya was on form.