The monthly guest post from Jonathan Blaustein. Enjoy it people, just enjoy it.
My son Theo thinks Unai Emery is ugly.
It’s true.
He once remarked on his resemblance to a vampire, and often mocks his “British Guy Teeth.” (I am not making this up.)
I too have a curved nose, and therefore empathize with Arsenal’s Head Coach.
I never thought he was ugly, (if I ever thought about it at all,) but my son has been emphatic. (He’s 11, so he’s emphatic about a lot of things.) Just yesterday, he tried to argue with a Chicago-born barber, in his own make-shift-barber-shop-located-inside-an-accountant’s-office, that LeBron James was definitely better than Michael Jordan.
(That takes balls, or a child’s lack of perspective.)
I figure Unai Emery has enough money to fix his teeth, if he wants to, so he must not want to.
What does that say?
“I’m Basque. I don’t care. You may call them tapas, but really, they are pintxos, and we, the Basques, invented them. When I eat squid, I eat every part of the squid. If I eat the octopus, you will know that I have eaten the whole octopus.”
How can you not love this guy?
Wayne Rooney had them cut hairline from his neck and sew it onto the top of his head, but Unai Emery doesn’t bother to get some teeth whitener?
Why? Because he’s too busy not-losing football matches.
The last time Arsenal lost was back in August. (Pause.) August 18th.
I’m writing this on November 26th here in America, and we’ve just had our Thanksgiving holiday. I’m on a couch at the moment, and certain parts of my body are sending clear signals that I need to stop with the holiday binging.
No more sugar. No more booze.
Back to normal life. Burn off these extra 4 pounds.
Christmas comes next. That’s what we think of here in America, as soon as Thanksgiving ends.
Christmas break.
So I’m thinking of Christmas, and Arsenal have not lost since it was still high-summer-hot, and we were all walking around in T-shirts, shorts and flip flops, saying things like, “I love summer. Summer’s cool.”
Back then, on August 18th, Arsenal got beat by Chelsea, away, in a game they certainly could have drawn, or perhaps even won. They lost, sure, but at least it was respectable.
And Unai Emery’s team hasn’t lost since.
I don’t care how small and cold your heart may be, how are you not erect-nipples-excited about at 17 match (18 now) undefeated run? There are always things that can be improved, even in wins like Sunday’s against Bournemouth, but being 1 point behind Chelsea, and 3 behind Spurs?
As a monthly pundit, I’m extremely pleased. I think Emery deserves time to bring in his guys, (or at least ask Raul and Sven pretty please to include some names on their shopping list,) to fairly compare his rebuild to Klopp’s or Guardiola’s.
Even setting aside the overall volume of money we have to spend compared to those teams, it still is more fair to judge 3-years-in to 3-years-in.
But in the 3 months since August, have I mentioned that Arsenal have not lost?
Sure, within days of this article, maybe Suprs beat us, thereby rendering my main point moot. (And increasing our distance from the Top 4.)
That’s possible. But if so, I can consider that in next month’s column. This one reflects life through Bournemouth, and I think things look pretty great, for where they are.
The only place I feel like we have true egg on our faces, at the moment, is with the Aaron Ramsey situation. Why on earth would Arsenal have given up 50 million pounds for a player, last summer, only to have Emery turn on him a few weeks later?
It makes no sense.
It is possible there were no offers last summer?
I’m wondering if this isn’t an area where Arsene Wenger was a bit prescient, with European football approaching a more American version of free agency.
Over here, players have immense power, in particular in the NBA, for deciding where to play.
The only way to use that power is to run down your contract. If you promise you’ll never, ever sign with a team, as your contracts dwindles, than anyone who trades for you knows it’s a short-term rental.
It’s possible that Ramsey is unwanted, or that the clubs that wanted him realized they could wait half-a-year, (foreign clubs,) spend nothing to buy him, and keep their resources, plus get the player.
To put this in a Kroenke-centric perspective, it’s like the New York Knicks panicking and trading a ton of assets to the Denver Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony, mid-season, instead of waiting 5 months and getting him for free.
The Nuggets were lauded for their wisdom, and I wonder if Ramsey isn’t an example of the tip of the iceberg.
Sure, Arsenal could have signed him for a likely-exorbitant wage, but barring that, they had to let him walk.
Is that as likely as them bungling the situation this badly? That he had them over a barrel? And they chose to walk away?
Honestly, I don’t know, but seeing him leave for nothing seems like a big failure. I guess it hasn’t happened yet, so perhaps we’ll know more by the December or January column.
On the fresh news front, Mesut Ozil was dropped for the Bournemouth game, a sure warning from Emery as to who wears the pants at the moment at Arsenal.
And that Szczesny/Fabianski interview popped up, thereby proving what Pete had been on about for years: that Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach was more clueless comedian than proper teacher.
It’s kind of amazing to think that Wenger was allowed to keep plodding on with the same old tired methods, year after year. I suppose he earned his last few years with the FA Cup trophies, (in fairness,) but here in America, coaches and GM’s at high profile franchises never get to stay around that long, and keep all the power, unless they deliver time and again.
Doc Rivers, who was considered a legend once he won the NBA title as coach of the Celtics in 2008, was stripped of his General Manager duties for the Clippers a few years back, when it was clear that Lob City had run its course. He was allowed to keep his Head Coach duties only, and now they’re winning again, and playing fresh basketball.
This idea that one person can do it all, and do all the parts well, seems outmoded these days, and I’m extremely glad that Arsenal are finally run like a modern outfit.
So I guess that’s where I’ll leave you. Unai Emery wears the pants in the dressing room, and may or may not be ugly. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wore a haircut on Sunday that made me say aloud, “No American would ever wear that haircut!”
And then today on Twitter, I saw a video about our-new-hero Lucas Torreira drinking maté, Uruguayan-style.
It’s a truly global product these days, gents, and we best all get used to it.
Kelvin
A shocking tackle, if you can call it that, by Shawcross. We all knew the Pulis philosophies but still an interesting take on things by Kitson.
Ramsey came back from adversity and deserves our respect for that, but it still doesn’t warrant us giving him a bumper pay rise and contract renewal.
If we had had a couple of PV4’s on the pitch, things would have been different.
I think I speak behalf of thousands of Arsenal fans when I say there’s nothing more I would love than punching that Pulis cvnt right on the nose.
Ramsey
I agree with you. We could punch him together.
China
I think Ramsey had supreme talent as an 18/19 year old. He was controller too. All the things we need him to do now is what he would have become without that injury. He changed his game to an off ball player largely as a result of that injury
Apparently Tottenham is going to rest their stars ahead of the NLD.
Little Tottenham trying to act like a big club… bless.
Pochettino only trying to get his excuses in early, before we beat them tomorrow.
I might come to regret this but I feel quite positive about the derby. Emery has managed his squad rotation well. Our squad is well rested, and Tottenham should face our strongest side, although the absence of Nacho is a big one.
2-0 to the Arsenal.
“However, the side are seemingly no longer as effective with [Ozil] in it: in 10 Premier League games with Ozil this term, Arsenal have scored 18 goals (1.8 per game). In the three games without him, they’ve managed 10 (3.3 per game). They have also averaged more shots (11.9/15.3) when he’s absent. [Further,] Ozil himself appears to be suffering. His expected assists per 90 (xA90) is 0.25 according to Understat, down on last year’s 0.38 and less than half his total of 0.52 in 2015-16 – unquestionably his most outstanding season in an Arsenal shirt, in which he registered 19… Read more »
Joseph Willock though. The praise has been raining in after his performances on Thursday. I for one thought he would be the one to break through this season then ESR came out of no where. I still think he is the most mature of our midfielders. He has added dominance and goals to his game from midfield in the youth teams this season and it’s glad to see his senior game is taking that path too, unlike, say, Nelson who seemed afraid to do what he did in the juniors for the senior side when he got the chance. I… Read more »
Why does this guy write on Le Grove once a month? Every read is tiresome, boring, random American drivel. Stick to the NBA Jonathan. The Ramsey situation is simple, in ESR we have a replacement who is ‘free’, on a 5th of Ramsey’s wages and is hungry, grounded and has desire. Ramsey, or to use a couple of his nicknames, ‘Hollywood’ or ‘Sir Flicks-a-lot’, thinks he’s billy big bollocks and saves his best performances for Wales. He’s had half a good season in his Arsenal career, cheerio son! The club have it spot on with him, the only downside is… Read more »
There are four youngsters on our books [U23 level] who are good enough to be promoted to the first team squad. These are Nelson, Smith-Rowe, Willock and Nkietah. None are ready at this stage of their careers to play regularly in EPL starting X1,but they are good enough to join squad/bench and play in Cup games. Smith-Rowe was outstanding in the last game, but he faded in second half and I think all these players are probably in the same boat if they would play in EPL. Nevertheless finding home grown talent in our academy is apparently the brief which… Read more »
Bamford using stats as proof of ozil’s ineffectiveness this season ….reeks of double standards I’m afraid. Of course,ozil is not everyone’s cup of tea and he has struggled at times ,that’s obvious….I would still say that if you ask The Arsenal fans who are attending the game tomorrow if they want ozil to start , 80% would say yes. Sad to say, your stats are also a criticism of the manager for failing to find the best formula for our creative players to excel….I look forward to the day when we see Aubamayang,Mhkitaryan and Ozil play to their full potential.… Read more »
Graham
“If we had had a couple of PV4’s on the pitch, things would have been different.”
that is true to a certain extent though we would have probably ended up with ten men on the pitch as the refs have always been more inclined to red card Arsenal players as the stats confirm …
Personally I believe that if the officials had done their job properly then Arsenal wouldn’t have been on the end of so many career threatening injuries , but that’s just my opinion……Ramsey ,Eduardo and Diaby are prime examples.
Pierre
that is true to a certain extent though we would have probably ended up with ten men on the pitch as the refs have always been more inclined to red card Arsenal players as the stats confirm …
why do I always feel like your arguments are grasping at straws ??
Stroller A good summing up of our situation … It is difficult to say whether these players have the talent and personality to play at the highest level. Chelsea and man city have had some superb academy teams over the years and not one of those players have made the breakthrough to consistently start for the first team. That shows you now tough it is ….Emery may have no choice but to blood the kids as Arsenal do not have the finances to compete with City,Chelsea and United.I Sometimes throwing them in the deep end is what these players need… Read more »
I agree with Pierre on this, i don’t think physicality was mainly the issue, it was the studipity of the refs and the blind eye the british media turned towards this nomadic tactics. It was just a way to stop arsenal from playing cos everyone knows Arsenal’s holier than thou perception on how the game should be played. Even the great Sir Alex employed these brutal strategies and as Tim of @7amkickoff said – “Manchester United kicked Arsenal off the pitch in the 50th match. The players that day were: Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Cole, Ljungberg, Vieira, Edu, Reyes (Pires… Read more »
Kelvin
Correct.
That match was a disgrace and who was the referee …yes Mike Riley, who has been head of the PGMOL since 2009.
There should definitely have been a stewards inquiry regarding the result of that game .
Mike Riley is as bent as a nine bob note …he should never have been allowed to referee again after that match ,instead they promoted him …..says it all really .
If anyone thinks he’s not bent then take a look at the highlights of that match…there is no way he was ever going to allow anything other than a United victory .
Blooding the kids worked for Ferguson
A restricted transfer budget could work in our favour as we have another outstanding set coming through rapidly. This time though we have a proper coaching system to help progress them
Ozil is not as I wrote on several occasions a “high octane” player but he is a “high class” footballer. He has a skill set and technical ability, which no other player in the club has got. Sofar he has scored 4 goals [3 in EPL and 1 in Cup], which is a better outcome than any other midfield player in squad. Only Aubameyang, Lacazette and Welbeck now injured almost certainly for rest of season have scored more. Whilst he has scored fewer assists this season than in past he has most certainly “orchestrated” many of the goals, which we… Read more »
No point having wingers or wing backs or Johnny Wing from Beijing…we don’t score from crosses or corners, and haven’t done since Bould and Adams retired.
Football has changed so dramatically, it’s barely recognisable from say, 15 years ago.
No real centre forwards.
No genuine wingers.
4 4 2 is dead.
Headers are barely scored these days.
It’s PlayStation football…but real.
Pierre To an extent, I agree on some of your perceptions. However, the EPL has always been renowned as an uncompromising league. As long as managers like Pulis, Allardyce, Warnock, Pardew etc are/were around, things will never change. We cloned too many alike players in a league that requires physicality. We went from being an intimidating and frightening team, who could look after themselves, to a team that could be easily bullied. We opened ourselves up to these neanderthal mindsets, whilst the referees just accepted the status quo. Trying to copy the Barca way in the EPL was never going… Read more »
Shite column. Gave up when he started rambling on excessively about the worst US sport to ever exist. Basketball. Why a bunch of limited height, overweight average white men get carried away watching DNA freakzoids play a game they could never be good at will always make me slightly confused …
Pierre
There is no irony there, because the problem is not the use of stats; the problem is the stat you use: chances created.
The article’s point is we’ve been better without Ozil and thus Emery has a decision to make.
I think he’ll start Ozil, but whether we’re actually better with Ozil in the XI is an open question at moment.
Baying
I generally like your comments, but the one above about basketball is really provincial and frankly a bit weird. Some might even see a bit of racism in it.
Basketball is played the world over — there are great players now from Serbia, Germany, Australia, Greece, Italy, Spain — and it is played by some of the best athletes on the planet. The NBA has a massive, global audience and it is watched by people of every skin color.
I’m not trying to be a pain, but I find your comments about basketball to be a little … off.
Mon-Fri it’s chastising America’s youth, then come the weekend he dons his ‘blog-police’ outfit and sits perusing comments from regular posters alike.
Two weirdos so far, one borderline racist apparently …
Couple of retorts away from there being “guys” everywhere. The joys
Expected assists and expected any stat is a load of shit. There is barely anything in the future that can truly be expected/predicted. A football game is very much unpredictable. I’d argue that (just for the sake of stats, as I know Ozil has been shite) teams would mark Ozil tighter and have learned over the seasons how to take him out of the game, hence expected assists are down. I could also say that I’d ‘expect’ arsenal to score 5 against any team that a lower team has scored 5 against. It’s just not how the game works. I… Read more »
Bamford, not sure Baying was racist at all. My assumption is that the DNA he is referring to, is to the height of the NBA players not their skin colour- so ‘heightist’ certainly!
Personally I enjoy the the skill and athleticism of the NBA but accept that, for the most part you have to be in the top 5% in terms of height.
Bamford, accept he did refer to skin colour of the spectator so I suppose you may just about have a point!
Pires no longer trains on occasion with the Arsenal first team because Emery has told him he doesn’t like this kind of thing. Probably because Emrry thinks this sends the wrong message re what training is, what it is for and is at odds with the mentality he is trying to cultivate.
Pires instead now works with players returning from injury.
Interesting, I think.
Ozil is not as I wrote on several occasions a “high octane” player but he is a “high class” footballer. He has a skill set and technical ability, which no other player in the club has got. It’s all waffle really. He could have a wizards cap a tin of magical beans and the light of earendil but if he doesn’t use em if he doesn’t put in the effort then what’s the point. Lionel Messi great player one of the best all time but do you think people would say that about him if he literally stopped playing well?… Read more »
Baying mob
I think you could apply your logic to almost every sport and every profession.
Some people will always be better equipped to deliver results the rest of us only dream of.
I can throw a dart but I don’t average 120 for every three I throw. I can ride a bike pretty well and I am fit but put me on Mont Ventoux at race pace and things would go bad quickly.
I think the beef a lot of people have with basketball are the scorelines involved, not the actual athleticism.
Marko
What racist have I done today or any day?
I’m as pure as the driven white supremacist snow!!!
So what if Bernard Manning and Jim Davidson are my favourite comedians…what’s the problem?
Marko It must be difficult for you watching/supporting a football team that you say you support but you have a dislike/hatred for most of the players … Why would you bother as all you see is the negatives whilst ignoring the positives I will go back to my point yesterday “are Tottenham under achieving with such a strong team and tactically astute manager and have Arsenal over achieved with such a weak squad and “clueless manager”. The thing is Marko,you and your cronies can’t have it both ways ….something doesn’t add up. Either tottenham’s players are not as good as… Read more »
Going to be a really tough game tomorrow. Interested to see what Emery does with selection and how certain individuals perform. We are severely limited by our CAMs not being up to scratch and having no wingers at all. I don’t know if something strange like a 4-3-1-2 might work. Torreira, Xhaka, Maitland Niles in the 3 because Emery uses Bellerin and Kolasinac for width in the absence of wingers. That means Torreira covers for Bellerin and Maitland Niles for Kolasinac. It also gives them licence to press higher when we’re off the ball and everyone is in formation. Then… Read more »
CA
I must say that formation you presented was really good. But does Emery trust AMN enough at this moment to go with him in midfield ahead of Guendouzi and Ramsey? I wouldn’t even mind iwobi as the 3rd CM. Like I said, I say on merits in the formation. hope he adopts it
*I see only merits
It must be difficult for you watching/supporting a football team that you say you support but you have a dislike/hatred for most of the players … Not hatred no but certainly dislike some for good reason. I love how you get difficulty in supporting Arsenal football club from disliking the poor performances of Ozil. No surprise really because clearly you’re one of those idiots who over the years confused supporting Arsene (now Ozil) to supporting Arsenal and disliking Arsene (now Ozil) to hatred for Arsenal. They are not mutually exclusive I support Arsenal first and foremost and it’s because I… Read more »
Also don’t know how you go from a conversation criticizing Ozil to what Pocchettino and Spurs are doing.
Marko
“Again don’t know why I bother with you you’re clearly on a daily troll bored from your boring life and made up wife”
Probably because you have the same sort of life as Pierre. Two jobless fucks in an everyday competition to see who writes the most comments.
I’m actually sick at the moment so give me all your sympathy and best wishes it’s all that can defeat this runny nose
well said cesc!
get you in the dugout.
haha but nah, i like that lineup, between that or what we played at fulham.
“That wall might just stifle Spurs given that this is the area where Eriksen and Alli cause havoc and Kane operates.” Here we go again ,an Arsenal “supporter ” building up the opposition and putting down his own side ,saying “Then you have Ozil/Mkhitaryan in CAM unfortunately”, implying that the team he supports who are unbeaten against Tottenham for 8 seasons at the Emirates have little or no chance unless we put a wall up in front of our defence. I can tell you now ,Emery won’t be putting up a wall ,he will fight fire with fire and go… Read more »
Just a thought but after the Spud’s beat ManU 3 nil earlier in the season they lost their next 2 league fixtures.
Mike Dean is the referee tomorrow..
Conspiracy or what!
G8
You’ve just completely fucked my weekend with that and I’m at the match tomorrow.
Mystic I don’t know that he does. But maybe that is down to the injury he suffered in terms of him not being able to call on him? I just think Maitland Niles might instinctively look after that LB position from LCM so that when Kolasinac goes forward he turns into a LCM/LWB almost. I wouldn’t mind Iwobi in there either, maybe allow him to carry the ball out as well as probably our best dribbler, which is sad to be honest not that I have anything against him. Then Xhaka could see to the LB position as he has… Read more »
Lol marc..
Mine’s already fucked
Just can’t believe those PGMOL Assholes ..
with all the history of Mike fucktard Dean against arsenal ,especially in this fixture!.
You couldn’t make this shit up!
Cesc
The positive thing is whatever formation we start with you know that if they are areas where we’re being exposed Emery will look to change it. No more ploughing on regardless.
What could be critical tomorrow is energy levels. The Spud’s had a big match last weekend and a huge CL match mid week. Hopefully tired legs will be an issue.
G8
There’s an old boy who sits a couple of seats to my left – I swear one of his highlights of match day is telling me who the ref is before kick off to see me blow a fuse. Lee Mason, Mike Dean, Moss, Atkinson they’re all fucking useless and an embarrassment to the PL.
Marc Yeah that could be a factor. But the NLD does add some energy to tired legs especially players like Alli and Kane. Son is also very fresh which is a worry. Like you said though, after a great performance Spurs do sometimes dip. There is no excuse for our players not to be up for it. I mean if Ozil plays like a shadow then that should be him done at the club. 3 weeks rest, bitch slapped for being a pussy by your manager and the NLD. No excuses. You are right though, Emery will change things if… Read more »
‘implying that the team he supports who are unbeaten against Tottenham for 8 seasons at the Emirates have little or no chance unless we put a wall up in front of our defence.’
Yes, putting a wall in this case implies preparing tactical for the opposition’s best players in the attacking area. Every coach knows and does that right Pierre?
“We had Spurs last year, Chelsea the season before, United the season before that. Those aren’t strategies. Those are the law of averages saying you will give a great performance at home against a good side every so often.”
👌👌
Getting the ref excuses in early, are we?
As they say in boxing…”if you knock the other guy out…you don’t need the ref/judges”.
If Arsenal play well and score more goals than Spurs, we will win.
We’ve won the last 3 derbies with him calling the game…
Bournemouth equalise – come on.
B10
Good on Emery for setting boundaries regarding Pires.
It’s all about sending out the correct messages.
Open training sessions are a thing of the past.
GOH what a obnoxious twat. No shame even after epic meltdown. U need pro help bud.
City are just too much man. They’ve turned up the tempo on Bournemouth in the 2nd half. Sterling tied for lead in goals and leading in assists. Best player in the league so far this season.
Who is this Rollen idiot?
Remember someone saying Sterling fluked his scoring numbers last season. lol. Dude is a legit goal scoring threat these days and his assist game is on point too.
Can’t wait for Pep to leave the prem. He has the league in his pocket. How do you compete with that?
mystic
I reckon Pep will probably be off in a couple of years – sort of works for us because it’s going to take until season after next before we really see a full “modern” Arsenal team. We just need to get into the CL places ASAP to help with the finance.
Guns
What have you done to upset people now?
Excellent finish. Southampton 1 up.
Jamie
You just keep cheering me up!
2 nil. Superb freekick
Crikey United
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhzY8DSd_XI
Excellent comments from Graham Brooks again, by far the most articulate and knowledgeable of the contributors of AFTV.
I agree with his suggestion of 3-4-3 although I would start Iwobi instead of Auba. For the game tomorrow, I think Auba would have much more impact from the bench, when the Sp*rs defenders are tiring… and do a swap for Auba for Laca and Iwobi for Mkhitaryan in the second half.
Nothing and I mean nothing gives me more joy in football than see Mourinho’s United get humiliated.
Marc, yeah. One can only hope so. I think with Chelsea, Liverpool and Chelsea and a pep-less City, we can compete once in a while.
Soton leading 2-0. TBH I wonder why Jose hasn’t been sacked yet. Good for us I get. We have 1 less club to contend with for top4
Lukaku finally scores. Utd will probably win this.
ManU 2 nil down.
If and it’s a big if it stays like that and if again big if we win tomorrow we’d be 9 points in front. Get a result at Old Toilet and they’d be 12 points behind us.
No way Mourinho survives that – he just can’t.
If Soton win this game, Man Utd will be even more eager to win against us… although Man Utd might be tempted to play their strongest players tonight in order to rescue this game…
Have I jinxed it?😢
They’ll prob get something now
TR7
More joy than an Arsenal win tomorrow ?
Leeds
On face value of course you are right but the number of rumours about Utd players who are unhappy / want to leave / don’t like Mourinho etc etc you just wonder if you’re starting to see them down tools a bit. Exactly what happened at Chelsea.
I should not have commented, donkey Lukaku scored the moment I commented, now Herriera scores……damn
2-2. Damn.
mystic
Go run round in circles throwing salt over your shoulder or something!
Southampton are useless
Southampton under Hughes are doomed to relegation. Was always going to be fanciful that they’d beat them.
Hillwood,yeah just a tad more 🙂
TR7
I was going to comment went out and came back it’s 2-2 lol
lol Man utd dropping points again. We absolutely have a golden opportunity to improve our disgusting away record at Old trafford this time. They are there for the taking.
2-2 with Southampton having more shots, more shots on target and making fewer fouls.
Assuming Chelsea win tomorrow no matter what happens in our game that will leave Utd at least 8 points behind 4th.
Has Mourinho despite all the money spent made a single good signing?
Leno
Bel papa hold kolsanic
Torr xhara
Iwobi Rambo ozil
Aubameyang
This is what I think it will be..
Also seeing Eddie the other night looks like the lads got taller n beefed up
Be good if he is on the bench
Marc
Think Chelsea may drop points
RSPC
No way Ramsey starts – the only player who played mid week that has a look in is Holding. Not only did Ramsey start but he wasn’t even any good.
Would be very happy for Chelsea to drop points. They have some very good players but I said at the start of the season the lack of a top level striker would hurt them – maybe that’s about to start kicking in.
Man United dropping points to Southampton is great for us.
If Southampton can score two against this defence I’m sure we can as well… and recently we’ve been learning to keep clean sheets — so dare I dream it? Six points against Tottenham and Man United?
That would be one way to make up those silly points dropped against Crystal Palace and Wolves.
Please give me one good reason why Ramsey would start the game?
Graham
1. He is still contracted to Arsenal FC
2. He has more experience of North London Derbies?
Why not have him on the bench if he able?
I personally think it is a sensible decision to let Ramsey go if he is going to ask for silly money but at the same time I don’t feel the need to run him down. After all, he’s been a decent servant to the club… I wish him well.
Leedsgunner
Not disputing he has been a “decent servant to the club” and not running him down, but feel he is not 100% committed to the cause.
He’ll be on the bench.
I also wish him well.
World of difference between sticking Ramsey on the bench and starting him.
I want a win in both games this week, this time not in vain hope, desperately wishing we will pull something off but this year, with this squad in the form we are in, we should be good enough to compete toe to toe versus Sp*rs and Man United. We might not be good enough for the title yet but we should be good enough to beat an overstretched Sp*urs side and the most lacklustre Man United side in years. If we do, confidence and momentum will be with us… in sport confidence and momentum can do wonders in motivating… Read more »
Nothing like a NLD to get that adrenaline pumping.
The Emirates should be rocking tomorrow.
Come on you Gunners!!
Leedsgunner
Wow!
Can you lead us through the Brexit fiasco?
Leeds
If we can get a result in both matches it will as you give us a huge boost. You’d hope the “management” would see these results as an opportunity and put some money into January – I don’t expect hundreds of millions but the Spud’s are broke and ManU have more players who want to leave than join. A little bit of cash or some political manoeuvring to bring in a loan player or two could make a huge difference in the pursuit of top 4.
Graham
Trust me dear fellow, if I was the PM, we wouldn’t have a Brexit fiasco 😉
Yes if we win our next two games it will send a message also- just keeping fingers crossed for tomorrow
Merson and Seaman as well as others have suggested that we are where we are by “luck” and they are ex-Arsenal. Why are they so disrespectful?
In so many ways we are stronger, fitter, more mentally tough, barring our LB we have our first XI injury free and refreshed, we have finished games stronger… plus we have a NEW HEAD COACH.
We can do this.
2-0 to the Arsenal.
Did Seaman say that – he is Mr Arsenal- Merson is an angry man – think it relates to early Arsene days