The big one is HERE. Arsenal take on Spurs in the battle for bragging rights in North London. Unbeaten in 18, this is a huge test for Emery. For Spurs, this match is really about whether they have the minerals to be championship fighters. They’ve started to perk up of late and they certainly put in a boss performance against Chelsea.
Much is riding on this from an optics perspective for Arsenal. Lose and the pattern of top 6 struggles will continue for Emery as it did for Wenger. Lose, and United will start to look a lot more difficult. Lose, and the klaxon of progress will start to sound a little meek.
So what are we looking out for?
For me, similar to the Liverpool game. Give us a performance that shows the fans that we’ve progressed. I want to see a strategy that’s interesting, that shows we had an extra few days on the training ground… one that exposes their weaknesses, or does something smart to nullify their strengths.
If the Chelsea game is anything to go by, they’re going to try and swamp JorXhaka in midfield. He’s the key to our game moving forward, and not just that, he doesn’t always perform well under immense pressure. This game is really will be a barometer for his improvement this year. He needs a barnstormer. He needs have a blinder if we’re to succeed.
Additionally, it’s going to be interesting to see what sort of Mesut shows up. Emery dropped him last week and, in my opinion, accidentally called him a pussy in the press. I think the real reason he dropped him was about preservation and the simple reality that he struggles with fitness. Last time he was rested he flew out the traps. Sure, it was against Leicester, but let’s not pretend they’re not a physical side. If he can’t raise it tomorrow, it really will say something about his future with Arsenal.
We’re going to need a fresh-legged performance from Torreira. The signing of the last 10 years in my opinion. Petit had an interesting take on the Uraguyan.
“Arsenal have been too glamorous in the past few years, and not dirty enough, but with Torreira, the dirt is coming back into the team.
“He is not the most talented player, but he is like a dog on the pitch, he is a leader and sets an example.
“He doesn’t impress you physically, but you can feel his breath on your neck, and his foot in your calf because he is there all the time, and that is the kind of player you need in a team.”
He’s going to need to be at his dog like best today. The concern is that he’s doing the job of two because Xhaka doesn’t have the mobility or physicality in midfield. Ideally, we’d have two Torriera’s, but such is life.
I also think there’s some interesting choices to be made going forward. Will we make sacrifices with our formation and go with one up front and rely on swift counters? Does he continue to have the best of both with both our forwards? Will Iwobi get the nod? Will he give Mikhi another run-out?
The great thing is this: We have no idea what Emery is going to try. But you can bet your bottom dollar it’s not going to be a case of ‘express yourself and hope.’ I think his comments about the game were spot on.
“At the moment, Tottenham is better than us in the table and better than us last year but in history Arsenal is better at other moments than Tottenham,”
I’d rather the conversation be about Arsenal being better now, versus the insecure retort of ‘we have a better history.’ Spurs are in a better moment than us, of that there is no doubt, the power is with them. That can be easily overturned, and a good place to start is now.
This is where the money is made. This is what cements legend amongst fans. This is what we live for.
Have a great day, see you in the comments! x
P.S. Take a listen to our podcast before it becomes old.
SPOTIFY | STITCHER | ITUNES | GOOGLE | POCKET CASTS
Yeah…it’s Mike Dean’s fault.
Jesus.
we had a lot of chances to be out of sight. massive meltdown
Raptora – He had a lot of the ball in that period and space to move into, and instead just stood on the spot and invited Spurs on. Ball ended up continually back at Leno and it was hoofed up front.
Irritating as hell because it’s habit of his I’ve noticed long before today. There is no middle ground with him, he’s either some sort of auxillary winger from the back or just rooted to the spot and plays like he can’t run.
Bellerin was totally caught out for that foul Holding had to make. Bellerin is not an adequate Right back
Guns
Now you’re reaching
Now you’re reaching for examples like Manson?
…and you’re asking someone to help me when you’re the one who needs to calm down.
Not expecting we played 45 min like the first 20. Controlling the pace doesn’t always mean side/back passes.
Holding withdrew his foot quite evidently.
Look, Dean was looking out for it any case. Wtf had Dean so much to talk with Son?? “son, I won’t give it twice…..give me something else “??
Emery needs to tell Mikki where he fucks off. Useless. Can’t hold the ball, can’t pass, can’t dribble, can’t shoot….at least in the 1H.
yes team is losing but seen enough in that half to see what Emery is trying to do. Full faith the team will come good, particularly when Emery gets his own players in. Arsenal have shown more passion and desire today than the last ten years under Wenger. More than happy, might not go our way today but it WILL come good.
Come on you Red and Whites.
OOI: How many games does Ozil miss?
“One doesn’t need to break a leg to be sent off, likewise a player diving in for a tackle in the box doesn’t need to make contact. Intent.” Sorry but this a a really dumb comment. A slide tackle is a legitimate football skill. Holding was in full control when he slid to win the ball and there was nothing dangerous about his slide. The next question then is whether he made contact with Son to infer a foul. He didn’t so wasn’t a foul. You can excuse the ref for missing it as it was all too fast. That… Read more »
Gambon
It’s not a penalty
No fucking way
Shut up Redknapp you knob
Jesus, that first goal looks so bad on replay.
Dumbfvcking foul by Sokratis and a shocking clanger by Leno.
Rainman
Really? You’ve never heard of intent or the meaning?
Damn, Le Grove is a breeding ground for the mentally challenged.
I’m genuinely surprised by the idiocy.
Dissenter
That’s a different question from the question of whether Iwobi has the quality to be in a good Arsenal first XI. I have said from the beginning that he doesn’t have enough quality, and as time has gone on, I think this has become more and more obvious. We don’t have a lot of options, though; Ramsey is a better footballer than Iwobi is, however, so I’d probably replace Iwobi with Ramsey.
And shit goalkeeping by Leno for that oaf Dier’s “goal “
You can already count 3 peoples happy this afternoon so far : Pierre, GoH and their old pal paul merson.
Dies anyone believe Ozil is missing the game because of back ache?
Intent… if Holding was clearly going for the man AND NOT the ball you can understand the penalty being given under intent but Holding was going for the ball.
Son like Zaha made the most of an ambiguous situation to drive a penalty into the mind of the referee who was nowhere near the play in any case.
This is a proper derby though.
Liked Lichtsteiner basically telling Dier to shut the fuck up, Dier trying to be the big man as he walks away. Always the sign of a massive sopping pussy
I am a bit worried. Just think spuds just have enough to hold on to the lead.
We were playing very well.
Bad mistake by Leno but it’s his first real mistake in his Arsenal career.
Then no way that the cunt ref would ever see the contact. If you don’t see a contact you don’t blow the whistle.
Spuds are not playing well. Luck is on their side. It happens.
We need to keep our nerves and start strong.
Bamford you keep harping on about Iwobi, what about Bellerin? Mustafi? even Mhki?? Shut up already about the one player!
Raheem
I am not on a wind up. Holding was not in control. A sliding tackle by its very nature is a last resort. He missed, Son took a tumble. Penalty.
Let’s see just how honest Arsenal will be if PEA gets ‘bought’ down in the area.
Bamford
Can you point out one person here who has said Iwobi should be a starter.
Wenger is gone but nothing has change on Le Grove, just pathetic…
Bam
I get that
I’ll actually play Guendouzi ahead of Ramsey currently
Our squad isn’t good enough right now to put Iwobi on the periphery
Maybe when better players come in and displace him but right now he’s merited his position based on this season’s performances.
Hope we get wide players in the next two windows.
Guns
Turn it in
You’re making a dope of yourself
It wasn’t a penalty. Son dives. What intent can holding have other than to block a shot?? He didn’t make a foul. It’s no penalty
Would you rather have Iwobi or Ozil?
Names, price tags, reputations etc aren’t everything.
Iwobi is a squad player at best but he is working the system which in a pressing system is exactly what you need.
HL
Pack it in. No one who supports arsenal will be happy if we lose. Including me.
Arsenal have been shit all season and quite frankly have got lucky…most would agree with this. Against the trash teams we can get away with it but against the top four, we will be punished.
Losing but enough seen to be content.
Come on Arsenal.
The problem with this formation is that Bellerin has opened up his whole side for Son to run imto. I have already smelt danger before they scored their two goals.
Emery preferred a work-man like team. It is good when you are not falling behind. Mikki and Iwobi are not good enough to create goal. Kola’s crosses are better than Bellerin. That maybe our only hope.
@HighburyLegend
Add Unaa naa and Vic as well to the list. Its 5.
Tim at 7amkickoff wrote an article on Aubameyang when we signed him.
In it, Tim brought out that Aubameyang was notorious for missing big chances,and he was going to drive Arsenal fans nuts.
I hadn’t known that before.I’ve been wary of Aubameyang’s finishing ever since.I think he’s starting for us ahead of Lacazette based on reputation and being a tap-in merchant.We’ve yet to see him make a difference with his pace or finishing.
For me Lacazette has been the much better player this season.
Guns
So son takes a tumble?? That doesn’t constitute a penalty
A foul in the box does. He wasn’t fouled. He wasn’t even touched. Terrible refereeing from dean again.
with that bench arsenal have no chance
I’m really pissed, these cunts shouldn’t be 1 up at all. And I don’t know why the shit cunt ref wasn’t assigned Merseyside derby
Wenger’s goons are showing their ugly heads already. Leno just didn’t try at all for the first goal and the pen???
Did vertongen mean to handball it or was it an accident?
We got a pen.
Did people forget that?
Miopic divs.
Get Ramsey on for Mkhi by minute 60 please. If we can’t get a goal, then Lacazette for Torreira. Iwobi much more comfortable in a link role
why is ramsey on the pitch though ? FfS.
Bellerin hasn’t been good defensively at all!
Kay you bell end
Why would I be happy? I support arsenal no matter the manager dumb dumb
And they are substituted. Essential changes that were needed.
Laca and ramsay both on as I predicted. Great minds think alike evidently.
At least emery has the balls to change it unlike the old git
Anyway, let’s enjoy the next 45 mins of the Arsenal pantomime.
Bam
Emery was listening to you it seems
This opens us up a lot.
We may go on to win or lose 1-4 to Spuds.
Only time will tell.
GoH,
Your comment that even if there is no contact it should be a pen because of Holding’s intent is nothing else but shocking. A fan would twist it around so that it’s in his team’s favor. You would spin it against your team. You sure you support Arsenal FC?
Tim at 7amkickoff wrote an article on Aubameyang when we signed him.
In it, Tim brought out that Aubameyang was notorious for missing big chances,and he was going to drive Arsenal fans nuts.
I hadn’t known that before.I’ve been wary of Aubameyang’s finishing ever since.I think he’s starting for us ahead of Lacazette based on reputation and being a tap-in merchant.We’ve yet to see him make a difference with his pace or finishing.
For me Lacazette has been the much better player this season.
Guns
Doesn’t matter
He hand balled
Holding didn’t fouls son
Do you know the rules?
I don’t know if we can claw this one back.
Goh
U spout shit on here day after day, thinking u funny. You are not, you are just an irritating person. Definitely below average intelligence. How’s your dad anyway? You know, the bloke that shot brown people.
Prvhc
I agree
Aubameyang is overrated
Too concerned with silly haircuts and not enough with his game
Why don’t we fucking learn?
These are pro divers.
Why are we still giving away these fks in dangerous positions?
Raptora
Have we not seen players get red cards for lunging in and missing what could be ‘potentially’ a dangerous tackle? The answer is yes. That is called intent.
Like it or not, the rules are there. We got a decision. So did the spuds. Move on.
Dumb dumb dumb.
They just go down without contact
Come on, Arsenal.
Lads
Go easy on Guns of Hackney
He’s a nice lad by the way…he paid for my porn hub subscription the other day.
Rainman
…says the man who uses U instead of you.
Father is fine, thanks…counting his medals. I’ll pass on your thanks to him for keeping the world a little bit safer.
You’re welcome.
Too many buffoons in this Arsenal side. Plays right into the hands of Alli and the rest of Spud diving Diva squad
Bantz fc.
Love this site and its menagerie of weirdos.
Keep up the good work guys!
Even if we equalize we will do something to stupid to allow them to score another.
Spurs grinding it out.
I can’t stand Spurs and their diving culture. It’s been like that for the past 40 years.
Come on
What a masterpiece fkkkkkkkkkk !!!!!!!!!!
Auba omg
Class finish. Initiated by Ramsey’s run
Take that
What a goal
There’s the goal!!!
Come on!!!
We are a second half team
…and we’ve been better than spuds.
Torreira is exactly the player we have needed. Now to sort defender and wing!!!
Fucking love that goal!
Get the fuck in
What a strike!
TH14 anyone?!
Ramsey was fantastically brilliant there
Top assist
Not much to his game. I rather he score goals.
Tell us again how Auba is overrated.
Top scorer in the PL
Great goal auba
Let’s get really stuck in now. COYG
Give it to these pricks!
What a finish!
Great goal from auba. Well played Ramsey as well.
Ramsey showing his class as well
The amount of twats that don’t understand how good Auba is but rate cunts like Iwobi and Xhaka.
That’s a striker, Auba.
We need more.
2 – 2
Gambon will be happy.
Get in!!!
Yeeees
Fucking lovely goal
Great pass from Bellerin
Clever cut back from ramsey
Okay I take it back Auba deserves to be current league top scorer with that kind of goal.
Anyone who says Auba is overrated is blind
Subs does that but misses from 6yds far too often? Wtf?!?! I’ll take it though!
Auba ma clot
We need to fvcking bully this team of pansy divers
Auba*
Take that fuckers
Yes fuck you spurs
Nice. Great frickin’ finish from Auba.
There are somethings you can’t teach players
..scoring goals and Auba has it.
PEA could have had four today.
I still see us picking up a red. Alli, Kane, Dier and Son are all clever bastards.