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
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Torriera you beauty
Oh we love you Emery
Our Uruguayan animal
Fuck the spuds
Really 4 – 2! Within 5 min!!!
Torreira!!!!
Fuck those inbred cunts!!!
He’s deserved that
MOTM for me Torreira
What a cameo by Ramsey man
We’re letting him go smh
Wow Torriera is already my favorite
I’m on the moon right now.
Speechless.
Best Arsenal I’ve seen since that Fabregas team.
Dale
In the context of what’s going on right now
This is my best derby in 12 years
OMG my son is apoleptic his hero has scored
WTF do you lot think about that!
EMERY BALL
COME ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL GUNNERS!
I SAID KEEP THE FAITH!
Torriera!!!!!
This is more like it!!!
First goal for the Arsenal!!!!
Tor with the brilliant turn and finish. Love it. Couldn’t be a player more deserving of a first goal today!
Spare a thought for GoH. 4-2.
Football is beautiful…
Fuckin hell…….Torreira that’s a goal !!
Torrier for £22m is daylight robbery. Trouble will be keeping him. Barca and city would love him.
Shut up, Jamie.
I knew he’d be brilliant when we bought him. Had no clue just how brilliant. He’s the one we’ve been missing. What a player!
Guen hassles well
WE HAVE GOT OUR ARSENAL BACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4-2. Awesome. Great frickin’ spirit from the players today.
Best league in the world
Happy days. What a change. Lets have 5.
Don’t fucking take the foot off
Bully them till the end
No freaking game management required
Don’t take the foot off their throats.
Spurs defense got overwhelmed. How do you deal with Auba, Laca and Ramsey all at the same time?
We want 5……..
Now tell me how Poch is a better manager than Emery.
Emery litterally changed this game while Poch was picking his nose clueless what’s going on.
This is too good to be true, we have battered these cunts
This makes getting rid of Özil much easier.
Reward Torrier. Sack off Özil.
HOW ABOUT THOSE SUBSTITUTES
I love u torreira
Auba man of the match for me two goals and an assist and he’s been working hard all day
Pochettino subbed his two cunts, they’re giving up
Bellerin needs to know when to clear the ball
Emery still bares his teeth @ 4 – 2.
Love it.
This is what we wished for booting Wenger!! Hear hear…
Torreira scoring has topped this game off for me. That is an absolutely amazing turnaround.
What a game. What an absolute cracker.
My heart was in my mouth since 2 1 down, but the euphoria now is incredible.
Come on you gunners. Looooove it
wengemery really got to GoH
quick posts in succession. Hide the pain away pal
Emery is having a breather hahaha
WALKING IN UNAI WONDERLAND
I’ll also say, 2 1 down last year we would’ve folded. The character this team has shown is unbelievable and all down to the new manager.
Who was the cunt that said we weren’t good enough for the top 4? Was it gambon??
Be careful what you wish for
Lol talking about mental strength…
“Spurs defense got overwhelmed. How do you deal with Auba, Laca and Ramsey all at the same time?”
Put in Özil… ;p
Torr has got to be one of the best bargain buys in a very very long time
Let’s hope Emery realises that Iwobi, Özil and mikki are surplus. Ramsay good as an impact player but not worth £200k.
Torrier and gued is our midfield for the next 7 years.
We need better defenders and other attacking options.
Where is GoH ????
Lol mental strenght again ??
Dale
Season isn’t over yet.
This is absolutely fantastic !
What a game !
kolasinac has been underappreciated this game. He is a beast out there.
Emery has schooled Poch. No one is missing weng#r more than mourinho right now.
GoH wants the PL title, nothing less.
Wow that fighting spirit and ze mental strength
Might be my favourite match ever.
Fuck you Tim Sherwood.
Emery’s boldness in calling a spade a spade is coming to fruition
Everyone bar Pierre knew Ozil was a dopey lazy cvnt
Hope Laca is ok
Looks bad
I hope he is okay
Fucking get in, great day to be an Arsenal supporter, proud of the boys.
That tops it……… Hope laca is safe
Oooh to be a gunner. fuck the scum
I just want improvement. This is improvement.
This is amazing. Spurs have lost the plot here.
If I’m not mistaken isn’t Poch 0-7 against Emery? About to be 0-8.
Nasty. Hope laca is ok
hahaha look at them spuds turn and go…
laca just got back from injury ffs
My best derby since the one Adebayor scored the volley in
Hopefully this result will unite the fan base one and all firmly behind the new manager.
Nasty challenge on Laca.
Vertonghen gets away with a lot of reckless stuff.
pochettinos suit looks like its straight out of primark
Be careful what you wish for . Hell yeah.
Time to save some energy to do the manure…
Control the game and don’t be silly.
See ya mate!
Ha! Erikson does sooooo much than Ozil😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Proper derby
This one is good
I think Vertonghen deliberately left them up on that. Deserved the second yellow. Good call by the ref.
I’m enjoying the handbags as well.
Laca is not 100%
Manure Are dead….
Xhaka has actually been smart in this match. Winks is a little bitch. I seriously love derby day. Spuds are trash.
Yes bellerin, no longer a boy
We bullied them to bits
The rotation midweek helped;poed
As id Son and Alli are saints..
Spuds dont dive is it?
Stuff it on thier face
Let’s all sing… two one and you fuck it up.
Sets us up nicely for Manure
Holding s a boy … no more
He’s really good.
The media and their love with Spuds should die a bit……after this proper spank
6 min fergie time
Dean doing his last deed
I’m seriously loving this…
What a fantastic win this is. A statement game from Emery. We’ve got our Arsenal back indeed.
What’s good is we aren’t just winning we are winning playing quality football against a very good team
And to the CUNTISH brats who said the spuds were better
Confidence is key. We just need to keep pur head down and tear manu to shreds.. Long due for us..
All credit to Emery. He has breathed a great fighting spirit into the side, and he made a couple of smart, important changes at half.
Dale
I deffo thought we would lose this game before the match started.
Pleased to be completely and utterly wrong
People will point it out and tbf to him, Wenger had a good record against Spurs at the Emirates even in the dark days.
But today’s performance is just different, not just about the result. We’ve outplayed Spurs all over the park and have shown massive heart to come back from 2-1 down.
Feels good man, been too long.