HAPPY MONDAY MY FRIENDS I AM FIT AND HEALTHY AND READY… to… you know… go to work and be a good citizen.
Did you like my headline? I was trying to be motivational. I say that sort of shit when I get paired with my GF in table football. Never helps, but you gotta sound the big man in front of the lads.
Anyway…
The Monday MEGA GAME is here!
The next level in sports entertainment.
Arsenal vs Watford.
A clash of the Titans.
A matchup of good vs evil.
Winner takes… well, nothing. But if we win, it’ll put us in mighty fine shape to finish the season in the top 3 of all places.
Imagine?
Liverpool put Chelsea at a disadvantage in the race, defeating them in a 2-0 victory. There were no Gerard like slips yesterday. Sarri is once again a massive fraud.
Now it’s over to Arsenal to crank up the pressure and keep pushing on in this very exciting race.
What adds even more importance to this game now is that Spurs play City this week in the Champions League then the league at the weekend. Both games are AWAY. We could genuinely bring top 3 into play again.
… or we could bottle it and make things really difficult for ourselves because we’re weak minded and feeble.
I have no idea how Emery is going to operate.
This evening, unless Mavrapanos has had some sort of Maldini like transformation in training, will likely see Mustafi in defence. A huge worry for everyone involved. There’s a great Getty image of Emery looking at the German the way we all look at the TV screen when he careens into an unnecessary slide tackle or throws out an elbow for no meaningful reason.
I don’t want to guess how he’s going to take on the starting 11. I think we need to be careful about how we line up, but I think I’d gamble on a strong starting 11 and then take players off once we’re ahead… vs start weak, go a goal down, then chase a game with our best players.
One thing worth noting is we had Napoli beaten early and took off Laca and Ozil on 67. I actually thought that was a more interesting point when I started writing it. I think I was hoping Ramsey had also come off, and closer to 55 minutes. Ignore that… but know we could do it against Watford if we have a strong first half.
Despite the worries, our record at Vicarage road isn’t that bad. We lost last season, but we’d won our previous 4 in a row before that. This is a good Watford team, no doubt, but if you want to fight for CL, you have to be able to beat a team that’s sitting in 10th. They’ve lost 3 of their last 6, dropping full points to United, City and Liverpool. Sure, they can be impressive on their day, but I think things are going to have to go really well for them for that to happen tomorrow. Key for us is to not let their physicality get into our heads.
My one worry with them is they’ve had a full 7 days to prepare for us… not pesky midweek game to deal with. They’ll be packed full of energy, they’ll be revved up and they’ll have a game plan they’ll be confident of executing. We’ll have a bit of rust in our legs after the win on Thursday that we’ll have to shake off quickly if we’re to overcome them.
Momentum is hugely important now. Tensions are up, confidence should be on-point… all we need is a focused week of victories. We really need the best of Emery here. We need the best of our players. We need the best of luck.
COME ON ARSENAL x
hahah typical really
just keep the ball run down the clock I can’t take anymore of this accident waiting to happen defense
If this is Emery’s way forward god help us
Guendouzi is awful.
@CG
Who would you have in charge?
Who would do a better job with this squad? Arteta? Jardin?
thats really stupid of ozil to be offside. that literally gives the ball back to Watford.
Helter skelter football under Emery is not going to lead us to anywhere.
Jeezus. WTF was that? I’ll take it.
Over the line just…
Shit show shit team shit manager
Take it and build on it.
Thank God… 3 pts on the road the hard way.
fuck it that was a pretty laboured performance hopefully it will bear fruit in Naples
3 points, that’s what she said.
3 points and a clean sheet. Just dont ask for the details!
Ooooof
That was horrible but I’ll take it.
First away clean sheet.
I hope we get top four. And then clear out the squad for 7 new first team players .
They’re clueless. And cowardly.
Emery is working absolute miracles with this rabble
Jesus!! A through ball and a run off the shoulder!! Fuck me what a treat to not have another cut back
At least we won
We are so dull it’s painful
I don’t even want to see these useless pricks cheer the result. They’re shit, they have the mentality of goldfish and can only play at the Emirates.
Wolves and Leicester, maybe even Burnley will take points off this unprofessional side.
Three fucking points. Yeah!
The players can’t believe they’ve won this.
We seem to mentally be on holiday when we play away from home
Good result not deserved in view of the abject performance.
TR7 & spainish : no place on Untold ??
Lol scraping a win against the mighty Watford with 11 against 10 for almost the entire game. Emery should be sacked even if he gets CL football.
a shit show but thankfully we won
Laca we need you to score in Naples bro
Hopefully that will settle the nerves a bit going forward.
It’s a completely destructive mix of lack of ability and belief. We have the belief at home which somewhat offsets our lack of quality.
Napoli could legitimately score 3 and put these wankers out, just tell them San Paolo is the Emirates, maybe you’ll get a half respectable performance out of them.
And take Valentine with you, thanks.
One niiil to the arsenal!
3pts…
A very good win but completely unnessecary for it to become this anxiety ridden,some of tthese palyers need to take a long hard look at themselfes especially miki when you are on 200 grand a week you are supposed to be able to finish from 5 yards and not hit the goal keeper and even Auba didnt do himself justice tonight even tough he scored the goal.Kos and Mavro did execellently and you can see why Mavro could be a future rock in our defense.
Take it and build on it.’
Jammy win, happy for it but truth is We were outclassed by 10 man Watford.let that sink in
And Thomas!! The whole family is here lol
Fucking hell! We really made it difficult for ourselves, as usual, but we got the 3pts and a clean sheet to boot (our first of the season; which is a shambles in itself).
“ Difficult to make a silk purse out of a sows ear.”?
So many cogs missing in this dire display.?
We dont score if Foster doesn’t have a stake on at least one away goal either today.
And Victorious!! Incest can makes miracles!!
Thomas you chav
Only here because your own team is so fucking ridiculously shit this season? Even for Chelsea you are particularly crap this year
Lovely to see the scousers mug you off yesterday
Will be even better when we get you in the final and ruin you like we did at Wembley two years ago. Only you won’t have Costa this time
One team in London, there’s only one team in London, there’s only one team in londoooon
4th place now and top 4 finish is still in our hands.
I’d rather be outclassed by a 10 man Watford and walk away with 3pts than play like Barca and walk away with a loss.
Napoli could legitimately score 3 and put these wankers out, just tell them San Paolo is the Emirates, maybe you’ll get a half respectable performance out of them.”
My sentiments exactly, play like this against Napoli and it might get embarrassing
Did it ever occur to some of you simpletons that Emery and the squad had their heads on the Naples game.
It seems that the only way we can win an away game is 11 against 10 men. Auba is just not very good. Keep getting offside. His tap in doesn’t work now. Mikki’s shots are so shockingly bad. Guen did OK so it AMN. He saved us the game. Iwobi is OK. He plays better when Kola is there. Auba couldn’t finish his crosses.
That was one of our worst matches but I thought we’d beat Everton and draw or lose against Watford so I guess I’m happy.
Iwobi and Mkhitaryan are just so shit that it’s actually very sad. Mavropanos very poor.
Guendouzi and Niles got us over the line.
Lucky Chelsea and united are as dysfunctional as us right now.
We are not top 4 quality right now. Let’s hope we Ken it and move on. Still big question marks over fluidity of play right now, is that emery or the squad.
Very few games this year where we have put a full solid half together. Weirdly the closest we got has been against the best teams, united first half and the spurs games.
Let’s hope another season to bed and it clicks in
Ive hated AMN at times but lately he seems to really step it up. Quick and able to move the ball into attack so much better than mutafi
We will have Torriera out there against Napoli. He will add bite to our midfield
We will have e Lacazette up front
He will add bite to our attack.
Something really weird is going on with my keyboard
Emery has a squad, so I don’t mind rotating but trying to shut up shop almost cost us today. We need to attack away as we don’t have any belief away from home.
That being said, we had this same problem last season. These players don’t have the confidence or talent to impose themselves away from home so pinning it all on Emery is silly.
Mhikitarian is not a right winger. He does not have the pace nor the instinct to play there. Between his lack of attacking threat and his missed sitters his biggest contribution has been to block his side.
Does anybody really think that Reiss Nelson would not have been a better option than Mhikitarian at right winger/right attacking midfielder?
Wins for Spurs and United this weekend we simply needed to win. The only way you change the away record for the better is with wins. That’s one 3 more and we’re home and dry
The decision making by a lot of our players is so stupid and just puts ourselves under immediate pressure so often.
Our away form is partly emery’s tactics but it’s also we just don’t have professional, experienced intelligent players who know when to do the right thing. Watford actually embarrassed us tonight.
SF
Hate is such a strong word
Love not hate
Build bridges not walls
Lots of hate for such a lefty….one would almost think it’s inherent
AMN and the game saving block
Too faast Un Battle Devil
Gave AMN some love now…
Auba can’t finish his fucking dinner.
I feel a bit sorry for mikki, he’s a ten really he doesn’t have the legs for wide.
Let’s hope we can raid France for one of these wingers, pepe or sarr
Valentin
Does anybody really think that Reiss Nelson would not have been a better option than Mhikitarian at right winger/right attacking midfielder
That’s a good question
I ask could he have done worse?
How many assist has miki got this season?
Duifg
Sarr is total wank. Overrated and useless kick and run merchant
Not a patch on Theo at the same age
If we had a flying Henry we would have been 3 up at half time we need to keep Danny W and add Nicholas Pepe from Lille in the summer.
Vic’s only happy when Huddersfield win
What’s with the Iwobi hate? Did you see Mkhi? He was practically playing for Watford.
Angel, he had our guys on toast. Not hard I know but he had something
Starting to notice a theme guns SF
DEVIL, HATE….what next? Kill, murder, evil, malevolence?
Fucking hell.
I would say Arsenal would drive me to drink but it’s far to late.
Mavropanos showed why he’s not been playing. Too early to write him off though, still young and coming back from a long injury lay off.
Duifg
No he didn’t. What game were you watching? He ran into space and wasted so many good opportunities to kill us. He’s wank.
“DEVIL, HATE….what next? Kill, murder, evil, malevolence?”
Sounds like a great weekend to me!
Im no Angel, Angel
neither are you bruh, so hey! we have something in common
Can see Spurs, United and Chelsea dropping points so if we can win the two at home, and get two more away it should be okay.
We’re going to need to hope Leicester, Wolves and Burnley are on their summer holidays mentally already.
Duifg
If he signs for Arsenal you’ll all be saying what I’m saying now. He’s a kick and run merchant, headless chicken. No game about him at all. No footballing Brain. Doesn’t get his head up. Can’t pass.
Ozil and Miki simply put dont add the neccessary weight to the team they are far to light weight it is testament to Emery that we are still involved with these kind of slackers hanging around,if we can add clinical finishing to the board next year who knows how great we can become.Watched Pepe destroy PSG and he didnt look one percentt worse of then Mpappe it could be a very importnat signing unless the corrupt spanish and italian clubs shang hais him.
We’re so poor away it beggars belief not to think there’s a mental block hampering us or something,
I think someone should run a quick check on Emery’s career away record as manager,the man has no clue when he steps out the Emirate
Never thought I could Watch arsenal play and literally bleed from the eyes
That was actually horrible to watch, if we didn’t have title winning form on home soil we would be fighting relegation
Angel – don’t agree first leg he looked dangerous.
Let’s see what happens
Samesong
“I ask could he have done worse? ”
It’s not just about measurable output. A young player having a load of bad performances can destroy a career before it’s underway.
Reiss Nelson barely ever starts for Hoffenheim in fact he’s made 4 starts all season. Any thought that he would have been an obvious better option than Mhiki is frankly balony
Lol, this comment section genuinely gets on my nerves.
Has our away woes only started this season Vic?
Today is a perfect example that illustrates that it is a mental issue away from home. Just a lack of confidence especially in the final ball, seemed to always go for the safe option or taking an unnecessary extra touch.
However, you also have to give credit to Watford who really played well with 10 men doucoure and Hughes.
Thought taking Torreira off was a strange one as he was really up for the battle and was dominant.
If we can secure a semi-final spot and three points this weekend we are really well set up.
Angel _ ye raw physicality no doubt, I haven’t seen enough week in week. Out to fully assess his technicality
serious deep rooted problems here with all bar half a dozen of this squad away from home, they may get 4th hope so but with that away record & performances this is no top four side .Major work needed this summer ,they can’t build on anything that may have been achieved with this rag bag squad
Vic’s only happy when Huddersfield win’
Funny enough I think Huddersfield can’t possibly play worse than thats
Even u can’t enjoy that
Wolves and Foxes- we need a result against one of them or else …
gulp
To be very honest it’ll take a huge effort from
this squad to go for the EL and top 4 as well considering the games we have in the premier league.
“””@CG Who would you have in charge?””” Arsenal People Any Combination with David Dein,perhaps Vieira, Henry, Campbell, Lehman, Fred L,Keown Its time for one of Our Invincibles to take over at the end of the season and get our identity back and some put some pazazz back. Emery has not any magic formula- that any of the above do not possess. He has no plan.. He has no feel for the club. For example-His treatment of Ramsey was appalling. We are so dull- its makes the George Wood /John Matthews/Richie Powling days seems nostalgic and intoxicating. Arsenal 2019 Dull Owner… Read more »
And to answer your question Mr Vic,
Emery’s side lost 2 away games last season and 1 at home.
You should really think before you speak in particular. Your on record wishing Huddersfield and Liverpool beat us alone, your say has as much weight as Steve/Thomas (at least he has problems remembering his name). Whats your excuse?
Ozil is practically useless outside of the Emirates
There might even be an argument for him being useless at the Emirates too.
Leftsidesanch
Neither ManU and Chelsea can both get maximum points so one of them is going to drop either 3 points or both are going to drop 2.
Thomas April 15, 2019 20:52:47
Lol scraping a win against the mighty Watford with 11 against 10 for almost the entire game. Emery should be sacked even if he gets CL football
>>>>>>
What a dumb cunt you are.
@samesong,
Mhikitarian has 6 goals and 4 assists in 21 matches.
Reiss Nelson has 7 goals and 0 assists in 19 matches.
A lot of Nelson’s appearance have been as substitute so the number of minutes may be much bigger than the two games in his favour.
The problem is that Mhikitarian is asked to play in a position right winger that is not his.
SpainishDave April 15, 2019 20:50:51
Shit show shit team shit manager
>>>>>>
Shit comment shit commenter shit fan.
CG
If you dislike what you see so much why don’t you fuck off and support some sport / team in South Africa.
Marc,
I think Utd and Thomas’s team Chelsea will prob draw and I can see City beating United.
We need to ensure we better both teams results.
We may go third if Spurs lose at City and we can beat my local side Palace.
Has our away woes only started this season Vic”
No, but I was made to believe Emery was brought in to stop the rot,except that was as rotten as any performance we served up last season
No way anybody can enjoy that shower of shit
I mean have we fallen so low we no longer know what decent football looks like
KampApril 15, 2019 20:51:55
I hope we get top four. And then clear out the squad for 7 new first team players .
They’re clueless. And cowardly.
Emery is working absolute miracles with this rabble
>>>>>>
Great comment.
Le grove has really gone to the shitter
The rivers of anti-emery bias that Pedro set in motion have coalesced into something that’s really ugly.
We just won a crucial away game to keep pace 1-0 with no injuries to boot.
We did it without having to go to second gear so we preserved some energy.
Yet it’s an orgy of ridiculous banter. I guess the likes of TR7, CG, Victorious and Valentin are upset they don’t have much to rail about.
Emery, despite your best wishes has stopped the rot.
Wenger spoke of the next level is the next level is the next level is up and had us descending down to 6th and maybe even worse had we stayed on.
Emery has improved this football club whether you like it or not. I suspect your more of a manager supporter than an actual football club supporter.
If someone said at beginning of the season AFC needed to beat Wolves & Leic away in the run in to finish third , you’d have taken it.
Tough games but only because we lack fluidity.
And even then we are creating chances.
3/4th barely deserved but if our players could find their scoring boots ….
Emery’s away record for Sevilla (League Only)
66 Games, 17 Wins, 20 Draws, 29 Defeats. 86 GF 108 GA.
Emery’s last season at Seville : 19 away games, 9 drawn and 10 lost, no victory.
Never beat Pep, Mourinho and Simeone in La Liga although this one is not quite damning given the teams they were managing when Emery played against them.
One thing is pretty much clear though : Emery is average in every sense of the word.
Listening to Aubameyang interview, It is clear that he does not want to publicly upset the coach but does not agree with his tactics and personnel choice.
Gary Neville on Emery:
“It’s a brilliant performance from Arsenal this season, if they win tonight they go above Manchester United and Chelsea with a game in hand.
“It’s been a brilliant managerial performance from Unai Emery.”
>>>>>
And that’s why Neville is one of the best pundits out there.
Good Ebening everybody. Great three points and good night.