SEASON DEFINING GAME AWAITS, DO ARSENAL HAVE THE SAUCE?

by .

Arsenal takes on United in a huge game that is going to go some way to deciding the fates of both teams this season.

If United win, they’re in the title race, and this will be a big moment for them after their dismal loss to Sheffield United in the week.

If Arsenal wins, it’ll cement us as contenders for Europe. Beating Southampton was massive, but it means very little without beating United. This match also sets the tone for a very rough run of games. Leeds, Wolves, Villa, Leicester and City will define if we make the top 6. I feel more confident than I did a few weeks ago, but let’s be real, this season has been very, very hard to predict, so who knows what is coming.

The only thing we can control is how we play.

The squad is in very good shape at the moment. Big players are back in the side. Arteta has found a formula that allows us to attack with swagger without opening ourselves up to decimation. We’ve moved away from the grey clouds that have been dampening our season.

The last time we played United it was a drab affair. Arteta was high off ‘fine margins’ and we shithoused OGS with a tactical masterclass. We didn’t really create much though. The game was won on a penalty, then it all went to hell for us after.

I think the game this weekend will be different. United might have been taught a lesson by Sheff U, but make no mistake, they’ll come firing on all cylinders against us. They have a dreamy selection of attacking players to choose from. Paul Pogba is in form, Rashford, Martial, and Fernandes are always a nightmare to deal with. If we leave ourselves open, they will punish us.

The main difference this time around is we’ll have a fitter Thomas Partey available (prays). That gives us a world-class platform to build an attack from. Last time around, we used Mo Elneney to great tactical effect. Will he be used again to keep some of United’s more vibrant players quiet? Partey’s partner is going to be key.

Attack wise, we now have a plethora of talent to choose from.

If that above picture didn’t turn you on in a footballistic sense, then you are the problem.

I don’t know if Auba is going to be ready for Sunday, regardless, we have great options. ESR, Saka and Gabriel M should start. That’s a wave of energy most clubs aren’t used to seeing from Arsenal. We should really be getting at the United centre backs by stretching them with pace and fast passing.

Defensively, I’m not sure how we’ll line up. Who is our starting centre back partnership? David Luiz dropped 3 howlers in the last game and he’s not built for pacey players. Gabriel has been shaky and hasn’t landed a lot of minutes. Pablo Mari has been out. It’ll be a big decision as to who players. Hopefully, Tierney is fit, that gives is more pace, and great delivery. I’m not sure I’d fancy Cedric at leftback, regardless of his great form.

This is going to be an exciting runout. It’s a huge game for the Arteta project. The good news is we’re going into this game with a bit more confidence. There’s still something to play for. Let’s see what we have.

Finally, before I go, let’s ask how Spurs fans are feeling about Jose as their head coach?

I said last year Arsenal fans would be happier come February than Spurs fans.

Was I right? I think so. My Spurs pal messaged me this.

‘If I win the euro millions I’ll donate the lot to sacking him and his backroom team. You just know he’s going to win the Coca  Carabao league cup thing and bag himself another year. And I will take no pleasure in that.’

3 attempts at Liverpool’s goal last night. His title-winning attempt this year has landed him… 3 points ahead of our total novice overseeing a shit show of a season with a far lesser squad of players.

Whose fans are more excited right now? Which vision of football do you prefer? Would ANYONE prefer Jose in the dugout earning £15m a year complaining how shit his players are?

I did not think so.

Plenty of work to be done at Arsenal, but we’re on a better track than Spurs.

See you in the comments and please, do tell me some more about how ‘elite’ Jose still is.

P.S. CLICK THIS VIDEO BELOW. I spoke to Haider and Ciaran about the United game. Two top United fans doing Youtube video RIGHT. Enjoy… leave a little thumbs up on the video.

232 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Time up

WBA v Fulham, the relegation Classico. I hope Fat Sam lose under the snow again.

Time up

Jamie,

“Anyone still hot for Carlo?“

And Rodríguez with the manager understanding his strengths and building a team to make him impose his style lol.

Tom

“Everton looked flat “ yup, they definitely do. Carlo got them higher up the table than they should be though. Iwobi wasn’t good enough for Arsenal but have been starting for Everton. Richarlison some said was good enough for Barca, I said he was a headless chicken and got a lot of pushback on here. He’s got one goal from open play in the prem this season. And don’t let me even get startEd on Pickford. I never wanted Carlo for Arsenal but don’t kid yourself, I’d take this Arsenal squad over Everton’s any day of the week and twice… Read more »

Kenyangunner

Say what you want about Saint-Maximin but he injects life into Newcastle

TR7

Said it in summer that both Carlo and Maureen were massively overrated and I wouldn’t touch any of them with a barge pole. All this hogwash about ‘experience’ and ‘calming influence’ is just that. Both have been lucky in their career to have inherited great teams with seasoned professionals. The likes of Pep, Klopp, Poch, Conte are the real deal.

Tenerife+Gooner

Hate these games .Know i will be a bag of nerves,even if we are 3_0 with 10 minutes to go.

Tom

Arsenal Transfermarkt valuation – $650m, Everton – $550m
I was actually surprised how low our was tbh but still better than theirs.

TR7

Marko, Marc, Receding, Charlie, Ishola, Paulinho and several other regular posters absent from this place for quite a while now.

Mysticleaves

It was really only one guy that wanted Jose with another guy sitting on the fence. Carlo was much of a draw for people and for good reason too. I didn’t want Carlo but he would have done better than Arteta has done with Arsenal.

Time up

Fulham 1 up, lovely, send Fat Sam down.

Leftside

Really is a chance for us with the topsy turvy, inconsistent nature of the season. If we can yield a healthy return from this next set of fixtures we’ll have every opportunity.

Northbanker

TR7 – Pep?? when has he managed a Burnley on a tight budget? Klopp I grant you – he took on Bayern and nearly matched them and then rebuilt Liverpool

But Pep has taken over great and expensive teams at Barca, Bayern and City . All he had to do was sustain. I’m not convinced by any manager until they have pulled a team up by the bootstraps

Northbanker

Mystic – ‘ I didn’t want Carlo but he would have done better than Arteta has done with Arsenal.’ rubbish – he would face exactly the same problems. Would we have won the FA Cup? maybe he might have made different decisions with Martinez Luiz and Willian for the better. Arteta however has done what he needed to do and is much more likely to be a long term fixture to build. He bought Gabriel, Mari and Partey. Would Carlo? He probably wouldn’t have had ESR any earlier cos of injury. He would still have had Martinelli s injury. But… Read more »

Northbanker

One year on from Arteta being appointed we’re in a decent position to make real progress.whatever happens tonight. There is a strategy finally merging even though mistakes have been made. I feel very confident that we’re getting many of our issues behind us and a new generation is taking us forward. We’ve also had a decent TW and Odegaard is hopefully part of that now.

TR7

North I find Pep to be incredibly smart in how he assesses the game and the kind of football he gets his players to play. Granted he needs top players to execute his plans but he has achieved some incredible feats in the game. He managed to reach 100 and 98 points in EPL in two successive seasons. Of course everyone knows about his famous tiki taka football.That Barca team was absolutely breathtaking. You might say they had unbelievable players but I don’t think any other manager in the world would have got them to play the way Pep did.… Read more »

Crimson

Stefan Schwarz

Northbanker

TR7 – can’t disagree with that and in some ways perhaps that shows that there are lots of skill subsets. Getting more out of a great team may be a different skill from a Dyche keeping Burnley in the Prem or a Rodgers getting Leicester into a challenging position (or the incredible feat of Alan Curbishley in keeping Charlton in the Prem for so long in 90s /00s.)

Time up

WBA, horrible to watch. There’s rumour, AMN want to go to WBA over Southampton, to improve his England chances!.

Time up

WBA equalised 1/1 jinxed it .

Time up

Palace 1/0 up v Wolves. Our next game on Tuesday against Wolves.

Guns of Brixton

That Eze lad….

Keep an eye on him

Guns of Brixton

Team to face Man Utd: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Soares, Partey, Xhaka, Pepe, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Lacazette.

Subs: Runarsson, Magalhaes, Odegaard, Willian, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Elneny, Willock, Nketiah.

Guns of Brixton

Team to face Arsenal: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Pogba, Fernandes, Rashford, Cavani.

Subs: Henderson, Bailly, Martial, James, Telles, Matic, Van de

Guns of Brixton

Bench lacking oopmf

S Asoa

Saka – No
Loverboys – Blend, Xhakason in.
No tension after the result

TheBayingMob

Were going to lose if we keep giving the fucking ball away

Kegunner

Losing the ball in midfield is a problem

rollen

Luiz out Gabriel in.

Kegunner

Better ball retention especially in final third should be a priority.

Jim+furnell

Willian – we’re fucked

Kroenkephobe

Willock or Wontock? The tension is fucking unbearable.