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.
1st
And
The
Trophy
Damn you, Rich!
Auba won’t be in the squad apparently.
Holding and Gabriel at the back for me.
I just dont trust David Luiz and Mari is bound to be a bit rusty?
Fingers crossed Gabriel is match-sharp again and plays like he did early on.
This isn’t the best time to launch an attack on mou, is it? Last time I checked, he’s still 3 points with a game in hand ahead of us. And I still think his team played liverpool better than we did.
Sorry to say this but I see no much difference between Luiz and gabriel, gabriel gets caught out of his position as much as luiz, both don’t have the legs to run and both enjoy bumping forward
I’d be scratching my eyes out of my head if I had to put up with parking the bus and 3 counter attacks every single game. Maybe different if they were winning most games and top of the league, but they aren’t. As predicted when he was appointed by many, he’ll be gone within the year. He might win the league cup but if the Aurier thing is anything to go by he will lose e squad a la Juanfran and have a terrible start to the next season. The picture of ESR, Odegaard, Saka and Martinelli is striking. It’s… Read more »
I’d be happy to play small margins football for this one, keep our shape Saka has improved since Old Trafford, Lacazette is in good form, and Smith-Rowe + Partey both trained today, we’ve also got the option of Odegaard from the bench It’s a 50/50 game, but if we’re as open as we were in the first half against Southampton, we’ll likely get punished I’m comfortable with us playing counter attacking football for this one. Hopefully we can get an early goal, draw United onto us. Then get Saka + Pepe + Smith-Rowe running at and pressing the United in… Read more »
Not often I feel confident before any game buy more so when we play a top 4 side. But I feel relatively confident! I feel this united side have massively over achieved this season and the league table is massively flattering the level they’re actually at. They’ve bottled most big league games this season and have massively rode their luck with last minute scruffy goals (Wolves) and sides not being ruthless or clinical enough to see them off (Soton and West Ham). The one thing that worries me is them on the break against us. They looked clueless midweek when… Read more »
Luiz wasn’t named here*
I am also really hoping we give Odegaard a game. Could come on firing at around 70 mins!
Yes. That picture offers some proper trouser arousal. I don’t think this game is as key as you suggest. Sure it’ll be brilliant to win but to suggest that it’s somehow season-defining is like the marketing hyperbole and turd polishing that one sees on Sky. Its only our 21st game ffs. If he picks the right team and game plan, the players maintain discipline and we get more lucky breaks and second balls than they do, it’ll be enough. That all said, Kroenkephobe junior and I will party like it’s fucking 1999 if it all comes together.
There’s been a lot of talk recently whether we can get top 4. Or 5th or 6th. Looking at the past ten seasons, 4th place varies between 66pts (last season) and 79pts (13/14). This is about 72pts on average, and is just under 2 points per game for a whole season. I’ve always thought that winning our home games and drawing our away games would mean we would be “there or thereabouts”, and is a sort of “par”. Clearly that won’t win the league (typically 80 – 100 points), but it’s a good start, and would generate 76 points. This… Read more »
The type of game AMN needs to be involved in
God, I hate this 1st 2nd 3rd 4th shit, it’s so fucking childish.
Home advantage doesn’t count for much nowadays with nobody there watching. But if there were a packed stadium it would be the most stimulated crowd there for many, many years.
That is what Arteta has done – brought zest back to the club.
Zest is what Man U lack. They will be suffering a hangover after the Burnley defeat. I fancy Arsenal to win comfortably. Referee and VAR permitting.
KT hopefully back for tomorrow, ESR and Partey fully fit.
Team for tomorrow ……
Leno
Bell (it should be Cedric but Arteta would go with our captain) .
Holding
Luiz
KT
Xhaka
Partey
ESR (Odegaard would be coming late)
Pepe (should be Martinelli as Bissaka would bully Pepe defensively and offensively)
Laca
Saka (good to give fat boy Luke the run around)
‘Yes. That picture offers some proper trouser arousal.’
????
Taking the comments on a blog a little serious there Green Bay.
England
VAR and ref permitting.. oh so true! They did finally have some decisions go against them Wednesday against Sheff U.. let’s hope that’s the start of their luck changing! They’ve had ridiculous amounts of luck this season in the league!
I’ll take 3 points any how, any way tomorrow.
I’d rather a comfortable win, but it would be simply tremendous if we shit-housed both fixtures against them this season.
I think Luiz starts at the back, unfortunately. I don’t know why I always think that he’s due a solid error-free 90 mins even though it never happens.
KT and Cedric fullbacks, Holding Gab/Luiz CBs, Xhaka Partey CMs, Marti, ESR, Saka, attacking mids, Laca ST.
Everyone plays well and it’s a strong enough squad to get a result.
Sid It’s a metaphor aimed at competing with Pedro’s predilection for linking sex with good football. I’m telling you for free…
C’mon Pedro man!!! That picture should have come with a forewarning or something. I was sitting next to the misuses .
Had to take it to the bathroom.
Nice post and Youtube video!
Team I want to see tomorrow:
…………Leno……….
Cedric–Holding–Mari–Tierney
………..Partey–Xhaka………..
……..Saka–ESR–Pepe
…………..Lacazette………..
“God, I hate tGod, I hate this 1st 2nd 3rd 4th shit, it’s so fucking childish.his 1st 2nd 3rd 4th shit, it’s so fucking childish.”
29th?
This is anything other than an average season.
Who knows what points tally will do what this year?
Wins against United were rare for a good chunk of years there, but believe our record against them the last few years has actually been really good, so long may that continue. Hoping the squad shows up tomorrow. If Auba is out then I hope we go with Martinelli instead of Pepe to start, even if Pepe has been decent enough the last couple games. Would really be surprised to see Odegaard get any run, don’t think Arteta would throw him in against United for his first PL appearance.
Karsa
I’m sure Sid knows. He’ll tell us for free if we’re lucky.
C’mon Pedro man!!! That picture should have come with a forewarning or something. I was sitting next to the misuses .Had to take it to the bathroom.
Kroenkephoebe will be waiting for you,
Let ‘it’ sink in!
Happy to see Jose stinking the place out but be real, maybe 1% of people on here wanted him and the other 99% would rather stab themselves in the eye.
I’m not too bothered about Martial and Rashford, United fans have been maoning about the pair of them for weeks. They’re not in form at all. Pogba is a problem that hopefully Partey will deal with, Fernandes and Cavani are the other that we need to look out for.
Three points and no injuries.
I don’t care how we do it, but a win is a must, especially at home.
Leno
AMN — Gabriel — Holding — Tierney
Partey — Xhaka
Saka — ESR — Pepe
Lacazette
Subs
Cedric, Ryan, Bellerin, Odegaard, Martinelli, Aubameyang*,Nketiah, Willock, Elneny
*If available
Discipline, discipline, discipline.
This would be audacious, and I’d rather a more conservative approach
But I wouldn’t rule out Odegaard starting
Partey, Tierney, Smith-Rowe all in training:
………………Leno
……..Holding Gabriel
Bellerin…………..Tierney
……….Partey Xhaka
Saka Odegaard Smith-Rowe
………..Lacazette
It’s the type of starting 11 that either goes very right, or badly wrong
Not sure I’d fancy an open ended game with United, but I’m sure this would be fun for the neutral, and for the fans who’s team comes off the least worst
Particularly if United go with both Pogba + Fernandes
Big game indeed.
Why wasn’t Tierney in that picture ?
Was it because he wasn’t wearing long sleeves, tights, gloves , and a neck gator?
“Happy to see Jose stinking the place out but be real, maybe 1% of people on here wanted him and the other 99% would rather stab themselves in the eye.“
Make that both eyes in my case Andy.
Donthorpe had a raging hard-on for Jose when Spurs hired him. Poor fella always on the wrong side of history.
Kroenkephoebe “I don’t think this game is as key as you suggest. Sure it’ll be brilliant to win but to suggest that it’s somehow season-defining is like the marketing hyperbole and turd polishing that one sees on Sky”. It’s a narrative to set-up a fall. Classic. Talk Sport are good at that. Dress it up as the most important game of the season, which it isn’t, and you just cannot lose. Win/win Pedro is really smart, he knows how to play the game, he knows how to drive content. What will define the season is how many points we get… Read more »
CG wanted Jose big time , which is kinda weird considering he’s such a Wenger worshipper.
You’d think he might’ve held a grudge for all those insults Mourinho sent his way.
This is the most I’ve look forward to a game for a long time, I usual get anxiety central in the lead up to a United game
Saka’s + Tierney’s progression, the emergence of Smith-Rowe, and Partey returning, has put a spring in my step
Hopefully we don’t get a Luiz or Xhaka disaster class, that see’s my mood plummeting back down to earth
Whether you are in, out, inbetween, agnostic, personality disorder, psychotic, live in Crawley, cut classes in school, or, heaven forbid, live with your parents, you have to admit it’s fucking exciting.
And that picture, I was about to go on Older Woman Fun, but now I don’t need to.
Jamie
The Mourinho love comments on here have been nauseating. How he turned us down because we had poor management structure, how they would win the league, what a great side Spurs have and how none of our players would get into it. Top class trolling from the usuals. Well, based on last nights performance the only players I would take are Hojberg and Son. That’s as long as they promise not to start any fights and flick dust at me from that blue and white carpet in their trophy room.
IHGB
“And that picture, I was about to go on Older Woman Fun, but now I don’t need to”
Lol, that was funny.
Holding and Gabriel at CB tomorrow, Its our best pairing
Tom/AFC –
It’s amazing any self-respecting Arsenal supporter would want Mourinho anywhere near the club. He’s such a cunt, and as Tom said, the shit he used to throw at Wenger (despite his many faults) in pressers was deplorable.
Can’t have a prick like that after a classy guy like Wenger. Totally the wrong formula.
I liked the nickname for Mourinho , I am sure I picked it up on LeGrove . It was Maureen . haha . Maureen is bitchy right now , no January signings for him .
Jamie
If you offered me Jose with an ironclad guarantee of winning the title I would still decline.
Have some fucking pride for fucks sake people, there are more important things in football and in life than trinkets.
He’s got the most prolific attacking duo in football, more than capable midfield, and he chooses to play risk averse football to the point of stressing the shit out of his players for fear of making a single mistake.
If odegaard is fit and ready i would love to see him start on the left hand side instead of a forward and drift to midfield whenever we get the ball.
It would be priceless to see united players shit their pants it we pushed 2 playmakers and partey+elneny against their 2 holding midfielders. 😀
I can’t see Ødegaard starting against United.
United are only 10 goals to the good but conceded more than scored at OT.
On the road they are a different animal. You play an open, attacking game against them and more time than not they will punish you.
Fernandez has clocked more minutes than any other attacking player in the league so he’s due a stinker or injury if Ole doesn’t rest him soon.
Doubt it’ll be tomorrow though.
Pedro I must appreciate the enormous work you put into running this blog. Although I only started commenting of late, I have been following this blog for about 5 years and its a good avenue for me to relax after a hard days work… All for free.
Thank you so much mate. I anticipate the game this weekend as Ole has always been Artetas bitch and that’s FACTS!!!
Mourinho: disgusting man, disgusting football.
Pedro,
Great conversation with the Man U Youtubers.
Special commendation I’m restrained diplomatic language you used when talking about Manchester’s Norwegian Jesus!
Auba’s absence tomorrow has not generated as much concern as it would, irrespective of his form.
This also reinforces the progress the team has made in the last few games. Kudos to Arteta and the boys!
Klopp started Salah, Mane, Firmino, and Jota away to City and basically said fuck it, you’ve got to be brave.
Mourinho would’ve kept two out of those four on the bench, dropped Mane into midfield, and packed the holding mid with three players instead.
Man Utd away this season
P 10
W 8
D 2
L 0
Ulp.
Maureen is still living off his past success, mainly achieved with money. That eye-poking incident at Real was appalling. He has zero class.
He hasn’t been able to move with the times, his football is the same as it has always been and there is always something going on around him. Spurs fans would sell their souls for success because they have never really won anything and living in our shadow all these years has made them desperate. But even they are fed up with Maureen and his boring football and behaviour.
IHGB
That’s not a very nice statistic!!!!!
Proves how dangerous they are on the break.
Manure have been good away from home this year, been playing a good counter attacking game akin to some of the stuff old Red nose had them playing.
We definitely don’t want to be caught to far field up against them as they have pace in their team. Hope KT is in and TP is fully fit as he can break the press..
Come on you gunners
Le Sauce, thank you for spending time on here, great to have you in the comments!
I would rather have Gabriel than Luiz. Gabriel was rusty vs Southampton but he must start playing somehow and on top form he is great. And I wonder if we should drop bellerin considering Cedric has been in fine form. I don’t think we can fit in pepe for this kind of game. Martinelli is the guy for this game. As always xhaka is a worry for me in these kind of games where there is a lot of energy and pressure. Lineup Leno Cedric Holding Gabriel Tierney Partey Xhaka Saka ESR Martinelli Lacazette United have been great away from… Read more »
Used to do my head in when we would have 75 % of the game and they would do us with break away goals. It won’t surprise me if we play cagey against them tomorrow
“Pedro I must appreciate the enormous work you put into running this blog. Although I only started commenting of late, I have been following this blog for about 5 years and its a good avenue for me to relax after a hard days work… All for free.“
Le Sauce
No special thanks to Sid?
He’s been putting in almost as much effort on here as Pedro ………and also for free.
Starting pepe on the left is a NO for me. Wan Bissaka will brush him off. We need Martinelli. Ole might go with a diamond midfield or a 3 man midfield with Pogba, Bruno and One of Fred Or Mctominay. We Just need to keep our awareness against counter attacks. We need to keep an eye on Bruno when we are deep in our own half. Do that and we can absolutely win this.
I remember the hysteria on LG when Spurs were three nil up at half time against West Ham. Oh, we picked the wrong manager, oh, none of our players would get in Spurs side, Son and Kane will have the league wrapped up by Christmas.
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
IHGB
Yes, I remember that. When West game equalised I laughed my head off. Some of them get a bit carried away saying nicer things about Spurs than Arsenal.
Never wanted that boring cunt Mourinho, for two reasons, for being disrespectful towards Arsene, and I knew he was finished as a top club manager around 2015 and the madness he caused at Chelsea the second time.
The irony on all this, he’s making the same mistakes as Wenger, wanting to stay 10 years too long after the game have moved on from their old methods.
AFC
Who were these people saying nice things about the spuds as Pedro needs to ban them post haste
Time up
Nail on head comes to mind
Hebesha,
“Starting pepe on the left is a NO for me. Wan Bissaka will brush him off. We need Martinelli. “
That’s exactly what I said, Bissaka would bully Pepe offensively and defensively. Pepe would look like a little boy brushed like he was not there. That’s why, I have a feeling Arteta would play him.
The league is wide open
City have a big schedule, the deeper they go in the FA Cup + Champions League, the more likely they’ll drop points domestically
They’ve got to go to Anfield in a couple of weeks
The title is there for the taking, for anyone who gets on a run
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 17 Premier League away games. I didn’t know that.
We have picked up 15 points from the last 18, with four clean sheets in our last five PL games. United have not won any of their five Premier League games vs the so called ‘big-six’ sides this (D2 L3), and haven’t scored from open play in any of those games (one penalty).
Rich
“The title is there for the taking, for anyone who gets on a run”
All we have to do is win every game and it’s ours!!!!
We can dream
Time up
If our left sided forward moves inside like Pepe did against Southampton
Odegaard central and Smith-Rowe on the left, this creates overloads centrally, and moves Wan-Bissaka inside
Which leaves plenty of room for Tierney to exploit down the left
And then have Laca, Saka, Smith-Rowe and Odegaard attacking the box
We just need Michael Thomas last 5 mins at a field moments for the rest of the season and it’s ours
*Anfield
AFC,
Excuse me, 16 points don’t take a point from us we need even a half point ATM lol.
And, I really don’t care even if they have been unbeaten in 50 games away from home. Stop Bruno and they’re left with that Scottish donkey, Fred and slow Pogba. Up front if no service Martial lazy and never interested.
ManU is not a great side and I would still be worried of Leicester more.
Rich,
My issue with Pepe lately have been more physical than technical. He’s now so light weight even that useless Theo was trying to bully him.
He has the skills, all he needs to toughen up and be like Zaha, put his body between the players and the ball to draw fouls. And give other players some attitude not let a wimp like Theo to shout at him after fouling him and take it.
Just reminded me of that Stoned AMN, Madison got him sent off and he shock hands with him while leaving the field.
Jose following the same track as he did at OT.
The guy is already getting ready to throw all his toys out of the pram.
Can’t understand why he hasn’t been able to kickstart Bale.
It’s always somebody else’s fault with Mourinho.
AFC
From previous post.
“Fact” was done out of sarcasm because of the previous communications in the same post.
Q. Is it an opinion to state that anybody with an once of intelligence, common sense, compassion and empathy could have done a better job than Trump at being US President?
Some would say that’s not an opinion, it’s a FACT.
What would you say?
If I was to make a choice as to who’s the bravest between the player who dribbles with the ball or the player who is trying to stop the player dribbling with the ball, it would be the player dribbling with the ball all day long… For a player like Pepe , who receives no protection from the officials, to continue to attempt to dribble past players whilst being pushed, elbowed , ģrabbed and hacked to pieces, it takes immense bravery from him. He’s probably at the wrong football club if he wants to put his foot on the ball….a… Read more »
Graham62
Politics doesn’t float my boat mate. Sorry.
I don’t think the Premier league is conducive with ball dribbling wingers, the successful ones seem to have the speed of an Olympic 100 mtr runner and they kick and chase
John G
Had to Google the date. 18th October 2020 Spurs winning 3-0 against West Ham.
The usuals were creaming over Jose and Spurs. Until the equaliser went in.
Apparently, Maureen turned Arsenal down because we had a shit management structure – yep that sort of made up bollocks you can only get on LeGrove.
Timeup Pepe worries me defensively, as does his all round game, but he does have end product I agree about him being a bit tame in 1 v 1 against someone like Wan-Bissaka But quick feet against Maguire + Lindolof could cause issues His movement needs to be better He either needs to drag his right back out wide, creating space centrally for Smith-Rowe, or move inward and create space down the left for Tierney He’s a talented player, but he’s incredibly raw, and has a lot of holes in his game I’d rather see more pragmatic approach tomorrow, but… Read more »
Pierre.
Yes, when Pires came to the Premier League Wenger made him sit on the bench and watch to see what the Premier League was like. After he had played a couple of games Pires went to see Wenger and said he didn’t think the Premier League was for him. Said it was too physical and the referees let people kick him. Didn’t turn out too bad though.
AFC
Pires was a legend but I think he changed his game to what it was when he played in France, let’s hope pepe can do the same
Rich,
Pepe now 25 approaching 26 in four months, can we still call him raw at this age????.
The sad truth, when he arrived to the club in his first season, he was better and I liked him despite all the criticism he received. Now, after almost 2 years, we’re dealing with a shadow of that player. I personally, given up on him being top player for Arsenal that coast 72 mil.
John G
Helluva player, Pires. As you say, he adapted his game and Pepe has to do that. As Pires said, coming from France to the Premier League is a culture shock due to the physical nature and the fact you get little protection – it takes time to adapt.
AFC,
Pires was one of my favourite player at Arsenal and it took him 6 months before he started flying. Bobby had a football brain even when he was struggling, you can see what he wants to do.
Pepe now almost 18 months and he’s not improving, he’s getting worse.
Pepe hasn’t been great. At times he’s shown his talent but just far too inconsistent. He scored 35 in 70 odd goals at Lille so he has the ability. Some players just can’t step up to the PL he won’t be the first or the last. But I haven’t given up on him yet.
Kris,
“This is common with African players in the EPL – the refs don’t like them too much.“
This is rubbish, Drogba was getting pens left, right, middle and centre. Last time I checked, he was African. So are Salah and Mane.
“This is common with African players in the EPL – the refs don’t like them too much”.
Wow, that’s a weird thing to say.
It’s because they play for Arsenal not because they are African; Ramsey, Eduardo, Diaby were all done by very bad tackles.
“Odeegard doesn’t tackle and he hardly tracks back. He is only good for the ACM role.”
I’ve been listening to a couple of guys on YouTube (one a Norwegian who reports on football in Spain, the other, an ex Arsenal player living in Spain.) Both claim Ødegaard is excellent defensively.
Finally some good news, our third keeper Iliev who’s 25 has been recalled from a loan and going to be our 3rd keeper, he’s homegrown player. That means Runarsson go on lone or he won’t be registered in the EL squad, which we can register Odegaard.
Just a thought, but do we possibly have Nacho Monreal to thank for Ode’s signing?
1. He was a close friend and teammate with Arteta
2. He played last season with Ode at Real Sociedad
At the very least, he gave both Mikel and Ode an extra level of comfort about the deal.
We obviously don’t pay the refs very good back handers
Unlike some other teams I will not mention
Manure will be raising their game for us – no doubt. Don’t expect the team that lost to Sheff Utd to turn up. This game will be on a different level in terms of motivation for both sides. Odegaard won’t start; Arteta has a tendency to be ultra conservative in such games which has often been our downfall. The players will want to take it to Manure and should be allowed to do so. If we start backwards/sideways we will be in trouble. I would personally start with an attacking approach and put them on the back foot. If we… Read more »