The year is 2021. The future is bleak, face masks and Purrell are the currency of the land. West Ham United are genuinely an excellent side.
Imagine these visions in 2018?
West Ham had a good run out against City, beating them for xG, but losing the game. It’s kind of brutal that TV isn’t aligned better between European football and the league. How can you have City playing the first game of the day after a Champions League run out? Truly brutal.
Arsenal and Leicester are in similar boats this Sunday. I mean, bar the fact Arsenal had to do two away legs in the Europa, with our home leg being further away. Again, why does it have to be the first game of the day? Every little helps. The competitions need better alignment.
The big watchword amongst Arsenal fans atm is ‘THE RED ZONE.’ This terminology was big on Le Grove in the early days. People didn’t think it existed when we were calling for Arsenal to get a S&C coach to fix the injuries (remember Wenger getting a witch doctor in to solve the issue?). Well, now people are very much accepting of sports science. The basic premise… when you are fatigued, you have a higher chance of soft tissue injury. The fancy GPS kit they use helps staff understand where a player is in terms of their limit. When you hit the RedZone, there’s a higher chance you could ping something.
The corollary that many of us are worried about is the breakthrough of Jack Wilshere, when Wenger played him 54 times and the player never recovered… and the breakthrough season of Bukayo Saka, with Arteta being unable to drop the teenager. This is Wilshere.
‘I remember having conversations with the physios in my first year in the Arsenal team. They were like: ‘Look, you’re playing a lot…’ I told them: ‘I want to play”
“I was living the dream. I was 19, playing for Arsenal. We were challenging for the league, in the Champions League. No one was going to tell me I needed a rest. That’s one of my biggest regrets – I wish I’d listened to physios a little more, learned more about my body”
It’s very worrying. Arteta is under pressure and playing for the short term. Keeping players fit and healthy during their development is a longterm thing. ‘The player said he wanted to play’ shouldn’t factor. If I child wants to eat a bonfire, you don’t let them, unless you are a weak leader.
This Sunday feels like one of those plotlines in a film.
‘Come on Bukayo, just one more time. Do it for the boys.’
The Leicester game is another Cup Final, not because we’re going to do anything in the league, but because this project needs a major scalp after a rough run of games. Killing Brendan Rodgers title run after he shithoused us earlier in the season would be totally dreamy. He needs Saka if he has a single hope of it.
The manager knows he’s tired, his response is that fatigue is part of the game. Wenger, Ferguson, Pep, and pretty much every manager out there would say the same… but there needs to be a balance. Unai Emery fucked his top 4 hopes when he overplayed Aaron Ramsey after he returned. That sort of marginal error can kill you.
The only temptation on offer is that after today, it’s a 5-day rest until we play Burnley, a game you’d hope we could rest him.
Then it’s straight back into the Europa mixer for a doubleheader against Olympiacos, which is conveniently wedged between Spurs and West Ham United. This next batch of games is where the money is made. 6 wins and the season is saved. If we have a horrendous run, pick up some injuries, and drop out of the Europa, it’ll be a bloodbath with the fans.
This is football. Glory or death. No in-between.
Loan watch is going well. William Saliba has managed 10 games in a row, he’s certainly answering fitness questions and his fanbase is growing. Also worth noting that Dino Mavrapanos is doing well. Lots of admiring glances for one of Sven’s bets. It’d be great if one of them slipped into the squad next season. Both young, both have high ceilings, both have resale value.
Short one today. Before I go. A couple of things.
This internet is a shithole. There are literally thousands of basement dwellers whose only power in life is being mean on the internet. These cowards sometimes pop up in my comments section. I’ve had people send me e-mails this year complaining about it. I am always happy to be alerted to bad actors. If I get the mail, I sort it, every time.
What I have to reiterate, over and over and over again, is this: I am just a part-time writer. I work a fulltime job dropping New York 70 hour weeks. Advertising is where I make my money, not this website. I make ZERO money from tweets, podcasts or blogs. I am also a left-leaning snowflake. If there is someone saying mean things in the comments, trust me, it’s not because I am down with those comments.
So when you email me. Please consider this is just a big hobby on a site that looks sleek, modern, and clean… built for a 2.0 world.
Finally, some exciting news. I’m going to be a contributor for The Gooner. Layth has kindly given me a little bit of space to drop thoughts. I’ve always loved the fanzine. The jokes, elite banter, gossip, and the sketch on the back of mag was always a treat when I’d go to the games with my dad and football fam back in the day. Fanzines were and are a massive part of the footballing experience, I’m glad it’s continuing, but it could always do with your support. Sign up here, it’s money well spent.
On that note, see you in the comments. I’ll be here with an On The Whistle Podcast tomorrow.
First time 1 – 2 but mostly back passes by Esr has become pointless. We need him to carry the ball and drive into the heart of LEI
Sid knows loooool
Hair play Willian. Good delivery. Great finish by Luiz.
Somebody said Luiz would score
Sid fkin said it hahaha
Willian assist quick take a pic
All hail king Willian, another assist, 10 more appearances assured
That woke me up though. Good goal.
Get in, sid you were right
Good job Luiz
Keep getting the ball out to Pepe needs to be the call. This lad will have his marching orders!
LUIZZZZZZ!
Nice free kick… at least.
We finally score from a set piece. Feels like an eternity.
Get in can’t take another loss lads come on
Sid gave that away for free!
The sad part is Leicester aren’t even playing very well. Gifted a goal and then playing like thugs.
Yes!!!! finally.
Luis goal.
I hope people are seeing what laca bings
Willian – another assist, he’ll start the next 6 games.
thank fak
Their LB is poor. All our attacks have come from that side.
Just keep doing that. He cant handle Pepe 1v1.
That assist made willian sure starter till end of season
Luiz equalized.
Willian took the FK made Arteta’s day
Errr ……look who got the assist ?
Leicester should be down to 10 men !!!!
YESS Get in!!
David Luiz with a strikers header. I’m impressed. We’ve been better since conceding the goal
Luiz scores
Sid you legend.
Just hope your other prediction was a wrong un
Ode on for Esr presumably injured
Good goal, deserved.
Finally something comes from Pepe running over the ball at a free kick 😂
Willian finally got a proper assist
Her has grow into the game
Hopefully he comes good because whether we like it or not we’re joined at the hips.
Great free kick
Willian to be a permanent starter for the next 4 years with an improved contract extension
Fatigue catches up.
Wasnt this ESR’s 12th consecutive start?
And a Willian assist.. won’t be seeing Martinelli this season! And ESR.. fuck! We need him fit
I love ESR but he just looks like a player who is never far away from an injury.
Well I hope that’s not serious for esr!
Oh no. Not Smith rowe
Why is ESR so fragile ?
Sid the psychic!
The passion from MA there he seems frustrated and is very animated with what he wants done
Willian probably get a two year extension
Our goal.made in Brazil
Really nice header by Luiz!!!
And I have to admit that the FK was well taken by Willian.
Chavski rejects combine
Good fight back from Arsenal
He has at last played esr to the ground.
Great header from a cross that wasn’t floaty
Who knew quicker lower crosses could be useful?
Who is surprised to see ESR injured after he’s been breasted recently. Thanks arteta, job well done on beastibg young players until you have a good excuse to drop them
That’s why we need two #10.
ESR is not fragile he has played a lot of football in 2 months needs recovery time
Arteta, giving orders to Elneny, “Don’t you dare pass that round thing forward, damn you!”
Smith Rowe’s been our best player this half.. Bummed to see him go off.
ESR is absolutely fragile.
Not only a great header but alas a brave one with boots flying in everywhere
Thats a pen surely.
That should be a pen.
That’s a penalty come on
Cedric is 100 times better than Bellerin
Oh my that is a clear pen
pen
That HAS to be a penalty.
Nddid surely habd ball
VAR has to check that
That’s a penalty
Unnatural position
Clear 100% pen
that has to be a pen
Definitely a pen
Has to be a penalty. No way they can over rule us again
That’s a penalty!!
Effing penalty
If Stewart Lee doesn’t give a pen here then he needs to be sacked
That has got to be handball……
PEN
His arm is far away from his body as possible.
No way that is not a pen.
Some actually wanted Ndidi over Partey.
Clear 100%
2 assists for Willian already – urs like Fulham all over again.
Pk.. according to every other var decison I have seen. this season.
Yup penalty
It’s like
Pepe earned two pens basixally
Pepe has been a nuisance for them today.
Buzzy I was saying that Cedric is far better than beelerin time to cash in
Scuff
All came from Willians run lol
Barely even had to look. I like those type of VARs. That is how this shit is supposed to work.
Boom!
Laca 2
Fucking penalty
Chelsea Willian comes to life
Penalzette never misses
We are a better team. Pepe plays good.
Finally a fucking b r e a k from the VAR.
Saw the slow motion replay twice, very obvious penalty do we really need to be so fucking slow
That hand by the Leicester player has to be a pen.
Nice, Arteta knows
Yes agree Willian best match this season even above Fulham away.
Can we hold on until half time!!
Penalty all fuckin day long!!! ESR given , this is a stone wall.
We deserve the lead
Good one Laca.
How has Pepe been benched???? He’s been our best player by far.