It’s North London Derby this weekend. What we’d all give to be present at The Emirates for this one.
Last time out, we killed ourselves early. Spurs had 5 attempts at our goal, put 3 on target, and scored 1. Their first goal was a 30-yard screamer after we let Son run at us on the counter. Their second came as part of a double whammy in which Thomas Partey broke down in midfield and Kane scored off the bar down our end.
It took Arsenal 5 games after that to register a win in the Premier League. Truly a miserable time for the ages.
So what will we have learned this time?
Well, the team we played was pretty strong last time out. We’ll likely have Xhaka and Partey pivoting again. Attack will be something different. I doubt we’ll see Auba and Lacazette starting together. I suspect we’ll see the two new additions that have changed the way we play for the better.
Emile Smith Rowe has to start. The question is whether he’s shunted out to the left again. I think he’s the better player there. I really like Odegaard, but I’m not sure he’s quite up to the speed of the league as it stands. He’s given away hospital passes in his last two games because of casual play and I don’t think he was what you’d call present to the levels we need… especially in a game like tomorrow. Thing is, he is more than competent playing as a wide attacker, and he generally boasts high levels of control… which tomorrow, is going to be absolutely vital, because Spurs are absolute vultures…
I’d love to see Nico start the game, but I have my doubts. Last time out at the toilet bowl we were mauled from 3 shots on target despite dominating possession. It was a typical Mourinho game. He’s going to let us do our thing tomorrow because he knows the odds are stacked against us not bringing pain upon ourselves. 7 of our 14 goals conceded this year have been of our own making. With a strong side on Thursday, we still managed to gift the Greeks 3 big chances unforced.
I think we’ll see Saka, Odegaard, ESR and WiIlian in attack. Jose will have a special plan for Saka… Spurs will be taking it in turns to smash him over in transition. Olympiacos did a great job brutalising him the other night, though I’m not sure I’d say they nullified him. The key tomorrow is getting him on the ball a bit higher up the pitch… though that’ll be hard to manage if we’re trying to keep our defensive structure strong.
Spurs are quite a simple unit. They depend on 3 exceptional players to put lipstick on an old pig of a system. When it works, everyone calls Jose a genius, when it fails, he’s a fraud.
Arsenal are not a simple unit. We’re better coached, have more interesting ideas, and we’re going further than them longterm. However, what our squad has that theirs does not is the self-destruct button.
When you build in the correct fundamentals, it’s only a matter of time before the correct outputs happen. The fundamentals are in place. The balance between and attack and defence is there. We are creating good chances. We’re limiting our opponents. The biggest problem we’re dealing with is unforced errors. Our players need to concentrate. They need to make better decisions. They need to leave every ounce of brainpower on the pitch tomorrow.
NLD is a toss of a coin. It’s usually fine margins, it’s usually an emotional wreck of a day, the winner will be crowned by who makes the least mistakes.
Arsenal FCs coaching staff have had this game pinned in the priority board for the last 6 weeks. Make no mistake, everything has been building to this game because it’s the Premier League Cup Final. Let’s be honest, it’s a huge deal for both managers as they look to extract positives from underwhelming campaigns. If Arteta wins this, and the whole project gets a huge lift and you’re looking at the Europa League with a different eye.
Lose? Not an option I’m afraid.
I genuinely can’t wait for this game. Two rivals with their best players on show going toe-to-toe. Should be an immense 90 minutes. Let’s hope we’re the fans crowing on the group chats.
Sorry there was no pod this Thursday. I don’t think I’ve ever been worked to hard in my life or more consequential things (first world consequential, I’m not distributing vaccines). It’ll be a patchy few weeks, but I’ll do my best.
P.S. I am on the warpath in the comments. Any of that ‘modern internet’ anti-Arsenal rhetoric on an Arsenal blog will be met by the full force of the law. I don’t care if you rate Mourinho, I don’t care if you’d like to see Arsenal lose to move on Arteta, this is a NLD and you’ll be treated like you would if you were spouting off against Arsenal in The Twelve Pins pre-game. This is an Arsenal paradise for the next 48 hours or so. See you there.
Why
Always
Me
Tr4phy
Day of silence where I’m at tomorrow 🙁
No internet….wont be able to watch the game
Europa League. We’d all take this for this season, I am guessing.
Odegaard: “I said many times that I’ve been looking for stability (in same club), but haven’t found it. I think it’ll be important to find stability. I’m very happy at Arsenal, enjoying myself. I like it here. Now my focus is to finish the season, then we’ll see.” For the right price, and under the right conditions, £30-£40mill, but with no buy back clause, and no sell on clause, I’d be inclined to take a punt I think he’s got a really high ceiling, he’s at a good age, with a good level of experience, and could easily develop into… Read more »
………….Leno
……..Luiz Gabriel
Soares………Tierney
…..Partey Elneny
Saka Odegaard Smith-Rowe
….,,.Aubameyang
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Elneny get the nod tomorrow, other than the mistake last week, Xhaka has been very good since Xmas, but the Partey + Elneny pivot worked really well at Old Trafford
A bit of a balancing act still but Tets should be encouraged to field his best XI given the (relatively comfortable) margin of victory in Piraeus. Best team tomorrow please followed by a team to do the necessary on Thursday. Olympiakos were poor weren’t they.
Soares has to start. My front 4 tomorrow would be ESR, Saka, Laca and a fully firing G-Mart. Scare the living daylights out of the cockerel jockies. The other front 4 all on the bench.
Common sense would be to start with Cedric but we all know Bell End will get the nod.
Groovey
I almosy envy you. These games can be a tough watch for everyone, but Kroenkephobe junior and I will be shouting like mad bastards at the telly for sure. 😮😮
The last meeting against the Totts was a horror show.
We are more prepared now but make no mistake, they will target Xhaka.
If our midfield holds, we will be in it. Else, Mou walks away with the points.
Leno
Luiz. Gabriel
Soares. Tierney
Partey Xhaka
Saka Pepe
ESR
Auba
AMNs looking good in midfield today
Might be an upgrade on xhaka
I decided to watch a little of Schalke-Wolfsburg today. Mustafi scored a beauty of an own goal. Just pure stupidity. It made me think about Pedro going on and on about shifting out the mistakes from the squad. Mustafi got to Mustafi.
Knowing diet P
willian, odegard and bellerin will start
Mustafi at Schalke 5 games 2 x MOM 2 stinkers If he could cut out the regularity of his brain farts, he’d be a good defender When he makes that first mistake, he has the capacity to completely implode He’s a bit like Luiz, you can tell within the first few minutes what side of bed he’s got out of, and if he’s gotten out of the wrong side, we’re completely screwed…, Kolasinac has played central midfield the last 2 games, with pass completions of 67% + 68%, which will come as no surprise to any Arsenal fan, his passing… Read more »
Absolutely crucial,no red cards tomorrow-or the return of the VAR horror show.
At least we dont get smashed 4 and 5’s anymore-hope I havent jinxed us,but surely we should be able to beat Mourinho,just once.
Best of luck to us Gooners.
Relegation?
Rich, at his age, those mistakes are part of his DNA… same with Xhaka.
Not sure what the cut-off is for that sort of thing.
Mourinho would be absolutely waiting for the frequent brain farts from Leno and his ilk. I reckon they’ll sit back and counter with Son, Bale and their “number 10″….Kane
We had better take the early chances that come our way which will in turn open up the game else it will be the same story as the first leg
“If he could cut out the regularity of his brain farts, he’d be a good defender”
Rich
If I was Billionaire, I’ll be doing to Rihanna what Sid dreams of doing to Melania.
I am nervous already.
Same old favourites will start.
Martinelli may as well go home Arteta does not want him, god knows why.
Spurs have their tails up recently so it will be tight.
Lipstick on an old pig system…. That doesn’t make for pleasant viewing
That is a sucker punch Pedro, safe to say the derby has started already
King Benz at the death, what a don.
Not looking forward to it tomorrow
We’re made for that cunt mourinho,all he has to do is sit back and wait for a mistake and then shut up shop.
K-phone
A bit unfortunate that it happened to fall on a Sunday this year.
I love an NLD, the nervous anticipation, the banter, the spoils (once upon a time).
Gutted to he missing it, to be honest. I won’t even know the result until 6am Monday morning.
Oh well
K-phobe*
Normally, Mou’s team would sit deep and fast counter. After seeing our brain farts in our own box, he may send his players to close us down in our final third. I am interested to see how he wants his team to play.
So mustafi=luiz just younger and we still kept luiz as our first choice CB over him and let him go for free, generational coaching.
COYG!!!!
Embarrass special(needs)one
ES,
I told you at the beginning of the season that the addition to the U23 were absolutely piss poor and were bought for the only objective to add body to the U23 so we have enough to complete out fixtures.
Bar the injuries, most of the most talented players between 19 and 23 are sent on loan to lower leagues games or are already part of the senior first team. Those left are those have suffered from injuries in previous season and are behind in their development, the no hopers between 19 and 23, the precocious U19.
You want to drain Rihannas swamp?
Preferred XI
Ryan
Coares Gabriel Mari Tierney
Partey Ceballos
Saka ESR Pepe
Lacazette
Generational XI
Leno
Bellerin Luiz Mari Tierney
Partey Xhaka
Saka Ode Willian
Aubameyang
Everton losing at home.
Home o away not much difference this days
JJ
– There is no travelling to play at home.
– You are more familiar with the condition of the pitch.
What a goal by Burnley!!!
Nelson
Get your point mate, but still without fans no big difference
2 shots on target and 2 goals, it doesn’t sound familiar, does it?
JayJay – agree with that team but I’d have Auba not Laca
Valentin – I think you’re wrong on at least a couple of these u23 players but re strategy still makes sense. Get the best players some proper experience and promote the really top ones as soon as they are ready
Have to give to Dyche and Burnley, they are playing some great football at the moment …
Going back and forth between feeling confident that our reshaped attack will cause the wankers problems and panicking at the thought of, Bale and Son torching our back line and the wanker in chief Kane diving his way to his thousandth goal against us. I think we can do this. Fingers crossed we will.
Northbanker,
Bar Moller none of the players who have been purchased for the U23 looks like they are going to make it at Arsenal.
Azeez was already at the academy and in my view has the technical ability to be a great 6~8.
He may have a slight frame but his dribbling ability means that he gets out of tight situation.
Sid
More like lay some pipes.
Burnley beating Everton will make this game even more important tomorrow.
My line up
KT GABBY HOLDING HB
EL NENY. PARTEY
PEPE. ESR. SAKA
AUBA
Pedro whar are your thoughts about this? We could have sold xhaka to herta but arteta convinced him to stay, instead we gave them guendouzi, and why? Because xhaka is yes man and guendouzi has some character, he was our only player to stand up for our goalkeeper who was injured due to reckless maupay’s challenge. Don’t give me wrong I love saka but after that challenge he was tapping maupay’s shoulder and looking sorry for him. I have an impression that if xhaka and Vieira played at the same time and arteta was manager, he would have chosen xhaka… Read more »
Arteta wants to win things, trophies and championships. That’s his primary aim. It’s the way to get Arsenal back amongst the elite. Beating Spurs is joyous, yes – but it does not get you a trophy or a championship. Nothing much hinges on it. Lose, and Arteta will give a shrug and get on with real business – winning the Europa. Arsenal have a habit of hitting the self-destruct button. My heart sinks every time a player passes across the penalty area. And it’s become too predictable, with opposing players ready to pounce. Maybe tomorrow Mikel will take a cannier… Read more »
JayJay, he stood up after the game… not when it happened. Bit like starting a fight when you’re mates are taking you out the bar.
Matteo is cancerous. Simple as that. That’s why he’ll be sold in the summer. Nothing to do with talent.
Don’t agree with that Pedro, to me it’s simple every team needs a player like guendouzi, a player with character. Arteta is really bad at man management, he doesn’t know how to deal with this sort of players, that’s why he’s taking us nowhere. I hope he can prove me wrong as all I care about is arsenal being great team again, no matter who is our manager. But the truth is guendouzi is generational talent and arteta is not and will never be generational coach
Not sure what to make of this Everton result
On one hand Everton have dropped points, which gives us an opportunity to close the gap
On the other hand, Burnley have closed the gap to just 5 points….
Could be 6 points between Arsenal and 5th after this weekend.
Still have to play Everton and West Ham.
You say matteo is cancerous, now he is a very young and talented player who needs a proper coach to show him the way to become great, unfortunately arteta us not that coqch
Coach
JayJay, it doesn’t matter what you think of him, I know people that work with him and they tell me he’s awful.
Being a dick isn’t character.
He’s making more headlines for his antics than his performance. Hertha losing 2-0 as we speak, where is Matteo G? Why is he struggling to get in their starting 11 for a dead side?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang encrusts Cartier watch with sapphires via @OneFootball. Read it here:
https://1.ftb.al/9IqsT8JgBeb
Balotelli was a character and a young talent, but a massive arsehole too !
Nobody wanted him in the end.
Bergkamp, had an average career in the end.
Now you’re just being awkward, what people do you know who work with him? Arteta? Respect your hard work running this blog but you’re blind arteta lover
Team that Arteta might start:
Leno
Bellerin Gabriel Mari Tiernry
Xhaka Partey
Saka ESR Willian
Auba
It’s all to play for, we’re in with a good chance of winning the Europa League
Spurs (H)
West Ham (A)
Liverpool (H)
Sheffield United (A)
Fulham (H)
Everton (H)
Newcastle (A)
West Brom (H)
Chelsea (A)
Palace (A)
Brighton (H)
We’ve got 38 points, last season 60 points would have got us into 6th
7 wins and a draws gives us 60 points, we’re going to need to be much more consistent than we have been, even just to give ourselves a chance of getting European football via the league table
As far as I know you rate mislinrat, his quote here
Mislintat: Guendouzi can be a monster midfielder for Arsenal via @OneFootball. Read it here:
https://1.ftb.al/OsAa4kbhBeb
And btw guendouzi was out because of a knock
JayJay, one 90minutes since the start of February.
If Sven called Arteta, he’d be told why Matteo is in Germany.
If he called Hertha, the coach would tell him the same things.
Talent is one thing, attitude is another.
Pedro knows better…
Everton and United’s away records are much better because both are better on the counter.
Everton 29 away and 17 home
United 33 away and 21 home
In the absence of home support and biased home refereeing because of it, the style of play becomes the overriding factor.
Davis, Allan, Gomes and Iwobi were tasked with breaking Burnley’s lines today.
Any takers on here for that playmaking quartet ?
I didn’t think so.
You want to drain Rihannas swamp Sid Pure class. In a week where a young woman has lost her life after walking home in London, and sexual harassment has been spotlighted as something the UK police do absolutely nothing about, you come out with that little gem. Pure Benny Hill. You do this site a huge disservice with shite like that. Any women who do read these pages will have just cleared a lump of sick from their throat after seeing that. PS – and conflating political Trumpisms with what you think is sexual badinage is about as unfunny as… Read more »
Everton and United points won home and away
It’s absolutely insane Pedro is seemingly rooting for Arsenal loanees to fail to vindicate Arteta decisions.
Welcome to crazy town.
Tom, it’s insane you’d stick up for someone that is toxic in the work environment.
He’s not good for Arsenal, that’s why he’s in Germany and will be sold this summer.
… and to be clear, I am rooting for him to succeed so we can bin him and invest in better players this summer
Pedro
Not once have I criticized Arteta for sending Guen out on loan.
Your comments and tweets speak for themselves however.
“Pedro
Not once have I criticized Arteta for sending Guen out on loan.”
Good for you Tom, we don’t criticise arteta here
Tom, I called out Matteo first, everyone said it wasn’t true. Then he was sent on loan, and the Hertha complained about him in the press. Now he’s started 1 game since the end of Feb.
… Occam’s razor.
I’ve been nailed on all along, and I will be when he’s sold and causes his next club problems.
“Invest in better players this summer”
Xhaka’s brother?
JayJay, criticise how you like. Just don’t talk about how Matteo being a dickhead is good for the club when it’s not even good for Hertha Berlin
Tom – you make yourself sound ridiculous with comments like that. You’re being antagonistic for the sake of it
JayJay
Oh, I have criticized Arteta on here but not for personnel decisions.
Everyone has their favorites and so long the results match the talent level available I don’t care who he picks and when.
They haven’t though.
I will always criticise arteta for his bad man management, but I wish him well tomorrow as it’s all about arsenal and you seem to forget about in all your love for arteta. I was a fan of him landing this job back in days, but now I think we fucked it up, especially when giving him manager position
Exactly Tom
JayJay, Guendouzi is not a man management issue. It’s a player issue, hence all his coaches having the same issues with him.
for me i agree with the father but I would be tempted to throw in a spanner and start Martinelli on the right ESr in the middle and pepe left and Auba up top , leaving out Saka I know this is wrong and a gamble just feel mourine will defo have a plan for Saka and we can bring the fire in the second half with Laca replacing Auba and Saka replacing Martinelli meaning we get that ESR,Laca and Saka triangle that is so very effective . Just feel that Martinelli will snap both your hands off if we… Read more »
And the issue is? Quote your mate who worked with him please
The Frenchman has been regularly criticised for his attitude since joining the Gunners in 2018, and Dardai says he is still some way off the required level of maturity for a top-level footballer.
“It’s like puberty for him, he’s kind of a rebel. He has to work and learn like an animal.”
“In training, I always stop these kind of duels because you can’t fall to the ground like this. And, afterwards, he’s mad.”
He’s started 1 game since Feb 1st.
Some interesting stats here: SofaScore report that David Luiz is the outfield player with the most minutes played across the top five European leagues this season without being dribbled past once. Luiz is at 1,076 minutes so far with that record still intact. William Saliba is in second place, at 990 minutes played. There are a couple of mitigating factors here. Firstly, as you can tell by the minutes, neither player has been a regular all season long. They’ve both completed fewer than 12 games’ worth of minutes after 28 rounds of matches. That makes it a bit easier to… Read more »
Yeah Pedro, I read that before, is he your mate working close with guendouzi then?
JayJay, if I shared my sources to settle internet arguments, I’m not sure people would talk to me.
I’m ambivalent about Arteta, but it’s odd this idea that Guendouzi is some misunderstood footballing prodigy like fucking Cantona or something.
Relegation fighting Fulham showing more composure dealing with City’s press than we did.
Can I say that on here without offending?
Tom, interesting that on NLD eve, all you want to talk about is justice for Matteo and how you think Fulham are doing a terrific job compared to Arsenal.
Not offensive, but a little boring.
Brighton slipping into the relegation spots at the moment. Could be good news if we’re looking get Bissouma and Lamptey for decent prices.
We look more settled as a team compared to last time in the NLD.
But I can’t help feeling that they will target our midfield, particularly Xhaka. If they run at speed against us, we have a problem.
It will be interesting to see how we set up bearing in mind that we can be a good counter side too. If we are patient, then it could be a tight affair.
Mics
Guen did ok in some games for us, in some he was bang average.
I liked he stood up for his injured keeper, hated his slow walking when subbed off.
Never understood the hype about him but he’s still on our books and maximizing his market value supersedes , or at least it should, anything else.
Pedro
I happen to be watching Fulham play at the moment.
NLD is tomorrow.
Pedro
Justice for Mateo?
Just responded to your Guen tweet which you’ve since deleted.
Tom
🤣🤣🤣
Not sure Lamptey is a good idea
He’s out for the season, needs surgery after a reoccurrence of the hamstring injury he picked up in the middle of December
That’s a serious concern for a player who’s all about pace and being able to repeat the intensity of his sprints
Shame, because he looks like a really good young player
Chris Wilder leaves Sheffield United
Sorry Pedro but this has got to be the most inconsequential NLD I can remember.
One’s 7th and the other’s 10th, quite mediocre.