How are we all feeling today?
Nervous?
Adrenaline fueled?
Can’t wait to get tomorrow over with so we know where we sit with 10 games to go?
Same.
The most important news we need for tomorrow is the truth behind William Saliba. Arsenal are very tight-lipped on injuries, Arteta uses the mystery to surprise the opposition. There’s no Bill Saliba in training pictures; rumours are there’s a late fitness test for him; that’s good news if true because at the very least: It’s not a serious issue.
Though Mikel did try and keep the Eddie bad news secret for as long as possible. Same with the Mo Elneny problem.
So we’ll see.
If we have a full squad to choose from tomorrow, my suspicion is we’ll be too much for a poorly organized Crystal Palace. Everton had the Sean Dyche new manager bounce, but also 4 days of him drilling them on how to park the bus. This Palace side has no manager by design. Parish doesn’t want to hire someone to get spanked by us in the first game. Let’s hope we don’t see a world-class deep block and the Peckham version of Joga Bonito from the street ballers.
If we can go 8 points clear of City while they move into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, we really are laughing. If they slip to Liverpool after the break, it’s BIG trouble for them mathematically and it’s also problematic for them when it comes to the mental state of the squad. The players only have so much energy to give, will they start thinking about Champions League? Certainly looked that way last weekend.
They have 17 games left compared to our 11.
That is HUGE.
It means our players will be fresher.
It means less travel.
It gives one of the best tacticians in world football more time to plan his team.
It also means less stress for players.
People that think City will breeze this period haven’t paid attention to Pep whining about the schedule or seen how average his side has been on the road.
The training pictures looked like the Arsenal boys were all pretty carefree, that’s how you want them, you don’t want elite athletes feeling the pressure. You want them focused, but free from concern.
Deliver a free-from-concern powerhouse performance against Palace tomorrow and we’ll all feel better. I can’t keep waking up at 3am wondering how the games will go.
I went on a few notable podcasts yesterday. I spent time with Sophie from Highbury House and had a spirited debate about why the Europa League game doesn’t matter.
Now, I totally understand the view that all games matter when you are trying to build a winning culture. But I think we also have to respect where this project is: 2 years ahead of schedule.
It doesn’t matter what Arsenal is in the minds of our fans. You have to be pragmatic. We are a junior side, doing big boy things this season. We are not equipped to fight a title challenge and go on a big cup run. We have been built to make top 4 this season, and maybe a cup run. What’s the difference? A title challenge affords you no mistakes. Top 4, you can duke it out with sides that’ll lose 7-0 to a rival one week, and win easily the next. We are going for 90 points, United needs 74.
Pragmatically, 11 games is better than 16.
We have given ourselves the best chance possible now to win the league.
What I can’t have is Twitter folk suggesting that if we don’t win from now, it’s a massive failure, or it’s somehow a bottle job. People who say that are projecting who they think they are as people onto the squad. They are literally so elite, that finishing 2nd is a sackable offense. What are these people doing in their own lives that could be so wonderful they could brush off what Arsenal is doing this season as a failure? Ask them.
Let’s be clear: Whatever happens this season, it has been exceptional.
We have made a statement.
We are back at the top of world football.
This is the start of a dynasty, not the end.
The average age of our squad is 4 years behind where the last 5 title winners has been.
Nearly all the boys have signed new deals and no doubt Bill Saliba will follow.
There is cash to spend this summer.
Our manager will get better and better.
This season should only be framed through the lens of success – and more importantly, it should be framed through how YOU felt about it. If you haven’t enjoyed this year, then you need to find a new sport, football isn’t for you.
That doesn’t mean we can’t be disappointed, but it does mean you should block out the ‘I’m so elite, look at how high my standards are’ crowd who will look to pin a dip on the manager or the mentality of the players. I’ve already seen it today. It’s so, so boring. I saw one guy suggest Emery getting to a Europa League final (and getting humiliated) is a black stain on Arteta. Are you kidding me?
This Sunday is our league cup final. We have an FA Cup final against Liverpool. A Europa League Cup final against Newcastle. A Champions League final against Manchester City.
Our run is beastly. But we’re in the run. No one expected it. So try and enjoy it, this is what being relevant as a club is all about, and I can assure you… the journey we are on right now is the one we’ll enjoy the most. Because once we’ve done something big, it’s a different vibe, because you are protecting greatness, not striving for it.
Ok, that’s me done. If you want more, check me out on Latte Firm.
Also check out our Later Whistle we recorded yesterday.
In case you didn’t see it. too funny.
Conte in meltdown. This is just magical 😂
Even Jose Mourinho was like damn … son.
Can Daniel Levy allow Conte to stay in a job after calling him out like that?… Is Conte actively looking to be handed his P45, so he can go on an early holiday?…
Spurs are roughly where they’d be expected to be, competing for 4th, on for roughly 70 points… With no chance of any silverware… Occasionally doing Spursy things.
Their position should come as no surprise to anyone…. Somewhere between 3rd + 7th is their current level, and those positions are often settled by very little.
Bad news it seems with Saliba.
If we are going to keep playing such a high line Holding will struggle, he did last season at Tottenham.
White back to CB surely a option and have to give a debut to Walters maybe, he looks promising?
Saliba out for best part of a month, not great stuff.
Tomi would’ve been the able deputy, or let Benny Blanco slot back in at CB. For me I’m putting White back in alongside Gabriel, and Nelson at RB.
Holding is absolutely fine for cagey away days, or seeing games out. But we’re at home and will need to play a high line to squeeze them in. Would not be loving Holding there.
Mike C,
Nelson no way RB if we were playing 3 cb’s he’d be fine as an attacking wing back but a real gamble not worth taking flat back four. If we shift Ben White back to CB surely it’s Walters or as above if Tierney can play there it’s a decent call too.
Holding will start but I would think we may just play a bit deeper line? We have enough up top and Odegaard in behind to still pen CP back.
Lol at the Conte melt down. It was like a great movie. Dude is begging to be sacked now. The rant has some truths in it but he also absolves himself from any of the problems that have happened at Spurs this past season. I am so thankful that we didn’t ho anywhere near him now. The guy wants his way or he will throw everyone to the Wolves.
Nice one Theo
Hab,
Conte has been like that at every club he has been at.
Inter wanted him to be happy to sell players, he rightly said no and walked.
Before that Chelsea he really did a good job we thumped them 3-0 switched tactics and made guys like Victor Moses vastly improved as a wing back then fell out with players.
It’s his style Levy hired him and got a bounce top 4 last season at our expense but a lot of what he has said tonight is correct, mentality wise.
Have to give credit to Pedro for predicting the Conte meltdown about a year ago. To be fair, they did go on a great run to make Top 4 last season but what was it all for in the end?
Top North
Why would it make sense to put a guy that’s never kicked a ball for Arsenal first team in at RB? There’s a very stiff jump to the first team, I think that’s often totally dismissed.
Nelson has played there for us before. Wouldn’t be against Tierney either, but Saka and Nelson on the one side wouldn’t hurt.
Holding probably will start, it is a big call to overlook him when there’s injuries in his position. But I’d be surprised to see it for a few games.
Mikel C, Walters has been in and around the first team squad and it’s for me if you are natural in a position and you show a decent level in training I’m not against giving a debut. Have to get the back up of the older ones on here like @Tony2 but I saw a totally one footed left back Nigel Winterburn play right back for Arsenal had defensive nous, which Keiran Tierney certainly has. Always a decent discussion on here, Holding will play and I have no problems with that guy has won two FA Cups and has experience.… Read more »
Not worried about Holding coming in tbh.
He kept Halland pretty quiet in the cup match.
White to CB suggested but who plays RB with Tomi injured?
Here we go again , Le groaners getting their knickers in a twist over an injury to an ” irreplaceable ” player, with the usual prediction that the replacement is going to cock it up.. Maybe they have forgotten what they were saying when Jesus was injured and Eddie filled the position with ease , also partey’s injury recently sent many le groaners into a frenzy at the thought of jorginho replacing him, guess what …..we were fine and we will be fine this time if Holding starts, he had a good run out v sporting and had a decent… Read more »
“Spurs are roughly where they’d be expected to be, competing for 4th, on for roughly 70 points… With no chance of any silverware… Occasionally doing Spursy things.
Their position should come as no surprise to anyone…. Somewhere between 3rd + 7th is their current level, and those positions are often settled by very little.”
This
I don’t have any doubts about Holding so long as Partey is playing
My problem is with Zinchenko, he gives the ball away too many times and Palace have pacy players to exploit the space he leaves behind on the left side.
I suspect that Zaha is going to occupy the left side all through the game.
I think the team can manage perfectly well without Saliba. I like Rob Holding. Okay, he is not versatile, but given the straightforward role of defender, he is more than adequate.We should forget his poor performance in a game where he was tasked with more than defence.
I hope Arteta plays him at CB and keeps Ben White at RB.
Pierre
I think Holding will be fine he’s played and won big games for us. My question would be I hope he’s not exposed ball over the top. System and position on pitch.
Saka, Odegaard, TP back tomorrow they are also ‘spines’ of our team in different ways two of them, big game tomorrow the crowd will as always be up for it.
Great times to be an Arsenal fan.
englandsbest
‘ We should forget his poor performance in a game where he was tasked with more than defence.’
I believe that Partey wasn’t available in that game at the toilet bowl last season.
It was a perfect storm of conditions that wrecked Holding.
We do need to slap down Palace with so much vigor to take to the international window.
Leeds at home in 2 weeks is another tough game . They looked good on the counter today at the Molineux.
Reuell Walters was seen at team hotel tonight, Saliba absent, but we don’t know Arteta plan for tomorrow.
Dissenter
“My problem is with Zinchenko, he gives the ball away too many times”
He doesn’t, unless you think the rest of the team give the ball away too many times.
pass percentage
Zinchenko 87.9%
Partey ..87.3
Odegaard 84.1
Xhaka 86.4
Martinelli 83.1
Saka 81.4
White 86.0
Spurs
Relegation team when kane leaves
Conte LIED!
He said Totrenham doesn’t win anything…..
They won the summer transfer window.
LoL @ Tom.
Any MMA fans?
Leon Edwards what a great story from nowhere beat a GOAT in Usman twice, Edwards huge at weight and throws nasty leg kicks.
Any fight sport guys that work their way from he bottom to be a champ, kudos.
Spurs and Chelsea both throwing away leads against shit teams again? Ooooh that’s how we love a weekend of football to start. Now let’s beat palace and it’s another perfect Sunday
That Conte interview is golden
On the one hand he’s a massive knob who takes no responsibility but on the other hand he’s right that spurs players are all so spursy lol. It’s a disease
I’m curious how Mudryk feels about turning us down now
I think he only has 1 assist and no goals for a team that’s current something like 29 points behind us.
You do wonder
Conte really got a good grasp of Spurs history, characters, players, and aspirations 😆 🤣 😂
China1
Mudryk likely feels secured and content with his 8.5 year contract…
Spurs as a club need a proper post Mortem on who they are as a club. I’m serious How they can have like one minor trophy in the last 50 odd years is pathetic – especially as they’ve generally been a top 8 club for much of that time and almost all of the last 20 years. In the Cl final run season they had one of the best squads. Under Harry redknapp they had a pretty good team as well. There’s really no excuse for winning so little. There’s something wrong deep seated within that club. Doesn’t matter who… Read more »
China,
Murdick was so shit last week he didn’t get a minute in a close game yesterday.
Enjoy your 8 years.
Top watched the UFC tonight Leon was excellent indeed
As for spurs pure banter to throw away 2 points and Conte going nuclear at the press conference was joyous
Can’t wait for tomorrow’s game getting to the Emirates early
Conte is looking out for Conte
His eyes are on the next job, it’s damage limitation for his resume
Man wants to get laid off, paid off and return back to his villa to continue his post surgical recuperation.
I reckon that Conte gets fired on Monday morning and Ryan Mason returns back as interim manager.
Useroz I don’t think players who are bigger up to be ballon dor contenders often enjoy when things are going so heavily against them.
The money will be nice at first but after you’ve got 3 houses, 12 lambos and an assortment of Rolexes most players will come back to what they still don’t have, ie footballing success
Unless said player is one of the outliers like Bogarde or ozil who literally sees a contract as money for nothing!
Dissenter you are likely correct imo
Pedro: Very nice and succinct points!
I fully believe Arteta and the lads will be ready to do us proud tomorrow.
Not the” 2 years ahead of schedule” bollox again.
Finally getting into Top4 in Arteta’s 4th season as a manager is not being 2 years ahead of schedule, it’s 2 years behind fckng schedule. This page is becoming more and more like ‘cult central’ by the day.
Ed the read
It’s his 3rd season really
His first season was half a season of putting out fires in the middle of covid, picking the team up at 8th
Now we are top
Quit whining
Well said Un
He picked the team up in jan 2020
3 years and 2 months ago
His first 6 months were learning how to be head coach while cutting out the rotten senior culture, learning about his new players while delivering an excellent FA cup win, beating the two oil clubs (who’ve won the most in out country in the last 10 years) in the semi and the final
I wouldn’t even count that first 6 months personally
He’s had us top since September
It’s took him 2-3
Years to take us from 8th to 1st
If Trossard involved today think he will score. 2-1 Arsenal
Un “His first 6 months were learning how to be head coach while cutting out the rotten senior culture, learning about his new players while delivering an excellent FA cup win, beating the two oil clubs (who’ve won the most in out country in the last 10 years) in the semi and the final” Slight contradiction there Un, those players who were apparently so rotten , still managed to beat Chelsea and City on the way to winning the FA cup. So they must have been pretty decent to beat the 2 teams ” who have won the most in… Read more »
They were ‘pragmatic’ wins to win the FA cup where we won on the counter attack. Aubumeyang played like he deserved a new £300k a week contract. One off cup matches produce upsets, we won which was great but let’s not exaggerate the strength of that team!
We finished 8th!
No time to experiment with a newbie like Walters at this stage of our season even though he is a good prospect.
Holding is a decent player who can come in and play with Gabriel in defense.
Moreover White at RB and Zinchenko at LB works so well for us, no need to change our fullback combo either.
People are way too harsh on Holding as if he is the only one in our defense who makes mistakes. Saliba, Gabriel, White and Zinchenko have all made big mistakes which cost us goals.
Ed – very simple answer then isn’t there? Fuck off to another blog and whine there
TR7 – yes needs to be Holding. Walters nowhere near enough ready and watching some of the recent u21 results I’m not sure how many of them are capable of stepping up. Generally it is one player max out of each year group of you’re lucky. And that isn’t Walters.
Only one out of that group is the winger Cozier Duberry. I’m excluding Nwaneri and Lewis- Skelly who are really 2 or 3 year groups below
Ed the Manchester red what an absolute troll and miserable toad do one
I’m curious how Mudryk feels about turning us down now I think he only has 1 assist and no goals for a team that’s current something like 29 points behind us. You do wonder
According to Tommy boy he’s Chelsea’s best player. Nearly hitting Perisic levels of genius!
Pierre
In your accolade of the ‘rotten’, you forgot to mention regular qualification for CL. And for a very good reason: it was a continuous reminder that the team didn’t really belong there. Yes, they astonished at times but at no time were they genuine contenders.
Ed The Red – we see these attacking messages often before Arsenal have even played. The catastrophizing drama queen GOH is another. What gives? I mean you’ve got an Arsenal team top of the table having kept the point difference the same after losing our talisman. City meanwhile could still overtake their total points haul in 21/22 (93) . We are one win away from equalling our entire haul in 22/23 (69) whether we win the title or not we have a good chance of overhauling City’s points totals in both 19/20 and 20/21. Indeed if this season had played… Read more »
Hope everyone else is fine for today except Saliba and that he can recover over the break.
Holding shoukd be able to deal with Palace if we adjust slightly.
Think we’ll start with Martinelli Trossard Saka and then hopefully Jesus is ok for some more minutes from the bench, don’t want to rush him back too quickly. Would like to see some more of Nelson as well.
“That same group of players managed to win 4 FA cups, lose in 2 other finals and were runners up in the league in a 7 year period..If that doesn’t tell you that those players were not “rotten” then i don’t know what will .” This just confirms Pierre’s complete lack of understanding around trajectory…. Just because something happened in the past, doesn’t mean that same thing will continue to happen in future…… Performance isn’t continual, it’s malleable. We finished 2nd in 2015/16 with 71 points, it was a weak league where we failed to capitalise by not signing a… Read more »
Rich
“This just confirms Pierre’s complete lack of understanding around trajectory”
Rich making it up as he goes along as per usual.
I never mentioned trajectory .
I never mentioned the future.
I never mentioned Arteta .
My point was that for a group of players to reach 6 cup finals in 7 years playing under 3/4 different managers who all had different football philosophies with also a hostile fan base to contend with , then that group of players were not as weak mentally or rotten as some seem to think…
Pierre
Not really
They were a very talented group but many had terrible attitudes and were unsuited/in complimentary to each other
Capable of a domestic cup win and top four but Arteta had and still had bigger ambitions
“If you haven’t enjoyed this year, then you need to find a new sport, football isn’t for you.” Pedro, don’t assume people who are always whining about something are Gooners. A tiny minority may still have chips on their shoulders about Arteta & ate letting their egos rule their hearts but the rest are rival fan trolls. The Conte meltdown was predictable but probably more extreme than any of us expected. He’s thrown the club and every player under the bus by accusing them of having a loser mentality. Great management, not. Before this season we were told they had… Read more »
Really worried about today…..palace will be a tough game. 🙏🤞 Come on boys
I know this is a young side but I truly believe this has to be our year. You we may never get a better chance. Next year Chelsea will be stronger, Liverpool with a new midfield. Manure will strengthen and when you have a goal machine like Haaland then it’s tough to outscore them. So this has to be our year. But if we get overrun again in midfield like we were against a poor Everton and Sporting then we have no chance. Get the midfield tight and we will be ok but no Xhaka, Jorghino and Vieira together. It’s… Read more »
On my way to the game a bit early for a beer but fuck it COYG
Conte going rogue is pure pure banter
Pierre those cup finals were all in unfortunately second rate competitions which few other teams go for broke in. And I say this as someone who loves the FA cup more than anyone here and who would even gladly see us go for a league cup, let alone the EL which I’ve always wanted us to win. But all of them, bar none, are second rate and the league cup is third rate. even lower premiership teams and sometimes even championship teams rotate heavily for the fa cup if they feel that their league position will be threatened by trying… Read more »
for me what needs to happen is take away the CL spot for 4th in the league and give it to the FA cup winner. League Cup winner should qualify for the EL instead of 6th in the league this is literally all it would take to transform the league cup into a second rate (from a third rate) comp and the FA cup into a first rate trophy. all the teams would go for broke in the FA cup. top teams who are not running away as top 3 in the league would have no choice but to throw… Read more »
“Mercenaries ”
“Disinterested ”
“Don’t care”
“Rotten”
“Terrible attitudes”
Off to my mates for pre game Bloody Marys, COYR!
Hoping for a Fulham type first half and keeping ball in the second! What we”ll get, who knows?
China
“Pierre those cup finals were all in unfortunately second rate competitions which few other teams go for broke in.”
There is nothing unfortunate about winning trophies, do you really think that chelsea and City didn’t give 100% in the finals and semi finals ..
Bob Bloody Mary’s you devil you
yes Pierre those two teams went for broke in the semis and finals – that’s two matches and they care more because they’re so close to the finish line. they go for broke in every single match in the CL and league. that’s the difference and you know it. like I said you don’t need to sell a dream about those FA cup wins because I already LOVE that competition. but it is second rate and very few teams are going for broke in it until very late in the competition when they can smell the trophy. no one in… Read more »
I’m sure Arteta has emphasised the importance of keeping possession and not be sloppy with our passing. Our midfield went from 95% pass completion against fulham to 86% pass completion against sporting. For me, the worrying part of the sporting game was our inability to handle their fast and agressive press. Part of the reason was the changes to personnel Arteta made, but i have to say that sporting’s press was as good as I’ve seen all season… Sporting are also a very good technical side and proved difficult to get the ball back once we lost possession. Palace today… Read more »
Love the FA Cup one of the only games you could see live a couple of generations ago the final on TV coverage from early in the morning.
When MU pulled out of the competition year 2000 to play in the world club championship it devalued the cup.
It wasn’t all om MU by the way the FA and Govt wanted MU at the world club championship to help England’s world cup bid 2006……..which of course failed!
Gareth Southgate is a dinosaur manager of Englander FC
He’s lost the plot,
What does Tomori, Solly Marsh and James Ward-Prowse need to do to get call ups?
China
For your information yesterday against 2nd division Burnley, City started Haaland, Debruyne, Foden , Rodri , Mahrez ….obviously taking it pretty seriously .
Guaranteed that united will field their strongest side today v Fulham , so obviously taking it pretty seriously
Holding starts. Trossard up top.
Need those 3 points and we’re almost full strength so should get them.
Arsenal XI vs. Crystal Palace: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Ødegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Trossard.
Arsenal subs: Turner, Tierney, Walters, Kiwior, Jorginho, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Jesus.
Dissenter They need to play from the 5 or so teams he chooses players from. He’s an awful manager that’s reproducing the same level of stale ideas and closed fraternity thinking that countless previous England managers have. No Balogun either, absolutely on fire in Ligue Un this season and he can’t even get a cursory call-up to stoke the fires. Happened with Tammy Abraham too when he was in hot form at Roma during his first season. Only need to look as far as Trippier to know what rubbish there is in the setup. 32 year old right back getting… Read more »
I can’t believe it that our game is still not being shown on TV after the postponement of both EPL games due to the FA Cup.
Find it a bit baffling that no one has decided to take our game and have it televised considering that we are first.
Really not sure how games are selected to be televised or not.
Oh well, as I am in Bristol this weekend, I’ll have to follow it via Arseblog. I am not streaming that on my phone.
Same line up bar Holding replacing Saliba.
I can understand some worries about Holding starting the game.
For me, he should be doing OK considering that he should know the system by now having trained with the team since day 1 of Arteta.
So no excuses here today for Holding who should be fully capable of deputising for Saliba.
Pierre you’re talking about clubs deep into the competition. no one is arguing that clubs who are close to the final don’t go for it.
but if you are arguing that the FA cup has not been degraded to a second class tournament you are kidding yourself.
Any prognosis on Saliba yet?
Zaha gonna be a world beater against us again I guess…
Pierre
Of course
It’s good to win the cup
Only an idiot would claim it’s not
We got lucky there
Palace is a bogey team for us …at home
Saka a little off last few matches
We aren’t playing with any intensity
Not like a team trying to win a league title
That looked nasty, but Xhaka is a specimen. Whatever he does day to day is a credit to him, guy is made of Teflon.
I have been following the Arsenal for 52 years and I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in that time, but this has been the most intensely enjoyable season that I’ve ever experienced, even the 89′ team and the invincible’s might be in awe of this team, no matter how this season finishes this team deserves all the plaudits you can throw at them.