Hey DB - I’m also on my way to the game and thank the EFL cup for giving me some chance at success in the ballot ! Would be happy with any kind of win to take back to theirs and no injuries.
It’s easy to dismiss this match and yes it’s the least important trophy, but we can make memories just the same in whatever competition, win or lose (speaking from the joy of Charlie Nicholas’ winner to break Ian Rush’s amazing record of never losing when he scored) to the despair of the following year against Luton (Gus Caesar, need I say more?!)
"Around 8.30pm, my father said, ‘Let’s go to the hospital’. I was like, ‘Oh my god! Crazy!’. They found a way to get me out of the jail.’”
The prison reference is delivered in jest, but Aubameyang will never forget the drama that accompanied transfer deadline day in February 2022, nor losing the Arsenal captaincy and the weeks spent training by himself before finally joining Barcelona on a free at the end of that winter window."
I mean if we win carabao cup we will get 200.000 that's like a day's training for some of our players, it's not worth it at the expense of champions league and top 4 finish. Though a trophy would be nice.
Theoretically, being left-handed and a decent passer he could have come out on the Odegaard's position on Saturday, where he used to play at times for Ukraine.
"Before the first of those draws, at Newcastle on 4 December, they were nine points clear of Arsenal in second; after Sunday’s draw at home to Manchester United, they are six points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand ....
But it’s Arsenal who will perhaps feel the greatest sense of regret. After overcoming the injury to Bukayo Saka, a sickness bug and falling behind to beat Brentford, it seemed they might be about to mount a charge."
Pedro, as an older American only experiencing Arsenal and the PL for the recent couple of years I really enjoy the reading your posts. They are an entertaining read and provide good insight especially for those not in the UK.
I do not get the big deal behind the whole league cup thing since we do not have anything like it here. I mean MU won a cup the past two years so what. I would much rather be Arsenal. Prioritize the PL first and secondly which ever competition provides the most money so we can add to the squad.
Where did Arteta get this idea about over training? Did/do City do it, but with a much bigger squad? Do you think Gary O’driscoll leaving for MU had an impact on our injury crisis?
While Arsenal did have a shorter break prior to the Brighton game they had a longer break then anyone the week prior.
Finally, I just do not understand penalties in the PL especially when it comes to contact. Contact that appears to be within the rules is called but flagrant fouls , especially off the ball are okay. Anyone remember the karate chop Guimaraes did against an Arsenal player in the middle of the pitch off the ball the other season?
Thanks Trey! Appreciate your message! Over training... we lost three players before the United game in training, per Arteta. Usually a sign of going too hard, especially when two of the players are robust.
As an older Englishman I agree Trey! The inconsistency over contact in the penalty area is staggering.
The League Cup does feel a lesser cup but I know some people who, if it came to a choice, would take a League Cup win over a top 4 finish on a matter of principal that success is linked to silverware. Of course it's a ridiculous 'choice' as Arteta and the team go out to win every game they play in, in every tournament.
The over training has come up recently. Not sure who the insiders are, to judge Arsenal's training practices?
Hmmmmm, Yh the refs hate us and the squad is battered but we have no options because that’s how teta built it and he runs players into the ground. Martin was on the bench because we didn’t replace Fabio. Martinelli is on the bench because we didn’t replace ESR. Saka is injured because teta has flogged him for the last two years. We have to take some responsibility I don’t like just blaming the refs or the fixture list. We knew the fixtures were gonna be extreme, ours always are, so build your squad accordingly.
For me, we just don’t convince. Unbeaten in 12 is a good stat but bar sporting we’ve not been impressive. I don’t see it how you and Matt see it
Pedro, in your counting of lost points to the PGMOL I think you are leaving out the one that pisses me the most - the foul given on Kiwior when the ref realised that Kai was through on goal and because the ref blew the whistle just before we scored, what should have been the winner against Liverpool, VAR couldn't overturn anything.. That was so blatantly wrong by the ref trying to keep the game level to help his other employer (City). And just to top it up he gave Liverpool a goalkick when we should have a corner on the last minute of injury time. That day PGMOL cost us two points and have Liverpool 1.
The season we finished fifth, when we had no Europe at all because of finishing eighth previous season, we did shite in cups and still collapsed at end of season to finish out of top four.
Chosing which comps to prioritize is bollocks because Arteta hasn't shown any ability to win league - he's Wenger like in his first at Xmas but second at end of season record - so we should be grateful to win any trophy at all. Winning begets winning, this is simple concept that seems hard for people to understand, players get their hands on a trophy and they want more.
It is colossal arrogance to ignore the cups and say it's the league or nothing.
He was 2 points off the top of the league last year. 1 win away. That's quite a bit of ability mate. It's arrogance to 1) think a broken squad should be going for the quadruple 2) to think that pushing City that close wasn't a sign we're close to being able to win the league
A lack of rotation is often an accusation made at Arteta. If we put our 'best 11" in the next four games, is there a danger of injuries by overplaying? You know people would accuse Arteta of that too.
We're in the SF of the CCup, is that ignoring it?
FA cup, the last two years we've been knocked out by City and Liverpool.
CL we're doing fine.
Who is showing 'colossal arrogance'? Personally, I've never been that bothered about the League Cup although I've been to all the finals since 1987 and I always want to win. It's one up from the Charity Shield. I'd rather win it than not, obviously, but we'll have to rotate tomorrow and against Man U.
Arteta will undoubtedly put out a team that he thinks will win both games but should we, for example, break up our CB partnership?
Glad you mention Cootegate , I do wonder if that is very significant in events this season, pulling out all stops to help Liverpool, and trying to kill their main title rivals, ie us at the moment, by whatever means possible. I do wonder if Liverpools lawyers may have issued some sort of implied or direct threat against the PGMOL with the evidence they had of Cootes bias, I know a Liverpool supporter who is convinced he cost them a title, rightly or wrongly..
If Liverpool did go for the PGMOL, don’t blame them, I think our club should take them on as well, even though our evidence might not be quite as compelling as Coote provided.
The yellow card shown to Ethan Nwaneri just before half-time of Saturday’s draw against Brighton was the ninth they have picked up this season for time-wasting – two more than any other side.
Does my head in how long it takes to take throws. For the most part I don't watch other teams' games so I have no idea whether other teams are 'getting away with it' or we're just deserving of the most cards!
I thought Nwaneri's yellow for taking 'too long' over a corner, was odd. I'm not going to analyse how long we normally take but it did feel like Taylor just wanted the spotlight. It has been creeping in, the CB running over to the corner taker to decide on which corner routine it should be. Taylor had a go at Gabriel and then Nwaneri got the blame. Do you remember when TT got a yellow for delaying a throw in after getting the ball passed to him?
The refs are shit. They introduce a new directive, go hard for the first few weeks and then ease off. Now players will try and stop quick free kicks after they've eased off. Keep the rule, be harsh and consistent and player will not do it!!
Manhandling in the penalty area was acted on, now a push or a judo throwdown will be ignored. Next year watch them introduce the 10 sec rule for goalies , give loads of corners and then it will ease off. The wankers talk about the letter of the law and then let goalies have the ball for 20-25 secs when there is an 8 sec rule. Incompetents.
Sterling Jesus on bench
It's a stronger starting xi than I was expecting. MLS only youth, I thought at least 1 or 2 more youngsters.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz.
Subs: Porter, Calafiori, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Jorginho, Merino, Sterling, Jesus.
Give Odegaard a breather and play Zinchenko where he belongs, Mikel.
Why is this so hard for him?
He knows something we don't, I reckon.
Well the evidence shows he doesn’t know that much in this regard.
Evidence?
So in your opinion there’s evidence that we have found creativity in the centre of the field sans Odegaard? Jeez come on men
No, I go on actual evidence.
My opinion is that Zinny doesn't get into our best XI in any position, even with the current injury situation.
I suspect is is either incapable or unwilling to give 100% atm and that's why he doesn't get a starting berth.
Having said that I'd lay money on him starting at the weekend.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
So you made all noise and then laid your money in the opposite side? Haha. Ok I needed a laugh.
All good
Once you get to a semi final you have to give it your all, regardless of the competition.
Going to the game night which I am pretty happy about considering that I have been to the last 3 cup games.
I know our injury pile-up is not helping us at all but I really hope the team go out fighting and win today's 1st leg vs the Barcodes.
It may be a secondary trophy (it is) but winning it could help instill that winning ip the team so desperately needs.
I understand about having to choose once again which trophies to focus on but we really should be giving a good crack at it today.
Hey DB - I’m also on my way to the game and thank the EFL cup for giving me some chance at success in the ballot ! Would be happy with any kind of win to take back to theirs and no injuries.
It’s easy to dismiss this match and yes it’s the least important trophy, but we can make memories just the same in whatever competition, win or lose (speaking from the joy of Charlie Nicholas’ winner to break Ian Rush’s amazing record of never losing when he scored) to the despair of the following year against Luton (Gus Caesar, need I say more?!)
Enjoy the game and COYG !
Auba interview with Ornstein -
"Around 8.30pm, my father said, ‘Let’s go to the hospital’. I was like, ‘Oh my god! Crazy!’. They found a way to get me out of the jail.’”
The prison reference is delivered in jest, but Aubameyang will never forget the drama that accompanied transfer deadline day in February 2022, nor losing the Arsenal captaincy and the weeks spent training by himself before finally joining Barcelona on a free at the end of that winter window."
https://archive.ph/jcTol
I mean if we win carabao cup we will get 200.000 that's like a day's training for some of our players, it's not worth it at the expense of champions league and top 4 finish. Though a trophy would be nice.
Stadium revenue and TV payment would take that figure a little higher!
Can someone tell Mikel Arteta that Zinchenko is an attacking midfielder?
We are desperate for midfield creativity and he can’t use a player that fits the bill in his natural position smh
Theoretically, being left-handed and a decent passer he could have come out on the Odegaard's position on Saturday, where he used to play at times for Ukraine.
I just don’t understand the over thinking from the coaching staff
Play the guys in a position that brings out the best in them.
Also no more Partey at right back.
It’s madness and only luck that he hasn’t broken down yet and then
the haters will start moaning about him
Jonathan Wilson -
"Before the first of those draws, at Newcastle on 4 December, they were nine points clear of Arsenal in second; after Sunday’s draw at home to Manchester United, they are six points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand ....
But it’s Arsenal who will perhaps feel the greatest sense of regret. After overcoming the injury to Bukayo Saka, a sickness bug and falling behind to beat Brentford, it seemed they might be about to mount a charge."
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jan/06/liverpools-holiday-wobble-wont-matter-if-their-rivals-cant-punish-it
So Nwaneri is out for a 'few weeks'.
Not sure what sort of a team we will be able to field tomorrow.
Sid, you can come back when you stop the incessant trolling.
Pedro, as an older American only experiencing Arsenal and the PL for the recent couple of years I really enjoy the reading your posts. They are an entertaining read and provide good insight especially for those not in the UK.
I do not get the big deal behind the whole league cup thing since we do not have anything like it here. I mean MU won a cup the past two years so what. I would much rather be Arsenal. Prioritize the PL first and secondly which ever competition provides the most money so we can add to the squad.
Where did Arteta get this idea about over training? Did/do City do it, but with a much bigger squad? Do you think Gary O’driscoll leaving for MU had an impact on our injury crisis?
While Arsenal did have a shorter break prior to the Brighton game they had a longer break then anyone the week prior.
Finally, I just do not understand penalties in the PL especially when it comes to contact. Contact that appears to be within the rules is called but flagrant fouls , especially off the ball are okay. Anyone remember the karate chop Guimaraes did against an Arsenal player in the middle of the pitch off the ball the other season?
Thanks Trey! Appreciate your message! Over training... we lost three players before the United game in training, per Arteta. Usually a sign of going too hard, especially when two of the players are robust.
As an older Englishman I agree Trey! The inconsistency over contact in the penalty area is staggering.
The League Cup does feel a lesser cup but I know some people who, if it came to a choice, would take a League Cup win over a top 4 finish on a matter of principal that success is linked to silverware. Of course it's a ridiculous 'choice' as Arteta and the team go out to win every game they play in, in every tournament.
The over training has come up recently. Not sure who the insiders are, to judge Arsenal's training practices?
Hmmmmm, Yh the refs hate us and the squad is battered but we have no options because that’s how teta built it and he runs players into the ground. Martin was on the bench because we didn’t replace Fabio. Martinelli is on the bench because we didn’t replace ESR. Saka is injured because teta has flogged him for the last two years. We have to take some responsibility I don’t like just blaming the refs or the fixture list. We knew the fixtures were gonna be extreme, ours always are, so build your squad accordingly.
For me, we just don’t convince. Unbeaten in 12 is a good stat but bar sporting we’ve not been impressive. I don’t see it how you and Matt see it
Pedro, in your counting of lost points to the PGMOL I think you are leaving out the one that pisses me the most - the foul given on Kiwior when the ref realised that Kai was through on goal and because the ref blew the whistle just before we scored, what should have been the winner against Liverpool, VAR couldn't overturn anything.. That was so blatantly wrong by the ref trying to keep the game level to help his other employer (City). And just to top it up he gave Liverpool a goalkick when we should have a corner on the last minute of injury time. That day PGMOL cost us two points and have Liverpool 1.
The season we finished fifth, when we had no Europe at all because of finishing eighth previous season, we did shite in cups and still collapsed at end of season to finish out of top four.
Chosing which comps to prioritize is bollocks because Arteta hasn't shown any ability to win league - he's Wenger like in his first at Xmas but second at end of season record - so we should be grateful to win any trophy at all. Winning begets winning, this is simple concept that seems hard for people to understand, players get their hands on a trophy and they want more.
It is colossal arrogance to ignore the cups and say it's the league or nothing.
He was 2 points off the top of the league last year. 1 win away. That's quite a bit of ability mate. It's arrogance to 1) think a broken squad should be going for the quadruple 2) to think that pushing City that close wasn't a sign we're close to being able to win the league
A lack of rotation is often an accusation made at Arteta. If we put our 'best 11" in the next four games, is there a danger of injuries by overplaying? You know people would accuse Arteta of that too.
We're in the SF of the CCup, is that ignoring it?
FA cup, the last two years we've been knocked out by City and Liverpool.
CL we're doing fine.
Who is showing 'colossal arrogance'? Personally, I've never been that bothered about the League Cup although I've been to all the finals since 1987 and I always want to win. It's one up from the Charity Shield. I'd rather win it than not, obviously, but we'll have to rotate tomorrow and against Man U.
Arteta will undoubtedly put out a team that he thinks will win both games but should we, for example, break up our CB partnership?
Glad you mention Cootegate , I do wonder if that is very significant in events this season, pulling out all stops to help Liverpool, and trying to kill their main title rivals, ie us at the moment, by whatever means possible. I do wonder if Liverpools lawyers may have issued some sort of implied or direct threat against the PGMOL with the evidence they had of Cootes bias, I know a Liverpool supporter who is convinced he cost them a title, rightly or wrongly..
If Liverpool did go for the PGMOL, don’t blame them, I think our club should take them on as well, even though our evidence might not be quite as compelling as Coote provided.
The yellow card shown to Ethan Nwaneri just before half-time of Saturday’s draw against Brighton was the ninth they have picked up this season for time-wasting – two more than any other side.
Are we that bad?
We are!
2 of the 5 cards that caused Timbers suspension were given for taking too long over throw-ins... 🙄
Does my head in how long it takes to take throws. For the most part I don't watch other teams' games so I have no idea whether other teams are 'getting away with it' or we're just deserving of the most cards!
I thought Nwaneri's yellow for taking 'too long' over a corner, was odd. I'm not going to analyse how long we normally take but it did feel like Taylor just wanted the spotlight. It has been creeping in, the CB running over to the corner taker to decide on which corner routine it should be. Taylor had a go at Gabriel and then Nwaneri got the blame. Do you remember when TT got a yellow for delaying a throw in after getting the ball passed to him?
The refs are shit. They introduce a new directive, go hard for the first few weeks and then ease off. Now players will try and stop quick free kicks after they've eased off. Keep the rule, be harsh and consistent and player will not do it!!
Manhandling in the penalty area was acted on, now a push or a judo throwdown will be ignored. Next year watch them introduce the 10 sec rule for goalies , give loads of corners and then it will ease off. The wankers talk about the letter of the law and then let goalies have the ball for 20-25 secs when there is an 8 sec rule. Incompetents.