SAKA WILL FLY

Happy FRIYAY, everyone! How’s it going? I’ve been tinkering with ChatGPT to iron out those pesky grammar and spelling errors. AI is phenomenal, but let me tell you, its best feature is making things very mediocre.

In short, you won’t be replacing me with a pocket tech pet anytime soon.

The Arsenal news world is buzzing.

Bukayo Saka is apparently undergoing a late fitness test. You never quite know with Mikel – this could be genuine, or it might just be him throwing out misinformation to keep a beastly opponent guessing about his strategems.

My take? Don’t gamble when there are two trophies up for grabs and still 23% of the season left to play.

Brighton might be conquerable without Saka, but I’m not so sure about Bayern.

Arteta assures that Saka will fly through the rest of the season… so that’s promising. He’s the game-changer. Can’t wait to have him back! He has the aura some of the Arsenal greats had. He is psychological boost for the fans and the player. Also, he’s someone who keeps managers and defenders up all night because he’s a nightmare to deal with.

Speaking of the German side, they’re grappling with some injury woes of their own ahead of their match tomorrow. Neuer, Sané, Coman, Pavlovic, and Mazraoui are all sidelined. It’s uncertain whether it’s just rest and recovery or something more serious. But for a team with nothing left to fight for domestically, it doesn’t quite add up to leave key players out of the squad, especially when they’re struggling.

Brighton isn’t the most ideal opponent to face before a crucial home game as they’ll put our fullbacks through the wringer, ensuring a fiercely contested 90 minutes. Nonetheless, a quick trip back home is always welcome. Players can hit the sack early, gearing up for a pivotal few weeks of football.

I’m not sure if Arteta will opt for major rotations in this game, but it’s something he’ll have to consider. Relying on the squad for the final 11 games of the season is imperative. Exhausted players don’t win matches. If the Premier League games have taught us anything, it’s that City and Arsenal seem to be in better physical shape than Liverpool. Many are predicting that both City and Liverpool will sweep all their remaining games, but I have my doubts, particularly about Liverpool.

It’s just a shame they won’t drop points against a United side that has conceded a whopping 200 shots since the turn of the year. They’re both incredibly poor and fortunate simultaneously. However, that luck won’t hold up at home this weekend. My prediction? We’ll witness a landslide victory and an early exit for EtH, putting an end to his lacklustre campaign. Fingers crossed Gareth Southgate steps in afterward.

Kai Havertz is the talk of the town among fans, so it was refreshing to hear Arteta speak highly of him, with the player returning the sentiment.

‘He’s been a guiding force since my arrival, introducing me to a whole new dimension of football that I had yet to experience, aiding my development on the pitch as a player.

‘I’m immensely grateful for his assistance and his dedication to improving players, and that’s what sets him apart.’

‘I’ve never encountered a coach who’s so meticulous and offers such diverse insights, possibly even uncovering aspects of the game I wasn’t aware of.’

Players won’t openly criticize a manager, but they certainly aren’t obliged to sing their praises. This sentiment has been consistent with Arteta since his Manchester City days. He possesses a unique perspective, knows how to communicate effectively, and elevates players’ performance. If you’re not convinced by now, I’m afraid I can’t sway you.

One player I’m eager to see a better performance from tomorrow is Gabi Jesus. With Saka’s fitness in question, we might catch a glimpse of Jesus in a more versatile role. Assuming Kai starts in the middle, could we see the two Brazilian wingers filling the remaining spots? It seems plausible… and I’d prefer Jesus over Trossard any day.

Alright, that’s a wrap for me today. Check out the latest Patreon with Matt, Johnny, and Pedro. It’s a real gem. I think I might even talk about myself in the third person… or was it AI tech?

Catch you in the comments. xxx

P.S. Don’t forget to console all the Erik Ten Hag fanboys this weekend. ‘He’s got an identity in 4 weeks’ was the tagline. Yet yesterday, he managed to set a record for conceding 200 shots in the year 2024. Madness, I tell you.’