November. We usually struggle.
I could stop the post here and just re-blog it as the PM for every game in the month but that wouldn’t be very entertaining , would it?
As to tonight’s game, it is eminently winnable. We smashed the Bulgarians at home and should do so again tonight …. but we are The Arsenal and there is many a slip twixt cup and lip etc etc.
Our form is good though untested against decent opposition, our players are fit apart from a couple of centre forwards, our results are better away from home. What can go wrong?
Complacency; both from manager and players. They will expect to win, as we expect them to.
Ludogorets have earned the chance to play in the CL, having won the Bulgarian League and beaten among others, Red Star Belgrade in the qualifiers, they have also drawn with Basle so they are no pushovers. Less than 100% effort will result in a loss of important points.
Why are they important? You already know 😉 so I won’t waste your time.
My Team:
Ospina
Jens Mustafi Kos Gibbs
Elneny Coq Iwobi
Ox Sanchez Ozil
Should Xhaka start in place of Elneny or Le Coq? Not for me – he has to stay on the Naughty Step and learn that making stupid tackles like the one v Swansea is not the Arsenal Way.
The only other question mark is whether Arsene will rest players (see :complacency). He may choose to play Ramsey and Giroud in order to rest Ozil and Sanchez, however AW has been clear about giving Ramsey time to bed into the team again, so I doubt he will start. Whereas the FFP has shown why he is important and that sometimes Alexis can be the Plan B.
Ludogorets ground has a capacity of just over 8,000 and is sold out. I expect to see the crowd fervent for the first half, less so in the second, followed by some heads down muttering allowing our travelling few to be heard celebrating.
Let it be So.
COYRRG
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Excellent, BR.
Bound to drag the punters in with the deliberate error in the title. 🙂
I think we need to get an early goal to silence the baying Bulgar hordes. 🙂
The capacity of their own stadium being 8,000 is amazing.
The away section was full at the Emirates. Must have been 25 to 30 per cent of their total match-going following.
Saturday is the new Sunday 🙂
Thanks Raddy, not an easy game to get excited about with ‘the big one’ at the weekend.
I’d play Xhaka tonight if he’s not planning to start with him against the totts.
I’m not expecting an easy game this evening, I’d take a hard fought 0:1 with no injuries 🙂
I thought the game had be re-located to the Bulgarian National Stadium – capacity near 40k ?
Well done Mr.Esq. for spotting the other deliberate error. 🙂
Giroud was with AW at the last press conference for this CL match. He shall start.
Starting: Ospina, Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs, Elneny, Coquelin, Ozil, Alexis, The Ox, Giroud.
Bench: Cech, Gabriel, Holding, Ramsey, Xhaka, The Jeff/AMN, Iwobi.
great title, great PM, thanks Raddy
you could be right about Ludogorads not being pushovers. We have been stung in the past but completely unknown opponents. Especially they have their pride at stake while playing at home. Caution instead of complacency is key tonight. I think I will watch the first half, 3 goals up, should be safe to go to bed early 🙂
Erik
Love the order of events here “I expect to see the crowd fervent for the first half, less so in the second, followed by some heads down muttering”
Great post, thank you.
As for the team, I think the manager of totnum got some praise last term for alternating FB pairings, and keeping that bit fresh, so assuming AW will go Bell and Mon against Spurs, then I agree with Jenks and Gibbs.
As for the rest, I reckon you’ll be bang on.
Interesting stuff from Mr Esq and JM
I’d be happy for our Lumbersexual to start this one 🙂
U-turn
I’d start Xhaka. He must keep his long range sights zero’d in, and he could get some useful shooting practice tonight.
…dilemma – do I remain a loyal fan and watch Luds v AFC or do I see a better games instead? City v Barca sounds very appetizing
Glad to see the headline changed and love the mistake. Cheers BR. 😀⚽️
for Ant.
today I had my new greenhouse delivered. To cut the long story short – the delivery driver had a Stoke tattoo on his calf, but I could not sent him back as his grandparents were Polish. Ended up chatting shit for 2 hours
His take on Shawcross – wasn’t a nasty Roy Keane style tackle and if he didn’t brake Ramsey’s leg it would be just a yellow. But he fooking did brake Aaron’s leg!!!
his take on Pullis – there was no footy in Stoke for almost 7 years; he hates old Tony
his take on the current squad – nothing special
his take on our squad – you are so lucky 🙂
We are a bit short on wingers with Theo, Perez and Welbeck not available. Theo will be back on Sunday to hold up two fingers and a circle to the Spuddies, but Ox and Iwobi looked knackered last Saturday; can they last two more games?
Arsene may go 4-4-1-1 with Alexis in the hole and Ollie up front and Ozil, Rambo, Elneny and Xhakacan in midfield, and Gibbs and Jenkinson to provide extra width. Ludogorets strength is in midfield, so putting some extra power in ours would not be a bad idea.
Love it when we play somewhere different as per the true spirit of club European footie. CoyGs ⚽️💣⚽️💣
Off topic but…
I just read that Frank De Boer has been sacked (over the phone) by Inter Milan after only 85 days.
Wasn’t Frank one of the coaches being put forward to replace Wenger last season?
In other news, just enjoyed a public holiday today as Almandin wins the Melbourne Cup.
What shall I call Eddie’s fake twitter account?
Krazee Polish Gooner?
Or In bed early?
Or Burnley is in Scotland?
Or Don’t mess with Eddie?
Classic stuff and almost made for her first tweet..
“today I had my new greenhouse delivered. The delivery driver had a Stoke tattoo on his calf…… Ended up chatting shit for 2 hours”
Just got back and saw the title, bit shocked as I was only joking but sort of glad that you did put it up there or I would have been the only one at the ground on Saturday, I honestly didn’t realise that it was on Sunday.
My guess at tonight’s line up
——————–Ospina
Niles-Maitland, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs
———Xhaka————— Elneny
——————-Ozil
Ox, ———-Sanchez,———–Iwobi
I like Niles-Maitland – makes me think of either a jazz saxophonist or a funky disco record producer. 🙂
I hate double barrel names, so pretentious.
ant – next tweet – I paid a lot of money for the bloody greenhouse and they delivered it with metal parts that need to be cut down to size!! 2 more hours wasted with the electric saw. Job done, frame assembled.
time for rest before the game. I am beginning to warm up to this fixture now, could be interesting.
Xhaka should play, naughty boy or not. He needs to be match fit for Sunday.
Just realised that I got the names the wrong way round, it should have been.
Maitland-Niles (Conservative) 54780 votes.
For him to play tonight, that is.
Crap PM writer who doesn’t check his sources work 😀 😀
Au contraire, Grand Raddoir.
what the hell is that??
bastard! “Lord Heseltine has insisted he did NOT strangle his mother’s beloved pet dog to death”
looking good on Peaches’ cooking
Who is the spud?
a CB, raising star apparently. lovely young man, I will find it difficult to hate him
I’m with Eddie on this one, the plate of food (!!!) does require some kind of explanation
it is probably chas’s cooking and he proudly presented it to us fishing for compliments. Fat chance 🙂 🙂
I actually suspect Chas does an ace curry. Building everything from herbs and spices and shit like that
Looks like a well balanced meal.
Salad
Pulces
Vegtables
Brown Rice
Lean meat
And Desert
Ah, so you reckon the coloured shit is pudding
I was going for small alien craft
You have to admit a meal like that shows culinary imagination and snd some skill.
Look at the range of colours, it is an artwork
Evening all, can anyone tell me if our game is on telly tonight?
According to liveonlinefootie, they’re not showing the game
Pleeeease not a dodgy stream
Someone told me you can buy a clever box gadget that picks up all these games and prem games that are being screened in other countries
Any ideas?
Rasp
BT Sport 3
Whatever that is
It is on BT Sports 3. Let’s wait and see if LOLF have a stream. I hope so
It’s like a Ford Cortina Micky.
According to the google wot told be the telly prog., here’s their predicted side:
Ospina; Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs; Elneny, Xhaka; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Iwobi; Giroud
Yeah Ant, like I could hide that from Mrs Didit behind something 🙂
Thanks Micky, I pay for BT sport (too bloody much!!) so presumably I have BT Sport 3
I always wanted a Cortina. Never had the money so I had an Escort. Crap car but I felt like Jack the Peanut driving it
I had an escort for a very short while. Absolutely superb machine 🙂
nice one, Raddy. 🙂 chasing my tail, but hope to see the game tonight. COYG. 🙂
I had an escort once
well…twice, if I’m honest
Chas
ROLF the escort line 🙂
Love the team and wow does it show how deep our squad is
Xhaka “shoooooooot”
Blimey
I did not expect that team.
Is Lucas injured?
No out and out goal threat on the bench
LB
When Sanchez is on the ball in the area do you shout “scoooop”?
Erik
It’s on LOLF Ch10
Along the lines of my 11.37 prediction. Ox and Iwobi rested. CoyGs!
Interesting team. First time for the Ramset/Xhaka axis?
I had an orangy red escort too 🙂 best car ever, even I knew where to put petrol, water and oil, brill
Erik
Aaron out right with Coq Xhak axis
I once owned a silver Escort Convertible 1.6 fuel injection.
The shame of it …
Micky. Bet you a puffin that Ramsey does not play wide right
Of course he will. Dear Lord 🙄
Ludo are a team of midgets. The FPP will have a field day
As for your car, my god you were sleazy 🙂
A puffin, then
dwarves I think is the correct term
My first car was a triumph herald. It was so rusty I could see the road through the holes in the floor – those were the days 😄
Kicked off – CYRRG
sleazy car 🙂 🙂
not yours Rasp, Raddy’s
Mine was pretty sleazy too Eddie 🙂
True Eddie. But it was a babe magnet
of course 🙂 pity I was never a babe or I would go with you for a ride 🙂
oh ffs!!!!!!!
Oops, that wasn’t in the script 😦
FFS
Loads of time to get back into the game, we just mustn’t concede a second
I want to die
Oh dear me, when will we ever learn. The main thing to do after you concede early is to consolidate and take control of the game
I tell you who I blame
The Facking Romans. That’s who.
November should NOT exist
Perfect timing that goal
Let’s thrash the bastards now
rasp – you get on that pitch and play! it’s easy sitting on the sofa giving a large one
I think I said yesterday that I don’t care if we lose tonight. Liar.
Bit extreme Eddie, there is plenty of time to turn this round
I like extremes 🙂
he he he that was my fault, I screemed scoooop 🙂
Well, LB’s fault
There you go Eddie, Xhaka pulls one back
Yessssss
Gorgeous goal, gorgeous frenchie 🙂
loved the commentator
“not world class defending here”
Who the hell wants that 🙂
4 goals
all to play for
great half of entertainment
And Giroud duly obliges🙂 2 all
That was a strange half.
Poor Gibbs has been turned inside out by their Brazilian
Lovely goal from the FFP.
Why are we looking so porous in defence with Ramsey, Xhaka and Coq in front of the back 4?
Not sure if I owe a puffin
Lumbersexual 🙂
Erik
You should owe a puffin but Aaron is not holding his position at all.
When he did, in went a cross for Georgeous
what was that about Sanchez facing jail for tax evasion while in Barca??!!
I hope he has the same accountant and lawyer as Messi
Ref’s a homer
He is not only a homer, he is also a terrible referee.
Iwobi and Ox for Aaron and Xhaka would be an excellent choice 🙂
Got half of them.
Have we had a shot this half?
basel equalized
Basel equalizing. Another goal here would be massive
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
yessssssssssssssssssssss
how fooking cool was that!!!! ey???
that has to be goal of the season
We’ve got Ozick, Mesut Ozil, I just don’t think you understand 🙂
That was nice!!!!
Wow what control superb
Basel are down to 10 men 😦
Typical, 1:2 PSG
Rasp. We will beat then at The Emirates.
oh Mesut
Boy, we’ll watch that goal some more
We played well for perhaps 15 minutes of the game – it was enough.
The referee kept stopping the game and had a poor performance.
Gibbs had his worst game in a long time. Hope Monreal will return in time for the NLD.
Magnificent Mesut
Erik
There were six non First XI’ers, and Mesut 🙂
Happy
Nite
Could get very excited about this Arsenal squad but don’t want to just yet with the tough games coming up.
I’m up to about 20 watches so far….might have to go for a piggy to recuperate.
its a thing of beauty, the first touch nice, but its the fact that he checks back when the defender isn’t even in camera shot, then cut back again before slotting home.
I mean you seriously can’t teach that stuff, touch yes, balance yes, but awareness of everything going on around him and out of the corner of his eye, that is just something you are born with.
piggy = ciggy but i am in Norfolk so either works 😀
There is something in drafts should something be needed, a couple of pics and a proof read.
http://www.skysports.com/football/ludogorets-vs-arsenal/366898
http://arsenalist.com/f/2016-17/ludogorets-vs-arsenal/goaaal-mesut-ozil-2-3-let-the-bodies-hit-the-floor.html
Can someone (Chas) put that clip up. I still don’t know how to do it.
Let the bodies hit the ground, love it.
well said GiE.
Massive credit to Giroud. The desire to pressure like that at the 87′ mark can’t be taught either. Most players sit with their hands on their hips waiting for someone else to do the work. Here we have a striker busting his arse to get back and pressure the ball carrier. Well played.
Mesut…speechless.
Ozil is as cunning as a dunny rat
Still purring
Also still rolfing that Erik thought a Ford Escort was a babe magnet.
Can’t help wonder at the quality of a babe that sees a mo’or like that and thinks “I must have sex with a man like that”
Here is one like what I had. Wrong colour, but superb
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcShMTagJl3cSzmzvQyy8QSpXnO85Gb2uuK8lvTBnhPbocAspy0LiQ
Morning All,
Micky. For the type of girl I was looking for, the Escort seemed to work 😀
Ha ha, fair comment 🙂
Looking forward to LB’s match report. They are much better than the norm.
Messi Ozil 🙂
small confession before LB’s match report – when and where I was growing up I had a dream that my boy-friend/husband will swipe me off my feet arriving in a shiny VW Golf. I never hoped that I personally could own a Golf, that was too much to hope for.
An Escort Cabriolet was way above my standards
I should have taken it to Poland !!
Raddy 🙂 🙂 we were so poor there… I don’t even like the memories – my grandma mending a pair of leather gloves – they were too precious to throw away
and look at me now – burned down Golf and I didn’t even shed a tear. What won’t kill you…
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has ordered an investigation into a £50m increase in the cost of converting West Ham’s London Stadium.
WHU paid just £15m towards it. Nice.
NEW POST