Preston? Never been there. Deepdale? Never been there. North End? Same. Did I ever see Tom Finney play? No. Have I ever heard of any of PNE’s players? No. Their manager, Simon Grayson …. well, I did see him play for Blackburn.
Preston’s Finest
In other words I have no qualifications to write this pre-match other than my love for their opposition.
I love the FA Cup, always have. I love that we won it twice in the past 3 years. That said, some of my most painful memories are attached to the FAC (Wrexham 😦 ++). Is there anything as painful as losing in a Cup Final? Perhaps a kick in the crown jewels but not much else.
A loss today could be equally painful and it is not beyond the realms of possibility. Play like we did for the first 70 minutes at B’mouth and we are in peril.
Positives: Welbeck is on the bench and ready to establish himself as an Arsenal great. Nigeria didn’t qualify for the ACN so Iwobi is available for selection. Bellerin cannot play so poorly twice in a row. OG is in fine scoring form.
Not so Great: We only have two fit and available MF’s. We only have Jenkinson should AW decide to give Hector a rest, though this is the level where he excels. Sanchez will be rested. Ozil is sick. Santi is out for the next few notes. Koscielny limped off at the Cherries. BFG isn’t fit yet.
I am hoping Holding gets another chance today, he is a fine prospect. With Chambers doing very well at struggling Boro, we have two fine young CBs for the future.
My Team:
Ospina
Bellerin Holding Gabriel Monreal
Ramsey Xhaka Iwobi
Ox OG Perez
Actually it is not true that I know none of Preston’s players, they have Dane in the team – the 6´7″ Simon Makienok who is a central striker. He used to play for Brondby which is a major black mark.
We can expect hoof ball from PNE. We can also expect a dreadful pitch designed to negate our silky skills. It will be a hard physical battle and let’s just hope we can leave Deepdale with a victory and no injuries.
Let it be so.
COYRRG
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Erik. Apols.
“Nigeria didn’t qualify for the ACN so is available ”
Insert Iwobi
Then delete this comment
Erik
Thanks. Fine work. I too love the FAC. Just so steeped in history, tradition and memories.
Changing tack slightly. Unlike some, I don’t feel it’s been devalued in any way because of CL, top four etc. It’s the European Cup that’s been buggered about with, and as a consequence, the football league.
FAC remains unspoilt.
Excellent mood setter BR.
Interesting game, don’t think it will be easy, never is but looking forward to it.
I always have one or more” deliberate” mistakes in my posts. It is just you scan rather than read them 😀
Is Ant on the road?
We’re going to Preston!
Not yet BR, we leave at midday.
great PM Raddy! I am so glad the admin didn’t change the format of your posts. A PM on a match day is like a bit of carp on the xmas eve dinner table
Cuffley academy. Spot the smartest kids
Cheers, BR.
Looking forward to entering Deepdale for the first time this afternoon.
I’m hoping Danny gets a run and comes through unscathed.
Love the FA Cup but haven’t too many expectations for today’s game.
Ce sera, sera.
3-1 to us. 🙂
Good advice from the Preston Police……
LoL
We’re going to Wemberlee
K Sera Sera
Another fine PM Raddy, I have never heard of any of the PNE players but I knew them all back when they were one of the main teams in the old Div.1.
You made a comment earlier about the UK’s best known players on an international basis – I would offer that in his day the most well known player was Sir Stanley Matthews, and both Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney were not far behind.
It was not until the 1958 World Cup (early TV coverage) that we started to appreciate the skill levels of players from other country’s.
chas- Beautiful view. I forget how lovely the English countryside can be.
GN5. I said last 50 years! My father told me that I saw Matthews play on my first visit to Highbury but I have no memory of it.
I think Gibbs would start
Raddy I was not disagreeing with you as I thought Bobby Moore was a wonderful player and a model captain, I was fortunate enough to see him play on multiple occasions.
Sir Stanley’s final 1st team appearance in a Football League game and the last of his career came on 6 February 1965, just after his 50th birthday – just under 52 years back.
He live in Burlington, Ontario and I met him several times when he became involved in the local football.
We’ve arrived….near Scotland again Eddie. How far between Burnley and Preston do you reckon?
Cheers Raddy
Preston? Incredible history. Famous for Stanley Matthews driving past every Thursday to visit his mother.
Raddy , have you heard that hauntingly lovely song sang by Patsy Cline which never fails to invoke an emotional response “I fall to pieces” ? I have, and have never thought about Preston when listening to it.
A makeshift team Arsenal team should still win by a canter. We have to wear yellow though, dour colours will make Preston think there playing in black & white, and that’s when they get results.
Yes, yes, some Preston fan will probably read this and think “Arrogant southern wanker. If I could get hold of you I would twist you into a fullback facing Tom Finney knot”
This is true, but how would you find me? I have no interest in visiting Preston to revive the Mill industry? I’ve never even read that ladybird book Rumplestitskin?
” I have, and have never thought about Preston when listening to it.”. Quality.
Looking a bit foggy in Preston at the mo.
Might need to clear a bit for the game.
Still the beer is lovely and I can feel the mill industry reviving as we speak.
Which one, Eddie?
ant – 23 miles
Oh lovely, a trip to Preston with Ant and Duck. Bit worried about the fog though hope it clears for the game.
Great PM as usual BR.
Looking forward to this game …………. I love the FA Cup.
big deal – a bit of fog. -30 degrees in Polska, already 7 people froze to death
Team
Ospina Maitland-Niles Gabriel Mustafi Monreal Ramsey Xhaka Iwobi Ox Lucas Giroud
Had to remember it, couldn’t copy and paste, hope that’s rught
No Alexis
Although haven’t seen the nench
…..or the bench even 🙂
9/11. Close.
Hope the game goes ahead so we can see how Maitland-Niles does. What does his start mean for Jenkinson?
I think Jenkinson is busted Raddy 😦
Exciting bench:
Subs: Martinez, Jenkinson, Holding, Reine-Adelaide, Dasilva, Willock, Welbeck
Who is DaSilva?
Wrong about Jenks, don’t listen to me 😦
Pelenda Joshua Tunga Dasilva. Quite a name for an English lad. He is 18 and a striker.
Must be an exciting day for him.
Peaches. I always listen to you. Who wouldn’t?
Evening all
Classic line from Transplant highlighted already by Erik.
Team: looking forward to seeing Iwobi back in the No10 (don’t let me down again Arsene), Perez for the full 90, the Rambo Xhaka combo (hold your position Granit and don’t floor anyone in or around the box, there’s a good chap)
Should be good
Erik
If you disobey Peaches, you get disciplined. Worth a try 🙂
Not brave enough, why don’t you try?
You know my bark is worse than my bite 😉
Great to have Welbz back.
Micky I reckon AW delivered exactly that speech to the players 🙂
Chris Willock was at school with one of my baby spuds.
Bloody hell I had trouble logging in
Here we are, and here we go
Great to see Danny back
Come on you Gunners
COYRRG
Of course, we have to concede early 😉
Should I be Pissed now
That’s not a good start is it?
Game on. That goal was just to add a little spice 🙂
Didn’t we get enough spice on The
You can’t have too much spice, Fred 🙂
Oh my goodness …… do we think we’re the only guys that play football?
This is embarrassing now
We are playing like the first 70 mins at B’mouth. Terrible defending
Luckily not embarrassing yet
We can’t even pass
Bit too sloppy though
Come on boys
Chaaaaance
Unlucky Rambo
I don’t understand our tactics. Where is Perez playing? Completely ineffectual.
Ramsey is the only player driving us forward as Ox is struggling and Xhaka is anonymous.
And we are all over the place in defence.
I think the front four are switching around a lot, only seem to be confusing each other though
Ox not having a good game sadly not got his dribbling boots on
Have we played a worse half this season?
Defended badly.
Not created anything from midfield.
Attack toothless.
We look the Championship side.
Hope for better in the 2nd half.
Oh dear, that was awful.
Bad first halves smack of complacency I’m afraid 😦
Have to start like you want to win the game and the past few games we just haven’t
sounds awful. glad im at work!!! 🙂
I’m only moaning at you guys cos Rasp isn’t here lol
Preston playing well as they should! Have same starting 11 playing.
How many changes does our side have? Lots….
Few observations:
Niles getting skinned alive, but no help from…..hmmm, well you know who.
Gab should be on right, Holding in center with Mustafi and Mon on the left.
Maybe move Perez back so he can work with Xhaka and Iwobi- they can control the ball better and quicker and move Ramsey behind Giroud.
Not much on bench to help scoring or mid.
Arsenal will get more time and space as Preston tires…
Opportunities to be had…
Arsene with Zen halftime speech to inspire goals!!
But seriously you’d think the team would want to do better for the travelling fans, they’re getting a pretty poor deal at the moment
Worst half in a long time. Wenger left the leaders out for various reasons but who of these midfielders and attackers will stand up and turn this round? I reckon Wenger will do a Fergie at the break. Do they know what shirt they are wearing?
“Arsene with Zen half-time speeches to inspire goals” not sure that happens Aaron 😉
Is there anything else on telly?
Lovely programme about Thailand on bbc2 Micky
But we’ve scored so maybe stick with it 🙂
no need 🙂
Now they are playing with a peppered carrot up their Arsenals.
Ramsey with the Goal!
Some halftime speech..eh?
Well they owe us 45 minutes – do the peppered carrots last that long TA?
Let’s hope so Peaches 😀🌶
Ox is always struggling
First half was
Work rate and team work v slack and never met before
We’re now working harder and have been introduced to each other
oh, and the hot carrot 🙂
Surely it is time for Welbeck?
Yay welcome back Danny
bloody gorgeous 🙂
are 2 subs a good idea?
time wasted but disruptive?
Danny Welbeck is such a lovely footballer
And Ollie………..:) 🙂 🙂
The whole starting eleven was disruptive
OG is turning into a proper striker. Worked hard and took his goal very well.
Ramsey my MotM
Only in the second half Raddy 🙂
Well, a win is a win…
Next….
Much better second half, as they learned each other’s first names.
Arsenal will come back stronger and some of the regulars are bound to heal up.
Peaches
Agree about Danny. Some players are so natural and elegant on the ball. He’s one.
Job done
Players rested. Tough to watch but fine result.
Ollie agrees, need to start games better but why shouldn’t the opposition play with intensity?? Why are they surprised??????
It is amazing how our midfielders have to be told to push forward and play with more intensity and dominance during the break. That made the difference and Ollie just delivered again..
And Perez really is our new Freddie. Just doesn’t give up and is an unselfish team player… that sounds like a tautology! 😀⚽️ And what a lay off for Ollie! Great goal by Rambo which was the other moment of quality after fab work by Iwobi (my man of the match).
I didn’t see the game, again.
Now, just looking at the result – 2:1 in 87th minute playing Preston is worse than anything football related in my books.
Peaches has already tried to calm me down, but I repeat – 2:1 to Preston is a good result??
Oh i hate it when we play rubbish and win. So annoying! 🙂
Being upset at the performance is one thing, but being upset about the result is something different altogether. The aim was to get in the 4th round, and mission accomplished.
We move on and hopefully get some key players back and our performance improves.
shut up fattie, you know exactly what I mean.
I hate it when we play rubbish
I love it when we win
I hate it when we lose
I love it when we play well
play rubbish+win probably better than play well + lose.
BUT I am genuinely shocked that we only won 2:1. How come?
ha ha ha the angriest person and yet Eddie didn’t even have to sit through 94 minutes of that crap. Brilliant 🙂
sounds like we didnt turn up first half Eddie, but im at work so saw as much as you!
theres something really reassuring about our worst performance still being better than others best. i quite enjoy when we play rubbish and win.
ultimately though we need to improve. i dont think weve had a run of games for a while where we’ve been able to field 9 or 10 of the same players and we’ve found it difficult. the xmas period is always a difficult one though so hopefully now we can kick on and get back to early season form.
I’ve gone on holidays (Phillip Island home of the Australian Motorbike GP) and its taken days to catch up (I tend to read all the comments in order before reading the next post). 37 degrees yesterday and a cold 32 today. Lots of time on the beach and late night gelato. Surfing with the kids was poor as the waves are so calm. I’m excited that we once again move closer to the FA Cup final and that Wellbeck is back. 8 points behind however when you compare our fixtures to the teams above us, I think we are well placed to move up and up. Off for a run long now to keep my step count up:-) Cheers everyone
That is just cruel VP.
There is something in drafts if anyone wants to add pics please feel free.
Thanks LB
Anyone else watching David Bowie?
VP – you just enjoy your chillin’ don’t you worry about us 😉
ok, I have seen some of that game now. And I’ll tell you what the angry me would do if I was the away fan – at half time I would invade the pitch and try to strangle those schocks in yellow one by one
that’s brilliant Chas! do you think we are on to winning a double this year?
You certainly can’t do the double if you get knocked out of the FA Cup in the 3rd round.
Oh, and the 97/98 team was 12 points behind the league leaders Man U at the end of February 1998.
NEW POST
12 points behind at the END OF FEB!
Blimey, we can definitely relax a little then, and Swansea is definitely not a must win game now 🙂
Yeah, we need to be at least 20 points behind before we start to panic.