In the past 2 years we have seen 34 players leave AFC with just 5 coming in (according to Arseblog). Who could have imagined such a scenario?
Today we welcome both an incoming and outgoing player to The Emirates. Black Jedward is apparently ill but Mkhiki is due to start. This is exciting. Whom will he join in midfield? Will he play on the left wing? Only Mr Wenger knows.
I have to say that it is my belief Mr Wenger did not intend to buy Mkiki, we have other priorities and perhaps taking him was the best we could achieve in the Sanchez sale. That said, Mkiki is a player with much to prove and Arsenal is a good vehicle for him. How he fits into the first 11 is not obvious.
Arsenal have made a major shift in their forward planning, relying upon older, big name players coming in and reducing the numbers of the squad.The attack has been dealt with, Mr Wenger has stated he wanted to do more business with the defence needing more bodies (Evans??). About time some may say but it is a gamble.
Fat Sam/Everton. Like one, dislike the other. One is all that is shite about the North, and the other the opposite. How quickly has The Walrus been allowed back into the top echelon’s of UK football after being sacked as England boss and outed as a liar and cheat?
Everton are a proper club with good values. Walcott is a perfect fit. Let’s hope he is welcomed back and then has a stinker. They paid huge money for players in summer and January and have yet to really see an improvement. We made a mistake in allowing Everton to sign Pickford – he is a terrific young GK as we will witness this evening
My Team: Assuming JW and Auba are ill.
Cech
Koscielny Mustafi Monreal
Bellerin Ramsey Xhaka Mkiki
Ozil Iwobi
Lacazette
I am tempted to play Welbeck instead of Iwobi as this team lacks real punch. And of course, if JW /Auba are fit they should start.
Super day of sport ahead with an evening kick off for the Arsenal. Let us hope we continue our fine home form and take the points
COYRRG
Arsenal News 24/7
Thanks Erik
Now I’m really looking forward to the remainder of this season and watching our team evolve
I think Miki will be a superb replacement for the dog bloke, and then there is him linking up with Auba again.
Team? I’d rather Miki further up field in place of Iwobi with M-N filling in
I think it’s time that Wenger made some changes in the PL line ups and started picking players on merit rather than just sticking with the same formula every week. Therefore, I’d give Ospina a game as Cech has had a couple of shockers recently. I’d also bring in AMN for Xhaka who needs a rest. If Wilshere is fit then he comes in for Xhaka.
FGG- Much prefer your team to mine.
No way Iwobi should still be playing
I am definitely looking forward to the first time this forward line takes the field:
……..Ozil……
Mikhi…..Laca
…….PEA……
That issure to get pulses racing, andgive opponents very little idea of where we will be attacking from. Alexis was naturally drawn to starting from left wing, Mikhi and Ozil can roam anywhere and Laca can run channels with best of them, PEA gives us a target man and pace.
The worry today is a 9 man defensive action from FatSams Everton with Rooney looking to release Theo at every opportunity.
For that reason I’d tell Hector to do no attacking today at all, make sure he is near Theo for that counter and just pressure the first touch
Like FGG i’d too give Cech a rest, the clean sheet record seems to be playing heavily.
GiE – PEA has a man flu, be out for the rest of the season
Thanks Raddy, nice PM. I forgot Fat Sam is at Everton, they should have Moist back, he was good for them. Theo is likely to shine and so is Shrek, it could be tricky tonight.
are you sure about 34 sold bought 5? They bought 3 in Jan, Kolasinac and Laca make it 5 already, there was no other player in last 2 years? I need to google it later
Cheers, BR.
The Toffees will definitely play on the counter. Weird how every team in the League knows how to play against Theo apart from us. Guaranteed to score and then not celebrate, showing respect for the club.
Let’s hope we can shaft Fat Sam.
I’m happy to give Cech a rest from today to the end of his life.
I know you’re a fan of M-N, FGG.
I don’t actually have a (big) problem with that, but I honestly don’t think he’s ready.
He’ll go the same way as Iwobi if we rush him… by that I mean lack of confidence affecting his game. That’s Iwobi’s problem, not lack of ability.
Now is not the time for inexperienced youngsters… we’re 6th, not 15 points clear at the top.
Sorry BR – good post as always.
Except your lineup looks as though Miki’s in at left wing-back !!!
Great post, Raddy. 🙂
Agree with GiE, FGG, et al. The clean sheet record is wearing too heavy. On with Ospina.
Also, time for another stint in the naughty corner for Mustafi. Would like to see Mavro.
Onwards and upwards! COYG.
30 mins played…
Burnley 0
Man City 1
Half-time…
Burnley 0
Man City 1
I’m looking forward to seeing Makiki playing
Ant is too.
And Dingdanggooly goolywatcha
Just been told that I’ve got a dodgy shirt on by the ticket inspector.. no taste
Me and Patrick are doppelgängers
Sorry for 1.54pm Micky..it will be lost on you!
Chas would do this I reckon..
Bobby
Dennis!
Davor!
Can anyone spot Fred or Micky in this photo?
The David Sukor is best
Interesting window as some potentially useful faces have arrived and a lot of the players sucking up money and not contributing anything have been moved on. Better use of a teams resources has started to occur as our management structure gets realigned for a proper club.
However defence remains a concern. The notion that we need better players that is misplaced. Defence, as the minnows show us repeatedly, is a team effort. It involves commitment and teamwork. Something that is not currently being coached at the club. Until that gets sorted….We may be not as painful to watch as we score a bit more but unless they solve the defence it’ll be more of the same.
ha ha ha ha. brilliant Vines show. 🙂
We’ll score more..
So we have no team effort, commitment or teamwork and none of these things are being coached at the club.. really?
MC. Possession 72% 20 shots on target. One goal.
Should have signed a striker.
Haha, they couldn’t afford one.
Giroud was available
Eddie
How was the hot date?
Or is it still going on?
Afternoon delight?
Agreed GI the full backs should stay back today and just defend
Is that you in the picture ants
What all this talk about benzema
Fred. What talk about Benzema?
They saying he looking for London for a house in preparation for his move to arsenal in the summer
Before the deadline I heard we was link with him
We don’t need him
Afternoon all, thanks for the PM Raddy.
Unfortunately I think your team is highly likely.
Shame if Auba is sick … if not, he should start. We may not see the best of Auba or Miki until we see them play together.
Fat Sam knows exactly how to play against AW’s Arsenal, it won’t be pretty. Shrek also knows how and when to feed Theo the ball, so as you say, we must be aware of that threat.
If Jack and Ozil are both on the pitch we will have all the creative players we need, we just need Xhaka to be remember his defensive duties.
Yea I know that why I find it strange we still being linked
The Ant re-enactments are sensational. Lov’em 🙂
Yea fullback and midfielders just need to defend today, wonder if they are even told to stay back
Fred
From today onwards, you’re in charge of summer transfer goss.
Your work has begun 🙂
Iwobi starting lord help us
Auba starts. Good.
WOW
Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Ramsey, Xhaka, Iwobi, Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang
Subs: Ospina, Lacazette, Wilshere, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac, Elneny
Ozil, Auba, Makhi, AI. looking tasty up front
Theo starts
Rooney bench
Lava won’t be happy
Just noticed. There are two bottles of water in front of Ant.
auba starts? Really? So it wasn’t man flu after all
fred – it’s just you and I who are not in love with iwobi
ant – did you just take up smoking? ffs man, at your age people finally give them up!
not me of course, I am not people
Thanks for the PM Raddy. I don’t agree with any of Iwobi, Xhaka or Ramsey starting. Ramsey is a tougher call and can be somewhat justified.
Aubemayeng and Lacazette should play together but not sure if AW will ever do this at the expense of his favoured tippy tappy midfielders so my excitement is somewhat tempered.
AW still trying to get 3 tippy tappers to try and cover the defensive midfield jobs collectively rather than try and develop 1 specialist in the role (AMN)
If Iwobi plays deeper then I would give that a bit of a thumbs up but probably shouldn’t be starting this game anyway.
Xhaka must have something on AW. Perhaps he caught AW and Bould in the showers together.
None of Iwobi, Xhaka or Ramsey should start ahead of Wilshere if he is fit. I feel there are some worrying conclusions that could be drawn from this line up in terms of AW’s methods moving forwards.
We now have the options in the squad to try and find a better more dynamic balance. This is not really a shake up which ever way you look at it and feels very samey with just one striker replacing another.
Apart from this I am happy with the line up 🙂
COYRRG’s.
God you sound miserable GB.
Go for a glass of milk with Wally 🙂
You sure about that micky cause I wouldn’t have sold theo or giroud and would never bought lacazette
Great minds think alike Eddie
Hope Miki and Auba line up in whatever way it was that made them so dynamic at Dortmund
Who at the game today
Haha micky. Quite happy and relaxed and looking forward to seeing the 2 BVB guys link up. Would just like to see some changes from AW to a system and ethos that hasn’t worked on any consistent basis.
1
Proper Arsenal goal. Lovely set up
Whats to worry about Micky 😀
Think Purism GB 🙂
Certainly not conceding. Its the other end that matters 🙂
Miki looking lively … great cross for the goal …. and he’s popping up on both sides of the pitch
2
Set play goal. We are getting good at those.
The new togetherness of the team is plain to see. Good that Aubameyang is involved in the goal celebrations and playing his part in the goals
3
This is fantastic. The Welsh Wizard on a hatrick.
Can we play Everrton every week?
I’d like to see us keep the pressure up for 90 minutes …. score as many as we can …. and try to get a goal for Aubameyang
Maybe GB ain’t on drugs after all
THAT is why we bought Miki
Understanding
4
First of many
Miki our best player so far
Alright i take some of it back 😉
Why every single time we leading 4 nil they bring up the Newcastle draw
Firstly, Everyon have been dreadful. Mangala cost €42m and the bloke looks in the Stepanov class.
But we have been awesome. Could easily have been 6 or 7.
Let’s hope that unlike the Palace game we continue this scintillating football in the second half.
Very funny to hear the Theo song after he delayed his shot and missed.
Rsp. Don’t agree. Ozil has been superb.
Get your coat Arsenal, you’ve pulled!
Sexy Arsenal is back. How good was Mkhi that half? His work rate has been the main thing for me. Worked his socks off in defence and attack. When Wenger said he saw him playing deeper than Özil I was worried, but the way we’ve been able to feed the ball through the lines has been exceptional. Xhaka > Mkhi > Özil has been on constantly and been making it easy to get up the field.
Everton made 3 tackles the whole half!!! 😱
I truly enjoy the Arsenal when their passing is on!
My favorite moment of the game though was the Auba fast break..
Arsenal have been missing that for ages.
Everton and slim sam getting blasted.ha
Something to build upon.
Raddy, it’s not fair to include Ozil in the MOTM assessment … he’d win it every time 🙂
Fact is, he has lots of attacking players with good close control to play with now … so his ‘awesomeness’ can become even greater…
Mustafi does make some poor chooses
… he makes brilliant blocks ….
Walcott learn to cross in just 2 weeks
15 minutes of consolidation 😦
We’ve dropped down a level. I don’t understand why they took Theo off, I thought he was having a good game. Great that we sang him off the pitch
And that is what happens when we drop our intensity 😡
Dreadful from Kolasinac.
Consolidation not working. Let’s start playing football again.
Fred. Once again the Newcastle game brought up – it was 8 years ago!
5
Bloody love Mhiki
There it IS … hatrick for TWW
Interesting how Wenger lets Mkhi play in a free flowing side and suddenly he looks like the Dortmund player again.
we want 6
we want 6
or 7
Also good to see Ramsey doing what he does best. He should get 15-20 goals a season if he stays fit and in the team.
Wenger said something about us being better defensively if we keep the ball better and attack better. Certainly seemed to be the case in the first half. We may not be the strongest defensively, but if we are offensively outstanding and we work hard off the ball and avoid stupid mistakes then the results will follow. I’d still like to see a quality CB in the summer though!
At this rate we could end up with GD 64
3 goals for Ramsey and 3 assists for Miki …. luvly jubly
tWW?
So with ramsey scoring a hatrick does jack still make the side
A better game by Iwobi I thought ….
My mojo is fully re-charged
Super exciting players
The Welsh Wizard
afcstuff
@afcstuff
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has now equalled Alexis Sanchez’s assists for Arsenal this season, despite today being his first start for the club. #afc
Agree about Iwobi. Much better.
Stand up everybody who has a new glow on…………………………
ANT your 2.01pm was absolutely PRICELESS!!!!!!
A couple of pictures speaks a thousand words………….
“Fat Sam knows exactly how to play against AW’s Arsenal,”
Ummmmmmmmmmm,
Gooner B first comment 9 paragraphs ffs
“God you sound miserable GB.
Go for a glass of milk with Wally 🙂”
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Fred- love the tactical insights and we were at the game, where were you (again)?
Upper tier Upper tier Upper tier
I think
Fred- there are no pictures of me on this blog, just like you..except I actually exist,
Where’s Wally when we need him?
Was this you Fred in the FFB in disguise?
Ant we need you on AA 7 days a week…………………………….
Gunner N5 – Ta, I’m touched 😏
All the talk in the FFB today was about the new love couple..
Apparently….. Eddie is seeing a new man……..And his name is Fred..of no fixed abode
Rumour is that they are very much in love
What a huge difference the new players made today, gone was sulky Sanchez and gone was “poor me, sour faced” Lacazette – replaced by a 3 assist Miki and an exciting looking Auba. Not to mention a re- invigorated team, ————–I still have an after glow……….
Good for Ramsey.
Wind your neck in ant and revel in that performance 🙂 …. that team played way above the level Sam had expected … in the first half certainly … and Miki played a big part in that … try regurgitating some of the good things I said about the performance
Congratulations Eddie – and my condolences go out to Fred.
Eddie Eddie..where are you?
Has Walcott (in his entire career got 3 assists from the right wing in 1 game?) -a big welcome goes out to our 3 assist – Miki.
Good old Sam and his effective tactics
Shut us out..my arse!
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11671/11233025/sam-allardyce-feels-arsenal-are-defensively-weak-and-everton-can-shut-them-out-at-the-emirates
Revelling in the performance!
Great game. Love the new AW tactic of scoring 4 goals as a buffer in the first half.
Was Aubameyang peeved with Kos goal? It looked like a What The moment from Aubameyang when Kos threw himself in to score whilst Auba was ready to tap in for his first.
Great to see the tweets with Rihanna
Bloody skiing holidays always getting in the way.
Where was the gorgeous Peaches today?
I’ll speak with you Wally next game.. when we’re on the train
But for now .. my carriage awaits
Rihanna’s jacket is worse than Bamalang’s white fluffy jacket
I’m right here ant. Something you’d like to share?
She’s got some cracking football boots though. Expect to see Auba in those in the next game!
ants I was in the upper tier as usual,
Ok thought the bloke on the train was you
Lol
Shame she had on clothes
Lol
Fred, clothes comment? not good.
As for Arsenal, 100% we will finish 3rd or 2nd. COYG
auba has lovely finishing techniques
how exciting are we?
fred – ant’s photo at 8:45
shearer and murphy could not praise the ARsenal enough 🙂
fair play to them – can give credit when credit’s due
Not everyone hates us, but when we deserve bollocking he have to take it as we do it out often enough to others
Eddie
You know damn well what it is we’re waiting to hear about
The Auba dink over the keeper was nice, but can wait until later
sorry to disappoint you, but I think the romance is over. He arrived here with his dog, a French bulldog. Little shit tried to kill my Bambi, the poor pitbull is still traumatised.
I’m genuinely sorry to hear that.
Best we chat about chips ‘n dinks ‘n shit like that
Oh wait, hang on, we could discuss Erik’s terrifying state of affairs with Mrs R over the flab and thin milk. Let’s hope that on the back of Arsenal bagging five, he took on plenty of extra calories last night
But also burnt a few hitting the back of the net celebrating.
Morning All,
Nipped out for a celebratory bar of chocolate, don’t tell anyone.
Anyone up for doing some player ratings?
…not all lost yet micky, perhaps I will still have a few stories for you. But will have to go on dates without dogs 🙂
There is a more worrying trait I discovered yesterday – rather than enjoying a fantastic game, great result and amazing display from miki, auba and AARON, he was worrying about Wenger signing a contract extension.
give all of them 9 and 10 to Ozil, Miki and Aaron, seems fair
No, don’t like doing ratings, makes me feel like a school master, and I don’t like school masters
I’ll do some feelings if that would help
That’ll make a great post – thanks, Eddie.
and the best aspect of yesterday’s display is our eminent trip to Wembley. Instead of being scared I am actually looking forward to watching some spuds being mashed
you are welcome 🙂
Match feelings would be magnificent.
Ok, Chas, here’s the deal. I need more coffee, then I’ll bash something out. Are you around if I aim to get something in the post by 9:15?
Allows me time to dick around first
micky 8:35, morning glory
that protest was just pathetic in view of yesterday’s game and the whole January TW.
I was absolutely delighted to finally learn that the Club care about the fans, care about results and care to improve. They bought and sold wisely and we are on our way, happy dayz
Am I alone in hearing the distant snap, crackle and pop of the Erik rice crispies as the watered down white stuff is poured?
Here, the bacon sizzles and the toaster pings
Maybe I will do a player ratings for tomorrows post. Depends upon how inspirational Micky’s “feelings” are.
Bastard 🤢
Only Harry Redknapp has lost more PL games than Fat Sam 😀
I’ve done some shitty ratings to add to the match feelings.
Ready when you are.
POST SENT
And not even a hint of tactics or off-sides 🙂
The bacon was perfect 🙂
On it
NEW POST
VP majority of times I see her in her music videos she barely has on any so kinda got a custom
Lol
You all heard that arsenal basically paid the loan fee for Dortmund just to get the deal done
Freddie
You is on the wrong post, me dook