Back to Spursday football. An enjoyable test with the possibility of CL entry should we win the Big Vase. We did well last season, losing in the semi’s to the eventual winners, could we reach the final in Baku Olympic Stadium (that’s in Azerbaijan, you thicko))?
There are some very strong teams in the competition including Chelsea, AC Milan, Sevilla and FC København. Nonetheless, to get knocked out early would be a shock.
We start with a home tie against Vorskla Poltava. It would be a fib if I pretended I had heard of them before the draw, I very much doubt if any of you had either. Thanks to Chas’s excellent post we know what they eat, and more about the club which finished third in their league last season.
Quite frankly, we should beat any Ukrainian team with our reserves, many of whom will get a start tonight.
So, who gets a shirt and who will come out after the half time orange slice?
We will surely get a look at our hugely expensive new GK, Leno. Apparently, he is very good with his feet and can double as a left sided defender when Hector goes walkabout. Why else would we buy him?
Others who might get a start are Terreira, Lichtsteiner and Welbeck. None of whom has enough post- WC fitness to play more than 45 minutes…. it was very hot in Russia and Danny played at least 10 minutes. The Swiss Bloke i, in particular, will want to show how a full back should defend.
Perhaps Emery will experiment with his CB’s and give a chance to the Yoof, Holding and the other younger Greek bloke. Can’t see who will play LB with AMN out, maybe a Willock or Monreal? Or could we experiment with 3 at the back and Iwobi playing as an extra MF?
My Team:
Leno
Swiss Chap Holding GB Anon
Elneny Terrier Smith-Rowe
Mhiki Iwobi
Welbz
A nice mixture of young fellows and chaps needing a kickabout. The bench should be fun and assuming we are ahead by a couple late in the game I expect to see some new blood.
That said, the above team has not one player who started at Newcastle and UE is unlikely to experiment to such an extent.
This a competition we can do well in and getting off to a good start is important. Doing a Man City and under-estimating the opposition could be embarrassing. We need to win this one and we should.
COYRRG
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
city lost to lyon, wow
Ronaldo sees red, crazy, how was that a red?
Nice one, BR.
It looks like Mavro/GB2 is out with a slight injury.
A youngster called Thompson who plays left back has trained with first team.
Pluguzulu has been getting good notices for the stiffs.
The away game in the Ukraine at the end of November will be more worrying if it’s cold. We never did well playing Shakhtar Donetsk in the past when it was glove-wearing weather. 🙂
thank you Raddy, your pms are always reassuring.And amuzing
you are right, I have never heard of Vorskla, I bearely heard of Ukraine – is it a continent?
As you said – we need to do well in this competition and starting the competition and the game with Welbeck and Iwobi is not a good idea. We need strikers, put Xhaka and Nacho on and we should win tonight.
Pluguzulu 🙂 is he Ping and Pong’s older sibling?
Fame-hungry officials, hideous cheating and appealing from the Valencia defenders especially the keeper.
So pleased Valencia lost.
Thank Dennis we don’t have to listen to Stewart Robson’s hideous droning voice anymore.
disgusting. I am not a Ronnie fan, but this is nuts. pulled his hair?? They clearly set out to get CR off the pitch, shocking
Nice work, thanks Raddy.
I shall be going to the game … let’s show spoilt those city fans how proper fans support their team 🙂
Shame Mavro is injured, I shall be looking forward to watching Leno and any of the young guns that turn out. I don’t think we should start with the Terrier … he should be starting at the weekend …. NSS!
27 years in prison but released after a golf magazine impressed with his drawings looked into his conviction. Crazy story.
I didn’t see the game, but I am livid :):)
Lovely stuff, Raddy. 🙂
Spursday footie, oh dear! but so be it! COYG
natural variation that just denies oilers and dirty money launderers getting it all. just makes footie more interesting.
cannot complain. 🙂
Eddie, dont blame you! Ukraine is just a small country in the continent of Westeros, next to the Lands of Always Winter. 🙂
a bit like Russia then, which is a continent, right?
i am kidding arnie, i think i might be quarter Ukrainian, on my dearest grandmother’s side
I wonder if I have any Uke in me … probably.
It would be interesting should we play a child at LB.
perhaps we are related Raddy 🙂
I am soooo excited about the game, we have been starved of football since the world cup. I am glad things are picking up now
What child at LB?? you are talking riddles again
8.40 Eddie. I have never heard of Dominic Thompson, though I have heard of Danny Thompson, once bass player for the majestic folk combo Pentangle
Darn DAZN Canada bought the rights to both the CL and the Europa league -so for the first time ever I’m forced to pay a monthly fee – it’s not too bad though $20.00 a month. The good thing is they also cover Tennis, Cricket, NFL, and PDC so it’s not a bad deal. I have to stream it on the computer today but my techie son will figure out how to transfer it to a TV set.
Thank you for the post Raddy – always a good read.
How about Peter Thompson?
Phil Thompson?
Georgie Thompson?
Anthony Worrall-
Thanks Erik
We got orange segments (quarters to be exact), so what kind of poncy kind of school did you attend that slices were dished out?
Chas
Thanks for team. Have they stopped doing the one where the players are in formation?
What do we reckon? 4-2-3-1 or wot? Who’s where? Iwobi or Mkhi central?
could be 4-4-2!
not sure any of you lot give a shit, so I’ll stop 🙂 🙂
Soooo, back to the picture of Georgie Thompson 🙂
oooh it is on BT sports! result!
oh no, not iwobi and Welbeck combo
Micky
I think they decided it might give the oppo an hour’s extra planning so they stopped it.
Dunnee look sweet! – like he’s going on a school trip or summat.
Eddie
The tiny creature in Chas’ 7:30 is our new midfield dynamo, Lucas Torreira 🙂
where? can’t see him
Erik’s school handing out crystalized slices would explain much
a serious question – what do you do half hour before a kick off? hardly worth starting anything big, can’t go anywhere, small chores can wait till after the game…so what do you do? I hate those half hours before. Presumably, just presumably it is like getting into a bed naked and waiting for 30 bloody mins for your lover to join you
…handing out slices outside a college for au pairs? I think not, they probably preferred joints in those days. Coke nowadays
Simply limber up Eddie. you know, stretches and shit like that 🙂
Flick your bean?
Arthur Mitchell died. I have never heard of him when he was alive. I am genuinely sad to miss out on such great man. RIP Mr Mitchell
Are you on acid Eddie? 🙂
no micky, I am doing pilates and shit on Wednesdays now, remember?
nope, Prozac 🙂
Hobart, my man, used to bring the orange slices into my personal suite at half time.
Close with the team and happy to PEA start
Eddie 7.49. Too true 😳
bloody hell look at the length of the names of our players, shocking
Erik
I do sometimes forget that you’re the kind of gentleman who likes violet and rose chocolate creams 🙂
Ok, here we go
ah ha, be interesting to see Mkhi central
Ground less than half full 😟😟
Eddie is on fire today 🙂
COYG
Like the look of the Swiss Bloke
There is already a green bus parked at the Emirates
Iwobi let see what you got
Suck on that big fat assist, Freddie!
Lovely. Superb pass from Iwobi
love a counter goal
superb
no arnie, i really take prozac.
You are on fire, though.
Some great stuff
Really like Sok and Licht
Feel sorry for Danny as nothing has come his way
Some real positives in that half, especially after the superb goal.
Only concern is what is Welbeck doing? Where is he meant to be playing?
Still recovering from the World Cup?
it was a good goal. we are doing well tonight against Vorklsa
Danny hasn’t had one decent pass into space
Iwobi has, and looks deadly
the Iwobi assist was brilliant
Got it. Two deep mids in Torreira and Elneny, and while Torreira is more central, Elneny is definitely left, so all the play is going that side rather than towards Danny
Have you turned into Danny ‘s Mum, now?
First sniff……BANG
YES
Bless Danny 🙂
ha ha chas
Indeed, fan of Iwobi and Danny
Finally stood in the right place. 😉
Games over but strange subs.
Four beauties
Big Sok threading the ball through for Licht. Haha.
Turned into a training game
Two stonking finishes from the Uke’s. Fairplay to them
Thoroughly enjoyable
AND to learn that’s the first of four games in ten days. Bring it on 🙂
Possible highlight of the game for me was when the commentator suggested Mhki shouted “my ball” in Ukrainian, making the bloke dummy the thing which lead to our first goal
So hope it’s true 🙂
I’m starting to worry that we’ll never see another Arsenal clean sheet!
And it’s goodnight from him.
Goodnight.
ps don’t sweat the small stuff FGG 🙂
Oh Fuck!!!!!!!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh…….
Ozil’s finish…..pure class, liked PEA and Elneny tonight. stand out was Torreira though.
Like Sokratis a lot and Lichtsteiner should be pushing Hector close.
Not sure I like either of the goals we conceded but game was won by then.
On Gazidis (yesterday’s debate) I’d have to question Milan’s observations on how he has grown the clubs wealth. He arrived at a time when the Emirates has been built but due to the way it was financed a lot of the sponsorship deals were lower due to the cash up front nature of then. Once free from those deals he negotiated deals that were on the table for most other clubs, arguably a smarter CEO would have bought us out of the shirt deal to sign a new deal with another when we had the cash income. Also a lot of the increase is also due to TV money which has more to do with PL negotiators than Gazidis.
I suppose I could do some match feelings 🙄 🙂
That Smith Rowe fella is a seriously queer looking fish, despite being a very good prospect as a footballer
Yes please
Okedoke
Need not only more coffee but also a slider (dog or cat) if at all poss.
Morning All,
Basking 🐋 🐋
9.32 Very funny
Baskers, those are whales not sharks 🙄
POST SENT
In fact, twice. Use last one (called UPDATE) as I wanted to mention Smith Rowe
Damn, I can’t emoji 😦
LBG
I’ll remove that a re-post later, if that’s ok
Chas
If LBG’s is a better conversation starter then use that
Sorry probably should have waited for Didit’s post!
Many thanks, Micky.
I was going to re-post LBG’s as a comment!
I wouldn’t LBG 🙂
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