Lashing Fulham at the Cottage seems like months ago. City, the dippers and spuds all won and the chavs/manc shitfest ended with the points shared which all puts extra pressure on us to beat Leicester. Monday night games – just dreadful.
Having said that, we could be in for a treat if last season’s home fixture against the Foxes is anything to go by. Seven goals with the lead changing hands several times. Not sure my old ticker can take it!
I’ve seen rumours that Leicester under Claude Puel are no longer the long ball, hump it up to Vardy, counter-attacking side with a tight defence which shocked the Premier League. They’ve had tight games (which both ended in defeat) against the mancs and dippers so far this season, so they’re no mugs.
Harry Maguire had a decent World Cup and the campaign to get the image of him riding an inflatable unicorn on to the new plastic £50 note is going very well.
Arsenal team news
Mesut has recovered from his back spasm and Rambo is knee deep in nappies, so expect the German to start.
Since Big Sok rolled an ankle playing for Greece, we’ll continue with Mustafi/Holding at the back. Have we the pace at the back to cover Vardy if Hector plays over the halfway line as usual? Let’s hope so.
The Beast is back fit but Nacho gets the job at left back. Petr is on the road to recovery but I can’t see him getting the keeper’s shirt back just yet, so Bernd it is.
Terrier and Granit both came back unscathed from internationals to resume their double pivot partnership.
I’d imagine Auba will be shunted out left again as the 4-4-2 at the Cottage might not work at home. Micki on the right seems a natural selection if Ramsey is indisposed.
Come on you Gunners, let’s extend this great run!
chas
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
So I think that makes
—————Leno
Hector, Mustafi, Holding, Nacho
——-Terrier——Xhaka
—————-Ozil
———-Laca——-Auba
Formation, subject to change.
Are you able to make tonight Chas?
Micky 0819
I resent that wholeheartedly! As a pervert yourself you should remember that’s the right leg. The left leg was indicating that was the one to be removed to complete my pirate disguise!
Yes, I’m there tonight, LB.
p.s. you missed Mkhit 🙂
“STRAP UP TIGHT”
Another signal for you LBG 🙂
Thanks Chas
I reckon Fox hunting will be back on the agenda tonight
ie harry the bastards for 60 mins then go in for the kill, so I’d be surprised to see all the best players start
I like the idea of the sexy final 30 mins but doubt Unai will see it quite the same.
Then again, maybe he’s realised he’s not going to get the best from Auba by starting him on the left, so up top when Maguire’s shagged, it is.
Leno – Bello, Mustafi, Holding, Monreal – Xhaka, LT, ? – ?, Auba – Laca
So we only have 2 spots that are open for discussions:
– 1 CML or DML – Contenders: Ramsey, Mikey, Guendouzi, Kola, El Neny, AMN
– Attacking Midfielder – Contenders: Ozil, Ramsey, Mikey, Wellbeck
So it will depend on how attacking or defensive Emery wants to start:
– Attacking option: Ramsey at CML + Ozil at Attacking Mid
– Defensive option: Guendouzi or Kola at DML + Ramsey at Attacking Mid
– Defensive yet creative option: Guendouzi or Kola at DML + Ozil at Attacking mid
The other 9 spots are secured unless last minute injury.
My preference: Play Kola and Ramsey (or Mikey) from the start
Remember Leicester is devastating on counter attacks and set-pieces. We need to really be wary of their game. Part of me thinks we should let them have the possession.
It’s Arsene’s birthday today.
Laughing at Mourinho’s antics on the touchline on Saturday…..
Celebrating with Pat Rice against Villareal 2006…..
that final in 2006 is my worse Arsenal memory and we got robbed by the ref during this final.
Thanks for the post Chas – is Raddy on one of his walk abouts?
Great pictures of AW.
Given the situation at Real Madrid I wonder if they will offer AW the managers job (again).
Thanks chas …. I agree this could be a stern test … but with pool, the mancs and the spuds coming up we need to show we can beat the better teams.
Totnum and pool were both lucky to win at the weekend so we need the 3 points to stay up there amongst them.
On paper we have the better players. The team is looking much better these days so I predict a difficult first half … a couple of subs … and the good guys score the goals in the second half … just like most games this season 🙂
Real may offer him the job but I think he will be foolish to take it. That team have got much further to fall before they start coming back up.
I agree with you LB If offered he would most likely turn them down.
I think AW may not take a role as coach anymore. I think he will be more like Head of Football Operations but if he did take a job, I think he will aim for the Bayern job…
RC78,
My guess from a few days back was the new German manager on Jan 1st. I’ll stick to that one as I feel a club job would once again consume his life.
GN5 – yes that sounds good too. I think there are opportunities. Apaprently PSG wants to offer him a position too.
I think that this game will be a tough test for us but if we win, I think it puts us in good spirits ahead of our tough matches
U going to the game chas?
Are you going to the game tonight, Chas?
I do wish you lot would grow up and appreciate the only things that actually matter about tonights game. Namely:
1. How many goals will we score, and
2. Will LBG have his strap on
Blimey, some are so damn childish 🙄
Evening All,
Back from an undercover jaunt into enemy territory.
Looking forward to this evenings game and a Big Thank You to Chas for doing the PM. Quality work as always.
I expect a tight game and some tension. Shame the Greek Bloke isn’t around to give Vardy a kicking aka Stevie Bould.
Starting XI: Leno, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Lichtsteiner, Mkhitaryan, Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil, Iwobi, Lacazette
Subs: Martinez, Ramsey, Aubameyang, Welbeck, Guendouzi, Medley, Smith-Rowe
Bloody knew Iwobi would start
Ah Mr Erik. What a pleasant surprise. We were expecting you
4-2-3-1?
who is medley?
Looking at the other subs, I’d guess he’s a defender, but never heard of him
Just what I was thinking – who is Medley?
PEA on the bench?
Oh god erik, you haven’t been keeping up have you
We’ve agreed Auba is not a left sided midfielder. we press like buggery for a bit then bring him on and he snuggles up next to Laca
Well with that team it certainly is a case of Strap it on we are in for a bumpy ride.
Gotta be as you say
4-2-3-1
Another thing Erik, we also agreed there was no point in turning up until 60 mins, but happy to bend that rule tonight
bumpy ride? 🙂
I do not understand why Arsenal, the 6th richest club in the world cannot find a fit leftback.
Where is the Wardrobe or isn’t he trusted with the role? I guess Nacho is crocked.
Micky. Thank you for the info, I am now in the loop.
Zech Medley
Central defender 18
I guess he is there just in case.
Medley. Another CB
https://www.arsenal.com/academy/players/zech-medley
could be 4321 with Mikey playing as deep playmaker next to Xhaka and LT. Iwobi and Ozil playing then behind Laca
could also be 4-2-1-3 with Xhaka, LT – Ozil – Miky, Laca, Iwobi
basically asking Ozil to play in between the lines and MIkk and Iwobi on the wings
What happened at LB? No Monreal or Kola?
Eyes down
Would it be fair to say we are second best so far?
Leno very impressive
Unlucky goal to concede but it’s been coming
Deserved that.
I can’t believe how negative we have been and how poorly Iwobi and Mkhi are playing. Özil is trying to get involved but we aren’t capable of getting him the ball in dangerous areas and he has to keep playing it wide and square.
Need to wake up.
Unlucky
Expect to see Ramsey and Auba after half time to inject some enthusiasm and pace.
well it is a 4231 but it s clear that Xhaka needs two mids next to him because he struggles to track back, to get the ball back and if he does not have the second option in mid, he loses the ball as well. Iwobi is our best player by far, Ozil is peripheral, Xhaka is lost and Lichten, Bellerin and Miky are trying but without luck. We need to ask Miky to drop deeper or we move to a 3-5-2:
Mustafi, Holding, Lichten – Bello, Miky, Xhaka, LT,Iwobi – Ozil, Laca
We are playing our wingbacks to high with only Xhaka, LT in mid…
I think we can score one before halftime if we are lucky.
Wow! 🤭
I don’t know why Emery is so intent to prove a point on the high press.
And Ozil scores on a lovely counter – just like I said. Let Leicester come to us and we kill them on the counter
What. A. Goal.
Great goal and I was going to say Mesut shouldn’t have started but come on later with Auba 🙂 🙂
Fantastic to be wrong sometimes 🙂
Very enjoyable half. Both teams playing good football. From 20 minutes onwards we improved immeasurably and some of our passing play was mesmeric.
Lovely (and deserved) goal from Mesut.
Iwobi gaining confidence but I would love to see him try a shot every now and then.
BTW this referee is a cock
Top: Iwobi, LT, Ozil for the goal
Flop: Xhaka, Holding
I think we need to get more out of Miky and Ozil. Miky needs to drop deeper or he needs to make way for Ramsey, Guendouzi or AMN.
Basically, Iwobi needs to push higher up the pitch and Miky needs to drop a bit (or be replaced – see above). I think then we will be able to get Laca and Ozil more involved. Most importantly, we need to play counter attacks and not have so much of the ball.
Purchase of the season: LT
RC
Agree about LT and he’s only 22.
Isn’t it great how we see things differently, it makes me question my viewpoint e.g. Iwobi & LT. I thought LT was pants for 25 mins and Iwobi was our best player!
Also, what a pleasure to see Ozil’s mastery of the football.
Hope we humiliate the Dane in goal.
COYRRG
Why bellerin marking McGuire on corners
60 MINS…Auba time 🙂
3-5-2?
RC? 🙂
Ok Lichtensteiner taken off so what formation now
Xhaka at LB!?
WOT A GOAL
Get in …
Behave Mesut. Ridiculous!
The pass from Mesut was perfection
jeeeeepers
What am I watching!? 😲
Magnificent
Proper football match.
Fantastic goals
Some sublime moments
Love the fact that Mesut only ever looks really happy after being involved in the very finest goals. Wonderful. The art of football
Okay chaps. Now watch the Fred vid at 9:29
Bet you cannot watch it less than 10 times 🙂
The Mesut dummy to Laca is so other worldly
The commentators seem desperate to find things that Emery is doing different to Wenger, but you can’t underestimate the importance of confidence. We played similar slick football under Wenger and when confidence was high we were just as good as we are now. It will be interesting to see how we do against the bigger sides and how we play when confidence isn’t quite there. Will Emery be able to create a team that can grind out results when the team have injuries or are tired or are on a poor run? That’s something Wenger failed to do towards the end of his time with us.
Wow when they are good they are f***ing superb.
That is the Ozil that AW locked up for us, thank you Arsene – great manager – but Emery appears to have revitalized Arsenal.
Some of our goals this season have been among the best I’ve seen – from a teamwork standpoint.
Still buzzing………………after we out foxed the foxes.
Good to see you back Raddy.
here’s another view
http://arsenalist.com/f/2018-19/goaaal-pierre-emerick-aubameynag-3-1-2018-10-22.html
I don’t think some of the play has been as good since Bergkamp, Henry and Pires donned the glorious red and white. It was truly awesome at times.
I know that some times I am able to write a few words unfortunately tonight I have just got in and I am cream crackered
After the Mesut dummy, the way Laca controls the pace and direction of the ball is so precise
Agree LB, some truly fabulous football
Chas
Just stick up the goals. Words don’t work 🙂
Last thought
They should charge more for seats at The North Bank end given the 60 min rule 🙂
G’nite from a very Happy Gunner
Just back from the game. The first half was a bit turgid …. but 2nd half Arsenal were superb again. Goals 2 and 3 were out of your seat moments and happened right beneath us. The crowd were also a lot more vocal and sought to lift the players when things were looking a bit shaky at times. It seems everyone is buying into the UE revolution.
Yea keeps getting better every time I watched
Ozil dummy
So pissed I didn’t get to come up this week to seeing that beautiful display
https://www.flickr.com/photos/159181758@N06/albums/72157696563233312
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