First and foremost, please remember that kick off is 17:55pm UK time today. We wouldn’t want Micky rolling up at 7.30pm wondering what the team news is. 🙂
Last week in Belarus was dire, there’s no getting around it. A shapeless, ineffective Arsenal team, admittedly hampered by an appalling pitch surface, delivered a performance of virtually zero quality.
That game has been and gone – nothing can be done about it. If we play to our strengths tonight and score enough goals to get us through to the Round of 16, it will be consigned to the past as a deep and distant memory. Simple, isn’t it?
Invoking the spirit of Big Raddy in 1970
Team News
There has been a bit of a Mugabe media lockdown at Arsenal over the last week. Probably best, since any attempt to appease supporters with ‘we’ll strive to put it right’ platitudes would only be met with abuse. The only place to make amends is on the pitch.
The team news made public so far is that Aaron is fit and in full training. Big Sok is also nearing a return – whether it’s in the Europa or for Sunday’s Prem game against Southampton, we shall see.
Maybe Unai’s press conference will tell us more.
Press conference update – Mesut has been training well this week (?) and Ainsley M-N missed Wednesday training with sickness.
Rambo’s return will definitely help to cover that creative shortfall we saw in the away leg. Could Mesut find favour again and both of them play? Doubtful perhaps, but could work as long as both don’t attempt to play in the same position..
One thing is for certain, Lacazette will not be featuring due to the Bate lad running into his elbow, which leaves Aubameyang as our main threat.
Possible team
………………………………. Cech
Licht (if no A.M-N) … Shirley … Kos … Nacho
……………………..Terrier ………….Granit
………………………………..Rambo
…………….. Micki ……… Auba …….. Wobbly
As far as possible game scenarios go, the only way extra time and penalties will happen is if we are 1-0 up at 90 minutes. If Bate score first, we will have to score three times to counter their away goal.
In fact, a Bate goal at any point in the match might give cause for concern (unless we’re over the hill and faraway by that stage). Perhaps dead balls are the most likely source for the Belarusians.
Having said that, this game isn’t really about how Bate play but more about the level of performance Arsenal can produce. As LBG said, three up at half-time and we’ll be laughing.
Your score predictions in the comments, please.
chas
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Phew, thanks for the KO time alert Chas 🙂
I suspect a very large bus will be easing it’s way towards North London as we speak
If I were Arsenal, I’d put up a five mile exclusion zone around the stadium for all buses and make them walk
Good Morn, Fellow Hopefuls,
Thanks for that Chas, and you are a brick (compliment 😁) for reminding dear old Micky about the KO time.
You forgot to tell him the game kicks off tomorrow, in Batty.
Forgot to give my predicted result as requested.
Improved defensive display = 0
Attack? mmm = 2
So, 0 : 2
Hold on — I think I mean 2 : 0 to us.
To be honest I do not have a clue.
I paid 300 euros from a tout in Madrid to see that game, looking back I have got to say — money well spent.
Thanks for the read Chas and thanks for the kick off time reminder.
just checking in to see if the site is still being hacked (others call it wordpress issues) and yes it is
continues to ask for my email, name, visa card number, mothers maiden name and inside leg measurements
no conincidence that the hacking started around the time Arsenal went to Belarus
very frustrating first world problems going on
COYG! hoping Mesut plays
wonderful, Chas. Thank you. 🙂 and thanks for the history, GN5. 🙂
attack attack attack. COYG.
oh wow
I have to log in to the site to post my comment (using my laptop)
then go onto my phone to see if its posted because it disappears somewhere.
Even if i exit the site on the laptop and go back in, its still not showing up but it is showing up on my phone
damn those belarussians
Anything but a heavy victory would be a disaster for us…We need a strong team that can unlock and undo Bate’s resolve and defensive discipline…Play with strength, poise, pace and purpose…We will only be tested on counter and set-pieces so let us set up wisely…
Leno – Mustafi, Kos, Monreal – IWOBI, LT, Xhaka, KOLA – Ramsey, Ozil (or Miky) – Auba
3-4-3 for tonight with Iwobi as a wing-back (since there is a doubt for AMN, if AMN is fit then, Iwobi to make place for AMN)…
OTHERWISE we set up in a 4-3-1-2 with
Leno – Lichten, Mustafi, Kos, Monreal – Ramsey, Xhaka, Kola – Ozil – Auba, Iwobi
There you go….Any ot these teams should see Bate Borisov out…Emery won 3 Europa Leagues, let him deliver one more for us
VP
So it’s obviously something wrong with your laptop settings.
Have you tried dumping any dodgy cookies and then flushing your cache, Alan Titchmarsh style?
PSG to rotate team against Nimes and Caen as fear grows about Mbappe and Di Maria burn out before critical clash vs Man Utd…
Dagba, Kimpembe, Rimane, Nsoki, Kurzawa, Nkunku, Diaby, Choupo-Moting to be given more time on the pitch
while Paredes will be slowly eased into the team…
Foreseen team against Nimes:
Areola – Kehrer, Kimpembe, Nsoki, Kurzawa – Verratti, Paredes, Nkunku, Draxler, Choupo, Diaby
Foreseen team against Caen:
Buffon – Kehrer, T. Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat – D. Alves, Marquinhos, Paredes – Draxler, Di Maria – Mbappe
Foreseen team against Dijon:
Buffon – Kehrer, T. Silva, Kimpembe, Kurzawa – D. Alves, Marquinhos, Verratti – Draxler, Mbappe, Diaby
Fred
Remember that at the Emirates there is no drinking in the upper tier.
(or lower, come to that)
Chas,
I have borrowed my friends laptop and it is having the same problem. (that one has an Add Blocker)
No problem with other WP sites.
I cannot close and accept the cookies banner on the bottom of the screen.
You are probably right that it is a change in the WP update software, because so many problems for so many bloggers cannot be random.
It is really handy having you as a
IT Solvermiracle worker. 🙂Must be a laptop problem then.
Apart from Micky’s, of course, which is working fine.
RA
Why not set up a gravatar or wordpress account like Micky’s. Obviously choose something other than a rinky dink panther as your avatar.
And Bob’s your uncle, you’ll be plain sailing like him.
RA
Which other WordPress sites do you comment on and do you post multiple comments on them?
Yes – I think we should punish all laptops — that will make them wake up and pull up their socks. Bastards!
The problem at this end is not a virus – unless it is a super undiscoverable one – different virus checkers have given a thumbs up to safari.
I thought you and LBG were having problems too, at least with your ‘phones.
The common link is Word Press. I suggested shutting down Word Press and rebooting it. If there is a corrupt file there that would fix it.
Anyway, I am spending too much time trying to communicate, so I will leave it for a while. 🙂
I will be back, Chas, and try to see if there is any other solutions.
4-2 – last minute winner by Xhaka or Kola.
RA
But if I have problems on my phone but not on my PC (where everything works perfectly), then the fault can’t lie with WordPress alone, but with how my phone interacts with WordPress, surely?
Same as VP has a phone which displays his comments and a laptop which doesn’t therefore it’s the laptop which has something set differently.
This morning’s post suggests, as we all know,the Batty boys are not very interesting. Ant and I will be keeping our seats warm, even if there could be a shortage of body warmth nearby.
Do hope Fred could do that with a pint, he would go up massively in my estimation! Wobbly at full back, AND Xhaka playing. Give me strength, or a lot of cider!
So…..how are feeling this morning WordPress…..?
You could even set up your own full WordPress account like Fred and view Arsenal Arsenal through the ‘Reader’ facility which enables you to reply to comments.
https://fred1266.wordpress.com/
Ahhh……you’ve forgiven me
Perhaps not……..bastard!
3-1
Testing posting a comment using my phone which I dislike using as its usually much worse than the laptop
Let’s see how this goes
Ugh! Same same (have to log In) but worse cause the screen so small
so funny, then I get on my laptop to check my above phone post that I cant see on the phone
I guess I have to alternate depending on which one I post on
I now need both laptop and phone to see comments
Win on penalties…
thats it from me
very excited for the morning game
I expect a high scoring game to make amends and to slay those hackers
4:0 to the Arsenal
If our game plan is to create chances, the following players must start based on stats only (dribbles, key passes, assists…):
Leno – AMN, Kos (or Mustafi), Monreal, Kola – Ramsey, Xhaka, Guendouzi – Ozil, Iwobi (or Mikhy) – Auba
Do you think it is solid/robust enough to contain and hurt Bate?
VP
Have you tried deleting the Arsenal Arsenal cookies from both devices?
Bate will park the bus. If Arsenal keep passing and passing they will play into Bate’s hands. A quick counter and the gunners will be 1 down.
Wi th Emery chasing the game,it could be 2 thereby ending Arsenals hopes of winning and getting cl soccer.
However if the gunners can vary the strategy and shoot on sight it might help.Otherwise with the typical gunner strategy of endless passing,it will be the end.
3-1, with some prime squeeky bum time along the way.
Malaysian
Lets not confuse the endless passing of last season and before with the endless passing of this season: this season’s endless passing does not go on for quite so long…………
LB
And we create less chances at the end of it!
Knob cheese
My earlier comment worked fine, for this one I had to fill in my email address and name.
So we’ve had
2-0
3-1 (twice)
4-2
4-0
and winning on penalties
Think I’ll go 3-0
JML
Did your name and email appear in a drop down menu as you were typing or when you highlighted the input box by touching it?
were we sitting today guys lol
A post of your usual high quality Chas, thank you.
What a dramatic turn around in 12 months, last year we had an away win and 4 away goals going into the home game, now we are faced with the surreal possibility of being shunted out of the competition by Bate! Simply unbelievable.
I still believe that the team will show it’s character and give us a resounding victory and reason to keep faith in them.
Chas
As soon as I click on the ‘leave your comment’ box the drop down menu shows. Then, I only have to write the first letter of my email address and it proposes it. Same with my user name.
Chas
Drop down menu appeared as soon as I clicked on the input box.
Then when I typed the first letter of my email address it proposed it as it has it in memory there, same with my name. For info, this is the second time I reply to your question, as the first reply seems to have been lost somewhere after I posted…..
Now you have both replies!
Thanks JML
Apologies everyone.
I’m just playing with having the latest comments at the top rather than bottom to see if it makes any difference.
It doesn’t!
Thanks chas, we’ll win 3 or 4 nil …,.. no question about it ….
I’ve just trashed 2 comments but can still see them in my browser.
The whole things a bit shite
Hi Chas,
In answer to your question earlier, I use, only occasionally, 7 a.m kickoff; George Bird; Untold Arsenal; Positively Arsenal and BergKampesque (TA is on a sabbatical currently) — all of whom use WordPress (I think)
There may be others but I do not really notice what software is used — all the above work without a problem.
When TA comes on here you could ask him about settings, maybe?
Actually — my 3:37, just now went off like a shot, and turned up immediately on screen.
The ‘Cookies’ close and accept banner has also gone for the moment.
Email/name still needs inputting.
Anyway, I can manage — but it does reduce the ‘spontaneity’ of the chat. 😀
Talking about continuous — my 3:40 thinks it is a greyhound – instantaneous!
This one should be about 3:43 — let’s see.
Nope – the ‘3:43-ish’ has disappeared and cursor froze at top of the page again.
This might push it through — and take its place in limbo. 🥺
And there they both are.
Weird – but???????
For those who use Mac’s, there is an option on Safari preferences to turn on a menu option called ‘Develop’ — click on it, and when it shows in the menu bar click on it and it will show a long drop down list.
Select ‘caches’ and it will wipe out the unnecessary caches.
Then go to Safari ‘preferences’ select ‘Privacy’ – then click on ‘manage website data’ – click on it, and a menu will pop up showing all cookies, including one for Word Press.
Select the WP cookie from the list and click on ‘remove’ – this will do just that.
Come out of Safari and go to Arsenal Arsenal and the cookie banner will show asking you to ‘accept and close’ and this might clean the process up.
My AA comments have been better since I did it – except for the ’email/name’ which is irritating but manageable.
I think Rasper is behind this — he wants his AA back — he’s bored of fish and guitars.
You going to the game tonight with Ant and LBG?
If so – all this is irrelevant. Give my best to Ant — if we do not win we will all blame him!! 🤨
Laters!!
There is another consideration.
Being on here on my own – the comments (mostly) have whipped thru — see the above time-line.
When more peeps are on commenting, maybe WP cannot handle the increased load.
WP settings?
Definitely gone now.
Hi Redders, it’s all about the footie today …. incidentally I’m having no problem putting up comments …. karma? 😂
Push!! 😳
That’s because you are a good boy, Rasper.
I’m apparently sometimes good and sometimes very bad! 😋
No, not going to the game, RA.
Rasp is logged into WP so his commenting will be going through a completely different chain to yours.
I’m still looking for Fred in the crowd in the Debuchy clip! Please take a screen shot and arrow to help us Freddie poos?
I could kick myself …. I was going to predict Ozil would start 🤪 …. we need goals … makes perfect sense
Cech, Lichtsteiner, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Iwobi, Aubameyang.
Subs: Leno, Sokratis, Kolasinac, Ramsey, Torreira, Suarez, Nketiah
I’ll assume from that line up the sun shines in Islington and the pitch is in perfect condition 🙂
Mesuuuuut ya
Rasp
Unfair. You could look out of your window, stick your finger in the air for a temperature test and predict a Mesut start 🙂
Love the team.
Lol
I predict the same score last time we played them at the Emirates
Actually, bit surprised no Terry starting, still, it’s lovely and attacking
Lichtsteiner with the opening goal
Mesut does my eyes deceive me
Hi Micky, I didn’t realise the magic powers of my digit had reached the West Country
Rasp
It’s very much Mesut weather down here too.
I’ve got him down for 1 goal and 2 assists Micky
If that’s with a bookie, you’ll be a rich man!
All going according to plan …..
take that 🙂
(Olivier Giroud what a legend)
Ouzi and Iwobi are on top form
The lads look good going forward — but in defence — not so sure.
I agree Rasper, and I think Mesut is showing his class too.
It’s much better from Arsenal, so far, compared with the Batty Bashing, but that would not be hard to do.
Indeed RA … Ouzi is running the show … he’s looking like a £60m player
I prefer Auba in the centre — he looks lost out on the wing.
I am not a betting/gambling man, Chas, but if I put 10p on a ‘cert’, it would have been you to go to the game today. 😎
Did you read the rumour, Rasp, that in an effort to raise money for the summer transfer window, Arsenal are allegedly talking to other clubs about selling him for £60m.
If that happens I would seriously consider walking away from Arsenal.
Selling who for 60 RA
Aubameyang
?
He could be worth £120m in a couple of years if he keeps on improving at this rate Redders …. free header for Mustafi …. but he buried it in style
Why he playing in defence clearly he a before attacker that defender get in mustafi
Unai Emery, take a bow. What a celebration, what a game. 🙂 COYG.
Fred,
Rasper and I were talking about Guendouzi.
The rumour, and that’s all it is, alleges we (the club) would be prepared to sell him for £60m so they can buy two or three cheaper players in defence.
I would have scoffed 15 years ago — but with an owner like Kroenke? — he could do it.
From what I’ve read recently Sanllehi (sp?) is the hatchet man
Hi Ant,
You are probably at the bar by now — we were hoping to hear how the man (men with LBG) at the ground see how its going from the ground?
Douzi is so good at this young age, you are correct, Rasper, a lot of teams would be competing for him (Bayern, Real, Barca, City etc) in the next few years — we must hang on to him — or else.
RA
Just googled your Ouzi rumour, and the word is PSG
I’d really like him to stay, but, if he feels that DNA pulling shit, I’d take the 50M profit
Hate having players who’d rather be somewhere else
Hopefully, he’d rather stay
Oooo, I say, there’s a soft centre to my chocolate pudding. Very pleasantly surprised
Come on you Gunners
60 m sold
Well pleased with that. 😳
I also love Unai’s histrionics on the touchline. 😋
Job done
Easy
When is the draw?
Damn, must go
3-0, clean sheet, only black mark is a possible injury to Koscielny.
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