On our Way to Wembley and it’s not even May.

If you are a Spurs fan who has decided to “enjoy” an Arsenal blog (which makes the massive assumption that anyone stupid enough to support a bunch of perennial losers can read) then please leave a comment below (which makes the massive assumption that anyone who is stupid enough to support a bunch of perennial losers can write).

You are Orcs.

To be clear, I write of the fans not the team – the team are quite good. Of course the players are all nearly-men who bottle it when there is a chance of silverware but they do play some attractive football.

Take the Podgy Argie  (Barc/Real soon will). A couple of weeks ago Spurs were in contention for the title, then in typical fashion, they lose 2 games and the Fatboy publicly gives up any hope. London Manager of the Season? For what? Guiding a big Top 6 club to being in the Top 6?  But a trophy is a trophy and the Spurs Trophy cabinet, as we well know, is barren.

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Spurs have some fine players who will be desperate to win today. A strong and fair referee will be important, unfortunately it is Anthony Taylor, a man described by none other than Saint Arsene as “dishonest to his federation” We can only hope that he is balanced in his poor decision making.

Poch has yet to lose a home NLD, Mr Emery has yet to lose an away NLD. 🙂

Our NLD away record in recent times is awful, one could say, embarrassing. It is one thing having such a record at Maine Road but at Spurs? When I think of Spurs away in my mind’s eye I see Brady’s swerving shot in a 5 goal victory, Kennedy’s header in our first Double season, the lads dancing with a plastic PL trophy  in 2004. But these were all at White Hart Lane not the soulless bowl of Spurs current home ground. Yes, I know they will have a fine stadium next season but it will still be full of drooling muppets.

Enough of them …

Our boys are improving. We have beaten some poor opposition and are ready for stiffer challenges.

Mr. Emery has some difficult selection and tactical decisions – 3 or 4 at the back? Ozil or Ramsey or both? Iwobi? Who starts at right back given the pace Spurs play at? Do we defend deep, pack the midfield and hope to score on the counter or do we attack from the off? Lacazette or PEA or both?

I would start with Ramsey, just Laca upfront, Iwobi and Kola on the left, Mhki for an hour and then bring on Mesut. We have a powerful bench.

Here’s a question I have been toying with. Would I prefer to take two points from the next 2 games or 3 i.e. draw to both MU and Spurs or win one, lose one? Which is better? My conclusion … 6 points.

COYRRG

 

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58 Responses to On our Way to Wembley and it’s not even May.

  1. LBG says:

    Nothing controversial about that post, Raddy! Good man, stoke up the fires.
    I think we should go for the throat, and NOT play a back three. This is mainly because I want a slot for Mesut. Kola could have a big influence after 60 with a change then, and I would even save Aubang and Wobbly as impact if needed.
    Leno, AM-N, Sokratis, Kos, Nacho, Terrier, Xhaka, Ouzi, Micky, Mesut, Laca.

  2. chas says:

    Thanks, BR – a right belter.

    My expectations away in an NLD have been low for quite a few seasons because of results but there must come a time when things go right for us.
    Get them on the back foot and the crowd quiet and we could engineer a decent result.

    Up The Arse.
    COYRRG

  3. Red Arnie says:

    ha ha ha. Thank you Raddy. Quite upbeat for this one. 🙂

    Wemberley, here we come. Happy hunting ground.

    The swamp dwellers could not get their new dumpyard dirty in time ready for this game. ha ha.

    St Totts day is within sight. Hopefully just a few more weeks now.

    COYG.

  4. GunnerN5 says:

    Wow Raddy, we are up and running after that.

    An amazingly well balanced and unbiased pre match?

    It’s a 7:30 am kick off here – so breakfast at Wembley and hopefully egg of the faces of the N17ers.

    I hope our fans can arrive and escape safely.

  5. TotalArsenal says:

    Excellent battle cry, BR. Did you wear your Viking outfit when writing this? Have a good feeling about this one (as long as ….DM pivot…xhaka/torr – you know my views re this now… 🙂 ). 1-2 to the Mighty Arse!

  6. fatgingergooner says:

    Interesting that both managers have been pretty conservative with team selection. I never expected to see Mkhi and Özil start this game together and it doesn’t shock me that Emery has gone with Mkhi as he’s in fine form at the moment, and with it being such a big game I can understand Mustafi playing at full back. I am a little bit surprised though that Spurs have gone with Wanyama and Sissoko in the middle and left out Lamela and/or Lucas. I think that’s a sign of their loss of form and confidence and hopefully that defensive mindset will play into our hands.

  7. TotalArsenal says:

    Okay seeing that line-up, I take my prediction back. Hoping for the best now.

  8. fatgingergooner says:

    No Torreira is an interesting one. Like others I prefer the Xhaka/Torreira partnership. I guess that’s got more to do with rotation and recovery from the last game than any sort of tactical change as surely Torreira would be key for this type of battle.

  9. Big Raddy says:

    AFC. That would have been my team except for swapping Douzi and Terrier.

    UE & Douzi = Cpt Mainwaring & Private Pike

  10. fatgingergooner says:

    This strikes me as a line up that is saying ‘let’s still be in the game after an hour and then bring on the pace and energy to win in late on’.

    I would be potentially worried looking at our team selection but when you see the Spurs line up you do think this is a game neither manager is wanting to lose. Wouldn’t surprise me if we end up with a point each.

  11. RA says:

    A really good Post, BR, although far too generous to the Spud supporters. 🤪

    I rather suspected that Mesut would not open the game once he played the full 90 minutes the last time out. Oh, well. Just wished that Embers would let him get on with what he does best – make assists. The wide open spaces of Wembley would suit the Öz man very well.

    E caramba.

  12. RA says:

    My prediction? Bloody Kane will wreck us again.

  13. RA says:

    Chas,

    I love your dexterity with Vids and ‘photos, and keep thinking I should ask you how you do it.

    Then I think I am too stupid – so why bother.

  14. Rasp says:

    Superb PM, thank you Raddy.

    UE has picked exactly the team I expected. He has a style of play and game plan and he’s sticking to it. This would not be the game to lose his bottle. We have real quality on the bench, so keeping it tight for 60 minutes might be the way …and then add some creativity as the spursy boys tire.

  15. fatgingergooner says:

    It could well come down to which team has more energy in the last 20 minutes. Emery has rotated a bit recently and we’ve had a couple of comfortable wins so hopefully we have some stamina left in the legs and fingers crossed that bringing on a trio of Özil, Auba and Torreira will be enough to get a result.

    The United v Liverpool game last week though should sound as a warning. It’s been a tough season under a new manager and it would be gutting if we picked up 2 or 3 injuries right now. I hope the lads make it through this next week or so as we are playing very regularly.

  16. Big Raddy says:

    Keep it tight? No chance.

    We have yet to play a single away game without conceding. We should go all out attack from the start.

  17. LBG says:

    Disappointed!
    First time Son attacks Mustafi!

  18. Rasp says:

    You’re a bunch of doomers 🙂 ,:) ….. look at the score ….

  19. fred1266 says:

  20. One of my baby spuds is on the bench 🙈

  21. fred1266 says:

    Xhaka and the constant fouling

  22. mickydidit89 says:

    Wow
    Just onto sofa
    Thanks Fred
    No time to read, sorry Erik

  23. mickydidit89 says:

    Saw team, and thought keep it to 0-0 till 60 mins

    So good to be wrong

  24. LBG says:

    LENOOOOOOO!

  25. fred1266 says:

  26. LBG says:

    Suggestion Aaron might have said “This is my pitch”, after goal.

  27. fatgingergooner says:

    We need to start strong second half because there is no way Spurs will be that bad after the break. They’ve been dreadful!

    We’ve looked strong though and it only takes one good break to get a second goal. Auba’s pace and Torreira’s fight could be crucial off the bench.

    Good half.

  28. Red Arnie says:

    wow Lca-Rambo, wow defence, double wow Leno.

    Whats not to like!

    particularly impressed with the defence. now, when have I said that last time?

    Onwards.

  29. chas says:

  30. RA says:

    Just got in and seen the score — it was always potty to let Rambo go — lucky Juve.

    With all due respect, if Suarez is supposed to be his replacement I think we got a sh*tty deal.

    Superb Aaron.

  31. RA says:

    Mind you, Rambo scoring at Wembley should be no surprise — he likes it there!! 😃

  32. Gööner In Exile says:

    Bit less defending and soaking this half please, more attacking.

    Liked selection of Laca much more likely to hold up play if this is how we are setting up. Would like to see PEA as a pacier and more reliable finisher.

    I’d love to know why Spuds get away with the dives etc.

    Rose being one of worst offenders. Kane got his comeuppance waiting to be “fouled” by Monreal rather than going for goal, Sanchez and Wanyama throwing elbows and pushing and shoving. And that from Trippier just then. It’s constant Maureenesque gamesmanship / cheating.

  33. Gööner In Exile says:

    Would have preferred PEA for Iwobi

  34. LBG says:

    Watch Totteringham go to back four and bring Moura on. Don’t sit back please, Arsenal.

  35. fatgingergooner says:

    That’s a red card anywhere else on the field. Terrible attempt by Rose

  36. RA says:

    Disgusting incompetence from the linesman!!

  37. fatgingergooner says:

    Mustafi really has become a liability. Stupid foul.

    Should’ve been given offside though.

  38. Red Arnie says:

    shocking ref, but we blew a chance. nevertheless, not a bad point. onwards.

  39. fatgingergooner says:

    No different to what Rose did to Leno but because he has an opportunity to score it’s deemed as okay. Nonsense.

    Points were there to be won. Since a shame we didn’t convert the chances but a point away at Spurs is never a terrible result. Should’ve won though.

  40. mickydidit89 says:

    Agree with that Arnie

    Have nice weekends all

  41. GunnerN5 says:

    Oh boy our two strikers went on strike!!

    Spurs are on a roll – but sadly for the N17ers it’s downhill.

  42. Gööner In Exile says:

    So were the studs from Torreira any higher than Rose’s on Leno? Don’t think so, maybe would be celebrating if he had been sent off. Worse still in my opinion Torreira is trying to play ball with laces Rose runs there to put himself in that position, whereas Rose is lunging studs first at Leno. If one is red both are red.

    That said I think we could have been a lot braver. We had the beating of them at the back but didn’t have enough opportunity with ball. We were always susceptible to their set pieces it was the only way they were going to create a chance. And although offside the liability that is Mustafi is constantly a clear and present danger to us when defending.

    Sokratis, Kozzer, Monreal deserve plaudits, as does Mikhi. Torreira gave us more control second half but I just don’t think we used the most of it. Rambo great finish but didn’t effect game enough otherwise.

    Putting Ozil on was a risky decision he is not a player I expect to get into the pace of the game coming from the bench and by then without Laca he only had Iwobi to play off as we know that is not PEAs game.

    Poor poor penalty by PEA however I am not sure who should be our go to penalty taker, the only others I would suggest from men on pitch was Nacho and Mikhi, let’s hope we have no Europa ties going to penalties!

    Difference between Lloris and Leno, Lloris waited for the strike and didn’t guess. If you know the penalty taker is going to wait for you to move then stay still, you’ll have more chance.

  43. Gööner In Exile says:

    Pochewingeo….can’t believe what he is getting on his high horse about tackle from Xhaka on Kane, men in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Maybe if you hadn’t raised a team of divers you’d get more decisions!!

  44. RA says:

    Totally agree, GIE.

    [Hope you and the family are all well!] 👍

  45. LBG says:

    As echoed here, reasonably content with a point. But that Totteringham team are playing under a cloud compared to past performances, and Lacax2 and Aubang pen, should have had three! Will take seven from nine from the week, and would be over the moon with ten from twelve in a week’s time.
    Happy weekend AAers.

  46. Cheers RA, I’m exhausted so guess that means family are well 😀

    Did manage to get to the Bate game with boys and my parents. 3 generation visit

  47. Big Raddy says:

    Rarely been so disappointed with an away point at Spurs.

    We should have won.

    I stated int eh ppost that Taylor needed to be balanced and the imbecile turned out to be a “Homer”

    Laca, Taylor and PEA cost us two points.

  48. GunnerN5 says:

    Treat us to some pictures of your boys GIE

  49. GunnerN5 says:

    It was sad to have the game tied on a penalty that was offside in the first place – but it made me even sadder to see Auba make such a lightweight effort with our penalty.

  50. Big Raddy says:

    I expect bias from the opposition but for the Fat Argie to say that Spurs were the better team defies belief. What was he watching? We should have won the game by at least 2 goals.

  51. fred1266 says:

  52. Gööner In Exile says:

    Boys at Bate game

  53. Gööner In Exile says:

    Not quite at my volume yet

  54. fred1266 says:

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