Firstly, thank you to all those who wrote posts during the interminable interlull, you are heroes to a man.
Tonight we get a proper game of football. None of that International nonsense – IMO the World Cup is interesting but the rest … mwaah.
Yesterday saw Spurs get Spurssy and both the Chavs and United once again bribing the officials (allegedly). The fight for the Top 4 is going to be very exciting.
Which makes tonight a must win game. You all know the runners and riders for the run-in so you are already aware that we must win our home games ahead of a tricky run of away fixtures.
Benitez brings an under-fire team to the Emirates. The fans are unhappy. The football the Barcodes are playing is uninspiring with a reliance upon defence, and we will witness this tactic tonight. Benitez has done a fine job under trying circumstances, working to reverse the decline in a huge club but narrowly escaping relegation is not enough. It wouldn’t be at Arsenal and neither is it at Newcastle.
A blogger (can’t remember who) wrote that in the late 90’s Newcastle had the 5th biggest turnover in World football. Could they sign Shearer today? No chance.
Should we win tonight, it will be our 10th successive home victory, it would also give us more points than we won last season with 7 games to go. Mr Emery is doing well.
There is a fitness test for Xhaka but our other Internationals are fit and the remainder of the squad are rested and tanned following their trip to Dubai. Imagine how much money they must have spent in those fancy shops, it would be in the millions!
Newcastle have 9 clean sheets this season which is 4th best in the league ( I won’t tell you where we sit), so we can expect a frustrating night unless we score early. Given this, I anticipate AMN (Cons) will start ahead of Mustafi because we have no need to play a Back 4.
Is there a better creative midfield 3 than Mhki, Aaron and Mesut? Now Mr Emery has coached them to play together we look formidable. With Iwobi or Wardrobe supplying width on the left, we have balance. Terrier to replace one of the midfield should we be in front after 70 mins.
I am relatively confident, are you?
COYRRG
Arsenal News 24/7
great post BR
if we win our 10th it will be our best run in over 10yrs
I still dont understand how Poch is still highly regarded. If AW had only 1 point to show from last 5 games there would be planes and banners flying all over london. Actually have we had such a bad spell in the last couple of decades?
Anyway its all on against the maggies and in Emery I trust
COYG!
3:0 to the gunners
Morning Raddy,
Here is a mini summary of the games left for the 4 contending teams. As you can see based on winning % we are currently the best of the 4 – so providing we don’t get spursy all should be well.
United and Chelsea still have to play against each other, so one or both teams will drop points, – plus they both have to play Man C.
But I’m still as antsy as a cat on a hot tin roof – especially when I think about the away games.
GL GD Pts Max Win %
Spurs 7 24 61 82 65.59%
United 7 19 61 82 65.59%
Arsenal 8 24 60 84 66.67%
Chelsea 7 18 60 81 64.52%
Our remaining games.
Magpies h
Everton a
Watford a
Crystal P h
Wolves a
Leicester a
Brighton h
Burnley a
Geez – about all that is legible is the winning %
I am fairly, relatively confident.
Thanks for the read BR.
2-0 win for us. Newcastle has only won twice away from home (so far) this season and were beaten by the other Top 5 teams on their travels away.
My starting team:
Leno, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Ramsey, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Bench:
Cech, Mkhitaryan, Iwobi, Guendouzi, Suarez, Mustafi, Mavropanos
Torreira is serving his 2nd of 3 match suspension (for the red card at Spurs). He will not be available for Everton away as well.
I like your line up JM – it’s basically the same as Raddy’s.
The only change I would make is to start only one of the two strikers and hold the other in case we need to make a late impact.
I forgot about Terreira’s red card – it seems years ago.
Nice PM, BR.
MWG
OMG
COYRRG
UK politics. Effin majestic. ☺
Not too happy about that team.
Both Xhaka and Kos injured. No Mhki or PEA. Douzi to start.
Thankfully, Unai knows best
At last, a BR MR and we’re back in business
Don’t like your Toon nine clean sheets stat.
Agree, Erik, the middle looks a little flimsy, but hopefully the creative elements will be able to find their way through
should of course have read…a BR PM :ROLL:
😀
Really got a couple of lemons in the studio at Sky.
COYRRG
Stadium looks wonderful under the lights
Robbed by Taylor again. The man is incompetent.
Get in….
Lovely stuff from Ramsey
superb. we’ve really upped the tempo last 15
God we’re going to miss Ramsey …. our best player by a mile in this game … he is worth Ozil’s wages
not even mesut is worth mesut’s wages, rasp, and therein lies the problem 🙂
Agree. Therein lies the problem and the reason
I agree …. but if you were going to build the team round anyone it would be Ramsey not Ozil …. it was ridiculous playing him wide right … he needs to be right in the middle of things
we’re exciting to watch. Really prepared to take a chance anywhere around their area. The sideways pass era has well and truly gone
We still do a little too much of the same thing around our own area, but hey.. superb so far
What a stop that was from Laca’s shot! I was out the chair in celebration.
We grew into the half and played some wonderful football with Ramsey and Ozil conducting.
Only one Mustafi screw up away from a draw – we need another goal.
I have no idea why I doubted Mustafi — he is wonderfully exciting, and keeps everyone on the edge of their seats,
Ridiculous passes in the penalty area – stupid passes back to the GK, missing a bar-code player by less than a metre and then …… well you get me ……. excellent player – what was I thinking? 😩
We definitely need a second goal then we can really turn on the style.
RA. Mirrors my thoughts
Just had a chance to read your pre-match Raddy, and very good it was too.
I know I often write this but it is another dreadful performance from a referee at the Emirates.
Excellent sub …. it hasn’t been Iwobi’s night …. Ozil has a very good second half so far
BR,
Agreed.
Hope that isn’t too serious for Aaron
Getting nervy now …, we need that second goal
Superb
3rd 🙂
wot gap 🙂
This ref is a disgrace … perfectly good (own) goal disallowed
Refs been a disgrace tonight. Absolute joke.
Do you think that VAR will have an effect upon the quatlity of referees.
Taylor was right next to Laca when he gave that handball. The Gk who touched it has gloves on yet Taylor saw a Laca hand.
Awful
Geundouzi motm for me. Fantastic energy
I think I’d go for Laca
It will only stop the howlers BR but not the sort of decisions we’ve seen tonight. If that had gone VAR I still think they would have pulled Laca up for obstructing the GK because that’s how pathetic the game is now. IMO it was a legitimate goal and the GK should do much better but I doubt refs think like that.
I wonder why Ouzi has started dwelling on the ball … it’s happened a lot this evening. Great result
That was very enjoyable. We were terrific.
Ramsey or Ozil for me. And Monreal had a fine game
Should have been a 3rd goal…but anyways, we re 3rd…and have to keep on winning as the others are breathing down our necks…
Let s hope Ramsey’s injury is not too bad…
Lacazette – Guendouzi – Ozil – Ramsey – Kolasinac, our best players tonight
Squad looking strong as we’ll get Kos, Granit and Torreira back
Fred ha ha like it
Flying visit, still mad busy watched the game on the train.
Have to say Gendouzi impressed me in the middle of the park tonight, he is very good at winning ball back high, quick to the breakdown which meant we kept momentum up tonight and Newcastle didn’t get time to counter.
Ozil and Laca also in the running for MotM but I think it was Guendouzi for me sneaked it.
Great finishes by Rambo and Laca.
Taylor was poor, but then he so often is, let far too many of the niggly tackles go.
I’m a happy bunny tonight………………….
Hmm think that train connection wasn’t to Good GIE
Not sure what it but am rarely impressed with Guendouzi, just remember me of Pharaoh
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Bit dull, soz