Everyone feeling a little bit happier now? A shot of league cup and North London Derby victory in the old veins has done the trick I trust? It may not have made a difference to our league position but by Jimminy the world seems a brighter place after a win doesn’t it? The league position by the by, may, as far as I’m concerned, be anything between first and twentieth at the moment. I must confess I’m one of those curious coves who doesn’t peruse the thing until the tinsel has been taken down and the old calendar put out with the recycling. The only time I’ve ever broken this rule is those few seasons where we’ve gone off like a gingered horse out of the starting gate and led the field right up to the festive season.
On those occasions I have to admit to stealing furtive and blushing glances at our standing relative to all comers. In the same way I can sometimes be caught wistfully flicking my eyes over the more fascinating profiles of young women who are more likely to offer me their seat on the bus than anything more entertaining to the lascivious imagination of a fading middle aged libido. Otherwise I simply don’t care and I simply don’t look. Can you imagine getting in a lather over the table in September? What an absolute arse you’d look come May if you set any sort of store in such irrelevancies. This is the time of year to enjoy each match in its own right – the old ‘one game at a time’ mantra was never so pertinent.
Firstly we need to get past the trailing wisps of smoke from our recent fixtures which resolutely cling to us no matter how hard we try to push forward. I refer of course to Costagate, the ramifications of which rumble on. Poor old Jose’s persecution complex is battling with both his paranoia and his bizarre, slightly creepy obsession with Arsène for dominance in his tortured psyche. The reptiles lap it up because they need something to write about and meanwhile he makes himself look ever more ridiculous.
What of our manager? As expected he remained dignified and focussed on the football. He is well aware of the form Leicester are in now and the strengths of two or three of their better players and so no matter how many Arsenal fans enjoy riding the see saw (We lose – we’re shit. We win – we’re world beaters) Arsène knows that we will need to find an exceptional performance to become the first team to puncture Leicester’s enviable record. Unbeaten in their first six matches they look a relaxed and happy side to me. I attribute this to Claudio Ranieri, the last decent man to manage at Stamford Bridge. Mr Ranieri admits his record against Arsenal is a bad one, the only time he did contrive to beat us I would happily have swapped for almost any of the other thirteen fixtures.
Since his time as Chelsea manager he has obviously not kept himself abreast of developments in London, admitting in a recent interview that he didn’t know why Arsenal haven’t won the title since he left England in 2004. Presumably no one told him about the super rich clubs who suddenly distorted the transfer market out of all recognition and the way our best players had their heads turned by ridiculous wage offers year after year. Or that all the while the club was building a stadium in the midst of a global financial collapse. Perhaps he missed those minor details.
Anyway he wasn’t being rude, he seems genuinely to respect Arsène and was gushing about our style of play so that’s all very nice isn’t it? Such a change to face an away fixture after a cup win and against a manager we can like and respect. A major improvement over the mood in the run up to our trip to Fulham last Saturday.
It’s interesting to note that the win which has so revived us and settled the collywobbles was achieved by a side which may bear little resemblance to today’s team. We are always being told the modern game is supposed to be all about squad and not first and reserve teams but there does seem to be a predictability about the line up when everyone is available. The talking point today is who will come in now that Coquelin has managed to bugger up his knee.
I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised to see our captain in the role although hot shot Flamini might have genuine hopes for a recall as reward for his heroics at White Hart lane. The other choice is Chambers but it seems he’d being groomed for a centre back place. I know, I know – I don’t do line up speculation but hey, four match previews in a fortnight and I am fast running out of padding so indulge me. In any event I’m not telling you what the line up ought to be or will be. It’s just that there has been so much debate rumbling around the place ever since the end of last season over this particular near mythical part of our formation. What, people ask, lips quivering and palms sweating, will we do if Coquelin gets injured? Well today folks you are going to find out.
The Grauniad has Aaron dropping deeper to play alongside Santi and that is of course a possibility but The Welsh Wonder is more creator than destroyer and it would be a bold move indeed to face a side in their pomp without any sort of bite in our midfield, especially away from home when we can expect them to fancy themselves and come at us. Experience is surely all important, and to that end I can’t see young Calum being thrust into the role – but hey what do I know? Santi may be need to be rested and the double pivot so successful against Tottenham could be retained. It’s all guesswork, but it helps while away the hours until kick off.
One thing is certain the calamitous event so dreaded by so many has finally happened and Francis Coquelin is, gasp, injured! And you know what? It doesn’t seem quite the crisis everyone pretended it would be does it? Even with my limited grasp of the options available to the boss I’ve managed to rustle up four names to throw into the hat, any of which would be quite competent to provide a couple of weeks of cover. As long as neither Oxlade-Chamberlain nor Alexis get the job I’ll be quite content. Not only are they far more deadly up front but both have a propensity for wayward passing that I’d rather see as far away from our area as humanly possible.
Whatever the side and whatever the result I trust you will all enjoy a good hour and a half of top notch footballing entertainment. Not every sporting fixture can produce a Japan versus South Africa level of scalp raising exhilaration but we can at least anticipate a few thrills, a couple of gut wrenching moments in defence and hopefully a few goals scattered throughout the ninety minutes. I won’t be watching – it’s Likely Lads for me as I am taking me mum out for the day so if you see me say hello but don’t tell me the score will you?
Positively Arsenal 
I anticipate a very open game with a hatful of goals – Leicester are a side for whom their gung was very much designed for HO – and we are just tooooo smooth going forward for their defence to resist for long.
Leicester’s form is a puzzle – dead and buried at the end of March – title winning form thereafter to stay in the division, Perarson out, a much maligned Ranieri in and still they ride high!
I suspect when the fall comes it will be spectacular but even now they must be confident of avoiding a relegation scrap with enough points on the board by New Years Day.
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Excellent Steww! That’d make the two of us who’d miss the game as live, mine for reasons other than mum’s day out. All in all, here’s hoping for an entertaining win for the men in red!
COYG!
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Thanks, a great article. COYG!
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CM during the famous 1-1 Özil clinching draw at Newcastle was, after Arteta came off early, it was Ramsey and Chamberlain! Hehe.
Think the Ox still has a little impatience in his game understandably so after a long spell out with injury but he’ll play his way through it.
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You see Fins – you entirely prove my point. What the hell do I know? He might start with Giroud and Theo at the base of the midfield. And it might work like a charm.
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I can’t imagine being a journo and still being interested in Maureen. He is just so clearly bonkers and boring that the only sensible way to handle him is to ignore him and walk away. But then, to borrow a phrase, what the hell do I know?
Always very sensible not to try and anticipate Arsene’s match formations, especially with the two games looming next week, but with Leicester playing so well, and the recent experience in Zagreb so close in the memory, I don’t see him underestimating the opposition. It would be nice if he could give Ox another start – the guy obviously needs a boost to his confidence; the ability is there. But that obviously will have repercussions elsewhere and I think Santi/Ramsey will be too weak defensively – we need someone in the hole who will stay there. Someone has to burst Leicester’s bubble and we are the first of last season’s top four to meet them, so let it be us. Just hope I can find a decent stream. My local channel has chosen to show Liverpool/Villa – the morons.
COYG
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Nice one Stew,2-1 to the Arsenal today.
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“Arsenal fans enjoy riding the see saw (We lose – we’re shit. We win – we’re world beaters)”
Problem is its a see-see to many. We lose-we are shit.We win-the opponents were shit
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if we lose today it will be proof that we needed to sign a new DM in the summer, and if we win it will only delay the proving of this “soundbite”, just as every time theo or oliver don’t score, or oddly enough when ever any other striker scores, it proves Arsenal needed to sign a striker in the summer.
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Stew,
Here’s my team for today:
Flamini
Flamini Flamini Flamini
Flamini Flamini
Flamini Flamini Flamini Flamini
Cech
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JB™ @gunnerpunner 3h3 hours ago
Jose Mourinho’s never won at the Emirates? They kept that one quiet #narrative
Miguel Delaney @MiguelDelaney 23h23 hours ago
Mourinho’s ultimate PR failsafe – just have a massive go at Wenger. Won’t answer anything on Costa etc, but…
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http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/mourinho-targets-crying-wenger-again-356048.html
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So much talk about transfers but so little discussion about how AFC/AW/IG/The Law signed Gabriel from Villarreal ahead of Pellegrini,
He must’ve known all abound the player, I guess that MP doesn’t have full control over signings etc
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Mahrez impressed when he came on for Leicester in N5 last year. Perhaps like so many he was settling into the league in his first season?
Should be a good game.
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Debuchy for DM? Recall for Maitland Niles?
Foolishly, I listened to Alan Davies’s pod. Apart from the already highlighted paragraph in the previous thread, it was the usual, “we should’ve bought dis an dat”.
It all reminds me of why I stopped listening to it. Another hour wasted.
(I won’t bother pleading for pods from the correct source. Tut!)
Ta Steww.
PS I’m still looking for a .gif and other media from the Jan 14 FAC game in which Theo was injured. (I’m not letting that one go).
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And…
…Flamini starts
Arteta on the bench if and when the Flamster tires after his second start of the season both games a few days apart.
City sympathising with AFC’s result against MD last week and lowering their GD.
Yup. MP must’ve known about Gabriel….
COYG!
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been fixing the toilet and helping my boys girlfriend move all morning havn’t had time to read your post sorry Steww. COYG
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Team in full: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Flamini, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Walcott.
Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Chambers, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud.
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150926/team-news-flamini-starts-at-leicester#J7w43HTaxwRYItLb.99
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Well done Totts. That’s their season over then.
My wife has just brought me a piece of cake. Good omen for the match this afternoon?
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poor defending, 0-1, per caught out for speed
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Vardy with the goal, a counter attack
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How can someone with such long legs be so slow? Just move them faster Per! Simple.
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theo makes igt 1-1, just seconds after vardy hit the crossbar
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Get in! My goodness though when Ramsey isn’t up to speed it sure shows doesn’t it? Lucky to be bailed out by the ref prior to the goal with the whistle on Okazaki as well. Seems like a couple players aren’t all the way match fit.
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Arteta is on for Flamini
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Alexis makes it 2-1 to Arsenal, a fast breakaway ended with a tap in for Alexis
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What a game
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I think per got away with not giving away a penalty, I would be angered if it was not given to one of our attackers
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Per has been poor, their speed is causing him problems, and Bellerin charging up to attack is leaving him fully exposed
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HT: 1-2
a very end to end game, leicester have hit the woodwork twice, and been unlucky not to have had a penalty, arsenal look dangerous everytime we attack, even if Ozil and Ramsey not at their best.
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man utd have taken the lead v sunderland almost 4 minutes into stoppage time
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Not sure about the pen, eddy. He seemed to try and run through the big man who just didn’t give ground.
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for me dkg it was a penalty cos per used his hands to stop him, he did not even know where the ball was
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Arsenal the only away side in the BPL leading at this stage
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Per has been decent. Was a tad lucky with his hands on Okazaki but Terry has made a career out of those little tricks. Ramsey’s indecision led to the first for me. They are going to get their chances regardless they are a quality side. We have dealt with them well considering we have two top class first choice players out in defense and midfield. Flamini’s withdrawal for Arteta has given us a better base to work off as well.
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Positively Arsenal @Blackburngeorge 1h1 hour ago
This years change to the off side rule is that it only applies to Arsenal.And then even if its on side,
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I see the Ramsey haters are out in force across Arsenal web world
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Flamini did his hammy. Hopefully just a little one
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I think Ramsey has been mediocre and I’m a massive Rambo guy. He just needs to be a hair quicker. When this team gets into its stride it is going to be a joy to watch. You can see we are just getting warmed up.
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Floodgates have opened lads. Get in
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super goal, Alexis header, there was an outstanding assist from Ozil, after great build up play, Ramsey, Bellerin, Theo, Alexis, Ozil, Alexis goal
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man utd going top 2-0 up
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Second half has been all Arsenal. We are looking dangerous
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Some of the moves the arsenal have strung together this second half have been brilliant.
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Most o them
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Our build up play has been magnificent since the restart. Menacing stuff
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Wish Ozil would have just smashed that in
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76 minutes Ramsey off, Oxlade-Chamberlain on
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80 minutes Giroud on for Walcott
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Alexisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss with his 3rd, great long range strike
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