Good morning and welcome to the penultimate pre match preamble of 2015/16. I can’t believe there is only one more to go after this one. It seems like only yesterday we were all getting our knickers in a twist about beating Jose in the Charity Shield. Now you remind people of that match and it’s all “Jose who?”. Curious how time stretches and compresses all at once. Watching the Graceless One collapsing and falling, already feels like ancient history and yet at the same time thirty six games have flashed past us in the blink of an eye.
We’ve all become somewhat used to having a cup final to look forward to as the first thunder storms of the year herald the opening chorus of another British summer. In stark contradistinction this season we have to make do with a play off for third place at The Etihad stadium. There may be even more at stake should Spurs’ raggedy band of prima donnas continue their petulant implosion. Personally I don’t see them losing both of their last two. They lost the plot at Chelsea because they were in such an unusual position for a club which has spent decades in Arsenal’s shadow and simply couldn’t cope with the rarefied air near the top of the tree.
When they realised they were not going to win the league their moral collapse was as spectacular as it was heart warming to watch. They have, however, had time to get over that and pull themselves together. That they haven’t faced a points deduction is of course a different story but we shan’t concern ourselves with their woes any further. If they lose and we win today, well then the final weekend will have a little more spice to it, otherwise our focus must be on the blue half of Manchester and nowhere else.
Man City are a bit of an enigma at the moment. Like us they are capable of dirge and dazzle in equal measure. They have a manager who, all things considered, they’ve treated pretty shabbily and who has nothing to gain from automatic qualification. They have some outstanding players who have performed in a patchy, inconsistent manner all season and yet they are right up there with us and Spurs, the only teams remotely close to the champions.
So what do I think is going to happen this afternoon? Absolutely no idea. Honestly why George picked me to write the pre-match is a real head scratcher. If I have any Mystic Meg in my lineage then Dad kept it very quiet and it’s a weak gene at best. If you like I could share what I think the manager might do selection wise. I suppose if nothing more you could disagree with me and we could have a heated debate about it. Although given that I’m happy to wait for the teams to be announced the heat in that argument may be somewhat more frigid than advertised.
I don’t see him changing much except perhaps for bringing Coquelin back and pushing Aaron further forward. With Welbeck staking a claim for a start it is possible Larry and Alex Iwobi may make way. But honestly what do I know about it? Given that our success against City has come from a more defensive performance in the past, Larry is an obvious starter as he can cope hanging around on his own up top waiting for the cavalry better than anyone else in the squad. I think the back five pick themselves at the moment but beyond that only Mesut, Elneny and Sanchez seem guaranteed to start. As for City’s line up I have no idea as I never watch them play.
So there you have it. I’m so stuck for anything to say I’ve resorted to the hack blogger’s ploy of second guessing the manager. Now I feel dirty. In fairness this end of season ennui was bound to affect us writers just as much as any other fan. Like the empty red seats at the Emirates there are empty spaces in my frontal and parietal association regions which are usually bubbling over with witty one liners, clever couplets and devious dactyls. I hope the Arsenal players are less devoid of creative inspiration today. Similarly it is my fervent wish that City and Spurs are so overwhelmed with grief at the tragic end of their hopes and dreams domestically and in Europe that they fail to raise themselves for the fight and bow out with a no more than a damp squib.
I wonder if lasagne is on the menu at White Hart Lane?
Positively Arsenal 
This season had took it’s toll on all of us and not even you are spared Stew. Thanks for still battling on, deep in extra-time. I’m sure some of the PA nailed on starters are looking forward than most to the off-season.
Yesterday I thought Leicester would still be hungover and Roberto Martinez, in a last ditched effort to save his job, would at the least take get a draw. Little do I know. Surprise.
Play-off for 3rd spot would add that extra spice to today’s fixture. Since it’s hard to call a winner I’ll just be here hoping it’s the Arsenal. There’s that ting. Hope! What else can we do?
COYG!!!!!!!!!!!
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That end of feeling ennui is catching. Can’t be arsed to say anything witty or insightful except to be as amazed as ever that you find the time and inspiration to write something sensible without straying into tabloid nonsense like our typical hack blogger.
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You are picked Steww because your writing is excellent, to be honest I would read about a 00 gauge signal box number 17 if you wrote it.
Apparently we are city’s bogey team and they have dropped more points against us than any other PL team including their very own scum.
Of course on one offs stats don’t matter but it does suggest that if we play well we have nothing to fear.
Sergio is world class but apart from him city are an average team at the moment, the loss of Silva and Company seems to effect them massively.
Our form is stuttering at best so I don’t expect a classic today but we have seen in patches we can be irresistible and we need a patch today to finish the season on a high and at least dappen some of the negativity.
Danny has played up front on his own to good effect before, the cup game at old Trafford to name one, so him or Larry are credable options. As we normally start reasonably defensive up there I’m guessing we will start with the old double pivot of Le Coq & Elneny but do agree Alex influence has diminished in the last game so he may start on the bench today although with Jack & Santi also vying for positions the bench maybe crowded today.
Anyway avoid defeat today and third is almost there, the sun is out and the ARSENAL are on the march COYG.
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At least my heart felt a little lighter yesterday watching Leicester yesterday. Happiness was that crowd with, quite understandably, only positive placards. At least we gooners can say that we did the double over them. (Smiley)
I totally agree with Ianspace on the signal box 17. Your writing has been one constant lifting of the spirits in a season of, let’s just say, topsy turviness. Thanks.
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Enjoy the mountain bike season, Steww.
I’m going to take my much under used speed machine out of a post winter shake down this morning.
Nasri is going to play for city. That will keep the away fans busy.
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I’d read Steww if he was writing out the 12 times tables.
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not sure if I’m looking forward to the off season, yes it would be good to put this up and down season behind us, but who wants all the made up transfer bullshit, and of course we are certain to see a few players leave, and unlike the malcontents I do not dislike any of our players, so I will not celebrate any of them leaving, and of course as much as I try, stories about our better players leaving will always bring a little more worry into my life. Of course its always exciting when we sign a new player, even ones I know little about, in fact familiarising myself with everything I can find out about an unknown player is often more fun.
The meltdown from the Arsenal fan base at every proposed signing or sale will be annoying, but telling malcontents that they are idiots and hypocrites will be something to do, especially when their fake outrage happens cos another club sign a player, or change manager, or reveal a (nicer) kit than ours.
The Euros will help fill the Arsenal void, and hopefully my county will do well for a change in the All Ireland Championship and help the summer fly by, till my Arsenal are back, when I can see the latest signing actually play for us, even if its in a pre-season friendly, seeing the latest youth step up and try and claim a first team squad place is always of major interest to me, as I like nothing better than seeing one of our own make it, I think that stems from our squad being full of our own when I first became an Arsenal fan (1968), and then my first real hero being Liam Brady, followed by all the youth players coming through in the mid 80’s. In the days before the internet I was a match day programme subscriber and the first page I would flick to was Young Guns, where there would be a profile of one of our lads, and all the reserve and youth match reports, as this was new info, most of the rest would be in Shoot, or Match, or the papers, but our youths and reserves where not. I’m still miffed at the club for abandoning live coverage of Youth and Reserve games, it really is something that they should bring back, even if its full delayed coverage, this 6 minute highlight package really is not good enough for a club as huge as Arsenal.
By the way U21 promotion play off final is live from the Emirates on Tuesday, kick off 7pm, Arsenal v Aston Villa.
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The players (in most clubs, bar those still fighting for significant cup success or promotion) will be more than a little fed-up of the same old routine and the same old faces and places. Many of ours will be on the change as good as a rest Euro treadmill (would a Brexit see Ingerlaand no longer a part of such jamborees?) but all will be ready for a break now. If our lot could raise themselves today and so avoid a play-off in August it would be very good news, and my feeling is that we are likely to be fresher and more incentivised than the City boys. They played a lot better against Real Madrid than they were given credit for, hitting the post with the keeper beaten and an Aguerro wonder-strike only inches over – but I fancy that the next two games will be low on most of their agendas now. At least I hope so – just as I hope the Spurs will find a Southampton side bristling with intent and Newcastle still clinging to possible salvation.
Am I ready for a break? Yes and no, I guess. I doubt I will see much of today’s game as on Dad duty beyond the boundary and powerless to influence whether Daniel troubles the scorers or not, just as we are all in no position to advise AW just what side he should put out, what tactics he should adopt, who he should sell and who buy. But I shall play every ball with him, more nervous than ever I was when called to the crease myself (which naughtily and schoolboysmuttishly reminds me of Frank’s great story) – and I know that I will be following our lot via tweet and text too – and it will be agony, both cricket and football, just as following Surrey Storm in yesterdays netball final was – they just hung on, in case you are interested, and my wife tells me that the Sky commentary was just as biased towards Manchester Thunder as she has come to expect from following The Arsenal.
And so I know that although in the great scheme of things today doesn’t really matter, it will still knot me up insides, just as next week against the Villa will. So I suppose I am ready for a break from all of that – but not quite yet. COYG!
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I see Wenger has hinted that Oxlade-Chamberlain will be here next season, this comes after loads of rumors in the media that he was on offer to Man City, Chelsea, West Ham, Liverpool, etc etc, but Wenger’s comment that “we have invested a lot of time in him and so we are not going to give up on him now”, really suggests that once again the media are making up shit.
In the same interview Wenger also said slightly different re Arteta than has been headlined in the media and across Arsenal blog world. Yes he thanked him for his years here and suggested that him going to Man City as a coach was an option, but he did say that our Captain could very well remain here as a coach, “if there is a vacancy”, but that he would not create one for him. AW also said that Arteta could decide to continue to play, as his fitness levels are now back to the level that would allow him to play and, AW even suggested that its something he really should consider long and hard about.
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Team I’d go for
Cech
Bellerin Chambers Koscielny Monreal
Elneny Ramsey
Alexis Ozil Wilshere
Welbeck
subs: Ospina, Gabriel, Coquelin, Cazorla, Walcott, Iwobi, Giroud
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Squawka Football @Squawka 12h12 hours ago
Chelsea can now finish no higher than 9th, meaning their title defence is the worst in Premier League history.
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will be fun when our first two summer signings are Vincent Jannsen from AZ Alkmaar and Rob Holding from Bolton Wanderers
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You are an artist Stew – you have a duty to develop you craft and express yourself
I anticipate a full blooded effort from both sides today, an important game for 3rd spot but an even more important game for those who can see themselves as integral to both clubs first team squad selection. Our last visit to Manchester was, to be blunt, a bit of a fuck up. I expect a far more polished and efficient effort today.
I am in purdah today so will have to watch a recording of the match – silence is golden – but give em hell
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some rumors that Ozil is not in the the squad today, don’t know if its legit or just someone stirring the pot
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Why would anyone care about such rumours Eddy?
Surely they come from the same place as the Chambo rumours. The wellspring of gibberish.
No coach is selling a young Chambo after some injury strife. Not a good one. He’s essentially better then Barkley and Sterling combined and that’s why he was still going to be in the England squad after the season and injuries he’s had. Roy knows. Anyone with two football brain cells to rub together knows. The only concern anyone should have with Chambo is that he has the same agent as Sterling, but hopefully that bloated shark will be satiated for a while. And amused too. Fifty big ones from unproven un-minted Sterling. Very funny.
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Fir to say this isn’t the place for rumours projected from such orifices.
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Safe> fir
–
No harm in thinking about selections, not for me! Players fitness is always of interest especially whEn they get a hacking or have serious issues such as Welbeck’s UNKNOWN injury at the start of the season which almost ended his career, which explaIns why he is being handled with kid gloves after the has hit the infamous athlete’s ‘Wall’ on return from injury, hardly surprising, yet all the above has been studiously ignored by uber bloggers and gallant podcastateers these past few weeks.
It’s just not credible. At best. Reminds me of the slaying of Özil by these same experts when he was injured. Nevermind the Football eh?
Thanks George, Steww and Andrew for keeping this space for sanity open this season. Greatly appreciated!
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Rob Holding from Bolton sounds like typical Arsenal good business. If true. We’ve got Bouldy and Dixon from small northern clubs.
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See? I was nearly right with the team prediction. If you change a couple of subs for starters I was spot on.
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Ozil not just fatigued arm but obviously with a knock or some such too?
Iwobi back in the tennish role where he first broke through just a few months ago.
Gibbs has apparently stopped “sulking” and being “frustrated” and is now back in the squad bench (as in: recovered from a niggle).
I think I’m starting to get the hang of the Experts lingo.
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Part 1 goes according to plan. Wonder if we can overcome the filthy rich Mancs and make it a perfect Sunday?
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If we win by 14 goals we go second.
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I know where you’re coming from, Steww, and I feel pretty much the same.
Onwards. COYG
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I too would read Stew’s writing no matter what the subject. Thanks, as always, for finding something to say when it seems we’ve already said it all.
Southampton’s feat today means more clamoring for a win. Me, I think it’s more of a must not lose. As much as I would love to humiliate Spurs (and I would LOVE that), I think it’s more important to finish today still in 3rd. Pragmatism may not be as exciting, but it’s the order of the day for me.
On the other hand, it’s Mother’s Day in the States today. I’ve got my world-wandering daughter back in the house – a win by my boys would just top off the day! Come on you Gunners!
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so fins the Ozil rumors were right
TEAM NEWS: OZIL MISSES OUT
Mesut Ozil misses out on Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City due to a slight hip problem as Arsène Wenger makes two changes to his side.
Danny Welbeck replaces the German midfielder, while Gabriel comes into defence in place of the injured Per Mertesacker.
Olivier Giroud retains the central striker role and Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla are on the bench.
Arsenal starting XI: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Elneny, Ramsey, Welbeck, Iwobi, Alexis, Giroud
Arsenal substitutes: Ospina, Gibbs, Coquelin, Wilshere, Cazorla, Campbell, Walcott
Copyright 2016 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160508/team-news-ozil-misses-out#6sPHyyPBtFIVhiSJ.99
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an opportunity badly missed by the redtops, only if they had named Ozil and not Alexis in their unsettled stories then our line up today would be perfect for them.
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7 minutes – aguero makes it 1-0 to city, elneny should have done better in his attempts to block the shot
city started much sharper than us
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9 minutes – clichy almost with an og, hits the post and goes out for a corner, Giroud makes it 1-1
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Nice one Larry
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Two former team mates starting for City. They’ll be up for this contest.
Interesting game so far. Yikes! Welbeck down.
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20 minutes – Arsenal struggling to get passing game going. City on top
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Fully committed challenge from Welbeck.
Wilshere being the closest to full fitness gets the nod.
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21 minutes – Welbeck walks off with a knee injury
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amazing bad luck, that is two AFC players out with knee injuries in six days
wilshere on for welbeck
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Elneny just failing to find Sanchez there, could’ve been set free one on one on the counter against Clichy.
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Ramsey looks to be injured too, he has been feeling his calf muscle the last couple of times the ball has been out of play, he is stretching it.
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26 minutes – Cech makes a meal of a clearance.
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Iwobi nearly freeing Ramsey!
Close.
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28 minutes – Iwobi almost sets Ramsey up
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Fernando having the game of his life so far
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Ramsey with a fine tackle there
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32 minutes – Arsenal very panicky in possession, passing way off, everything seems nervous and rushed.
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Both coaches started two ‘strikers’
Arsenal now a little different with Wilshere on?
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37 minutes – afc string a few passes together, then alexis loses it cheaply
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Intense contest for Wilshere to jump into.
Like any other returning player he’d have it no other way.
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Wilshere loses out, city counter for a corner. City with the momentum atm after the pendulum has swung towards the Arsenal for the middle bit of the half
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42 minutes – city defense and midfield out battling our midfield and attack
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Monreal has been v.good for this last phase of the match *anti-jinx*
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Handball?
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HT: 1-1
city on top for much of the half, arsenal second best in the midfield battle, a real lack of composure to our play so far. Will take a big improvement for us to get the comeback win here today.
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