Let’s get the grovelling out of the way first. And the excuses, let’s get those out of the way first too. Oh heck. Is there a mathematician in the house? Can I have two first things? Even if I can you’d need to discount the preceding five sentences wouldn’t you? All I was going to say is I am writing at a disadvantage after an heroic dosage of pain killers intended to alleviate the old nerve problem but actually just causing a dense fog to descend.
Also I’ve been forced very much against my will to take up gainful employment again. As a defence mechanism and the only way I can prevent my brain from imploding under the twin weights of tedium and loathing I have to switch off all but the basic cognitive functions from breakfast to bedtime. This means that the usual hunt for interesting or at least diverting topics with which to pad out my pre match ramblings have been suspended along with all other philosophical musings.
I hope the team doesn’t suffer a similar lack of motivation nor paucity of inspiration today. Surely they won’t. Surely they’ll be floating on cloud nine after their joyful six session with those tricksy Bulgarian visitors on Wednesday evening. If there is a problem with an improbably long winning run it is quite simply in our nervous and worried minds. We struggle not to harbour the superstitious dread that the longer it goes on the closer the inevitable hiccup, crash, fall from grace – call it what you will – must surely be. Granted it isn’t all superstition. If we accept that the winning run will not in fact last until the end of time then of course it must be interrupted at some point.
I believe the trick is not to think too hard about that. I also believe that for the players the key will be how they respond. Treat it as a bump in the road and they’ll be fine. Allow their morale to collapse à la Tottenham after the Chelsea result last season and things might become a little uncomfortable for all concerned. This is where having a manager who has been there and long since taken over the t-shirt factory, never mind just bought one, becomes a resource of incalculable value.
Pochettino, for all his undoubted talents, couldn’t transmit the necessary calm to his charges when the ordure and the air conditioning came into contact at Stamford Bridge last season. I’m guessing of course but I suspect that is down to not having been in such rarefied air before. Arsène has. He knows how a near miss feels and he knows the sweet taste of ultimate success. He has learned what works and what doesn’t and when the blip happens we should be grateful to have him at the helm to steer the ship back on course in double quick time.
But I don’t want to contemplate defeat just yet. I’m quite content to clamber up on the virtual surf board and enjoy the ride as long as the wave keeps rolling on in. If confidence is the huge intangible which drives all successful teams then we must have a full tank of the stuff right now. The victory on Wednesday, or least the margin of victory which seemed so improbable for much of the first half, must have done much for both the individual and collective spirit in the squad.
I have to give special credit to Arsène. His timing was impeccable. Sooner or later we all knew he would have to rest some players and would have to give others a start in the first team. That he chose to do so in the Champions League is a mark of a manager confident in the ability of his second string. It also must have helped boost their own confidence that they were so trusted to carry on the good work, much of which they’d had to watch from a seat in the wings.
The hunger on show from the understudies was to be expected but what impressed more was the quiet assurance with which they went about their business. From Kieran Gibbs’ seamless transition from bench to starting berth to the Ox’s sublime finish and on to Lucas Pérez’s wonderful little cameo they all showed the manager what they can do and did it with aplomb. The only reason I don’t mention David Ospina in the same sentence as those others is because I believe he deserved one all of his own. Sod it, I’m giving him this one too – viva Ospina!
I honestly don’t know if these guys are waiting for injuries to take their toll or whether Arsène has plans to gradually increase the involvement of some players as the season progresses. It is an intriguing prospect. Of all of them Pérez is the one I think most likely to feature with sustained regularity. Like George I really like what I’ve seen. His work-rate and intensity are high, his speed of thought and decision making impressive. That he can score as well as provide for others augers well. Above all he just looks the part.
The most compelling battle for selection is between Coquelin and Xhaka – unless of course they end up playing together. It’s Coquelin all the way for me. The most underrated, or perhaps the least overrated, player in our squad by some margin. Caricatured as no more than a hard tackling defensive midfielder, he actually prefers an Arteta style interception, his positional play is extraordinary, appearing to have stolen the opposition’s blueprints before kick off, and his close control and passing are far from that of a boneheaded midfield hatchet man. I give him the edge over Xhaka by dint of not being suspended today.
Middlesbrough haven’t won since back in August. In fairness they’ve not been properly turned over since then, losing the majority of their games by the odd goal. Regardless of their recent form any Premier League team has the ability to beat any other. If we’re going to see Shotta’s streak continue we will need the ruthlessness Arsène is so fond of calling for. With the usual faces absent and Santi a doubt following his early departure on Wednesday we may see Elneny and Coquelin at the heart of our midfield. As big a loss as our tiny Spanish giant may be I’d be quite happy to see them on the team sheet together. Discipline and fizz. They could have their own prime-time show. Other than that as much as I think the Ox deserves another run out I suspect Arsène will stick to his winning team. But what do I know?
If you’re at the game sing one for me, if not I’ll see you here at three.
Positively Arsenal 
Morning Stew, thanks for the preview,although being so far out of the loop of life I havent a clue who those blokes are. See (read?) you at three for what we all hope is Streak and Chips and goal salad.Thanks again!
Cheers!
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Mills – they aren’t exactly mainstream nor particularly well known. I just imagined what Discipline and Fizz might look like if not played by Elneny and Le Coq and those two sprang to mind. Of course now it occurs that if Santi is unable to play The Ox might simply play a central role instead. That would be exciting. Bubble and Fizz!
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I will look them up, Im sort of a bit shocked these days I feel more and more like an anchorite,without much bubble and fizz! Ignorance isnt bliss, bliss is bliss!
As each day passes the competitive capitalism of our time seems utterly crushing,all nods to AW for surviving by keeping his head cool and clear.
One thing that seems to be unfolding a bit is how good the squad is looking, each player giving all.And a few of the lads are still yet to return, Im sure Larry is a green -eyed man at the moment wanting to get back out there and wack a few in.
Thanks again,always a pleasure to read.
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well delivered Steww.
Another home game of needing to win with the three points on offer but no credit to be obtained if we do, no matter how we do it. Like you say most borough games have been tight so once again it will be about finding a way to win. Anything more than that will be our pleasure and no one elses. COYG
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Mills – the still is from a show called Top Coppers which I found very amusing.
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Thanks Stew.
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Not sure my heart could take the Ox as the deepest midfielder.
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Come on George where’s your sense of fun!?
No one plays ‘deepest’ for us anyway. Today it will be Kos and Mustafi playing somewhere around the half way line and everyone charging back if we lose the ball. You watch, even if Santi plays he will barely be in our half.
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Morning Stew – the early goal is required today, calm the crowd, depress the opposition and loosen the handbrake
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Andrew, good morning. I always feel it’s the third goal which really releases the brake. At one nil this side still looks a little unsure as to whether to stick or twist.
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Liz Lockheed starts The Choosing with First equal so I think you’re allowed a couple of starters today Stew and especially so if you’re under the weather. Sorry to hear about the humdrummery too which reminded me of my first ever proper job, fixing the formica tops on Lec fridges: a 1000 a day was the target and oh the joy when the line slowed and stopped. I keep forgetting about El Neny and what a joy to be reminded of him, yet another fizzy midfielder off Arsene’s own production line.
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I love LL Tim, so thanks for that. Have to tear myself away from Stokes’ and Bairstow’s wonderful partnership as I’ve arranged to meet a pal for a dog walk.
Grrrr.
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Its Arsene Wenger’s Birthday today.
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That’s some good reading Stew. I like the Discipline and Fizz, after all of them had their snack, crackle and pop this morning.
PS: Arsenal are 7 on the bounce. Weren’t Pep’s boys’ streak also 7 when he got crowned king?
3 points for Wenger’s birthday would be lovely. COYG
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Cheers Stew. Hope the fog clears and the pain subsides before the game or, indeed, much sooner. I will, of course, sing one for you. Any requests?
After the Swansea game I wrote here that my bet caused the problems for Theo not completing his hattrick. I suggested that to find out what WON’T happen, just ask me what I’ve bet on.
I now have to revise my statement to say that whatever I bet on is guaranteed having predicted an Ozil hattrick on Wednesday night.
SO, as some of the return I collect today is being handed straight back to Mr Bookmaker I suggest you all prepare yourself for a Koscielny opening goal and a 7-0 victory. I can’t lose!*
*disclaimer: I often do lose.
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Mike Dean today. How’s that for a birthday present from the PGMOL.
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Nerve pain and work Steww? Too much for a normal individual. Thankfully, you’re just not normal. A great piece of writing with no signs of your wit failing. Thanks
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John Giles on Pep leaving out Aguero v Barca: “If you’re resting one of your best players for tactical reasons, there’s something wrong with the tactics”
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Mohammed Amali @MoAmali 23h23 hours ago
Somewhere right now, Mike Dean is rehearsing his performance tomorrow, desperate not to be outshone by Ozil, Theo, Sanchez et al.
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Arsenal Latest@ArsenalsNews
Happy Birthday to Wenger !
“Have Tottenham closed the gap on Arsenal? Last time I checked they were still 4 miles and 11 titles away” – AW
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My fear is the PGMOB has decided to show who is the boss around this league. Mike Dean doesn’t like young whippersnappers like Mustafi showing up any of his homies.
I don’t know much about the new boys Discipline and Fizz but I know the manager and I would prefer to see Arsene streaking than Pochettino. We all know who can better pull this off with grace and style.
But if Steww can write such a helluva blog while medicated for nerve pain then there is very little for us to worry about. Unfortunately I will have to DVR this game as i am supposed to be elsewhere.
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The boss (she who must be genuflected before) has just announced a trip to some retail hell hole so I may not be here at 3 as promised.
She pays the bills. I shall not argue.
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my only prediction for today’s game is that the Arsenal team will have to do it by and large on their own today, I do not expect the home crowd to drive the team on. Many talk about the team taking lower opposition lightly, but in my opinion its the support that take the lower sides for granted, and so fail to get behind the team from the start, in fact they expect an easy win, so any misplaced pass or missed opportunity is met with a hail of groans and moans. So far from inspiring the team, they are on their backs. The home crowd today will be reactive today. It will take a super show from the team, to get the crowd going.
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just seen a video clip of a howard webb inteview on bbc radio, basically saying he allowed teams to bully arsenal and that he punished afc players for retaliating. Yes all dressed up in words like naive, lacking maturity, etc. Webb was the poster boy of the PGMOL, and there he is admitting that he seen teams bully Arsenal, and his reaction was to book AFC players cos they were not snide enough to get their retaliation in behind his back.
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jonathon pearce on bbc football focus has claimed that Cazorla is out of today’s game with an achilles injury.
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Andy’s Arsenal U18’s @AndyAndya873 2m2 minutes ago
Our u18 have lost to reading 5 -1
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Thanks Steww. Hope you can enjoy the match when you tune it.
–
George, posterity records that the infamous 1-1 draw at Newcastle was achieved with a CM pair of Ramsey and Chamberlain after Arteta went off early.
Elneny in today, Chambo back on the bench after a good run out mid-week. It’s definitely a stronger squad!
Come on you Gunners.
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Full game for Wilshere. He still needs to regain his burst and acceleration (strength & stamina etc.) and that can and will only come with more starts and matches.
An incremental increase in minutes match by match until today his first full performance in a year and a half. Looks like someone somewhere has some kind of a plan for the player who will return and eventually and when the time is right take the Saint Cazorla’s hallowed spot in the squad (we hope).
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Arsenal team: Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Elneny, Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi, Alexis
Arsenal substitutes: Ospina, Gabriel, Gibbs, Reine-Adelaide, Maitland-Niles, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lucas
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/20161022/team-news-elneny-starts#5Hiyc17dd0LkwfpJ.99
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Arsenal with ten on the subs bench
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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CvX7HkHW8AAxOlU.jpg:large
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Osman @OsmanZtheGooner 40m40 minutes ago
Lamela should’ve been off, same with Rose and now with Sissoko elbow. But somehow Spuds get away with all 3.
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Tim Stillman @Stillberto 41m41 minutes ago
LOL, that ‘no attempt to play the ball = a red card’ “rule” that everyone discovered last week doesn’t exist anymore I see.
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My appointment fell through. Thank heavens.
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As predicted only two players back everyone else besieging the Boro box.
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COYG! Good to see youre back for the game Stew.
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Dean may have given 6 penalties this season so far, but he aint going to give Arsenal one, we all know that.
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oh God, that was too close, cech saves our asses after kos hesitated and traore got in
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boro so close again, freekick hits the bar
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Daniel Crowley has scored for Oxford away to Port Vale
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Valdes makes good save from Alexis freekick
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Negrado cheating, replays clearly show he was not hit on the head
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Come on Theo slice them open!
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Cech doing his job when called upon. And doing it rather well I must say.
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Cech doing well today!
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Cech saves us for the fourth time,
Arsenal with lots of possession but creating little clear cut chances, boro have had 3 or 4 good chances.
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shit, mustafi down with ankle injury, looks to be in real pain
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Funny how people react badly to our keeper making saves. He’s just another member of our team. Surely we want him to play well as much as any other player.
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The November injury curse has struck early this season. That’s Santi and Mustafi out in consecutive games.
EDIT: Oh no – he was pretending. Naughty German trickster.
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