So it’s nearly over. The colonists have celebrated their annual feast of thankfulness and the retail addicts have fought in the car park of the shopping mall. The dreaded dark month of November of which many were, just a few short weeks ago, so scared, has nearly passed. The disastrous run of unbeaten games which everyone predicted has happened and we have only two fixtures left to get through before we can all sigh with relief and enjoy the downhill toboggan run that is December, January and February.
Sarcasm aside and trying to look at the thing objectively, we dropped two points at home to Spurs, otherwise nothing to be embarrassed about in the other results. A return to winning ways today and the start of another winning streak would of course be the perfect end to Black November and that’s exactly what I expect.
I do not say this from an emotional, hopeful perspective. I expect it because seldom do we go on a long run without a win. As Shotta will no doubt confirm very rarely do we play four games and not win at least one of them. We did once manage six draws on the trot – a club record in fact – but that was way back in 1961. We ended the sequence with an emphatic 4 – 2 defeat of Fulham and in case you were wondering Barnwell and Henderson both scored twice.
I don’t see our recent results as a problem because the squad isn’t suddenly altered in any way just because of a few drawn games. The players are precisely as talented and skilful as ever they were and the manager as wily and experienced as at the start of the season. If I have any sort of concern it would be more about the patchy nature of the performances. This must in some part be down to the ever changing make up our first eleven. Disruption to the line up is seldom ever conducive to consistent displays on the pitch. We have lacked a settled deputy for Santi and have seen several players tried next to Francis Coquelin. Aaron is the latest to attempt not to fill the Spaniard’s boots but to bring his own style to the position.
Like anyone else, and especially given his recent return from injury, he needs time before we can judge him. Personally I prefer to see him there rather than anyone else. He has the ability to tackle, the nous to keep the ball, a range of passes, can run with the ball and is deadly when he does get forward. Is it his best position? I don’t pretend to be sufficiently knowledgeable to answer that one.
We have also rotated on the flanks, at full back and up front. I entirely support the manager in this as only he has all the information on fitness levels, and only he knows his own long term plan for the season. To second guess him on why certain players are rested for certain games is an exercise in futility. You had just as well tell me I should have killed off a character in the first chapter of my book without knowing that he is pivotal to the plot in the final pages.
However I have eyes and they occasionally function reasonably well and I can clearly see that a game built around fast, instinctive, flowing football is disrupted and can stagnate into blunt predictable patterns when players don’t anticipate each other’s movements. I’ve always believed the game is about partnerships all over the pitch. Certain players bond better with some team mates than with others. Also there are some players who have the kind of influence on those around them that can change a game. Gerrard did it famously for Liverpool on many occasions, Vieira has done it for us and I would argue Aaron, when he hits form and confidence is that type of player.
Regardless of the formation or personnel around him he has the ability to take the game to the opposition, to open up space for others and to score important goals. If he gets a run alongside Francis I think we’ll see evidence of this and the weight of expectation on Mesut and Alexis will diminish as a result thus freeing their games to the benefit of everybody on the team.
Today we face Jack Wilshere’s Bournemouth. He has answered the question as to who he wants to win in the only way he could. His team mates would surely look askance at anybody in their own dressing room who publicly called for them to be defeated. Arsène brushed aside the attempt to squeeze some controversy from this and I believe we should do the same.
In any case Jack’s temporary allegiance to his rehabilitation team won’t be subjected to public scrutiny as he can’t play against us today. I might have been blissfully unaware of the ludicrous ‘head to head’ goal rule in the Champion’s League but I’m up to snuff on Premier League loan regulations. It’s section 7.2 of rule M.6 if you’d care to have a look yourself.
Bournemouth like to play the game in what we consider to be the right way. It must have been a factor in Jack’s choice to go there. They are finding it hard going though and while they haven’t endured the kind of Novemberus horribilis which so many were predicting for the Arsenal they did lose to Sunderland and that takes some doing. They sit a mere four points from the relegation zone but this simply illustrates why I care so little for league tables this side of the new year. Four points from the gallows they may be but they’re also only four from sixth place. Given the quality of the five teams above that position it must be the high water mark for every other side in the league.
I’d like to see a settled line up today, yes even the same team that duked it out on Wednesday night, but as I’ve said before I won’t carp whatever team sheet Arsène pins up because he is the only one with sufficient information to understand the decision. Our job isn’t to manage the team it’s to cheer them on. I’d have loved to have been there to do so in person today and thanks to splendid PA regular Steve, that nearly became a reality but circumstances conspired against me. I shall therefore be watching from the armchair and will see you here at a quarter past two. If, like Steve, you are at the match then why not sing a song for the folks back home? I’ll listen out for you.
Positively Arsenal 
Morning Steww, everyone.
LikeLike
Morning Ritchie
LikeLiked by 2 people
Still miss that benevolent pre-match Benaud greeting, evocative of fine weather and fine cricket in equal measure.
Great piece to all but end November on and fully agree it’s not been a bad month even if the partiallly disrupted squad hasn’t been at it’s flowing best. A win today should surely reinforce we have had far worst Novembers.
LikeLike
The whole ‘November is Arsenal’s worst month’ fuss really got my goat. After all statistically the only teams not to have an ‘historically worst month’ would be those who had the same results every month throughout their entire history. Every team will have a better or worse month, points wise, it’s just obvious and bound to happen. Why did the media choose to make such a big deal of it where Arsenal is concerned? Will we all be treated to Liverpool and Spurs worst month stories? Has anybody even bothered to find out which month those are?
LikeLiked by 6 people
Bloody conspiring circumstances! We’ll out-plot them one day.
Setting off soon as there are replacement buses on my route today although, of course, much like Aaron and Santi, buses offer something quite different to trains whilst having the same ultimate goal. (was going to draw that analogy out a bit but think it’s probably crap)
Anyway, rest assured I’ll sing loud proud and out of tune as usual. UTA!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Morning All, Fingers crossed for a display worthy of our attacking qualities and a result that will open a tidy 4 point gap to the neighbours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Steww,I rather suspect in the Spud’s case they may think it’s the month containing their last game of the season starting off in 1971. Come to that, L’pool can’t enjoy it much either but they only started in 1989. Good bog to start off the day. Thanks
LikeLike
Whoops. Blog not bog!
LikeLiked by 4 people
I’m with Steve today so i’ll be drinking and shouting the team on with him.
Steww the players not reading each others runs has been happening all over the pitch recently but whereas in other years, when injury,suspension and rotation, have interupted the team this season we seem to be coping well. A full on local derby, a bogey ground and one of the best teams in europe is not a bad record unbeaten.
Today however is the test Bournemouth are better at home and are missing one of their most influential players, with the teams above us all winning the pressure is on to get the three points.
I too believe Aaron can be a big influence and carry the team forward in the upcoming games. Also as the rest of the team get used to Jenks different style to Hectors they will give him more options so he doesnt have to keep playing the ball backwards.
Also as you mentioned John Barnwell its strange that he is the next ex-olayer to speak at the next A.I.S.A event.
Heres to a glorious ARSENAL afternoon COYG.
LikeLiked by 2 people
” I don’t pretend to be sufficiently knowledgeable to answer that one.”
Oh Stew, if only more people could grasp that little gem.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Good to hear that John Barnwell is still with us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
George – I nearly deleted the line as it seemed so self evident as to be insulting to people to point it out.
LikeLike
Stew, I honestly feel that one line is the very essence of Positively Arsenal. It should be in the header with Bob Wilson.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Stew, and with your permission I shall certainly borrow the not sufficiently knowledgeable line next time I’m called to deliver a Theory of Knowledge lesson.
LikeLiked by 3 people
You’re all way too polite and good natured!!
We’re in a downward spiral! Ozil is holding the club to ransom and Sanchez is off to the Sezchuan Sizzlers in January. We’re doomed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You raise some interesting points Dexter. Assuming they were all true and we did allow ourselves to become upset about it and write lengthy blogs about how upset we were, I wonder – just how that would alter the outcome of the situation?
LikeLike
We deserve better, we are the club , blah blah blah.
LikeLike
Morning Stew and the PA massive. Just about to leave for the Caribbean leg of my 2 week journey so I will miss today’s game. But a preview from Steww is just the tonic after a much early rise to catch my flight.
Yup. Titles are not won in November. If they were, Everton would have had it in the bag twice in the last 20 years instead of being the lead rabbit falling to fifth or sixth down the homestretch.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Poor old Dex. Even a stuck clock is right at least twice per day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! I thought that was a great satirical piece from me, but seems too subtle.
Still, Georges reaction made it worth while!!
Steww, I was taking the piss mate! We’re unbeaten in 18 games, a win will keep us close to the top teams, two of which don’t even have European football! If we are still snapping at their heels after the CL has finished till spring and we get the likes of Bellerin, Santi, Perez and Wellbeck back from injury, we’re be in great shape.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And as for Ozil and Sanchez futures? Who knows. Personally I think all the guff in the media is driven by their ‘advisers’ trying to get the best deal for their clients.
And they will most likely sign up.
I am really disappointed though. I was dead chuffed with the Sezchuan Sizzlers name!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dex – I kind of assumed you were sorry if my reply came across as a bit po faced it wasn’t meant to.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s completely cool Steww.
Have a great day.
UTA!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have I mentioned the price of tickets recently ?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Any yet again we have thrown away the opportunity to win the Europa League !
LikeLiked by 4 people
Ramsey took the No.8 shirt. Sanchez happy with his favourite no.7 although the no.9 was available and snagged by Lucas (would a fit Welbeck have claimed the no.9 shirt at the start of the season…?).
The rest is self-explanatory no?
Unless you were one of those experts that insisted that AFC unleash a 19 year old Chambo over Walcott, or a 21 year old Chambo recovering from injury over older players also recovering from injury…Different day, same old gr*t?
Led by the nose I’m afraid. Like people bleating about Wilshere’s future in the squad when there will clearly be a Cazorla sized hole to fill in the near future (as in the club have every desire to keep the player). Writing such simple common sense, such as that AFC had to play off a large stadium loan which is why they at one stage at three teenagers as their starting CMs, well we can see that such simple straightforward language that does not offer an excuse for some febrile S&M, it just doesn’t draw in the clicks! The farcical and exploitative aftv panto is strong strong evidence. I blame Simon Cowell.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Chambo is close to a few starts atm.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the eleven, however with the home tie against his old academy club coming up I think the shortest odds are on him getting the Wednesday start. Would be nice to have one Welbeck or Perez available.
LikeLike
Enjoy the game those of you going, unfortunately for me my sick bed is taking precedence today and I have to forgo the pleasure. I hope I at least get rewarded with 3 points. I’m taking nothing for granted, but #COYG!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I wish I could think of something original to write about the joy I get from reading these previews. Anyway, this is spot-on, as always. Thank you.
Having seen or read Mr Wenger saying Bellerin’s injury came in the last 10 secs of the game against the sh*t, I re-watched the last couple of minutes of that match and saw D Bass-turd Rose enact the same tackle on Hector that he did on Theo a couple years back (as he does in most games). Karma gonna get you (Rose by any other name).
I found and enjoyed this piece about Hector:
LikeLike
Players read the papers and are generally aware of the media narrative around the club. I wonder if this November slump talk has got into their heads and is inhibiting them on the pitch?
LikeLike
Exactly, Fins.
Get well instantly, Passenal.
LikeLike
passenal – If I suggested that was the entire reason for the campaign I’d be accused of being a nut job conspiracy merchant so I’ll say no more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
jens has brought his family with him today
LikeLiked by 3 people
LikeLike
so just the six changes from midweek
LikeLike
actually make that 7 changes
LikeLike
Once again team guessing proven to be an absolute mug’s game. Why? Because we don’t have the relevant information.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Tell me is Jenks injured? Does anyone know?
LikeLike
Arsenal FC @Arsenal 2m2 minutes ago
Welcome back, @MatDebuchy 👊
It’s the defender’s first start for us in 370 days
LikeLike
remember when benik afobe was the latest stick to beat arsene with for the malcontents, well now he can’t make the afcb starting 11
LikeLike
Such are the benefits of a well stocked pantry.
LikeLike
You calling Debuchy fat?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Get better soon Passenal!
I read on Twitter this morning that Debuchy’s return signals the total cessation of Jenkinson’s Arsenal career.
Who needs the facts when wild and unsubstantiated rumour-mongering is free.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Well that hand ball could not have been clearer.
LikeLike
Too many cooks
LikeLike
11 minutes, alexis pounces on a poor back pass and fires past the keeper 1-0
no more than arsenal deserve
LikeLike
debuchy injured, gabriel coming on, debuchy had started very well too. what a shame
LikeLike
Trod on his foot.
LikeLike
a bit surprised that we did not bring coquelin on at right back
LikeLike
Bloody hell. Got to feel for the guy. The work he must have done to get fit. What rotten luck.
LikeLiked by 2 people