@LaboGoon opens the curtains
January eh – don’t you just wish this month was over already? Well, at least not without a few wins under the belt, a ‘departure’ and one or two “top top” additions to our squad. Now that will really help to lift this gloom.
Arsenal host Crystal Palace at the Emirates this afternoon, with the goal being us making up lost ground on the top 4 teams. Albeit temporarily… but one never know.
What we do know is that when Roy took over the Eagles they were low in confidence and in desperate need of points. It was a bit touch-and-go initially but through immense fortitude they overcome their nervy patch and are now a formidable unit that take nothing for granted and give even less away, because they know they are not completely out of the woods yet as far as PL survival is concerned, ergo they go out there and play each game as if it’s a cup final, to not be left wondering.
In the last 12 rounds of PL fixtures Palace lost just once and that, of course, was vs us at Selhurst Park, which was also the last time we won a game in all competitions. Since then we lost our way a bit, starting with bad luck in the form of few questionable refereeing decisions, then doubts crept in, culminating in us looking short of ideas vs Bournemouth last Sunday.
That we are in the midst of a very unsettling period goes without saying, but we are just one good result away, that may not necessarily silence some of our critics but at least it will change the tide for these players, on and off the field.
To get over the line today we will have to up the intensity from what we’ve seen these last few weeks, as well as have a real go at Palace from the very first minute, because we’ve seen so many times if you leave things too late you are leaving it to chance.
The Emirates has been treating us good though, so I see no reason why we shouldn’t put in a solid performance to get the desired result.
On team news: Monreal and Koscielny are back in good health and Özil should also be fine. So even without Alexis we should still field a stronger side than in recent weeks.
Good luck to all going to the Emirates. I got a feeling today will be a good day to re-ignite the Arsenal torch.
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Positively Arsenal 
Morning L – and thank goodness football is back to relieve the unrelenting drone of the transfer window. It is time for our lads to get their confidence back and play a bit of football.
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Morning Andrew, and yep, couldn’t agree more. We all, players included, need this distraction from the the transfer bleatings. If we win today it could be the start of a very eventful week for the Arsenal.
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Ozil is key. When mesut, and to a lesser extent, Ramsey play well, the team plays. Now, we have Jack in the mix.
Looking for a win today and something to put lacca right on track .
Whether by transfer window, or other means, Wenger has to start righting the sad loss of one of our finest players, I don’t mean the one off to Utd either, it won’t be easy but this manager can and will do just that.
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Danny, Theo, Alexis out of squad from last game- Kos, Monreal, Ozil back in? Was Kolasinac on bench last time out?
Anyway, could be quite a different team from last time.
Jack, Xhaka, Ozil, Ramsey in same team is quite a prospect. I’ve vague sense that Ozil and Ramsey used to look for each other and combine well a lot high up the pitch in that year together before Sanchez
Could see Eddie or Reiss on bench today then. With a real chance of some minutes in prem.
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Morning all, Andy is spot on as Arene said in the presser ( hang on he didn’t say Andy was spot on ) this window has had a detramental effect on the team. when you think about other windows and Arsenes contract talks also having the same affect it really is something we need to learn to cope with.
The Arsewipes in their wisdom have chosen today as another protest day which we know in the past has failed miserably so the crowd today have an important job in supporting the team and remaining positive.
As football breaks out and many of the experienced players return we could be looking at Wengerball at home again against one of the most in form sides in the division although with wilf diving and Kavenaugh the official witness involved in the Arsene ban we might have to overcome alot to force the three points home.
We know we have the players to excite even without the latest mercenary so lets look forward to a great game COYG.
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Today’s game is huge.
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and youth team have a huge game at Anfield too,
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some reports that welbeck is out of today’s squad, and doubts over Ramsey and Ozil. Welbeck and Ramsey only did light training yesterday, and Ozil wore strapping on his knee during training.
Of course it could have all been a precaution and we will see all 3 involved.
Cech
Chambers Mustafi Koscielny
Bellerin Xhaka Wilshere AMN
Ramsey Lacazette Ozil
subs Ospina, Monreal, Kolasinac, Elneny, Iwobi, Nketiah, Welbeck
Nelson, Reine-Adelaide and Holding in contention if any of the doubts are missing
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looks like Mkhitaryan to Arsenal and Alexis to Man U is done, I base this on an article by Myles Palmer in ANR claiming the deal is off, and as we know he gets everything concerning Arsenal back to front, so deal has to be done.
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If Myles is on it I’m learning Armenian
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no Ramsey nor Welbeck in the squad today, Nelson and Nketiah our only attacking options on the bench,
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Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has confirmed that Arsenal have submitted their first formal bid for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: “I can confirm that there has been a first request from #AFC and we’re not commenting on the sums that have been called from England since noon today.”
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Ramsey is ill, and Welbeck is injured
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COYG!
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Monreal give us the lead with a header
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Iwobi fires home from six yards from a monral cut back
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Koscielny makes it 3 with a tap in, xhaka corner deep, monreal cuts it back across goal and taps in from 3 yards out
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arsenal playing flowing attacking one and two touch football
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Lacazetteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 4-0
Wenger ball is back, one touch passing at speed, movement, ozil backhell to lacazette and he fires home first time from 12 yards out
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was Pedantic George right about Alexis and Wengerball
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16 Goal
Goal for Arsenal – Burton
The visitors take the lead at Anfield.
Amaechi’s set-piece delivery from the right was only cleared to the edge of the area and when Burton was teed up for a strike, he was the beneficiary of a big deflection that spun the ball beyond the helpless Jaros.
0-1.
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Monreal off injured, AMN on. Monreal has a goal and two assist today
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Technical Leader played
Level of the TEAM elevated
Excellent half hour Nacho
looked like a hamstring
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Ozil is football dreams!
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great save by cech, gets a hand on a deflected zaha shot
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Goal
Goal for Liverpool! Curtis Jones!
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HT: Arsenal 4-0 Crystal Palace
Monreal, Koscielny, Iwobi, Lacazette with the goals.
Wengerball, with ozil and jack to the forefront of it.
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As the bloke next to me in the urinal just said “he’s done it again”
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Half Time
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
It’s level at the halfway stage at Anfield.
Burton handed the away team the lead early in the first half but Gerrard’s charges have responded well and ensured they are on even terms after 45 minutes courtesy of Jones’ calm finish three minutes before the break.
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Tim/FH thank you for sharing your thought on Alexis with us over these seasons.
Looks like a different spirit on the pitch today?
Only one game but that was impressive.
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At this stage is Iwobi more comfy from the left?
Is Monreal still going to be MOTM!!!
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Match of the Day
Verified account @BBCMOTD
33m33 minutes ago
Mesut Ozil now has 48 assists in the Premier League since joining Arsenal; more than any other player in that time 👏
20/20 vision 👀
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not the same drive about us so far this half
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49 Goal
Goal for Liverpool! Curtis Jones!
What a day for the young man.
He forced his way into a modicum of space inside the Arsenal area and saw a cross-shot flick off a defender and deceive the goalkeeper to hit the net in front of the Kop.
2-1.
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cech with another good save
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That 20 min spell
Arrh!
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Nelson on for his BPL debut, Ozil off
20 minutes to go
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4-1
too much time given to them at a corner, takes it down on his chest turns and fires home.
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about 10 minutes left
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kolasinac on, iwobi off
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fucking putting the ball out of play when ref allowed play to continue, when are we going to stop being the mr nice guys.
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Always going to be more chilled in this second half with the lead and with Chelsea coming up.
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Goal
Goal for Arsenal – Saka 2-2
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another penalty not given
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FT: Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
wengerball in the first half, subdued in the second
nelson made his bpl debut.
monreal, iwobi, koscielny and lacazette with our goals
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Extra Time
End of the 90 minutes at Anfield and we’re heading into extra-time after Saka’s late response for the visitors.
Gerrard still has three substitutions at his disposal for the additional half-hour.
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After 2 plus years of Alexis Sanchez I enjoyed some of his sensational goals but how I hated his wastefulness with the ball and individualism. United can have him. Long live Wengerball!
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We’re in the first period of extra time at Anfield, where a John-Jules strike has put #AFCU18 3-2 up
Ed, cant find many updates where are you getting them from or have you found a stream
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Goal
Goal for Arsenal – John-Jules
There was a sense it was coming and Arsenal have clawed themselves back in front.
Saka was slipped into free space in the right channel and his delivery into the centre was bundled home from yards out by John-Jules.
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