Good Cup Final morning my fellow Gooners with a positive inclination.
This isn’t going to be easy today. I don’t mean the game, I mean typing this blog,as a 10 week old puppy is chewing my fingers as I speak.
We take on the might of Abu Dhabi FC. and make no mistake “mighty” they are. They have made short work of winning the PL, and are gliding through to the quarter finals of the CL. The only blot on their landscape has been a FA Cup defeat to Wigan, in a game they dominated with 10 men and lost to a single shot on target. For us to triumph will take a monumental effort. Certainly a more difficult task than beating last years City team or Chelsea in the semis and final of our FACup last season.
I have no idea how we might line up. Do we stick with 433 or try the hybred 343/523/433 that has ElNeny with the task of deciding what the formation is in any given moment?
Will Ramsey be fit enough to start? Who plays with Aubameyang and Ozil up front? Is Jack and Danny well enough recovered to start?
Anyway, it looks a lovely sunny day in London and all we can do now is hope for the best. And By the way, our best will be good enough. I hope Arsenal.com are sending out gifs of Mesut come about 6.30 PM
Positively Arsenal 
COYG!!! COYG!!! COYG!!! COYG!!! COYG!!! COYG!!! COYG!!! COYG!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
COYG!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let me try PG,
Ospina
Bellerin – Kos – Mustafi – Monreal
Elneny – Xhaka
Ramsey – Ozil – Iwobi
Aubameyang
S: Cech, Chambers, Holding/Nketiah, Kolasinac, M.Niles, Wilshere, Welbeck.
NOTES
Might be tempted to start Welbeck for his aggressive pressing.
Holding is on the bench because he’s ultra-focused in cup games (as a starter though).
Ramsey better as a starter than Jack is as a sub.
If Iwobi’s not fit, Welbeck should start.
I think Elneny deserves to start ahead of Jack and Ramsey for his defense.
LikeLike
“BIG TIME ROB HOLDS WEMBLEY”.
In his FIRST YEAR at the club, Holding was the only CB who played in both the final & semi-final FA cup games last year. He turns into a superhero at Wembley.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Would like to see a three at the back for this one. The way our full backs , and mfS bomb forward could leave the CBs in a four very isolated, not best practice with their attack, but we shall see. Wenger seems to prefer a four, but we put in some very impressive performances at the end of last year with three.
Think this one could go all the way
?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another year, another cup final, another chapter in the Wenger vs Guardiola story and comparison of these two leading managers who’ve chosen to work within contrasting or different environments and context, and perhaps for all the similarities and the number of times we can manage to spot them copying each other different philosophies too.
Looking forward to the football.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Guardiola had a go at the press pack earlier in the season for their lack of interest in Wenger’s tactics (apparently he just doesn’t do them! No drilling. Too much chilling!).
“When was the last time AW teams played with three at the back?”
Young Pep asked the assembled collection of clowns, jokers and failed novelists. As they couldn’t really manage such a conversation, one about the football, between them, unfortunately. I guess Guardiola was still thinking about the SF defeat last season.
COYG!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely day in London – Cold and gleaming sun – play our game and let them play theirs – may the best team win !
LikeLiked by 3 people
so many questions over the possible line up today, not just who gets in or is on the bench, but what formation best suits the players and gives us best chance to win.
I really can’t see us going ultra defensive and looking to score on the break away, no I think we have to of course be solid at the back, but we have to take the game to them, put them on the back foot as much as possible. Lets see if their defense is as good as their attack makes them look.
In the lead up to this weekends Six Nations Rugby games, I listened to a very interesting discussion about what was needed to win in these big games, and the panel all basically agreed that in the Ireland v Wales and the Scotland v England game, that to win a team had to be aiming to score 3 or more tries, that when big sides meet, you have to take the game to the opposition, make things happen and in a way go big or go home.
And that is exactly what happened in both games, the winners, Ireland and Scotland went looking for tries all the time, it looked at times that this was flawed tactic when Wales and England had their chances, but both sides stuck to their game plan and kept going for it, and in the end the got the tries, if not mistaken both got 4, maybe the Irish got 5,
so really all I’m saying is, today is a day for Arsenal to be Wenger’s Arsenal and try to outscore City, lets aim for 3 goals at the least and maybe we will get 4 or 5 and make this a cup final to remember.
LikeLike
Ooh er Mrs you said Jack and Danny how rude!
This like so many before it is a game where evrything is against us, we are playing the richest club in the world with all the talent that brings, a club that is in the main wiping all aside that comes before it, were not in the best of form, we have players injured and cup tied and they played on Monday and we played on Thursday. Also a many fans have given up any hope of any positive result today.
However we have been here before with this team, who have no mental strenth, not standing a chance and then pulling something out of the bag.
I have less idea than pep at what Arsene will do but i’m thinking the old majic hat could be back in action today COYG.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The 2Ö21 Man
@_The12thMan
12m12 minutes ago
HES DIVING AGAIN HES DIVING AGAAAIN OOH DELE ALLI HES DIVING AGAIN
Palace fans have started a chant which’ll be sang by every club in the land soon.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Loan report – Sheaf makes Stevenage debut; Lucas Perez misses penalty
by jeorge bird
Ben Sheaf made his debut for Stevenage as he came on in first half stoppage time in the 2-0 defeat to Notts County.
Lucas Perez played the whole game and missed a penalty as Deportivo La Coruna drew 0-0 with Espanyol.
Chuba Akpom played the whole game and was booked as Sint-Truidense lost 2-0 to Oostende.
Kelechi Nwakali played the full game and was booked in Maastricht’s 3-0 win over Almere City.
Julio Pleguezuelo played the whole game as Gimnastic De Tarragona drew 1-1 with Barcelona B.
Carl Jenkinson played 83 minutes before being replaced by Cohen Bramall as Birmingham City lost 2-0 to Barnsley.
Jeff Reine-Adelaide played 76 minutes as Angers beat Lille 2-1.
Tafari Moore played 63 minutes as Wycombe Wanderers lost 4-2 to Morecambe.
Emiliano Martinez was an unused substitute as Getafe lost 1-0 to Villarreal.
Takuma Asano was an unused substitute as Stuttgart beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0.
Marc Bola wasn’t involved as Bristol Rovers drew 1-1 with Scunthorpe United.
Krystian Bielik has suffered an injury setback, which meant he didn’t feature in Walsall’s 2-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers.
Stephy Mavididi missed out through injury as Charlton Athletic lost 2-0 to Shrewsbury Town.
Joel Campbell is set to miss out through injury when Real Betis face Levante tomorrow night.
LikeLike
Crikey, Eduardo
I know you meant well, but loanee after loanee ‘starred’ in defeats for their loan clubs, or did not play in losses for their loan clubs.
Are you trying to depress me? lol
LikeLike
PG,
Your reference to your 10 week old puppy took my mind back to when my beautiful dog was that age, and thrilled/fascinated/made me laugh all the time, and put my work schedule back calamitously.
Sadly, the river of time sweeps dogs away much faster than we humans, and my friend and confidant is now gone, and it still breaks my heart.
Anyway, thank you for the Post.
LikeLike
This is too nice a day to waste too much time on irrelevancy but I cannot quite get my head around a weird (and abbreviated) comment I recently heard.
Specimen 1) Wenger is at fault for being so stingy in his spending on players over the years and it has been detrimental to Arsenal winning ‘big’ titles.
Specimen 2) Man City have spent over £450m in the last 2 years on players, but that makes little difference to winning titles — the key ingredient is a world class manager, like Guardiola.
So what the hell is it? Spend bags of money – pointlessly, apparently — or just get a top quality manager?
What do I know — but a top quality manager, with unlimited cash resources to buy some of the highest quality players available (Guardiola) might just have an advantage over a top quality manager without access to to unlimited cash to …….. (Wenger)?
No need to answer — this sort of asinine, circular ‘discussion’ epitomises some of the pointless drivel that is turning me off blogging.
LikeLike
LikeLike
Auba shouldered in the back is a foul
LikeLike
Wrong colour shirt
LikeLike
By hook or crook they will ensure Pep pill wins
LikeLike
half time – arsenal 0-1 man city
as the bbc put it “a little shove in the back, that is normally given, let Aguero in to score”. But hey ho, its Arsenal, so its not given and city lead.
its been a very poor game so far
LikeLike
Not a great performance so far, the ref letting a lot go, but we are not out of this
LikeLike
Arsenal up for it. Better team the first half. Aubameyang should have scored.
Aguero’s goal should have been a foul. No attempt to play the ball and not within playing distance of it to block Mustafi off.He clearly looks to fould Mustafi.
Wilshere doing well but by God. The fouls on him…
LikeLike
Oof. Tough way to go behind in a final. We had settled after first five, starting to look quite good, then that.
Think it’s a foul a ref will often let go if has good view, but almost always give if it means a player getting through on goal. Similar to one on Xhaka that Everton scored from.
Sensible and human nature to do so. An infringement, but very soft…but do you really want a team to score directly as a result of a small foul? The answer, rightly, almost always no.
That said, mighty disappointed with defending. Had me shouting for a tall aerially dominant cb as I haver done so often before.
Liked selection and formation, only Elneny Wilshere a question but not enough to moan as both had their cases.
Just…a heck of shame to concede that goal at that moment in this game.
It means City with their capabilities can now kill us any moment.
But, glad to still be in it. Everything crossed we improve a bit and get next one, or just get next one.
LikeLike
game over
LikeLike
what is the point of VAR if Refs refuse to use it for both goals, despite AFC asking him to do so.
I have maintained all along that VAR might change the game in England, but it will not change it for AFC, they will just pick and choose when to use it, like today.
LikeLike
this was in the build up to the first goal, clearly aguero set on mustafi, and not the ball.
LikeLike
3-0,
a shit birthday for me.
LikeLike
welbeck on for chambers
LikeLike
Its a wrap.
LikeLike
Europa League left.
LikeLike
AW has to be brave with team selection for the rest of the season.
We are too disjointed at the moment.
Top 4 is nigh impossible.
Bravery in selection will be crucial against Milan.
LikeLike
The better team has won.
LikeLike
The frustration is that we all now that the Arsenal players are playing way below their capability. The million dollar question is why?
LikeLike
Gary Neville sounds like he is more than disappointed with Arsenal, he is angry. He knows they have let themselves down and those of us who expect a performance. He has respect for Arsenal but is very disappointed with them.
LikeLike
Oh well, time to switch off and get over it…
LikeLike
Totally new attack so we are bound to look disjointed. So long we have been playing with centre forwards wanting the ball at their feet to hold it up for runners that we did not look for Auba making some good runs in behind.
Expected more from Mesut. We will be way better as the players learn each other.
2nd and 3rd goals were poor goals to concede.
LikeLike
I want this season to end, I don’t recognise this as a Wenger team anymore.terrible defending, few shots on goal, no possession. May be forgiven against City, but we are seeing this on a regular basis
That was a nothing performance, one of so many this season.
there looked nothing wrong with the starting team, but this team implode when things start to go wrong.
Something needs fixing, badly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deserved loss and that makes it difficult for me to be too upset. We played a better team and lost. The manner of conceding the first goal annoyed me though. Not because it was a foul. I think it’s one of those calls that can go either way. But Mustafi was out of position and then just gave up and hoped for the whistle to save him. Poor defending and I think it was mostly a loss of concentration. This keeps happening to us. I thought we were playing decently before that and Auba could even have put us ahead.
And by the end I had to endure the constant snide idiotic commentators who knew everything that needed to be done, from substitutions, to moving the club forward, and even the manager’s body language, and the summation was that Wenger has to go. Imagine giving this advice to a club who lost in a FINAL to ManCity and have won multiple cups the last few years.
Also, among all this expert advice, not once was it said that Arsenal need to ‘get stuck in’ to bridge the technical gap with City. I wonder why.
LikeLike
Not easy playing against that kind of team when we’re so out form. First goal was always going to be crucial. In two minds about that one. It could have been a foul, but given Mustafi’s weird positioning you could see how the ref might think he just got turned. After that given what we know about this AFC team, we were in trouble.
I remember looking at the fixture list around this time last season and wondering how AFC could win more than a couple. We actually went on a good run with that formation change.
LikeLike
Conceded a controversial opening goal that set the tone for the game. We just lost a final and we must take that in our stride and try to salvage whatever is left of the season, which is not much to be honest. Flashes of 2011 once again, if we managed to recover from that which IMO was a much worse defeat than this one, I believe we can rise above this one too.
It’s been a season of harsh reality checks. Remember don’t hate the player, hate the game.
LikeLike
Evening All, The ache will subside, the morning will come. And when it does we shall stride forward. We have peaks to climb and contests to win.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And by the way, how was Fernandinho not sent off? I counted over 4 bookable offenses all in front of the ref, all after he had already received his first booking. But Bellerin got booked for his first foul.
LikeLiked by 1 person
First Wembley final for me, but unfortunately the boys couldn’t manage to get the win. We started well but created very little overall. In the end their quality players made the difference.
Positives for me were Jack and Saed.
LikeLiked by 2 people
the season is fast becoming Europa League or bust, we are 10pts off 4th, with 11 games to play, and 8pts ahead of 7th.
We face Man City at the Emirates on Thursday, then away to Brighton on Sunday, with AC Milan away coming up.
We are not at the point of giving up on the league just yet, and with still 7 EL games left to be won to take that trophy and get CL football that way, it would be silly to give up on the BPL route just yet. But there is very little, if any wiggle room left in the league.
That today was our 12th defeat of the season, we are brittle at the back, pedestrian in midfield and not lethal in attack, we have had glimpses of great football this season, but to be honest for the most part the sum of our parts is less than its components, there is a real lack of energy and speed to our game, we are not what could be called solid in defense and it hard to know if its this brittleness that is affecting our midfield and attack or if its the faults of the midfield and attack that is causing our defense to be so brittle. Whatever the causes it can be claimed that the team is far too often dysfunctional, in one area or more. Wengerball is beautiful but we have not been seeing it enough this season.
LikeLike
on the VAR, or should I say at the lack of use of the VAR today, this was always likely after several in the media had a pop at today’s ref about how he overused or misused VAR in his recent game, so it was always on the cards that he would not use it unless totally necessary and despite our players seeking him to review both of city’s first 2 goals, he was never going to do so.
LikeLike
There’s no call whatsoever for hysteria- though that won’t stop it.
Wenger leaving now clearly not right thing, for me, and more importantly clearly not going to happen.
So wait. Keep hoping each game. See what happens. If we can’t get a decent, more really, improvement to season so far it will be sixth in league and a Europa exit and then wait again to see what happens.
Board might back Wenger heavily, might see a couple of crucial signings, then next year see what happens again. Or it may go differently.
But hysteria and the like not justified and certainly pointless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
a question,
if city win the BPL, do we automatically get a EL place from the CC final today.
LikeLike
Ed. In VAR case today it would come from Swarbrick (done 6 of 11 games so far) and whoever else involved that all is well.
No doubt, as with rugby, ref can initiate and lead also but that would produce same result – Swarbz saying fine- unless ref was leaning the other way already and insisted on looking at it on monitor despite being told there was no foul.
In rugby you get to hear them say, often in response to ref asking but sometimes without, within seconds if there’s an issue, or no infringement, carry on. Same here, but we don’t hear it.
Only been one monitor look so far, I think, and it seems that will only ever be used if VAR guy thinks very tough call and suggests ref needs to settle it
LikeLike
getting past milan is the most important games now because we dont have laca until at least after the milan games. we have to rely on welbz. leting giroud and walcott go now look the more stupid on hindsight. the price wenger had to pay because he wanted the best for his players sometimes at the expense of the club and his career.
LikeLike
Rich my point on VAR, is not that it would have changed the decision on either goal, but that the Ref did not decide to use it at all, when in fact there is no more suitable time for its use than on goals scored, as it would not even delay the game, as city were celebrating their goals.
My view is that this is something we as AFC fans will have to get used to, goals against us will be reviewed much less than any we score.
Goal 1. Was that a foul on Mustafi, I don’t know
Goal 2. Was a city player offside blocking Ospina’s view, I don’t know
and whats more I don’t think the Ref knew either, but decided not to check. That is how the PGMOL will use the VAR
VAR will be a bit white elephant just like the dive panel and the retrospective punishment panel, and that is exactly what the PGMOL want.
LikeLike