@LaboGoon opens the road to Manchester this morning
Good morning one and all…
Old Trafford provide the backdrop as Arsène Wenger and José Mourinho will take to the field to shake hands for the very last time in a Premier League match.
It’s not often that we go into an Arsenal vs Manchester United fixture where the result doesn’t offer anything for both teams as far as PL ambitions are concerned, and with their respective priorities lying elsewhere. But here we are, making it pretty hard to gauge how they will approach this particular encounter.
Both sides come into the game off of the back of some good form, having loss just once in their respective previous five games in all competitions. Manutd of course will be very buoyant following their incredible come-from-behind victory over Spurs to book a spot in the FA Cup final.
Arsenal’s season overall has been an oddity. If you critique them on ‘home form’ alone you could easily be accused of being a bunny boiler because that table tells us we are right up there with the league’s best. The ‘away form’ however… by not being as attentive on our travels as we had been at the Ems, we have let ourselves down greatly.
So with Arsenal away to a Manutd team having their tails up, I’ll be quoting our friend @anicoll5, “who wants to be a manager?”
On team news: besides Elneny and Santi the boss said everyone else is available for selection. But of course with Europa our one and only priority, it’s certain there will rotation. Risking players after an energy sapping encounter with Atletico Madrid won’t be doing us any favours for the 2nd leg, as we too are a win away from reaching a cup final.
Old Trafford will today bid farewell to a football icon so in closing I’ll quote José from his pre-match presser:
“Mr Wenger and Arsenal were for many, many years the biggest rivals of the Sir Alex era. I’m pretty sure we will show Mr Wenger the respect he deserves.”
Positively Arsenal 
Morning Labo and all you Positives around the world – the final visit the Trafford Park for Arsene – what a poignant moment o visit the battleground on which he has had so much joy and so much grief. He will have a knot in his chest come the final whistle.
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I find Mourinho being nice a little unsettling, and I am almost sure he doesn’t mean it. But… Imagine Jose Mourinho being more respectful than some people who call themselves Arsenal fans.
I think we’ll see a B-team today. I hope they view this as an opportunity and acquit themselves well. The result doesn’t really matter, but a good performance does.
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It is about the occasion today not the result. I expect the players to put on a decent performance and some youngsters will be playing as a result of rotation but with a chance to impress the new manager as worth retaining and promoting.
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ed
Juventus letting both their starting CBs run down their contracts, after they sold Bonucci to Ac Milan, and when Rugani has been rumoured to leave. Such terrible management. And if Bayern want Robben and Ribery to stay why aren’t they just paying them what they want?
But on a serious note. Asamoah from Juve (LB). Rafinha from Bayern (RB) Meyer and Badelj(CM/DM), and De Frij and maybe Badstuber at CB. Some very interesting options. If we’re planning to play any formation with 2 strikers up front, even Balotelli could be an option. So many good players on a free available. No wonder we have only a 50m budget (banned smiley)
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Such a difficult to preview because it may lack most of intensity one would usually expect. Guess it will be more a glorified testimonial seeing that the Arsenal travel party having quite a few absentees. And today won’t be about “the José vs Arsène fued” either but we can almost be certain he won’t pass up the opportunity giving a parting shot. However I know the fringe players will want to impress the man as there are a few Arsenal careers on the line.
The Manutd suits has urged their Old Trafford fans to honour Arsène Wenger so whatever the result we can be certain they will give him a respectable send off because the last 20 has filled them with many great memories.
The ‘end of an era’ is well and truly starting to sink in. I know the youngsters will do him proud.
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It’s an odd occasion.
Certainly wish Arsene could play his final match there, against that horrible git, with full strength team, but we all know the very good reason why he can’t, and we all know it’s better this way- having to rest players because of a huge upcoming match- than if we were not in Europa hunt.
Still, the ghosts of that horrible day 7 years back are still with me and no doubt adding to the nerves today.
Good performance with any youngsters holding up well is my hope for the day.
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Thanks Labo, afc’s circumstance this season is no different to Utd’s last year.
Yet there will be or has been a variation in the narrative. As Shard writes that won’t change until the club starts to do more trade with those they’ve been ignoring since, and this is the important bit, since before AW came to the club.
I also note that when Mourinho’s team’s came tenth and sixth in the league no said he wasn’t or couldn’t coach defending (some said the Petrogarch’s favourite Pulis couldn’t coach full stop, because he can’t, but that’s another matter entirely hehe!).
Come on the Arsenal.
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< safe to say the Utd season ticket holders I I know wish that they'd not have spent the wonga on watching a Mourinho team this season, even though they are double cup holders (Fa cup and Europa).
Didn't think I'd actually see big Utd fans arrive at that point when the Special One was appointed as their manager, but then again unlike Chelsea fans they have seen football teams that can play good football in the not too distant past. so it's understandable that they'd be less enthused to watch this ridiculously expensively assembled squad play football that puts them to sleep, obviously if they had the budget of say, an AFC, they may be less demanding…
…. yep, I agree with Shard and Shotta.
For those people who believe a new manager will be given a new hidden secret bank to play with, I have a bridge I'd like to sell them. A bridge covered and overgrown with lots of mushrooms, and with lots and lots of spiders lurking in the shadows (Putney Bridge in the summer can be a scary crossing!)
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Happy to report there are wise and gentle souls out there that can express my feelings and thoughts better then I ever could:
http://babagrumpy.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/the-most-hated-man-in-british-football.html?m=1
which is good news for everyone else heh!
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A reference for Baba and Labo’s articles:
Celtic 5 – Servco 0
Why are the likes of the Plundit Souness insanely critical of AFC and AW (in that order) then they are when compared to the people who turned the club formerly known as Glasgow Rangers into Servco FC? Because that list would include himself?
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No Souness fan Fins but he left Rangers donkey’s years ago, after three titles in three years and before they won another 4.
Liverpool is where he did the real damage!! Big time. never seen the merest trace in him of recognising that. Managed to take perennial winners to something very different and with a budget not much different to rivals.
He was in paper yesterday, with his neighbours complaining after he won planning permission to squeeze a big house into a not big enough space in his garden, having successfully blocked someone on his street from doing the same. Nice. Liverpool fans bloody everywhere it seems.
As for Rangers, can’t even keep track of what the hell happened to them. Overspending no doubt, but also an army of chancers, bullshitters and quite likely crooks.
Also of course the prem damn near killed them and even Celtic in the limitations it set for them. Unlike with likes of Inter, Liverpool, Dortmund and others, where they could stretch themselves to max and beyond financially and not die as a club thanks to some intervention at the last, they evidently weren’t too big to fail.
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I hope Gerrard is up for the challenge, total slaughter at Parkhead, and probably the home side disappointed it was only 5 as they missed a hatful of chances.
My old dad hated and detested Rangers, entirely from the religious perspective admittedly, but it kept him going. No doubt he’s chortling into his pint of bitter this celestial Sunday lunchtime.
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I fear a pasting today.
I just cannot see there being sufficient incentive on our players’ part to do more than go through the motions.
It is a sham, but perhaps justifiable.
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shame, not sham
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Very interesting link from Baba Grumpy.
He raises a lot of factors that could be behind poor results, very thought provoking.
Also mentions the board briefing the press in a manner that may not have helped the manager, despite some evidence BG is correct on this, really hope they haven’t been briefing in such a way, if some have I would question their suitability as board members, the media are anti the club as it is , without help from within.
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The incentive is like any Selling Plate jjg – run about a bit and show what you can do or it is off to the knackers’ yard
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Rich
Yep Souness took Liverpool to a place from which they are still recovering! But i donfind the silence regarding Rangers a club where he had so much success as a manager unlike Liverpool that is even more blinking weird.
“During the 1990s and 2000s, Rangers regularly posted financial losses…”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administration_and_liquidation_of_The_Rangers_Football_Club_plc
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City never get accused of making “too many passes” etc. by the plundits (everyone can agree they play a similar style of football to AFC), even when they do!
It is as good old Safe Hands can simply observe and record and comment, the plundits and commentators have their briefings.
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fins
Gotta be honest my interest in Scottish football is low now so chances are I wouldn’t be aware if Souness spoke about them. Coverage generally is kept separate I think, so they wouldn’t ask him about them on Prem shows.
Did find a quick clip the now with google and he’s talking about them reasonably here. Often the way with him, in that from time to time you’ll hear him speaking well (even think I’ve seen praise for his straight-talking here a few times); other times he just chucks inaccurate stuff out there lazily.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/scotland/41755911
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the rise of Rangers and scottish football back in the late 80’s and early 90’s directly led to the forming of the PL, Rangers were paying wages and transfer fees and agent fees few English clubs could afford at the time, Rangers played a game of all or nothing, and they ended up with nothing, still paying for their over spend now
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my favorite memory of the Souness Rangers era was a European Cup game at Ibrox, think they were playing a Russian team, and at a Corner the russians sent up only two men, the corner taker and the striker who headed a goal, and yet Souness has the gall to tell Wenger how to organize a defense
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Mavrapanos makes his Arsenal debut
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Graeme Souness on Sky: “Arsenal in recent years have not come anywhere near Man United”
Arsenal have finished above Man United in the Premier League for the last 4 years in-a-row, winning 3 trophies and spending half a billion less in that time
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Oof. What a game to make debut. Think Szczesny did at old Trafford as well. Yennaris might have been at home. Maybe Coq’s first outing was there too.
Thought Xhaka would prob start. Understandable. Has to be some experience in there and he is more robust/durable than others, and also damn near essential to our style now.
Exciting chance for Nelson.
No Holding a surprise.
Must have felt Osei-Tutu too big a risk to start so Hector (superb on thurs) plays though not ideal. Would think provisional plan is to bring him off with 20 or so left but will depend on match situation.
Makes sense for Danny not to start given recent exertions and how important he has become in recent weeks. He’s a different proposition when fit and sharp, so provisional plan probably not more than twenty and less if possible.
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It’s not that I dislike Souness but as Eds highlights above I find it more interesting to tune into the Arsenal commentary team for the match day commentary. Even when they don’t have my favourites on (Clarke, Winterburn, Hillier etc.). I am biased.
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Great Preveiw LG, Good to the youngsters get a run out and their going to have to grow up quickly.
Mavropanos has just come back from injury so he is a suprise over Holding, amybe Rob is not 100% although I know how highly ARSENAL rate the Greek youngster.
Miki will probably play an hour before being readed for Thursday and maybe if everything goes well we may see Hector and Granit coming off for a rest as well, with Eddie, Joe and Jordi all getting PL experience.
Get a result today and it will be well a result COYG.
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City giving Yaya Toure a run out as a reserve. Quite a difference there haha!
those expecting AFC having a similar bench next season may be disappointed. Today’s line up is similar to the one I was expecting bar the debut in defence ahead of Holding. Must’ve been a consideration of playing all three younger defenders and resting Bellerin.
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Xhaka is our captain today, he has captained both his previous clubs and his country too
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OptaJoe
Verified account @OptaJoe
27m27 minutes ago
24y 67d – The average age of Arsenal’s starting XI (24y 67d) is their youngest for a Premier League game since August 2011, which was also at Old Trafford against Manchester United (24y 65d) when they lost 8-2. Inexperience.
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Could Sky be any more cunty absolute no respect, no logic Souness what a clueless twat.im so glad I do not pay them a penny the scum
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Telegraph Football
Verified account @TeleFootball
19m19 minutes ago
Konstantinos Mavropanos becomes the 200th Arsenal player to be given his debut Arsene Wenger #MUNARS
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/04/29/manchester-united-vs-arsenal-premier-league-live-score-updates/ …
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Well, I regret saying anything that could be construed as defence of Souness as he is being an absolute wanker today!
2 minutes build-up enough to remind me why I typically don’t watch a minute of it these days.
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Think i heard him saying he agrees with Henry that we should have gone with strongest team?!!
Good luck with management ,Henry- you’ll fecking need it on that evidence.
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Henry is a prick
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Souness being a complete arse the abject Managerial flop. Sky in general being the arses they always are. How many times will they mention fucking 8-2
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And yes Eduardo, Henry is a prick. An Arrogant one.
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Are we also lucky enough to have big nose bitter adenoidal Brummy Smith as commentator who passed his Sky Sly exam all those years ago after the missed penalty and the afters at OT in the unbeaten season. Gray and Hairy hands gave him the floor to let rip and so he did. Twat
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less than 20 minutes in and we are 1-0 down
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Was Nelson fouled there? Luck not with us on where the ball falls at all
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Looks like a foul on Nelson to me.
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an old traffordian tale. Doing ok, an obvious looking foul ignored; goal
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We’ve carved out 3-4 good chances but not forced a difficult save out of De Gea so far – playing well
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Clear penalty by Sanchez on mn.
How the ref did not see that us a mystery to me.
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Very decent effort. Some nice play. Maitland-Niles showing some of his huge potential.
Would VAR have given us a pen? It would have in most leagues and prob some teams here but not for us.
Similar story on freekick. Though this ref is one of few I have felt (very nearly) real trust in previously. Replay suggested his view just might have been obscured. Nonetheless fits the pattern perfectly of things being let go when it means breaking on us dangerously; while in reverse situation we are invariably called back.
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HT: Man UTd 1-0 Arsenal
really should be level in this game, Aubameyang missed a great chance with a header, Nelson close with a header too, and of course we can not be given a penalty at OT, Maitland-Niles was fouled but Friend did not give it.
On the AMN penalty claim, them cunts on BBC Radio5 went on about how he dived, and how Arsenal young players have tried it on today etc etc, then after a few replays and it was shown to be a foul, no retraction, just dumb silence from them.
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I’m glad I haven’t got the sound on, just by looking at Sourness and ‘Look at me’ Henry I want to punch them
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DUMB Silence is always what we get when we get screwed. No doubt SkyPet Ref of the month sponsored by PIGMOB will confirm the Refs correct decision soonest.
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Anyone else feel the fit Lacazette has a stronger all around game than Auba?
I was underwhelmed by latter’s early performances, though he has been much better since. Suspect he has edge when we are flying or on top in games but for task like today, with infrequent involvement, think Laca has bit more to him
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Trying it on by being tripped, if I could not pay the license fee I wouldn’t
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it must have been seeing Sir Alex on the field pre game, but whatever the reason Kevin Friend is having a Mike Riley today, such one eyed performance from him. Will probably send off Xhaka before long
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