Today’s lock-picking contributor is @labogoon
Newcastle have endured a grim start to this season, and sit in the bottom three with just one point to show for their efforts; hopefully Arsenal will add to their misery as we visit Tyneside this afternoon.
Good day one and all …
With a better start to the Premier League campaign than our hosts, we found good form in attack to score eight goals in our last three outings. Gunner-in-chief Unai Emery will be hoping that’s not impeded by the international break as we look to build on that momentum to string together a run of three consecutive wins.
Easier said than done though. For all the Magpies’ uninspiredness they are a very stubborn side that don’t just roll over. Rafael Benitez knows the value of every single point and usually sets his team up to play a deep defensive line, looking to exploit gaps on the counter. And if it don’t open up he won’t go search for it either because he’s more than happy to rather frustrate you and scrap for a draw; and today won’t be any different.
With our attack being the key to victories, Lacazette could again lead the line to make sure Rafa doesn’t get any ideas. He embraced a similar challenge last outing on his first start by producing a match-winning performance and combined well with Auba to open both their goal accounts. Since Auba signed for Arsenal him and Lacazette have shared a mere 471 minutes together on the pitch, in that time they scored 11 and assisted 5 goals between them. So there’s a good argument that we would be better off utilizing this immense firepower week in, week out. They share great chemistry on and off the pitch and given our defensive issues they may well be an ideal antidote.
We still need to get a lock on the back door though before it gets observed as a weakness to be exploited.
Some are of the opinion that Lucas Torreira may be that bolt. He impressed in his cameo appearances by adding a different level of composure to a midfield that got found out to be too open, too often. So to utilise him best one can’t help to think he needs to play more.
This past week there has been a lot of “sweating” going on over his fitness after picking up a knock on duty for Uruguay, but he is available and it will be interesting to see if Unai, who is yet to find his best matchday XI, gives him the nod.
That said, given the concerns about our tendency to make sloppy mistakes at the back, some think Newcastle may sneak a goal and defend it with their lives …
However, if we keep our presence of mind, wisdom will prevail.
There has been plenty of signs of promise and I don’t doubt that once our defence match our attack there is greatness waiting to be unlocked in this team.
It’s Liverpool vs Spurs in the curtain-raiser and we know what that means right?
Arsenal has a good chance to gain ground on some of the early pace setters.
Everything crossed, dear Gooners!
Positively Arsenal 
My weekend already started on a high as the Bokke just beat the All Blacks in their own yard. Waiting now on Arsenal to provide the icing [insert banned humongous grinny yellow thing]
COYG!
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Excellent as usual LG,
I cant see Torreira starting with Matteo not traveling anywhere and Lucas having an ice pack on his knee, it would make sence for Lucas to just make his usual cameo.
These games against the magpies are always livey and it should be a good game, I think we can pick up where we left off and break the Benitez straightjacket.
We have seen in the Adrian Clarke breakdown that when the full backs fly forward midfielders must fill in and in turn forward players cover the space vacated in the middle.
However its the free flowing football that always excits and I am looking forward to us flying high and free COYG.
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Positive and optimistic as always Labo. Should be interesting to see further tweaks by Unai vs Rafa’s reputation for being tactically prepared.
Don’t forget this is is supposed to be one of 5 games subject to the PL/PGMO’s so-called trial of VAR. You all know my opinion on this.
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The Tottenham CBs were keeping their team in the game but eventually Liverpool score.
Not sure either of those Belgium CBs were ever as good as pre-injury Vermaelan who started for Belgium this week.
There was once upon time an absurd fantasy that obsessed a number of arsenal fans who chose to believe that the greatest coach in their history had forgotten how to coach defending. Amidst winning three FA cups in four years and winning the golden glove twice in the the last five odd seasons. Reads insane when you spell it out like that but it’s a srue story I’m not kidding!
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/why-arsenals-defensive-woes-have-worsened-under-unai-emery-and-improvement-looks-far-away
A clean sheet today would be a massive boost for the squad.
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Thanks Labo,
COYG!
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Has some people’s nomination for the next arsenal manager (last season) forgotten how to coach defending?
Did he not spend hours with videos telling his FBs how to not let Mane spin in behind them? Will Trippier’s face the same abuse from his own that Bellerin gets (he doesn’t have a winners medal in his pocket for one or two trophies to deflect them away), will the self-righteous idiots continue to fail to defend the toxicity with negative impact on the pitch from the online attacks made for money against the club (please see my fellow Finsbury Parker Kevin Campbell for reference: predictable yet still disappointing)?
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Lopez debuts as 10-man Arsenal U18s beat Southampton
by jeorge bird
U18 Premier League
Arsenal 1 (Greenwood 45) Southampton 0
Summer signing Sam Greenwood scored his first Arsenal goal as Kwame Ampadu’s side prevailed past Southampton with a 1-0 victory at London Colney despite playing the last half an hour with ten men following the dismissal of Zak Swanson.
Ampadu made five alterations to the team that lost to Chelsea a fortnight ago, with Mark McGuinness (making his first appearance of the season), Harry Clarke, Ben Cottrell, Greenwood and Alfie Matthews all coming into the starting lineup. Meanwhile, former Barcelona youngster Joel Lopez was included in the squad for the first time as he was named amongst the substitutes.
Bukayo Saka, Trae Coyle and Folarin Balogun all weren’t involved, suggesting that they could feature for the U23s against Blackburn Rovers on Monday.
Okonkwo
Daley Campbell-Spencer Adams-McGuinness-Swanson
M. Smith-Clarke
Cottrell-Musah-Greenwood
Matthews
Subs: Flaherty (for Matthews, 46), Lopez (for Cottrell, 66), Alebiousu (for Musah, 87). Not used: Hein, Martin.
Arsenal struggled in the early stages and Southampton were awarded a penalty with 12 minutes gone following a mistake from Swanson.
Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who signed professional terms yesterday, was on hand to keep out Enzo Robise’s spot-kick.
The young Gunners gradually managed to assert themselves and eventually took the lead on the stroke of half time when Greenwood found the net following impressive work from Ben Cottrell.
Arsenal made a change at the start of the second half as Stan Flaherty replaced Matthews, with Greenwood moving up front.
However, Arsenal’s hopes of extending their lead were significantly reduced when Swanson was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Ampadu reacted by bringing on Lopez for Cottrell and Arsenal managed to hold on and secure victory.
Arsenal are back in action next weekend when they face Norwich City away.
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Mertesacker
Koscielny
Vermaelan
Gallas
Great CBs of the recent era for the Arsenal, all of ’em better then either of these two good CBs who’ve never won anything with Tottenham.
Essentially airbrushed out of the narrative by the arsenal hole blaggers.
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Emery still picking all Wenger’s favorites, when will he listen to the bloggers and the experts on twitter
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Scratch and Rush as opposed to the usual Kick (the opponent because they are allowed to) and Rush Plan B (or Plan A at home against the Arsenal) for the amazing MP today?
I confess I haven’t been blown away by his amazing coaching over the years. *coughs*
He did well to nab the Belgium CB from his old club but surely he’d have loved to have got Mane too (you all remember me drooling over Mane from his arrival in the PL). To be fair and balanced not having done so is not a reflection of his coaching ability, or is such consideration not allowed in football anymore according to all the arse experts out there?
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Eddy
Hayden returns for Newcastle after his suspension to play against his childhood/first club.
Shelvey on the bench.
We all know Rafa’s style but that doesn’t mean it’s boring predictable or no good. Just different, and legal unlike the fouling handicap given to MP’s tiny totts.
Fascinating contest between two top top top coaches ahead of us.
COYG
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< we always knew Hayden would make it as a PL level talent.
To my untutored ignorant eye he always played well at CB.
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< He'll be a defensive or central midfielder today, starting ahead of Shelvey it seems.
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City are walking it this season.
Imagine if Tottenham have already peaked under Pochettino. They’re banking on him to get them through the next few years. Now that would really put AW’s 2006-12 work into perspective.
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They were “unlucky” not to walk it the season before last! I enjoyed some of the interviews that season with Young Pep as he didn’t hold back.
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Tottenham in Crisis!
Two defeats in a row, relegation beckons, Levy to blame , no signings, sack Poch, managers English not good enough, Kane not fit to wear the shirt, Dier lives up to his name, Eriksen is a cart horse, defenders who want to be at other clubs, big time Charlie mentality seeping in, Lucas Moron.
THFTV , over to you
Troopz, man of the people must be devastated.
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BK
Some his squad will struggle after the shortened pre-season, it’s understandable that fitness/stamina/conditioning will be a factor.
A big factor which is continuously ignored by the click batters when discussing why the new no.11 isn’t starting today following his knock in the internationals and gradual introduction to the helter skelter pace of the PL.
Another big test for the French rookie. Opposite Hayden. Fascinating.
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Torreira still waiting for his first Arsenal start then. With us playing twice per week for the next few weeks Unai might be looking to have two different sides for Premier League and Caraboa/Europa to have a larger group of players knocking at the door.
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Haha Mandy that made me chuckle!
Would have liked to Torreira start. It’s going to be physically demanding game. Hope for early goals that would settle the nerves.
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fins I’m not too sure how legal the toon’s style of play is, they kicked lumps out of CFC a few weeks ago, really should have had several players sent off. I can see them doing the same today
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Eds I think that the coaches who chose to not start Torreira with his niggle and after the travelling have had the same thought!
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Mesut Özil, will make his 200th Arsenal appearance today, v Newcastle.
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a bit of a struggle so far
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A very meh game so far not very inspiring. On balance Newcastle the better side and have worked out defence more. Their luck of quality is glaring probably why it’s nil nil so far.
We haven’t done much and the passing from the back has been abysmal. It’s hard to press a team that goes long as Newcastle get the ball up the field quickly.
We need more players in close together to play intricate passing and open them up. You can see when we get moving we can curve them apart. Ramsey has been poor on the ball so far
But if we speed this up we have the quality to punish them
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HT: Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
tough going in the first half, AFC with more possession and even more shots at goal, but Toon with the better chances, some last ditch defending have kept it scoreless. Our passing has been too slow and not accurate enough, we need to step up the tempo too. So far Newcastle the team looking to have more energy.
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Two outstanding moments for Sokratis the highlight for me in that half. He wants that clean sheet!
Newcastle defending well Arsenal might not get many chances. Will need a little bit of luck and skill to sneak away with the three points.
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kack of the day: ” what should Arsenal do this season, focus on the league for top four or focus on the Europa league?”
ffs! Surely we are focussed on everything! Grrrr! And not listen to pundits (including me).
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Torreira on for Guendouzi
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xhakaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 1-0 to the Arsenal
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just as the experts on twitter were in full flow explaining why it should have been xhaka off and not guendouzi, Granit goes and fires a great freekick into the top corner to give us the lead. Brilliant
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No little skill from Torreira in the pass that led to the foul, quite a lot of skill in Xhaka’s goal!
The senior CMs combine their effect to give the Arsenal the lead. COYG
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ozilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 2-0
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Ice cool Özil.
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monreal and xhaka with great link up play on the left, with granit setting up lacazette whose shot was blocked but it fell to ozil on edge of the area and he calmly passes the ball into the net, the keeper got a hand to it but there was enough on it.
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This is pretty impressive tbh.
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just need Hector to grab number three, then it will be the revenge of the scapegoats…
Come on you Gunners!
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Lots and lots of skill in the build up between Xhaka and Monreal, a little bit of luck as the ball skittered through the box and then the finish through the crowd from Özil.
Beautiful goal.
Arsenal perhaps enjoying the forced change at the back for Newcastle alongside the introduction of their own acclimatising senior player came on as expected for (or during) the second half
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how many fouls can Ritchie get away with before he gets booked
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Lovely lazy foul from Özil after he’d been caught in the face.
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68 minutes, Mkhitaryan on for Aubameyang
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The commentator on my feed disappointed that Newcastle pressed arsenal in their box for thirty five odd minutes in the first half and are now cream crackered. Crucially though this time the Arsenal held out, hoping for that first clean sheet now.
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we’ve not made the most of a few good chances we have had since going 2 up
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So far an excellent second half. Have to say Torreira just seems to bring calm to the midfield with his sense of positioning.
Let’s hope for a clean sheet that will be massive
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reiss nelson scored for Hoffinheim in the 86th minute to make it 1-1, but Dusseldorf scored a late winner
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Ramsey off after going down with an ankle injury, although he walked off looking ok, Welbeck on, 80 minutes played
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And now it’s the Arsenal pressing Newcastle in their own box.
Looks like the gameplan is coming together. Same as the old one hehe including the keeper working it out, responding to the game, and playing it long at times during spells when the opponents are pressing very high.
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Phew!
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fucks sake, no clean sheet again, 1-2, in injury time
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Mustafi losing his man twice in two minutes, not so lucky the second time.
–
I’m happy with three points whoop whoop!
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