A nostalgic look back, no wait – back to our away-winning ways with Unai Emery
Once upon a time, any action that could be likened to “taking coal to Newcastle” was the sign of a needlessly pointless activity.
That Arsenal scored two goals and, for the first time in a year, earned maximum points from two consecutive away games, can be considered anything but pointless.
That our current go-to whipping boys found themselves richly rewarded at the goal-face could really have only been bettered had the these-days-permanently-errant Hector Bellerin found himself also on the scoresheet. It never fails to amuse me when this happens, not least because it happens a lot. ‘Useless Xhaka’ and ‘Lazy Ozil’ both inconveniently on target to ruin the naysayers’ current targets of choice. Almost worth a point in itself in my mischievous book.
And of this game of two halves itself?
Well a flattish first half was quickly superseded by a super-charged second which had most observers nodding sagely on the evident efficacy of Gunner Emery’s Half-Time Talk.
That such a talk was considered necessary was perhaps the only disappointment against a poor team trying to sell itself to the highest – or indeed any – bidder. The pre-match Geordie protest, said to have centred on the club shop, brings back the less than fondly remembered recent ‘protests’ of our own but whilst our Kroenke worries (if indeed such ‘worries’ are a ‘thing’) are unlikely to get relegated any time soon, the Emery honeymoon period continues with some gusto as we hurtle towards October.
At the start of the season I suggested, with profound wisdom, that it would be 10 games before we could make any half-stab of a judgement on Unai. And, still safely stroking my chin, I stand by that, five games in, with three wins, two defeats and zero draws under his belt. Drawing any kind of conclusion, let alone matches, feels a little beyond the likes of most of us this early into the season, though I know it won’t stop some from sticking their reckless necks out.
Personally I’ve not learned all that much from the new boss’s post or pre-match ‘pressers’ but that possibly says more about me than him. I frankly don’t expect to hear that much from a man so recently appointed to a role where the previous incumbent’s mastery of the media was so evident for so long. Wisely, UE is doing his talking on the pitch, largely. Or at least in the half-time dressing room. This semi-silent approach has certain positives and negatives – the most notable being that in the absence of an actual story – or even a real sound-bite snippet – the usual media culprits won’t shy away from quite literally making stuff up that is immediately repeated as fact, throughout the online world.
I can not recall a single season since before Wenger (BW) when I have paid less attention to so called ‘news’ about Arsenal. Like taking coals to Newcastle, I can hardly think of anything more pointless than to read the half-witted ramblings of a headline desperate Daily Mirror, for example.
I note we still have many wonderful players for the new manager to call upon and Ramsey is still at the club (for now). But along with Wenger, sentiment largely left the club last Spring. Aside from the bloodbath amongst the back room staff (at least some of it hard to fathom), the heavy influx of new players and the steady stream of player exits suggests a work very much in progress. The significance of Match Day 10 will give us an idea of how long Emery is likely to continue this revolution. On current form, he may well end up on 6 wins and 4 defeats which would be enough to put us far off the pace of the league leaders, yet high enough up the league to allow further progress to be attempted, with the next transfer window becoming the next moment of truth for the post-Wenger set-up.
At the very least, as insurance, Emery needs to deliver us the Laughing At Spurs Trophy and to do that he may need to be blessed with the great good fortune of their continued collapse, as our homeless, hapless neighbours look anything but ‘grounded’ this season (feeble pun intended). In some ways, sadly, failing on this point may have been Wenger’s greatest crime in the eyes of the ‘average’ AFC fan, whoever he/she is.
Personally I suspect a fifth or sixth-place season finish is on the cards as it’s hard to imagine our Kroenke-reined-in budget (boo, hiss) will allow for much more given the expansive budgets of most of our nearest rivals (no I’m not looking at Watford, before you ask).
But a win:lose ratio of 3:2 by season’s end is unlikely to see a parting of the ways for young Emery. On the other hand, those recently joined fans who became ‘Arsenal’ on the back of Le Prof’s success and who, in the sporting world’s most richly ironic moment, became his fiercest critics, may just get bored and clear off. To leave those of us who could appreciate a good ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’ scoreline from the BW days which was as aspirational as it was factual.
As yesterday’s scoreline suggested, getting the ‘nil’ back into the AFC scoreline could prove Unai’s greatest challenge and, ironically, his ability to dig up the next Adams, Winterburn, Dixon etc, could be the key to his own longevity at the club.
And who’s going to queue up to appear on the ever-lamentable AFTV, with those kind of results? Consistent, albeit unspectacular victories are hardly going to generate the online hits of old.
Oh dear, online world, what have you done?!
Positively Arsenal 
Top quality entertainment from the San Siro – the visitors lying prostrate on the turf at the final whistle.
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Gunners youngster Xavier Amaechi sustains foot injury
Luke Osman @LukeOsmanRS
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31 mins ago • 140 reads • 2 min read • 0 comments
Highly-rated Arsenal youngster Xavier Amaechi has been dealt a crushing injury blow as he looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines.
The tricky winger had been tipped for big things ahead of the new era at Arsenal under Unai Emery but has seen his progress brought to a halt after sustaining a serious foot injury.
Amaechi has established himself as one of Arsenal’s most promising young players in recent times and enjoyed a positive start to the new season.
Catherine Ivill/Getty Images SportCatherine Ivill/Getty Images Sport
However, as reported by Football London, the 17-year-old’s injury is to a more serious extent than what was first anticipated, with Amaechi now unlikely to return before the turn of the year.
The promising forward player picked up the foot problem during the recent international break, as he trained in the England Under-18s setup.
However, Amaechi will now be forced to sit out of action for a period of time, with his rehabilitation undoubtedly already underway.
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No doubt a good old fashioned English challenge in training FFS
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The Tottenham massive down at Aunty Bleeb are good for a laugh:
19:321
Chris Waddle
“Ex-Spurs and England winger on BBC Radio 5 live
I don’t think Inter are going to have any effect in this Champions League. They are honest and they work hard but they do not have enough quality in the side to trouble anybody.”
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I didn’t know spurs game had kicked off earlier.when I checked the score they were a goai up and BBC waxing lyrical about how superb a team they were.
I duly moved on to other more important things and when I checked the scores after the game was over well
I just started laughing uncontrollably , the laughter kept hysterical and I just could stop. My 7 year old came running over to find out what was going on. I could only manage between guffaws to just about say spurs! He too was soon overcome and was in fits of laughter. It got so bad that when I was putting him to bed he turns to me and says Spurs his little body raking with mirth!
Oh my Spurs should really switch to coca cola or some similar bottling company for sponsorship
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Mandy
On midfielders I was thinking Viera and Petit were more stoic then people’s opinions of later players?
The big difference was the evolution from two in CM to three in England? For most of the leading clubs? Look at City and Chelsea (post Maureen)! Some people still aren’t used to it/don’t like it? Now they’re predictably moaning about UE playing Ramsey and Özil together ignoring that:
They’ve played well together in the past
And our resent genius and experts have forgotten that Arsenal beat the petro clubs in the cup just two seasons ago playing two in CM and two tens behind a striker, on their way to the clubs greates pt FA cup triumph – some say it was in 2014 but whichever it was, our blaggers have for some hopefully insane reason attempted to airbrush the achievements of the last great squad we’ve seen from the narrative.
Seriously though. Can we transfer in some new Billy big blaggers during the next window? Partdrige would be a Improvement. Too much sideways passing from some, others just aren’t the right fit for the club, getting on too we might as well cash in eh?
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If our Groaners were being genuine in the moans at were UE is playing Özil and Ramsey they’d have simply asked why not start Özil where he played for Germany so often when in the front three, when winning a WC: from the left. Nowt discussion on that to my knowledge.
The intriguing element for fans to mull over when they’re bored is whether we’ll see Ramsey in CM any time soon, but you can hardly describe such a versatile amazing talent as the wrong type of player for a club, for any club. What a load of rubbish!
Reminds me of the clowns slagging off Milner the highly versatile midfielder who along with Rambo has been the best British player in the CL for years and years.
Didn’t help him with his England career though, apparently we’re blessed with the likes of Alli or Carlton Palmer for that role, Milner’s case is one to file alongside Carrick, Scholes, etc.
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Ha, just read that at the premier league meeting to discuss finding someone as trustworthy as Scudamore, one tony Blair was apparently discussed.
Other two names mentioned were recently ousted BT chief (a Liverpool supporter,surprise, surprise) and Sky Sports boss Barney Francis.
Not sure if they’ve checked availability of Fred (the shred) Goodwin, Rebekah Brooks or Bernie Madoff yet
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https://untold-arsenal.com/archives/71214
Interesting article. A good explanation of why Arsenal gets so much negative press and the cause of it are most fans themselves.
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Some consolation in the late Liverpool winner for me in the way Mbappe’s bad decision led to it.
Maybe I’m being far too optimistic, but you’d hope maybe a few of those who need it most would recognise it can happen to the very best players, and also that there’s an inherent risk with more daring, adventurous players of being caught out that way sometimes. Cough, yes, even Sanchez.
For me, it’s always interesting to compare how I feel when it’s some other team’s player who makes a costly mistake versus one of our own.
There’s roughly, say, a thousand times stronger emotion when it’s our own, or maybe it’s even more extreme and different than that.
Fundamentally, even though I didn’t want a Liverpool winner, and I think Mbappe’s a fantastic talent, I felt very little when they scored. What’s more, even though I’ve seen a fair amount of Mbappe in the last year, I couldn’t tell you if he’s made that sort of mistake before, and I’d put money on it that most internet experts, outside PSG fans, couldn’t either.
I think all this is crucial in the way some our fans hate on our own players. They disregard or massively underestimate the different way they watch our players, and feel after any mistakes made, compared to other teams’ players.
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If Neymar had put in the performance for us that he did last night for PSG I suspect even my powers of Positive protective persuasion would have failed to stop him being torn limb from limb by angry Arsenal fans Rich. He was dreadful most of the evening. If the Brazilian is looking for a move to Madrid then he is going about it in an odd way.
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The performance of the VAR supported referee in the WC knock out game, sneer included, did for Brand Neymar. It’s over, but to be fair they made hay whilst the sun was shining.
Brand Alli is almost a bust no small thanks to the England gaffer’s desire to play the Carlton Palmer of no.10’s (no show there in two tournaments) as a hapless no.8 (To be equally fair he improvemed to “hapless” level as a no.8 compared to “useless” at no.10 with a goal at the WC, but that was about it, one or none assists, little of anything else which isn’t really that great for a no.8 over several games…)
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<improved
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A penny for Milner’s thoughts as he watched Alli drown in CM this summer.
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Anicol
Ha, wasn’t his best game, was it. He was at heart of that 5-10 minute spell before their 2nd when from nowhere they came back into it though.
Quite a lot of interest in the game, I thought, although Mcmanaman did a bloody good job of almost spoiling it for me (he’s bad, really bad- takes directly away from enjoyment instead of being neutral let alone adding to it).
Curiously, it showcased that financial fair play must still be alive, even if gravely under threat. They went absolutely nuts spending about 400 million on the front two, on top of a squad that I’m sure had previously pushed or broken the rules, and duly looked unbalanced and as thought they had not met a clear need for at least one more central midfielder in squad.
In a way that’s incredible, and a little frightening- for them to be a squad who looked like they needed to spend a bit more!
On the Neymar struggle front. Think part of it was down to- hate to say it- Klopp’s current Liverpool at Anfield being a damn near unique proposition in terms of the pressure they create and, especially, way they are able to deny opposition time and space and harass them in possession. Normally, at some point in the game, spaces will come and you can get in on them, but typically it is too late by then.
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I see Poch has gone nuts at the media, all cos a journo asked him if he regretted leaving Trippier and Verthongen out of the squad. Poch accused the journos of belittling the spurs players, his squad, his choices etc etc
it seems 3 losses in a row is Poch’s breaking point
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Arsenal youngster Jordan McEneff set for spell on sidelines with injury
by jeorge bird
Arsenal youngster Jordan McEneff is set for a spell on the sidelines due to injury.
McEneff, who signed professional terms recently, has produced some impressive performances for the U18s this season.
A Republic of Ireland youth international, McEneff can play as a number ten but has recently been deployed deeper in midfield.
This news follows on from Xavier Amaechi being ruled out until 2019 with a foot injury.
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Left-back Dominic Thompson trains with first-team along with Smith Rowe, Pleguezuelo and Nketiah ahead of Vorskla Poltava clash
by jeorge bird
Dominic Thompson was one of four Arsenal youngsters involved in training on Wednesday ahead of tomorrow night’s Europa League group stage fixture at home to Vorskla Poltava.
Arsenal currently have a lack of back-up options to Nacho Monreal at left-back, with Sead Kolasinac, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Jordi Osei-Tutu and Cohen Bramall all sidelined.
Tolaji Bola is the current first-choice left-back for the U23s but it was Thompson who trained with the squad, and the Hale End product will be looking to make the squad for the game against Vorskla.
As expected, Emile Smith Rowe, Julio Pleguezuelo and Eddie Nketiah also trained and the trio are likely to be in the 18-man squad.
Arsenal are also still without Laurent Koscielny and Carl Jenkinson due to injury.
Arsenal players in training: Cech, Leno, Martinez, Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Ozil, Xhaka, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Iwobi, Elneny, Mkhitaryan, Welbeck, Torreira, Thompson, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Pleguezuelo.
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Andy Townsend
Ex-Republic of Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live
City haven’t got it into those wide areas where they can play combinations and get the ball in behind, they have played everything in front of Lyon tonight.
–
One possible reason for this that I was able to consider (I don’t know much!) was that Lacazette’s old team were pressing in their own half only. A tactic all to familiar to the City coach on the night, Arteta. This might’ve been as Lyon were already a goal up when I tuned in but either way the Lyon coach will be delighted at half time! Not sure I can sympathise with the spoilt demand from the blaggers for a high pressing style, there appears to be more then one way to win a football match etc.
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My impression of PSG last night was very much of a team of 11 really good players but zero cohesion between defence, midfield and the superstar attackers Rich. I presume PSG are so rarely battered by domestic opposition that the necessity for MBappe or Neymar ever to back up the defence, or scrap in midfield just never comes up. Ball retention in midfield was terrible. The French defence, in spite of shipping 3 goals, I thought did well. Thiago Silva a great leader.
It will get a lot harder in Paris though, no danger.
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Arsenal Women
Verified account @ArsenalWFC
16m16 minutes ago
Full-time: @YeovilLadiesFC 0-7 @ArsenalWFC
Montemurro’s side make it four wins from four in the 2018/19 season, thanks to goals from @jordannobbs8 (2), @bmeado9, @VivianneMiedema, @_KatieMcCabe9, @DominiqueJansse and Kim Little 🔥
#WeAreTheArsenal 🔴
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Manchester City are the first English club ever to lose four straight Champions League matches
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anicoll
Only a few years ago I was mighty impressed by Psg midfield that time they beat Chelsea at Bridge (great game), specifically how bold, skilful and classy they were playing out from deep in own half with Verrati and Motta.
Former missing, latter (only caught on late in career how good Motta was) retired and they missed that sort of midfield ability badly last night, I thought.
Presumably FFP considerations stopped them getting a midfielder this summer and maybe before that as well.
I think there’s a positive of sorts in their demonstration of how even that incredible front three and many other good players can fall short if the right balance isn’t there or maybe one key part is missing.
Don’t know exactly what positive I’m thinking of, maybe just how interesting football is and how high the standards are at top level.
Always the nagging annoyance, though, with PSG or City tonight that they can correct any imbalance which might exist, despite having spent so much already, simply by throwing more of their unearned (through football) dough at it.
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Ed. Sucks about Mceneff and Amaechi. Always seem to be at least 5, maybe more, from youth ranks injured at any time.
Maybe that’s about average for all clubs, but i find it easy to imagine we do a little worse on injuries caused by fouls. Most games I’m able to watch of youth include a few bad challenges and lenient refereeing of them.
Think I prefer to know what happened to each player, as I only go and imagine some shit has done for them otherwise.
Hopefully Sheaf not injured again but seems he might be. As for the lad Tormey, seems he may have been unavailable again since about first week, which would be shame as he had dreadful luck since his scholarship.
Zelalem meanwhile been out a hell of a long time now.
Think our u23’s play Liverpool on Friday. Done well so far but feel like we’re getting stretched for numbers and experience now, and that could be tough one with no Gilmour, Nketiah, Smith-Rowe, Pleg.
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yes rich, between loanees, injured and first team call ups the u23 squad is stretched big time at the moment, which in turn means the u18’s are stretched too, as even first year scholars are in the u23 squad
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ACL Soccer
@ACL_Soccer
16h16 hours ago
Arsenal have been nominated for the BEST FOOTBALL CLUB HOSPITALITY in this year’s prestigious Football Business Awards to take place in London on November 22
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Great Marina Hyde article on how crap WADA are.
Eyebrows were raised at the fitness level of Russian footballers at the World Cup this summer.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2018/sep/19/wada-russia-doping-ban-athletics
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I was going to do a match preview, but I’ve no idea about who we are playing and even less about what our team will be.
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This was posted today. It’s not even that funny – I hope they make sure the dump is safe at least before they open it.
https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/projects/inside-spurs-stadium-ive-never-in-my-life-worked-like-that/10035311.article#.W6OMdfZ6Gm8.twitter
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Actually George it’s quite simple the team (from the squad previously published) will be picked by Unai, who will be taking one game at a time although keeping an eye on the weekend and at the same time using the other eye to check fitness levels and performance in training.
Some players will need more game time while we must recognise some will need less while some can just keep going.
The style will be the same with adaptation for the team were playing against, after many scouting missions (and using our Cambodian data center) and factoring in the home advantage, distance traveled by the opposition and lasagna etc.
The finger air test for wind and amount of water needed on the pitch will obviously have to be taken into consideration.
Of course the biggest factor I have left until last is the mental effect of big Ivan leaving us and of course whether the players will be able to keep it out of their minds for 90 or so minutes.
On a serious note the left back conundrum and Leno’s feet should both be interesting tonight and as usual I’m hoping to see plenty of youngsters especially Peggy, I think after all this time he deserves his chance even if it won’t be in his favoured position.
Enjoy it everyone these games can be boring or real crackers personally I am really looking forward to it COYG
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Not sure if WADA are bribed, terrified, or just pragmatic politicalists but they are not helping sport or keeping it clean
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No idea for tonight.
Seems Lichtsteiner should be cert along with Leno, but once you start thinking this raw left back Thompson is in with a shout, as Monreal needs to be looked after, and then think Holding has a good chance, and Pleg is also in mix, well the four of them would be a risk too far, surely, and even three (Licht, Holding, plus one youngster) might be a bit much.
Not a clue, basically, and not much more idea of what we’ll do ahead of the back four. Those who haven’t played much- Elneny, Iwobi, Welbeck- coming in? one or more of the youngsters in for a start?
I saw a headline last week saying Emery intended to go full strength in Europa but didn’t click on it.
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Emirates are apparently taking over Etihad according to Bloomberg news, does that mean we get the stadium as well
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Arsenal v FC Vorskla.
Tonight at 20.00pm (BST)Arsenal play against FC Vorskla, a team from the central Ukraine. Formed in 1955, ( and becoming professional in 1957) in the city of Poltava,(pop. roughly around 300,000), the club was named after the river that runs through the city. Notable past residents include the painter Sonia Delaunay, and the brilliant satirist/short story writer Mikhail Zoshchenko, and the world famous Nikolai Gogol.
The club had various names before 1984 when it truly became known as FC Vorskla, and started playing in the Soviet leagues until the regime collapsed.
In the early 90s the Ukrainians created its post- Soviet league divisions and Vorskla started in the first league (the equivalent of our Championship) which they won in 1996. And since then have played in the Ukrainian Premier league and twice entered in the Uefa Cup. They also won the Ukrainian cup in 2009. In 2011/12 they played in the Europa League, and finished third in their league last year and hence us playing them tonight.
Theres also some interesting facts on wiki about inter- rivalries and the situation in the Ukraine and how football clubs have responded.
As for the Gunners, I think we will see Mr Leno and Mr Lichtsteiner,other than that Mr Emery will no doubt surprise us (hoping to see Mr.Elneny running the midfield!).
Who knows how to make a prediction tonight, Ive never seen them play before, looking at their record and ours I would put us down for a win. In fact I expect us to thrash them, but who knows? When a team comes to a game like this its a big night out, and their players will rise to the occasion.
However, Im more hoping that we can get a good lead by HT and then just enjoy ourselves. One final thought I was chewing over today: that its seems a bit sad that the Europa league doesn’t have a bit more appeal, back when I started to follow the Gunners in the late 70s all the cup competitions were somehow important, I hope we can also rise to the occasion and enjoy the competition, doing our best to win it, and get back where we all feel at home, the Champions league, but until then here’s hoping for a great game, but with us winning 6-0.
COYG
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The weakness of the Europa League now Dave is the strength of the Champions League. Back in the 70s 80s 90s just one club got into the EC and the next four League finishers got into the UEFA Cup so you always had some good, or at least really well known, opponents. Almost every year the winners of the UEFA cup would go on to win their domestic league. The quality was better than today.
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Yes, thats a good point anicoll5. Would it be good to still have a system like that?
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Bk
When i wrote that THFC and Levy were a laughing stock amonsgt the construction industry, I was quoting from a letter written a the director/lawyer of a const. company to the leader of the local labour party.
Imagine the news stories if this was Arsenal’s site…heh.
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One place per country in the CL Dave !!! (swoons)
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< leader of the labour party (not local)
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The European League will be following on the heels of the Nations league.
Yikes!
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anicol if you think the Europa league has a problem then what will the new 3rd European competition have when it comes soon. Uefa have stated that they are intent on having 3 competitions again, with 109 clubs competing across the 3 comps, they are talking about maybe as soon as 2 years away.
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Confirmed Arsenal starting XI to face FC Vorskla
Leno; Lichtsteiner, Holding, Sokratis, Monreal; Torreira, Elneny; Mkhitaryan, Iwobi, Welbeck; Aubameyang
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anicoll @ 5.53pm- sure would be amazing! Plus the other comps would be loaded with great teams.
Thats a strong team we are putting out tonight! COYG!
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monreal is captain tonight
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looks like Arsenal have priced fans out of going to the game tonight.
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at last! Five more please.
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Aubameyangggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg 1-0
mkhitaryan intercepted the ball 30 yards from our goal, broke forward, fed in Iwobi whose great low pass across the area found Aubameyang free 8 yards out to fire home first time
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HT: 1-0 to the Arsenal
Aubameyang with our goal, mostly in full control, Iwobi has impressed me, he is buzzing around. PEA finished the goal chance well and has hit the post with another effort too.
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Massively one sided so far but still just one goal in it. Keeping my attention so far.
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