@LaboGoon swoops in like a hungry hawk in search of prey
Good day Positivistas.
It’s finally back to Premier League action for Arsenal after an international break that seems to be a bit longer than the last with us having to wait ’til Monday night under the lights of the Emirates for our game against Leicester.
Since defeat in the opening two fixtures the Gunners are gelling well under Unai Emery, with a great positive aura in and around the club nowadays.
Prior to the inter-break we have been absolutely sensational and ruthlessly dispatched of Fulham in our last game with a performance reminiscent of the days of yore, and it is that form we will be hoping to carry into this game with the Foxes in search of our 10th win in-a-row in all competitions.
Claude Puel’s man have been a real hodgepodge this season; 4 wins and 4 defeats from their 8 PL games, in which they scored 14 and conceded 12 goals. They’ve beat the teams you would’ve expected them to and lose against those that force them on the back foot – something we should have good memories of having lost just once to them in the previous three seasons. That loss came last season at the King Power when we weren’t happy travellers at all.
We shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking this should be a comfortable evening though. In our enthusiasm to push players forward we do leave gaping holes at the back and Leicester does possess an attacking threat that have it in them to exploit those, which is something we know of all too well.
When these teams met last season the Foxes scored three goals in both home and away fixtures; first when we beat them 4-3 defeat at the Emirates and then a 3-1 defeat to them in the return fixture. If anything, there is potential for this to be a very entertaining game from end to end with goals to show for it. So our boys will need to have a good all-round game, especially in the first 45, if we want to keep all the points at the Emirates.
With our main rivals winning their games, bar Chelsea and ManUtd sharing the spoils, there will be pressure on us to get this one over the line. I think Unai and his men will be mentally prepared for the task at hand.
Positively Arsenal 
He Foxes are a good team offensively with pace upfront. I hope we start quickly and force the game. The Foxes seem to have the same problems we have had in stopping opposition exploiting the space between the midfield and the fullbacks. I am hoping we go 2 up and keep a clean sheet by half time. Then control the game as there will be chances on the counter
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For those who like their facts straight from the jar;
Arsenal have never lost a home Premier League match against Leicester City, winning the last 11.
They could become the first club to win 50 top-flight meetings with the Foxes.
Leicester could win consecutive top-flight fixtures versus Arsenal for the first time since 1983.
However, they are winless in a club record 21 top-flight visits to Arsenal since that 2-0 victory in 1973 (D3, L18).
Arsenal are attempting to win 10 consecutive games in all competitions for only the sixth time, and first since a run of 12 ended in October 2007.
They have scored 27 goals in their last nine matches, averaging three per game.
The Gunners have also scored a league-high 14 second-half goals this season.
Arsenal have won 10 of their last 12 Premier League home matches, losing only to Manchester City on two occasions.
They have won 22 consecutive Premier League home games against teams outside the established top six, by an aggregate score of 64-11.
(Stolen from the BBC tbh but the stats are set up for a home win)
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Where are you ffs ??
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They don’t like Mondays.
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I’ll just finish me grub then have a chat. COYG!
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I thought WordPress was broken !!
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Evening Pos-Gunners! Cheers to Labo for the intro, and to Anicoll5 for the stats and facts and figures.
For me, its another of one of those weird games, you just cant call it, although of course I hope we really show Mr Vardy that he was wrong when he said that AFC were going no-where.
I wish the inter-football was either at the end of the season or the beginning, teams get on a roll, then have to start again. And as TFL says, lets hope there another clean sheet.
Anyway, hope youre all doing well. Cheers! And COYG!
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COYG!!!!!!
Leno
Bellerin – Mustafi – Holding – Monreal
Torreira – Xhaka
Iwobi – Ozil – Aubameyang
Lacazette
S: Martinez, Lichtsteiner, Kolasinac/Sokratis, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Mkhitaryan, Welbeck.
V
Schmeichel
Amartey – Evans – Maguire – Chilwell
Ndidi – Mendy
Pereira – Iheanacho – Maddison
Vardy
S: Ward/Jakupovic, Soyuncu/Benalouane, Fuchs, Iborra/ Silva, Ghezzal, Albrighton/Diabate, Okazaki.
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and also…
“HAPPY 69TH BIRTHDAY ARSENE WENGER.
Thanks for all the great memories, the class, integrity, and a vision deep enough to spearhead our beloved club to another stratosphere!
Look @ the squad we have….ARSENE KNOWS!!!!
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Medley a sub for the first team for the first time and Smith-Rowe a sub too.
Monreal not in the squad
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Ozil is captain tonight
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Arsenal U23 v Everyon: Iliev; Olowu, Ballard, Pleguezuelo, Bola; Omole, Olayinka; John-Jules, Burton, Saka; Nketiah. Subs: Okonkwo, Tormey, Balogun, M. Smith, Thompson.
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OFFICIAL TEAM LISTS:
Leno
Bellerin – Mustafi – Holding – Lichtsteiner
Torreira – Xhaka
Mkhitaaryan – Ozil – Iwobi
Lacazette
S: Martinez, Medley, Guendouzi, SmithRowe, Ramsey, Aubameyang, Welbeck
V
Schmeichel
Amartey – Evans – Maguire – Chilwell
Mendy – Ndidi
Pereira – Iheanacho – Maddison
Vardy
S: Ward, Soyuncu, Fuchs, Iborra, Ghezzal, Albrighton, Okazaki
Weird as hell not to have any of Monreal, Kolasinac, Sokratis, Elneny or even AMN on the bench. Is there a flu bug within the camp?
Any which way…COYG!!!!
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Big news is Smith Rowe on the bench. Perhaps the more we see of SR the more it explains the reason not to renew Aaron’s contract.
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arse.com lists Xhaka as captain while skysports says Ozil’s got the armband…what gives??
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The Foxes’ bench is stocked up with quality.
Hope both our young guns are confident & competent if called upon.
COYG!!!
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corr: The Foxes’ bench is stocked up with experience.
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Warm up noticeably more intense for Arsenal than Leicester.
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What a shame if Kolasinac injured again while Monreal is. Not at that time yet, but his injury luck needs to change fairly soon or club may look elsewhere for an alternative and eventual successor to the nacho man.
Medley’s a surprise. Thought Pleg and Ballard ahead of him a bit but, as one tweeter suggested, left-footedness may have got him the job tonight.
Don’t think I’ve seen him since youth cup final and that was a hard night for him.
Anyway, I’ll shut up- the football’s on!!
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We’ve been caught out twice by Leicesters pace on the counter need to be careful
Great save by Leno
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15 minutes in and Holding is booked for a pull back, Holding has been finding it tough so far, we are very open, and keeping a very high line near the half way line
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Holding lucky to get away with a hand ball in the area, which would have also seen him sent off
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Leno with a great save from the unmarked Maguire, we are on the ropes at the moment
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Quite a few fouls not called against them. Every possible one called against us. Pull back of ozil no yellow
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finally getting some attacks in
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I think Unai will have seen enough to ensure changes are made at half time. We have to make sure we stop them breaking forward at speed everyone we loose the ball in attack.
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Bellerin own goal and we are behind. His attempted block squirts off his toe past Leno who had stepped out to cut out any cross. We have been poor so far. Lack real pace in our play.
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It was coming and we can’t complain even though they had a massive slice of luck with the deflection.
We need to wake up and quick before it gets worse.
Hopefully that goal will sting us into action
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xhaka rightly booked.
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that was some finish my Ozil
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HT: Arsenal 1-1 Leicester City
We were awful for half an hour, a deflected Bellerin own goal gave them the lead, we finally woke up and upped our pace after that, and Ozil scored an outstanding goal to bring us level. Captain Marvel
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I’d bring on Ramsey for Mkhitaryan who has been poor.
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Sat here in the Clock end. We haven’t been poor. The ref and linos have consistently taken the momentum from us. First game this side and manager have had to play against the odds.
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Holding and Lichtsteiner have struggled in that half.
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The response to going behind has been electric. We should win from here as have been pulling them this way and that.
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The Bellerin vs Chilwell contest was something to look forward to after the England vs Spain goal, both players involved in the goals in that first half.
Nice birthday present from Özil and the new gaffer for the old gaffer there.
Özil enjoyed that goal too. Four in six?
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<England vs Spain game
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Great game – more goals in this
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Thank you Ozil!
Gutting for Leicester to have played so well and then get shredded like that.
Now we need to iron out the first half mistakes and get organised.
No need to go gung ho we have the quality to open them up
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why the fuck do we keep doing that, putting the ball out of play when an opponent goes to ground, play to the fucking whistle
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we are on the front foot so far this half, with Iwobi well to the fore
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60 minutes in, Guendouzi and Aubameyang on for Lichtsteiner and Mkhitaryan
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Aubameyanggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg with a tap in from Bellerin’s pass across the six yard box after Ozil split the LCFC defense with an outstanding pass
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a LCFC player finally booked
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Aubameyanggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg makes it 3-1 from Ozil pass, but that goal was all about Ozil in the build up, a back heel flick pass, a dummy step over and an assist, Captain Marvel.
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Once again thank you Ozil
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After Torreira’s staggered pre-season a return to the sixty odd minute sub. making an impact on the game pattern for the Arsenal.
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