@LaboGoon leads us to the South coast
After going through the yawns of international breaks “tis’ the season” of football jolly as the games just keep rolling in.
Good day one and all…
Arsenal is at the South Coast this afternoon to take on Southampton under new manager Ralph Husenhattl; this of course is his first game in front of the St Mary’s faithful following the recent sacking of the sparkless Mark Hughes.
The Gunners are currently sitting outside of a Champions League qualifying spot on goal difference behind Chelsea, both started the weekend trailing Spurs by two points. With our neighbours having beaten Burnley and the Blues favourites at Brighton, the pressure will be on Unai Emery’s side to get all three points as the battle between the three London rivals look like it is going to be very close.
Considering the form the Gunners are in many see this as a bread and butter encounter, but we have been hot and cold against the Saints in recent years. We won three and drew one of our last four meetings in all competitions, however, we won just one of our last seven trips to St Mary’s (D4-L2). Something Ralph no doubt will be reminding his team about to give them the belief that they can get something from this fixture.
It’s going to take something special though as their only recent sign of life was the first 20 minutes vs Manchester United in a game that ended 2-2. Their defense has been rather pasty all season, having conceded 30 goals in 16 Premier League games and their attack even more anaemic as their main strikers netted only 6 of the 13 Saints goals between them, Danny Ings top scorer with 4.
The free scoring Arsenal will look to exploit the hosts’ defensive issues who will miss a few regular starters through injury. We have a few issues of our own with the suspensions of both Mustafi and Sokratis leaving a hole at the back, but should Lichtsteiner, Koscielny and Monreal start as the back three, the experience between them should do to keep the Saints attack at arms length, the only breach possibly coming through mea culpa.
Do the Gunners have too much for the Saints?
The appointment of Ralph Hasenhuttl, who was on the radar of Bayern Munich not too long ago, is likely to be a breath of fresh of air down at St Mary’s as they are looking to drag themselves out of the pit which they have dug themselves in to, so at the least we should expect his players to put their best foot forward with a committed performance today.
Which makes things a bit tricky for the Gunners not really knowing what to expect as games tend to go up against a new man. But we are on a good run, mixing it up dominating teams and grinding out results, and will be looking to take advantage as the Austrian are still settling in.
Good luck to all Gooners watching the games today and if I’m forced to stick my neck out, I think the home crowd will definitely bring the noise but in cold and wet conditions with the hosts on a 12 game winless streak… we may just edge it.
Positively Arsenal 
we’re in bizness.
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2-2 deflected Mkhitaryan shot, lacazette and guendouzi took the ball of a southampton player and mkhitaryan has a pop and it goes in
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With such a strong bench today, ridiculously strong attacking options, I advised the nippers here to put all their chips down on three points for the Gunners at HT
Fingers crossed.
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poor technique by iwobi there, needed to not lean back on that shot
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brighton pull a goal back v cfc
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Come on the Seaweed!
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70 minutes Ozil on for iwobi
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Maitland-Niles on for Lichtsteiner who took a heavy knock a few moments ago
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Still hoping for the three points. Another clump on the back up RB. Late in the second half, so as per the game management handbook a yellow. No different to the clumpings in the first half. Yes. It’s easier to predict the officials the no football. You can dress up a donkey with bells and indeed even a whistle but it is still going to bray loudly.
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Two players off injured? Bling bling, I’m in the money!
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phew.
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long goal ruled out for offside after leno made a great save from a free header at a corner, long clearly offside
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lacazette oh so close with a little header there,
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fubar.
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pathetic stuff once again in defence, Leno was awful on that cross, we’ve been so open at the back today its unreal,
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COYG!!!!!
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More FuBernd Dave
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OptaJoe
Verified account @OptaJoe
1m1 minute ago
5 – Charlie Austin has scored in all five of his Premier League games against Arsenal – only Raheem Sterling versus Bournemouth (6 games) has a better 100% record of scoring against a specific opponent in Premier League history. Routine.
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Leno has a weakness with high balls….
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unfortunately too true anicoll!
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The curse of the journeyman cloggers who do nothing against other teams survives the Wenger years it seems
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five minutes of stoppage for us to salvage something out of this game
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COYG!!!
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We were weak in midfield…..
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poor header effort by Guendouzi there
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cfc beat brighton 2-1
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Southampton deserve the win
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Bollocks……
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Ouch. Feck. Bollocks
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Bah humbug. I cant stand Southampton. Whats the point in time added on when the Sotonists just waste it all and thats not taken into consideration by the ref.
Get rid of the bullshit peppermint kit.
It was one of those games when everyone will ask “how did we lose that?”
Just need to revenge it against the Spuds.
COYG!
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FT: Southampton 3-2 Arsenal
for me our worst performance of the season, poor in defense, not great in midfield and not sharp in attack. Let in 3 avoidable goals today, gave them far too much room for all 3 crosses, Leno blunder on the winner too.
Lost Bellerin and Lichtsteiner to injury too. So a real fuck of a day all round.
we are now 10pts off top, 3pts off 4th, and 8pts ahead of 6th place utd who have a game in hand. the 22 game unbeaten run is over, we now have to see how the team responds. spurs in the CC next up.
Another flat performance. I really don’t see how Ozil and Ramsey are not in our starting 11.
17 BPL games that we have not led at half time in, it was bound to catch up with us at some stage.
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Watching their winner again, AMN didn’t even try to get back to cover Austin, he just jogged along behind the action, not good enough from someone who should be itching to prove himself. There was a bit of that from both Guendouzi and mkhitaryan on their second goal too
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our last 8 BPL games sees us with W3 D4 L1 so that is 13pts from a possible 24,
we have 4pts more than after 17 games last season, but have let in 3 more goals. but scoring 7 more
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I’m sorry but the team selection was a fucking disgrace. Xhaka is the heartbeat of the them, leave him in MF FFS. I wouldn’t mind if he was a Good CB, but he’s not. He is though a brilliant midfielder.
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well george it seems Emery does not trust AMN, Ramsey, ozil or Lacazette, well certainly not as much as he trusts Mkhitaryan, iwobi and guendouzi
our current run of form in the BPL is a worry, we need a major improvement in results, if we repeat the results of our last 8 bpl games in our next 8 then we will be in real trouble for a top 4 spot.
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Thing is how do we want the ManUre game to pan out? ManUre to win, and we stay Invincible, or Liverpool to thrash ManUre and Mou sacked and Arsenal stay well out of reach from them?
I feel really concerned for out line up against the Spuds, not many defenders left now.
Feel sorry for Leno tonight, he will be playing that over in his mind. I still think hes a great keeper, though. Just hope he doesnt mess it up again until the summer tour.
COYG!
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Dave for spurs we have the 7 subs from today, then add in Sokratis, and if fit Mustafi, then if Kolasinac is fit that makes 10, with Jenkinson filling out the 11. Of course that is depending on Mustafi and Kolasinac being fit.
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Bollocks. one of those days. Fifteen min post lost to the ether thanks to my stupid internet connection. Bah
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New post up
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