@LaboGoon casts off the weeks cobwebs and heads for N5
Good day one and all,
The headline fixture this weekend will no doubt be Arsenal’s second London derby in as many weeks, with Chelsea taking the short trip across the capital to the Emirates Stadium.
Last Saturday the Gunners endured a miserable time at the London Stadium, compounded by wins for our top-six rivals, bar Tottenham of course who do have a seven point advantage. Now, six points off of top-four and beyond halfway through the Premier League season, Unai Emery will hope his side has put that Hammers’ game behind them with the visit of Hazard and co.
For all our concerns of how Unai goes about his business there’s no denying that his Arsenal project is still very much a work in progress. With the honeymoon period now a thing of the past though, we do hope he works out his best matchday XI sooner rather than later, because with games against the Blues today and defending champions Mancity on the horizon, the team definitely have their work cut out if they want to see a revival of their Champions League qualification hopes. Victory here today would give an invaluable boost in pursuit of that following a rather indifferent past few weeks.
In like manner, Chelsea will want to maintain their place in the top-four and a win for them would really turn the screw in the race for 4th place, as a nine point gap may prove to be too difficult a deficit to turnover for the Gunners.
Both sides have their strengths and drawbacks, which almost seem to even each other out; whereas Arsenal’s main struggles are at the back, the visitors lack a reliable finisher with Morata’s head in the Spanish capital and Giroud injured. Likewise, the hosts possess match winning attackers, whilst Maurizio Sarri’s team have one of the PL’s best defenses as only Liverpool have kept more clean sheets than them all season.
Where was this “match winning attackers” last weekend some may ask as both Lacazette and Auba started, well, they didn’t see nearly enough of the ball for us to be in control of the game. Which has led to what has been more than just a hot topic all week – Mesut Özil’s absence. It started with Sokratis saying post match that we lacked creativity, having had just three shots on target, two of them hopeful shots by Guendouzi from outside the box.
Now the question most are asking is will Unai draft in our creative enforcer who can deliver two to three golden chances per game. That’s anyone’s guess, but if Özil don’t play the onus will be on the forwards to make more of the half chances than recently.
Playing at home always seem to give the Gunners that bit of an extra edge but make no mistake, that’s not going make our opponents less difficult. And while I’m sure a draw won’t be frowned upon… in the context of top-four and Manutd hosting Brighton in an earlier game, we need a win more than anything else and now certainly is the time to play brave or go home as we eye more than just a fifth consecutive win in front of the Emirates faithful.
Positively Arsenal 
Sarri done a jose and threw his players under the bus in his after game presser,
seemingly he done the presser in Italian so that he got his words right
LikeLiked by 1 person
< Chelsea had a shot on target after the 80th minute. Easy save.
And the header off the post from a corner late in the first half.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLiked by 1 person
fins anything that hits the woodwork and stays out is considered off target
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLiked by 4 people
don;t know if any truth in it but many claiming that Bellerin has a quad tendon tear, which is a minimum of 9 months out
LikeLiked by 1 person
afcstuff
@afcstuff
5h5 hours ago
Laurent Koscielny has now become the first Arsenal defender to score 20 goals in the PL. #afc
LikeLiked by 2 people
I wonder with Bellerin’s injury might Arsenal step up their interest in Norwich’s 19 year old right back Max Aarons, we have scouted him extensively this season, he only made his debut for them this season but quickly established himself as first choice. He can also play left back.
LikeLiked by 2 people
With Jenks, Lichtsteiner and AMN available who can play right back, not to mention Fins favourite Callum Chambers due to return I would be surprised if AFC thought about recruiting to fill Hector’s absence. Some good young right backs around though – another Aaron Wan-Bissaka at Pakace looks the part.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bac is out of work Andy
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was great to see us set up to win for a change rather than not to lose! Having Hector back really made a difference to the balance of the team and he was having quite an impact until the injury. I was gutted for him, so I hope it’s not as bad as it looked, although I do fear the worst. Perhaps that’s the reason why the manager decided not to risk bringing Özil on as some of those Chelsea boots were flying in recklessly once things weren’t going their way. The referee was a bit too lenient at times for my liking. It was good to see Giroud and I’m glad he got a respectful welcome back from the crowd. I still think he’s a quality player, so I was happy that he wasn’t on the pitch long enough to do any damage.
LikeLiked by 2 people
AFCamden reckons he has heard it could be a lateral collateral ligament, which is apparently serious, but not as bad as an ACL with a quicker recovery time. Really hope his sources are correct on this one.
Giroud, will always be loved by most at the Emirates, he was so vital for us for so long with his goals, bravery team ethic,and helping out at the back as well. A guy who made the utmost of what he has been given, and became a world champion. Glad he got the reception he deserved.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ed 10.50. Not heard of that one before but bloody hope not after looking it up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yeah anicol i’ve seen many mention Aaron Wan-Bissaka, even before today’s events, can’t say I’ve seen enough of Palace to judge him,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Osei-Tutu and, more likely, Pleg two outside bets for gametime if it’s serious. Mustafi would be option if fullbacks weren’t required to push on (think he played some games for Germany there and did quite well).
I’d bite your hand off for it being a 3 month job or thereabouts for Bellerin instead of something worse.
Can’t remember too many occasions where we’ve feared worst and it’s turned out not as bad though.
LikeLiked by 3 people
well mandy if its the lateral collateral knee ligament I can tell you a bit on that, as I damaged mine about ten years ago, I had a minor tear of it, very painful,(I cried with the pain of it at times, the pain was atrocious for short spells, then would go as quick as it came) and it would buckle suddenly, the doctor talked about surgery but went for complete rest of it for 12 weeks, basically had to stay off it and keep weight off it as much as possible for the 12 weeks, had to strap it up before I got out of bed in the mornings, ice it on a regular basis. Not allowed to lift anything heavier than a full teapot.
Thankfully for me the 12 weeks rest done the trick, and at that point I was able to start to build up the strength in it again.
As I said I only had a minor tear in it, not a rupture or snapped, and of course I was not looking to play football of any kind, let alone top level.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bissaka is excellent, one of my Palace mates told me about him a while ago and he said he’s more worried about losing him than Wilf. Lots of clubs already interested so if we did go in for him it could be very expensive.
LikeLiked by 2 people
well Emery said that we have AMN, Lichtsteiner that he had not forgotten Jenkinson can play there too, so not sounding like we will be looking for a signing there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bloody hell Eduardo, that sounds nasty!
Guess if it really is that, or whatever it is, he will get the best in class treatment and rehab.
Find all these serious injuries worrying though. Guess it’s just a bad spell, but we do seem to have a lot of those, unless I am clouded by paying far more attention to our own than other teams. But isn’t that currently 3 serious knee lig injuries to first teamers?
Bellerin will be missed, one of our best this season, and a real handful in occupying opponents and massively helps our attack. His pace can also help deal with counters.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A good win yesterday against a formidable opponent and maybe we are back on track for the hunt of a top 4 finish. However the following points to be noted.
1) We lack the pocession 38% and the attacking threat .
2) We were too much defensive and had Chelsea played Hazard in his natural position with a striker up top we could have been in trouble.
3) Seems UE does not rate Ozil qualities and prefers a combined team effort over an individual who is a match winner if played to his strengths.
4) We won the match but it was not an eye catching stuff . Missing Wengerball big time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
5) A cleansheet with Bellerin Kos Kola Xhaka. all Wenger boys proves that these players are not the problem.
Actual problem lies with the Wobs heads who keep on slagging/ abusing Wenger for all his deeds.
6) Still wondering how these Wobs will celebrate a top 4 finish which they think is a non achievement for 20 years and now they want to die for…..
Hope they have some shame……
LikeLiked by 1 person
New post up
LikeLiked by 1 person