@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 
COYG
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Morning Labo A5 and all.
Arsenal are condemn to win if we must have any hope of top 4. But that could have been avoided if we had won against the lesser clubs. In league competition there is no difference between big games and small ones. 3 points is always at stake. That is why I would have preferred won against west ham and saints even if we don’t win today.
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Agreed – I think it was 5 games ago ManYoo chances of a CL place this season had been written off layks, now they are neck and neck with us, any slip from Chelsea today and they will be breathing down their necks too. 11 or more points behind I think. 5 wins and they look to be steaming toward the Top 4.
If we lost today 9 points behind CFC would be a steep climb back for us. Important as today is though it matters what we do in the next game, and the one after that etc.
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Huge game. Don’t know where the heck my head is at for it.
I’m sure in some alternate world where the coverage of us is more like i think it ought to be, I’d still be mighty anxious about game, and have a healthy plate of concerns and whatnot about where we are and what future holds…but damn, the current atmosphere goes so far beyond that and has taken a bit of a toll last few weeks.
Finding it bit hard to just zero in on the game.
Anyway, as ever, hope for the best.
As it really does seem one we can’t afford to lose to have decent chance of top four, and its at home, think we’d be best off to go for it and die on our swords, so to speak, if die we do.
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I seem to have bucked up a bit. Feeling more confident today that we might get a result. I seem to have talked myself into a tissy.
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UTA!
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Morning Posi Gööners! Many thanks to Labo for a great intro,it set things up nicely for the day.
Its been one heck of a week, down the rabbit hole of bs hack work,lies,and dirty clichés–but we live on, and if our lads can keep their heads up we can get the result we all want tonight.
May the force be with us.
Cheers and enjoy the game.
Up the PA! COYG!
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Oh.
Managed to lose content of my post apart from the UTA at the end.
Shame…was best and most inspiring post ever seen online.
Oh well, UTA again!
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You have to suffer for you art
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If players like Bellerin are fit,they will make a difference on what we have seen in the last few days. Bellerin adds a lot to the attack and balances the side.
And, emery has to at least give Ozil a chance, if things go wrong and he doesn’t, on his head be it. Just get the impression the rest of the team are more at ease when he plays.
I have been sent a link on Ozil, his trials and tribulations. A long, but interesting read. A lot of knives are clearly out for this clearly thoughtful and sensitive individual, knives in Germany and the UK. Not sure what Emerys tactics are with this player, but I suspect putting his arm around him wouldn’t be the worst course of action, unless the manager or the club really do have a different agenda, which in my view, would be a real shame. Arsenal should have fantasy as well as just function to their play, I hope Emery or anyone who succeeds him never forgets that
Hoping for a decent result today, but it looks to me like Emery needs to life this squad a bit. Ozil is surely worth a try?
http://oezil.11freunde.de/english
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Having endured another Unai press conference its another remnider of why we miss the very eloquent Arsene. I learnt that todays game gives us a small finger, chelski have an idea, that Unai wants Mezut to pass and that four months forward together Petr and me.
ARSENAL this season have been a real Jeckal and Hyde side winning while playing badly losing while playing awful and playing some fantastic football every now and then.
Todays game coukd see the fluid enjoyable ARSENAL turn up and if they do chelski could struggle to contain us or it could be a stale game and they could edge us out.
Three points is important however for our season playing with flair and joy is probably more of a priority right now. To know we can play ‘ball against the top sides will help us in all ongoing competitions COYG.
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I read the Ron Ulrich thing yesterday Mandy and it makes you wonder what the psychological effects of last Summer have been on Mesut.
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I honestly dread to think AN, just hope Emery and his bosses are not making things worse. This player seems to be a ready made scapegoat, for some quite unpleasant reasons in some cases.
It is possible UE might be factoring injuries, or even if he is psychologically ready to perform at his very best. But MO isn’t going anywhere for now, if they can, The should just get him into the team of at all possible, and put the seemingly overpriced and unavailable Mr Banega out of minds!
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Psychologically a player has got to be right as well as physically. I can understand why after the bartering Mesut took over the Summer as a target in Germany for things that are nothing to do with football he was badly bruised. His run of minor injuries is not like him at all. He does seem to have his head down more than I’ve ever seen.
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Great read though – about loads of things to do with football and not to do with football.
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Still hoping Emery to play Ozil and Ramsey today to have a chance for a top 4 finish. If we don’t win today I will give up on UE.
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Very generous of you to allow the Spaniard another chance Ro.
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Like the Spurs game, expect AFC to play at a very high level, contrary to the recent streak of flat performances. Will this be enough?
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Mandy at 11:29 am
That’s a great read. Thanks for that share.
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Certainly interesting about Ozil, isn’t it. Just cannot escape the conclusion that good old fashioned racism is behind some of it.
I suspect the German press and authorities have caused him more pain than the idiot copycat press over here, but who knows.
Earlier in the year, Mesut just had a photo taken, Germany legend Matteus completely embarrassed himself at the feet of Putin, not a word. Also , to contradict one line in that article, a quick internet search reveals it is not wise for sportsmen of Turkish origin to completely disrespect Erdogan, whatever views they may hold privately.
If Mesut locks himself away with his mates and plays fortnite, cannot say I blame him.
Have also wondered if mesut knew Wengers days were numbered this time last year and feels his loss more than most, but only guess work, as is an assumption that I have long held that Mesut was another victim of that fateful night at home to Ludogrets when the manager and team lost its spiritual force on the pitch, and I am far from convinced some fully recovered.
Still, hope Mesut comes back fit and firing today, or if not, as soon as possible. Emery is right about one thing, we need Mesut Ozil
Really hope we can get a result today, but as mentioned, Hazard needs a close eye , from the ref and our defence.
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so now the media are now saying we want Marc Overmars to be our new technical director, after seemingly Edu turned down the role.
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arse_or_brain I found the Emery press conference very odd, he was asked a run of the mill question and for no apparent reason brought it to the topic of ozil, where not only did he, for me, have a few digs at Ozil, he also contradicted his comments from last week, where he said Ozil was left out for tactical reasons, but now said he wasn’t fully fit. Something that if said last week would have avoided a lot of the bullshit articles about MO all week. By the way not only did UE say last week Ozil was out for Tactical Reasons only, but an official from the club also told Reuters News Agency the exact same thing. I think these comments allied with his “causing friction” comments are not good. Its poor PR and for me its damn poor management.
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so some ITK’s are claiming this is today’s 18 man squad
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Darren
@DF_Arsenal
Interesting stat: If Aaron Ramsey wins 12 more Premier League games in an Arsenal shirt, he would equal the same number of wins as Thierry Henry. Ramsey currently has only played 5 Premier League games less than Henry.
Henry – Apps 258, Wins 157
Ramsey – Apps 253, Wins 145
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Thanks for the link to that article, Mandy. I had not seen it. I feel so much for Mesut. What a lot to shoulder when all he really wants to do is play football. I hope he gets the chance today.
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Phenomenal amount of bullshit about Mesut – interesting to read an article in which a journalist has done a bit of work and thought about what he is writing. Only by chance did I find the link on Goonerholic. Quite different from the click bait rubbish that is the staple day to day diet of Arsenal fans.
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Do Liverpool ever suffer from the affliction that is known as bad luck these days?
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to paraphrase garth crooks – stop telling me what Ozil can’t do, look at what he can do
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https://pbs.twimg.com/ad_img/1086661720280649733/GEbKNdvY?format=jpg&name=orig
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Ramsey starts, Ozil a sub, Iwobi and Mustafi and AMN all subs. Bellerin starts
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What’s up folks!
Well…the team is filled with some excellent players, that can and should beat the top teams in the league. I simply don’t buy the rubbish that this is some big transitional period….not with this talent.
Hoping the players step up and play lights out despite the ego they are dealing with.
Arsenal!!!
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Talking about the things I hear from some these ex players turned pundits. They make it sound as if Emery inherited some talentless team that needs a major overhaul. None sense.
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Plenty of good players in team. Back to four in defence, which I’m pretty sure is what I was asking for…and yet lineup still leaves me a little cold.
Think it’s mostly this fullbacks providing all the width thing, and maybe, despite mid and attacking six all being good players…is it a little short in a few of the key creative elements? Dribbling, driving runs with ball, maybe.
Anyway, I hope the unease is blown away, but if a team is a cake or something there’s an ingredient or two missing for me at present.
It could just be the last couple of weeks have left me in a weird mood footballistically.
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That’s not a bad line up certainly great going forward, my only concern is Sead on the left great going forward suspect when defending and may lead to Kos bring exposed. It is important we keep that side tied up.
Mezut will make a difference second half COYG.
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I would have preferred to see Iwobi or Ozil start instead of the youngster.
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https://pbs.twimg.com/ad_img/1086666208911544320/zSi3WNXu?format=jpg&name=orig
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Seems like it was a long wait today. Strong bench. Anyway, give em the friction you Gunners! COYG!!!!
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Come on!
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a big miss by PEA six yards out
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Lacccccaaaa!!!!!!!!!
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ptang yang kipper bang!!!!!!!!!!!! Gooooonnnnerrrrrs!!!!!
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lacazetteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee after several good chances we take a deserved lead
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we’ve been on the back foot since we took the lead and cfc have come mighty close to scoring
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Ramsey staying very close to Jorginho
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Laccas been having a good game so far. Arsenal playing well.
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have that !
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yeeeeeessssss!
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kosssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss 2-0
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Tense
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