We are now well in truly into the business end of the season. Expectations are recalibrated as we are at the races for a Premier League top-four finish after teams around us hit a few speed bumps.
Good day one and all…
We are just catching our collective breath after what has been a very eventful weekend in English football and here we go again with Arsenal hosting Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium tonight.
The Gunners come into this match off the back of beating the Saints without much ado. It was a result that see us now on an unbeaten run in our last 13 PL home matches (W11, D2), of which the last seven are consecutive wins. Now this will not make good reading for our visitors. The Cherries are winless in February and have lost their last eight away league games. Failed to score in five of their last six on the road and are also the least likely to produce a vintage rear-guard action as they conceded 23 goals in that eight match losing streak.
However, even if their form won’t improve and despite what Eddie Howe says, it’s unlikely that they’ll get dragged into the relegation battle as they have benefitted from a great start to the season. Does all this mean this will be a cakewalk or do they got a classic smash-and-grab on the road left in them this season?
Well, best not to tempt fate and get ahead of ourselves because the wheels might be rattling on the Howe bandwagon but they are not off yet.
Arsenal is known to crank it up at the Emirates, only Mancity has better home for than us over the last two seasons, and seeing that the Cherries are of the worst travelers, their lack of confidence and apprehension could likely prove to be a problem for them… but it will still require us to step up!
@LaboGoon
Positively Arsenal 
Tough crowd or are you guys just trying your most not to jinx it?
Arsenal win by two goals, place your bets…
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Well done LG you’ve got that perfect. We just need to be wary of complacency and play the game with a professional attitude.
COYG.
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There’s no telling how many points we’ll need to finish fourth or higher. Counting tonight, we have five league matches left at home; all 15 points will be critical, for sure.
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Back three, it seems. Come on, boys.
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COYG!
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Less control in midfield with the two PL rookies starting today but Xhaka can’t play or start in every one of the upcoming games!
The Swiss army vet had his best 45 for many on the weekend but a niggle means it’s a start for Jenkinson. He is better as a RB then a RWB imo but should be interesting to see the level Jenks plays at tonight.
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Arsenal FC
Verified account @Arsenal
53m53 minutes ago
🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨
✅ @MesutOzil1088 starts
✅ @Aubameyang7 leads our attack
✅ Sokratis returns to the starting line-up
https://pbs.twimg.com/ad_img/1100828604211040256/Q8LsMZsP?format=jpg&name=orig
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Arsenal FC
Verified account @Arsenal
👋 @CarlJenkinson makes his first @PremierLeague start for 830 days
(His last start was our 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on November 19, 2016)
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Yet another game not on TV in the UK. Honestly, why bother subscribing for matches featuring other teams I couldn’t care less about? Given that I would (and have, previously) watch our Reserves play in a field in Barnet, there must be untold demand from AFC fans wanting to watch PL games, regardless how parlous or otherwise our form has been.
Oh well, COYG’s, I guess (reaches for the radio, again).
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trademark ozil finish, hit the ball into the ground to get it to spin up and loop over the keeper, the keeper did get a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out
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Of course Ozil scores a miracle goal – always look so good on the radio …
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Anyone managed to contort minds into wanting Spurs win for our CL hopes? Near bloody impossible not to want to see them get stuffed!
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leno with a fine save after we were far too open at the back
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Mkhitaryan makes it 2-0 after great calm play by ozil to set him up
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fucks sake we concede 2-1
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HT: Arsenal 2-1 Bournemouth
Ozil and Mkhitaryan with our goals, once again we are too open at the back, and have conceded. We are playing a bit disjointed all over the pitch. Too many passes are going that bit behind its intended spot meaning receiving player has to stop and go back, move slows down, and momentum is lost AFCB getting in too easily at the other end.
Feel we will need a positive impact from our subs tonight.
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Liverpool 2-0 up and Man Utd 1-0 up
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Foul on Guendouzi let’s them back into it.
Ozil playing well. Jenks too. Wish Auba did more up-front wrt holding up the ball.
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kos the boss makes it 3-1
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Aubameyangggggggggggggggggggg makes it 4-1, he ran on to a mkhitaryan through ball, rounded the keeper and slotted home
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man utd now 2 up
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chelsea 1-0 up as are man city
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Lacazetteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 5-1 with a fine free kick from edge of the area, after torreira had been tripped up by daniels
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palace pull one back its 1-2 v man utd
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oh fuck with only a few minutes left kos is down in agony, making a sliding tackle on the sideline it looks like he got a knock to the knee
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FT: Arsenal 5-1 Bournemouth
Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Koscielny, Aubameyang and Lacazette with our goals, the early goal from kos in the second half took the pressure off and we controlled it from there on.
Ozil and Mkhitaryan very good for us, leno with a couple of fine saves.
spurs away next up
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utd go 3-1 up and chelsea are 2-0 up v spurs
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Two playmakers on the pitch?
Either side of Aubamayang?
It’s been a while I think.
Had a few games like this towards the end of the season both these players either side of the striker, usually with four at the back. Similar scorelines too. Heh.
Standing ovation from all corners for the no.7, Miki back to full fitness. we saw bursts like that last season. He’s almost a no.8 at this stage of his career. Though Emery wouldn’t countenance such blasphemy?
A Better performance and a better result? More then I hoped for. two of the four crucial league games in this mini crunch down. genuine momentum for the next crucial week.
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< towards the end of last season!
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I just don’t think you understand….
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spurs lost so only 4pts between them and us now, if we can beat them on Saturday we can drag them right into the middle of the top four battle, with us utd and cfc
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its getting to the point where with 10 games to go, the title is between lfc and city, and the next four battle it our for top four and el places, everyone else is miles off.
at the bottom huddersfield and fulham look certain to be relegated with the other place any one from seven or eight teams
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Tim,
for a second I thought that it was slightly harsh on Miki that the home crowd started to sing Ozil’s name in that second half. Hehe.
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from football.london
Emery on the win
It’s a good performance, we can be proud of every player.
Here are the Emirates we want to show a complete match with one good result and three points.
Today we did that, but it is three points – like Saturday.
Now we are happy. We are playing with different players in different matches and the performances are going well.
Emery on Ozil and Mkhitaryan’s performance
Every player I am proud of. It’s important for the players to take confidence.
I think we can play with the ball, without the ball. Be organised. Above all, it’s about the team.
Emery on rotating his squad
We want to get our identity first and to be competitive.
First is our quality, our combination and after with a big intensity.
We can use different players in different matches.
On Ozil making it impossible to drop him vs Spurs
Now I am going to watch this match for analysis and I am going to watch Tottenham. After I will decide my game plan.
We need every player and every player on the bench.
If we can play with a big performance I want every player to help us.
On Koscielny’s injury
I hope it is just one kick. He has three days between Saturday, I hope he will be OK.
On knowing victory on Saturday will close the gap to Spurs to just one point
Yes, it’s a big motivation. We needed to take the opportunity, like today.
We have a great opportunity. At the moment they are better than us in the table and it’s difficult to win there.
It’s a great test.
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Fins: really pleased for Mikhi that he is finding his way back to top form. Wish I had been there tonight!
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Much better performance, were still losing the the ball right in front of our CBs every game so that needs improvement as does trying to maintain possession when we try and slow things down. But in places the spark was back quick one touch football with runners and options everywhere.
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Emery On knowing victory on Saturday will close the gap to Spurs to just one point
Yes, it’s a big motivation. We needed to take the opportunity, like today.
We have a great opportunity. At the moment they are better than us in the table and it’s difficult to win there.
It’s a great test.
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MOTD boys think it was a penalty in City game for that Silva dive. Don’t know which of them- Shearer or Wright- would be less likely to think similar should be a pen for us.
Damn sure neither of them would be calling for pen, though.
Why on earth do ex pro’s want such soft shit- with player making genuine movement then stopping when realises player could try create foul from it; alas too late to stop the dive coming- to be a penalty?
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how long into MOTD is the AFC game, its not on here(BBC N.Ireland) till 23.45
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has anyone on here played the game of Pickleball, just been asked if it starts up in my area would I give it a go.
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Sam
@samuelJayC
2h2 hours ago
Arsenal next 5 fixtures: #afc
Spurs (a)
Rennes (a)
Man Utd (h)
Rennes (h)
Newcastle (h)
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Ed
Maybe 35-40 mins into show? Not totally sure tho. Definitely not first two games. Liv Watford, Chels Spurs, City were before it.
Nice to see team enjoying themselves. Ozil and Mkhi both looking good. Was indeed a foul on Guendouzi
Commentator did that weird thing on replay of suddenly not having opinion of own and weaselling out with ‘referee didn’t think that was a foul’, as clear foul is shown. Didn’t cost us tonight thankfully.
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New post is up
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