Here we are, the final game of the Premier League 2018/19 season has arrived, and with it the sad realization that we are nearing it’s inevitable end (in Baku) and then a football-less summer with a perpetual supply of transfer gossip beckons. But before all that excitement…
Good day one and all.
Arsenal is at Burnley this afternoon hoping to end what has been a campaign full of highs and lows with their heads held high.
They go into this fixture having failed to win their previous four league games (D1, L3) which all but ended their top-four challenge. However, all is not lost as the Europa League provide an alternative route into next season’s Champions League, after cruising past Valencia on Thursday night to book a spot in the final in Baku on the 29th May where they will meet London rivals Chelsea, who secured their top-four place already.
Meanwhile, Sean Dyche’s side will be happy to have secured their top-flight status for another season after a terrible start to their campaign. They won just two of their first 15 league games but an impressive run between Christmas and February made all the difference in their turnaround. However, they’re winless in their last three games (D1, L2) and will be hoping to sign-off in front of the Turf Moor faithful in style.
Now, the Clarets are often referred to as “plucky” but there’s nothing valiant about them. They’re a cheating, cynical, time wasting and nasty bunch who loves taking chunks out of their opponents. We can only hope that Mike Dean, who Shotta revealed to be “the firmest and most resolute referee this season”[1], does himself justice and keep a handle on the game, because with the crucial game in Baku on the horizon the last thing we need is for our players returning to London having left bits of themselves behind at Turf Moor. If I may add, with this the season of goodbyes and the final round of league fixtures without VAR, I hope we bid farewell to our dear friend Mike too and may he land on his feet.
In the pre-match presser Unai Emery said he’ll look closer to the game at changes from the side that did duty in Spain, but he also said he expect Burnley to be “very tough”. Which does not say much but I do hope we at least see an attacking and motivated approach, because there is a permutation that if United win and we finish 6th on the log, with Watford doing the unthinkable in the FA Cup finals, our holidays could be cut short… and we can’t have that! So here’s hoping there’s no Europa hangover and we record our tenth straight win over the Clarets.
Oh boy! The curtain draws on this Premier League campaign. Smell it. Drink it in. Remember it. Because it will only be next August before we experience it again.
[1] uniteforvar.com/?p=2000
@LaboGoon
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Positively Arsenal 
Thanks Labo. Great stuff yet again.
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Nice one Labo.
At least if we do end up having to qualify in July, he might actually play some of the kids.
As for Mike Dean, whatever else he may be with other teams, we know what to expect with him officiating an away game up north, ie absolutely nothing.
If he does retire, guessing he will be haunting us from a VAR panel. And of anything, some of the newer and slightly newer refs seem just as bad to us , if not worse, led by Oliver. I maintain, unless the club has a word behind the scenes, this will continue as long as Riley draws breath.
Hoping for a win today, but going to be tough.
Looking forward to Emery sorting out some of these away day problems next year, hopefully with a champions league pot and better fortune keeping a few players fit.
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That was a good one, Labo. Captured strange feeling I get as season comes to an end.
I’m feeling doubly or triply strange today though. Almost don’t want to engage with prem action again as it has been such a pain recently and such a contrast to Europe
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Cheers Labo, as usual all the facts needed prior going into the game. And thanks for all your previews this season.
Personally ( who cares?) I wouldn’t play many of those who are really needed for Baku, I can’t see the goal difference going our way with the Spuds (of course that doesn’t mean it wont happen, but seem unlikely). Anyway, hope you all enjoy the last day of the season, amazing how quickly its come around.
COYG!
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Nice one there Labo.
“Best to lay down your whistle before the Visually Accurate Referee finally steps into the English game, you cheating scum Mike Dean”. We shall win in Baku despite your best efforts PGMhOLes!
Right to Turf Moor..any result will do as long as no one gets injured. An extended glimpse of Eddie wouldn’t hurt as well as a final sighting of Welbz in the glorious red & white (or teal/blue-green, whatever color our away kit is officially called).
It’s been quite the amoebic first season without AW. Not at all easy to replace greatness is it, fellow gooners? UE will come through it I suppose. It is a magical club after all.
COYG!!! COYG!!! COYG!!!
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COYG COYG and indeed COYG
The Premier League has been a bit of a culture shock for Emery and, as with most of our players, he will be here next season. Here’s hoping that the learning curve of this past season inspire us all to more highs and less lows next season.
But first… Burnleh!
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well after today we play our final game of this season, in Baku, with or without Mkhitaryan, on May 29th, and we will have about six weeks of on field Arsenal football, but lots of goodbyes and hellos to players and staff, lots more rumors, the return to training of the players, new kits launch, and then on July 16th the action begins again with our first friendly over in the USA v Colorado Rapids
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All to play for apart from the situations so eloquently mentioned we also have to put to bed the city at QPR, Liverpool against Milan and Barcelona and the spuds against Ajax as the greatest comebacks and swing an eight goal difference to prove we are the best comeback Kings COYGs
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Nuff respect for that write-up Labo and for bigging-up my most recent blog. Note that I didn’t say Dean was the most unbiased of referees but, if he sticks to his conduct this past season, he won’t be afraid to dish out 2nd Yellows and Straight Reds to offenders especially since this will enhance his numbers and his reputation. He seems to be a chap with a high opinion of himself and is willing to make those big calls which the rest of the top referees (at least 20 matches) refuse to make.
Although UFV will remain active in the post-season, exposing Mike Riley’s maneuvers on behalf of his paymasters, it is appropriate to thank George and the Positives on this blog for being among the biggest supporters of my blog during the soon ending campaign. PosArse followers are some of the most sensible and aware fans in football and long ago we agreed their needs to be serious improvement in what, almost everybody now agrees, in the abysmal standards of refereeing by the PGMOL. Many in PosArse advocated VAR but as my blog has detailed we have a long way to go before a fair, effective, unbiased VAR is implemented.
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Leno
Lichtsteiner Mustafi Mavropanos Monreal
Elneny Guendouzi
Mkhitaryan Willock Iwobi
Aubameyang
subs Cech, Koscielny, kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Nketiah, Lacazette
https://pbs.twimg.com/ad_img/1127558715975061504/O_t8JeG3?format=jpg&name=orig
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will it be third time lucky with Elneny and Guendouzi as our midfield two, flopped badly in their 2 previous starts together
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from Thursday’s game, Sokratis and Ozil not in the squad, Mavropanos and Willock take their places in the team.
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Willock in alongside Iwobi from the academy, Mavrepanos and Guendouzi two young rookies in the team today, Nketiah on the bench as I guess Auba is gunning for the golden boot, alongside AMN. No Sako in the squad.
Ozil and Torreira not in the squad today, Miki with the start and hopefully not his last appearance of the season today as his last appearance in a Europa cup final was a memorable one for him personally!
COYG!
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Thanks Labo
COYG
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it is amazing that Mkhitaryan’s part in a European final is in doubt, if it was someone like Ronaldo or Messi’s place being in doubt, uefa would have it sorted in a flash, they would even go as far as move the final.
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Eds with four at the back I wonder if we will see Willock as part of a flat three in midfield. I think it’ll be the 4231 at KO, but hoping to see a fluid system where the players adapt to the spaces.
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COYG!
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dier has given spurs the lead v efc
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Two early half chances for the Gunners,
Auba fashioning a shot for himself after beating the offside trap to a good pass into the space (Guendouzi?) and Willock almost getting a shot away on the turn in the box but blocked by the defender.
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Liverpool currently top of the table, as Mane has given them the lead
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Just not enough guile or nous on the pitch to play the call out through the midfield ATM.
As I write Miki sprays the ball to the left from the c.circle to set up a flurry of attacks from the Gunners. More of that please!
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cardiff have taken the lead at utd
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lol Burnley don’t like it up ’em!
Fantastic “barge” from Leno. Hehe.
He’s adapting well to the PL. Shades of Lehman there, almost brought a tear to the eye.
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Same old Arsenal always cheating. Get fucked: same old Burnley, always bleating.
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brighton take the lead v city but seconds later its 1-1
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The Burnley fans booing an Arsenal attack! For playing football? They’re so confused they’re confusing me!
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Burnley on top ATM, hit the post and Mustafi saving a goal with block with his face, good defending from Mustafi and Elneny there.
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Koscielny on for the injured Mavropanos, who has failed to finish any of his games this season
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Burnley should bugger off to the bottom of the championship or league 1.
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laporte gives city the lead,
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What was issue with Mavropanos. Muscular or kick/knock?
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Oliver behaving by way?
Just watching last min City game and he has given Brighton extremely generous fk in dangerous position
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HT: Burnley 0-0 Arsenal
both teams have had some good chances, not sure why Heaton was not sent off for handball outside the area early on.
Mustafi stopped what looked like a certain goal, Willock went close late on for us.
This and the LCFC v CFC games the only games without a goal so far
city winning at brighton after going behind, lfc winning as are spurs, the good news for us is that Man Utd are losing at home to Cardiff
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yeah Rich I worry that PGMOL will still manager to win LFC the title today
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I was keeping an eye on the scores on google. So I looked at the ManUre game to see the stats, and then looked at the comments. Some dungy ManUre bloke started ranting about “useless” Ferguson and how he interferes with the team and how the Ferg didnt have any knowledge of the game whatsoever. Oh brother. And we thought we have problems with aftv!
Not into Burnley having a nibble at Auba etc.
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I’m watching us on my laptop and City on the TV, but now I don’t know how well anyone is playing.
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4th burnley player booked
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watford’s jose holebas has been sent off v west ham, think that means he misses the fa cup final
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Arsenal 1-0 up and man utd losing 2-0
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1-0 to the Arsenal. 2-0 to Cardiff.
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snap
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Ed
Free kicks in dangerous areas one that has really come onto my radar this year as a way of tweaking odds in a game. How many do we get in prime shooting distance?
Set pieces far and away Brighton’s most likely avenue and the late free kick they got first half one you will rarely see in premier, and i would never expect us to get.
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Well done our lads. Ashamed to say I am not making good attempt to follow us. Don’t do streams any more and am jumping all over place at minute.
Jeez it is going to get more and more tense if City don’t wrap this up soon
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‘Chris Wood gives Laurent Koscielny a nudge as the ball goes out of play, the Frenchman’s momentum takes him straight into the digital advertising boards.’
Still going on this crap then. Officials still pretending not a deliberate ploy from dirty, cowardly players and one that they should clamp down on strongly. Debuchy’s injury didn’t stir their conscience so maybe it’ll take a good head injury
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hes going for the golden boot!!
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the Seasweed have let in a third.
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Aubameyag puts us 2-0 up, but Burnley quickly pull one back 2-1
city 3-1 up at brighton
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boo.
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Theo Theo Theo makes it 1-1 at spurs
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city 4-1 up at Brighton, good good
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