Good morning all.
A weird kick off time. 7.15 P.M. on Sunday evening, sees Arsenal hosting Aston Villa in a mid table clash. It’s 9th vs 10th with the visitors being in front on goal difference only. We have conceded only 7 goals, that’s great, until you consider we have only scored 9, that’s not so great.
A good win could propel either side into the top 4, so it’s quite a big game, what with the international break coming up, sitting at the top end would make us all feel better during yet another interlul.
With games having come thick and fast there seems to have two distinked teams emerged, and it’s a day for team 1.
I’m sure it will be 3 at the back, but which 3? David Luiz is fit again and his long pings seem to be our main source of creativity , I know , I know, but that’s the reality, so he could well come back in. Gabriel would seem to be a shoe in, and Rob Holding has done nothing to suggest he should be left out, that could be our 3, which would allow Tierney to move to wingback. However, Arteta does like Kieran on the left of a 3, which means Saaka can play, it’s a big call for Mikel.
In centre midfield Partey would be massive favourite to start. Most likely partnered by Elneney, but if Luiz doesn’t start, perhaps Xhaka will feature because of his better long passing. Establishing who are our number one starters is becoming difficult. That’s good, because that competition should drive the individuals on.
I feel sure Aubameyang and Lacazette will start, and I suspect Willian will be the third man, but who knows what Mikel thinks. It seems he has a slight variation to suit every opponent, and I have no idea what this variation might be, and certainly no clue what it should be.
The rare win away at United has turned a poor spell into a hopeful one. There’s no doubt it’s transformed the mood, even I am more hopeful that our style could achieve our goal of top 4, something I just didn’t see a week ago. We must score more, so let’s hope tonight is the start.
Enjoy the game.
Pedantic George.
Positively Arsenal 
Well done George. But is everybody sleeping-in at PA?
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I think there’ve found aa new home Shotta.
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that everyone saw Ozil play in Arteta’s team before the lockdown, that the club was targeting a younger player to also play as an AM, this gives me some optimism for the footy on the field going forwards.
That Mikel did an Emery and dropped a top football player from his team at his owner’s instruction is something that obviously has impacted negatively upon the football pitch
although it was always predictable that the super agents and Kronke’s would be able to ‘groom’ a rookie manager if anyone thinks that Arsenal supporters aren’t going to reflect upon this outcome as say Chelsea build up a pool of AMs that might go on to match Cazorla, Ozil and Ramsey, then: I’ve got news for you!
A consideration which leads neatly into tonight’s fixture.
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Villa have been spending the cash but perhaps not as much on agents fees as the Gunners of late.
Has John Terry been doing a better job then Vinai?
Sure Barkley never made it at the very top level, lack of minutes and injuries hindered his development and ability to really showcase his talent, the classic Chelsea story. But Villa didn’t spend gazillions on his signature!
Villa are also playing or starting with two attacking midfielders which is always nice to see. One reason I am looking forward to the game.
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I see Ozil was tearing it up in the latest behind the scenes video, scoring and setting up a couple of goals, including one for Saliba
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For me Luiz whilst crucial in this dressing room was always going to end up as a back up CB this season, no slur on the player just an appreciation of his veteran status.
Arteta’s starting back three might end up being Gabriel, Mustafi and Holding, with Chambers in the mix ahead of Mustafi if he gets fit and also Mari if he turns out to be more then yet another flagrant boondoggle under Vinai’s tenure.
I think Arteta is planning to play a back four sometime this season and that explains the error with this Saliba call.
Each of these games are big games for Holding as he has so much competition for the starting berth in a two going forwards. I’ve enjoyed watching Holding play this season.
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You have to laugh at the CBs getting selected for England ahead of the player who performed so well against the likes of City, Liverpool and Utd of late. I guess Holding has the wrong agent.
Heh.
I hope having the wrong agent doesn’t impact upon his Arsenal career – please refer to Ozil, Ramsey, Koscielny, The Jeff, Sokratis, Saliba (?) etc.
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Hello everyone. I’m slowly getting back into my football, but I can’t immerse myself the way I used to. A combination of poor mental resilience and some prescription based reduction in my happy/sad responses mean I can’t afford, and am anyway unable, to get carried away.
The good thing is I’m more relaxed and enjoying the diversion of a match rather than having my mood dictated by it. As such i’m more objective, less cross about referees and opponents, team selection, and outrageous fortune.
I like the new manager and i believe he has approached his task with admirable caution, building confidence – surely the single hardest thing to do – with good defensive coaching before getting too adventurous.
I love watching this side pass out from the back, they do it as well if not better than any Arsenal side I’ve seen. I like the look of the new signing Partey, even if his arrival might be the end of a favourite, Grantit Xhaka. Elneney has been nothing short of a revelation and young Sakha and the scottish lad on the left look very very good.
Hector Bellerin is nearly back to his best from what I can see and the squad has a lot of options in the centre of defence.Willian was a canny signing, uses the ball wisely, keeps things moving.
Until the Leicester game my favourite was the Spanish lad who’s name escapes me. On loan from Madrid, he seemed to be growing into a real Ramsay of a midfielder. Energetic, fearless, always wants the ball, very skillful and above all moved the ball quickly. He looked like a Wenger type player. But he disappeared against Leicester and was promptly dropped. I trust the coaching and fitness staff know a lot more about every aspect of the game and the players in the squad than you or i ever will, so I’m happy to wait and see what they do with him.
On the downside Pepe looks like a wonderful talent but not a happy man. Capable of a goal from nowhere i hope he finds his way. And the only real sadness was losing our best keeper. We were never likely to keep Leno and Martinez and I know Leno performed heroically when our defence was tatty. But Martinez passed every single test and looked ready to me. Calmer on the ball, as good a shot stopper and commanding in the air. I liked him very much.
Sorry I don’t get to talk to anyone these days, so i tend to ramble a little.
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Good post Steww. Feel pretty similar about each of the players you mention.
If that’s rambling, it’s fine by me.
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I’ve really missed those rambles.
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Rambling is good when it all makes sense!
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Leicester heading for about 38 pens in the league this season at this rate
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will we soon see a return to form by Ceballos, he only came back to us cos he wants game time so that he can get into the Spain squad for the Euros next summer, but just as he is seeing less game time here, he has lost his place in the latest Spain squad, will this see him double down like last season or will he ride it out till January and look to go elsewhere
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Arsenal Team:
Leno
Holding, Gabriel, Tierney
Bellerin, Partey, Elneny, Saka
Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang
subs: Runarsson, Maitland-Niles, David Luiz, Xhaka, Ceballos, Pepe, Nketiah
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A positive George and Stews back it’s like old times, if the football is the same then that will be brilliant COYG.
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we are currently 6pts off top placed Leicester, 5pts behind spurs and if we win we go 6th, level with Chelsea in 5th, would need a 9 goal win for us to go above Chelsea
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With Willian starting midweek and Saka also playing for a spell I suspect both will come off at some point in the second half. From my selfish perspective there are not enough attacking options on the bench, some but not all options missing due to injury. Fatigue was a factor in that second half between Liverpool and City.
Form for all teams will be less consistent then usual this season IMO.
COYG
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so how many times today will the commentators big up Martinez and suggest we let the wrong keeper go.
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seems Elneny will be playing his 100th AFC game today
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I usually watch on the Arsenal Player, how would I watch this live?
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FFS behind in the first minute
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goal ruled out cos a villa player blocking the view of Leno, but my God VAR really didn’t want to rule it out, took Atkinson to view the pitch side monitor for it to be ruled out, Leno was not getting that even if he could have seen it
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steww
http://zoneland90.blogspot.com/p/av-p_8.html
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Thanks man
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Phew
Marginal but a top level shot stopper like Leno May well have made a save. Correct call.
Bad moment for Partey as the he was sold by a shimmy before the finish. But he should escape brickbats for now.
Arsenal a little unsettled by it all atm. Need the CMs to take charge and there you go Partey is the game at both ends and nearly scores after pressing forward. Martinez with a good save. No real play yet from the Gunners but it could’ve been 1-1 after ten mins.
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Nope not loading for me, I’ll watch it tomorrow.
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Thanks eds.
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horrible defending there
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VAR not saving us this time Villa one up
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Some promising intent from the CMs to pay through the centre circle but no one there ahead of them.
Willian sleeping all the way through that long Villa attack after giving the ball away with a sloppy pass. Don’t think he’ll escape the brickbats on that one.
0-1.
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I cannot believe they scored there.
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I have a dredful stream, but from what I have seen, I’m not missing much.
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The defending on the goal was not good!
But oh my Lacazette as a no.9 has to score that chance and make it 1-1.
Arsenal will need to make more chances and may have to put on additional attacker sooner then later.
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Trying to follow the game via Twitter is not ideal but would I be right in thinking there was a bit more purpose towards the end of the half?
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Nailed on to finish 3-1: just not sure who will get the 3 though…
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that was an awful first half performance
would also mention that VAR took 4 minutes and 7 seconds to review the disallowed goal, but we got 3 minutes of stoppage time called
party off with ceballos on for the second half
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We don’t play like a cohesive unit.
Is Partey injured?
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Bellerin made a nice play in the first half but tried to pick a pass when I thought he should have had a go.
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Xhaka must have done something to upset the Chinese government
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Orbinho
@Orbinho
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27m
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s last shot on target that wasn’t a penalty came in the game against Sheffield United.
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over an hour played and we are yet to have a shot on target
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nkethia and pepe on for lacazete and willian, not before time
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Holding close, not an easy chance, not many chances for the Gunners.
Villa set up to attack the channel between Holding and Bellerin, as seen on the goal. Lots of chances for the visitors. Will Mikel change the shape?
Looks like a straight swap with Nketiah & Pepe. Partey with a niggle according to the comms. Half an hour to make a difference and to be fair to them looks like they have already, not a good night for Laca & Willian.
COYG
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2-0 to villa, ollie watkins
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2 down and we have had one effort on target, which amounted to little more than a back pass
but we don’t need ozil, football reasons and trust the process yada yada yada
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3-0 to villa, can’t wait for Arteta to tell us after the game that we have to remember how good villa are, after all they beat liverpool
villa had a shot cleared off the line before that 3rd goal too, and we can’t muster anything up front, we are now with a minus goal difference,
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We are simply not a good team at present. Newer managers have been able to get their teams playing good football but Arteta seems clueless where that is concerned. The team has not identity going forward. The lack of creativity is glaring and no amount of screaming from the sideline can solve that.
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With so many players back, no pressure on the ball, it’s a second bad goal to concede. Ouch.
And Grealish brushes off Bellerin and megs Leno to follow up.
Not great from Holding and a more experienced Gabriel might have made the offside but Arsenal have created less then Villa. Saka carrying a niggle imo.
Spoils go to Villa in this mid table clash.
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the way Arteta has us set up to attack you would think we had two big target men in the middle to scraps for all these high crosses, and on the subject of crosses, why the hell can’t Tierney put one in first time, he takes several touches and by the time he crosses the defense is in place to deal with it.
I said a couple of games ago, Arteta has us painting by numbers, its regimental, boring and a waste of time or is that a waste of talent, football reasons, trust the process, yada yada yada
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They ought to apologize to Arsene and pay him whatever he wants (I know that’s not going to happen). I am not being negative but this is not it. If Arteta does not stop over managing the creativity out of these players and being stubborn I fear he will suffer the same fate as Emery.
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