Arsenal FC v Manchester United FC
Hello, and how are you?
Well, as we enter the dark month of December made pretty by all the Advent lights, the Mighty Cannon is set to play seven games, so like you, I hope we can stay fit and healthy. The first of these matches will be against the our old ‘pals’ Manchester United, so we will set up positions at Ashburton Grove on Wednesday the 4th of December and kick-off at 8.15pm ( western European time)…
This is another one of those games that drags a Santa sack-worth of historical stats, facts, figures and memories of pleasure and memories of pain. But how will it play out this time? The Arsenal are on a good roll at the moment and Ruben Amorin having left Sporting CP, organised his new team well enough to thump Everton 4-0. A team like MU with such a history and with still a remnant pride concerning the old rivalry with us will want to prove a point; but we aren’t the underdogs going into this one.
The Arsenal have been given a 65.8% chance of winning by those two calculate such matters and ManUre have only a 14.3%.chance. All global Gunners I’m sure are hoping for another five to add to the ten that have been scored in our last couple of games, and its sure been nice to see those goals meeting the back of the net, and it sure would be nicer than nice to go into this month by giving them a decent beating.
Instead of some kind of thrash around in memories and experiences in days and games of yore I thought it might be a time for a change, so he’s a joke that I hope makes you at least smile.
A Manchester United fan walks into a pub, and says “oh youre the new landlord, here, you’ve only just moved in?”.The Gooner Landlord says “yes I’ve made a few changes, we’ve got a grand opening night tonight, its going to be a big night and really busy, sandwiches laid on, we’ve got pool, we’ve got snooker, new fitted carpet, WIFI and all the Arsenal games on big screen TV, its going to be an Arsenal theme pub-we’ve spent a few quid here”.
So the ManUre fan says said “look pal, don’t get too busy, I’ve come in here for twenty five years,we’ve always had free snuff on the counter, you get some snuff on that bar,its a good tip for yer, I’ll be back myself in a couple of hours-and good luck with the opening night, all the best, even if you are a Gooner”.
The Gooner landlord thinks, “where the bloody hell am I going to get snuff when no-one sells it in this area?”. So he goes out and scrapes some dog shit off the pavement, and goes inside and dries it to a form similar to high- quality snuff and then puts it into a shiny silver box and places it on the bar.
The ManUre fan came back a few hours later and upon seeing the snuff on the bar says; “now youre talking!The lads will really appreciate this!”and proceeds to take a few good pinches, and exclaimed: “you have no (sniff) idea what (sniff) this will mean to the (sniff) lads in here!” and then taking a final nip of snuff, the United fan said to the Gooner landlord, “phoar, can can you smell dogshit in here?” and then immediately checked the bottom of both his shoes.
The Gooner Landlord said “there’s no dogshit in this pub, I’ve been cleaning for the last two weeks and like I said, its all new carpets!”
“Well I can f*cking smell it” said the ManUre fan, checking both soles of his shoes again.”its getting worse and all, it f*cking reeks in here!”
At that point a Chelsea fan walked through the door,and the Manchester United fan said to him as he reached the bar,”Listen pal, can you smell dogshit in here?”
“No” said the Chelsea fan sniffing the air of the pub,”well, I can smell it anyway” mumbled the United fan and goes back to his drink, and checks the bottom of his shoes for a third time.
Having ordered his pint the Chelsea fan spies the silver box filled with snuff on the bar, and takes a good pinch and snorts some up and then after a few moments turns to the ManUre fan and says: “Fk me! I tell you what pal, that snuff really clears your head, I can smell that dogshit now!”
Well that’s it, lots of bits and pieces that I’m sure have made you feel like going off and search for the location of the Holy Grail instead of reading this.
Even so, here’s to a great game for us and lucky horses!
COYG and keep on keepin’ on!
Mills
Positively Arsenal 
With us scoring lots of goals but conceding a few as well, there should be goals in this one.
Maybe like the famous five minute final we will role out 3-2 winners 🏆
Manure are famous for their counter attacks but so are Forrest and we dealt with them very well. I think am I in’s legendary back three will spend a lot of time like George Grahams back five.
Pace at the back will be critical in this one and so will be stopping the counter in it’s tracks the the defensive side of midfield will be important as well.
As in all games against the Pigmol’s favourite side we will have to be careful and stay calm as we won’t get any decisions.
I certainly think we are good enough to outscore them in the latest of a crap load of important games.
Although I’m disappointed ol ten harg isn’t still incharge we are playing well ourselves at the moment so let’s hope for another three points COYG.
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Thank you Millsy, I really needed that.
Waking up, reading and smiling really is a good way to start one’s day.
I don’t need to tell you my feelings about man u. I think they’re pretty well documented. A wise person once told me that hate isn’t the opposite of love. Indifference is the opposite of love.
As time goes on I find myself increasingly indifferent to Man U and Spurs. I literally know the names of only a few of their players these days. It may be a mark of my growing dissociation from association football in general, I don’t pretend defeat against either doesn’t sting a little more than losing against a likeable side. I just don’t wish for Old Trafford to fall into a sinkhole any more.
Likely Lads for me again. Band rehearsal in Swindon would you believe. So I’ll be going dark again until I catch up tomorrow.
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“As time goes on I find myself increasingly indifferent to Man U and Spurs. I literally know the names of only a few of their players these days”
I’m the same. Interesting how this is arising? Whats causing the indifference? The bloated nature of the PL? Everything we experienced via the WOBs that changed the landscape of things? The post WOB world of punditry? Wave after wave of loud voices that have climbed to the top of dung heap and proclaim they know all? The cold-hearted win at all costs attitudes that are everywhere? As many aspects of society call for tolerance at the same time utter intolerance has crept in? This whole rushing to the end without enjoying the journey seems a bit odd?
Perhaps all or none? Maybe ManU and the Spuds are just a bit too mediocre?
The older I get I feel Im only left with questions.
Ian great points in your post too, enjoyed reading them. COYG!
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no Gabriel or Calafiori in the squad tonight
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Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko; Rice, Partey, Ødegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Havertz. Arsenal
subs: Neto, Tierney, Heaven, Jorginho, Merino, Sterling, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus.
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Manchester United XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire; Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Malacia; Mount, Garnacho, Højlund
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by the way Arsenal have been drawn to play Man Utd at the Emirates in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup
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HT: Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd
a bore fest, played with no urgency
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loads of goals in the all the other games, but this one feels like there won’t be goal even if it goes on all night
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liverpool have just taken the lead late in their away game at newcastle, 3-2, as things stand they are going 11 points clear of us
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newcastle make it 3-3
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Timberrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr makes it 1-0 to the Arsenal, come on you gooners
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Timber! Arsenal: the brilliant corners! COYG!
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FT: Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool
FT: Man City 3-0 Nottingham Forest
FT: Everton 4-0 Wolves
FT: Southampton 1-5 Chelsea
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Raya with a great save to keep us ahead
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Merino and Trossard on for Zinchenko and Martinelli
Partey goes right back, Timber to left back, Merino into midfield
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Salibaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 2-0 to the Arsenal
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it went in off Saliba’s arse, ha ha ha
var trying to find a way to disallow it, but its given
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odegaard off, jorginho on
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FT: Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd
Timber and Saliba with goals from corners.
Awful first half, better in the second.
We drop down to 3rd on goal difference, but are a point closer to liverpool in 1st after they drew.
Fulham away on Saturday our next game.
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well that was a professional and organised performance. It may not have had the flamboyance of previous games but the result was obtained in a workmanlike manner.
manure worked the ball well without creating much in the way of dangerous chances. They we’re once more abley abetted by the officials and I’m sure amorin will enjoy being favoured by Pigmol..
This game again showed we still need a really imposing defensive midfielder but I know our exploration in that area have not been fruitful in the past as time after time players in this position slip our grasp.
It is good to see squad members doing well and to get a clean sheet with one whole side of the defence missing is very promising.
The away day boat trip down the river is next which is normally a popular day out and the amount of excursions on the pleasure boats seem to go up every year. Onwards and upwards COYG.
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Smith-Rowe and especially Iwobi have been playing really good stuff for Fulham this season.
Nelson can’t play against us due to the loan rules
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End of gameweek 14 and we have recorded a record amount of consecutive victories over manure, in our 500th game at our new home, reduced the gap to Liverpool to seven points and increased our lead over the spuds to eight points.
St Totterings day is getting nearer COYG.
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I read a few reviews after the game. Everyone seemed very keen on the narrative that we won simply because of our ability from set pieces.
No one appeared capable of drawing the obvious conclusion. You only get the many opportunities needed for set piece goals by winning the bloody corners in the first place.
Remember, opposition coaches, well aware of our threat from them, will hardly encourage their players to concede corners. Defenders don’t hoof it behind their line for the fun of watching us work our magic. Relentless pressure and threat lead to the high numbers of corner kicks. It’s all part of being a good attacking side.
For what it’s worth, I thought ManU played well in the first half. Kept the ball, harassed and closed down. My feeling at the time was that they must tire. As the game went on the mental and physical agility needed to hold us back would be overwhelming. And so it proved.
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Steww, absolutely nail on the head stuff there. We won a shit load of corners, so many I lost count but well in to double figures.
manure only recorded 6 touches in our box in the whole 90, the second lowest by a Utd side anywhere since opta records began in 2010.
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Hilarious scenes at Bournemouth last night as the spuds fans started to chant Posta-no-clue after he went to see them at the end of the game. Another fan shouted Fuck off you big fat cunt at him as well.
I thought the away following was supposed to be the loyal fans, if he’s lost them already he is going to struggle.
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New post is up.
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