Hello and how are you?
Wednesday the 16th of April will see the Mighty Cannon play in the second leg of our quarter final match-up against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid. Kick off is at 8.00pm western European time.
Its utterly irrelevant, but this week I found my old 1980 CWC semi-final ticket from the first leg against Juve at Highbury. I can’t tell you how chuffed I was to see it, I thought it had got lost in the various types of matter in the cold and violent universe. Ive only kept a few ticket stubs over the years and that was one of them. Nice!
Since the final whistle of the first leg last Tuesday, I’ve had this game on my mind. It been a long time since I’ve had that, you? The kind of game that is constantly there, your mind quietly speculating its outcome; hoping for this, dreading that. The old butterflies in the stomach.
Of course that’s what we all want as supporters, that kind of feeling was often there in my early days of supporting Arsenal, then not so much for a few years, more in the GG years but a constant after Arsène’s first season. To me, and I’m not saying its universal, but its what makes football; feeling excited and apprehensive about a big game. As a kid I would have hunted for every scrap of information pre-match, now with internet overload I don’t need to, but even with the overwhelming nature of reportage in our time, it still can’t dull my appetite for this kind of match.
Most clubs would be feeling pretty hot-dog about a three-nil lead, but I’m scared, what with the quality of their line-up, the noise of the fans at the Bernabéu and what may well be a towering wall of pressure and the eyes of the world watching. I’m scared that the ghost of game that Mbappé played at the Emirates will be exorcised by shame and humiliation and the urgency of their fans will propel him back to his peak form. I’m scared that Kiwior my not be up to it, I’m scared as I don’t want him to fail and get a slagging from the loud voices who proclaim all knowing. I want the kid to excel like he did in the first game.
For those who might have missed it, Mbappé was sent off for an extremely nasty foul when playing against Alavés at the weekend, but it won’t affect his appearing in the match. Still, it does leave a question mark above him?
Apparently Bellingham and Rüdiger have had some kind of falling out. I’m not buying it. None of this matters, its about getting out there and 100% concentration, maybe the old fifteen minute trick? And they are very beatable.I’m terrified of them going 2-0 up in the first half…even more terrified of penalties. I won’t be watching if it does go to that.
We can do this, when we want we can really step it up, and they like to attack and play and we thrive on that too. Just don’t think too much about it being Real, and making them even bigger than they are. Of course they are big. Everyone is in awe of CR7 and his longevity, but Modric, is perhaps even a bigger success story, ex-Spud aside, age wise, and a sign for all those following that careers can go on at top flight beyond the usual age-limit? Obviously Carmavinga won’t be playing who was red-carded at the end of the first leg, Jorginho won’t be playing either after his going kaputt in the Brentford game.
Our normally generous friends at Statto HQ have given us a mere 20.2% chance of winning, our lowest all season and the Reyes de Europa 56.1%. First time this season I’m up for a draw!
Anyway, fears aside, this is whats to be relished in the Champions League, its what we missed for years during our sojourn in the Europa League. Full-blooded excitement, competing with excellence, massive build up, utter fear, and hopefully utter ecstasy.
Take care of yourselves. COYG!
Mills
Positively Arsenal 
Fantastic stuff Mills.
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Brilliant Mills,
Reflecting my thoughts are feelings, people don’t understand how anxious you can feel so far away from the start of a match
Yes goals change games but possession will be vital tonight and the longer we can retain the ball and keep it away from their gifted players the better our chances of a fantastic outcome. The crowd noise too will become dissipated if we hold possession or only allow them to hold possession with their defensive players.
Real do allow you chances and I think we may need to score tonight so I’m not literally shaking near the end of the game.
They do have some electric and supremely talented players who can score out of nothing but we have threat and potential ourselves and can not only score but squeeze the life out of games. Their keeper and back line never looked comfortable with our press and this is where I feel we can stick it up em and where the crowd can become increasingly frustrated.
Who cares who scores or how tonight is all about us going into the semi final at the final whistle. Achieve that and there won’t be an ARSENAL fan in the world who isn’t absolutely elated COYG.
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Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Merino.
Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Rosiak, Henry-Francis, Trossard, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Sterling, Nwaneri.
same starting 11 as last week, 5 probably unusable subs in the untried youths
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Penalty to Arsenal
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Saka makes a complete mess of it
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Newcastle are 3-0 up over crystal palace and are heading to 3rd in the table, 4 points behind Arsenal
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newcastle 4 up now
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Penalty to Real Madrid now and Rice booked which would see him miss the first leg of a semi if we manage to get there
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VAR taking an absolute age to decide if a penalty or not, ref now asked to take a look at the screen
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no penalty, so would mean no yellow for Rice either
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Real kicking lumps out of us, especially Saka
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25 minutes in and Raya gets a yellow card for time wasting, silly
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HT: 0-0
Saka missing that penalty has made it heart stopping, thank god their penalty was over turned
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I thought I was going to puke my guts up with fear in that first half. COYG!
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harry kane has drawn bayern munich level in the tie with inter
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i know what you mean mills, this has me the same way I was for Anfield 89 game,
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Very true Ed, exactly the same emotions as 89! COYG!
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inter level on the night and ahead on agg
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former arsenal loan player dani ceballos on for madrid as part of a triple sub
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inter take the lead to go 4-2 up on agg
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Sakaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa makes it 1-0 to the Arsenal
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Get in there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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for fucks sake we go to sleep and let the level the game, Saliba dawdles on the ball and loses possession needlessly and they score
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inter 2-2 bayern
inter just one to the good in the tie now
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Trossard on for Saka, about 15 plus stoppage time to go
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newcastle won 5-0
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6 minutes of stoppage time in the inter game
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Partey the dick just got himself a needless booking which means he misses our next cl game
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inter v barcelona in the other semi final
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Martinelliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii you beut 2-1 to the Arsenal a great run and finish
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fkn hell what a night!
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Tierney White and Zinchenko on
Rice, Timber and Martinelli off
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Arsenal v PSG in the semi final
neither side have won a CL yet, the other semi is Inter v Barcelona
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I am relaxed now for the first time in 2 hours, must be a reason for it
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Merino with two brilliant assists tonight
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Amazing, what magic performance…..COYG! How are you supposed to sleep after that? COYG!
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I wish Arsenal would play with that bravery and swagger far more often, we are a brilliant team when we play like this.
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An absolutely brilliant night’s football and ARSENAL history.
The game itself was a strange one. We didn’t press high with great intensity early on and this allowed Real to create a few half chances, which made most of us crap ourselves.
There were some outstanding performances Rice, Partey, Saka, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Martinelli and although Timber struggled at times he did have the hardest job on the pitch.
However I do continue to worry about our Captain who had a awful game. When the best thing you can say about the player who is supposed to be your most creative is their pressing is good then something is very wrong. He cannot tackle, he continually turns back into trouble, he gave several hospital balls last night and until the dying embers of the game, when Real were throwing everything forward, he created nothing. He even chose the wrong option on the break numerous times. His shooting is poor and confidence in front of goal has gone as well.
We all know talented players can dip in form and return to be brilliant but I think since his return from injury he has struggled big time. Maybe it would be wise to rest him before the PSG to try and kick start him again. Certainly many more performances like that will highlight the need to replace him on a more permanent basis.
Anyway apart from that what a fantastic night and when Martinelli scored our second I finally stopped shaking from nerves and started to believe we would go through.
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only gripe I have about last night was that Nwaneri was not brought on, we actually brought on Tierney for Martinelli in stoppage time, a guy who leaves us on a bosman in the summer, instead of a young talent we are said to be trying to get to extend his contract. But as long as Arteta loves youth hey.
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Arteta said today that Arsenal’s intention is to get Partey to sign a new contract
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Cardiff sack ARSENAL old boy Omer Riza and replace him with ARSENAL old boy Aaron Ramsey.
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Aston Villa beat Newcastle this evening which is a boost to our chances of finishing 2nd, a win tomorrow is a must as is a win midweek v Crystal Palace, two wins in these games would give us a very relaxed league position before we face PSG in the CL semi finals
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Sent the preview over to you George. COYG!
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EASTWARD HO!
Hello and how are you?
Sunday the 20th of April, sees the Mighty Cannon haul its Arsenal eastwards and onto Portman Road to play Ipswich Town. Kick off 2.00pm Western European time.
Well, I’m sure we are all chipper and dandy with a spring in our step after the nerve shredding, edge of the seat, (eventual) ecstasy of the incredible Real game in midweek. One that will become a famous landmark in Arsenal FC history. I’m sure old fans like Fred in the Shed would have loved to see that game, especially seeing Martinelli getting his confidence back, and taking on players like he did against Chelsea some years ago. What a night! But on we go, out of the night and into the daylight to take on what could be a tricky game in East Anglia.
Its been a tough season for the men from the east, and they currently lie in 18th position, with only two draws in eight, the last being a well played game against the aforementioned Chelsea. Despite that, I’m sure they’ve got their collective eye upon the outcome of the 115 charges against Man City, as they may well be spared relegation depending on the certain outcomes?
The Mighty Cannon have been given by our chums as Statto HQ a 68.1% chance of winning, whilst Ipswich have been given only a 12.4%.
I’m sure we can expect a few changes today, on the other hand who knows? We couldn’t beat Brentford but could beat Real Madrid( twice), so maybe we should expect a draw today? Only joking, here’s to a happy Arsenal Easter weekend. No fighting the rockers tomorrow, despite that’s what Bank Holidays were made for.
Take care of yourselves. COYG!
Mills
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At a time, when you would think all that was in the whole ARSENAL world minds would be on the upcoming Semi against PSG, actually these next two games are very important in our bid to come second once again without putting extra resources on the game in the middle of the semi final tie.
Personally I prefer not to see the likes of Saka but he is in the side but maybe that means we might rotate more against Palace.
Ipswich used to be the sort of place that was more difficult to get to than Newcastle such was the lack of infrastructure. Always a good day out though.
These days the trips are less frequent and we won’t be visiting there next season either. Today the sun is shining and we need another shinning display by the travelling Gooners COYG.
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Post is up
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