Hello and how are you. The 11th of January will see the Mighty Cannon make another trip down to the south coast this time to Hampshire as they take on Portsmouth at Fratton Park in the 3rd rd. of the FAC. Kick off is at local time, and expected weather is cloudy with temps of °8 ( feels like -6°) and 51% chance of rain.
Well, after the sub-par performance against Liverpool, the FAC gives a chance of a PL breather for Arteta and co. Certainly, we will see a few changes in the changing room. I’m really interested in what George and yourselves have to say about this game, personally I expect us to win, but I felt the same against Liverpool, and at the back of my mind is a little worry that for many years Arsenal just haven’t been that committed to the FAC?
The cup can be an odd one especially at this stage, so league standings might not shed any insight at all, Portsmouth are hovering just above the Championship relegation zone- and on their last outing had a 5-0 mauling.
Last time we lost at Fratton Park in any seriousness was in the early spring of 1958. I’m sure the Positively Arsenal long-beards will recall us playing against Portsmouth on the way to the final in 1971 ( a 1-1 draw at FP and then winning 4-3 at Highbury), while all of us can remember the match back in 2004 when the Arsenal beat them 5-1 with an Henry masterclass. If he plays I wish such a performance on Big Vik who needs something to boost his confidence and some service from the wings…
One thing is, we won’t be wearing the cursed white kit!
Unavailable for the Gunners are Cristhian Mosquera (ankle), Max Dowman (ankle) Riccardo Calafiori (muscle), whilst Kai Havertz ( fitness), Piero Hincapie (muscle) are looking doubtful. Mosquera may be back for the 14th though.
For Pompey, Mark Kosznovszky (knee), Florian Bianchini (knee), Hayden Matthews (ankle),Callum Lang (hamstring), Josh Knight (back), Thomas Waddingham (thigh) Josh Murphy (hamstring), Connor Ogilvie (knee),are unable to play while Colby Bishop is doubtful with a ankle injury.
Our chums at Statto HQ looked up from playing D+D and declared that they have given Portsmouth 8.7% chance of victory and Arsenal a 76.2% chance of victory with harmony.
Next up a semi-final clash in the League Cup at Stamford bridge and Chelsea. So COYG!
Mills
Well Mills, I think we will make loads of changes, those that come in will be desperate to impress ,Arteta will be desperate to show us that his teams can be better that watching paint dry and we will batter them.
That’s what I think.
Pedantic George.
Positively Arsenal 
10 changes to our starting line up
Arrizabalaga, White, Norgaard, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Nwaneri, Eze, Madueke, Martinelli, Jesus.
Subs: Raya, Timber, Salmon, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Gyokeres.
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how times have changed, I was watching the Big Match Revisited this morning on ITV4, and they had Arsenal v West Ham from February 1977, the Arsenal starting 11 had 8 starters that we would now call as Academy Products, Rice, Powling, Simpson, Nelson, Armstrong, Brady, Ross, Stapelton and the sub too was an academy product, Matthews. Missing that day was another regular starter from the academy O’Leary.
The 3 bought players that day were Jimmy Rimmer, Alan Hudson and Malcolm McDonald, could you imagine a top flight club starting 8 club produced players in league game.
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one other thing on that 1977 game, the pitch was a disgrace, I doubt very much a game would be let go ahead now on such a mud bath
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the Portsmouth team today includes former Arsenal academy player Zak Swanson
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I so want Gyorkeres to do well, I think he should play 90 minutes bit its not to be today.
Tge narrative around him stems from the ARSENAL haven’t won the league for twenty years because they haven’t had a prolific striker but in truth everyone know that’s incorrect.
A thousand ex strikers were saying how he wasn’t on the end of Saka’s pullbacks but they all forgot to mention Jesus being absent from Noni’s
Today we know more about the crowd than the opposition but they will obviously be up for it and the ref will be sympathetic.
This is the type of game where you have to fight for your right to party as we definately have the quality COYG.
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1-0 to Portsmouth
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1-1, Norgaard with his first Arsenal goal, knocked it in at a corner
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they are now saying its a Dozzell own goal
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Martinelli makes it 2-1 to Arsenal, heading home from a corner
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Martinelli misses from a yard out.
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Swanson brings down Madueke and its a penalty to Arsenal
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Madueke misses the penalty, wide.
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MLS booked
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HT: Portsmouth 1-2 Arsenal
we’ve been poor and not good in front of goal but lead, much better needed in the second half.
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Arsenal had one shot on target in the first half
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Martinelli makes it 3-1 to Arsenal
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Martinelli’s second goal makes him our leading scorer for this season across all competitions, 8 goals.
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Timber, Odegaard and Haverts on
White, Nwaneri and Jesus off
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Make that 9 for the season by Martinelli, his first Arsenal hattrick to make ti 4-1 to Arsenal
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16 year old Marli Salmon comes on for his debut, Gabriel off
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seems Salmon is the youngest player to play for us in the FA Cup
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Martinelli off, Zubimendi on
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FT: Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal
a Martinelli hattrick and an own goal get us the win. Lots of it was not pretty, it was Artetaball.
into the 4th round now, our next game is wednesday away to Chelsea in the semi final of the Carabao Cup.
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reports that Everton are trying to sign Ben White, might explain our links to Brentford’s Kayode and Crystal Palace’s Guehi
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Nit a great performance bit considering the circumstances we got the job done wwhich is the requirement.
Away from home, hostile atmosphere and unfamiliar players playing together. It all adds up to a difficult match and we passed the test.
The scoreline may have flattered us and we struggled in open play but because of our profficientcy at set pieces we were comfatable throughout.
With only two defenders injured, we still had to play our number one denfender even though he recently came back from injury, play a midfielder at CB and had to bring on our first choice right back at the end. That suggest if we want to go far in many competitions we need another signing at the back and that’s where the Crystal Palace captain stories comes in.
I don’t understand why our sub’s were mainly first choice players and Gyorkeres, who needs confidence, was left to stew on the bench.
We are however, through to the next round and on to the next competition.
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Man utd out of the FA Cup, they lost 2-1 at home to Brighton, Danny Welbeck scored the second goal.
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utd losing means they will have a 40 game season, 38 league games, 1 CC game and 1 Fa Cup game.
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But if they could win their next game that would be helpful.
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as long as they don’t decide to turn up big time v Arsenal the game after.
Sesko scored again today.
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the spanish super cup final is on at the moment and its half time with the score Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid, with 3 goals scored in first half stoppage time, 45+2, 45+4 and 45+6. Sounds a bit crazy
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in the womens super league Arsenal are 3rd, ahead of spurs on goal difference, with man utd one point further back. We are 4pts off 2nd placed Chelsea and a full 10 points behind leaders Man City
Arsenal Women have only lost 1 of their 12 games, the same as Ma City and Chelsea, but we’ve had 5 draws, that really has killed our chances of a league title this season.
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Arsenal have recently begun to work with throw in expert Thomas Gronnermar, the Dane formerly worked with Liverpool when Klopp was their manager.
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Danny Welbecks goal v Man Utd today was his 9th in 19 games against them, he only scored 29 goals for man utd
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Arsenal will be at home to Wigan in the 4th round of the FA Cup
man city once again get an incredibly easy draw, Salford or Swindon
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FA Cup fourth round draw in full
Liverpool or Barnsley vs Brighton
Stoke vs Fulham
Southampton vs Leicester
Wrexham vs Ipswich
Arsenal vs Wigan
Hull vs Chelsea
Burton vs West Ham
Burnley vs Mansfield
Norwich vs West Brom
Port Vale vs Bristol City
Grimsby vs Wolves
Aston Villa vs Newcastle
Man City vs Salford or Swindon
Macclesfield FC vs Brentford
Birmingham vs Leeds
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I was having a conversation tonight with Chatgpt and it had a good scour through the blog (from the beginning to now) and said this:
“what makes Positively Arsenal stand out — it doesn’t feel like a blog, it feels like a conversation among fans who really care.”
COYG!
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Per Mertesacker is stepping down from his role of Academy Manager in the summer, after 8 years in the job.
there are many things good with the Academy but it has certain problems too, such as poor results, a poor loan system and a problem convincing top young players who are leaving other academies to join us.
Who would you guys like to see get the Job. Would you like one of our great players of the past get it, such as Ljunberg, Cazorla, Henry, Pires, Bergkamp, Campbell or what about one of those that has come through our Academy, like Adams, Keown or bringing back Morrow in to the Academy
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it seems spurs are signing Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for €40M, he chose them over Aston Villa.
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Kolo would be my choice but certainly not those who may be legends as players but have failed as coaches Campbell, Adams, Keown etc.
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Well, if we want silverware this season it looks like we might have to beat city several times
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George, sent the preview over. COYG!
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It’s up.
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