Hello and how are you? Tuesday the 3rd of February sees the Mighty Cannon host the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against our neighbours Chelsea FC. KO at the Emirates is at 8.00pm local time. Expected weather is cloudy and rainy ( 27-62% chance of a downpour) and temps are at °5 ( feels like °-4 ).
So, the Gunners go into this game with a 3-2 lead from the first leg and a nice victory against Leeds Utd under our belts. Great to see Jésus and The Vik on the scoreline, and the Zube making up for the mistake against United.
Young Max, Messrs. Merino and Saka are all missing from action for us, and Chelsea have Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Joao Pedro and Wesley Fofana returning after the rotations versus West Ham, awol with the Blues are Adarabioyo , Colwill, Lavia, Essugo, Gittens and Muydrk who is still suspended.
I snuck into Statto HQ and they calculated on the Super Computer that the Arsenal have a 56.5% chance of winning, and Chelsea 19.8%. Next up, a clash with the Mackems, like. So COYG!
Mills
The mood among fans seems to be up and down like a fiddlers elbow, Up, I like up, and it’s up up and away following the weekend results. Saka’s average form and there now being a credible stand in, lessens the loss of him and the absence of Merino gives Christian Nørgaard , who I rate and think has been good in his limited opportunities, a fighting chance.
One goal and home advantage should be more than enough, but you never know and there’s many a slip tween Carabao Cup and mouth.
Enjoy the game people.
Pedantic George.
Positively Arsenal 
The transfer window closes in just over an hour, and its not going well for Arsenal by the looks of it.
Arsenal were in for Hearts 18 year old striker James Wilson who is a full international for Scotland, but it seems he is joining Spurs now. Arsenal are said to have only offered a six month trial period with a decision to be made about signing him in the summer but Spurs are said to have got him cos they offered a six month loan with an option to buy.
Arteta said today that Arsenal were actively looking to bring in a replacement for Mikel Merino. But latest rumors is that Arsenal may now sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a six month contract, he has been training with our U21’s for a few months now to build up his fitness levels and has trained with our first team on occasion in January. Suppose he’d be better than nothing.
Arsenal Academy are said to be trying to bring in Evan Mooney from St Mirren and Igor Tyjon from Blackburn Rovers, but its not clear if any headway has been made on either deal.
Blackburn Rovers have signed Osman Kamara from Arsenal Academy, he is a highly skilful forward, who has had injury problems and his biggest problem is a lack of consistency, a lad capable of brilliant moments of flair, and dribbling etc, you know the sort, when on it he is almost unplayable, but who too often has off days
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Arteta said today that Merino has a fracture in his foot and that he will have an operation on it, and that the operation is not “always positive”, so its not clear when he will be back, or if he will miss the World Cup this summer.
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reports that Arsenal have agree a deal to sign England U19 international Jaden Dixon on a four-year deal from Stoke City, he is 18 and has played 6 times for Stoke first team.
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by the way Dixon was in the Spurs academy till he was 15.
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reports in Germany say Arsenal are trying to sign Bayern Munich’s 30 year old midfielder Leon Goretska, who is set to leave BM in the summer anyway.
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looks like Arsenal might be signing Evan Mooney from St Mirren for £400K with add ons and a sell on clause.
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looks like no first team transfer business for Arsenal today
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the Hearts manager said that Arsenal made contact with them yesterday with an offer for James Wilson but didn’t pursue the deal today.
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Very Boc to Back Ian.
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Evan Mooney now confirmed Ed,
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And back to keeping the faith of another kind.
Good preview lads although it got overshadowed by a transfer deadline that didn’t really effect us at all.
Tonight is a chance to prove our house is a castle and no-one should enjoy coming here.
The blue money men have just brought themselves another manager and on early showing a good one at that. We are the only ones to spoil his arrival party so tonight is a massive test for us as well as them.
Although the former defender likes a specific set up his history shows he is flexible when the situation arrives.
They like to stay compact and break quickly (just like everyone else) but they like to take risks that could be undoing.
They have recently conceded lots of goals but as we see in the first leg they score as well. They are good at set pieces and under rosenier they play fast aggressive football.
We will, like against manure, have to be careful given the ball away even when we are attacking and use our stranglehold method to constrain them.
Do this and our flair in open play and prowess from the stationary ball will shine through.
Its a big one tonight for our fans, players and the club COYG.
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Kaden Dixon signing now confirmed. Wonder will he win as many honors as the last Dixon we signed from Stoke
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Arrizabalaga, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres
Substitutes: Raya, Mosquera, White, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Havertz, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly
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Odegaard and Saka both out injured.
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Arsenal have announced the signing of Czech international goalkeeper Barbora Votikova on loan from Slavia Prague for the rest of the season
I wonder does this signing mean that Anneke Borbe is out for a while, she was taken off on a stretcher with her neck in a brace and her on oxygen during the final at the weekend. She spent the night in Hospital but was released the next day.
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HT: Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
a very boring half of football. Martinelli getting lots of the ball but his head down running is so annoying
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chelsea make a double change.
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Havertz on Gyokeres off
Trossard on Madueke off
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77th minute and we have our first effort on goal of the second half
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Lee Dixon is one old whinging bastard
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looking at replays of that penalty shout, it really was a clear penalty, the cfc defender does get the ball but he then lifts his trailing leg to trip Martinelli to stop him getting the ball.
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6 minutes of stoppage time to be played
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1-0 to the Arsenal – Havertzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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magic, wembley here we come! COYG!
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FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
Havertz with a stoppage time goal to give us a 4-2 agg win
it was a boring game, but CFC were as much to blame as AFC, if ot more as they were the ones that had to win to get through, we only needed a draw.
Arsenal are into the Carabao Cup final
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the goal
https://x.com/i/status/2018806501700411460
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Thank God that Havertz was aware enough not to pass it to Martinelli who had stupidly ran offside, he got carried away but really should be more aware.
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our first final since the 2020 FA Cup final. Think its about six weeks away, and our EPL games v Wolves will be moved now
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Reports that Katie McCabe will be leaving Arsenal this summer, she is out of contract and has not been offered a new deal.
Arsenal are trying to sign Ona Batlle from Barcelona on a free transfer this summer, they are also in for Georgia Stanway from Bayern Munich on a free too. If McCabe does leave I hope she goes abroad, I’d hate to see her play against Arsenal after all these years of committed performances.
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Arsenal have played 38 games across all competitions this season and we have 20 clean sheets. We kept 20 clean sheets last season across 58 games.
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Sky were saying it was a hard watch but they were being kind because they were broadcasting it.I can’t imagine any neutral still watching near the end.
Playing through their lines and then when we had a midfielder in oceans of space we ignored him and played it backwards, even when it was more difficult.
The game was extremely frustrating, but who gives a crap were in the final.
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Do you think McCabe has fallen out with Arsenal? I mean theyre offering contracts to others who are older and thats an aging squad, a could be up to nine players going in the summer. But they couldnt find room for a great (young) player like Kühl…plus lots of rumours that Stanway is coming from Bayern.
Maybe Katie wanted a longer contract? Just seems odd that someone who integral to the team and club in general would leave so abruptly? Maybe she wants a change in her final years?
Seems like by announcing it now she can be scouted by other clubs?
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Mills it seems we want Batlle from Barcelona to replace Katie. She hasn’t been at her best this season, she still gets stuck in and is one of the few players we have who stands up very well to the physical stuff from other teams, but she hasn’t had the sort of impact she was having in recent years.
Stanway would be an good addition to our midfield.
But despite the CL win and the World Club title last weekend, there are obvious flaws to the team this year. To be 13 points behind City is just too big a gap to have allowed, even if we win our game in hand and beat city this weekend we’d still be 7 points off top and with the way the top teams drop so few points a title challenge seems beyond us. A top 2 finish is important as it would get automatic CL place.
It looks like Stina will be allowed leave this summer too, it had been hoped to bring back Agyemang to take her place, but she’s done her ACL and its a wait and see when she will return and how she will be after that injury.
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Ian it was a hard watch, although we never seemed in much danger, but our use of the ball in midfield and up front was not of a high caliber. Martinelli was at his blind alley running, Madueke was taking guys on but there was so little end product from him, it was no surprise that Gyokeres barely touched the ball, and up till the goal in stoppage time Havertz hadn’t been on the ball either, Trossard did get on the ball well, but again he like the rest of them was playing within himself. Eze misplaced so much or had bad control so often it was annoying.
I can totally understand our approach, and it was up to CFC to take chances, but they never opened up at all, they never overloaded in attack, they were basically looking for us to make a mistake. Our approach was correct as we had the lead, we didn’t need to win, alright for a cup game but lets not be seeing that in the EPL.
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Will be interesting if Beth goes, she was heavily linked with the Lionesses last summer, but shes played well this season so far, or better than last.
Quick turn over or quicker at least than in the mens game, seems sad how succesful teams are broken up in the hope of forcing evolution and more victories?
Did you see the documentary on the CL win Ed? I really enjoyed it, brought a tear to the eye again depsite being some months ago now.
Arsenal have had a lot of ACL injuries in the last few seasons, Zinsberger out and probably wont play again for the Cannon. Careers are so short, I cant still remember Katie joining, feels like five minutes ago…
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new signings Dixon and Mooney trained with our U21 squad today, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain still training with them too. I see Martin O’Neill has expressed an interest in bringing him to Celtic.
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yeah Mills Beth has been much sharper this season, she had the hump with Jonas at the start of last season cos we had let her girlfriend Miedema leave. She was openly hostile towards him during games, which wasn’t a good look.
There has been a massive amount of ACL’s among women players, not just at Arsenal, but right across the league and indeed across leagues. Personally I suspect that part of the problem is caused cos training is not adjusted from mens training to womens training. For example did you know that many experts claim Women should not do press ups from their toes, but from their knees, as it can have an effect on their ability to have children. And on a similar note there is currently a few studies being done on the links to all these ACL’s and Women’s period cycle. Initial studies suggest a big link, but a larger wider study is needed.
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I didnt know about any of the training effects and how its playing out with ACLs Ed, thanks for that.
Vivs done well at City, hoofing plenty of goals like she did for us. Weinroither doesnt seem to have played much for them? Her ACL pretyt much ended her time at Arsenal.
But as you said, the 13 point gap is too much. The Ox might fit in ok at Celtic. Under Ange they had a great team, Kyogo got a lot of service and was able to capitalise on that.
Who would you rather play in the final, Newcastle or City? Id rather have Newcastle.
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Mills it doesn’t matter who we’d like to play in the final, its going to be City, they are 3-0 up tonight, and 5-0 on agg. Newcastle are a poor team and Eddie Howe avoids criticism cos he is an media darling and is English
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I was about to say at HT! I thought Newcastle might put up more of a fight. I suppose the last minute second goal in the 1st leg finished it off?
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isn’t it amazing that the EPL have not charged Rodri for his outrageous outburst last weekend. I don’t think a player from any other club would not have already been charged with misconduct over those comments.
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Pep was on a real whinge fest yesterday, first he complained that their new signing Marc Guehi is not allowed to play in the final of the CC cos he was signed after the first leg of the semi final, and in fact City have asked for the rules to be changed.
Secondly Pep complained that City have to travel to London for the final at Wembley, instead of the final being played up north.
on a side note Leicester City have been docked 6 points for financial breaches from last season, but still no decision on man city and their 115 or is it 130 breaches of the rules. The epl are a disgrace.
Still not seen any charges for Rodri.
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The Premier league has been scewed towards the rich clubs since day one, it’s survival depends on them.
The rule changes favour the rich clubs, not necessarily the big clubs, and I’m sure city will only ever face a small fine.
The rare chance of them facing a points deduction would be if they were 20 PTS clear in the league and there is no jeopardy.
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PG, sent the preview over. COYG!
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Up and running .
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