Hello and how are you?
Tuesday the 15th of September sees the Mighty Cannon move is current caravan of victories north and east to the plains of Norfolk and take on ye old Tractor boys of Ipswich Town at Portman Road, in our first outing in this season’s Carabao cup. KO is 8.00pm local time. Expected weather is 18° feels like15°, with between 0 and 2% chance of rain.
So, Ipswich Town, a club for those of us with grey beards, was once very powerful, both in Britain and in Europe. My first game back in ’79 saw us lose 2-0 against them, and I witnessed close hand the height and prowess of Thijssen, Butcher, Hunter and Arnie Mühren all at close quarters take us apart. Brian Talbot had left them and come to us after collecting his winners medal and the promptly won it again in our famous thriller against Man United. The FA cup was paraded around the ground before KO, and Paul Mariner would later join us some years later, but it was pretty much the team that shamed us in the ’78 final.
Under Robson they were a formidable force. Of course, it was still utter magic even though we lost that night. Incredible to think on 33,255 turned up that evening, and it was the opening game of the season! Giants and heroes of yesterday, are soon forgotten in the fogs of daily life. Fame? Obscurity waiting, well Carrie Fischer warned us.
Anyway, newly promoted Ipswich have had a mixed bag so far, this season, sometimes facing unlucky moments (Liverpool), and seem a side that seem difficult to predict; Ive seen them with a blunt attack that missed many chances, but then sharpen up and demolish Palace in style. One thing that was noticeable, if you take low shots at their keeper, he’s super vulnerable!
They beat Leicester in the last round.
I’m sure Mikel will make a lot of changes for this one. White, Willie and Mosqerua are all crocked. But we probably shall see Big Vik back in action (give him some service, please!). It’s been a long time since we lifted this trophy (’93) and I’m not convinced it’s on our list this year, he said not offering any evidence whatsoever. Ipswich have never made the final, but have reached the semi on four occasions.
Statto HQ was closed as they had gone on a city break to Prague, however at midnight a carrier pigeon began tapping on my window and attached to its leg was a message: which read: Ipswich town FC have a 13.1% chance of winning, and the Arsenal have a 67.2% chance of victory hopefully through harmony.
Next up, get on yer All Mod Clichés and go hunting for extinct rockers, as we take on south-coasters Brighton in our next PL game.
May your force be with you. COYG!
Mills
ah Ipswich under Bobby Robson were good but really were only a great goalie from being multi title winners, they did try for Shilton before Forest got him, they did try for Rimmer and nearly got him before he went to Aston Villa, and both Shilton and Rimmer won leagues and european cups, it was rumored they rivaled Arsenal for Jennings. If they had got any of them over the very average Paul Cooper I believe that Liverpool would have won a few less league titles.
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A very nice pre-match article. Thanks…
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Brilliant Mills,
Taking us back to Terry Neil’s days and Robson’s excellent team bringing in two fantastic Dutchmen to the English league and taking it to another level. It was the first time foreign players had really dominated a team in our league. As a boy 78 broke my heart.
I hope Mills is not driving the bus tonight as were going to Suffolk not Norfolk and we might be a bit late.
Tonight we face a another Sunderland type team who play direct quick football but also have the ability to press high. Unlike Sunderland they seem to be loose at the back and should offer us plenty of chances.
It is quite amazing how we go from lauding our squad to worrying about holes in certain departments and worrying about players being overplayed in just a couple of matches.
The other consideration is how much our style has to change if our first choice keeper is not playing. I think for this one he may be kept in because of the changes in the back four. I do think Zumbimendi could do a Lauren at right back if needed and that might add further versatility to the squad.
In midfield and upfront we are well stocked and should have enough to cause problems all over the place for the tractor boys.
Whoever plays this should be an enjoyable wide open game COYG.
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thanks Ian, no wonder I cant find the stadium, Im in the wrong county! Circles, my head is going round in circles… Red faced apologies, especially to Ipswich fans!
thank Balkaneer, much appreciated! COYG!
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Arsenal: Arrizabalaga, Gabriel, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Merino, Guimaraes, Madueke, Dowman, Eze, Gyokeres
Subs: Meslier, Konsa, Calafiori, Ibrahim, Julienne, Tzolis, Saka, Odegaard, Havertz
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Dowman makes it 1-0 to the Arsenal
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our U21’s are away to Leyton Orient in the EPL Trophy, its 1-1 at half time, Archie Stevens with our goal
Ranson
Clarke-Dixon-Ogunnaike-Washington
Murisa
Hashi-Emerson Nwaneri
Stevens-Mooney-Scanlon
Subs: Porter, Agustien, Harriman-Annous, Tyjon, Hamill, Mbala, McCarron.
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Madueke makes it 2-0 to the Arsenal
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Evening Ed, hope your doing well. Arsenal are! Good to see red Max on the score sheet. COYG!
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our u21’s are leading 2-1, harriman-annous with our second goal
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All gone a bit flat after 2-0
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our u21’s beat Leyton Orient 2-1
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JJ Gabriel the 15 year old son of former Arsenal player Joe O’Cearuill has asked Man Utd to terminate his registration. He was linked with a move to Arsenal a few months back, Man City and Barcelona are both being strongly mentioned to be after him too. He is considered a generational talent. In fact he was set to make his Man Utd first team competitive debut tomorrow in the league cup. This decision by JJ has thrown man utd big time. The one thing they will not want is him leaving for Barcelona as Utd would get no fee at all. While any move to an English club would see them get a big training fee.
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konsa on for gabriel
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Dowman makes it 3-0 to the Arsenal
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Merino makes it 4-0 to the Arsenal
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ipswich pull a goal back
Theo Julienne makes his competitive senior debut coming on for Bruno G, with Zubimendi going into midfield and Julienne going to right back
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A bit late to this, so thanks Mills, though surprised you didn’t mention all those Ipswich players who played alongside Pele, Ardiles and Bobby Moore in that epic European final all those years ago.
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so any theories as to why Gyokeres is playing so poorly, is it a confidence thing, or does he think/know Arteta wanted rid of him in the summer. If he keeps playing like he did last night it won’t be surprise if Merino is used as a CF ahead of him.
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here is a stat for you, from harvey downes
Theo Julienne making his competitive debut last night means in each of the last 31 seasons Arsenal have given a first team debut to at least one teenager, it started in the 1996/97 season when Arsene Wenger gave a debut to Nicolas Anelka
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Arsenal are going to be playing at Highbury in the next round of the CC as we are away to Fleetwood Town, and they play at Highbury Stadium which has a capacity of just 5,327.
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I’m back in blighty, enjoying a proper cup of tea, I think I’m cosmopolitan but sometimes I’m a little Englander like those I critique.
Anyway I managed to watch the Chelsea game but missed the last two, other than text commentary, so watching the ARSENAL again this Saturday with my lads will be brilliant.
It is comforting to know that wherever I travel in the world there is a little bit of home on this site. Thanks a lot to everyone for keeping me up to date, it makes a big difference to get a reasoned opinion on the games and not the sensationalistic crap you get in the media or on other sites.
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Arsenal have confirmed the signing of 16 year old striker Vincent Joseph from Liverpool, unlike the recent 16 year olds we signed there is no mention of him having agreed a pro deal for when he turns 17, that does not mean he hasn’t but we will have to wait and see.
I see nottingham forest have been busy signing young players too, they just snapped up a pair of twins from Reading, we were linked with them at the start of the season and Forest are signing Shamrock Rovers striker Michael Noonan in January, he recently turned 18 but will see out the remaining League of Ireland season before joining Forest in January. He is a big prospect.
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First thing coming out of Mikel’s presser, is that Ben is OK.
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Glad you got back safe Ian, hope it was a good trip.
George, sent the preview over. COYG!
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