Up the Arse! Goons Thread

[glenferry23]

Akanji I believe?

Martinelli unsure if he’s recovered in time for this one. I get the sense with how quiet things have been with him, no mention or sighting of him in training pics etc, that he will be available. Arteta always plays his cards close to the chest with this kind of thing.

 

[Cruyff14]

Nope, Akanji out too.

 

[andana]

 

[glenferry23]

Well worth the read:

Mikel Arteta exclusive interview: Arsenal boss rebuilding Gunners' fear factor and unlocking Kai Havertz to rival Man City

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta tells Sky Sports about bridging the gap to Man City, instilling a love for defending in his players, and Kai Havertzs impact up front; watch Man City vs Arsenal live on Sky Sports Premier League from 4pm on Sunday; kick-off 4.30pm

www.skysports.com

 

[dirty2]

Night shift tonight should finish 4/5am then watch the game....

No social media for me later.

Massive game!!! Got some beers in the fridge waiting for me!

 

[glenferry23]

Pretty much me all day.

 

[andana]

Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhães are with the travelling Arsenal squad.

 

[glenferry23]

By this stage of the match last season we’d already been blown away.

Big chance there for Jesus.

 

[glenferry23]

A change at LB I wonder if Arteta will make at HT.

 

[glenferry23]

Understandable double change.

Partey and Tomiyasu were both influential coming on in the second half against City at home.

 

[glenferry23]

Watching through my fingers here

 

[glenferry23]

The better option there was to cut it across to Martinelli.

 

[glenferry23]

Not too long ago it was almost a given Arsenal would concede 6 points to City and Liverpool year after year. The manner of some of those defeats too. Often blown away.

However this season that’s 4 points won from City, to go with 4 from Liverpool from this season and last. Will most certainly take that draw. It wasn’t pretty however effective enough to negate them and take the point.

9 matches to go, that’s a bit over a quarter of the season. Anything can and will happen from here on in. Long long way to go in this title race.

 

[glenferry23]

Thought Gabriel and Saliba were immense. Take your pick for MOTM for Arsenal. Rice very important too. Having Saliba and Rice in matches of this significance make all the difference.

Saka clearly didn’t look fit and perhaps should’ve been subbed earlier. Still produced probably the best chance for Arsenal of which Jesus unfortunately slipped over at the wrong time.

Now to somehow try and get back to sleep after that.

180 of minutes of PL football against City this season. Goals conceded:

0.

How far Arsenal have come.

 

[giantroo]

 

[glenferry23]

Fascinating listening to the post match comments. Arteta: “We wanted to win but when you cannot win you must not lose”.

Odegaard: “if you don’t have the best day with the ball, you have to make sure you don’t lose the game”.

And similar sentiments throughout. Have said it a few times, there’s a level of maturity that’s quite palpable across the club. Learning from experiences here.

8 points from 12 in the head to head matches against Liverpool and City this season. That’s a brilliant return that’d I’d take everytime if offered.

If we continues to get taken apart by them season after season, they’d likely be out of reach in the title race and we’d be looking at consolidating a champions league spot on the table.

The Invincibles drew 12 times, it’s often forgotten. 26-12-0. Even that away match to Old Trafford was a draw, an eventful one at that. You don’t have to win all of them, shutting the door on the opponents can be just as effective in the bigger picture.

Take the draw and then it’s onto the next match. Luton at home next up Thursday morning. Should be looking to maximum points then.

 

[Crow-eater]

Thought Gabriel and Saliba were immense. Take your pick for MOTM for Arsenal. Rice very important too. Having Saliba and Rice in matches of this significance make all the difference.

Saka clearly didn’t look fit and perhaps should’ve been subbed earlier. Still produced probably the best chance for Arsenal of which Jesus unfortunately slipped over at the wrong time.

Now to somehow try and get back to sleep after that.

180 of minutes of PL football against City this season. Goals conceded:

0.

How far Arsenal have come.

Shots on target conceded: 2

That's insane defensive numbers. 57 matches in a row at home that City have scored in, until last night.

Absolutely take a draw. Now to stay healthy for the run in, because April is going to be crazy.

 

[glenferry23]

Shots on target conceded: 2

That's insane defensive numbers. 57 matches in a row at home that City have scored in, until last night.

Absolutely take a draw. Now to stay healthy for the run in, because April is going to be crazy.

The club deserves a lot of credit here. Last season the entire system collapsed due to Saliba (and then Tomiyasu) going down in the same match. This is not a Rob Holding thing, it was the ramifications of that missing piece from the back. All of a sudden we leaked goals and then just couldn’t cope in the run in.

Arteta has solidified the system, to cater for the inevitable absences of key figures here and there. He signed off ball monsters like Rice and Havertz for this reason. They complement the work Odegaard does beautifully. Timber as well who it shouldn’t be forgotten how seamlessly he slotted into the style in pre season/community shield.



I read this 3 times to fully appreciate the progress Arsenal have made. Phenomenal defensive performance.

 

[Cruyff14]

I thought we would win tbh with their injuries but we didn't lose which is great.

Lots will happen between now and the end of the season. Just need to be the absolute best we can.

 

[dirty2]

Disappointed with the draw.... But we didn't lose and got a very important point.

 

[windyhill]

4/6 v 115. Excellent work AFC.

 

[Genesis67]

If you'd offered me 4/6 points against City before the start of the season, I'd have snapped it up. That hasn't changed.

 

[Gambit78]

Thought I'd watch the game again before commenting. Defensive masterclass and all that but... Leandro Trossard, come on dude, that was the time to serve the platter. Ugh. Great result all things considered, but...

Anyway, show Luton the respect they deserve. Then bank the points. On every metric this season, we deserve a shot at the title.

 

[dirty2]

Important game... Need to get back in our winning ways...

 

[Cruyff14]

5 changes, not the worst game to rotate in.