Where There Is Hope…
May 25th, 2017 by 'holic
Less than 48 hours to go, and the nerves, I will confess, are starting to build. As preparation weeks go this has not been the best. Every day it seems someone else is a doubt for the match, but still that last drop of hope refuses to evaporate.
If we were playing them at the bus stop in Fulham I think I would be resigned to our fate right now, but we aren’t. At the new Wembley they have beaten us in an FA Cup semi-Final and we have beaten them in the Community Shield, a pre-season friendly elevated to major trophy status by the loathsome Mourinho last night. Of course it was his Chelsea we defeated that day, courtesy of a wonderful strike by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Hopefully the Ox will feature on Saturday too and enjoy the feeling of a more significant Wembley strike. It will be a tough call for Arsene Wenger to choose between him and Hector Bellerin at right wing-back. A fully fit Bellerin would be an automatic choice but his ongoing ankle issues have robbed him of a yard of his blistering pace. Our defensive situation means we are ending the same way we started the season. Going with an untried combination at the back. Arsene admitted the obvious.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable and unpredictable, and we have been hit hard in a position where we will need to be strong on Saturday. We’ll have to find solutions and hopefully I will find the good solutions.”
Surely under the circumstances a back three is more required than ever? The options? Per Mertesacker, Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal, Matthieu Debuchy. Has Kristian Bielik been at Shenley this week? The former trio seem likeliest unless Kieran Gibbs is ruled out, thus affording an unlikely promotion to Debuchy.
Clearly attack will be the best form of defence, and it goes without saying we will have to be ruthless when opportunities present themselves. We can all see the dilemma facing the boss to lead the line. Olivier Giroud is undoubtedly the more consistent finisher if we are considering a straight choice between he, Danny Welbeck, or Theo Walcott. However there is a feeling we may be better off going for someone with greater pace to exploit the erratic Luiz.
A combination of either Walcott, or Welbeck, and Alexis offers the opportunity for flexibility and rotation between the left flank and leading the attack. That would also retain the option that has worked so many times this season of using Giroud as the battering ram impact substitute. How many times will we change our minds between now and 4.30 on Saturday when we will find out what the man that really matters has decided?
They key to the whole match however could be the pairing behind Mesut Ozil. One of them will need to keep a particularly close watch on Hazard when he comes roaming through the centre. Francis Coquelin proved not up to the task at the bus stop this season, and Granit Xhaka’s ‘tackling’ with Anthony Taylor refereeing is a recipe for a disaster. Aaron Ramsey will be more concerned with inflicting damage further forward. Mohammed Elneny, anyone?
Ah well, roll on Saturday. All of this thinking, worrying then hoping, is just too nerve-wrecking. I think a need a tot or two of single malt tranquiliser. Until tomorrow night, have a great Friday, ‘holics.
37 Responses to “Where There Is Hope…”
She wore
What did she wear?
Single malt will do quite nicely barman.
Absent the holic pound I will go for 1-2 to the cunning Arse.
Elneny for the winner worth a shot.
Not sure Arsene fancies him, bt8. I think he’ll go with Xhaksey.
Ramka power to the fore, then. 🙂
Re: Cynic in the last drinks. Evonne Goolagong’s wiki page does not say she is dead so my suspicion is she is alive and well. The last item about her in her entry says:
“In April 2016 Goolagong Cawley was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia in recognition of her distinguished service to the community.”
Just to confirm, I checked another website and she seems to be alive and conducting tennis camps. Daughter was a professional footballer for a spell. There was even a biography of her life, published in 1993 if you don’t care about being out of date by 24 years:
Home! The Evonne Goolagong Story. Cawley, Evonne Goolagong and Jarrett, Phil (1993).
Evening H part one.
Unless Mustafi makes a miraculous recovery from concussion,i fear we are completely threadbare at the back.
With Gibbs out as well having not trained all week,i think we may have to revert to a back 4.
With Hector and Nacho as the full backs and Per/Holding in the middle.
The key then to stopping Chelsea will be to play 2 defensive midfielders,probably Coq and Xhaka,with instructions not to cross the halfway line under any circumstances,but just sit in and protect the defense.
I would play the Ox on the right wing,Alexis on the left,with Mesut central.
Then a toss of the coin for the Striker role.
My preference is for Welbeck,who is more interchangeable with Alexis,and can switch out wide if necessary,whereas Ollie can really only play the one role.
Whilst Chelsea are strong in the air at the back,their defenders aren’t particularly quick,so i feel we will only beat them by getting in behind them and getting low crosses/cutbacks into the box.
This is where the Hector/Ox right side combo can do some damage,with nacho having a more defensive role on the left due to his lack of pace in recovery.
As against City in the semi final,we were written off with no hope,and again i cannot find a single pundit tipping us to win.
Which for me is a good sign as we never seem to cope well with being favorites.
With the pressure off,we may be able to relax a bit and play our best.
I am quietly confident we can give Chelsea a real battle on Saturday.
Kristian Bielik???????
That’s not even close to being funny H.
Thought-provoking Part 1 there, Guvna. Decisions, decisions.
Our defensive frailties this season are exponentially magnified by the bad luck of the last 10 days and erode my confidence in our ability to handle Hazard, Costa and Willian. If either Gibbs or Mustafi pulls through despite the recent gloomy prognostications I would stick with three at the back with Per and Holding plus either Mustafi or Monreal as it has turned around our league results of late and helped pull off a SF result against the odds.
If we had our first choice back three or closer to it than will be possible I would have a shred of hope but it looks a tough task if we don’t get Mustafi fit. Failing a return of either Gibbs or Mustafi I reckon Clive’s selection is the best bet. Unless someone knows Debuchy’s phone number as he did a good job as a stand-in CB a year or so ago. Is he still in the country?
If we win this under these circumstances, I will be amazed and over the moon.
COYG
“Clearly attack will be the best form of defence…”
For the love of God – NO! Absolutely not!
extra time or penalties. nothing else.
4.2.3.1. as I suggested in the last drinks (or the round before?). But no Welbeck puhleeze. With our dubious defence we will undoubtedly need to score goals, and Theo is a much better bet than either Ox or Danny. Also he must be spitting chips having not started since his Palace gaffe, at which point he had reduced Alexis’s goals scored advantage to just 3 (22-19) and looked the more likely to finish top goal dog.
And OG up front, finally to actually start he and Theo together for the first time for years … a partnership that was so fruitful back in the day.
But I guess I’m alone with that notion as I am with most of my thoughts… 😀
remember the final, two thousand & 5.
that is the key.
the evolution of the…arm
Vision of Courtois reaching helplessly as the ball sails just out of his reach. History does occasionally repeat itself.
Cheers H!
‘Holic … here’s wishing you the pleasure of analysing a cup final win to cap off another season of unrivalled Arsenal blogging. You deserve to go out a winner, even if the season hasn’t delivered the rewards we all craved.
COYG
bt8 – My apologies, I was getting her confused with someone else.
As for the game tomorrow, we’ll be stuck with Welbeck up top and Theo will end the season, and possibly his Arsenal career, on the bench. With zero minutes on the pitch.
Thanks for Part 1 GH.
The main question from the drinks
seems to be whether to cling on
grimly, backs to the wall and nick
it 1-0 on penalties or attack is the
best form of defence and go out
all gunners blazing.
I certainly have no idea but my
preference would be all guns blazing,
simply because I don’t think whoever
we put out at the back will be able to
nullify the chavs for 90 minutes.
If i was picking the team and assuming
Mustafi can’t play then it’s
Cech
Holding Mert Nacho
Ox Xhaka Ramsey Ozil
Theo Welbeck Sanchez
Nobody in his right mind would pick
that team 🙂
Just do it and go for the 8-7 win
boss.
I have a feeling he’ll play 4 at the back and just go for it. Real hiding under the duvet, watching behind the sofa, through the hands stuff. Just reading about Perez eyeing up a move back to Depotivo, what the hell did that lad do wrong ? Thought he looked electric and great stats. How can Welbz be considered more effective and valuable. Beats me. Mind you naughty boy Theo could feel the same I expect. Any thoughts/insight out there on Perez ? Was it 16 mill if he just stayed as cover rising to 40 if he played loads !? What boll*x. COYG.
bit excited
big weekend start
houseful o hoops shortly
pre pre match bevvys
they’re ferrywards after
can’t understand a word the skirt wearin jessies say
but tis writ long an large in the paddy handbook
open yer home to all and sundry
no matter how freckley or related
they may be
.
anyhoo
fuck the lotta them ?
b-side fixture watchers
now half 5 – holy fuck
?????
am fuckin well up fer it
indeed i might fuckin well up fer it
so
safe passage them that’s goin’
and
PLEASE FUCKIN GOD JUST FUCKIN WIN !
.
.
#she wore
#she wore
We will win this one, gut feeling. Head of course will say not a chance with this defense but then for once may the gut get its due please.
How can we play per in tomorrow’s game is beyond my understanding but then we have no choice but to is the answer, i know.
We need to score first, take the gamble, play Ox and Alexis even if they are not fully fit. We need players who take on their defenders and use the space their wing backs will leave. Kante and Matic set to start would mean they will stifle Aaron and Xhaka so we need our wingers taking on their full backs. That is the only option we have along with praying Mesut and Alexis have the game of their lives.
One final hurrah before the boss leaves? well i do wish that is the case even though the board does not seem to be all that perturbed and will go on with him. They have not planned for a transition at all and again shows how disorderly we have become. Still with a prayer on my lips and hope in my heart i say we are the famous Arsenal and we are going to Wembley.
Just been on the phone to someone in Scotland – apparently a popular bet North of the border at the moment is for Arsenal and Aberdeen to do a “Red Cup Final” double – stopping two teams beginning with ‘C’ winning doubles in the process.
Not sure on the odds but I am sorely tempted.
I have a feeling he’ll play 4 at the back and just go for it.
With the players available to him, he should do just that. I fear we’re in for a game like the 2005 final though and an attempt to steal it on penalties.
the mighty dandy bath , new day
i’m sure is on that
?
he might break into his confirmation money
and put the whole pound on
?
.
moooooooooooooooooooooo
de hell we poverty !
throw anither pea in tha soup
Good call cba but I am not a betting man.
I will feel SO HAPPY if the Dandies and the Gunners can pull off a double red triumph over far more expensive outfits that I have no need to spend my confirmation pound in a Bookies. I’m saving it for a vintage bar of MacGoan’s Highland Toffee (used to be 3d) if I can find one.
My brother and niece will be among the Dandies at Hampden and Miss B and I will be cheering on the Gunners at Wemberleee.
COME ON YOU REDZZZZZZZ! North and South.
I lost a ‘w’ from MacGowan’s somewhere. If you find it, please stick it in the post.
there’s only one !
.
god bless ye sir fer stayin off the gargle long enough
to say hello
.
????
Looking forward to it. In Steve T’s absence on matters of National Importance, our man Bath will need to step into the breach at the bar. No better man than he, assuming that his mind is firmly on beer buying and not drifting north to Hampden Park. I’m hopeful that the Hoiic pound is on 2-1? That has a very nice silver cup ring to it.
Dr Feelgood is going to be in town and engaging in a strict pre-match regime of Liffey calisthenics.
For the faint hearted, just know, his record is 3 visits to Wembley so far and 3 wins!
I’m buzzing!
UTA !
like fuckin busses ?
Ah, Mr Z. Long time no see in this fine establishment.
For the record, the bathgooner FA Cup Final record is 3 Arsenal finals, 3 wins.
Looking for a fourth.
Is that the Corporal I see in one of those pictures (No 10)?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20170526/pics-last-session-ahead-of-cup-final
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J-LvMxKvFY
Loved Mad.
Not surprised you do too.
???
Evening chums. The second part of the Cup Final trilogy is up. Pray the third is a celebration and not a lament. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>