Time For The Squad To Prove Themselves
Apr 7th, 2018 by 'holic
It may not be the best time to post a preview of the visit of Southampton in 17 hours. You may think differently but I am full with beer-battered cod fillet followed by affogato, and sipping generously on my Laphroaig. The journey will, thankfully, start an hour later than last week. I will appreciate that extra hour of kip, I’m sure. Enough of me!
Arsene Wenger faces a really difficult selection for this match. The top four has flown and we have to conserve our best players for the Europa League, in which we are four good performances away from lifting a European trophy and reclaiming our Champions League place.
David Ospina remains ‘injured’ so I am sure Petr Cech should start in goal, but in front of him I can imagine Calum Chambers and Sead Kolasinac as full-backs alongside Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding.
Mohamed Elneny will probably come into the midfield pairing with Granit Xhaka in front of that defence. Alex Iwobi, Jack Wilshere and maybe Reiss Nelson or Jo Willock to start behind Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang. Those changes would allow Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil a rest as well as covering for the injured Henrykh Mkhitaryan.
The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 22 home league games against Southampton, winning 16 and drawing 6. We have hit a rich vein of form too late for the Premier League as has become habitual. Southampton under Mark Hughes will battle and scrap for the points they so desperately need for Premier League survival, but they have sold the crown jewels. Even against a second-string Arsenal eleven they may lack the belief to pull off the result that is so important to them.
The ‘holic pound
There is some pressure on us with Burnley once again moving within two points of us on Saturday. We could shut the gap on Chelsea to two points for a couple of hours. West Ham visit the bus stop in Fulham after our match. On this week’s ABW podcast I predicted 3-0 to us, so I feel compelled to back that at 12/1.
That is probably be a good place to stop the preview as Rory McIlroy tries to reel in Patrick Reed at Augusta. Don’t forget if you are a collector of classic Arsenal shirts to keep one eye on www.TheArsenalShirts.com and see if you can plug the gaps in your collection.
I hope to see some of you tomorrow in the usual haunts. Whether you are at the match, or watching from afar, have a good one ‘holics.
121 Responses to “Time For The Squad To Prove Themselves”
Sterling preview of a game that I’m going to without great enthusiasm. Thursday night is everything as far as our season is concerned. We could finish behind Burnley and still make the Europa .
I think you’re close on the team and I hope young Nelson gets some games. 2-0 to the Gunners!
Thank you for your kind words ‘Holic. They are much appreciated. I may bump into you tomorrow depending on traffic.
I do hope so, Countryman. I will be in the usual place around mid-day. I may adjourn elsewhere post match. It would be lovely to hear your memories.
As ever, a Sunday kick-off when I am going means the report will be on Monday night. Especially on Masters Sunday. Sorry all.
reverential
ah fuck
the reverend al published what was the best thing
i think has been published on here last shout
and nobody went woooo
cept steve T
who always deserves a woooooop
wooooooooooooooo
rev Al
genius
.
wanger OUT !
Thanks Guvnor, a fair stab at the
team and the score methinks.
I don’t dislike Soton anymore
than average but I do have a
hard spot in my heart for Hughes
– so let’s send them home dispirited
after a sound thrashing. 4-0 has a
nice ring to it.
I haven’t had much time for Patrick Reed since he dumped his wife as caddy. She was well worth watching, tiny little thing struggling under the weight of a big bag. A bit like their love-life I imagine. Anyway he must have used up all his luck in Round 3, so should be a cruise for Rory.
midfield players
all of u
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWEQDyrbphE
i used to be dollY ParTon
now i am nothing
Thanks for the Linda Ronstadt reminder, SSY, but I prefer her on her own. Back to the very beginning … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhtnB6kSCyA
And one for cba … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3Q989h98gk
One of the great voices from the soundtrack of my life, and very cute to boot! So sad that Parkinson’s cut short her career.
Good preview, ‘Holic. I’d take 3-0 in a heartbeat. An uninspiring 1-0 seems more likely given who is likely to be playing unless one the youngsters gets a game and cuts loose.
Reports that Mkhitaryan is out for the rest of the season are worrying. The creative quality of our play goes up more than a notch when he is on the field.
…actually i’m a goonah with big boobies now
time flies
Nice preview Boss.
This game is one of those typical Arsenal, who knows what will happen, games. Which Arsenal will turn up? Who knows? Let’s hope it’s the one that wants to put the saints to the sword.
For those going, enjoy. Hopefully there will be some ales sunk in celebration at the end.
cba@5. I getcha. How can people miss The Rev? Top top Gooner. As are yourself sir.
Still waiting for confirmation of the date for your arrival at The Grove? As always, the first one is on me you big lummox.
?
Arsenal XI : Cech; Bellerin, Chambers, Mustafi, Kolasinac; Elneny, Xhaka; Iwobi, Nelson, Welbeck; Aubameyang
Subs : Macey, Holding, Monreal, Wilshere, Ozil, Lacazette, Nketiah
Southampton have some quality players but their problem has been that they are not getting goals. They may a net a goal against our defence but the question is whether we can get at least two without Ozil and Mkhitaryan playing. 3-0 does seem improbable and I would take a win by a goal.
A fairly similar XI to the one
expexcted – let’s hope Nelson
and Iwobi can provide the
ammo for Auba.
COYGs!!
COYG
We do look shaky at the back and Southampton have come close to scoring on three occasions in the first ten minutes. Chambers against Shane Long is a mismatch and I hope we defend from further back.
Guess the usual Arsenal turned up, damn
Disaster. 0-1.
That was just bad
Took the words out of my mouth KS.
That was embarrassing
Same old shit defending, mid table here we come
Why do we have the tendency to make awful teams look good?
Pass pass pass pass pass pass, no creativity, no penetration…
Pass pass pass pass pass pass, sloppy pass
Moan moan whine bitch repeat
Auba, get in!!!!
Bam!
1-1 good job Auba, nice touch
from Danny
Yes!!
Wham!
nice goal that one 🙂
Am expecting a goal from Xhaka today
Cunningly deflected in
A Dead Shot Danny Deflection and all thoughts of dismal defending deficiencies disappear.
Turned it around well
2-1 up at half time. Quality wise that has to be one of the worst halves I’ve seen in ages. I understand why we have made so many changes but it’s certainly had an affect. We look so disjointed at times.
LUMMOX – is it
BIG – did they
.
WHY I OUGHTTA !
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Well done Elneny.
Long clearly offside
Jack on.
Lucky escape. This Arsenal team won’t let you forget about how terrible they are at defending, Steve T. Lucky Long was offside when we switched off and he finished beautifully.
Hope he gives us a bit more.
Why sub Auba when he wont play on Thursday and risk Laca. Sometimes our manager’s subs don’t make sense.
Making things difficult for ourselves
Sometimes!! more often than not. That Shane Long is a c#&t
5 fucking defenders no opponent and we fuck it up
2-2. Southampton are a good technical team. Won’t be surprised if we lose this one, the way we are playing- disjointed going forward and atrocious defending.
FFS Charlie Austin, really
Oh dear.
Nice ‘clearance’ from Welbz ?
Welbeck doesn’t score two yards away from a gaping goal?
Great touch Iwobi.
Fantastic bit of play from Jack.
One hell of a clearance from DSD.
Wow what a miss
I can see why Manure got rid of Welbeck, useless F%#ker
DSD from long range.
Get in.
redemption for Danny!
Amends made.
Some good work from iwobi today.
🙂
Now he goes and scores 😀
CSKA must be wanting to play this lot and not that other team that sometimes turn up 🙂
Spot on Dexter. Iwobi has put in a good shift today.
Yes, it was a nice ball from
Iwobi.
off you go Stephens
Good old Jack. A petulant shirt pull ends up in a free for all, a yellow for him and 2 reds.
3 points is 3 points. Gives us a bit of breathing space from Burnley.
A win is a win.
Not sure what Elneny did but
I suppose I’ll see on the
replays.
Pleased to see Kola standing
up when Stephens turned on
Jack.
Not too bad for the second stringers..!
‘Holic, it’s a good thing you have until tomorrow evening to write that one up. And Stevie Wonder would do a much better job than Andre Marriner as the match official.
How did Southampton contrive
not to score four or five?
Arsenal ought to appeal the Elneny red card.
If Stephens got a red card, why wasn’t Jack red carded as well? Besides that he was shitty.
KSN on #45 above, I second that. If nothing else, he should have dropped Danny or Iwobi & let Laca play with Auba.
And find out why Mustafi is a German international. It is a mystery to me too.
Boy Danny is trending on tweeter.
https://twitter.com/search?q=Welbeck&src=tren
Three points. Three goals. Six wins on the trot. First team rested for a night out in Red Square. Could be worse.
Mustafi must leave in the summer as part of the rebuilding of the defence. Kos isn’t the player he was. May be time to let him go back to France too. Sadly, I don’t think we have ready made replacements.
Mustafi and Xhaka are expensive misfits. The whole defensive unit needs a massive overhaul. The only player who looked like he had any defensive prowess today was Holding when he came on.
I was expecting Laca to come
on for the last 20 as part of
his recovery. Hopefully, he’s
come though ok.
All in all, wot BB said @69
Amen@76.
@77
Xhaka will come good. He only needs better players around him.
Mustafi on the other hand, would make Der Kaiser look like Senderos.
he is shockingly bad and we would struggle to offload him to any reasonable club.
Granted, we won the game, however I still demand the entire team except Aubameyang is sold and manager sacked.
As any reasonable fan would.
FACT (IMO).
I don’t think we can judge any of our defenders until they’ve had some actual defensive coaching!
I think Kola Mustafi Holding and Chambers are decent players.
And calling Welbeck are useless fuckers is disrespectful and patently wrong.
I’m all for critiquing the players and management but that goes beyond that.
That was more exciting than it needed to be ! Still three points and three goals. Important to keep the winning streak going. Saints have got some good players but don’t click as a team. Thought their keeper made two or three excellent saves : worth a cheeky bid before Klopp does ?
Ahh what am I saying? He’s shite!
For what it’s worth, I think Daniel Storey has it in for Arsenal and is an insufferable prick, but he kind of makes sense here….http://www.football365.com/news/mustafi-the-poster-child-of-arsenal-stagnation
That felt like a win ?
Just back from the game. What a crazy match! All I can say is that actually I rather enjoyed it! I guess because there wasn’t much on the game it wasn’t quite as tense as usual. How Danny shanked that four feet over from 1 yard out right in front of me was unbelievable. I think I could have scored that with wellies on. Still he hung in the air well for his winner and his celebration in front of the North Bank was funny; arms wide open although to say “what were you worrying about guys?”
Sorry I missed you Holic. Student son didn’t get in until 3am last night. It took a crowbar to get him out of bed and he was feeling extremely delicate. So we ran a bit late and we didn’t walk past the Tolly until 1.55, by which time I imagine you were settling into Block 32 ready to give Sparky some verbal.
Just noticed we are only three points behind Chelsea with six games to go. Not that it really matters but it would be fun.
I wasn’t much looking forward to the game but it was miles more entertaining than last week ( but so was hearing about my mate’s gall bladder operation) .
Given the team we had and the fact that we are contractually obliged to play Mustafi at Centre half it was a satisfactory result. We gifted them a goal through atrocious defending from Mustafi but recovered well. Auba and Welbeck combined intelligently and his miss aside Danny looked a decent player today.
I was impressed by Cech ( largely) , Elneny until he got himself sent off ( he has limited ability but works his bollocks off) Auba and Welbeck. Iwobi did very well for the goal and worked hard.
Bellerin, Mustafi and Xhaka were terrible , Kolasinac has lost confidence and Nelson had a decent debut. He showed lots of confidence. Holding made a superb block from Sims and gets my vote over Mustafi ….but so does Steve Bould at 55 or whatever.
On to Thursday !
Countryman
Glad you enjoyed it. It was quite fun today and Southampton were miles better than Stoke
Some good Danny Welbeck black humour on the terraces today. “Good job Danny didn’t throw a punch in the handbags at the end; he’d have missed and hit Jack or the ref. “ ???
I am glad you enjoyed the game, TTG. From what I could tell from the atmospherics you must have been one of the few who did.
The first half was crabby Arsenal. All side passes and not much penetration, though on a couple of occasions the team did drive forward, they scored. Everything that is good and bad about Danny Welbeck was on show: hard work, some good defensive clearances from corners, a couple of goals, a glaring miss, no runs in behind, ponderous in possession and losing it in the box.
Apart from the mix-up with Cech for the first Southampton goal, Mutsafi had a decent game, I thought. Holding looked accomplished when he came on near the end, and Chambers played well enough. Iwobi looked better than he has been for some time, though that is not saying much. His cross for Danny’s winner was first rate, but on the whole, he seems too predictable. Good to see Reiss-Nelson get a start. He seemed to play well within himself, however, and took a bit of time to get used to the pace of the game, especially have been the recipient of a couple of robust challenges early doors.
Jack got up a lot faster when he was pushed over to start the handbags at the end than he usually does when he is fouled. Bellerin was pulled off to protect him from picking up a second yellow, I assume, then it is Elneny that sees red. Funny game.
Bellerin hasn’t been playing well for a while. He looks to have lost some pace. Is that injury he is carrying more serious than is being let on, given we don’t have much if any cover at right back?
Ned
I agree about Chambers who was solid in both his positions today. Mustafi made Shane Long look like Neymar . I watch his positional play a lot and it is very variable as is his passing and his concentration. I don’t think he is a Premier League quality Centre back but he has moments of great quality and is very dangerous in the opposition box. He is less effective in ours but at least we had Elneny on the line today to nod an otherwise certain goal away.
I thought this was Iwobi’s best game for a long time. Just before our third goal he set up the chance for Jack to cross to Welbeck and forced a good save from McCarthy earlier on.
No idea why Auba who can’t play on Sunday was subbed for Laca who could have been injured. Bellerin went straight down the tunnel- perhaps he might have a problem?
better mohamed then red!
Do you think there’s actually a club rule that when the team take the pitch that the defence are forbidden from actually talking to each other??? There appears to be zero communication back there.
TTG@95: You have the considerable advantage over me of seeing Mustafi up close and over the full 90, especially when it comes to evaluating his positional play, so I will bow to your judgement on that aspect.
Interesting Bellerin went straight down the tunnel. My assumption was that he was being protected from a second yellow. He missed some games earlier in the season because of a malleolar fracture. Perhaps it didn’t heal fully, or has refractured.
wham
BAMMMMMMMM
Bam
Shit. Missed the 99.
Surely if there was an injury doubt on Hector he wouldn’t have played and Callum would have played right back?
NBN @93. “Jack got up a lot faster when he was pushed over to start the handbags at the end than he usually does when he is fouled.”
High praise, indeed. 😉
Actually, I couldn’t count the number of times Jack fell over in the first few minutes after he came on.
One of the mysteries of Arsenal’s defensive coaching ( such as it is) is how to deal with the high ball down the middle- witness the Carabao Cup Final first goal. Today , early on Chambers got into a real mess on a ball forward from the back and Mustafi never looks comfortable unde4vtgem. It’s hard to play offside from kicks from the keeper so why not station the back four five yards further back and attack the ball ? If you went back through several of our games- Chelsea at home comes to mind and the Cup tie v Forest I think this weakness would be obvious. Mustafi would do what Willie Young used to do when he played with O’ Leary . Attack the ball and know that his partner will clear up behind
Arsenal ‘s defensive coaching is one of those oxymorons isn’t it? Like Trump’s diplomacy, Boris’s modesty or Welbeck’s finishing?
Yeah but at least Welbeck sometimes gets it right, albeit by accident.
In other news I never bet on golf but had an each way, paying ten places, on Henrik Stenson to win the Masters at 33/1
He’s currently eighth and if he stays there I’ll win enough to buy me an orange. Or maybe two.
golf?
pussies wussies wimps
&
relatives
enjoy your oranges Cynic
🙂
Jack did have an eventful time.
Stephens was already a bit
wound up courtesy of Danny
I think and Jack finished off
his day. Still can’t see anything
Elneny did really that 5 or 6
others hadn’t already – ours
and theirs.
According to one forecast the high temperature in Moscow tomorrow will be 62 degrees Fahrenheit, above zero that is, which by the law of averages nearly guarantees the high on Sunday will be at or near 62 degrees below zero. Will Vic Akers be wearing his shorts either way? Surely a reason to watch the game if there is no other.
Could have been easier if Tadic had been red-carded for a studs-first stamp on Nelson’s calf just 90 seconds into the match. Not even a yellow from Marriner.
Another poor performance by Jack who still thinks falling over is the best way to tackle. Use your feet, Jack … first to keep upright, and second to win the ball. And if you have the ball to start with use one of them to pass it. Stop playing the victim and start playing football.
Well done Danny for the headed goal that made it safe. No idea whether the earlier deflected one was going in, but credit for that one as well. You’ve made Matt’s day at least. But missing from one yard? Only you!
Otherwise a reasonable performance from a scratch team who clearly rarely play together.
C100@102: Fair point. But what then explains Bellerin’s run of indifferent form? And am I the only one who thinks Bellerin has lost pace?
You’re not alone, Ned, I queried it here some weeks ago and again after Musa outpaced him a couple of times in the CSKA game. Another position we should add to the summer shopping, along with a couple of CBs, a keeper and a second playmaker/winger?
Emil Forsberg still looks ideal to me for that last. He looked very sharp in the Leipzig – Marseille match. Should we draw Leipzig we may get a closer view.
Stuck in Kentish mud with lousy connectivity, but too kind u 2 luvvrrly Goonshs, too, too kind – u made an oldish fool all grinny xx …
Cap’s off in your direction C100, love reading your on-the-spots.
To Eurpopey glory & beyond (that’ll be 5th or 6th then – thingies crossed) UTA!
Ned,
I am sure that Bellerin has lost pace, I can remember Pedro getting away from the defence last season and he got back to put in a great tackle taking yards out of a quick player himself. Where I sit he is the nearest player to me ( usually in the first half ) and Musa is not the only player to outstrip him. It seems that almost everybody down that flank takes him on nowadays , as if it has got around that he has slowed up. This doesn’t happen down Nacho’s flank and Nacho is in his thirties!
I wonder if he has an ongoing injury …or it’s the vegan diet.?
As for Chris’s List I agree that we need a goalie with Cech becoming no2 and goalkeeping coach, 2 CBS, a big, hairy DM and a winger with pace and playmaking ability.Forsberg or Mahrez would suit me
We got away with rank amateurish defending yesterday.
Yet the ref was almost as amateur. Will Tadic’s assault on Nelson be reviewed? Will we successfully appeal that ridiculous red card for Mel?
While I’m asking questions, will we ever get proper defenders again? Our list of hapless auditions for the Keystone cops gets longer and longer.
Just seen the highlights on MoTD2.
Mustafi was clearly the culprit for the first goal. He was 6 yards in front of Long when the ball passed our new Dos Santos. He failed to move at all. Very poor. I hope we can find a consistently competent replacement in the summer.
Mel shoved his hand straight into the face of a Saints’ player in clear view of the Lino. Seconds after the red for a Saints’ thug. No question he had to go. Very stupid. As stupid as Jack’s behaviour. We won’t appeal because there is no chance it will be rescinded.
Spot on Bath.
I’m sure Cech would not have told him to leave it and most goalies would in fact have told them to lump the ball into the stand. I find Mustafi very frustrating because he can be excellent.
Also agree completely re Elneny. Seeing the Untold Arsenal headline that the sending – off was the product of ‘ vengeful corruption’( I kid you not) I’ve offered to donate £50 to a charity of their choice if Arsenal appeal and get it rescinded!
Watching the game live on my TV it looked like Elneny shoved him in the chest, and the match commentator said it should not have been a red card either for what that is worth. Appealing red cards never works, at least not for Arsenal it seems, but the referee was looking to even up the punishments in my opinion.
TTG@118, I really like your style (and think your cash is safe).
bt8@119, I thought it was ridiculous as he seemed to be simply pushing players in the chest who were pushing him around too. However the MoTD review clearly shows that he pushes his hand into a Saints player’s face. Sadly the red card was inevitable in view of 1) the deliberate aggressive act; 2) the immediately preceding red card for Stephens; 3) the preceding handbags and 4) the position directly in front of the Lino.
Everything comes to he who waits. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>