Brentford To Test The Gunners Squad Strength?
Sep 25th, 2018 by 'holic
It’s after nine and I have just finished recording A Bergkamp Wonderland podcast so this will be yet another exceptionally short preview of our Carabao Cup tie against Brentford.
I have just said on the show that I hope we do not start anybody who is likely to be in the team that kicks off against Watford at the weekend. That may prove difficult with the back four where Skhodran Mustafi will probably partner Rob Holding again due to us being down to the bare bones. Stephan Lichsteiner should get the nod at right-back so at least Hector Bellerin gets a rest, but Nacho Monreal lacks cover as well and may have to play. Fingers crossed we get no more knocks.
Ahead of them Mohamed Elneny and Matteo Guendouzi could feature behind an attacking midfield trio of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Emile Smith-Rowe, and Alex Iwobi. Danny Welbeck could get the nod up front with a very youthful bench so some of the U23’s can get playing time as the match progresses.
Brentford just dropped out of the Championship play-off places this weekend after losing 3-1 at Derby but they should not be underestimated and they will be enthusiastically supported from an increased away section in the Clock End.
The ‘holic pound
Obviously the odds on an Arsenal victory are not mouthwatering. I’m liking the value of a 19/2 for a 3-0 home win even though I am well aware an early Brentford goal could prevent me getting a run for my money.
To those who are going I hope whoever plays they start a little quicker than we have been of late and you get a full ninety minutes of entertainment. Hopefully there will be a stream available for those of us who have no holidays left.
Have a good one ‘holics.
65 Responses to “Brentford To Test The Gunners Squad Strength?”
Well done Derby.
Long may Maureen reign.
Evening H
As Derby have just shown,there are some good sides in the Championship,and Brentford are playing well,so we won’t want to take them lightly.
Team selection is anybody’s guess,but Utd fielded a very strong side tonight,and still got turned over,so i don’t think Unai will take too many chances.
We cannot win the league,so any Trophies coming our way will have to be via the 3 Cups competitions.
But having said all that,i would expect us to win and hope to get a favorable draw in the next round.
Travel chaos for anyone going,so could be a long night,which will be made bearable on the tedious journey home,with a good win tucked under our belt.
Could be a run-out for Julio Pleguezuelo in the centre and maybe Dominic Thompson or Tolaji Bola at left back (or even Pleguezuelo at right back with Lichtsteiner playing on the left). Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah should get some minutes, too, off the bench.
ha
indeed ‘hol
that time London
fuck
i’d a ett that fuckin up
.
xrayspexholyfuck
there’s people exist who saw them
i know some
I HATE THEM
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still one of the greatest albums ever made
and a 2m wide reproduction
ROARS
on my side wall
yeah
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everyone knows now
?????????
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after ye WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
buy us a pint
ya CUNTS
can we call holding back from his loan out to fulham? at least till the january window?
i like the idea of nketieh scoring a brace and auba coming off the bench to get one from mikhi. and leno staring at a 0. would make you happy, holic, and those pints would be even cheaper.
damn, chambers, not holding (i’d just read the post, he was in my mind, painful thing), returning from fulham. apologies.
https://extramuralactivity.com/2013/07/04/che-guevara-lynch/
Che’s father : “In my son’s veins flowed the blood of Irish rebels.”
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typical Lynch
awww awwwww awwww
look at me
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STAND A ROUND !
anathema
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yeah Declan
I’m can’t be arsed
yeah Hugh
you knew
??????????????????
oh fuck aye Bernard
“he’s brilliant you’d like him ”
.
.jam it up yer jute barney
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuGYCVxTeEg&app=desktop
come on
jump in
.
calm the fuck down
(proper rows etc an such an stuff an fings)
R.I.P. Chas Hodges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e4JXwd7XMo
imagine being on that
he was
CALM DOWN YA PANSIES
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jeez
it’s 1980s
“Wise up ya fuckin gleep ye’ll burn yer fuckin arm off”
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English people
no matter how well intentioned
can’t throw petrol bombs
*ruminates*
?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmenLzDtTXY
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF4Z6smOrZw
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if ye don’t like that you are exactly what you call him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4q3Cy8X6Mo
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvmC3Ti228U
” ugly girl where you going to Friday night ”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvmC3Ti228U
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a tune for the mighty dead Chris
the couldn’t hang about cunt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKdrnTTDTqo
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.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuGYCVxTeEg
I did have a celebratory lunch at the Oval planned ( I am a Surrey member as I am – he says shamefacedly- originally a South Londoner) followed by a trip to see Brentford play Arsenal for the first time in 71 years. In view of the tube strike I will need to be very pissed to make the journey.
It will be a draw going to a penalty shootout where Bernd will save us from a fate worse than Mourinho
I hear Kolasinac is fit so we might see
Leno
Lich. Holding Mustafi Kola
Guendouzi Elneny
Welbeck Smith – Rowe Iwobi
Nketiah
cba @19
Seein’ as Chris might not have a chance to take a listen to that piece o’ music I stepped in and had a listen myself. Awesome player and piano. Looks like it could be one one o’ them machines such as kills fascists or puts the fear o’ God into ‘em
8ball
you never fail
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFVeJ4wHWdQ
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VOUT
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if I heard another cunt
saying shergal farkey
was ORIGINAL
jeez fuck
sorry de break it de ye fellas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKD8tAElTpQ
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here
have a tune
wrapped in creepy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feMvRfOQC50
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drinking , thunder T ?
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(judgemental look)
Thanks for the preview Guvnor.
Brentford are doing ok in the championship and
we’ve got form in losing with too may youngsters
playing.
TTG’s side looks about right but I think Kola’s only
just back in training so not sure he’s ready to play.
Hector, Mus and Ramsey all had 90 minutes off
last midweek as did Laca I think.
If Kola isn’t ready I’d still rest Nacho and play Hector and
Mus with Lich on the left. Ramsey and Laca on the bench.
Good news seems to be that Sokratis injury isn’t too bad
and he should be ok for the weekend.
Ramsey still hasn’t signed and may
need to be offloaded in January.
Should we offer Manure a straight
swap for Pogba? 🙂
Cannot trust people who play in stripes. 4-0 to the good guys.
UTA.
I’m joking of course as obviously
we’d want cash as well.
But I was wondering if we could
swap for a top class centre back
from somewhere in Europe.
Ramsey doesn’t really deserve his place in the side on current form so I’d be relaxed about selling him if he won’t sign.
Although I never thought I’d say this, at the moment I’d prefer Iwobi.
UTA.
NG,
Yes, me too. Iwobi looks a better
fit just now. Early days of course
but it seems we only need 2 of
Mkhi, Ozil and Ramsey.
In fairness, cba, Shergal Farkey WAS original.
He was the original Shergal Farkey.
You wouldn’t want to be the NEW Shergal Farkey, would you. Nobody would.
“eh ?”
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THE ABSOLUTE NERVE !
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“and you can get our Vera another rum and black n all”
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Spuds supporters on the verge of meltdown as the inconvenience has been compounded for season ticket holders due to incompatible ticketing systems between the new stadium and Wembley requiring fans to claim a refund from the club for games that have been moved and then having to buy a new ticket for the game at Wembley. No mention in the reliable sources I consulted of MK Dons’ stadium compatibility so we will just have to imagine the worst.
Late plea for a volunteer to write the match up please? Looks like I may be at the hospital as the management is having a late operation.
clearly i couldn’t
bla
.
my very very best wishes sent Dave
Cheers cba, you’re a top man. ??
Best wishes for you and the management, ‘holic.
I would have offered but can’t write about the game being on the road.
I’ve been hoping for Pleguezuelo to get his chance and maybe all these back line injuries could bring it on.
Strong line up
another clean shit?
Smells like victory.
sorry to hear about the hospital, and the reason, holic. i put a six-pack cans of “get well soon” in the bar fridge for her, and some glenfarclas 105 in a large glass for you on the back bar.
bt8, espn+ seems the only legal way to watch, have you found another? otherwise it’s off to wade in the reddit creeks…
Best of luck to the management, ‘H. I trust it’s nothing serious.
COYG UTManagement
Two clean shots from Danny boy, credit where it’s due
Sorry to hear your news Hokic I hope the management is OK. Mrs TTG has had a tough time with multiple hospital visits so I know how worrying this can be
I wasn’t pissed enough to go tonight nd didn’t fancy the long tube queues late at night. Hopefully I will be disappointed I didn’t go
Welbeck has become a prolific scorer this season. Hope he keeps banging them in through the season.
Hope it is just some routine thing, Holic and wish she gets well soon.
Hope all goes well Holic
Come on, Danny. Hat trick Holic Pound.
Hope your wife wife will be well
soon Guvnor.
Couldn’t watch the game as I
couldn’t find it on anywhere in
Japan but in the great traditions
of British journalism I can provide
a report without actually watching.
A strong team selection from
Arsenal – only Smith-Rowe of
the younger players started.
Ozil, Auba, Cech and Xhaka
rested completely and Hector,
Ramsey, Torreira and Laca on
the bench. Kola possibly not
fit enough to start but did make
the bench.
For a pleasant change it seems we
settled the quicker despite Leno
having a “Cech” moment early on.
A crisp, clean Welbeck header from
a Guendouzi cross put us one up in
the first 10 minutes. Iwobi had a
good penalty shout denied, without
review, by the ref who then redeemed
himself (is redemption possible for
Dean? Ed.) with a good advantage
in Arsenal and Danny’s 2nd goal.
A great team goal and well worth
a watch if you can find a clip – the
ball was moved efficiently from
Leno’s feet at one end to Danny in
the 6 yard box at the other for a
simple tap-in. Good work from
Leno, Lich, Mkhi and Nacho in the
build up and it seemed we’d set
ourselves up for a comfortable 2nd
half. Alas not of course – a Brentford
free-kick in a dangerous area
10 minutes into the 2nd half saw us
punished by Judge. The fans then
had to endure 30 minutes of buzzing
from Brentford before good hustle by
Laca in injury time saw him wrap
things up. 3-1 and through to the
next round.
Only Smith-Rowe of the youth team
players given an opportunity tonight
but it seems most of the Top 6 PL
clubs put out fairly strong sides in
the Carabao this year.
Great we could get an early goal
for a change. Hopefully no new
injuries and Kola back for the
trip to Qarabag next week.
Given we won our Ropey League
opener and it’s quite a long trip,
I’d like to see more players left at
home next week with starts for
Nketiah and Willock. That doesn’t
seem to be UE’s way so far though.
Holic,
Fingers crossed it all goes well with the operation! I know these are tough times so all the best to both of you!
Osaka,
Scary stuff once they pulled one back we couldn’t really build any momentum, Laca’s work rate paid off in the end….
I was surprised not seeking any young guns on the pitch seems to me this competition is getting tougher perhaps it was the right call but mixing it up is the key to get them going, UE certainly thinks otherwise.
seeking? ….seeing that is bloody iPhone! 🙂
ATG,
“scary stuff”
Yes, so I heard and so UE said
after the game. We don’t seem
to roll with the punches too well
as yet. It was a fairly experienced
XI and I’d expect a better
response. Also, I read Brentford
had made 7 changes so it wasn’t
their best side either.
So far it actually seems there are
less opportunities for young
players than before but maybe
we need to be patient while
things settle.
On the plus side Iwobi and Danny
are pushing for starts this
Saturday. We need to sort out
Danny’s contract by January as
well as Ramsey’s. As is, he’s a
decent 3rd option to me at the
moment despite the stick he
gets.
Hope all is as well as can be with Mrs ‘H, Guv’nor. Best wishes for you both.
The game tonight looked a poor match, I thought. Much of the time it was hard to tell which was the Championship side. We were far from dominant, too ponderous in the build-up and neither creative nor incisive, except for the second goal, which was a proper Arsenal goal, a fast and sweeping multi-pass counterattack ending in a tap-in for Welbeck.
Smith-Rowe looked tidy but didn’t impose himself on the game and couldn’t make anything of the three or four chances he had. He also seemed to get knocked off the ball easily.
Holding acquitted himself well and made several vital goal-denying blocks. Monreal was his usual industrious self.
Leno was closer to scoring an own goal with his miskick early doors than anything Cech has managed to contrive, and Leno is meant to be the one good with his feet.
Had Brentford Premiership-quality strikers they would have scored more than one, especially in the second half. Their goal, an excellent free kick, brought them alive.
A draw over the 90 mins would not have been an unfair result for them. Laca’s late strike put an undeserved gloss on the result.
It is a habit and a good one, winning. We did not deserve to do so based on our second-half performance is a different story.
Welbeck continues to score, Mustafi continues to flounder and Mhki blows hot and cold, overall a fair reflection of how we are currently playing; strikers scoring, defenders defending poorly and midfield having its on-off moments.
Ramsey set to leave is on expected lines, who do we get in return is the question, Tielemans hopefully??? though i fully expect it to be either Banega or Nzonzi. I would rather offer him to Napoli and get a koulibaly in return.
On to a tough Watford game over the weekend, physically demanding but if we quicken our game, we will emerge as winners.
lastly, let us take a moment to laugh at mou and united shall we, free circus.
Good to see Danny in the goals. He has his penchant for scuffed, bobbled finishes but there are lots of examples where he finishes clinically. I think the difference is an extra bit of calmness and confidence in front of goal. He does not always look like he expects to score, but worries about missing a good chance. The more he puts them away, the more i expect him to keep putting them away. He is hardly going to outscore Auba and Laca, but he works so hard, is great for Emery’s press, defends well in the air and down the wing and so could be very useful through the season, especially in tough away fixtures. Seeing him get on the scoresheet, particularly in a game where he is the main striker, can only be a good thing. Plus he is a top man. I hope we sign him up to a deal new ASAP.
Best wishes to you and yours H.
From a number of eye witness reports and a few TV highlights I think it is fair to say that Arsene Wenger would have achieved ( and did) very similar results . There is little difference to my eye between last year’s incarnation and this. We are capable of lovely football , we find it hard to close games up and keep clean sheets against anyone and we have good strikers.
We don’t press any differently and the main diffference is that we prat around with the ball at the back more often.
Emery has done a sound job so far but let us not forget that Wenger would regularly take Arsenal on long undefeated runs against lesser teams after a defeat. Emery will need several months and probably two transfer windows to develop his team and establish his stamp on the club.
On Saturday I was starting to hear people around me suggesting that Emery has ‘ done much better already than Wenger.’ How short memories are ! Even in his worst season we finished sixth and I think we are sixth now. Progress will be made when we leapfrog United and the Totts. The top three will have to wait for another season.
BBC reports
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is likely to leave the club next summer after the Gunners withdrew a contract offer.
A new four-year deal was agreed but Arsenal then decided they could not proceed with it.
When contacted by BBC Sport, neither party would say why the deal collapsed.
Not overly vexed by this as Ramsey is a typical Wenger player IMO, but if we’re suddenly going to start paying dogshit wages to some players, while certain players get a king’s ransom for being totally average, it’s a little concerning.
It’s an odd one if true. Why would
we agree a contract then say we’ve
changed our minds ?
Could it be that we didn’t want to
go ahead with a contract signed
off by Ivan?
Anyway, we should certainly sell
him in January if we can.
Ramsey has had some memorable moments over the years. He chose us over United. He’s been a model professional. He’s scored the winner in not one, but two FA Cup finals, both of which I was lucky enough to be at and which will live long in the memory. He deserves to be treated with respect and huge thanks.
Do we now need him at £250k per week? Can we fit him him and Ozil into the same team? That’s up to the manager. You won’t find me complaining if he’s sold, complaining if he signs a new contract, or bad mouthing him in any way.
Loving the new spirit on the terraces, our strikers banging them in and six in a row. This weekend is Ryder Cup on TV and The Arsenal on Saturday.
BTW how good was Danny’s second yesterday, a true team goal!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>