A Strange Evening Awaits In Kiev
Nov 28th, 2018 by 'holic
A very makeshift Arsenal squad have flown to Kiev as Vorskla Poltava raise questions about being able to complete the fixture. For the sake of the Gooners that have already hurriedly adjusted their travel plans to get to Kiev I hope the fixture goes ahead as ordered by UEFA’s emergency panel. Vorskla appear to have left for Kiev so it looks encouraging.
The only likely starter in the North London derby to have made the trip is Rob Holding. Petr Cech should start behind a back four of Carl Jenkinson, Stephan Lichsteiner, Holding, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Matteo Guendouzi and Mohamed Elneny may start behind Aaron Ramsey, Emile Smith-Rowe, Henrykh Mkhitaryan, and Eddie Nketiah.
That will leave a bench of Emi Martinez, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Dominic Thompson, Charlie Gilmour, Tyreece John-Jules, Joe Willock, and Bukayo Saka. Deyan Iliev and Zech Medley have also made the trip although Jeorge Bird revealed that the latter is ineligible as he has not been at the club for two years.
The hosts come into the fixture having lost their last three domestic fixtures and remember in the home leg we had cruised into a four goal lead before Vorskla hit back with two goals in the last thirteen minutes when we took our foot off the gas. .
The ‘holic pound
We look to have a strong enough line-up to get a result in what will be a strange atmosphere. I’m going for a long shot. 2-3 to The Arsenal is available at 33/1 if you shop around. I’ll definitely throw a pound at that. One win in the last two matches will clinch top spot in our group.
A Bergkamp Wonderland Podcast
Last night we recorded this week’s podcast and I’ll spare you the hunt for it. It’s below.
41 Responses to “A Strange Evening Awaits In Kiev”
I’ve just seen the Totts extend what will be ultimately futile hopes in the CL so my mood has darkened. I really do hope this is our last tryst with the Europa League- it is so Mickey Mouse. We have to fly to a freezing Kiev to play a side operating 200 miles away from home when we have already qualified.
Emery has taken the right decision to play a weakened team and not to make the bulk of the starting team travel to Kiev. I fancy in keeping with the setting it might be a 0-0 draw but I hope the travelling Gooners( boy is that support) have more to make their trip worthwhile
Hear, hear, TTG.
Fine preview, Guvna. I am delighted with the squad that has travelled though would prefer Mustafi for Holding as i would prefer the latter against the Spuds.
I really cannot see this team scoring 3 ona freezing night on the steppes but I sincerely hope you win your punt. I do think a draw is far the most likely outcome and will be content with that, in the expectation that we will win the group in our final home game.
Thanks for the preview Guvnor.
Difficult to guess the side but
perhaps Elneny at CB, Jenks on
the left and AMN in at CM with
Guendouzi. Good we can give
some young players a game
though to be honest I think the
game should be cancelled.
Looks like Mkhi, Aaron and
Rob won’t be starting vs
Spuds.
You will note the name of the “Vorskla reporter”: Bogdan Buga
https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2019/matches/round=2000990/match=2025266/index.html?iv=true
Hate to say it but it sounds like he has something stuck up his nose.
We have an all Polish team of officials, for what it’s worth. I’m not sure how they get along with the Ukrainians but I’m pretty sure they hate Russians.
The sidebar says we have contributed over 300,000 drinks, which mist explain something aboutthe wooziness I’ve been feeling. Also, ‘holic you have surpassed 2,200 posts. Quite a pair of landmarks. 🙂 ??
2-0 to The Arsenal.
A front four of Aaron, ESR, Eddie and
Mkhi should be able to find a couple of
goals.
The Kiev forecast at kickoff is for -7 degrees, and -8 two hours later. Whoever said it could be a game of few goals is probably right. But I hope the ‘holic pound comes in anyway. As for the geopolitical forecast and the reason we are playing in Kiev and not Poltava, note that Poltava seems to be in the pink martial law zone on the map in this report.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MJDHn4LI1o
It sounds as if a classic was played yesterday at Villa Park.
Aston Villa 5 Nottingham Forest 5
2-3 seems a stretch, but good luck with the pound regardless, ‘Holic. I would imagine that if we can score three, we would score four or five and run away with the win. However, the bookies have an old-fashioned 1-0 to the Arsenal or a 1-1 draw as the most likely scores for probable good reason.
bt8b: Only the oblasts that border Russia are under martial law. Poltava is in the white bit of the map surround by pink, to the east of the big reservoir on the Dnieper river.
So the game is going ahead, wonder if this was needed, they could have simply given us 3 points. Read this on twitter- ” we play 2 teams this week who dont even have their own ground to play”.
Play for fun guys, try your tricks, flicks etc and come back safe and sound.
On to sunday and that is what truly matters and for starters, Unai, please start Mesut, he is paramount if we have to wn the game.
Ned, Thanks for correcting my erroneous presumption. I guess I should have said Poltava is in the white non-martial law section near the pink section but that still sounds scary. In Soviet days I guess their color would have been a shade darker pink though.
As Trev might say (**rushes to beat him to it**),
Oh blast, forgot my oblasts.
The team has Jenks at CB and Mkhitaryan on the bench I’m a big Nketiah fan and hope this is a breakthrough game for him . I’m told Willock is much improved this season and he makes the team too.
Arsenal: Cech, Lichtsteiner, Jenkinson, Holding, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Elneny, Willock, Ramsey, Smith Rowe, Nketiah.
Subs: Martinez, Osei-Tutu, Medley, Gilmour, Saka, Mkhitaryan, John-Jules
Good thing we have some gunners in there, we might need them. Nketiah to shoot down a few?
Sitting on that bench and looking at the faces around him it would seem to be a good time for Mkhitaryan to do some soul searching. Maybe Emery should have done the same with Ozil?
kids in kiev
come ooon!
Cech; Lichtsteiner, Holding, Jenkinson, Maitland-Niles; Elneny, Guendouzi; Willock, Ramsey, Smith Rowe; Arsenal
Subs: Martinez, Mkhitaryan, Gilmour, Osei-Tutu, Medley, John-Jules, Saka
We don’t have a good record at this stadium having drawn once in the past and lost the rest.
so, anyone know the temperature there? looks a mite chilly.
let’s hope our boys don’t turn chicken in kiev.
Get in!!! Smith Rowe takes it coolly after Nkethia had done the initial work.
Temperature supposed to be around -7c.
Emil!
nice goal, esr. perhaps we see why aaron is being let go.
brrr, ksn. thanks. hopefully the samovar in the changing room is working well.
Ramsey wins penalty and scores, coolly.
win it and score it, aaron.
done! 2-0 to the arsenal.
goal!
more kids in the second half
Will ok takes his chance so coolly. 0-3.
Willock.
joe! nice threading. 3-0 to the good guys.
Willoooock
great goal and great ball from Mo
good game for Carl so far
Well to say that is a satisfactory first half is a considerable understatement! Well played the kids and well played the 500 travelling Gooners! Even Stewart Robson hasn’t had anything negative to say!
That Willock finish was so calm and controlled …..
ESR puts it in the net but the goal is, questionably, ruled out for off side.
First time I’ve seen Saka. Getting rave reviews for his junior performances, capped for England U19, just turned 17. We’ve got some real talent, and English talent, in the teenage ranks. Saka supposed to be blisteringly quick and talented. Delighted to see these debutants.
countryman, saka blistered their keeper’s hands after a great run. he’s damn quick.
i was just going to drink to joe willock’s game, when he nearly scores with his face. ouch.
3-0 it ends. All the kids had a great outing. Hats off to the braveheart away supporters and hope all of them return safely.
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