The Last Big Test As Third Place Looms Into View
Mar 9th, 2019 by 'holic
The Middlesex Nomads defeat at Southampton has added a little spice to our remaining nine Premier League fixtures, the toughest on paper of which falls on Sunday when in-form Manchester United come to the North London club. The match now offers the winners a real shot at third place.
We will be without the suspended Lucas Torreira as well as the long-term injured Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding, and former red devil Danny Welbeck. United are missing our former player Sanchez, Lingard, Mata, and Valencia.
It wouldn’t be a big surprise if Unai Emery started the same eleven so unlucky not to get all three points at Tottenham, so Bernd Leno behind a back four of Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Laurent Koscielny, and Nacho Monreal. Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi anchoring the midfield behind Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Aaron Ramsey, and Alex Iwobi. Alexandre Lacazette to lead the line.
After Sunday we don’t play another Premier League match until April Fools Day, when we will entertain Newcastle. Of those last eight fixtures none are against fellow top six clubs although five are away from home. This is a golden opportunity to grab Champions League football next season, and all the more sweet if achieved at the expense of the Nomads.
United are on a very impressive run under Solskjaer and it is surely inconceivable that he will not be given the job on a full-time basis. He has turned around the fortunes of a club that looked drab and dysfunctional under the loathsome Mourinho.
The ‘holic pound
This match is about as difficult to predict as ever it was. Although we have won two of the last three home League fixtures United did beat us rather too easily in the FA Cup earlier this year. Bookmakers can be funny people and although United are favourites to win in ninety minutes the odds on winning Gunners scorelines are looking skimpy.
1-1 is the market favourite but I will go with the second favourite, a popular choice with BtM of 2-1 to The Arsenal at a boosted 17/2. Be lucky.
To those going tomorrow I apologise for not joining you, but I’m not well enough yet to make the journey and survive ninety tense minutes. I hope the boys put on a show for you and the rest of us who will view the action via a selection of electronic conduits.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
63 Responses to “The Last Big Test As Third Place Looms Into View”
Holic
Thankyou for an appetising preview and I’m sorry you won’t be joining us at the game. Today’s Totts’ result was as welcome as it was unexpected but tomorrow we face probably the most in-form team in the country. We’ve imploded in the last two games against them, early on. My most optimistic view is that we might grab a draw tomorrow. Herrera hasn’t travelled and he and Lingard punished us in the Cup but it is about how positive we are and how strongly we defend. I think Lacazette will start tomorrow and I think he and Mkhitaryan will be Key if we are to get something. I think the Chavs will find Wolves a problem and a draw might set us up for the run-in . Fingers crossed!
COYG!
Evening H
Unbeaten at home in the League since opening day of the season,no mean feat when you consider what Emery inherited when he arrived.
Can we enter April with that record still intact. ??
United have to think they are on such a roll with i have to say,some excellent football,but also with what every team needs, a large dose of luck, that they can win every time they step on the park.
They are clearly playing without fear and are enjoying working with their shiny new manager.
So we will certainly have to put in a real shift to beat them,and i am sure Unai has studied the tapes of their recent performances,as he works out a Plan A/B and C for Sunday’s match.
Whether we will start off going hell for leather for the early goal, as we have done in our previous recent matches at the Ems,or whether we will adopt a more cautious approach,will not be known till after the whistle blows,but for me i hope it’s the up and at’em with a bit of cold steel attached.
Above all, i think we have to make sure we get something from the game to have a realistic shot at the CL places.
TTG from previous,
Yes i did see the excellent result by the under 18’s against 3rd placed Chelsea,and as pointed out previously,our match at home to Spurs next month will decide the Title.
I should also report that our under 16’s,have reached the final of the Premier Cup where they will play Chelsea for the Trophy.
Our Ladies are still in the box seat to win their league as well,so still plenty to look forward to as we approach the business end of the season.
I hope your absence from the game, ‘Holic, means you are sensibly not rushing your return and not a relapse. Best wishes that you are steadily on the mend.
The game is a must-win in my book. Perfect time to puncture the Solskjær bubble. Perhaps the essential time. A Wolves win at Stamford Bridge would not go amiss either.
OM from the previous drinks: The requirement on clubs for Europa League pre-match press conferences is to provide their head coach and one or two players. Nothing more specific than that. Not even ‘key players’, which the clubs have to make available to the press in other circumstances. After the game, all the starters and subs used and unused have to be available for interview.
I would thing Guendouzi was chosen for the pre-Stade Rennais press conference because (a) he meets the requirement of being a ‘player’; (b) he could answer questions in French, if necessary, and (c) he would be a familiar face locally as he used to play down the road at Lorient.
Fine preview Guvna.Your deep seated optimism shines through and while I tend to feel the same way about our prospects as TTG, reading your piece has lifted my mood.
I’m sorry to hear you’re not yet match fit and hope your ‘Arsenal three weeks’ doesn’t last much longer. I’ll toast your health with some Italian sunshine at my usual pre-match Italian lunch venue and hope to see you very soon.
Slàinte, maestro.
Hadn’t seen the score until now but this certainly appears to be a case of Spursing it up, as the lord ordained.
Agree with gunner 1954. We also have to be aware of the match officials.Arsenal have been undone many time by these guys when playing mu.
The 2005 game comes to mind. Reyes was battered and bruised and no action taken until the rf had scored a goal.The tackle by Campbell was outside the box and apenalty given.
To make matters this same mo is the ref boss.
Arsenal have to be careful when tackling especially Mustafi and Xaka.
They could be rc.
Cheers to the gunners.The Norwegian maybe the medias darling with an impressive run. Nothing will give me greater satisfaction than to puncture the unbeaten balloon.
Fine preview, thanks Guvnor.
As with others, I want to see some
determination to put things right.
A win today would put us in the
right mood for the Rennes return
as well as give us the 3 helpful
points.
Spuds implosion is very welcome,
Poch is whining endlessly and they
still have away games at Liverpool
and Shitty. 6th beckons.
@3 Ned,
Many thanks, a model of clarity
as always 🙂
I generally feel some sympathy for
the player as he sits there waffling
meaningless bollocks. In fact, I wish
the players wouldn’t talk to the press
at all.
I like the sound of that 2-1. 🙂
Nice preview H.
The Spuds capitulating at Southampton was certainly a highlight of yesterday I must say.
Today will no doubt be tough. I can’t see us keeping a clean sheet but do think that we are more than capable of winning the game. As always it will depend on which Arsenal team turns up.
I hope your recovery is still heading in the right direction and your “like a new signing” status is confirmed very soon.
I admire your optimism Holic but after watching us crumble against speedy wingers on Thursday , I fear our full backs will be targeted today and I will be more than happy if we get away with a draw.
COYR
Burnley score straight from a corner.
after a clear foul on the keeper
but of course I’m phlegmatic
about poor reffing for other teams.
Anyway, Liverpoo equalised.
This is a pivotal week for Emery. Two tough tasks, neither impossible but likely to be beyond the scope of this flaky team with our various suspensions. Should he get the result he needs in one of them I hope it is Thursday. I would take a draw today after S***s lost , because United would drop two points as well and the other teams have tougher games to come .
If Unai should succeed in both it would be a great boost. Should he fail in both this season will be difficult to resurrect.
OM@8: Many of the players probably feel the same.
TTG@13: Someone in the bar, perhaps you, suggested a couple of posts back that we needed to take four points from the Spurs and Man U games if a top four finish was to be achieved. So we need all three today. A draw wouldn’t be the end of the world but leaves us with the status quo ante and a diminished number of games to make the final push.
I have every hope we can advance in the Europa Cup. To beat Rennes 2-0 at home does not seem an overwhelming ask — at least it should not be.
On paper with 8 games to go after
today our run-in looks easier and
a draw to be not so bad. But 5 will
be away and we’ve been mostly
poor on the road for months.
Anyway, 3-1 today I think.
Wolves play wonderful football and whether or not they prevail over Chelsea today, they have taken the lead.
Wolves 1-0 up.
Wolves have been disciplined in
defence so far and it was a good
breakaway goal. Chavski cover
was poor on the goal though, they
just let the guy run through.
Chavski saved a point or Hazard
did but still 2 dropped at home is
fine with me.
Chelsea draw and drop two points. Now for the big one. I hope we play the way we played the totts and don’t give away silly goals the way we did at Old Toilet.
Laca and Auba both start along with AMN and Kolasinac. Guendouzi on the bench with Iwobi.
Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Ramsey, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Subs: Cech, Elneny, Iwobi, Mustafi, Suarez, Guendouzi, Nketiah
Ozil starts which is a surprise.
Showtime!
Come on Arsenal!
COME ON!!!
Lukaku almost scored. COYG.
Xhaka!!!!
Get in Xhaka!
Xhaka’s swerved so much that De Gea was stunned and helpless.
Shot
Get Innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
Manure here for the taking, but Gunners need to up the tempo.
Sokratis has become a ref favourite for being dished yellow cards. Logan fouls but Sokratis gets a yellow!
Get rid of the ref.. bring on VAR!
😀
Logan is Pogba!
UE surprised me again with his
selection but very happy with 1-0
at half time!
It’s going to be a nerve wracking
2nd half
Does anyone know if Mkhi is
injured?
Osaka@36, yes I heard on the commentary about Mkhi having a slight back injury. If he was fit he would have started ahead of Ozil and is right now our in form player. Gutted about him missing this game.
AMN has taken another painful knock. Hope he is ok.
Utd playing much better than us. We are giving away needless fouls in dangerous positions.
Giving too much space.
Leno playing well.
Thanks Desi
I hope Auba doesn’t take the penalty. He is.
Get in!!!!
Auba!!!
COYGS
Soft penalty but I will take it!
Auba scores so even better!
GET INNNNN!!!!
Commentator crying that it was contrived penalty. Who cares, we were due some.
Auba not very confident with penalties.
Awful penalty decision but who cares.
Laca misses again!
Moss is a poor ref, went our way
this time.
Laca should of killed it
Idiot on pitch.
Well played Ozil
As Desi’ner said, miss Mkhitaryan today. Will have to do with Suarez who comes on.
Eddieeee come on
Nkethia on for Laca.
Where did the five minutes come from?
We are not the PS f….. G
Bubble…..burst
I’ll take that result every day of the week. Good weekend!
Utd manager looks pensive and his team ordinary. They had great luck to stay unbeaten so far.
3 precious points!!! 9 home league wins in a row for us.
We’re not PSG…
WE’RE THE ARSENAL!!!!!!!!
😀
URedsssdsssssss
BIG WIN!!
I can sleep happy and Guvnor’s
report to look forward to in the
morning
*man* we needed that. total commitment, no passengers. the greatest team, indeed.
What did I say? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Commentators crying over Laca penalty, saying it doesn’t look like a penalty. It was a lot less soft than many of Salah’s awarded this season. Laca doesn’t dive. Definitely a penalty for me.
Great result today. Lucky Lukaku didn’t put Utd ahead early on from point blank range or else we might have lost as Utd would have shut shop.