Invincibles v Invincibles – And It’s Thyme For Basel
Dec 5th, 2016 by 'holic
Before looking ahead to the trip to Basel the draw for the third round of the FA Cup has sent us to Preston North End. Looking at the draw I would imagine we would probably be the third or fourth choice for television so I think we can kiss goodbye to a 3pm Saturday kick-off. I hope for the sake of the travelling Gooners that it isn’t switched to Friday or Monday night, but they must remain real possibilities.
Holders Arsenal came from two goals down to win 2-4 at Deepdale in the third round in 1999. The following season we beat them 2-1 at Highbury in the League Cup. Strangely those are the only previous Cup meetings between two proud and established clubs, both of whom have enjoyed the title, ‘the invincibles’. (Edit, my source site was wrong about that Cup meetings stat, see Ned’s drink below) Preston achieved the feat in the inaugural Football League season in 1888/89, and added the FA Cup for good measure.
More on them before the tie is played in January. Before then we have match day six in the Champions League group stage to negotiate. Paris St Germain are at home to Ludogorets and are huge favourites to win and clinch top place in the group. Under the circumstances we can expect Arsenal to engage in a degree of rotation in Basel, although Arsene has taken the full squad with Olivier Giroud coming in for the suspended Francis Coquelin.
We can be sure that David Ospina will reclaim the goalkeeping berth, and it would not be a surprise for Rob Holding and Kieran Gibbs to slot into the back four. Ahead of them Mohamed Elneny could return alongside Granit Xhaka. Perhaps Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi will allow Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil a rest. It would be a brave manager who tells Alexis he will make way for Giroud or Lucas after his heroics at the weekend!
Basel can be expected to put up a real fight. They just need to do better than Ludogorets in order to claim the Europa League spot that goes to the third placed team in the group. That probably means a draw would do them nicely, thank you very much. To show that this is no walkover Basel have won their past three Champions League home games against English clubs. In fact at home they have lost just two of their last eight home matches in the Champions League, to Real Madrid and PSG.
The ‘holic pound
I was seven minutes away from collecting on Saturday evening, but the three goals scored in those minutes meant I was way off the mark. Listeners to last week’s A Bergkamp Wonderland podcast know I think this is a likely draw, and I don’t back against the Arsenal. Therefore it is an anytime goalscorer I am looking for. Tricky when the team isn’t certain, but there is a topical selection. I will have a smaller than usual punt on Xhaka at 6/1 to net against his old club. If you fancy Elneny to do the same he is priced at around 11/1.
Those lucky enough to have made the trip will enjoy a sunny and balmy 4/5 degrees in the afternoon but it drops below zero during the game so wrap up warm folks. As ever, wherever you are watching, have a great one, ‘holics.
59 Responses to “Invincibles v Invincibles – And It’s Thyme For Basel”
RIP Micky Fitz
…Oh oh the terrace lost its soul Oh oh money moved in…
Micky Fitz?
Okay, Googling got me there. Not a band ever heard of this side of the globe. RIP.
He’s not Bowie, he’s not Jagger, he’s not Printz
he is…
Following was posted after the >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> in previous drinks, in answer to claim of plagiarism…
Apologies, zico, I didn’t mean to claim it as original. I assumed most of our (English) members would have heard it before. It was copied from a source which didn’t provide the original source either! Perhaps you know where it originated?
Here’s another, similar, funny that I’m also not claiming … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw2jirl8Yuw
Cheers H!
Cant wait for Saturday squire.
Gonna be real. Gonna be MASSIVE!
He was iron through and through but proper lad.
I think this is likely to prove an irrelevant game. However well we play we won’t overtake PSG who will wallop Ludogorets so if I were Arsene I would rotate away and whatever Alexis wants to do I’d pick
Ospina
Gabriel
Holding
Mustafi
Gibbs
Xhaka
Elneny
Maitland- Niles
Ramsey
Lucas
Giroud
It would be nice to win but like most of our last group games ( except for last year) the travelling faithful really have to be faithful . Basel is the only big city in Switzerland I have never visited but this time of year for a game like this it doesn’t appeal. I just hope we avoid any injuries
Evening Esso. I’m so looking forward to it.
Herbal song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrQoCO7KoXI
Preston players are riled up already.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38209609
Chris,
Best I could find :
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/page/429550.html
Nice preview Guvna. I suspect you are spot on predicting a draw but I have my fingers crossed we pull off a win and PSG blow it.
Thanks to a very good friend I am making one of my rare forays to an away fixture tomorrow. However the journey involves a 3am start and a convoluted journey via Bristol, Brussels and Geneva by car, plane and rail. Oh for a Zico style Executive Travel package with champagne and canapés. 🙂
Long-johns, gloves and ear muffs packed
COYG
Zico
Not just the Americans the Polish probably don’t get it either not sure how many ins our outs were there but frankly sod that for a game of starters I say! 😀
Bath
Have a safe trip there and back, I hope we can still win and for Ludogorets
to do a Bournemouth to PSG!
I know that Basel will be up for this one but we have the knack of turning those in our favor. Fingers crossed here!
bath, excellent that you are going. Tell me we will see you on Saturday. You are missed, big time.
Yep, that was the source I copied, zico.
Up and at ’em!
Sadly not going to make the game on Saturday Guvna. Whoever thought of putting a game on at 3pm on a Saturday! Will get back to normal service in the new year.
COYG
Would definitely want Sanchez and Ozil to be rested. Even if we top the group, with our luck, we would probably draw Bayern Munich, Dortmand/Real Madrid or Juventus/Seville, so it wouldn’t matter if we top the group or not. Our priority should be the league and this is a good opportunity to rest our leading players especially as the month is going to be such a busy one. The team suggested by TTG is fine by me though we would be totally devoid of pace up front.
Thanks TTG.
TTG
Don’t think Gab will play,he got 2 knocks on Saturday,the knee and a head clash,so don’t expect him to be risked.
Gibbs and Jenks for the full backs,Holding + AN Other central defence.
I expect Elneny and Ramsey to play the 2 midfield roles,as they didn’t start at the w/end.
Don’t think Granit will play after a full shift Saturday.
Iwobi should start having missed Saturday,with Lucas and Ollie up top.
That leaves one other spot to fill,which could go to Maitland- Niles.
If the Boss does choose to play a stronger starting eleven,if PSG are home and hosed by half time,he can always make some early substitutions.
3 pts against Stoke are much more important,given we have Everton and City back to back away straight after.
Guv’nor, Check out:
Quarter Final, 1922: 1-1 at Highbury, lost the replay 2-1
Fifth Round, 1938: Lost 1-0 at Highbury
Fifth Round, 1957: 3-3 at Preston, won the reply 2-1
Several pictures on the club site of Bellerin training ahead of the Basel game.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20161205/arsenal-train-ahead-of-fc-basel-match
Prominence also given to the big names. But we know Cech won’t play so it might all be bluff.
Morning Ned
Can the Monks tell me how many points we had when we beat City to go top in Dec last season. ?
Morning, Clive. 39 from 19 games.
.. at least that was when we went top. We’d beaten City two games previously but that left us second.
…at which point we had 36 from 18.
Re: NBN @23 (aka the Arsenal training photos). There are 35 photos included, which is about twice as many as there are most other weeks. Could arsenal.com have caught on to the fake news craze? Will have to examine those photos more to see if half of them are rigged, hacked, or photoshopped. 😉
On further review of the training photos, it can be said that Hector is pictured training exclusively with inanimate humanoid frame figures, whereas most of the other photos are of groups of players practicing together. Pencil Hector in to play 90 minutes then.
It is good to see Hector running around those inanimate humanoid frame figures in any case, though. What next, real humans??
The earliest Bellerin can be expected to return is for the City game on 18th:
http://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/arsenal/arsenal-fans-boosted-by-injury-updates
Can’t wait to see him in action again.
Clive
All very good points. I was indicating the team I would pick if I was Arsene for the day. I had forgotten Gabriel’s injuries on Saturday and agree he might bring back The Corporal in a lower key game.
My guess is that Xhaka and Elneny will be very keen to play against their old club. The opportunity to rest Alexis and Ozzie is very compelling. The only reason for them going on the trip is the Duty free Toblerone!
Bath
Enjoy the day. You have my boundless admiration for your dedication and stoicism . Last Wednesday was cold enough for me.
Duty free Toblerone?
*pricks up ears for further details*
Come on.
0-2, can’t believe it ! Lucas Perez with his second.
Two nil to The Arsenal keep digging lads! Perez and Gibbo running the show! ?
Hand-brake off. Keep the heel firmly on their collective throat – Sweeper style.
Can’t see the game but the scoreline sure looks good so far. ?
Alexis at least one meter on side come on lino sort it out please
We keep giving the ball away as usual, but we are playing well and the second goal was a good passing team goal, BT8.
Come on Iwobi you are better than that
Didn’t know PSG are one nil down come on Ludogorets!
Good reaction save by Ospina and they have come close a few times.
Apologies TTG
Didn’t read your post properly.
But having seen the run on side,your ” if i were Arsene ” suggested team,was a lot closer than mine.
Ned,
Thnks for the points update.
Given we currently have 31 from 14 games,we are a good chance of bettering both those tallies.
Evening BTM
Surprised you are not in the land of cuckoo clocks,only a hop skip and a jump from Bonnie Scotland.
Too cold for me, Clive. Our Ambassador, Sir Bath is representing me. Good first half I thought.
We have given them plenty of room since the second goal and they look dangerous going forward. I agree we keep giving the ball away and the mid-field duo need to get a grip. Sadly Iwobi is having another mare.
Well played Gibbs and good for Perez being in the right place at the right times.
COYRs
Both Lucas Perez goals were “fox in the box” types, which we haven’t seen that much of recently. He looks to have that striker instinct in his locker.
Agreed BTM
Our usual cavalier approach to what seems every match we play.
Some scintillating football combined with giving the ball away regularly with gay abandon.
I have just seen the PSG run on team,and am staggered that little old Ludo,who i admit do have a few Brazilians in their team,can be in front in Paris.
Looks like a classic case of the multi millionaires thinking they only had to turn up to win.
Going to be an interesting couple of second halves,particularly if PSG and Basel score the next goals.
Perez hat-trick. Good finish this time by Lucas. A hat-trick every match will do!
Perez and Gibbo involved again! Come on!
Iwobi scores, another beautiful team goal. Time to take Sanchez and Ozil off. Wenger, of course, will wait till the 67th minute to make his substitutions.
Get Sanchez off, AW. He has faced a couple of crude challenges already.
Beautiful free kick by Alexis hits the bar.
Finally the subs Elneny, Giroud and Theo replace Sanchez, Ramsey and Ozil.
Basel score as Holding gives the ball away in a dangerous area. This will be a good lesson for Holding who otherwise had a good match.
PSG are 1:2 down come on
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Job done as they win and qualify on top of the group. AW Justified in playing Ozil and Sanchez.
Apologies Arsene. That’s why you’re earning £8m a year and ….I’m not.
My chosen team might have won but I had no idea Ludo would do the business in Paris. I guess Cavani missed another hatful although I haven’t seen many details as I was out.
I hope Chris might give Perez a bit more time to bed in now. I think he looks a very useful addition to our ranks but he needs a run of games to get sharp. I think Wenger bought well in the summer. Mustafi and Xhaka were big buys but Perez and Holding were value additions as well. Today the rumbling started about Wenger suggesting he was not looking to buy in January.
That looks sensible with Welbeck and Mertesacker to come back and join the squad we have. If we have good luck with injuries our squad looks strong in all areas. But we will resist the injuries?