We Are First To Face Clement In Inclement Weather
Jan 13th, 2017 by 'holic
Introspection complete, we have a Saturday 3pm kick-off to look forward to, and an opportunity to reclaim a place or two, or maybe even three, at the top of the table. Such is the nature of the pile-up behind Chelsea at the head of affairs that the fixture computer has offered up an intriguing weekend of fixtures.
We can only do what we have to do, and that is win at Swansea. It’s not a point lost on Arsene Wenger pre-match, and expressed by him in a wider contest on Arsenal.com. We are reaching what I love to call the pointed end of the season. Sorry if that aggravates, but it is absolutely the case. You can only lose the title in the first half of the season, but equally you can only win it in the second.
“You will always feel that it’s down to us not failing. Let’s focus on the process. We have five months in front of us and it’s very important that we feel like we’ve given absolutely everything to finish at the top. It’s very important that we focus on the process, what we can improve, how much better we can play in the next game and how we can win the game.”
The team news is once again a bit of a mixed bag. Petr Cech and Alexis are back after being rested for the FA Cup tie at Preston. Laurent Koscielny is recovered sufficiently from his injury and Mesut Ozil is over the virus that floored him. Sadly Hector Bellerin, Francis Coquelin, and Theo Walcott remain short term absentees.
We have options in most positions but the make-up of the back four will be a cause for much thought. Is Ashley Maitland-Niles up to a Premier League away fixture at right-back? If Gabriel is switched to that flank who will partner Skhodran Mustafi in the centre? Rob Holding and Per Mertesacker will be hoping for the call-up. Other than in Arsene’s mind there is no obvious selection.
Of course Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey are certain to occupy the positions at the base of the midfield, and it is a fair bet that Mesut Ozil will be recalled in the chief creating role in the side. That leaves the flanks and the leader of the attack. Last week Lucas and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain played out wide but one will surely make way this week. If Olivier Giroud is retained up top then expect Alexis to play on the left. Should Alexis be preferred to the Frenchman then Alex Iwobi or Danny Welbeck will also be hoping for a start on the left.
From a distance one might consider the forward selection problems Wenger faces are positive ones, and the defensive options less so. Perhaps that is being harsh. What of the hosts?
Once again, and funnily enough for the second time this season against Swansea, we face the new manager effect. This is Paul Clement’s first league game in charge, with Arsenal providing the opposition, as we did when Bob Bradley’s ill feted reign commenced in October. We broke the Swans hoodoo with a 3-2 win that day.
They will be without new signing Narsingh from PSV, and the experienced Taylor. Swansea have won three of their last five games against Arsenal, although interestingly we have won on three of our last four visits to the Liberty. There’s lovely.
The ‘holic pound
I have to be positive. Although Tottenham host West Brom at lunchtime we have a head start on Chelsea, away to Leicester in the evening. Then on Sunday Manchester City visit Everton before Manchester United host Liverpool. What are the odds on London clubs occupying the top three places after those fixtures? Revert to the Arsene quote above!
I’m throwing a hail Mary at this one, as I am inclined to on occasion. I see that a 2-4 away win is a staggering 45/1 with one major High Street bookie. I cannot resist that. Cashout could get very interesting if the goals start to flow.
Classic Shirts
Our partners have now called time on their sale but plenty of bargains remain on their website which can be reached by clicking here. My meagre post-Christmas funds were directed at my recent birthday bash, but some of next week’s salary may well be ‘invested’ in one or two beauties there. Obviously we have a vested interest in getting you to consider what they have to offer, but there is some seriously good kit on there. Check them out.
Take care if you’re going
The weather isn’t great out west at the moment. Be ready for a damp and chilly day in South Wales. I’ll resist the obvious, ‘isn’t it always’ there. What? Oh! Also Great Western are making the train journey more painful than it would normally be, with a bus replacement service from Port Talbot. All of which will surely make you more belligerent and loud during the match.
As always ‘holics, wherever you are watching, have a great one.
50 Responses to “We Are First To Face Clement In Inclement Weather”
Fine new post H
But if we cannot beat Swansea/Burnley/Watford in our next 3, then any
thoughts of challenging for the Title will be over.
I have noted reports that Costa has been left out of the Chelsea squad travelling to Leicester tomorrow,due to arguments over his fitness.
He apparently has had his head turned by the Chinese with a huge offer that you would be hard pressed to turn down.
Any disruption in the Chelsea camp is very welcome from our perspective,and i will be watching the scores from their match with interest.
Swansea won’t be easy with the players fighting to show the new manager they are worthy of a first team spot,but i cannot see with the firepower we have,that we won’t have more than a couple of goals in us.
Inclement Port Talbot bus replacement service.
The makings of an epic journey. COYG.
If this Costa thing derails Chelsea’s season he will go down in history as a buffoon, not just an egotistical turd, especially after his supposed role in the Mourinho fracas last season.
If this Costa thing derails Chelsea’s season I will love him forever.
Great stuff, H. Much as I love the FA Cup, I must admit that the bresk from league action, combined with post-Christmas blues has been almost interlull-like. Good to get back to the title chase.
I’m very much with Clive, if we can’t beat the likes of Swansea and the other two teams he mentioned, who I assume we are playing next,then we can’t expect to win the league, nor should we. However, even if we drop a couple or three points it won’t stop me hoping… and if we do take nine from the next three matches, I will only be hoping.
So come on lads, prolong the agony. Beat the Swans and help to build the hopes to unfeasible levels. A quiet life, with no hope is hardly a life at all.
Three points please. Any way you like.
COYG
PS to any who read mine at the end of the last bar… The BT guy has sent a replacement which is due Monday. Here’s hoping there will be no thrilling further episode.
Nice preview which sets up the game nicely. Clive is spot- on about the need to win the next three if we are to have any chance of the title and au think we will deliver although our midfield worries me.
Surely Kos and Mustafi will resume their partnership at centre back and Gabriel will revert to right back where he won’t have to face the tricky Montero who is injured. I fancy us to win 2-0 or 3-0 with an authoritative performance.
Good old Costa he may have thrown a lot of other teams a lifeline. Let’s hope we see a Chelsea dressing room like the one they had for most of last season . Nobody deserves it more.
Nice one Guv’!
3 – 1 to the lads, with a brace of goals and brace of assists from Alexis and Ozil respectively, following the consumption of several easy-peel Clementines and a cup of tea at halftime. Danny Boy to get a return with a goal assisted by the Ox, and Llorente to score with his head from another assist by Sigurdsson
The Bus Stop Chav$ki$ draw at Leicester in the Late kick-off due to Dago Costa’s 30 Million Squids dilemma. The gap to the top, back down to six!
UTA All Day & All Night!
AFCOF!
Cheers H!
Come on you Arsenal!
3-0, no problem.
Additionally, Spuds draw, Liverpool win and Chelsea lose. It has been written.
UTA.
Noosa knows, we hope!
We haven’t failed to score at Swansea since Oct 1981. We most commonly score twice (five times in 11 games, all competitions). We have never scored more than three there, and only done that once (Oct 2015). We’ve only kept three clean sheets in those 11 games, also. So 1-2 seems a likely scoreline today. However, the 22s available on the never before seen 2-3 might be appealing to those of a gaming persuasion.
Holic,
Thank you for a treat of a preview if I may say so !
Not to mention a superb history piece in your previous main post. I’ve been a little indisposed for the last week but they were two excellent reads for a Saturday lunchtime.
From the preview, I was struck by Arsene’s use of words in the quote which I have reproduced here –
“You will always feel that it’s down to us not failing. Let’s focus on the process. We have five months in front of us and it’s very important that we feel like we’ve given absolutely everything to finish at the top. It’s very important that we focus on the process, what we can improve, how much better we can play in the next game and how we can win the game.”
Twice he emphasises the importance of focussing on the “process”.
Those of us who have been formally trained in sports coaching will recognise from coaching parlance – no, not the Romford Parlance, he’s retired – that “process” and “outcome” are two mutually exclusive options for focus.
The process being the way in which you do something and the path by which you hopefully improve (even at the cost of the result), whereas the outcome is purely the result of the contest.
Our pre-Christmas fixtures left much to be desired in both areas, while some, not all, have been saying for a considerable time that there is too much emphasis on the aesthetics of our game and not enough pragmatism in acheiving the desired result.
Whatever your own opinion, it is possibly an interesting choice of priorities from the manager.
Hopefully, today will see a beautiful process resulting in a 6-0 thrashing of our opponents – if not a 2-4 thrashing – the preferred outcome of our host.
COYREEDDDSSSSS !
Ned,
We also seem to get regularly done up like a kipper by whoever is on their left wing for the afternoon.
Just my perception, which I am sure you will immediately disprove ! ?
trev @ 12.
Beautifully written post.
My hat goes off to anyone reading this who is currently partaking in “a rail replacement from Port Talbot” in this weather. Proper fans.
Will be listening in on the radiogram with pipe and slippers meself.
COYG.
Excellent preview Guvna. No sign of a post-celebration blunting of those grey cells.
I have to agree with Clive that we simply have to win the next three to achieve our ultimate goal. In fact we need to go on a somewhat longer run of victories to take that top spot.
COYG.
Trev
Nice post @12
I’m a bit under the weather myself today and am intermittently watching the Totts. It’s depressing from a Gooner viewpoint, firstly that they have only Lamela injured and secondly that they are playing a very high- quality pressing and passing game. I’m the first to slag them off but their success allied to the continual drain of injuries, many of which like Cazorla’s seem to be mishandled are going to make it very hard for us to finish in the top 4 let alone win the title. Very hard indeed.
In today’s Times they list those unavailable for this weekend’s games:
Chelsea- Terry suspended- no injuries ( unless you believe Diego Costa!)
S***s- Lamela injured
Man City- Gundogan injured, Fernando doubtful
Man U- Bailly unavailable, Rojo and Zlatan doubtful- bet he plays
Liverpool- Mane unavailable,Ings injured
Arsenal- wait for it
Bellerin, Walcott, Cazorla, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Debuchy injured, Elneny unavailable.
Swansea our opponents today have no injuries.
When oh when will we get on a level playing field with our rivals. The situation is consistently much worse than the club’s we are competing against and it’s never solved . It’s not bad luck it’s bad management and the Cazorla situation has recurred two seasons running. He is a real key to our team play and I doubt we may see him in first- team action before the end of April.
Thanks countryman and TTG.
Cech
Gabriel
Mustafi
Kos
Nacho
Xhaka
Rambo
Ozil
Iwobi
Oli
Sanchez
Bit of a thin bench
Ospina
Perez
Ox
Holding
Danny
Reine-Adelaide
Maitland-Niles
Trev@13: Hope you are fully recovered from whatever ailed you, and you, Ttg, on the road to recovery.
At least there is no Montero to terrorise Gabriel today. Swansea will need to find a different kipper.
Gibbs gone in both knees, I see. But there is still some fire power on the bench if needed.
I’m fine thanks, Ned,
just a lot of work and everyone else to look after (not Erin thankfully, who has been fine for a good while now ???)
TTG @17. Agreed about Sp*rs impressive performance today, and would add that if it is Dembele who is playing in Lamela’s place that they have a very effective replacement in the team. Dembele and Wanyama were completely bossing the midfield in the first half.
COME ON!
BT8
It ill behoves me to say it but the Totts midfield two are much more effective than the two we have in our central midfield today.
TTG
Agreed there is no movement from us in the first half none attacking anyhow…
We look rather flat
Get in, Giroud!!!!
Oh Giroud u beauty
Get in OG looked injured?
Total dive
Wake up Aaron ffs
We keep giving the ball away.
Very lucky lad Gabriel
Pedal to the metal this half
Iwobi! Iwobi!!
He assists himself!!
😀
Iwobi get in for number 3 ?
Rout alert
Let’s get a clean sheet
Clean sheet would do us good for confidence at he back!
An away victory at last.
A few own goals for what ails ye?
4-0 away from home. Solid after the first goal and dominant in the second. Fans will enjoy the drive back to London.
I thought Iwobi had a particularly good game.
Now come on Leicester!
Got the lucky goal then we took them apart in the second half glad to have a clean sheet too will do us a world of good for those confidence levels.
Come on Leicester indeed countryman100
wonder what’s goin on in the wee alexis noggin
a master of the huff supreme indeed
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
That will do nicely.
Maybe Alexis had “done a Barton” on a 0-5 outcome @ the bookies ?
Welcome back Trev, I echo the compliments of others.
Apropos your ‘process’ dissertation I was reminded (tangentially) of Mark Twain’s quote … If pro is the opposite of con, then the opposite of progress must be Congress</em).
But back to football… Once again we have enough players in the physio room to field a reasonable crocked XI. Just missing a keeper I think. FFS someone DO SOMETHING about it. Or at least, AW, recognise the problem isn't going to go away and sign a second squad of full internationals.
No, I know that's not the answer, and hopefully the new AirFibr pitch at Colney will prove at least part of the solution (maybe even ALL the solution if we're really lucky. Yeah right). These endless injury years have gone way beyond a joke.
Fucked up the italics using wrong bracket after /em. Only the Twain quote should have been in italics.