NLD 193, Arsene Wenger’s 50th, Can Arsenal Extend Winning Run to Four?
Apr 28th, 2017 by 'holic
Between 1897 and 1903 we made seven visits to the Middlesex marshlands in various minor leagues. The first Football League visit of Arsenal to the neighbours-to-be took place at White Hart Lane on 16th April 1910, some three years before we really wound them up by moving within four miles of them into a stadium with better public transport links. The result that day was a 1-1 draw, McGibbon the Arsenal goalscorer.
This weekend we pay a final visit to the Lane in its current incarnation before the long overdue arrival of the wrecking ball. I suppose many will mourn the loss of the pitch on which we twice won the League title, and indeed those two matches will always hold a special place in the memory. Will this last meeting of the old rivals serve up happy memories also?
It looks likely that St Totteringham’s Day will be postponed (for just a year, you understand) but the Gunners will be keen to avoid a defeat that would confirm it on Sunday. To that end the recent run of three wins could not have been more timely. The change in formation that has coincided with that run may well extend to this fixture, although much will depend on the availability of skipper Laurent Koscielny, rated a 60/40 chance after seemingly hyperextending his knee on Wednesday night.
Skhodran Mustafi remains on the treatment table so Rob Holding and Gabriel should get the nod to partner the hopefully fit French international. That was a winning combination against Manchester City in the FA Cup Final so they should have a degree of confidence and belief. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, rested as a precaution against Leicester in midweek could well return as the right wing-back with the in-form Nacho Monreal on the opposite flank.
The deep-lying pairing is far from obvious and will have to provide a vital barrier to a very aggressive and attack-minded Tottenham engine room. At our place the derby looked to pass Granit Xhaka by, but he has been in good form of late and is likely to retain his place. Will the boss, in his fiftieth North London derby, go for the attack-minded Aaron Ramsey, the defensive option in Francis Coquelin, or the athletic Mohamed Elneny? Your guess is as good as mine.
Surely Mesut Oil and Alexis will support and attempt to prove for whoever is chosen to lead the line. Theo Walcott started on Wednesday but produced little, although his goalscoring record against Tottenham is worth bearing in mind. After his excellent return at Southampton in the FA Cup Danny Welbeck has also struggled to make an impact of late, so it could be that Olivier Giroud is given the chance to add to his tally of goals against the old enemy.
The bitter feelings I had for Tottenham as a young man have mellowed a little of late. Whisper it, but they have played some decent football in the last couple of seasons since the arrival of Pochettino. Perhaps the reason they have had such a good season this time around is due to his insistence that they do not fixate on finishing above the Arsenal for the first time since 1994/5, the season in which George Graham was sacked.
“My challenge or my aim is not to be above Arsenal. My aim is to be above 19 teams and to be first, to be on the top.”
They really would have to ‘Spurs it up’ in order to finish lower than runners-up this season but something similar would have to befall Chelsea if the Premier League trophy doesn’t end up at the bus stop in Fulham in May. There is a sentence that is tough to write, and a sad reflection on what the move to the Grove was supposed to deliver to us. It would appear though that the redevelopment of the condemned dump in N17 will have an effect on the Middlesex club, already facing costs escalating almost out of control.
The ‘holic pound
If you listened to the Bergkamp Wonderland podcast you will know I was more than a little bullish about our prospects. This fixture normally generates goals, and often freak scorelines. I’ll stick by my 2-4 away win, although I accept that comes more from the heart than the head. The bookies have the Arsenal as 7/2 outsiders to beat the odds on hosts, so not surprisingly I have found 90/1 against my fanciful prediction. I’m on it!
If you are going to the swamp on Sunday the police advice is to get to the ground early as there will be increased security. Goodness knows that has long been overlooked at that place. Stay safe, and hopefully enjoy a fine game and a great Arsenal victory.
For the rest of you have a listen to that ABW podcast, embedded below. Oh, and thank you for the very kind comments I have received for my interview with the excellent Layth Yousif for the Islington Gazette. I was lucky to be given the opportunity and I thank Layth for that.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
81 Responses to “NLD 193, Arsene Wenger’s 50th, Can Arsenal Extend Winning Run to Four?”
big brother
me dinners on
so rest easy ‘hol
spuds are a flatenner for me
if i ever get out without permission again
just get one of yer rangers
they know what to throw
the dead and decaying bodies of singer/songwriters
GSD – Morse I am not a fan of, but I liked Lewis and Endeavor. But none of them are as good as George Gently and all of them can get to fuck when compared to Between the Lines (series one and two only)
Line of Duty has been shite this year.
But the king of all cop shows is The Sweeney, of course.
“Get yer tea cosy on, you’re nicked”
the dead and decaying bodies of singer/songwriters
You have got to stop watching The X Factor.
ah shut up ya oul queen
any new old tv recommendations ?
not bbc4
some right herberts
what’s left ?
genius
Not a television fan these days maestro. I watch precious little.
if i can nip in before himself answers
old telly is brilliant ‘hol
i use kodi to watch 50s/60s american telly shows
Can’t let the mercurial Arsenal career of Charlie McGibbon pass in half a sentence. He only joined the club the month before that first Football League NLD, but scored three goals in his four games for us, helping secure the points in a late unbeaten run that lets us escape relegation that season. He moved to Leyton Orient the next season.
Nice preview Guvna. 4-2 to the good guys sounds excellent.
COYG
cba – I am currently watching The Onedin Line all over again. Top stuff.
If you’ve not seen Hinterland that’s well worth catching up on. It’s modern but it’s Welsh.
Like Tom Jones wearing Converse.
Friday trifecta nearly complete. Islington Gazette interview – enjoyed that. NLD preview – enjoyed it too. AKB podcast still to go. Thanks, ‘holic. 🙂
hello ned
hello cynic
i am for the bed
snoozing for to have
and farting for to do
sláinte
.
UP THE ARSENAL
or thereabouts
History isn’t with the ‘Holic pound. There have only been two 2-4 away wins in the 192 meetings between the two sides. One a piece. Ours was on Boxing Day, 1983, in the old First Division. Raphael Meade and Charlie Nicholas both got a brace.
Sleep well, cba.
and baff and 8ball
cheers ned
the most triumphant
of my farts
i shall name after you
herself has already edged over
anyhoo
bye bye for real
UP THE ARSENAL
Great preview Holic and a really nice interview which I have just read. Brilliant stuff all around as always!
One of my colleagues at work who is a Spurs supporter wouldn’t allow me to have a say in this weekends derby, I know for a fact we will not finish above them this season and I presented this with admitting they are playing better football these days, however pointing out to the fact that it took them 21 years do so and all I got from him was: Your lot was just lucky over these years! Was a rather lame excuse…anyways banter is always good but I would love rub more salt into those cracked wounds after their FA Cup exit and smile on Tuesday when I pass his desk in the morning. 😀
When was the last time we won at Three Point Lane?
“Morse I am not a fan of, but I liked Lewis and Endeavor…”
Full frontal idiot
Joy Division I am not a fan of, but I liked New Order
Boooo…oooo
I have been watching re-runs of Morse on SKY NZ’s UKTV channel in recent weeks, and have concluded that John Thaw in his later years was a very ordinary actor (or was it the cliché-ridden scripts?). I think I’ll stick with my (admittedly unreliable) Sweeney memories rather than actually check out Thaw’s early years learning the trade. Although I wouldn’t mind a reprise of the early Dennis Waterman pre Minder and his scary new teeth in New Tricks.
Check out Redcap for early Thaw goodness. Avoid Home to Roost for post Sweeney “comedy”
I might do that, Cynic. Somehow I missed Redcap altogether in its day, even though I was still living in England at the time.
Am I the only person alarmed by Waterman’s dentistry in New Teeth … I mean New Tricks?
Uninhibited discussion of farting a bit shocking to my tender ears.
Those who can, do.
Beg your pardon?
Thanks for the preview GH and as
always I hope your pounds roars in.
Personally, I think it’ll be tight as
both sides have finishing positions
on their mind and won’t want to
give away the first goal. 1-0 to us
will do for me.
If we do play Le Coq and Xhaka in
a NLD, then put together with the
likes of Alli, Dire, etc then it might
come down to who can keep 11 men
on the pitch.
Last thing I’d tell Le Coq and Xhaka
is the old Hill Street Blues thing
‘Be careful out there’.
And then rip ’em a new one. COYGs!
Hmmm. The most likely outcome of Xhaka and Coq playing together in the rare heat of an NLD, Osaka, is one or more of them seeing red.
I wonder how long we’ll have to play with 10 men after another dubious decision.
Chris,
Yes, I wouldn’t play them both.
I think Holic is right and Xhaka will
play, my guess is it will be Ramsey
with him. I miss Santi.
and most of all I do not and I mean that I DO NOT wish to reset that clock!
Cynic @4. Agreed. Although I do quite like Morse- without thinking it is actually any good.
After I wrote that last line it occured to me I could have been writing about our team!
Nice preview H. Cheers.
Spuds need to watch out for that Mesut Oil. He can be a slippery character. ?
I see what you’re doing with the 4-2, Holic (i.e. a 2-1 double). Very clever and I’m on board. Great interview in the Gazette too. Enjoy the weekend. I’ll be watching through two fingers.
Just read the Islington Gazette interview. Nicely done. For those of a certain age, Highbury does bring back intertwined memories of the stadium itself and our own younger days.
As for your all time XI, I wonder if any or all of Alex James, Cliff Bastin, Ted Drake and David Jack might join that pantheon if they had played in the modern era?
“Joy Division I am not a fan of, but I liked New Order”
That made me laugh so much I spat me tea out !
Ned, if it had been Dad’s choice all four, I suspect. 😉
Thanks BtM. Trying to gird my loins tonight. Guinness and single malt involved as ever. Those butterflies need to be drowned. 🙂
Parejo was the name of Valencia’s equalizing goalscorer near the end of their game today against Real Madrid. A singularly appropriate name, as it turns out, parejo meaning “equal” in English. Unfortunately, Real Madrid scored the winner a few minutes later and the equalizer was for nought.
What a fight that was. Joshua wins from somehwere….
I think Boy Bastin, in particular, would have given Robert Pires a run for his money in your all-time team.
…and I have always preferred Kenny Sansom at LB (and maybe Pat Jennings GK). But a fascinating article, well done.
I should add that you will have seen infinitely more live Arsenal performances than me and having a difference of opinion feels almost impertinent. 😀
Thanks for an optimistic preview Holic. I’m currently in Maine but hope to see some of the game live. I’m feeling more optimistic than I should because it’s time for them to get’ ‘Spursy ‘ ! It would be brilliant to win tomorrow. If we do the top four is still a possibility.
I don’t like our midfield oprions but we might produce a contrary performance and Aaron does score at the Lane .
I used to love the atmosphere of the Derby but its close to toxic now. Let’s hope we rain on their parade tomorrow
Cech
Gab Kos Nacho
Hector Ox X-Man Gibbo
Ozil Danny Alexis
If it were me, but, it ain’t..thankfully
Kick the shit out of them.
Win the game.
Make us proud.
Simple…..
what steve said
Great preview Holic,
and enjoyed the interview.
Not sure, at the moment, whether a quiet confidence or a bit of “oh well, c’est la vie ” has got me, but i feel oddly calm ahead of this adternoon.
I wish it was the former but suspect it is the latter.
Just dandy to learn that we have finally found a more secure defensive formation which, of course, is immediately threatened by injury.
Now if you’ll excuse me while I take the Groundhog for a walk.
I’ll try to lose him on the way back.
Err, Trev. Didn’t you try that yesterday?
Awful refereeing in the ManU match.. hope it doesn’t happen in ours.
Up The Arse!
Yes, GSD, I’ve been trying it for years ?
Giroud up top again, so movement will be zero and we’ll be playing a lot of passes at a slow tempo. This will be a tough watch.
C’mon boys three points.
Wake up, Ozil ffs.
Did anyone see the two stewards that tackled the heckler who was trying to put off Ozil while he tried to take the corner?!.. Hahahah!
😀
Burly guys the were, BB. Secret Arsenal fans?
A poor attacking half with two or three passengers. Lucky to still be level.
Giroud and Ozil off. Welbeck and Colin Lewin on.
Sorry, CL isn’t among the subs. 😉
Iwobi for Ozil then.
Halftime odds on Xhaka not getting a red card?
Why not The?
Theo
.
*leather seats fart in sequence*
.
.
“I didn’t get where I am today without recognizing lacklustre when I see it”
.
.
*cigar smoke billows*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
*11 leather seats de-fart*
@bt8
Xhaka.. got’s an “X” on his back( …for the Card too!).
😀
Ozil and Giroud total passengers. Terrible defending for the first goal, penalty a shocking decision. By Gabriel.
Subs please.
Walcott and Welbeck on, passengers off.
Cech has been great today, it could have been six but for him.
Looks like we’ve accepted 2-0.
Fucking awful game.
We would have been utterly destroyed without Cech.
Sorry guys I thought that was a nailed on penalty. At the other end we’d have been screaming for it. Also clear handball from Sanchez in area.
Let’s face it we’ve been well beaten here.
Sorry to say, we have been second best throughout and fucking spuds have looked sharper and outplayed us. Will have to live with all their crowing for a year.
Their passing is better and their shooting sharper and practiced which makes them potent. Our Manager does not believe in shooting.
For the first time in two decades we look like the inferior team.
Pointless sub with ten minutes to go and 2-0 down.
When you think the two Manc clubs blew it earlier, this performance has been almost criminal. Never in it, lucky not to be murdered.
If you’re going to chase Kane all that way at least kick the bastard up in the air when you get to him.
FFS.
Arsenal have certainly regressed.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I’m sorry but as a native North Londoner this result is a real downer for me. Sure we will emerge again as king of this territory but don’t know when. First though must, must, create a more consistent positive team attitude. AW’s laissez-faire philosophe won’t cut it!