Gunners Need Three Points For Christmas
Dec 21st, 2018 by 'holic
The eve of the last home match before Christmas. The holiday has officially started for me but the management team and the players will not be getting much of a break at this busy time of the year. Burnley arrive at the Grove with every reason to want to stop us securing what have become three important points. Our defeat at Southampton sent the clarets into the bottom three.
Our injury list continues to be an issue, particularly in defence. The options for changing the back three that started in midweek are all young and unproven, although the temptation to play Zech Medley in order that Granit Xhaka can resume his partnership with Lucas Torreira must be fairly strong.
Mesut Ozil has been recalled to the squad and could slot into the vacancy created by an injury to Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Will Alexandre Lacazette be recalled, possibly in place of Alex Iwobi? All things are possible.
Last weekend Sean Dyche employed a 3-4-3 formation against the Middlesex Nomads at Wembley and only fell to a solitary goal defeat in time added on at the end. That may give them belief of getting something from us after our successive defeats this week.
Winger Aaron Lennon has had an operation on his wafer knee which will keep him out until the New Year. On the plus side Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Robbie Brady could be available again after injury.
The ‘holic pound
Burnley’s performance at Wembley warrants respect, but it is likely that Unai Emery will have encouraged a far more determined performance from his charges than we could produce on Wednesday. A clean sheet seems beyond us at the moment so BtM will be delighted I have taken tens against a trusted favourite, 2-1 to The Arsenal.
For those that are going I hope the boys do indeed put on a show for you. I will be missing as I am getting four new tyres on the trusty motor in readiness for Sunday’s trip to the Black Country. If you are watching from home you will be able to catch me soon after the final whistle on ABW Live. The link will be posted on Twitter when we go live, or you can subscribe to the ABW YouTube channel here.
56 Responses to “Gunners Need Three Points For Christmas”
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Burnley will play their usual defensive game of everyone behind the ball and punt a few into our box in hope. Three points are all that matter and 2-1 will be a great result.
Bellerin will be a big miss during the next three or four games. If played, Ozil must take the chance to become a regular in the side as we need his flair and creativity in the midfield to regain our scoring form.
I’m on chauffeur duties for the lads I travel to games with so my consumption will be modest , partly because of the very unfriendly kick-off time.
I agree a win is very necessary tomorrow but a decent performance is important to regain confidence. This is the only time of the year when I feel any sympathy for footballers – the Christmas programme is ridiculous and rotation is important. If Torreira is booked he misses the next game. I’d rather he missed Brighton than Liverpool. Shirt off if he scores tomorrow I think . I like the idea of Medley but only in a three.
Doesn’t sound like Ozil will figure so we may need Ramsey tomorrow and I would always start Laca and Auba when available .
I think we will prevail 2-0 and lead at half-time !
I agree with ksn. The problem is Arsenal always have a problem playing teams who park the bus.Wenger during his time will opt for his predictable all out/kami kaze attack with a hdl. Needless to say he was beaten time and again by the big teams who hit him when his defence was stretched.
As for Emery he has to prove himself after the Saints loss. The defence as usual are the main culprits. Of course when you playa hdl,you have to be able to cope with fast breakaways.
I think Burnley’s plan will be to concede possession and will be encouraged by Saints win.
If Arsenal play cohesively there is no reason why they cant win.
Safe travels and tasty Christmas puddings, ‘holic and other nomads. No, not those Nomads who shall be wished blah pudding. 2-1 with both goals scored very late.
Cheers H.
In terms of food consumption, Christmas season really kicked off for me today. I ate about an entire pig’s worth of delicious pig meat (there may be a word for that but having just woken up from a 2 hour unplanned nap on my couch my brain is objecting strenuously to my barbaric attempts to get it to, you know, remember stuff)
I must also apologise to all as I appear to have eaten most of the world’s supply of cake. I ate so much cake that I could only manage one beer. 2 more bevvies that I got ready in place, fully expecting to wipe them out before going back for more, have in fact been the sentinels watching over my slumbering self. I was just too full to drink.
Football? Buggrit. That’s probably better left until tomorrow..
Was that the Gloucester Gluttons I just heard?
Warning. I do get round to Football- but this posts works its way there, after starting out somewhere else entirely…
Homelessness is an issue that I have a long history of engagement with. It’s always been important to me as I’ve lived in the (hugely affluent) UK yet seen a lot of homeless people in the cities I’ve lived in. Then, living in India, where it is also a massive issue but one structured and arising from a different set of dynamics, it was something I was still very interested in. When I got back to the UK, specifically London, I was as keenly aware as ever that in a city worth billions we have thousands of people who don’t have homes and get treated appallingly by some of those that do. I’ve never found an explanation for that that I can see as anything more than a (poor) excuse. If the value of a society can be seen in how it treats its most vulnerable members then the society I live in still has a way to go.
Footballers can be an easy target when looking at the spread of wealth and the value judgments it illuminates. We’ve got a bloke being paid £350,000 a week to kick a ball. The government taxes him at 40%. And there are still thousands of homeless people in the city where all this goes on. Funny old world.
Christmas is a time when this issue always comes to the front of my mind. I’m no Christian but I’ve always been happy to take a leaf from Jesus’ book at this time of year. I like the presents and the turkey and the booze (hot, spiced wine- genius!) and, of course, the cake!, but without some compassion and efforts to help out in some way some of the people less fortunate than myself (whoever they may be and in whatever capacity I can in any given year) then I’d feel that I missed the point of the season,as well as an opportunity to reach out at a time of year when it is appreciated even more than usual. It is as selfish as it is altruistic – Christmas is a time I have got more satisfaction from giving than receiving- so I get loads of benefit from whatever efforts I make.
All of which is preamble to say that there are times when football seems frivolous (the most important of the unimportant things) and times when I am reminded how much power it gives to the players, in terms of profile and finances. A lot of modern players do great work and make use of this platform, despite often being caricatured as greedy idiots. This article on the BBC website is a great example and has just touched me. Top man Vincent!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46652172
I’ve laughed at the Spuds stadium woes. But homelessness, in its real forms, is, in my opinion, a problem for us all.
If you read all of that then cheers. Have a drink on me. Preferably something mulled and steaming. Feel free to add a glug of rum, brandy, calvados (if you’re on the cider) or, my personal favourite-after a tip-off from an ex, some amaretto. Just the job after a hard Friday night dozing on the couch and waking up to right the world’s wrongs from the same hallowed space that I’ll be screaming encouragement at a bunch of millionaires in red and white tomorrow. Still a funny old world.
I so hope to see you again soon GSD. ??
* struggles to get head round the complexities of the societal bonds that exist or do not exist in modern western capitalist culture*
*gives up*
*reaches for a ‘Blue Peter’ beer (here’s one I made earlier)*
*sips delicious ale and smiles at the irony that it is called ‘London Pride’*
Proud to be a Holic.
This bar is damn fine place to drink. Cheers all.
Absolutely H! It’s been too long my friend.
There’s a few other top people in this bar who I’m looking forwards to a face to face catchup with. And a few I’ve yet to meet who I’ll enjoy the occasion when I do. That’s a resolution I like the sound of this New Year- meet up with The Landlord and some of the other drinkers in this fantastic bar.
Somewhere where the bevvies aren’t virtual! ?
And where they let in blokes dressed as dinosaurs. Or, at least, one bloke dressed as a dinosaur. I’ve never yet walked into the Tolly to see anyone else in the same getup…
Thanks for the preview Guvnor.
Xmas started yesterday and this
morning my head hurty:(
An early goal and 3-0 to the
Mighty Arsenal
Frodo, quite literally, saved all of middle earth from a power obsessed egomaniac bent on bringing darkness and evil to all he saw.
One would think after all that he’d settle down in the Shire and put his feet up.
Instead he has taken up an identical brief in his new role as interim Manchester United manager…
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/football/2018/12/18/TELEMMGLPICT000002310990_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqvCG0U_fSb9CZb42ikd3QgZ7bvTr-4UGr-dAZyh4wNGk.jpeg?imwidth=450
Fellaini was born to be King of the Nazgul. ?
@12 GSD
🙂
He does have a certain curly haired
resemblance.
Not to worry though, at the end
Frodo says “the Lancashire’s not for
me Sam” and sails off to the west
(major league soccer perhaps?)
Thanks for the preview Gibbs. I shall look forward to the report even more than usual as I shall miss the match entirely as I’m lunching with an old friend from 54 years ago. I haven’t a clue who will be selected or how we will play and hopefully Burnley are similarly ignorant. COYRs
Gibbs! Guv! Stupid spillchucker.
If I were Solskjaer, I would have negotiated leave of absence from Molde for a year and would be back East to Norway at the end of the season. It’s a shame to see the back of Maureen, odious as he is, so early on; I’d have loved to see how he coped with a real relegation struggle.
In other news…
COYG
On my way to the game with number 1 daughter. I just hope we are not as laboured as we have been in previous weeks.
A nice rip roaring performance to see us into the festive period followed by a few liveners in the Tolly.
Bring it on.
Top posts GSD
Christmas is a time that reflects the best and worst in society and human nature .
On way to match . Awaiting team news
Never a dull moment with UE’s team
selections. Captain Ozil returns.
In the little wonder cafe opposite the ground. Chaka in a back three again! But Kola back and Laca starts with Aubameyang and Ozil. Elneny and Guenduzi in midfield
In the little wonder cafe opposite the ground. Chaka in a back three again! But Kola back and Laca starts with Aubameyang and Ozil. Elneny and Guenduzi in midfield
Leaving aside all the debate and inconsistency and the unique nature of the way Mesut Ozil has chisseled out his superstardom…
On his day he is one of the finest footballers I have ever seen in our shirt. The closest to God we have had since his hallowed feet stopped gracing our pitch.
And, in the way he steps up to put time and effort, as well as money, into a variety of worthwhile causes, I also happen to think he is a damn good man. Which I happen to think is a good quality for a captain.
He is not shouty. Or showy. Sometimes he leads by example. But not always. He misses plenty of things a captain could have.
But he knows who he is. He never apologises or loses his self-belief. He acts as the kind of man he chooses to be. And he has some sort of unusual spatial awareness, coupled with footballing technique, that few others can match anywhere in the world.
And there is something to be said for looking at your captain and thinking “yeah. At any moment that guy might do something amazing because he is a bloody awesome footballer!)”
There’s also something to be said for feeling that, whoever else may be against you (in reality or perception) your teammates have got your back.
Victoria Concordia Crescit.
I hope Mesut pulls a performance out today.
Or plays crap but gets 4 assists.
Whatever.
Cheers TTG.
You’re definitely on my list of people I’d like to buy a real drink for!
Our defence is not good for our hearts
Ozil.
So, so good.
Brilliant!!!!
Auba!!!! Ozil is making his presence felt.
Elneny not so convincing, Kola very good going fwd and crossing
Well crap in my hat and punch it.
We might actually be winning at half time!
Presumably Burnley will now score a couple…
Monreal hooked. Don’t know what is wrong and how bad it is. Missing both Bellerin and Monreal against Pool is terrible.
Lead at half time in the league for the first time this season!
Nacho walking off as if there had been no injury at all. Odd one.
Losing Nacho is a blow. Hope
we can remember what to do
with a half time lead.
We’ve done ok I think given
the defense and midfield we’ve
got out today. Another goal soon
after half-time would be very
welcome.
And Sokratis must avoid a red card
Me @30.
Burnley did not score.
We’re winning at half time.
Does anyone remember the protocol in such a scenario? I’m completely stumped.
Boom!
Great counter attack and bang!!!! Auba.
Your wish has been granted, OM. Good work to start with by Elneny. There was a moment when I thought Ozil and Elneny would contrive to concede a penalty but in a blink the goal came t the other end.
Barnes should be off for that. Knee in the back. No reason to bring a knee up in that situation unless you’ve spied a highly way to far away with hurting a fellow professional under the dubious auspices of a man who truly is your Friend.
Lucky guy.
And prick, obviously.
@39.
Highly = niggly.
Spillxhicker strokes again! ???
Linesman.
No words.
Apart from ‘crap’ of course.
Barnes should be straight redded for that. No questions. What is the ref up to? Awful.
ksn,
Yep, just as ordered!
Cracked home well too
Kola is an ass, putting a hand on someone’s back in the box is asking for a penalty against.
Friend has lost control of this.
Hara kiri defending lets them in again.
It is really fucking annoying,
he shouldn’t be on the pitch
We are terrible without the ball, looks like any any team can pull our defence apart.
What do they have to do to be booked?? Friend’s lost it
Defending like a Girl Guides team.
Guendouzi should be subbed now
No control of midfield. No ability to win the ball in the air. Laca off? Why?
That was a big relief and I thought Iwobi was offside and the replay shows he might just have been. 3-1.
Hard luck on the ‘Holic £.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I hope Emery has seen why Ozil is important for this team. He had a good game and Kola had a great game.
Three points in the bag but I dread that if we keep picking up injuries like this, if anyone important would be fit and available ( Torreira on four yellowson so can’t be risked against Brighton) for the Liverpool game.