Gunners Look for Five In A Row Versus Improving Standard
Oct 2nd, 2019 by 'holic
If you are something of a fossil you will recall with clarity and pleasure our first coming together with Standard Liege in our successful 1993/4 Cup-Winners Cup campaign. We brushed them aside 3-0 at home and 0-7 away. Imagine an English club scoring 7 away from home. Surely no shambles of a club could concede 7 at home? Our second and last meeting in the Champions League group phase in 2009/10 ended with two more wins, 2-3 in Belgium and 2-0 at home. Can we make it 6 out of 6 this season?
The official club website is adamant that only Emile Smith Rowe and Alexandre Lacazette are unavailable for selection. That gives Emery one choice to make in the back four for me. Surely he will want to at least start Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney as full-backs? Rob Holding surely gets another match under his belt left of centre with Calum Chambers and Shkodran Mustafi in contention for the right side. Of course Calum would be the popular choice but Mustafi’s experience could be invaluable in a young defence and his record in European competition is not that ropey.
How young do we want to go with the pairing ahead of them? It’s an opportunity perhaps to pair Ainsley Maitland-Niles in a preferred role alongside perhaps Joe Willock? Mr safety first may opt to retain Lucas Torreira for one of them, As long as he is told to sit in front of the defence and head off any danger at the pass that would be welcome.
A creative midfield trio with added goal threat? Let’s not risk burn out for Bukayo Saka when we have Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Martinelli chomping at the bit. Saka has become too important to the Premier League side while Lacazette is sidelined. On that basis it might be an idea for Nicolas Pepe to have another chance on the right flank against the sort of defence he is more used to from his days on the continent. He needs a confidence boost. Mesut central, anyone?
If Nelson starts on the left Martinelli would be a good call to lead the line, as against Forest last week. There is potential aplenty in that starting line-up, and the Carabao Cup/Europa League teams appear to have expressed themselves far better than the first team, whether by choice or design. I suspect the former.
Both clubs are looking to top group F after opening day wins. Standard winning 2-0 at home to Portuguese visitors Vitória, while we went to Frankfurt and posted an impressive 3-0 away win. Standard arrive at Arsenal on a run of three clean sheets in the competition, home and away. They currently sit in a Champions League qualifying second place in Belgium with 19 points from 9 matches. This could be an absorbing contest.
The ‘holic pound
As I have already said, I like the way the youngsters and squad players have approached their opportunities this season. I have been drawn like a moth to the flame of 3-1 to The Arsenal at 10/1. Shop around for 21/2.
The ABW Preview
For this game Danny has been joined by Richard, please see below.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
86 Responses to “Gunners Look for Five In A Row Versus Improving Standard”
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Thanks for the preview from one fossil to another. 3-1 sounds good to me although I’m thinking a clean sheet may be on the cards.
Cheers and UTA.
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Thanks for the preview, ‘Holic. The result may turn on the strength of the side Standard fields.
OM@previous drinks: The biggest defeats we suffered at Highbury were 0-5 losses to Huddersfield in the League in 1925 and to the Chavs in the League Cup in 1999. Biggest home defeat overall was an 0-6 to Derby County in the FA Cup in 1899 when we were still playing in Woolwich.
The 0-7 win in Liege in 1993 that the Guv’nor mentions above is our biggest away win ever, although we have had a couple of of 12-0 home wins, against Loughborough Town in the League in 1900 and Ashford United in the FA Cup in 1893. Loughborough inflicted our biggest away defeat ever, 0-8 in the league in 1896.
Thanks Guvnor. Good preview
and looking forward to the
game – live if I can get up at
4AM but a recording may be
a safer bet.
Like your XI too. I’d probably
rest Calum if he is going to
play RB against Bournemouth.
Mus with the returning prodigals
for me.
On no account play Auba is my
only request to UE. Not even on
the bench UE.
A thank you to the monks for
the info Ned.
Nice to see Spuds setting new
lows in their Middlesex toilet.
Happy to see Tierney is fit and
prioritising getting in the Arsenal
side over everything else.
ESR played for the U21s yesterday
I read – seems odd with the
concussion rules but anyway
if true then I suppose he won’t
play tonight.
I think I’ll go for a chirpy 4-0
win tonight.
Is Ozil good enough to start this unai? Or does he not suit the “balance” of the team or is this a game too tough for him to handle? never mind, we all know, you know best.
Should be a comfortable night if we score first and expect martinelli to do as i expect him to start and not auba, hopefully we see torreira playing DM and both guendouzi and xhaka rested for this.
Most excited to see hector and tierney starting and play 90 min if possible, a sign of things to come hopefully.
Bournemouth home sunday will be tough, if we can win tonight without the usual suspects needed, it should stand us in good stead. Unai knows.
Fossil? I recalled watching Dundee beating S.Liege in the 62/63 (19 not 18) competition. Turned out it was S.Lisbon, not S. Liege, the old cells are atrophying. The were all ‘foreigners’ in these days, not the ‘fellow Europeans’ we enjoy today.
Now, where were we? Ah yes, the present day. I’d really like to see Chambers rather than Mustafi in your back four. Yes to Torreira in MF. A front three of Pepe, Martinelli, Nelson.
I did think about going but creeping fossilisation is diminishing my enthusiasm for the late night line at Finsbury Park so it’s the Cricket Club Gooners tonight before a good seasonal soaking at the ground on Sunday. Are you going?
Enjoy 3-1 tonight. I hope Pepe scores and that Martinelli and Nelson share the other spoils.
Fine preview Guvna. I like your team selection and expect a win. Like most drinkers, I don’t want to see Aubamayang anywhere near the XI or the bench. Up in a box with a red and white scarf is his best position tonight. I shall be watching from a comfortable sofa with a glass of fine Australian shiraz (or two).
COYG
Morning iBtM. Sadly not Sunday, nor anytime soon. The body has decided it will no longer do what I want it to. Going through a battery of x-rays, scans and tests to ascertain what’s going on. Everything crossed the outcome is better than currently expected.
The were all ‘foreigners’ in these days, not the ‘fellow Europeans’ we enjoy today.
The ‘good old days’ will be back soon, unless we’re all in the midst of a civil war by then 🙂
Sorry to hear all of that, Holic. Sending a barrowload of positive vibes.
What BtM said @12. Hope you pull through quickly, ‘Holic.
All the best with the scans and, hopefully follow-up treatment too, ‘H.
Oh, nice preview too. Wrapping Aubameyang in cotton wool is a little too close to panic to my mind. I wouldn’t start him myself, but I like the idea of him on the bench by way of insurance. Also, even I would be more than a little disappointed, and surprised, not to see Özil start (and indeed finish) the game.
COYG
Guvnor,
Didn’t realise you were still
poorly – hope the docs can
get you fighting fit soon.
‘holic all the best to you. I’m certain we are all hoping for a sunnier prognostication for your health and continued frolics here and about. 🙂
Holic@10,
Fingers crossed that your current condition is both temporary and treatable.
I’m more positive than you regarding the scoreline, and like 5-0 and 5-1 at 25’s and 28’s. Still remember the 7-0 in 1993, with the sporting home fans giving us a standing ovation.
Best wishes for a full recovery Guvna.
Hang in there Guvna. If any of us can help shoulder the load here, temporarily, you only have to ask.
Thank you all. Your good wishes are appreciated.
Firstly Guvna May I send you my very best wishes and hope you are fighting fit as soon as possible . May I also echo C100’s offer. You only have to ask .
I’ve shaken of the upset of being called a fossil partly because I am and to prove it I remember our first ever European campaign in 1963. We drew 1-1 at Highbury with Billy McCullough scoring and lost 3-1 away so they are the first team to knock us out of Europe. Let’s get the bastards ?
I like the line-ups we are are speculating about this week. I’d have Auba nowhere near the bench let alone the pitch. We smashed Eintracht and have two games against the weakest teams to come so I’d play Martinelli and put Balogun on the bench but I might start Pepe .
I fancy 2-0 to the Arsenal
Thank you both, all help welcome.
Wrong club TTG, that’s the first match I remember being at. Last time I looked Royal Liegeois were in the Belgian third tier.
Holic,
That’s interesting. The full title of Standard Liège is Royal Standard Liège and I thought they were the same team . I remember when we beat them 7-0 away in 1993 and Eddie Mcgoldrick scored his only goal for us. I thought they were all the same side but happy to stand corrected
We may need Ned to discover the truth !
guv, i hope it all unravels like a knot and your rope is straight and strong soon. please don’t answer “a frayed knot”, whatever you do.
i’m just hoping the kids play like they did against frankfurt, and we set them up for a whippin’. it is the eu-ropey league after all. 3-0 early and in control after will do me.
where’s trev when you need him, for stringing along a bad pun?
I’m assuming that Liege are quite a useful side and will have a go tonight. It won’t be like the Forest game who put their reserves out. I won’t be surprised therefore to see Auba at least on the bench if not starting for us. I’m not sure where else the goals will come from. I hope I’m wrong.
I hope things improve soon, ‘Holic.
Here you go TTG https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFC_Liège
They reached the semi-final after beating us. Now an amateur team. They have gone downhill fast.
?
Scruz@24 I fear your analogy is built on sand. Surely the whole point of a knot is that it doesn’t unravel? Speaking as a maths graduate (a fact which really shouldn’t impress you; honestly, trust me) I’m fairly confident that is the definition of a knot (well, a definition).
We are, however, completely in a cord regarding the Guv’nor’s health. The Arsenal can surely aid his recovery by delivering the right result from tonight’s tie with a nice bow on top.
I’ll slip away now at a high rate of knots despite a reef in my sails, before I embarrass myself by stringing together too many lousy puns.
COYG
Damn. I forgot to say that I was hoping there wouldn’t be a hitch in tonight’s game.
typical pan G
#hey what we gonna do
?
As if the Europa League were not ropey enough, this year we have both Wolfsburg and Wolfsberg entered. Is Arsenel next?
Best wishes to you H.
nutty egos oziLEmery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2yfR2g_tAc
No Ozil at all.
I dunno what’s going on internally but it looks to me like the Boss is creating an issue here by continuing to leave him out of every side and most squads. It’s not like we don’t have enough issues already.
Would it be so terrible to play the most technically gifted player in our squad at home in the Europa League? Would that really make a huge difference to what Emery is trying to do? And why make him a captain?
Loads of confusion and loads of questions. Ones that we need to answer in practice, knot theory.
But more to the point, there are four Academy graduates in our starting line up. Something to be very proud of.
There has to be more to this Ozil thing than the manager not fancying the player. Maybe he’s at death’s door again.
Maybe he is refusing to play or training like he’d rather be selling insurance…
There’s more to it than simple lack of faith. Got to be.
This Ozil thing is getting ridiculous
Maybe the story that Ozil was made a captain despite the players not voting for him to be one has some legs.
Who knows… there should be more clarity around the issue though. If the manager doesn’t want him, say so, pay him off and cheerio. If he does want him and the player doesn’t want to be around, say so, pay him off and cheerio.
Either way, the end result should be the same.
I dunno about ‘more to the point’ Countryman, perhaps just a different point?
It’s great to see our academy players. But when Ozil costs us a lot more than the rest of them put together I’d like to see us make the most of our investment. I think lots of us thought this one would suit him and expected him to start.
Also great to see Tierney, and Hector as captain
Exactly Cynic. Either play him or get rid
If we’re shipping him out in January and he’s accepted he is going, that might have something to do with it I suppose.
Emery said so the other day he’s our player and that is the end of it so why not play him with our youngsters.
To me it’s Unai calling this no one else.
calm
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHwrs_fbpDc&app=desktop
My first chance to see Tierney and Martinelli. The future before my eyes
UTA
up the RA
well
i laughed
and i roared
Get in!!! Well headed by Martinelli.
Martinelli looks great!
Jolly nice goals those, especially the header.
Err, really great!
Our own Gnabry, Martinelli gets his second.
Great cross by Tierney and Willock almost gets the third.
Just to clarify, #44 was posted before those two beautiful goals. A few more pleade
Their manager looks like he should be on Fingerbobs instead.
Willock!!! 3-0.
And the way this game’s going, he might be available for the gig at about 10.30 tonight.
there’s my 3-0, early. spankin’!
It has beena while since we utterly destroyed a team, so hopefully we won’t put the handbrake on. 7-0 would do nicely.
Martinelli looks like a great talent and has a good goal scorers instincts. He will provide more competition for first team places.
We have our Arsenal back, and it isn’t Emery’s first eleven.
Our defense, however, continues to be scary as ever.
?
I’m soaking wet.
But happy.
Different team with full backs.
Great first half it has to be said! Martineli looks great even though he’s only a youngster. The left flank is looking much better than right where AMN is still unsure what to do and how to position himself.
Defending still looks dodgy. Torreira misplacing few passes and Mustafi doing the same.
Can’t really complain though I’m certainly enjoying this!
Beautiful half of football. Lovely to see the balance in midfield and Martinelli upfront looks very special indeed. We are slightly overplaying at the back but once we move it forward we have options everywhere. I’m sitting in loads of space but the neighbours around me who have turned up are gossiping about the omission of Ozil and whether Pepe can keep Martinelli out of the team. I’d give Pepe a run after an hour for Nelson . We have a bright future if these boys can develop together. Can’t see how Xhaka gets near this team . Ceballos and Willock have been superb and Tierney is the nuts
c100
as americans say
are we good ?
CBA
We’re good. Wet but good.
Ceballos’s first!!!!
and
pull yer fuckin wet neck in
cos
etc
?
please keep writing the away day reports
please
they are fuckin mighty
Good work and assist by Martinelli.
I really can’t
spell checker
Tierney has had a great game so far and is way ahead of headless chicken Kolasinac. Expect Tierney to play on Sunday.
the neighbours around me who have turned up are gossiping about the omission of Ozil
As in scandalous rumours or just general mutterings about The End?
I would take Tierney off now if he’s going to play Sunday. I would have taken Bellerin off and pushed AM-N to right back as well.
Nurse these guys back, we’re going to need them.
Auba on. Can’t understand why.
Stan’s put a few million on 6-0, it’s the only explanation
Do it your way UE.
Anyway, an enjoyable game
and my 4-0 might even be
right.
On the nail, Cynic. Bellerin and Tierney need to be brought back gradually to playing the full ninety minutes. Don’t want a recurrence of their injury and I just dont understand our manager’s thinking.
I suppose it’s possible he wants to see how the strikers look as a pair, with a view to Sunday, but in a dead game like this he’s not going to get much info that matters.
Go on Tierney, give the dirty cunt some verbals. I like that, sticking up for his team mate.
3-0, 5-0, 4-0 can’t argue
with the midweek results.
Some great crossing from
the left tonight, Tierney
looks a good buy
Sub Standard Liège put to the sword. Enjoyable game with some really good performances.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
OM, and the 2-7!
Great football from everyone. Should have scored a lot more but you can’t be complaining now.
Well done Arsenal ??????