Posted in match review on Jan 7th, 2017 169 Drinks »
The Thursday preview nailed ten of the starting eleven at Preston but missed the replacement of Hector Bellerin by Ainsley Maitland-Niles (conservative! © @yellowbootson). Olivier Giroud was a surprising choice to captain the side. At kick-off fog was swirling around Deepdale but the visibility was perfectly ok. On our last FA Cup visit to Deepdale we […]
Posted in match review on Jan 4th, 2017 76 Drinks »
The Arsenal recalled Skhodran Mustafi, Francis Coquelin, and Aaron Ramsey to the starting eleven at Bournemouth. Gabriel, Lucas, and the absent Mohamed Elneny made way. In the opening minutes Alex Iwobi was on the right flank enabling Ramsey to operate behind Olivier Giroud. They would rotate as the match developed. We made a bright enough […]
Posted in match review on Jan 1st, 2017 36 Drinks »
The pre-match fears about the flu were well founded. Mesut Ozil was ruled out and Francis Coquelin was relegated to the bench. Nacho Monreal came in for Kieran Gibbs as expected while Mohamed Elneny and Lucas also came into the starting line-up. As early as the sixth minute we should have taken the lead. Xhaka […]
Posted in match review on Dec 27th, 2016 61 Drinks »
Home just in time for kick-off after taking a lively pup for a swim and a run, it was time take up position around the television seated next to the eldest grand’holic. It took a while to sort out an English commentary, and we succeeded eventually, but not before learning the Spanish for “it looks like […]
Posted in match review on Dec 18th, 2016 179 Drinks »
Both sides made one change at the Emptihad. The Arsenal opted for Alex Iwobi over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whilst City brought in Fernando for Gundogan. As the clock ticked over four minutes we had a dream start on the break. Hector Bellerin sprinted over half the length of the pitch and played the ball to Alexis. In […]
Posted in match review on Dec 13th, 2016 95 Drinks »
So what did I know beforehand? Nothing. Arsene made the obvious enforced change of Hector Bellerin for Skhodran Mustafi but otherwise kept faith in the players who swept West Ham and Stoke away. Could we retain the goal threat and fluidity displayed in recent weeks? Everton rested Gareth Barry but the midfield trio still retained […]
Posted in match review on Dec 11th, 2016 63 Drinks »
To send the Orcs back north empty-handed is always a pleasure. To do so on a day when a lot of old friends met up again made for a lot of fun. Not surprisingly we reverted to the eleven that started at West Ham last week, and that again paid dividends. The three goals I had […]
Posted in match review on Dec 6th, 2016 85 Drinks »
Arsene Wenger, not surprisingly, engaged in a little rotation for the trip to Basel. I was right to tip Rob Holding and Kieran Gibbs for the back four. Aaron Ramsey got the job partnering Granit Xhaka in midfield. Alex Iwobi and Lucas allowed Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a chance to freeze their cobs off […]
Posted in match review on Dec 3rd, 2016 71 Drinks »
The lunchtime destruction of Manchester City by the bus stop in Fulham meant that Arsenal went into the evening match with a chance to move into second position in the Premier League, three points behind the West Londoners. Arsene Wenger opted to start with Gabriel at right-back, Granit Xhaka alongside Francis Coquelin, and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain […]
Posted in match review on Nov 30th, 2016 55 Drinks »
Arsene Wenger’s team was pretty much as predicted beforehand as thousands struggled to get to the Grove amid underground transport chaos. I hadn’t foreseen the promotion of Jeff Reine-Adelaide on the right flank, but ten changes it was. Southampton went with a very strong, although also much-changed, line-up and a difficult night lay in store. […]
Arsenal News 24/7
