Posted in match review on Nov 29th, 2018 43 Drinks »
The predicted starting eleven was just one out. Joe Willock was preferred to Henrikh Mkhitaryan who presumably remains in contention for the North London derby. The substitutes bench was also one out as Zech Medley was eligible to play and Dominic Thompson missed out. The sight of the shivering Gunners as they lined up beforehand […]
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Posted in match review on Nov 25th, 2018 68 Drinks »
Not for the first time Unai Emery swung the axe on a big player and Mesut Ozil joined Aaron Ramsey on the substitutes bench. Alexandre Lacazette was adjudged unfit to play at the Vitality Stadium. Bernd Leno started behind a back three of Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Skhodran Mustafi, and Rob Holding. Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac […]
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Posted in match review on Nov 12th, 2018 113 Drinks »
I mentioned on Twitter post match that I had experienced the gamut of emotions over the weekend, and in fairness most them on match day itself. This isn’t the time for a detailed report. Most of you have seen what transpired, I’m sure, and other blogs have excellently covered the minutiae of what happened and […]
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Posted in match review on Nov 8th, 2018 34 Drinks »
Ten of the eleven tipped to start in the preview were indeed selected. The surprise was the inclusion of Carl Jenkinson at left-back and not Sead Kolasinac. There were welcome returns for Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Emile Smith-Rowe. The visitors started with two banks of four firmly ensconced in their own half and made it clear […]
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Posted in match review on Nov 4th, 2018 34 Drinks »
In the pubs and bars around the ground a full house of Gooners came together with varying degrees of caution and hope. There was a nervousnesss about who would be fit to play in the back four up against Salah, Mane, and Firmino. Two that most would have wanted failed their fitness tests. Nacho Monreal […]
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Posted in match review on Oct 31st, 2018 67 Drinks »
Unai Emery gave a first team debut to 21 year old Spanish central defender Julio Pleguezuelo alongside Skhodran Mustafi. Carl Jenkinson made a return to the team after 701 days as a makeshift left-back with Stephan Lichsteiner playing on the right. Aaron Ramsey slotted in alongside Matteo Guendouzi behind an attacking quartet of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, […]
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Posted in match review on Oct 28th, 2018 32 Drinks »
With no recognised left-back available again Granit Xhaka had to deputise in the role alongside Skhodran Mustafi and Rob Holding. Petr Cech was fit again but Bernd Leno rightly kept the goalkeeping berth. Matteo Guendouzi joined Lucas Torreira at the base of midfield and the front four were as hoped for in the preview. Palace […]
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Posted in match review on Oct 25th, 2018 113 Drinks »
Unai Emery sprung something of a surprise by selecting Granit Xhaka at left-back to allow Hector Bellerin a breather in Lisbon. Danny Welbeck was picked on the left hand side of Aaron Ramsey and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Ramsey it was who wore the captain’s armband. Interestingly Carl Jenkinson was on the bench for the first time […]
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Posted in match review on Oct 22nd, 2018 88 Drinks »
There were surprises when the team was announced an hour before kick-off. Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac were ruled out as a precaution as they had reported tight hamstrings. Stephan Lichsteiner was drafted to fill in at left-back, and young Zech Medley was promoted to the bench as defensive cover. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi […]
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Posted in match review on Oct 7th, 2018 46 Drinks »
It would appear the 5000 mile round trip to Azerbaijan had an impact on the squad with the attacking midfield trio changing in it’s entirety and Sokratis not making the starting eleven. Danny Welbeck, Henrikh Mkhytarian, and Alex Iwobi started behind Alexandre Lacazette while Rob Holding and Skhodran Mustafi started in the centre of defence. […]
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