Barely have we had a chance to draw breath after our reverse-thrashing of the champions when our FA Cup semifinal against Man City hoves into view. As we race to finish the season the games are coming at us as thick and fast as a Mustafi slide tackle.
Wednesday’s result gives us a chance of European football via the league if we manage to win our last two games and others drop points. Another triumph in the cup, to extend our unrivalled winning record, would guarantee us a Europa League spot, yet it will be a tall order to get past a side as good as City, who swatted us aside with ease in the first match back after the restart.
Remember though that the last time we played City in a semifinal in this competition we defied the odds to run out as winners. Hopefully our stubborn rearguard effort against Pool will provide a less than Graham-esque defence with more confidence than the rest of us feel when we see Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling and the rest of our previous tormentors line up in blue.
A few seasons ago, had I been offered the chance to swap Ozil for Silva, I would not have taken the deal. That shows what I know! As one magnificent player still at the peak off his powers winds down his final season in English football hoping for one last trophy, our own creative genius deservedly does not even get into the squad and does not seem bothered by that fact in the slightest. How times change. And how we could use peak performance Ozil to help us create against a team who have every chance of putting us under the cosh much like Pool did.
The problems for Arteta will be similar to the ones he faced against Liverpool, where he somehow came away with a win without really solving them. Hopefully his intimate knowledge of our opponents (ahem) will give him some insights. How can we get some control in midfield? How can we keep a relentless attack at bay? How can we cause them some damage in their own half? If he persists with the back three, which seems likely, then we will only have two bodies in the middle of the park and will suffer for it. But the back three has looked a lot more solid than any of the partnerships we have seen in central defence in a four. Frankly, our best chance would be to play twelve men.
Arsenal
Martinez
Holding – Luiz – Tierney
Bellerin – Xhaka – Ceballos – Saka
Nelson – Laca – Auba
Emi has been immense since the injury to Leno and I cannot see us getting through this one without a few more moments of magic from him. Tierney and Saka did well against Salah and their reward may be the chance to repeat the trick on De Bruyne. This also gets Saka on the pitch without taking up a spot in our front three. The rested Bellerin to come in for Cedric whilst Holding must retain his place. Xhaka always plays, so that’s that. MA8 will make a choice between Ceballos and Torreira to partner him. Up front I expect to see Auba on the left and Laca central. I have a sneaking suspicion that Pepe may be held in reserve whilst Nelson gets a chance to build on his productive game a couple of days ago. But that might be the other way round. Ainsley Maitland-Niles is apparently on his way out of the club but has the right attitude for Arteta still to trust him. If our formation needs tweaking I won’t be surprised to see him come on in a tactical switch.
Man City
In beating Bournemouth on Wednesday our opponents left Laporte, De Bruyne and Mahrez on the bench. So they are all well rested. Which is nice for them, if terrifying to some of us. Sterling played the second half. However, when their replacements are Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus it is a reminder that we face a club whose squad is far better and deeper than ours. Our manager (‘Head Coach’ pffff!) has made it very clear what he thinks is the only way to close the gap to a squad like theirs but that will not happen overnight and tomorrow we will be serious underdogs.
Hope, if I may grasp at these lovely-looking straws, may lie in the fact that their defence has not been as effective this season as we have become accustomed to. Although it has still kept two clean sheets in two games against us. If we press Stones and Laporte we may get some change out of them. Maybe. Hopefully. All fingers and toes are firmly crossed.
The holics’ pound
This is a tough one. We are not in the business of betting against Arsenal, which rather limits our options here. Might we get a 1-1 draw and an injury time winner, repeating the last time when we went on to beat Chelsea in the Final? They play Manure a day after us and stranger things have happened.
I am instead going to plump for the greatest scoreline in world football, 1-0 to the Arsenal. William Hill have that as 25/1, probably with very good reason when you look at our defence and their attack. I would not spend all of your pocket money on that tip, you might want to keep some in case you feel the need for a couple of post-game sherbets.
Since Wembley has started hosting the semis as well as the final our notional ‘home’ designation means nothing, and we are denied an immediate return to the scene of the crime where we kicked the scousers in the nuts and ran off with their lunch money. We will instead become the second club from North London to find out what it is like to play in an empty Wembley stadium.
It might be too much to ask for a second victory in four days over another team so far ahead of us. But this is cup football, albeit cup football where the home advantage has been nullified by the absence of fans, and anything can happen. We have to go into the game with the right mindset, work our socks off and hope we get the rub of the green. We won’t control the game but we have players capable of special moments and a togetherness and determination in the squad that we have not seen in far too long. As long as we give all we’ve got then we will be proud of the boys. Yet all we have got may be enough. It has been before.
What did she wear?
Cheers Dino !
Let me be first to thank you for another (pre) historic piece of writing !
Annoyingly I have a piece of important information to add to your preview – that of the officials nominated to take control (😂) of tomorrow’s game.
Referee will be none other than Jonathon Moss, which will ensure that City’s centre backs are free to kick lumps out of, and handball their way past, our forwards, as it is well known that the notebook of the rolling Moss will gather no Stones.
VAR, the Vile And Ridiculous 4th, or 5th (?) official will be Craig Pawson, who has allowed various opponents to similarly kick lumps out of us in the past – not least of which against Bukayo Saka a mere two evenings ago. He will undoubtedly allow City free reign to rotationally foul us and whatever else it takes to prevent us from once more getting our Paws-on the FA Cup.
What could possibly go wrong ?
Excellent preview GSD! I’m always up for the Cup and have fond memories of the last semi final of the FAC against the Oilies (we’ll forget about the last time we played them at Wembley). So I’m optimistic we’ll do them.
In answer to your final line
She wore a yellow ribbon
In the Merry month of July
Superb stuff GSD. You have caught my mood and thoughts precisely and presciently. I will therefore pin my hopes on your predicted scoreline. I was at that previous SF but strangely have absolutely no memory of it whatsoever. I think my neurones may have melted down as a consequence of the experience.
COYG
Supremely well written, large dinosaur. 👏🏼
Jubilant month of July if we pull it off, I should think c100. 🙂
To jog your memory Bath, here’s how the Guvna saw that 2017 semifinal.
Many thanks for that reminder CM100 @6. It’s very much appreciated.
I have an indistinct memory of Monreal’s swinger as the Guvna described it in his xcellent and buoyant match report but no memory of the rest of the match. However a trawl through the equally excellent drinks does confirm that I was there, even down to the seat row number!
Interestingly most of the drinkers on that report are regulars in the new bar too.
I do hope that we or Invinciblog can preserve these historical documents.
Fine preview thanks GSD.
We have to be at our best and
hope the luck runs our way as
you say.
I think MA will play Mus / Luiz /
Kola to be honest and Pepe will
start.
I also think we can get at their
defence and will go for a speculative
3-2 to The Arsenal.
I’m looking forward to the game
as we’ve a fair chance I think.
De Bruyne is an annoyingly good
player recently and we don’t want
to give him too many free kicks
within 25 yards.
Apart from that stand up and fight until
you hear the whistle lads.
Excellent preview GSD!
One possible tweak Mikel can think of is playing a 3-5-2 with both Auba and Laca more central. Holding-Luiz-Mustafi in the defense. Tierney and Hector as wingbacks. Ceballos as the advanced midfield player back by both Xhaka and Lucas. Will give us more solidity in the midfield while providing chances to keep possession and carry the ball forward.
Splendid preview, GSD. You’ve caught the conflicting emotions. Dearly as I would love a 1-0 to The Arsenal, I fear this may prove to be the one step back after the two steps forward that was the Liverpool game.
@previous drinks re Iwobi: pick a whole number between one and three. It works out to a goal more than every 900 minutes.
On Leno v Emi, I think that before Leno’s injury many in this bar would have nominated him for player of the season. Separately, Leno’s transfer value is probably four times that of Martinez.
c100@6: Thanks for link to the Guv’nor’s 2017 post. Brings back a lot of good memories (incluiding your drink). Reading the drinks is instructive, in the sense that nothing changes; TTG saying we need two midfielders, for example.
OM@8: 3-2 is speculative indeed. 66-1 available. I suspect you are right about the starting back three.
Dr F@ 9: 3-5-2 isn’t a bad idea at all, but I would play AMN, not Torreira and have him man mark De Bruyne. When he came on against Wolves and against Liverpool he shut down Traore and Mane, respectively. No mean feat in either case, and one reason that I would be sorry to see him leave.
I told that story about the Man City lady a couple of weeks back in a more private place. There I used the actual phrase she used to describe Chelsea. It wasn’t bastards.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to predict our line-up, GSD (other than that Xhaka will start, as always). I like yours but I’m wondering if we’ll see a back four tomorrow with Hector and KT alongside, Holding and Luiz? Then Xhaka, Torreira and Ceballos in the middle and Saka up front for Nelson.
I find the prospect of 1-0 for the Arsenal tomorrow as unlikely as 2-1 for the good guys against Liverpool last Wednesday! So what do I know? Great preview.
Feature article about Arteta’s impact at Arsenal by McNulty on the BBC site says:
“Arsenal were 11th when Emery left in December but in a league table comprised only of results since Arteta took over, the Gunners would be fifth behind Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, with 30 points from those 18 games.
Further good news, and testimony to Arteta’s start, is that two outstanding teenage talents – Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli – have both committed to long-term contracts.”
Can’t really argue with any of that I suppose, them’s bein’ the facts.
The press and media generally seem to have decided that our Mikel is a damn fine fellow. Must be his hair.
Incidentally can I say clearly that the idea of Coutinho coming to us, urged by Joorabchian as reported by our man in the know, TTG, can fuck right off. He’s been crap all year at Barca, who have been crap all year, and Liverpool became a better team when he left. Plus he’s on £250k per week. I will be well pissed off if he turns up.
Terrific preview GSD. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could reach the Final again? If we get past Citeh we could easily win it . Sadly we haven’t got an earthly of beating this Citeh side but we can hope. They do lose more than Liverpool but I’m still haunted by our last Wembley meeting in the Carabao final which was very painful . I won’t depress the euphoria any further . I hope we will play well
C100
I agree with you re Willian and Coutinho. The latter has been decent at Bayern but it isn’t the way we need our club to go. We need to find four or five Kieran Tierneys ( in different positions) and grow them under our top coach. Tony Adams apparently sounded off about using super agents this morning on Talk Shite . My mate hears Joorabchian is incredibly influential at the club at the moment . I’m uneasy about the direction of our club
Thanks for the correction TTG. He is Barca’s player, but on loan to Bayern. Good job I have you to keep me straight.
@6 – I was severely Wembley jaded by 2017, C100. Getting home from Wembley is a pain.
Arsene had taken me there five times since 2011 and, frankly, the prospect of going to both the semi and the final in 2017 was more than I was up for.
So I cracked open Moulin Rouge, put “Come What May” on my gramophone and chose the final as the game I’d attend. Great decision. Wonderful lunch with Bath, Holic and co before the game and then Holic and I sat together (for the last time as it happened) and watched Chel$ki being neutered.
That was another splendid day out.
I love a day out at Wembley. From 2011, which we lost, to 2018, which we lost, there were six marvellous wins in between. I never get jaded winning at Wembley. It’s what makes being a match going fan worth while. Actually, although Chelsea was great, my favourite Wembley win was Hull. 2-0 down, almost 3-0, Santi lining up the free kick, my son muttering “come on Santi, moment of magic”. Giroud back heel, Ramsey winner. That was a game.
I wouldn’t ever voluntarily miss a cup game at Wembley.
NBN@10: I like the idea of AMN in that 3-5-2. You are right he effectively defused both Traore and Mane.
C100/TTG: both Coutinho and Willian are very much yesterday’s players. We already have David Luiz as the elderly statesman for any babysitting needs. And we don’t need any more. We need to build a team that can play the way Arteta wants. And we should look for players that have that combination of quality and energy and if not at least someone who can grow and evolve.
Good stuff GSD.
I am deaf and blind to defeatist talk, or realism as it appears to be known in new normal-speak.
COYG
Cheers GSD, a well written & interesting preview. Although the form book clearly favours the Oilers, FA cup matches don’t necessarily follow that dictum. We have a tip-top record in this competition over the years and it’ll be no major shock if we overturn the form book for the second time this week.
I’m not sure how Mikel will set the team up for this match so those eleven who start are difficult to quantify. There are 7/8 players whi I feel are nailed on, the other 3/4 players will depend on the tactics Mikel instructs the team to follow. My fancy is another 2-1 to the good guys.
Well up for Dirty Leeds away next season.
Wembley is wonderful….if you win
Awful memories of Swindon in 1969, Ipswich in 78, Luton in 1988 and the Scum in 1991 were desperate. Citeh two years ago was a total non-event .
But if you win …..Liverpool 1971, United 79, the three Wednesday finals and beating the Scum in 1993, Newcastle 98, does Cardiff count ? and the three finals in four years . How lucky are we to have those memories and I was at all those games – good and bad . The bad times make you appreciate the good …and those times will return. Perhaps not on Sunday but who knows?
She wore.
She wore.
She wore a yellow ribbon in the merry month of (cough) July…
And when
I asked her…..
@16
Every word of that C100.
I’m also deeply suspicious of
players like Willian who suddenly
start scoring just before
transfer time.
Being a last stop is exactly what
went wrong in the mid 80s until
GG – blessed be his stony heart –
sorted things out.
If we sign them Raul will have
crossed my own personal line.
@10
66s Ned, well if my Dad was still
with us I’d probably be on the
blower asking him to get me
a £1000 to 15 with an old-
fashioned bookie 🙂
Saddo that I am, I watched back the Liverpool game last night and found that, contrary to my expectation, we didn’t really get pounded as much as I had remembered in terms of goal efforts, only really in terms of largely sterile possession. The defence was at times 11 men but for the first time in more than 10 years, it was structured and disciplined rather than haphazard and chaotic. It may not be enough for today but I’m heartened at the fact that the manager is at least taking defending seriously rather than considering it as just an afterthought as the last 2 full time managers did.
Fascinating piece in the Athletic (sorry, paywall) by Amy Lawrence and James McNicholas on how Arsenal are being run right now. Chimes with what TTG has been saying.
https://theathletic.com/1934607/2020/07/18/raul-sanllehi-arsenal/?source=user_shared_article
Holding makes Garth Crooks’ team of the week, one of the only Arsenal players to do so this or any other season.
Excellent piece from Layth Yousif, the new editor of the Gooner, which will feature a regular column by our very own TTG. Like several here I gave up on The Gooner under the highly negative editorship of Kevin Whitcher. But I like what I’ve seen of Layth’s work, so am willing to give it another go.
https://www.onlinegooner.com/articles/view/5228
Blogs read GSD’s preview, liked his team selection, read down through the drinks, like my team selection better. Good omen, but it means MA8 will go with something entirely different.
The Gooner is holed below the water line for me I’m afraid C100, with every respect and apology to TTG for his efforts there, which I’m sure are excellent as they are here, invariably.
Uply, I like your fancy.
Willian? Coutinho? The road to dusty death. I’d rather bring Santi back for a fond farewell season. Ae fond kiss and then it’s over.
Partey and Upemecano come in. Aubamayang and Ceballos stay. Mustafi, Kolasinac, Elneny, Mehkitarian, Sokratis, Guendouzi go. Xhaka and Lacazette are ‘on the bubble’ of opportunity as negotiating chips, depending on finances.
And, by some miracle, Ozil plays a blinding final year, and when he doesn’t Saka and Smith-Rowe deputise as our creators and we still win.
Make it happen, Arsenal.
BtM@35, Partey AND Upamecano? Özil plays a blinding year? I fear that you’ve been dipping your chocolate finger in something more hallucogenic than tea laced with Viagra, my friend!
A slip of the pen there. 36 is me not BtM. Rest assured that the fine fellow has not added schizophrenia to his bad back and floppy finger.
CM100 @34, a fine piece by Layth and laudable aspirations:
“The Arsenal stands for history, tradition and class. And so does the Gooner Fanzine. Remembering who you are, what you are and who you represent has never been more important in an increasingly fractious world.
We believe we can share the voices of the silent majority, those supporters who value the club’s values. Who also value modesty and self-deprecation over the ‘look at me culture’ where your allotted 15 minutes of fame, sadly for some, lasts a lot longer, despite, it seems, possessing no discernable talent.
We represent those whose views are heard over a post-match pint with mates, where wit and irony mingle with knowledge, where passion is tempered with a capacity to conduct an intelligent, respectful conversation without resorting to the lowest common denominator every time.
Where more intelligent debate can be conducted through high-quality writing, both in print and online.
The Gooner Fanzine has, and will always represent a more considered voice. A more intelligent voice. A more informed voice. A more knowledgeable voice. A more irreverent voice. ”
But isn’t Gorgeous Georg looking old?
c100 @25
Agent Nketiah should be able to give us a pointer or two having spent half a season this year behind the dirty lines
Layth Yousif is both a lovely bloke and has great connections withntye club, originally through the Islington Gazette . He has several friends among players of a certain vintage ( often George Graham’s Teams ) because he was very involved in and around the Club at that time . Gooner Fanzine TV is much better than AFTV which I abhor . Layth is one of the people who bets whispers from within the club but the most informed whispers now seem to be coming from the financial community that work with agents.
I think I mentioned one of my best friends represented Diarra and attended a meeting with him at our stadium after a Champions League game. Bearing in mind my mate was the investment and insurance adviser to the player, imagine his consternation when three agents turned up and spent the meeting arguing with each other! You may remember Diarra got moved on very quickly by Wenger who abhorred this sort of agent
-led activity . Sanllehi and Edu are up to their necks in it because they think it is the quickest way to success
Interesting team.
Martinez;
Mustafi, Luiz, Tierney;
Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, AMN;
Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
COYG
It’ll be interesting to see how AMN lines up. Will he be a LWB with three at the back? He did well there recently as a sub. Or will he be asked to do a job on KdB in Mf?
COYG
It may be a back four, Bath. 4-3-3 without a midfield maestro. AMN on right side of midfield?
Smith on the bench again. Have we ever seen him play anyone?
Odds on Smith scoring the winner?
COAMN and COYG
In the grasping at straws department Burnley’s win could be a good omen as it moves us down to tenth in the table. City’s players, knowing as much, could relax just enough to make the difference.
gsd, great preview. i share your fears and hopes for today.
looks like a 4-3-3, then, unless it’s a 3-5-2 to allow ned’s vision of amn taking debruyne as his special project.
COYG!
Fucking Jon Moss. Fat little toad.
That was a foul!
Johnathan Moss with his first fuckup.
Worst referee in the league. And it’s a low bar.
already rope a dope. then give away the ball at the d and nearly a goal to them. please stop the latter!
indeed it was a foul. i guess we need to make it more obvious.
FFS Mustafi.
Suicidal
We can’t get the ball and when we do we can’t move it forward. Their idea is to draw our pressing forwards in and put a pass over the top. Mustafi almost gave it away. Very lucky to get away with it.
First Mustafi brain fart. Very lucky not to concede.
oh my god. get mustafi out of there.
Got away with it there, Luiz misplaced his pass to Emi then Mustafi did a Mustafi what could go wrong
There was no need for that Pepe keep the ball lads for a little while at least
Never ever ever underestimate, The Mustafi Phenomenon…….
Our throw in halfway in their half worked back to Martinez . We are so fixated on passing backwards
We need good defenders but we also need a good play maker and box to box player. We have been poor going forward so far. COYG.
how was that not a foul on tierney? he was cleared out.
How come they didn’t draw the lines for the offside check? Mendy arse was sticking out a fair bit 😂
Auba misses our first good chance.
Straight at the keeper. We needed to score that.
What a chance for Auba. Well onside.
Auba straight at the keeper ffs
we take no risks because we are so prone to mistakes right now.
Get in Auba siolololololooooo boom
Get the FUCK in!
Auba scores but is it off side?
COYG!
Great cross from Pepe👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Great team goal. Great ball by Pepe. Great Nacho like finish.
He is on side. Great build up and goal. Yeah.
not offside on a bet. well taken!
rope a dope working as it does 🤣
Beautifully worked goal. Great finish
Come on Auba. One is never enough with Xhaka and Mustafi in the side
Silly Mustafi at it again
That could and should have been a yellow
ouch silva.
agreed. artur.
First drinks break and we have converted one of the two chances we have had so far.
our front-side pressure is unnerving them, making them hesitant in the way they are playing from the back. that is the last 3 games, then.
FFS Hector
Hector’s turn for a shocker
Come on Bellerin and Xhaka played the ball with his fucking hands
So far so good.
Xhaka solid
Fuck Hector don’t do that
Bellerin gave away the ball near the box and lucky to get away again.
also, they are facing a team that sets up in their passing lanes, for the most part. nice hustle, hecate.
Another chance goes begging unlucky COYG
Auba misses another by not shooting. Tierney makes another great interception.
Another one we should have scored, lads.
just as i compliment him tie errors in a row. damn it.
walker is a walking tumescence.
kt3 having a great game. we should have scored, there.
Waste of a ball Luiz
leicester game again?
So close great team effort there
nearly another pepe assist.
Why do we pass backwards so often? We miss some very good attacking chances by doing that.
That Ceballos Cruyff turn is not good for a man with hypertension
Great header by Mustafi but good save by their goalie.
Shame should have pulled it back AMN
Another great header from Luiz
Not only a lead but a deserved lead.
We improved as we went along. Lead at half time should have been greater but we have to plug in for another forty five minutes.
A good half. Excellent all round. Especially Xhaka!
Need more of the same in the second half without the suicidal defensive ricks.
COYG
good first half, we really could be 2 or 3 up. much better after the first ten minutes.
We emerged with great credit there after not touching the ball for the first ten minutes. Very proud of the team effort despite some defensive near catastrophes!
Xhaka has been quite excellent. The best I have seen from him . Credit where it is due
agreed. if he’d had a run and a shot from auba’s lay-off it would have been just about faultless.
Spot on ksn @106 we came out strong after the goal and should have taken our chances but a deserved lead indeed going into second half.
COYG!
We need another half of similarly gritty second half and a similar result, I hope. Another goal for us would be great.
What a fantastic workrate from every player in red. We need at least as good a performance from everyone in this second half, with and without the ball. Believe!
Xhaka has played well but when he blocked the shot and went to ground I think he played the ball with his hands behind his back they never replayed it from another angle and I was furious because VAR could have checked it, just FYI
you wanted VAR to spot a xhaka handball?
Absolutely, ATG, we deserve the lead but the margin would have been greater if Auba had taken his first chance which was relatively straightforward for someone like him.
in the box? artur?
ATG, why do you want Xhaka’s alleged handball incident reviewed. Time we got a break.
I didn’t say I wanted it Scruz but they could have checked it hence I made a comment above
Anyway we need another goal here me thinks
ah, you were furious at xhaka, got it.
Yep that’s the one Scruz 😉
Got away with one there. Bad from Ceballos.
They’re knocking on the door.
Xhaka should have marked Sterling there
Pep would have put a rocket up City players backS. and they would want to equalize early.
Ceballos gave it away and Sterling just missed. We got to be very careful.
If they do equalise all it means is Smith is still on for the winner. 😉
This is like the start to the first half.
first five minutes of this half reminds me of the first ten of the first. COYG!
Great steal from Cebalos, great move from AMN shame about the cross
great minds, c100.
Great save EMI!
Good save by Martinez.
Good hands Emi 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
what a fine save by emi. sticky hand.
ok, 10 minutes is up, time to assert ourselves.
AMN’s final ball has been so poor. Wrong foot I guess.
What scruz said @137.
Come on Arsenal let’s keep the ball at our feet for a bit longer
Trouble here
Difficult to watch this.
Just missed
another half hour of this and i’ll be greyer-haired. thinner-haired, too.
Mustafi shouldn’t dive in the box. VAR would go with a City. Not enough to warrant a penalty.
Always rated Jon Moss
Oh dear hear racing there like crazy
*heart
nothing clear to change it here.
They make their first two subs. We need fresh legs too.
emi wide awake.
c100@146 🤣😎
COYG
Jesus is offside he intefears with play as AMN can’t get to DeBruine is that a daft suggestion?
Second drinks break. One more quarter to defend if we are to get a result.
amn playing a hell of a defensive game bar that mahrez shot.
who would make a positive difference off the bench?
Auba scores!!!!!!
GET IN!
Come on get the fuck in Auba siolololololooooo boom
Tierney ‘s great pass and Auba finishes it well.
Oh what a lovely goal. Tierney, Pepe, Auba. Brilliant.
Oooooooooooooooo ya beauteeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Willock on for Pepe.
auuuuubaasa
GET IN!!!!
Brilliant pass from Pepe
Please concentrate .
Dddddddddd Fence!
COYG!!!
that’s so cool. a paraphrase of steve’s irony is rolling around my happy head.
Luiz with a great block to stop Sterling.
Luiz has been great at the back so far
That block by Luiz was worthy of Tony Adams
arteta looks like he is shaking!
ceballos having a quietly effective game.
it really looks like our boys have bought into that full metal defensive stance.
Torreira on for Laca.
Well played Laca. Outstanding hold up play.
layer after layer of defenders.
👏👏👏 laca.
The amount of work Auba and. Laca put in is amazing.
agreed, ksn. miles and miles of hard graft.
Work! Work! Work!
Laporte comes very close to score for them but we hang on.
Scruz i know I would be shaking if I were on his shoes.👞👞👞👞👞👞👞👞
Fucking hell that shot from Laporte. Like a Howitzer.
What a pass from Mustafi to Auba
pep dry-mouthed with worry.
Great chance for Auba but he is clearly very tired.
Sterling steps on Mustafi, the brighter. Hope it is not a hamstring for Mustafi.
me too, bt8! hell i am now!!
Mustafi looks to be fucked.
Blighter.
Looks like he’s done his hamstring.
Mustafi has a hamstring problem and is replaced by Holding.
holding on, not kola, please!
Kola on for Ceballos.
nasty by sterling, came down on him on purpose, knee to the back of his thigh.
👏👏 silva, you are a great player.
Everyone is putting themselves on the line.
Tel you what AMN has had a great game defensively. Where did seven minutes come from?
Seven minutes of extra time.
at least arsène never had a problem with *that* zip.
Arsenal fans in good voice on the BT Sport feed
Scruz agreed that was nasty from Sterling
Koa has no skills on the ball.
ken with the ton and double ton. Impressive.
The apprentice outplays the teacher tactically wise anyway
emi you beauty
OK I’m feeling confident now.
Well, fuck me gently!
That’s all I can say.
Yes, yes, yes !!!
A happy day
We beat the past and the present league champs in successive games. Teams won’t take us for granted now. Great win guys, congrats.
Well done Mikel, Auba and gang.
god, our boys put in a *shift* today. well done!!
Let’s all drink a toast to Dave Faber!
He would be so proud of that wonderful effort tonight
What a fucking pair of wins. Well done to all who kept the faith!
How d’ya like them apples?
Great result.
The Milk Sheik has more money and a better squad. We have the better coach.
Thanks C100, hadn’t noticed that.
amen, ttg. to dave 🍻
I think the Doom Bar made me feel confident a bit earlier 😁
Well played lads we sat deep just the way we beat Pool, waited to punce and for our chances and took them well even though we should have been up by three by the first half.
We love you Arsenal we do…
We love you Arsenal we do…
We love you Arsenal we do…
Ohhh Arsenal we love you!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
What TTG said.
Buzzzzziiinnnggg!!!!!
Well what do you know…..sat in the same position on the couch bound up like a pretzel sweating my you know what off for the entire game. Well done boys.
every.single.arsenal.player. what hard work. what a beautiful outcome. off to the final!!!
I think that is now six times on the run that when we have drawn the cupholders we have put them out. Never in doubt.
What TTG and ATG said.
I wouldn’t mind us losing if we fought like this every game but to win is really fabulous. Arteta has organized the boys into a good defensive unit.
Hopefully AMN rose at least one tote up the totem pole tonight?
What TTG said @213. The Guv’nor would have loved that performance.
You are not the only one, gedo. I didn’t move from first minute to last.
Hear hear TTG. He was in the celestial TV lounge watching that. Chris had organised a 72 inch TV. cba brought some home brew.
Gedo I needed a pee from when the first goal went in. Didn’t dare move. Just made it at the final whistle!
BtM@225: Big hug for AMN by Arteta at the end of the game. I hope AMN is feeling the love because he showed his value again tonight. I’d hate to see him go.
Outstanding to a man. What a performance.
Arteta. The only man to best Klopp, Pep and COVID in the same year. What an achievement.
So, thinking that the semifinal was tomorrow, I took a look at today’s scores on the BBC site to find
a) That Norwich had lost to Burnley;
b) That the semifinal was today and had been going for about 40 minutes; and
c) That we were one up thanks to PEA.
I put into effect my usual matchday protocol: Try desperately to find something else to think about until the match was over. I sneaked a peek about 35 minutes later to find that we were still on up. About 5 minutes ago I looked again. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!
I anticipate a happy few minutes back drinking.
COYG
They had 71 mins possession but we had 4 shots on target to their one. We knew what we were doing.
One error from Mustafi. One from Hector. Auba could have had four. Apart from that everyone was immaculate. Well played everyone.
Arteta.
The only person to beat Klopp, Pep and COVID in the same year????
Outstanding
Only saw the goals and your descriptions on here but what a result and one to remember for sure. 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻
What a great addition is Tierney and with AMN giving good support, we had a great game on the left flank.
Huge props to Xhaka. He was magnificent as was Luiz. And what a mature interview .
But above them all stood Tierney . That boy is already an Arsenal legend .
I really didn’t believe we could hold them at bay . We were so organised
Serves Pep right for not changing out of his painting trousers
David Luiz in post match interview: “We have a final to play this season and we will try and win a title for this club because this club deserves to win a trophy.”
Did we just witness a tactical masterclass from a manager with only six months in job against the most decorated manager in football history?!!!
That old lady I met three years ago is costing everybody off in a socially distanced Moss Side pub right now.
Coating.
What a win and what a week!!
We’ve got a gem of a manager – and the team is right behind him. They say the game is a huge leveller – a few weeks back David Luiz had a nightmare of a game against the same opposition and today he more than made up for it with that superlative display. Xhaka and Ceballos were immense especially with interceptions on the edge of the box and Xhaka has won some critical headers in the last two games. AMN was given a difficult job(a managerial masterstroke) and he did it with aplomb defensively and carried the ball brilliantly up the field. It would be harsh to criticize him on his final ball which was coming from his weaker foot most of the time. Tierney was playing as if he plays the FA Cup semi final every season – he is a big match player and his performance today was outstanding, especially that pass for the second goal. Bellerin is slowly coming back to his best, he had a few iffy moments tonight, so did Mustafi but both of them worked really hard all game. The front three put in a real shift. Pepe had and an assist and a pre-assist with that fantastic hold up play on the byeline – engaging three city players only to slide the ball to Tierney – a perfect demonstration of how he needs players around him to make greater impact in games. Laca is one of the hardest working strikers I have seen playing for the Arsenal. He was relentless in his pressing, held up the ball brilliantly under pressure and his distribution was top class. Martinez continues to impress and he should be playing the final even if Leno is available. And finally Auba – what a striker! His finish for the first goal – a half volley with the outside of his foot was audacious (or should we say aubacious!) and second was that of a cold blooded killer.
What an amazing team performance. Brilliant. Loved every minute of it although quite a few of those minutes were nerve wracking! Thank you Arsenal, Thank you Arteta.
Heh Pangloss. A pleasant surprise I suppose 😅
Desi @243. Great comments.
What TTG said @213/
Here’s to the Guvna! 🍷 Number one Gooner.
He sure would have loved that victory.
Great report, desi, but I would definitely say aubacious. 😂
Great drink @243 desi’. Agree with every word, sir.
CM100, I thought the same about Pep’s jeans. I was painting today too.
Desi,
I agree with every word ( as I usually do with you ) except that I thought Bellerin was very flakey tonight. I don’t recall that he was a great full back at his zenith let alone now .I hear Leno might be fit to be on the bench for the final .
bath@246: I remember waiting eagerly for his match reports after our last few Wembley successes. Was always worth the wait.
It was an incredible performance today. That discipline in every single minute and every transition was extraordinary.
Bath if I wore my painting trousers out in the town, Mrs Countryman would go loopy. Sadly he probably paid £1000 for them. One born every minute.
I want to big up this blog. From minute one, we were saying that Kieran Tierney was a steal at £25m, an absolute diamond, and a future Arsenal captain. I love that little Scottish fullback.
@230 Ned – there is a very talented player inside AMN’s outer shell. I too hope that he will stay and prosper.
Steve, True and Funny.
NBN: great call for AMN in starting line-up. I don’t think Pep expected that kind of man marking on Mahrez. Tierney and him got that left side shut down even when KDB moved there.
Tierney — what a player!
A real Gooner:
PHOTO-2020-07-18-22-06-18.jpg
desi@243, every word. i’m so happy right now 🙂 drinks on the bar for everyone! lars’ wallet is there on the backbar, too, it has to be!
256 was an attempt to share the KT dressing room picture that I posted in the other place.
Dave would have been calling for the Jameson’s chasers on a night like this. BtM’s round …..
Those thinking of giving up the season tickets – any second thoughts?
this one, bath?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>