This Sunday afternoon Arsenal host Newcastle United in their last home game of this frustrating season in which the Gunners have come so close to achieving much greater heights than a series of major injuries and atrocious refereeing decisions have permitted. Last weekend’s 2-2 comeback draw at Liverpool left Arsenal two points clear of third-placed Newcastle with two matches remaining for each club so the Gunners can seal a second-place league finish by beating Eddie Howe’s side in this match. A firm beating would of course be quite preferable, but any beating would do quite nicely, and a draw would not be the worst result either in the circumstances. But please let’s keep the focus on that firm beating because these opponents have been sticking it to us recently, and a tad of revenge would be most satisfying indeed.
The Opposition
Newcastle beat Arsenal home and away by identical 2-0 scores each time on their way to winning the Carabao Cup earlier this year. In November’s reverse league fixture, Arsenal also failed to score a solitary goal, losing by 1-0. Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, among others, formed a dangerous presence in the Geordie attack in all those games, while the Geordie defence was top notch. Newcastle have won seven of their last nine matches, and come looking to bag their first league double against the Gunners in 30 years. Just about the only good news from this fixture’s recent past is that Arsenal won last season’s home encounter by 4-1 over the Geordies. But a more long-term view should put Gooners into a more positive frame of mind because Arsenal have not lost at home to Newcastle in their last 15 league matches, with the Gunners winning 11 of their last 12 encounters at the Emirates.
Ever since December when they were mired in 12th with only five league wins, Newcastle have kept their noses firmly to the grindstone, and a run of nine wins in all competitions pushed them into top-five contention as well as a League Cup final, where they beat Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley to finally end a 56-year trophy hiatus. After they beat European rivals Chelsea last weekend by 2-0, manager Eddie Howe is also on the verge of achieving the club’s best league placing since 1997, as victories in their final two games would see them claim second spot from under Arsenal’s noses.
Arsenal
As one astute Gooner said this week, this is the game where Mikel Arteta needs to show he can out-think Howe, who is beginning to be a tad annoying. According to Arteta in his pre-match press conference, Kai Havertz is likely to be back in the Arsenal squad for the first time in four months. The striker returned to training this week, nearly four months after he sustained a hamstring injury during the Dubai training camp in January, when it was expected that he would miss the remainder of the campaign.
On whether Havertz will play against the Magpies, Arteta said: “We’re going to decide that tomorrow. He’s done certain parts of the sessions in the last two days and looks in great shape, but I think it’s more of a shout for all the medical staff, the doctor especially to give the clearance and then how Kai actually feels to contribute if he’s required.”
As for other Arsenal players whose availability is an issue, Declan Rice missed the game against Liverpool with a hip problem, with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli both picking up issues during the 2-2 draw last Sunday. Jurrien Timber has also been struggling with injury lately, and Arteta will assess them all before deciding on who will face the Magpies.
Commenting on the challenge of facing this opponent at this stage of the season, the manager added that “We’re going to need a big one and be very clinical because we know the qualities of Newcastle. We know the results that we had lately against them and how thin the margins are with them.”
Based on recent team selection and a guess on which players will be healthy, Arteta is likely to field a side something like this XI:
Raya
White Saliba Kiwior Lewis-Shelly
Ødegaard Partey Zinchenko
Saka Trossard Nwaneri
Mikel Merino misses out after receiving a red card last week at Anfield so unless Havertz makes a chancy return, despite being an injury doubt Trossard is my best guess as to which player is likely appear in the center forward position, especially as I can’t think of an experienced alternative. Looking at Arteta’s bench last week, he doesn’t have a lot of options in midfield either, so this could be a game for Zinchenko to make an appearance there.
Seeing as three points are essential I think Arteta is likely to try to keep this one tight, so the good old 1-0 to the Arsenal is my prediction.
Enjoy the game, ‘holics, and if we land the magic three points be sure to enjoy celebrating a happy end to this nearly glorious but frustratingly odd season.
Great stuff, bt8. It really is time we beat this mob. 21CG and I have been at all 3 of these ‘Codes games this season and we haven’t laid a glove on them in any of the games. Howe has been very astute but I’m hoping that Arteta has figured out a plan. Part of that will depend upon the referee applying the rules consistently to both sides. Unlikely, I know. But if he does, I fancy Arteta to have figured out a way to beat them, or at least draw, which will be enough to finish above them, whatever happens.
They have received a lot of praise for the second half of the season run. Fair enough, but they haven’t been hampered by having to play Madrid and PSG home and away and thus have been considerably fresher than us over this period. Hopefully, having had a week to prepare, we can arrive somewhat refreshed, and hopefully with Rice, Trossard and Martinelli starting and Timber at least available from the bench.
I look forward to meeting up with a few of the Great and the Good from this place pre-match for a meal and a glass or two, to raising a glass to The Guv and and to those who would love to be there.
Come on you Gunners!
Cheers bt8. Let’s finish the home games with a win.
Back in the stadium at last for this one, hopefully a better outcome than my last match in a regular seat.
Thanks bt8, I hope that score is right and would like to stick it to this lot.
MA has been fairly reluctant to play Zin in midfield so far so we’ll see who
starts but I liked your XI although I think Gabi M will start wide,
A very fine preview Bt8. I’d query a couple of spots in that team – I think Rice will start and Martinelli will play upfront – possibly down the centre?
I don’t fancy us to win but a draw will be enough to qualify for Champions League and to get second place on the last weekend . I’d be happy with that
I’m sure we all feel like this tonight
A long read/diatribe that most will not like or appreciate.
Hope is a terrible thing, don’t let anybody tell you otherwise, Hope is a big beautiful illusion that we all cling to at various times and after two seasons of finishing second this was going to be our year.
We all know how it went, inexplicable refereeing decisions, horrendous injury record that seemed to affect almost every single first team player at some point and of course Mikel deciding that no striker fit the mold good enough in either transfer window as well as Raheem Sterling and thank god he turned out so well.
Then we swept aside Real Madrid in the Champions League and hope reared its ugly head again but that would appear to have been the last gasp of luck we would experience, the last time when everything would go our way and our league form already precarious fell off a cliff and sadly this followed us into the Champions League against PSG where finishing was a problem and defending well became a big problem, uncharacteristic errors from players cost us and we all thought that was it.
Hope is also a real killer when you have a depressive mindset anyway, seriously do not offer hope to somebody who has bouts of depression if that hope is never going to be realised or was only offered to make you feel better about yourself with no real thought of the consequences.
Before the season began I had received an amazing message from TTG which blew my mind with the generosity of it.
“”Please be assured that this is a community that cares about you. Next season if you are feeling well enough we’d like to take you to a game and a GHF lunch (all at our expense ) but obviously only if you feel up to it .””
Of course I was absolutely thrilled and replied that I would love to with caveats because of my health issues.
“”Obviously your offer is as to be expected from yourself and the other Goonerholics extremely kind and generous and I would love to take you up on it.
The thing is I never know how rough I am going to be on any given day so it would probably be best for you all if you have a backup plan with somebody who deserves it more than me anyway in case I have to let you down (I would try very hard not to) I would also have to warn you that my gallows humour can be a bit too much in person, I have a nickname for a reason lol.””
I never received a reply but I didn’t think anything of it as my previous communication had not received a reply either and then the season began and hopes were very high, not just for the chance of us winning the premier league but also for the chance of actually being able to see it first hand for the first time ever.
As every home game loomed closer my hopes would rise waiting for the obviously inevitable message asking me to be ready and my excitement would build like never before and then nothing would happen and my hopes would fall but not be dashed as the season is long, but as the same thing began to become a distressing pattern for me I made the decision to step back from social media for a while to try and keep my thoughts to myself and not ruin anybody else having a good time.
Weeks became months and months became the entire season and I’d read reports of members attending games and my hopes were now finally and fully completely dashed, excitement and hope had been replaced by depression and understanding that people can make what seem like amazing gestures without thinking of the consequences of never following through or acknowledging it ever again.
On the 7th of March I posted a message just to test the waters and prove to myself that I was wrong and of course its just my depression making the wrong assumptions and it was all still in hand.
“”I’ve definitely come to the realisation that I will never get to see Arsenal live and I gladly accept that if it brings us success but right now we seem to be in a place where getting results done is tough.””
My message was never acknowledged and the season petered out to a disappointing end and with it came the crushing realisation that actually there really is no understanding of the depths depression can bring you too when you know that somebody has said something that they either never had any intention of acting on or just said it to make themselves feel good and that I assure you never makes the person being used feel better in the slightest.
The irony is that this is not even the first time it has happened, on the wonderful Dave Faber version of Goonerholics I had received messages from people when I lost my mum and both of my doggies in the space of nine months with wonderful offers of support and care that also never came to fruition and that was the reason I took time away then as well, I’ve come to realise that the human condition is fraught with people that mean well or want to mean well and then overextend themselves with what they really intend to do and rather than acknowledge it they make a conscious or unconscious decision to just never mention it again.
The most disappointing aspect of it all is that I actually thought that depression and a depressive mindset was actually better understood especially here after I’d been asked to write a piece about it, it is not only dangerous to play with somebody when they have depression it is also deeply unfair and you have absolutely no idea of what you have done or what you could have done.
DG, I am very sorry to read this.
People go to matches and some have lunch together. However, I am not sure there has been an ‘official’ GHF lunch this season, which might, to some extent at least, explain part of the situation.
I may be playing ‘devil’s advocate’ there, I am not entirely sure, but while I am not depressive in the way or sense you are (my own depressive episodes are more of the ‘atypical’ form), sometimes there is an overthinking and taking things personal, that is hard not to do, but you need to constantly remind yourself of, even if you don’t feel it at all because you can’t help the natural depressive thinking. Just the way most people can’t think or be aware of your own situation at all times, you can’t be aware of theirs either. It leads to all sort of assumptions and mistakes, sometimes with sad or consequences. Hope you can keep up the light and that meal and meet up will happen. Take care.
(And loads of messages don’t get acknowledged here and there, again, don’t take it personally, even if your own posts are, naturally, personal…been there, done that, even if it affects me less than it used to, and also always has far less than it affects you, I surmise)
Hello DG, I was very sorry to read your post and learn of your current feelings. I do not really want to say anything that will make things worse as you are clearly very down but then I don’t want you to feel your words being ignored either. Just to say my thoughts are with you.
On thé other hand, I want to say that i do believe that your first instincts about the kindness and generosity of many in the bar were quite right. I think people will do what they can given their own health or situation.
DG
I will reply at more length but let me assure you it was a sincere offer but we were unsure how well you were and if you could make a game. We can rectify this next season . This is not a community that forgets or ignores those who are suffering
RIP Brisn Glanville – great football writer and Gooner
DG, you are not forgotten, I assure you.
TTG @11 – a real shame. A quality writer. If only more of today’s writers looked to him as a guiding light. I read this morning what I take to be a rehashed article on the BBC website, because I’m sure I’ve seen it before, essentially trying to say that Biereth would have been the answer to our CF prayers, off the back of scoring 13 goals in Ligue un since January, including 3 hat tricks in February. I thought I would do some digging and discovered that the hat tricks were against Auxerre (11th), Nantes (13th) and Reims (16th). The single goals against Rennes (12th), Angers (14th), Nice (4th) and Le Havre (15th). Spot the odd one out. Oh, and he has scored 3 league goals since the end of February.
I can’t help thinking that Brian Glanville might have been a little more circumspect, actually done some research and then written, or more probably not written, accordingly.
For clarification, Ligue Un is an 18 team league, so Biereth has scored a single goal against teams in the top half.
Thanks bt8
In my mind this has become a must win game.
Firstly for the required three points,
Secondly to put these bloody barcodes back in their place and stop their bloody bullying and falling over and time wasting bullshit that we see time and again.
3-0 please.
UTA.
I don’t know anyone on here personally but what I do know is it’s a wonderful community of like minded individuals who have a lot of respect for one another. Some of this community know each other personally and engage in social activities around matches. This allows the rest of us a real insight into the match day experience. I am sure the invitation to you (DG) was absolutely genuine and will happen when circumstances allow it. I actually hoped at the time someone would invite you to a game and hats off to TTG for doing this. The spirit in here is heart warming. Now let’s beat the Toon and end this season. Up the Arsenal!
You’ve hit the nail on the head with that preview bt8. I’m happy with the team you select though I pray that Martinelli proves his fitness for this match and I’d be delighted with your predicted 1-0 to the good guys.
I really don’t know what team to expect because our injury list is so vast and seems to be constantly expanding and I really have no idea what the score will be but I fear our clean sheet record has of late been somewhat shabby so we may need to score more than one goal if we are to win the game. I do know that we will be in a physical scrap and every man starting will need to be fully fit for the fray and one hundred percent focused on winning his duels.
We don’t have to win this – though that’s clearly what we all want – but we must not lose it.
Focus – fight – f*cking win!
COYG
Cheers bt8. Note perfect preview, well done indeed.
I’d really like a win today. Maybe with a little bit of a reminder of what we’ve missed this season, like a Ben White goal, or one for Big Willy Saliba. Newcastle are probably the team I like least in the league, in terms of their actual players, so I’ve not enjoyed their three victories so far. Mind you, we missed a hatful of chances in the league Cup games, so it’s not as if we don’t know how to create against them. A few tactical tweaks from Arteta and some decent finishing and a good result is very gettable.
DG. I’m sending best wishes and hope things improve for you.
When I look at the Henderson handball I don’t understand how he wasn’t preventing a goal scoring opportunity in comparison to Saliba who was sent off just beyond the half way line.
Thanks bt8 for a fine preview, amazing that’s it’s the final home game of the season – where does the time go.
Difficult to select the eleven that actually start – the training day suggests the walking wounded may actually be fit, not sure if there was any bluff going on with one or two of them ( fit enough to run around but not for the tough match that lies ahead ).
I’m with GSD in that the toon seem to have aquired a bunch of un-likeable player who have outplayed us in the 3 matches so far ( which magnifies this ), so a win of any kind will bring much pleasure plus ensuring we finish 2cnd in the league – enough motivation in itself. We have had a week to prepare and I’m sure MA8 will have them fullymotivated. Providing there is nothing malign emanating from the PGMOL officials then a good result will come our way.
Best wishes to DG – hopefully you will be smiling when the match has finished.
COYRRR
,
SP @ 19 – simples, one wasn’t wearing an Arsenal shirt!
Thanks bt8 – I hope your team selection turns out to be a touch pessimistic but this season is what it is so nothing would really surprise me anymore. Whoever plays will need to work really hard against this sly mob. Stoke with money is what they are – and it’s time we got our own back.
With the league table as it stands absolutely any win will do just fine.
Hope the Holics have a great lunch – I’m walking everywhere without crutches now so can hopefully join them at the start of next season.
Have a good day, Ollie – and a timely journey home.
Come on you Rreeddssss !
Raya
White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly
Partey, Rice, Odegaard
Saka, Martinelli
Trossard
Bench: Neto, Calafiori, Tierney, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Henry-Francis, Nwaneri, Sterling, Havertz.
DG: That was a tough read and I’m sure a much tougher write. Let me echo Dino@18: best wishes and hopes for you.
bt8: a belated tip of the tifter for an excellent setup of the final home game of the season. It really is time to give Geordie Arabia a spanking for so many reasons, not least because it should ensure second place.
Could bt8 have nailed the score?
Yes, he could! I thought the ref’s watch had broken but 1-0 to the Arsenal it is.
More than likely we will be 2nd then.
He could have indeed,Matt.
1-0 to the Arsenal
1-0 to the Arsenal
1-0 to the Arsenal
1-0 to the Arsenal
Or does that make it 4-0?
3 points anyway, I can assure you 😃😃😃
That falls into the category of hard-fought-but-deserved win. Next season’s CL qualification secured, no lower than third-place finish guaranteed and a point needed at Southampton to be sure of coming second. Decent day at the office all round.
Another hat tip to bt8 for being on the money with the predicted score
Yes, yes, yes.
Hate those Saudi barcodes.
A sunny day, a convivial lunch and 1-0 to the Arsenal.
C100@30: What’s not to like?
>>>>>>>