So here we were again. A glorious morning and my son and I were packing up the car ready for the long journey up to Manchester to take on the Stretford reds. The journey up the M6 wasn’t too bad, 3 hours 45 minutes with lots of stop-start traffic. It’s always busy when we play United; Arsenal and United fans all heading North using the same roads and trains. Finally into Manchester/Stretford and onto Chester Road. Our parking was brilliant, less than ten minutes to the ground.
The usual throng outside and straight in through the visitors’ entrance, security minimal. For the first time here we had digital tickets but they worked fine. Up into the upper tier to find we were right in the middle of the travelling Gooner army. The usual very tight seats (my knees were pressing against the row in front, good job we were stood up for the whole game). It was like a sauna up there and the sun beamed in through the plastic roof that let in all the rain two years ago. It really is a crappy ground, with its tiny screens.
The team was in and we were playing a strong side with a noticeably strong bench – the result of all that activity in the transfer window.
Raya,
White (Timber 71), Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori (MLS 72)
Ødegaard, Zubimendi, Rice (Merino 83)
Saka, Gyökeres (Havertz 60), Martinelli (Madueke 60).
Referee, Simon Hooper
The minutes silence for Jota and Silva was immaculately observed by all 73,000. Bravi!
So we were off. In the first minute, Zubimendi was struck across the face by a swinging elbow from Mbuemo. Free kick? Yellow/red card? No, play on. Mr Hooper making his intentions clear from the start. In the first 10 minutes we were under the cosh. United were finding a lot of joy down the wings, especially their left, right in front of us. Mbuemo seemed to have acres of green grass in front of him. Where was Calafiori?
But we grew into the game. After 13 minutes Ødegaard danced into their penalty area and won a corner. Declan walked over and swung in his usual perfect inswinger. Bayindir flapped and only succeeded in knocking the ball into the path of Calafiori on the line, who nodded it in.
Pandemonium!
Set piece again!
Set piece again!
Set piece again, Ole Ole!
There was a VAR check but it was dismissed and the goal stood. I’ve watched the goal back on both MOTD and Sky, and both Joe Hart and Gary Neville were agreed that United were poor and that there was no foul. Saliba made his presence felt. He was being marked by Mason Mount, but easily brushed him aside and stood right by the goalkeeper. No hands were raised, the contact was slight and it was just bad goalkeeping and bad defending. Cheers for the gift!
The home team continued to play very direct football with lots of space on the wings. Dorgu hit the post. Cunha (who was dangerous throughout) forced a brilliant save from Raya, low down with his left hand with a shot that looked as though it was creeping in at the far post.
I could go blow by blow for the rest of the game, but you all saw the match and, to be honest, it continued in much the same vein. But, a few talking points:
Raya used the long kick time and time again. Two possible reasons, firstly to bring Gyökeres into the game and secondly to avoid the very aggressive press of United. I enjoyed the way Gyökeres bodied De Ligt a couple of times but to be honest he had little impact. Don’t write him off, give him time.
Raya and the centre backs were, again, superb and deserved their clean sheet. We had a few hairy moments but there was always a body in the way, a ball hooked clear or, if they did get a shot away, Raya proved equal to it. The best back three in the Premier League.
Ødegaard had a curious match. He started brightly and dribbled his way past players multiple times. But his passing was off and he burned several opportunities to slip Saka in.
The subs were strong when they came on. Timber and Havertz were very good and helped to see the match out. MLS didn’t see a lot of the ball but his positioning was good, unlike Calafiori who was good upfront but showed that Zinchenko-like tendency to be beaten by a long diagonal and Mbuemo found lots of space behind him. Madueke also showed some defensive weakness and was skinned several times by the excellent Amad.
The Arsenal faithful were strong throughout, singing their hearts out (the singing bounces nicely off that plastic roof) and supporting the team very positively. But as we gave the ball away in midfield time and again, or butchered a passing opportunity, there were a few muttered North London obscenities. Two new songs:
Firstly one about Gyökeres that I may not have quite right yet, especially the line about his girlfriend
He came from Sweden
To play in red and white
He asked his girlfriend
To play in red and white (may have this line wrong)
He’s scoring goals
With a cannon on his chest
His name is Viktor
Viktor Gyökeres!
Secondly a simple little ditty about Madueke that just consisted of chanting his name with a few Na Na Naahs thrown in. I was disappointed that Zubi didn’t get the Kaiser Chiefs song Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby!
I have to just comment that Simon Hooper was absolute pants the whole game. If we were left lying on the ground, it was play on. If they ended on the ground, instant free kick. Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose!
So we saw it out and, as you can see from the pic at the top, both the team and the crowd were ecstatic. My daughter’s boyfriend is a Man U fan and she messaged me saying “ Matt says MU were the better team. I told him that a win is a win!” I replied saying “ You were both right!” Bath messaged me on the way home reminding me of all those times when we played them off the park and drew or lost, e.g. in 2022 when we were clearly the better team but somehow lost 3-1. Damn right. This was a tough start to the season but a win to savour. A tough watch but I loved the result. Lots and lots to do on the training ground, especially on the attack. Time for Arteta to work that magic.
On the way home we were looking for somewhere to eat and chanced upon a lovely little Portuguese restaurant in a residential street, lots of small plates, seafood and steaks. No beer or wine as we had a long car journey, but very nice. We’ll go there again. Back down the M6. We stopped on the M6 toll road services for a comfort break to find the place rammed its Man United fans! Home at 11.30 pm.
Next up Leeds, then Anfield. We need to be better at Anfield for sure.
Cheers C100. Glad you enjoyed your day. I haven’t seen any of the game as I am in Maine et Loire and I think by the sounds of it I will keep it that way.
Cheers, C100. Perhaps Zubi Zubi Zubi can make an appearance against Kaiser Chiefs-supported Leeds United?
Most likely not worth your time indeed, Sancho. Best enjoy Angers rather than fuel anger.
Lovely to have the Countrymen back particularly reporting on a vital away win. I expected a tough game but not that sort of game . We had very little grip in midfield and as C100 points out our starting full backs were all at sea defensively .
Inevitably the moronic chapter of Arsenal fans ( which is depressingly large ) are already saying ridiculous nonsense about Gyokeres . Social media has given a voice to some real idiots . Give the boy time for goodness sake
It’s easier to assess players who have been with us longer . Benny White shouldn’t start ahead of Timber . Calafiori is superb going forward but gave Muembo the freedom of Manchester and Martinelli is a shadow of the player he was . No one other than the three C100 mentions were good but Raya was magnificent. We live in hope that we can take that handbrake off for the rest of the season .
That’s an excellent, colourful summary of your away day and the game itself, C100. Viewing from my couch was equally uncomfortable as yours in the stadium, albeit absent the sauna and the sun roof. I couldn’t stand listening to Gary the red manc. Adrian’s Arsenal.com commentary was splendid and helped get me through the game. His Hooper exasperation was amusing.
This was a fixture that I wasn’t grateful to that completely unbiased computer for. It had potential to result in massive euphoria in favour of the second coming of Amorim’s season while harbinging the depths of doom for the good guys, unsubtly influenced by Hooper the Pooper.
In retrospect, an away win at a stadium where Lady Luck invariably locks away all of her charms for us, a clean sheet and three points which I suspect several of our title challengers will manage to achieve represents a fantastic start to the season.
While there was generally more that I didn’t like than that I did in the way we played the game I was delighted by our tenacity and will to hold out and win the game. There were times, and too many of them, when a very talented Arsenal team would have buckled in those circumstances. Our manager and the players have ingrained a combative winning rigour which is greatly heartening. You called out most of the player highs and lows in the way I saw them. Huge call out to Timber, brilliant introduction.
Mikel, (we know you read the blog and the comments), please play Timber at left back against Salah at Anfield. Bring Cala on when the Egyptian relic is substituted for being missing in action.
COYG and NLFE.
Finally been told the correct third line of the Gyokeres song
He dumped his girlfriend
To play in red and white
Now it makes sense!
@2 I saw what you did there, Ollie. Nice one.
First two lines are
He comes from Sweden
The girls are very nice
As to the tune
https://x.com/arsenalfc_cmnty/status/1957116153832091889?s=61&t=cVFjCyGkt4y-Ne45LtfqkQ
Your customary highly enjoyable awayday report, C100. Portuguese in place of curry? New season, new tactics?
The match seen close up appears to have been very similar to what it looked like from more than 3,000 miles away, although one doesn’t get to hear the songs from this distance, let alone any North London obscenities. US broadcasters keep the crowd sound very muffled, allowing only the occasional ‘Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal’ chant to come through, safe only then that there will be no other North London obscenities, or in Man U’s case, Surrey obscenities.
Hi Ned
I like to keep my dining choices diverse.
The obscenities were all muttered rather than sung.
BtM @ 8, surely you’re not now suggesting a move to Alpes Maritimes? 😀
C100 : could a meal from the country of the opposition manager be a new rule for away trips?
That does rule out the curry option though (unless one does consider it now an official English dish).
Ned @ 8 (BtM was @6 obviously….): A Manc supporting mate of mine sent a short video from the ground and all I could hear was chants of Arsenal! Arsenal! Arsenal! indeed.
And as I am now realising ’06’ was, amusingly, the right number to post what he did 😉
Sound advice for SP that @2 Ollie, don’t look back in Angers.
Thanks for the report C100, much appreciated as always.
Pretty much agree with everything you and others say about
the game – though I am prepared to forgive Hooper for his
many mistakes as he did get the big decision right for the goal.
In Random World where the PGMOL and VAR live that could
easily have been chalked off for whatever blah blah nonsense
they come up with.
Cheers C100!
Delighted to get that one out the way. Also always fancied yanited to be better this season. Amorin underperformed with the squad he has last season and they’ve recruited well. Still got issues but I fancy them definite top 8 this season, possible top 6. And we’ve been there and got our three points! Cheers!
@3, TTG, there is a loud and noisy bandwagon rolling along on the lines of “Martinelli is a shadow of the player he was” I’m not aboard.
BtM@16- I’m with you. I refuse to get aboard the Martinelli ghost train. Yesterday Saka had as little support as Martinelli gets and the outcome was the same in terms of their performance. Coincidence? I think not.
Gents @ 16 & 17, I too refuse to get aboard that same train, as is I am pretty sure does MA8. The proclivity of hoi polloi in our ranks (here I exclude TTG and excuse him his momentary lapse of judgement) to mass hysteria and the scapegoating of individual players is a long history, starting for me with Jon Sammels whom I always admired as a tricky winger. CER your point about support is germane as is your observation that Saka is as ‘unproductive’ when he is starved of support.
I’ve always had a very clear maxim. Any Arsenal player gets my 100% support while he has our shirt on and is representing us on the field . I have never booed an Arsenal player in my life .
On our blog I think we have the opportunity to discuss team selection, formation and performance and my honest opinion is that Martinelli has been below par for over a season. He still works extremely hard and defensively puts in a terrific shift but he doesn’t beat his man as he used to, his goal tally is nowhere near what it was and sadly ( and it is sad because he is a delightful lad ) he occupies a key position and we could imo do better there .
As for a bandwagon , I take absolutely no notice of populist opinion about our players , it’s entirely my view. But while we develop loyalty and affection to those who’ve served us well it shouldn’t blind us to the fact that the lad has only had a handful of good games in the last year . I will be absolutely delighted if he has an excellent season . It’s just that I don’t expect him to any more .
I hope this works. Video of the away end of Old Trafford
https://share.icloud.com/photos/054r59iw4gDgYZQRTm37d9uig
TTG @19, well argued position, sir. Martinelli’s numbers have certainly fallen away in the past year or so but I believe he suffers in comparison to Saka whose linear progression has been remarkable and who generally has two others to help him face 2-3 defenders but since the demise of KT3, Martinelli has to face 2-3 defenders alone. The key factor for me is the paucity of convincing and attainable upgrades for his failings.Let’s see how Madueke does in competition for the shirt – does he take it or does he supercharge Gabigol?
It worked C100.
Great taste of the atmosphere but I would have given the selfish, antisocial twat in the blue shirt a nudge in the back!
Ammunition against the online idiots
https://bsky.app/profile/orbinho.bsky.social/post/3lwp4ztjgkk2s
Great piece C100. I have only seen the MOTD2 highlights although I did listen to the 5Live commentary on the last half-hour or so. I think my heart rate is back down to normal now and the sweats are beginning to subside. I hope your condition is at least as good.
1 down, 37 to go,
The first leaderboard of the 2025-26 Predictathon has been posted along with a bit of waffle about how the bar thinks the season will pan out. You know where to find it…
Thank you C100 for that excellent account of the game and your day.
We were not great and I was surprised how good we made them look. They defended well, broke at pace and found lots of space. Aside from the wicked delivery on the corner, Rice was poor. As was Saka. I didn’t expect the Big Swede to score and he will find the going tough against the better PL defenders*. Zubi had little influence but I think that will change. He is quality. The heroes as you say, were Raya, Big Gabi and Tequila Saliba.
Looking ahead, the 115ers have Sp*rs (easy home win) but maybe ‘Pool drop points in the Isak derby? No reason why we can’t stuff Leeds and Gyokeres to open his account. *I don’t think Leeds can contain him.
Thanks C100 @20, it worked for me too! I miss those days…..
Nothing a good away trip.
Nothing like a good away trip I meant to write
I think I agree with all of that @19 TTG. Though I must admit
to shouting at Feo on my television screen a time or two.
Let’s see how Madueke does but I am not sure about the comparison
as I understood his best position was on the right. One thing I did like
was the different approaches Leo and Gabi M brought to that role but
it is looking fairly likely Leo will be off now. Eze would have been nice to offer
a similar variety but it seems to have gone quiet on that front.
On Eze, I find myself thinking yes to the question – Do you mind if he joins the Spuds?
Adam Clery on the game: https://youtu.be/U_qJ3tQKAGg?si=tb9Q8IYtklJacx9q
Thanks Ned for the link. Adam Clery is interesting as usual
though I am not sure the general predictions of a much better season
are that convincing yet. A little better is quite feasible of course as
they were so bad last season!
My own thoughts were, firstly, they still don’t have a decent keeper,
secondly, not many teams will leave so much space for them, 90%
will be less aggressive than us, thirdly, even with all that space they
didn’t score, fourthly, their squad is certainly not deep, and finally,
for now, they are still slow at the back and won’t be able to rely
on their forwards to keep baling them out on quick breaks
10th at best…….
You’ve read my view of the game. Now here’s Mike McDonald’s
Thanks C100, lots to think about from Mike as ever.
OM@32: All fair points, and Clery agrees with you that their defence is slow and the squad too light to last a season, even without European football. Many of their results will come down to whether they can score more goals in a game than they concede, which, against us, they couldn’t.
Thanks C100, that journey and a hot and humid – or cascading – position under the roof … ugh ! So, well done – looking forward to the next one !
Thanks Ned for revving up the Predictathon nicely and getting I’d off to a fine and extremely well informed start !
You just have to hang on for the next 37 matchweeks, Trev, nip past Uply and you’re home and dry!
Great reeezulT! Horrible watch … UTA!
Thanks Ned for a detailed report on the first weeks Predictathon, my dvd will be out shortly 😀. If you give Aristocrat his full nomenclature THE Aristocrat the table is a reverse alphabet from top to bottom, unbelievable synchronicity.
Talking of fast starts and hanging on for 37 weeks , it seems the monks were drinking the hurry up mixture in the HolicsRopeyLeague as they have taken a commanding lead very early on.
That didn’t take long
https://x.com/goonergirl1969/status/1958132548317409307?s=61&t=cVFjCyGkt4y-Ne45LtfqkQ
And Ornstein agrees
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6564371/2025/08/20/kai-havertz-injury-arsenal-latest/
Uply@40: Well spotted. A review is in order.
Matt@41: The monks are as surprised as any.
C100@42: Doomed! Doomed! We are all Doomed!
The curse that began last season has clearly not yet been exorcised.
Find the cash and sign Semenyo please.
This all depends on how long Kai is out for. If he is out for the season (ACL) then clearly we need another centre forward. If he is out for 6-12 weeks (MCL) then if we buy another CF for £60m-£100m, when he is back we have three expensive centre forwards. All depends on the scan and we should know tomorrow.
If the latter case I still think the gap is a left winger. For a few weeks Gyokeres will be first choice, with Tross or Martinelli the back up until Kai returns.
What do you think Trev?
Y’all forgetting about our star striker, Mikel “I’m not sure what I’m doing up here but I’m putting the ball in the back of the net” Merino!
A bit cross at this latest injury. So I shall just put on a cross to…
Ornstein gives us hope
https://x.com/david_ornstein/status/1958236048481226833?s=61&t=cVFjCyGkt4y-Ne45LtfqkQ
Ignore my post at 50. Just seen the date!
Seems it is a current piece! I’m getting all confused!
Miguel Delaney (chief football writer at the Indy) now saying Kiwior may go to Palace.
https://bsky.app/profile/migueldelaney.bsky.social/post/3lwu3wnwxvc2w
Well, that’s some spectacular half-ton there, C100!
Hope he goes to Tottenham first. I mean for a few minutes, to make sure they pay for his cab to Colney.
Your 53 would possibly imply Guehi to Liverpook?
Ollie @55. Would make sense.
Seems we’re almost there.
https://x.com/harrysymeou/status/1958260427235770574?s=61&t=cVFjCyGkt4y-Ne45LtfqkQ
Cry me a river
Well in for the half-ton, C100.
I hope Kiwior has a happier time at Palace, if indeed he ends up there, than Capitola Rob.
Excellent half ton there C100. Actually it’s a historic half ton!
Miguel Delaney suggests that we hadn’t dropped out of the race but it was a pretty close- run thing. The speed with which Eze was signed was made possible by the work done a few weeks ago. I’m delighted with this transfer and hope Kai Havertz isn’t badly injured .
I also send my condolences to Daniel Levy . I don’t mean that .
Just popping in for a quick one.
That rabble mob down Seven Sisters resist learning life’s essential lesson: mind the fecking gap.
Oh, and what do we think of tottnum?
😂😂😂
MCMBD
@61 Shit!
I went to bed worried about Kai but hopeful it wouldn’t be too bad.
Woke up and laughed my head off at the news on Eze.
It seems we upped Leo’s wages too, though no contract
extension as it still goes to 2027. Something has to give on
the left and I wonder if it will be Gabi M now
I am struggling to understand why Eze is going to play in a
Conference League game this week.
Lovely piece by Amy Lawrence
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6565659/2025/08/20/eberechi-eze-arsenal-romantic-twist/
Thanks C100 @64, always a pleasure to read Amy and she’s captured the joy of this one well.
OM @61 and 63.
Great news to wake up to! Latest rumorings are Kai’s injury might not be as severe as first feared.
I think Eze playing today was a condition of the sale. I hope prudence and conviviality will prevail on Parrish to sit Eze down.
MCMBD
GeTTiN! UTA!
Adam Clery’s explanation of the relationship between the press, clubs, agents and transfers will not be revelatory to many, if any, in this fine establishment, but his exposition of it is well worth the watch.
While we’re at it, we should p’raps consider a cheeky bid for their newish, fancyish ground – coz we need another localish training pitch; what with our newly mahooOOOOOOsive squad – UTA!
Was it also (along with ‘roid boy’s apparently not-so-serious injury) Odie’s continued shaky form (about a season & counting), that made us press “go” on Eze … ? I know he (Odie) started OKish v manky poo …. but he had 3 (?) easyish chances to slip someone thru on goal, on the break – & screwed up every one … jus’ sayin’
@66 LG, yeah fingers crossed for Kai.
Conviviality and Prudence did the trick!
And Palace won so all’s well that ends well I suppose for them,
although losing Eze (and Guehi it seems) must be hard to take.
I’m hoping that sanity and a bit of patience will prevail. We’ve added seven players and at least three of them are superstars . But it takes time to settle in and if Gyokeres takes a few games to bang or Eze doesn’t look immediately comfortable in a new role or Rice and Zubi are still working out their new alignment let’s give it time.
There are a lot of stupid Arsenal fans whose patience is in very short supply. Let’s chill out and wait for this super squad to blend into something special
Wise words, TTG @72.
However, the needy, instant gratification addicted, mass hysteria bandwagon joining, intolerant, no-platforming, self-centred culture of too many of today’s ‘fans’ will make enough noise to allow the media to apply pressure should any of our new signings up front take as long as DB10 and TH14 to open their ultimately wonderful goalscoring accounts at the Arsenal.
I ignore most of the media commentariat, am highly selective in visits to the Twattersphere and blogs but am aware of the bottom feeders out there who build a following and make money out of spewing bile and negativity at every opportunity. They will be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of new targets for their venom.
Keenos had them nailed earlier this week:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>