I have, in the past, written match previews that have tried to provide a bit of variety. While not on the scale of Ned’s attention to detail, a bit about our opponents’ history, where and when they were formed, why, and by whom; some detail of the head to head record between the clubs; injury news and likely team selection; and because football is supposed to be fun, always a joke or two.
However, there is nothing funny about playing Manchester City. It is, unfortunately, a trial that has to be endured at least twice a season, albeit one that has provided some success in recent years. And speaking of trials, if the powers that be ever settle on and announce the results of City’s ongoing “legal” hearing, it may and should be one that we don’t have to suffer for at least the next season.
I have enclosed the word ‘legal’ in quote marks because, being the naive person that I am, I still don’t really understand how the matter of a football club breaking the rules of the league to which it is affiliated ends up in court.
In any other walk of life you join a club, you obey the rules or you pay the penalty for breaking them. If you break the rules 115 / 130 times you generally get chucked out.
Let’s not forget that City have already been found guilty of breaking UEFA’s FFP rules a few years ago now. As is their wont, they managed to manipulate the panel of judges at their hearing, and those that they magnanimously agreed to allow to sit came up with some new rules on the timing of investigating financial irregularities and let them off with a relative slap on the wrist.
“That’s exactly what will happen this time”, I know some of you will be saying. In my naivety, I choose to believe that a proper ‘football’ sanction will eventually be handed down to them. If it is not, the credibility of the Premier League will lie in tatters.
The accountants and lawyers can juggle and try to justify the various amounts of money that have been sneaked into the club. What they can’t deny is that they have failed to cooperate with the investigation on numerous occasions.
That is rather like not turning up for a drugs test. A certain Manchester United player will remember the consequences of that some years ago. The punishment for not turning up has to be at least as great as failing the test, otherwise nobody would ever turn up. Similarly, the punishment for non-cooperation with an investigation has to be at least as bad as being found guilty of breaking the rules. Otherwise just scrap the whole investigative process and let everyone do whatever they like.
If you can believe anything you read, the suggestion is that City’s guilt was established months ago. Since then, the lawyers have been arguing over the punishment to be handed down. That has to be a football sanction, not just a fine which would be utterly meaningless to an oil sheik – more or less a license to carry on.
It is inconceivable to me that clubs in the Premier League can expect fans to continue to pay such premium prices to watch a corrupt competition. Individual clubs can’t fight this on their own but they are also owned by very rich companies and individuals who collectively have to ensure, through their own legal challenge, that a fitting punishment is meted out. For me, that would be ten years in the National League and a string of asterisks next to their victories.
One thing is for certain, and that is whatever the result on Sunday, the media will continue to spout that City will go on a final winning run and Arsenal will ultimately bottle it. Why, I wonder, do they continue to praise and marvel at City’s illegal achievements?
And why do they never laud Arsenal’s achievements in managing to fight neck and neck with the cheats for four years without having a single charge of impropriety brought against them?
For now, though, we have to take them on, one more time, under the status quo. Just for fun I decided to have a look at the definition of ‘status quo’ and found it to be completely apt for my intended purpose. Do have a look – even Clock End Rider, who almost has Latin as his first language! – as it will practically take the place of a joke in this otherwise all too serious piece: “Status quo is a Latin phrase meaning the current, existing state of affairs or social, political, and economic conditions. It refers to “the way things are now” and is often used in contexts of wanting to challenge that, such as in policy debates, social structures, or legal matters.”
Nuff said, and now …..
The football.
I guess we have to start with team news which for us, at the moment, sadly means injury news. Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino are out, while Timber, Calafiori, Ødegaard and Madueke are doubts but Mikel Arteta did say that “some” of them had a chance and would be assessed after the final training session. So, fingers crossed, but gently – we don’t need any broken fingers.
There are endless possibilities regarding team selection given the injury doubts so, assuming none of them is fit to start, I will go for –
Raya
Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hinkapie
Zubimendi, Rice
Dowman, Eze, Martinelli
Havertz
Interestingly, win, draw or lose, Opta still see us winning the league with their percentage chances of that listed as 98%, 89% and 69% respectively. Either of the first two options would be wonderful. Let’s not think about the third.
Apologies to those who are interested in City but I don’t care who or how they play. We all know they are full of expensive players acquired by false pretences who get away with murder on the pitch. Rather than a Holic Pound, we could maybe run a sweepstake on how many fouls Rodri and the odious little diving cheat, Bernardo Silva will get away with. At least the latter is leaving them at the end of the season. Good riddance!
I hope we will play positively without going gung-ho. But if we bore them to death and grab a scrappy winner from a corner, I’ll be absolutely ecstatic.
Safe journeys to any Holics, and others, who are travelling to the Emptihad. I know C100 and his son are going – any others? I won’t even be able to watch as my younger daughter has her final dance show tomorrow, starting at 5.00pm. I’ll hopefully be able to relax and watch a successful performance later in the evening 🤞🏻
Match officials
This shouldn’t even be a topic of discussion but we are playing Manchester City whose owners actually employ some of the referees who operate in this league!
The referee for this one is Anthony Taylor, from Manchester, and the fourth official is Paul Tierney, from Manchester. Despite my horror at this news, I was actually encouraged to discover that Manchester City have been refereed by Anthony Taylor 50 times, winning 27 of those matches, drawing 10, and losing the remaining 13. Those 13 losses were far more than I expected to find so I decided not to look any further into the details. (Please don’t, Ned!). Apparently we have nothing to fear anyway from the appointment as Taylor is a supporter of non-league Altrincham. Here’s hoping!
VAR is John Brooks – he of the Dracula hairstyle – and, no, I didn’t dare look to see where he comes from!
And finally …..
Thoughts are with Alex Manninger’s friends and family after our former goalkeeper was lost in a tragic accident this week at the age of 48. ❤️
Cheers, Trev that is a preview right out of the top drawer but I couldn’t count whether there were 115 or 130 pairs of socks contained therein. 🎭
Superb, Trev. Your summary of the “legal” position of messrs Manchester City is magnificent.
COYG
Great preview Trev, spot about the disgrace that is Cheaty.
As for our team I have no idea either but think from MA’s
cryptic crossword or presser as it’s sometimes known that
Noni will start. MA also says we are not going their for a
draw but to win, works for me and 1-0 to The Arsenal would
be splendid.
Now for the comedy warm-up, come on Brighton!
Superb preview Trev! Fully share your disdain, and if I may I would even go so far as to say that PL as a competition has indeed already lost credibility. I only watch the games we play in. At some point of time in future when the history of English football — which I think will survive, give or take a few well-deserved casualties, out through the crisis that can be delayed only for so long — through these years are written, I think we will find ourselves shocked to have our worst suspicions confirmed.
I think we can win this match if we play to our strengths and while respecting the opponent don’t overestimate them. Saka is definitely out, but maybe one of Timber or Martin is back? I am taking a guess that Ødegaard is fit enough to start while Jurien will be on the bench.
This would be my preferred starting eleven:
Raya
Mosquera-Saliba-Gabriel-Hincapié
Ødegaard-Zubimendi-Rice
Madueke-Havertz-Eze
Perfect occasion to remind the world, including ourselves, how good we actually are!
Come on Arsenal!
Cheers Trev. Great stuff, putting cheats in their right place.
And indeed, here is not ‘Just Win!’ but ‘Just Don’t Lose!’.
I will be watching while working in Madrid.
Work sometimes has that odd thing of sending me to the right place just one week too early. It happened when I went to Bergamo as well (nominally Vimercate, but still, close enough).
P.S. Didn’t realise Ned was from Flanders. :-p
Great preview Trev. As a fellow believer in ultimate justice I think C130y will be punished but I would love us to get something there tomorrow. If I’m honest ( and I am a bit of a pessimist ) I don’t think we will but I doubted our chances at Anfield in 1989 and in Copenhagen in 1994 .
Wednesday was an improvement but we need our big players all to turn up and and our less gifted players to rise to the occasion . I keep thinking Max will take us to the title and I suspect he will play some part tomorrow.
I’m very proud of this incarnation of Arsenal and I hope we are able to take something from the Emptihad . Whatever happens it’s not all over but let’s give C130y what they deserve . COYG!
Absolutely on the money, Trev, appropriately enough.
Nailed it, Trev. I’m hoping to see both Martin and Jurien start.
Enjoy the dancing – brownie points for decision making.
Great stuff Trev. You have summed the situation up very well indeed. The opposition are clearly guilty as charged. The owners and executives are felons, the coaches and players accessories after the fact. Hopefully, we can rise to the occasion with icy determination, be instruments of blind justice and mete out the greatest punishment that is in our gift.
I have no idea who is fit enough to start. I expect MA8 to start his strongest available team but I hope Havertz is fit and that he, rather than Gyökeres, leads the line. I just hope that every man who is called upon, plays his best game, wins his duels and helps carry us to a famous victory.
COYG
As Lonestar would say, MCMBD.
Excellent work, Trev. 100% in agreement with all you say.
Good luck to C100 and son on their travels. Having to suffer the least self-aware, most odious “fans” in the league at their tax-payer provided, appropriately enough rarely full stadium is a horrible experience.
Thanks Trev
I echo Ollie – just don’t lose.
UTA
Many thanks Trev – a good reminder that the Cheatys are yet to see justice given out and I wonder if we ever will.
If the “best” Arsenal turn up today then a good result is quite possible – if it’s one of our recent performances disappointment will be the result. Let’s hope some of our missing injured are fit enough to return.
COYRRR
Hot in Madrid. Forgetting I’m wearing some Arsenal gear (courtesy of bath). Fellow passenger on he way to the hotel in a shuttle asks me ‘so are you going to win the League this year?’.
I can only express hope and he says he hopes so too. Gorgeous day, hopefully the football (and work…) don’t spoil it.
COYG!
Many thanks, gents !
Everything crossed for later. I’ll have to record it and watch it nice and relaxed later on 🙏🏻
“Nothing to fear but fear itself”. I am cautiously optimistic. The pressure is actually more on City, they almost have to win. I think we will put in a huge shift, Mikel will have a surprise or two and we will pick up points today.
Quietly confident. I would love for us to win with a dodgy decision that all the idiots can moan about for ages.
If we do win the league I can see next season being s blast. Buy two decent attackers and a creative midfielder and say goodbye to some who need to find new energy elsewhere.
We’re in. Fortified by a Northern lunch of chips and gravy.
Fantastic preview Trev. Exactly what was needed. Let us hope the players follow your example.
After a recommendation from CER, I listened to this week’s Handbrake Off podcast (Cheers CER!). I did not find Amy Lawrence inspirational merely because I already agreed with every word she said and have shared her frustration at what I’ve seen and heard from so many other Arsenal fans. I was one of the few people who enjoyed our performance against Sporting. We are tough and well organised. I enjoy watching us be hard to beat.
Today is not make or break. There is a lot more football to play. Let’s just recognise what an opportunity we have today and do our best to take it.
UTA!
I like the starting XI, just hope it clicks:
Raya, Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Eze, Madueke, Havertz
@17 C100, were the chips on butties? Did you get hassled on the way up in your favourite elevator on the planet?
@18 and @19 – with you both on all of that. Good bench too for today. Sadly lacking Timber – has he had lumberjack issues?
Dino@18- mon plaisir!
U4GN- with you on that. Now come on, you Gunners.
Loving the chant (which I hope you heard on tv)
You know who you are
You know who you are
You cheating bastards
You know who you are!
We never seem to do anything the easy way!
That was such a better performance than those in the recent weeks. Dropping Gyokeres and replacing him with a still not match fit but getting there Havertz meant that we had an out. Havertz did things up front which we have been missing all season, like winning headers and holding the ball up. Odegaard gave us more movement and fluidity, and Eze likewise. This is a team without its 2 first choice full backs, the world class Saka and Mikel Merino, with, as above, Odegaard and Havertz still finding fitness. In this context, we were well in the game right up until the end. With a world class centre forward, we draw at least.
And, to show that I am not always on the case of the appalling PGMOL officials, I thought they did a good job today. In fairness, Mosquera was booked too early and there weren’t a lot of bad fouls for the referee to ignore but praise where it’s due.
On to Newcastle. If we play like that, quite simply, we’ll win.
It wasn’t our day after all and the cheats prospered yet again. We needed 8 out of 10s from everyone and we only got 6.5s. Can’t score enough goals with this forward line.
Really proud of the team. We were unlucky. A nearly fit Havertz and Odegaard made a huge difference and showed what we’ve been missing. After today I’m much more confident about the rest of the season. Bring it on!
I agree with SP and CER . I was very concerned that we could be battered today . Pots have us as favourites still because they have tougher games than us . And I noticed Rodri limping off ?
We need better forwards but we are still in it . I’d say it was 50/50. Would you have taken that in August ?
Pots? = Opta!
TTG@27 – I did, in the Predictathon!
Also, from the way Rodri was moving, I suspect his “injury” was time wasting.
That was a brave effort. I thought all our players gave their all and you can’t ask for any more than that. A game of fine margins – we had so many near things – but the cheats took their chances. Ødegaard and Havertz made such a difference to the fluency of our attack and just imagine how a fit Saka would have changed the outcome. If we can play like this in all our remaining games we should win them. I hope the cheats get complacent.
I’m sure several of us are getting stick from jealous fans of other clubs . They point out how well C13Oy were able to strengthen and how great the Cyborg is at scoring goals. They seem to totally miss the point of concerns about the legitimacy of C130’s challenge Can they afford to pay his monumental wages, would their PSR position really allow them to sign Semenyo and Guehi ? Why should Abu Dhabi FC operate in a different financial stratosphere from Newcastle , whose backing is just as theoretically open-ended. Referring back to Trev’s preview , if it is true that they have been found guilty of a host of charges when and how will they be punished and which clubs have been edged out of competitions that they would have won if C130y hadn’t broken any number of rules? I hear and see fans of almost all clubs hoping C130y prevail over us this season despite huge question marks over the honesty of their set-up . The Premier League must give closure to all those affected by years of potential dishonesty – or alternatively confirm their innocence . You can’t hand out points deductions to other teams over the last few years and not bite the bullet on C130y
TTG@31: it was how City got to top table, not what they did once they got there that is the point at issue. I am coming to fear that the old financial maxim is in play: if you owe the bank a pound, you have a problem, but if you owe the bank a million pounds, it is the bank that has the problem. For bank, read Premier League.
And what Bath said @30.
>>>>>>>