28 days from now we could be celebrating the double. THE double. Four games in the league and potentially two in the Champions League depending on how Tuesday goes.
Pretty exciting. We’ve never been in the semi-finals of the champions league whilst being in the middle of a title race. Last year we were miles off the top by this point. Not even the Invincibles could manage it back in 2004. Despite the ridiculous number of injuries (again) we have managed to
go the distance in the hardest and most physically demanding league in the world as well as the greatest club competition in the world. That is an achievement in itself albeit not one that anyone will give us any credit for.
Fulham, West Ham, Burnley and Palace are the four remaining hurdles between us and that elusive league title we haven’t lifted for 22 long years. On paper those are four very winnable games even if they all present their own set of challenges. We have looked very nervous and fatigued in recent
weeks so nothing can be taken for granted particularly with City breathing down our necks. Given the way in which the fixture list has presented itself, tomorrow’s game also presents the chance to go six points clear again and put the pressure firmly back on City ahead of their tough looking trip to
Everton on Monday night. It really is imperative we pick up all three points as they could be back level on points with us by the time we kick off away to West Ham next weekend. I think it goes without saying that any more dropped points at this stage would be more or less fatal to our title
challenge.
To be honest, I expect another nervy atmosphere at the Emirates tomorrow. I know in an ideal world we all want the fans to create a cauldron but the reality is that expectations are so high after years of near misses that the prospect of a fourth straight second placed finish terrifies us all. An early goal would help but as we saw last week in the 1-0 win over Newcastle, that still might not be enough to settle the nerves. I expect another cagey affair. Fulham showed in their win over Villa last week that they are still in the hunt for European football and their minds are nowhere near the beach just yet. They will be compact and the onus will be on us to create chances which we have really struggled with in recent weeks.
In regard to team news, Saka and Eze should be fit to start after their cameos in Madrid in midweek. It seems that Timber is still some way off match fitness and who knows if we’ll see him again this season. He is apparently close to signing a new deal and that certainly is good news. Havertz is still out although pushing to be back for Tuesday’s huge showdown with Atletico. I think it would be wise to rest Ben White as he will certainly be needed on Tuesday. We will probably see a side like this:
Raya
Mosquera Saliba Gabriel Calafiori
Zubimendi Rice Ødegaard
Saka Gyökeres Eze
Having made that prediction, Ødegaard was forced off in midweek yet again, so who knows what’s going on there. If he does miss out you’d expect Eze to be pushed into the middle with Martinelli on the left.
As for Fulham, I don’t know or care about their team news. I hear Iwobi is ruled out. Tomorrow is not about them unfortunately. I have no opinion on Fulham as a club other than it’s a lovely place to live and their fans are tinpot. I’ve only ever met one Fulham fan in my life, and he was certainly an odd bloke. Not saying that’s the case for all Fulham fans, I’m sure they’re a decent bunch but I can only go off what I know. I have always got the sense that if a nuclear bomb wiped Fulham off the
face of the earth nobody would notice. But then again, Fulham are only down the road from Chelsea so surely a nuclear bomb would wipe them out too. Initially, we’d all be laughing about the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Cucurella being blown up and Chelsea fans being really sad. Then somebody would say, “hey, what about Fulham” and we’d all go “oh yeah, wonder if they got nuked too” then we’d probably just go back to laughing at Chelsea.
No shade on Fulham of course. But they’re like the pavement. No one ever thinks about pavement. But we all know it’s there. Well, the pavement is probably more important than Fulham. Otherwise, we’d just be walking on cement probably. They’re just a remarkably unremarkable club which is fine. I just have no sweeping statements to make about them. I hope we beat them 2-0.
COYG.
Thanks 21CG, an amusing preview and your team looks fine to me.
I watched the Fulham Villa game last week and they
were ok but nothing great. ESR had the odd flash of his old self but
seemed peripheral mostly. Villa looked tired and eventually Fulham
put together a decent enough move to open them up. They are less
solid on their travels, 6th in the home table and 17th in the away table
and have never won at our place. In normal circumstances I’d fancy
us to win 3 or 4 nil.
As the circumstances aren’t normal any win will do.
It’s nice to have a French connection 😃
What’s not to like in learning about an obscure (to me) 15th century poet!
Cheers 21CG. Probably the best away team bit too, enjoyed it. 😂
I think I don’t even know a Fulham fan.
For some bizarre reason, I keep thinking it’s an away match today.
Enjoyable preview 21CG. I know a number of Fulham fans, my brother-in-law is one and a few school friends and tge man who gave rise to the forerunner of the Predictathon. They are all very nice people . If I remember rightly C100’s dad was a Fulham fan?
It’s a lovely club and their fans are very long- suffering . But today has to be about us .
Win however we can.Your team looks good but Hincapie is our most consistent player . Could Calafiori play on the right? I’m afraid I’ve lost faith in Benny .
We’ve got a great record against them . I believe we will win. I’m going for 2-0
Btw a nuke in South-west London might do damage quite far afield. QPR and Brentford might go but it might be a little more extensive than that . Let’s not think about that in the current situation in the world. Let’s just try to enjoy the Arsenal at this incredible time
Thanks for an entertaining preview. I rather like Fulham. It’s a nice day out – it was Dave’s favourite – there are excellent restaurants for pre-match victuals and several good pubs as well as being a friendly club without, in my experience, an obvious hostile element and an anti-Arsenal animus. Having said all that, I hope we absolutely thrash them today. Your team looks fine and I expect we will use the Ødegaard-sparing option you identify either from the start or at least from 70 minutes. We may even see the lesser spotted Norgaard sparing Zubi’s legs at some point. This is the kind of fixture in which Gyökeres should be showing his qualities at the sharp end. Thanks also to Matt for the informative stats – very reassuring, sir. We simply must win this one. COYG
Thanks 21CG. Made me smile. Not sure I agree about the nervy Emirates. 5.30 k.o. gives time enough for pre-match sherbet or 2 to loosen mental chains as well as lubricating the throat ahead of a noisy pre-Atletico hymn practice. For those available for selection, pre-match hymns will be conducted from 4.30 in the regular place.
Thanks 21CG for an appropriate light hearted preview. We are really at the sharp end of the season with all to play for – with the finishing line in sight this should be enough for the team to push on. Any winning scoreline will do fine and a few goals to boot will be the icing on the cake.
COYRRR
I hope we beat them 2-0 too!
Will find out in Amsterdam tomorrow morning. Nerve biting to turn on the phone in those circumstances.
Thanks 21st
Fulham have caused us some pain in recent years – let’s put that way behind us. I fancy us to up the pressure on Citeh by winning 3-0. Set Gyokeres free!
UTA.
Watching Football Focus on BBC. They have two tame idiots, – some scouse bloke and Nedum Onuoha, former City player- talking about how you can feel the tension in the ground “every poor pass from Arsenal” etc. These clickbait halfwits are just part of the narrative building bullshit media approach and should be spurned as one would spurn a rabid dog. Idiots in search of villages.
As if it’s not bad enough UK tv licence payers paying for morons like Pulis and Rooney to spout forth, they have now found two more dickheads to add to their litany of ill-educated, Incomprehensible bullshit spouters.
You really must control your masochistic tendencies, CER @10. Long, long ago, I dropped that low quality show from my viewing schedule. It’s many years since it lost the edge that the likes of Bob Wilson brought to it and became a puerile affair. I can’t remember the last time that I watched it.
Bath@11- First time in years I’ve watched it. A momentary lapse of reason.
Bloody hell..!
The blog is tiny on a phone
It is indeed JML. I’m not sure there’s a solution. Good to see you in, JML.
Thanks for a preview that came somewhat out of left field, 21CG, but welcomingly eases the tension that I suspect many of us are feeling ahead of this game. Pavements can be stepped on, but the nagging fear is that they can also be slipped on. Overcoming tired minds and tired bodies is the order of the day. The Emirates hymnal needs to be sung unflaggingly loud and proud from start to finish.
JML, just checked with mate. I’d still favour the Lions today (partly because I am likely to be at the Bombardier on Tuesday, on top of the more Arsenal atmosphere), but we’re both fine with the Bombardier if you prefer. Might rain later but obviously the location and terrasse are better at the Bomb if ever it is a criterion. No actual Guinness there though…
Ok for the Lions.
I’m 40 minutes walking there from where I am.
Cool. See you there. I’ll be the short one with red hair (a lot missing), seasonal baggy shorts and red&white shoes.
Arsenal starting XI: Arsenal starting XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Eze, Trossard, Saka, Gyokeres
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Hincapie, Jesus, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Zubimendi, Dowman
Didn’t see MLS in midfield coming, ballsy from MA and I hope
it works.good to see Saka starting.
Come on you Gunners!
I’m here
Are you?
At the bar .
Will grab a table if it starts filling up
On my way.Timed my walk to the station badly. Should be there in about 20 min or so.
1st table in the back room
Interesting call by Arteta to start MLS over Nørgaard. I assume it means Rice will play as a single pivot 6, as he did in Madrid, with MLS taking over Zubimendi’s new-found left-sided 8 role. No MØ8; reports he has gone in the fetlock again seem accurate. An hour for Saka, perhaps, to tone him up for 90 mins on Tuesday — and an opportunity for Dowman, given we will lack a bit of creativity among the subs, given the need not to overwork Eze ahead of Tuesday.
If MLS does as well there as he did when we beat Atletico 4-0 at home we’ll be fine 👍🤓👍
Nice to have Bukayo back and VG doing what we bought him for
And a header too, perhaps VG read some of the mean things being said about his heading ability 😂
Anyway., 3-0 at half-time is just what the doctor ordered. Well, if the doctor was Bath anyway
Hopefully Saka coming off at half-time was just taking no chances,
others like Declan off early is all good for the Atleti match too.
And well done MLS, very pleased for him that it went well.
6 points up, pressure on them, a good afternoon’s work.
On we go, five to win
I think Arteta got the balance between plumping up the goal difference and preparing for Tuesday just about spot on.
Good game by MLS. Saliba was his imperious self, and VG14 got the rewards of some decent service (20+ goals in all comps now). Having a world-class player back on the right wing made a difference, too. Who’d have thunk it!
Good summary Ned. On the way back home. Fairly pissed. I’ll blame JML.
Ollie, JML- sounds like you had a great afternoon!
What a superb performance. We were very good. MLS ws excellent. Wow.
Indeed CER. Our besr match in 2026 so far? Possibly.
Great to see MLS thrive there.
Oi…Ollie!
Don’t blame it on my mate, John!
Petit jouer ….va
All going down Lafayette/Bon nouvelle…
Cheers!
Nice one, geezer!
CER@33
Yes we had a great evening!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>