We could not be facing a more aptly named opponent in the Europa League tomorrow. After a dismal result against Wolves this game against Rapid Vienna cannot come fast enough!
With our league form in the toilet and our next league fixture, away at the spuds, to be played in an actual toilet, it is perhaps unsurprising that the fanbase are looking to Thursday evening to provide a chink of light. Perhaps even a ray of hope that we may be able to flush behind us the stinking mess that is our traditional November league form, pull up our britches, (wash our hands extremely carefully in hot, soapy water) and step boldly into December, a month of celebration and one in which we usually fare much better. Or is that just wishful thinking?
The malaise that has dragged us down in the league has not managed to creep into our Europa League results as, so far, we have run out winners four times from four. Of course, the standard of opposition has been much lower and our performances not uniformly brilliant by any stretch of the imagination but I dread to think how much worse we would all be feeling if qualification from our group were in doubt. As it is, it is already confirmed and only a single point is required from our final two games to confirm our status as group winners beyond doubt.
Therefore, this game is in itself not a priority for many fans who are already steeling themselves for the derby at the weekend. However, for all of us, and for 2000 Gooners in particular, it will be a supremely special match as The Emirates will see fans in attendance for the first time in 9 months! For those of us watching on TV I suspect that the pleasure of seeing and hearing fans in the stadium will add a huge amount to whatever the players on the pitch produce and I certainly hope they serve up fare worthy of those returning to cheer our boys on after such a long hiatus. It would be great to have a win to celebrate, rather than just a celebration that some of us were allowed back in to see us lose again… but I shall take my tongue out of my cheek for long enough to shout some support for our boys!
The Arsenal are blazing the trail as ever, being the first Premier League team to welcome fans back since matches were cancelled and then restricted to empty stadiums. We shall all wait to see how the situation develops but as things finally appear to be heading in the right direction I am sure we all hope that this will be a landmark day for the club, and for all the fans both in the UK and around the globe, on our journey out of covid restrictions and back to having a full, safe stadium of fans for every game. And I am sure those in attendance tomorrow will do the club proud!
The Arsenal
Mikel Arteta will continue to rotate players for this one, as he has in every European game so far. With qualification guaranteed, he may decide to give extra minutes to some of our academy players and I certainly hope he does, although I would temper this hope with my expectation that he will not give them as many minutes as I myself would be tempted to. I expect we will see ESR and Balogun again at some point. Depending on the match situation there may also be minutes for Miguel Azeez or Ben Cottrell but probably not both. Pepe will play, as he is ineligible in the league for two more games. I expect Xhaka to start and to look like he is playing at about his level. David Luiz would probably be included if not for his head injury but is rightly being rested and monitored to determine his availability at the weekend. Callum Chambers and Gabi Martinelli are both on the comeback trail but will fall short of readiness for this one.
It is tough to call what the gaffer will do as it depends a lot on how he wants to setup on Sunday in the much more important of our two fixtures this week. I think he is going to go to a back three against spuds, with AMN or Saka as left wing back and Laca up top, so my predicted team for Rapid is based on this assumption. If I am wrong then the team may look very different. Mea Culpe.
Runarsson,
Cedric, Mustafi, Holding, AMN
Xhaka, Ceballos,
Pepe, Willock, Nelson,
Nketiah
There are a few in that team with something to prove and I hope they are spurred on by the atmosphere that even a significantly reduced-capacity crowd will generate. ESR for Willock and Balogun for Eddie will be subs pencilled in already. I would like to see Balogun get thirty minutes, although Eddie also needs a performance, or even just a goal, so we will see who Arteta judges will get more value from the game-time? Joe and Reiss will both want to get back on the scoresheet. And I hope they both make it!
Rapid Vienna
Err. Sorry folks, I have nothing for you. Think of this part of the preview as like the centre of our midfield. You would expect to see something there but instead you are greeted with the conspicuous absence of something. Just a lot of nothing. Nothing, pretending to be something, if you will.
Now I should point out that I would usually make more effort to give you some idea of the opposition but I have just looked at their team from the last match and I don’t recognise any of them- despite the fact that we played them a few weeks ago. I listened to that game on the radio and it was dull. So, so dull. So very dull that I am not going to find out more facts and stats about the players who inflicted it on us. We stumbled away from that match with a 2-1 victory that proved extremely useful to us. This time around, at home, (is that still a good thing?) we simply need to pass a bit more crisply and we should have the quality to win. If only I had not thought that in our last three outings.
If our Icelandic keeper is reading then I offer him the advice not to kick his goal kicks to their forwards. That did not work out so well for Leno last time so I shouldn’t try it again. That ought to stop them scoring. And if Pepe is reading then please put in another performance like the last one. That should get us a goal or two. Luvvly Jubbly.
Oh, and if Granit is reading then I should point out that crisp passes backwards do not count!
The holics’ pound
There is unsurprisingly little value available in a matchup that the bookies think we are strong favourites in. Frankly, I would keep your hand in your pocket on this one unless you’ve had a whisper in your shell from the Ghost of Christmas Future or some other knowing apparition. 2-0 (which would be my predicted scoreline) is priced at around 7s. However, in search of something interesting, and to make up for my lack of detailed scouting on the opposition (alright, my lack of any scouting on the opposition) I did find that William Hill are offering 100/1 against a Pepe hat-trick. Nketiah and even Balogun are offered at a quarter of that at 25/1 so I reckon if you have a spare pound to lay on something a bit different then it is Pepe all the way.
I wish everyone in the stadium a safe and enjoyable evening out and I hope the boys do you proud with a performance and a result. For those at home I hope you stay on the sofa, without the need to get behind it, that we continue our smooth progress in Europe and that we kick off December as we mean to continue it… with a WIN!
Stay safe Holics.
COYG!
a rare first. gsd, i like your style, keeping it light and informative and rising above the bs attending to the club these days.
i hope we run your team, or even try a 442 with balogun pairing eddie up front. your same back 5, but with joe, reiss, pepe, and ceballos. no xhaka (’cause we “need” him for scum).
either way, any way, a nice, enjoyable win would do me. hiding behind the couch has gotten old.
That’s an interesting and highly amusing preview GSD which I enjoyed considerably .
Just to help on Rapid Vienna they are one of two sides, I believe , in Vienna but when we played them away Mrs TTG came in, as she does, when I was cursing the TV , and commented that she was surprised we were playing in Vienna ‘ because it was too nice to be a football city !’ Perversely it wasn’t a city she particularly likes so that shows you what she thinks of football .
I hope we rotate strongly and particularly try out some midfield options like Azeez and ESR. I also wonder if we might see Mari or Chambers ( possibly a half each at CB ?) and we give Lopez a run at left back. And is it too much to ask to try AMN in midfield with Willock with ESR at 10.
Mikel must have lost my number because he doesn’t ring me before games any more for advice and intellectual stimulation . I think we will win 3-0. CER is going and I hope he has a great evening .
oooh, ttg@2 i like that midfield 3 of willock and amn and esr. fast, willing, and young.
i think i read chambo is out still, even though he played in the u23 the other night. waiting to see how he recovers, etc. but i could be (read: am probably) wrong.
to a fine strudel of an arsenal performance!
Hi TTG, I am indeed going. Looking forward to it, if only to be walking the familiar route. The absence of noise and the smell of food, always so redolent of games attended in our youth, will likely be missing. But the ghosts of family and friends past will accompany us tomorrow night to keep us warm. I’ll be sure to give an update on Friday or over the weekend.
Clock End Rider have fun my friend. Please report back to us on your experience.
GSD to remind you of the last game against Rapid Vienna here is my report on the game https://www.goonerholicsforever.com/?p=1633
Cheers GSD!
cer@4, enjoy. i’ve been to the HOF one time, against vittoria last year, and walking up hornsey road from the holloway tube station to the smell of food being prepared, along with the hawking of the vendors and the milling, happy, expectant crowds, was one of the highlights of my evening.
be safe, stay healthy, and let us know how it was…
A good night as I recall Scruz. Pints of Guinness in the Tolly with TTG and then two glorious left foot strikes from Pepe to win the game. Happy days!
Well done GSD
You have managed to make a silk purse out of a pigs ear, of a nothing game on a winter’s night in London, in front of a crowd number seen more often at a Division 2,
or National league fixture.
Apart from seeing some of our youngsters getting some more game time, i really cannot get enthused about any of the EL group fixtures.
The only thing that matters to me this week is Sunday’s game at the neighbors down the road.
Good news on the injury front, as it would appear the Club were being overly pessimistic about TP, who could well return to full training this week.
Callum is also apparently very close to first team action, and Gabi is likely to play some under 23’s this month as well.
A question for Ned’s Monks,
Re the EL squad that was nominated at start of season, can that be changed for the Group stages next year, ??
I am thinking of Saliba/ Chambers and Gabi being added.
cheers
Hat trick for Giroud tonight against Seville.
Make that four!
c100@8 yes, it was a great evening. parts of me very nearly exploded with delight 🙂 those two pepe stunners were straight at us in the north bank, and what a pleasure they were. as it was a pleasure to meet with you and ttg!
Lars and I having an interesting discussion on Twitter. We’re we right to replace Giroud with Laca?
i never understood all the hatred in our fanbase for giroud…
Great preview GSD. The only change I would make to your starting 11 would be to replace Willock with ESR as Joe will be needed on Sunday if we are to demote the dreadful duo of Xhaka and Ceballos as due reward for their dire performances against Wolves. I’d be delighted with your predicted 2-0 scoreline.
TTG @2, heh at Mrs TTG re Vienna!
Nice to see United struggle tonight. Referee should have sent Fred off for exactly the same offence as Pepe and then gave him a second yellow for winning the ball. The game us daft.
Scruz,
I was walking the mean streets of East Kent this morning ( well the footpaths anyway) in my San Jose Gooners scarf. A great memento of a fine night.
just don’t get it mugged off you, ttg. i hear you takes your life in your hands out on those streets…
Wonderful preview GSD. You have got the balance of some much needed light heartedness along with facts nicely intertwined.
I go along with Bath in that Joe should be rested for the game on Sunday with ideally ESR starting in his place. ESR is a talent we’ve seen little of since his introduction to the first team a couple of years ago boththrough regular injuries and loan deals. He does appear to be a real player but really needs a regular run at the first team level to see how far he’s progressed during this time.
Let’s hope we are entertained by some attacking verve and coming out victorious by a 3-1
Scoreline.
Clive@9: Yes, but in narrow circumstances. Clubs can add up to two players for the Round of 32 onwards, but have to maintain the max of 25 List A players and have to keep the quota of eight home trained players. Clubs can add unlimited numbers of List B players at any time (basically U-21s who have been at the club for three years). Chambers is already in the squad, but neither of the other two you mention, Saliba and Gabi, qualify for List B despite there age, so I think that two existing List A-ers who are not locally trained would have to be dropped out to accommodate them.
Lively start, clever middle and smooth finish. Well done, GSD. 🍭
Appropriately quick-fire preview given the visitors, GSD. Hit the target perfectly.
Thnks for the update Ned.
What about our named PL squad, can that be changed after Christmas. ??
Great stuff, great style, GSD – cheers !
You can change your squad after each transfer window, otherwise the January window would be worthless.
Clive@22: PL squads can be shuffled during transfer windows, but clubs have to stay within the 25 limit for over-21 players with no more than 17 non-home grown. There is provision for clubs to make changes to their squad outside transfer windows but the PL has to give special permission.
Thanks GSD, very enjoyable
preview.
Like you I’m curious to see who
MA will pick – as in how many
youngsters.
Is Kola still not available?
I’d imagine he’d play if he is
Cheers all! I’m glad it hit the spot.
If Kola is available I expect he will play. But I think Willock will be sacrificed against Spuds to accommodate a back 3 and so he will play tonight. If he does not play tonight I guess we will keep the back 4 against spuds.
I’d happily see AMN in midfield but I am not sure Arteta will.
Amusing and entertaining preview GSD!
If anyone wants to learn about the interesting history of Rapid Wien — including their once winning the combined German league — you are welcome to go read the preview of the earlier away fixture. It is much less of an amusing read though. 🙂 🙂 There ends my shameless self-promotion … 🙂
Hope Lacazette starts, and finds goal and confidence that can then maybe inspire a return to at least some semblance of the player that we had welcomed a few years back.
About Giroud — he was underappreciated by a significant number of Arsenal fans (including some esteemed drinkers here 🙂 ) because of his less than ideal speed on the ground and occasionally the highly presentable chances he used to miss. He was not a prolific goalscorer (though 100+ goals in red-and-white is not something to scoff at), but he was a consistent goalscorer (that is, never went for too many matches without a goal) and especially in a match when we are not playing well he gave an option as a target man both to be able to score but also to be able to bring others in play. He got us out of trouble with late goals quite a few times. Another admirable thing was that he always bounced back after short bad patches of form, after being dropped, and as his career is proving that like all latecomers he is extremely tenacious.
Speaking of old-age Chelsea players…maybe even Willian can find some form in this match.
Looking forward to an enjoyable goal or two from Pépé, and bright performances from ESR-Eddie-Balogun.
Dr. F, I am hoping that’s not a play for us to re-sign Giroud. No need for a full house of Chelsea rejects of course, but we already got his best days out of him. Also, he was far more prolific than Laca, assuming the latter doesn’t bang in 50 or 60 goals for us in short order. My virtual cash is on Balogun for a hat-trick to impress the Viennese ladies of high fashion. 😉
Thanks for that enjoyable preview, GSD. I am all for giving youngsters a chance so I would be happy to see ESR, Joe, Eddie, Balogun, Reiss and Runarsson all starting. There is not much at stake and it would give these kids a chance to showcase their talent. Won’t happen though, as Arteta is very conservative and would, probably, stick with tested players. Hope for a 3-0 win even with all the youngsters playing.
A very entertaining promo, GSD. Good stuff.
Rapid Vienna are no slouches and played very well against the Arsenal in their home leg. Tonight will be no Viennese Sachertorte walk.
Enjoy.
ksn@30: I share your view that Arteta won’t use the game to let the kids showcase their talent, but as a training game for the squad to practice his preferred version of 4-3-3.
Runarsson, Cedric, Mustafi, Mari, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Nelson, Elneny, Pepe, Nketiah, Lacazette
Subs: Leno, Macey, Tierney, Saka, Ceballos, Willian, Holding, Chambers, Willock, Smith Rowe, Balogun, Azeez
looks like a back four with pepe and nelson flanking amn and elneny. laca playing the reserved forward position…connecting the dots, i hope.
It’ll be interesting to see AMN in midfield again. It’s been ages apart from moments as an inverted wingback and the last few minutes against Wolves.
Ok wont post anymore videos which YouTube says are fine on here. Bag of shite.
one for every arsenal fan looking backwards… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CncCZjj998g
it was broken, esso, so i went and found a different version. is that what you meant to show?
Esso @34, that was rather fleeting!
then it’s my bad. again, one i couldn’t see. but i could see what it was *supposed* to be, or so i thought. was that the song, esso?
It’s the thought that counts. :0)
Bill – dont matter mate. Worry not – youse all doing a fine job with this site.
cheers, esso. send me the one you want on whatsapp and i’ll drop it back in there. i didn’t realize (until i just looked) that there were a dozen versions of the song.
It looks like a 4-4-1-1.
Elneny and Kola are both off the COVID step. It’s remarkable that footballers can be so seemingly unaffected by the virus when it wreaks such havoc elsewhere .
I hope we see ESR, Balogun and Azeez for lengthy chunks tonight. This really is a great opportunity to test lads in a first team context with absolutely no pressure . Really no game could mean less other than the fact that 2000 loyal souls have paid their hard- earned to follow the team
Arteta gave an interview yesterday which said we need to sell to buy . We might be looking at offloading Mustafi, Sokratis , Kolasinac, Xhaka ( please) , Lacazette and possibly Pepe or Nelson with Saliba going on loan . I personally doubt that the club will take a hit on Pepe at this stage before he has played two full seasons but the grapevine suggests he lacks support at the top levels of the club .
Cheers TTG!
Good to see Mari back from injury. He and Chambers might play a half each.
TTG@45: The bigger question is whether the club lacks support at the top levels of the club…
Why are we in our away strip?
So good to see and hear the fans back in.
COYG!
fuck off with the laughing after a miskicklike that, mus.
laca!!!
A cracker from Laca!
he hit the skin off that!
Mustafi misses open goal
mus misses the free header after great work on a corner cross from pepe
Lots of arm waving from Laca in that 10 position
we are putting them under the cosh…
Pablo’s back!
marí!!
welcome back, pablo!
man, their defenders were statues on that.
great dummy for nelson, too heavy a first touch or he was going to score.
Some bastard’s in my seat!
some bastard’s always in your seat 🤣
Oof!
i’m here all day. have the fish.
boy, minute 28 and we’re dying to give it away.
Should be a very enjoyable evening and it may give Laca his confidence back .Really we should be looking at at least 6-0 here and they owe it to the fans to put on a show .
Great opportunity to see Azeez , ESR and Balogun
reiss making great linking passes.
In Bishops Stortford, BtM is purring at Nelson’s first half hour.
*that’s* the noise i keep hearing!
Shocker from Elneny there. Gives the ball away on halfway and sets up a Vienna 3 on 2. If that’s Sunday that could be 1-0 down.
yep. only their own confusion saved that situation.
reiss has to get his corners and fk’s higher.
tough yello for mo.
I think Cedric practices his throw ins with Hector. That’s the second foul throw I’ve seen from him this half.
both called? i didn’t see that.
eddie!
WHAT A FUCKING GOAL
wow, and what a pass to pepe.
No Scruz, neither called
great save by their keeper at first attempt, kudos to eddie for staying with it.
Loved the crisp interlinking passing down the left wing, ending with putting a man in space and finding the runner. Beautiful.
great first half overall. a better team would have punished our few mistakes, but we scored three beautiful goals and could have had two or three more.
laca, reiss, and pablo top playing.
the fans must be so happy. including that bastard in your seat, c100.
The disgrace in wearing BLUE at home has actually astounded me.
WHAT
THE
FUCK ???
I think Pepe is doing OK down that left wing, and Cedric down the right linking with Reiss well. Kola and Mus are …. Kola and Mus.
I’m feeling generous Scruz. Three goals and a large malt do that. I hope he’s having a great night. Hopefully more goals second half, this time into the North Bank!
Based on the first half ( against a poor side, heavily rotated) there are a few claims for inclusion on Sunday –
Mari?- strong, classy and quite decisive , Elneny ? at the base of the midfield , AMN ? in a box to box role and maybe Lacazette? dropping off the main striker . I’m not as positive about Nelson his dead ball delivery has been poor . It’s so nice to enjoy a game but we mustn’t kid ourselves this means too much
Just 2000 fans are making a lot of noise. Good on you CER and all the other Gooners!
3-0 half time lead.
Feels nice to type that.
ttg, we can only play what’s in front of us. i’d argue reiss has been one of our main sources of energy, movement, and skill, making really good decisions at pace. we need that in every game!
Changes second half or will that spoil the flow?
I am with OM.
We are winning 3-0.
Just because I can!
bring on balogun for eddie, esr for laca, and azeez for amn.
should make for a fun second half.
and yeah, we *are* winning 3-0. let’s hit them for three or four more for the feelgoid factor. i’ll oil the hinges on the meds cabinet on the happy train.
I just sent in a comment and it vanished!
Slides the ball towards the penalty area.
Worth remembering that the club is losing money opening the stadium for 2K fans at £15 each
Ooh a ton .
Pffffffft
what the actual fuck was that
How unlucky is Kola there.
Kitigawa is a live wire
Kitigawa seems a live wire
Blog playing silly buggers with me
good pressure eddie and reiss.
My WiFi disconnected and I missed their goal. We shouldn’t be conceding against teams like this
our playing out the back only variably effective.
they took four tries to get it, ttg.
esr willian and dani prepping.
But we are playing pacy swaggering football. It’s great stuff.
we keep coming near…
Reiss being saved for Sunday.
not sure about taking reiss off unless it means he gets a start sunday. great games reiss and laca. willian, show us something!
Oh what a through ball from Dani to Pepe. Just misses Eddie.
should have scored…esr!
But we come straight back and ESR scores. Have to say looked offside
so calm that goal. i do like esr.
Pepe is playing really well.
Calum’s back!
ESR is so good. He reminds me a bit of Santi (if there could ever be another). You remember the old saying, could keep possession against three others in a phone box.
those subs have disrupted the hell out of us.
Welcome back Calum.
Now go match Mari 😃
willian so unimpressive.
pepe’d better take this.
ok, great save from dani.
balogun for eddie, well played eddie!
Eddie off and the mighty Balogun on
esr runs with the ball to space really well.
way to track back, dani.
Lots to like, sounds like.
Yes bt8. Lots to like. Get Partey back and play with verve and pace and who knows.
I like the fact that everyone knows there are places up for grabs. No one was phoning it in. Well played Arsenal and well played 2000 Gooners.
excellent game overall, subs didn’t add except esr. well played.
I don’t think Nelson will start on Sunday. Arteta will start Willian ahead of him .
I think ESR has been a standout since he came on , his movement is terrific and I think Ceballos has played well tonight but Pepe has been wasteful and I feel Eddie could have done better. Mari looks reasonably solid but will Arteta pair Gabriel and Mari , two left-footers ?
Top class coach. Top quality squad.
Entertaining game. Pepe’s best. AMN impressive in MF.
Eddie on his heels twice when he should have scored.
Sign Balogun. That boy’s a killer.
Was that Smith-Rowe’s first goal?
Can we play them every week?
Happy for the lucky 2,000 tonight,
a decent home win, four goals, a
screamer from Laca, a nice team
goal and Mari, Calum back. ESR
scores and AMN gets a game in
midfield. I’ll gloss over any little
problems and say well done The
Arsenal 😃👍.
Do it again at the weekend.
No. ESR scored two Europa League goals in 2018.
Looking forward to clockendrider’s report back of his evening.
I think ESR scored a couple of
seasons back before he got
injured.
Damn, those monks are quick
on their sandalled feet!
ESR also had a League Cup goal in the same season.
They dance the light fantastic, OM.
Agree with TTG that ESR was excellent. That movement he injects into attacks has been sorely lacking of late.
My favourite chant of the evening, aimed towards the empty away fans section in the clock end
“Your support is fucking shit! Your support is tucking shit!”
Ah terrace banter. I have so missed it.
On tonight’s performances, AMN, Nelson, Lacazette and Ceballos are pushing for a starting role on Sunday.
Well done on a good all round performance but the stand out for me were the 2000 supporters. I wasn’t so sure how effective such a small number would be but it was wonderful hearing the support and the chants — live football thrives on it.
Some good performances from Reiss, AMN & Laca. The lesser spotted Mari also had a solid game. The subs were excellent ( well apart from Willian ) -ESR showed his potential, Dani mopped up, drove forward and made some incisive passes. Balogun looks full of potential and great also to see Calum back on the pitch after his awful injury. I only hope Leno stays fit!
Overall a very satisfactory evening which leaves Mikel with some choices to make for the NLD on Sunday.
Thnks for the informative update @25 Ned
Probably should have scored 6 or more tonight, but 4 will do against a very poor RV.
I would hope against Dundalk next week, that all our promising youngsters take the field from the start.
No under 23 games till Dec 18, although there is the small matter of the under 21’s EFL Trophy round of 32 match against Wimbledon next Tuesday, which might put a spanner in the works.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>