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Warning notice – this is a biased, bitchy and very one-sided report

There is an alternative title that I thought about using to reflect the impression that it seemed to me Sky wanted to convey of this game. It is “Referee robs Tottenham of victory after Lamela brilliance lights up the North London Derby”.

I decided to go with the first one largely because it was true, hurtful to Tottenham (never a bad thing) and because I detest Mourinho’s attempt to manipulate the media – an exercise in which the media (particularly Sky) seem quite complicit. I’m not going to mention Mourinho by name again in this report. He was outcoached today, he managed to get a team including some extremely talented players to be stultifyingly negative and above all… he lost!

Arsenal fans dread this game before it occurs. I’m led to believe S***s fans do too. I had butterflies all afternoon not helped by a poor result in the T20. The stakes are high and pre-match imaginings are always exaggerated. The news that Aubameyang would start from the bench because (as we subsequently found from the Ornacle) he turned up late, again, for a team meeting, was greeted with a mixture of woe and disbelief. It just goes to show that diamond encrusted watches don’t tell the time any better.

Our line-up was similar to the Leeds game and so was our start. Go figure as Scruz and Bt8 might say. Some observations from the selection were that: Luiz really is a fixture in this team; Cedric is really pushing Hector hard for a starting place and Partey and Xhaka is the preferred pivot in midfield. I would guess Arteta really does want to keep Ødegaard.

Our play throughout the first half was generally excellent. We pressed high and energetically, moved the ball well, often with some terrific long passes from side to side – take a bow Luiz and Gabriel and our left flank was exceptionally productive as Tierney and ESR tore them to shreds. I form a lot of my opinions on players based on how much bottle and quality they show in the biggest matches. This game is big because it’s them, not because they are a good side. The first half underlined the fact that they aren’t. Our superiority on the left was largely because Bale couldn’t be arsed to track back, probably pining for the Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro where he does most of his best work… with a five iron. What a shameful performance he gave today, looking utterly ridiculous with his nancified top-knot. This left Docherty unable to stem the raging tide that was Tierney and ESR along the left. I understand we looked at Docherty as a right-back option in the past but decided he wasn’t a good enough defender. We got that one very right on this evidence.

During the first half-hour the game was incredibly one-sided. Our fears about Tottenham cutting us apart on the transition were unfounded because they very rarely had the ball and if they did it was deep in their own half. We moved the ball fluently, quickly and intelligently and waited for the inevitable to happen. Sadly the inevitable wasn’t what we wanted. ESR rapped the post from twenty-five yards and Lacazette was indecisive a couple of times as we switched the ball across goal. Later in the half an ESR cut-back was dummied (or missed ?) by Lacazette and Cedric rattled the post after being pushed off balance by Lucas Moura.

One of their big threats was Son, a regular Nemesis of ours, but he pulled a hammy after about 25 minutes and was replaced by another loathsome Tottenham show pony, Lamela. It was almost inevitable that in their first attack of any substance the ball fell to him to execute his trademark Rabona – trademark because he did it about six years ago (once) and it crept past the unsighted Leno.

Arsenal 0 Tottenham 1 – Lamela (fluke) 33 minutes

I am surprised Sky did not try to extend the half-time break so they could eulogise over it. Hearing other people’s orgasms is never very comfortable (unless you are directly involved in proceedings) and I found myself embarrassed by the ridiculous overhyping by Redknapp, Jones and Dawson.

It was a flashy show-pony’s trick totally against the run of play but we didn’t let it throw us off our stride and after Cédric rattled the post the brilliant Tierney, basking in the balmy 9 degree heat skipped through again on the left and Ødegaard’s effort from his low cross deflected past Lloris – shame

Arsenal 1 Tottenham 1 – Ødegaard 44 minutes

The Norwegian is becoming a machine having scored in our last game and he had a fine half, working hard and intelligently. S***s were incredibly lucky to be on terms at the interval.

The second half was better balanced but we were still well on top. Saka had been replaced at the interval by Pepe (a Fantasy League point dropped for me) and his control and athleticism were to prove decisive. He controlled a Lloris clearance on 64 minutes and immediately found Lacazette in the inside left channel. Lacazette seemed to have sliced his shot (well he did slice his shot) but he was just about to be cleaned out by the useless Sanchez whose flailing leg caught him around the waist. “Penalty!” I cried, and Michael Oliver showed his improvement as a referee by agreeing with me. Lacazette hit a superb low penalty into the right-hand corner to give us the lead.

Arsenal 2 Tottenham 1 – Lacazette (penalty) 64 minutes

As many will know my eldest grandson decided to move to the dark side and he has spent much time showing me rabonas a la Lamela. Apparently even before Lamela’s flukey goal he said to his Dad ( who is responsible for his move to the Scummers) that the Argentinian was heading for a red card. His prediction became reality on 76 minutes when he fended off Tierney high and potentially dangerously and collected a second yellow card after a poor tackle had given him his first. In my opinion Lamela should not be allowed to touch Kieran, he is unworthy and that constitutes a red card in itself in my view.

If we thought that, that was that, (is that enough thats?) we were wrong. It wasn’t that, in fact it was far from that and the butterflies and sweating resurfaced all over the Goonerverse. Kane ( ex- Gooner as Trev reminded us in his excellent preview) decided to carry the rest on his shoulders, was narrowly offside after a headed ‘goal’ and went very close on a couple of occasions. The last fifteen minutes seemed an eternity but we survived and we have the bragging rights in North London. So off you go and brag Holics!

I would praise all our players today but I thought ESR, Ødegaard and Cedric were immense and Tierney was utterly outstanding. I’d like to buy him a replacement Tesco carrier bag for his phone and Ipad as a Thankyou!

If the ‘story’ of this game becomes a referee who gave the game to Arsenal, the media has much to answer for. It should be that a new young progressive coach outthought a biased old has been who will soon oversee an internal implosion which will see his club lose the ground that it gained under Pochettino. As if I could care less.

It’s a good night to be a Gooner !

73 Drinks to “We won. They lost. Get over it Mourinho”

  1. 1
    BtM says:

    Lamela (fluke) 33 mins sums it up magnificently, TTG. But your penultimate paragraph nails it in perfectly.

    Good win. Excellent young coach.

  2. 2
    North Bank Ned says:

    Excellent match report, TTG. Just the right amount of bias, bitchiness and one-sidedness. Perilously close to being balanced, in fact. No fake news in we won; they lost.

  3. 3
    Steve T says:

    Excellent stuff TTG. A great 3 points and it’s always hilarious watching old Maureen whine and whinge at the end. The icing on the cake.

    Going to enjoy watching the highlights on MOTD.

  4. 4
    Trev says:

    That’s a great write up, TTG.

    “Bitchy, biased and one-sided …. “ ? just about perfect then !

    I will use the other alternative title I believe you were alluding to –
    We won. You lost. Fuck off.

    They really have taken on the personality of that preening little prat who sat brooding, soiling one of our plushly upholstered “dugout” seats today. I can’t decide which one I detest most. Kane is a cheat but laziness or lack of fitness rendered him almost irrelevant today; Alle makes me actually.

    cringe; Son was throwing his arms around in anger and disbelief at the walloping they were taking in the first 25 minutes – the boy needs to stretch more becaiall the arm activity pulled his hamstring up five minutes later; but Lamela, oh dear, Lamela – what a thoroughly hateful, snide piece of work.

    Oh yes – you mentioned Gareth Bale. Was he really playing today ? 😳

  5. 5
    North Bank Ned says:

    I said it in the previous drinks, but it bears repeating, Lamela is a nasty piece of work. The number of times he made a tackle and then went through the back of his opponent with his trailing leg merited a red card in itself. Nor was there anything accidental about his karate chop on KT3’s throat.

    Dr F., I was cut off by the chevrons, but your player ratings @113 in the previous drinks were spot on. I agree that Partey needs time to adjust to the Premier League’s pace, just as it took Ødegaard a few games. However, I suspect that he will always look vulnerable to the press — and perhaps more vulnerable than he really is — because of how he tries to glide past players. He doesn’t twist and turn, so his movement is usually towards the press to go through it rather than away from it.

  6. 6
    Trev says:

    Sorry about the typos – fat fingers and iPhone fiddly little keypads … tsk.

  7. 7
    North Bank Ned says:

    Something tells me the Europa League will give us two more NLDs this season.

  8. 8
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Excellent report TTG! I thoroughly enjoyed it. And you are spot on on all counts!

    Sky as unimpressive as ever. Mourinho a whinging, bitching arsehole. And he lost. Hahahahaha!

  9. 9
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    I thought today was an absolute triumph for Arteta.

    He made a big call with Auba. I fully expect the captain to take it on the chin and respond with an excellent attitude. And I think that will galvanise the whole squad.

    Arteta got the tactics spot on. He completely out-coached and out-thought Mourinho. He got the team selection spot on. The players themselves put in an absolute shift, to a man. They were all excellent.

    I think that result is gonna go a long way to adding confidence and conviction to our team. What a fucking brilliant performance and a thoroughly deserved result!

  10. 10
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    The last 15 were a bit dodgy. But i reckon the fatigue of the trip to Greece caught up a little. And the players know as well as we do that they have given away some daft goals recently, so I was not surprised they were a little nervy. Hopefully confidence will improve after they made it through this one. Arteta himself was under no illusions that we saw the game out well. I like his relentless desire to highlight and focus on what we can do better, even on a day when he acknowledges we need to celebrate the victory.

    ESR coming off obviously derailed us a bit but I thought Willian was back to his poor form of a couple of months ago. He lost the ball and, far more worrying, just didn’t look to me like he was putting in the effort. I feel for poor Gabi Martinelli and I hope Arteta has explained to him what the hell is going on better than he has explained it to us. That young man is up there with ESR and Saka as a player we should be building a team around. I hope we are not damaging his relationship with the club by giving him no chance to play. Hopefully this turns out to be a masterstroke and when he does break into the team this weirdly fallow period is seen as one of consolidation that readies him for the sort of minutes Saka has been playing. I bloody well hope so.

  11. 11
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Leno needs to wake up. I don’t wanna dig anyone out after a result like that but I thought he was responsible for the goal we conceded at Olympiacos and today his keeping against Kane’s freekick was very poor. He placed a wall where it unsighted him, then he did not trust it to do its job and began moving accross his goal, then he could not cover the side of the goal he was meant to be covering and it was only the fact that Kane hit the post that prevented us from conceding. That was a really bad bit of keeping. If the Icelandic lad had done it he would be taking pelters from all angles. Or if a defender (let us say Luiz) just let Kane through to shoot he would be getting it in the neck.

    Leno is a top class keeper. I am a huge fan. But he needs to look back at that one and not do that shit again.

  12. 12
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Apart from that poor moment I thought Leno was fine today. Here is a list of players that I thought were excellent:
    Cedric, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierny, Xhaka, Partey (until he tired), ESR, Odegaard, Pepe, Laca.

    Saka looked knackered. Laca got on the list of excellence because of his excellent penalty. Pepe did good and bad things but that pass for Laca changed the game. Moments like that are priceless. The central defenders were quality. Luiz popped up in all sorts of spots creating overloads. Spuds did not know what to do with him. Xhaka is not a guy I have much time for but he put in a shift today and was excellent (still got a stupid yellow but he is who he is)

    ESR my MOTM. An absolute sparking diamond of a player. The fact that I thought he was better than Tierney speaks volumes. I could list on one hand all the things in the Universe that I think are better than Kieran Tierney.

    I am still buzzing!

    Come On You Gooners!

  13. 13
    bt8 says:

    You can have your fucking Rabona. Just give me the three points!

    Cheers, TTG and many thanks for a delightful report.

  14. 14
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Lamela is an absolute twatbasket. He was kicking out at fellow professionals like a little bitch (nothing done by the refs). He was fouling people nastily (it took a few being ignored before he got his first yellow). I let out a tirade of expletives and general abuse at him that last fully 45 seconds without pause or deviation (but with a lot of repetition of the word cunt) when he got his marching orders. The filthy scumbag was soiling our pitch with his cunty spursiness and it has been a long time since I have been so pleased to see the back of an opposition player. He thoroughly deserved to be sent off, and to lose. He has played 250 times for that band of wankpuppets and that says a lot about them and him. Like jizz and an old sports sock, festering in the corner, stinking up the gaff with their basketball-balancing-cockery.

    Fuck Spurs. Fuck Lamela. Fuck Mourinho. And fuck Spurs.

  15. 15
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Every time they show that Rabona down the years and we have to watch the gushy orgasms or pundits and Spuds (great lines from TTG re the Sky circle-jerk) I will laugh at the fact it counted for nothing and the cunt got himself sent off. Hahahaha!

  16. 16
    TTG says:

    MOTD had me screaming at the telly .
    If you cut across an opponent and b4ing him to the ground whether he has played the ball or not it is utterly reckless . If that hadn’t been given as a penalty it would have been utterly wrong . Also look at why Cédric hits the post and doesn’t score in the first half . It was because he is pushed off balance , in the penalty area, by Moura. That is a penalty in my book .
    Lamela was cruising for a booking from the moment he came on as Keiwn said .He could have been booked before he scored in the first half. His first tackle is out of control and dangerous , the Tierney push is a yellow all day long .
    In my report I omitted the excellent clearance at the death from Gabriel . He is shaping to be a top-class centre back. And expect a new contract for Luiz. He is the voice of experience that is very much what Arteta wants on the pitch

  17. 17
    Bathgooner says:

    Masterful, TTG. Take a bow, sir.

  18. 18
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    TTG. I’m watching MOTD now. They are as full of shite as usual. But I honestly could not care less. The penalty stands. The goal stands. We won.

    Fuck Spurs

  19. 19
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Jenas is being a twat. He is disagreeing with the first Lamela yellow whilst MOTD fail to show replays of his sly kick outs at our players, or the other fouls he committed that might well have been yellows. Disingenuous at best. The bloke deserve a red card and there are not two ways about it.

    I love how upset Jenas is. That result hurt.

  20. 20
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    On a rewatch that Gabriel clearance is excellent. And the ball from Pepe is devastating.

    As I’ve said before, as long as we cut his pay then I’d be perfectly happy to see Luiz stay next year.

  21. 21
    TTG says:

    Spurs have now led in seven of the last 10 North London Derbies in the Premier League at Arsenal , and won none of them. The year before that run started they did manage to win there, having led for precisely five minutes in that game and trailed for 58.

  22. 22
    Uplympian says:

    A most enjoyable match report TTG. Your emotions on what it means to mash the spuds is most evocatively put with the added delight of showing up the odious one to what he is – a plain & simple toss-pot maximus.

  23. 23
    North Bank Ned says:

    Gentlemen of England (and those from the parts of the Scottish persuasion), turn the sound off when you are watching games on Sky. It will do your sanity no end of good.

    I often watch our games on a Serbo-Croat channel. It is a language of which I know only one phrase, ‘zuti karton’, and that picked up from watching the games. Not understanding what the commentators and pundits are saying only improves my enjoyment of the game.

  24. 24
    scruzgooner says:

    yeah, fuck spurs. ha! great report, ttg; too bad they can’t all be such a pleasure to read (or to write).

    i haven’t laughed so hard, when lamela was sent off. cunt.

    gsd@14, tell us what you really feel 😉

    it’s a beautiful day to appreciate how the red of north london casts an impenetrable shadow over the odious, excrable moaningho…

  25. 25
    Osakamatt says:

    Great report TTG.
    Fuck ‘em. We won.
    Didn’t comment during as I must
    admit to uncharacteristically
    feeling doomy through most of
    the game but now 🥳🥳🥳🥳

  26. 26
    Las says:

    Thanks TTG, I enjoyed your report as much as our win.
    Great game and excellent performances from all over the team.
    I hope Martinelli is coming back with a bang.
    What a gorilla team is this S***s, like the good old Bolton under Allardyce

  27. 27
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Great report TTG! Summarized the game perfectly and that’s exactly how the LWCs should be written about.

    Ned — totally agree with you about Partey. He will have to add a few more tricks to his game to make him more reliably impervious to the close press.

    Based on what I hear from those of you subjected to the BBC/Sky commentary — I think the NBC Sports commentators as well as the studio team here in US are more balanced even though now and then we will have to hear one of the plonkers especially ex-small team players. Today Arlo White and Lee Dixon (the best commentator by far now) were spot on. As were the studio analysts.

    Jose got schooled as they say nowadays. 🙂 Completely outthought, outcoached and outplayed. Tierney and ESR destroyed that left side (let us not forget that their prodigal son was ambling around on that side as well) like they were a pub team. If not for Laca’s alarming profligacy we would have had a couple of more goals by the half time, even ignoring the crackers from ESR and Cedric hitting the bard. ESR’s shot was an absolute beauty. That first touch, technique, the dip and the speed … that is what football is about. 🙂 Much more impressive than the one in a million chance of a fluke rabona.

    There were a few negative aspects to our performance as others have pointed out — GSD, agreed about Leno’s surprising positioning and reaction to the free-kick, unlike him — but not a day to focus on those.

    Ødegaard — just like ESR — is a true modern footballer. Always defensively turned on, always on the move, and plays to the strengths of his teammates. What a coup it would be if we can manage to get him for the long term.

    I have no problem accepting that I am definitely a little biased in favor of Pépé. He always produces a moment or two of absolute quality, and gets us goals. He used to be inconsistent and with a tendency to tune out now and then but in both aspects he has made significant improvements in recent months and I for one want to see more of him consistently. His pass to Laca was magnificent in its vision, precision and speed. He did his defensive duties well enough.

    I am sure there is a master plan brewing with Gabigoal and he will soon be unleashed on tiring defenses in England and Europe. I realized Willian was brought on today to replace a tiring ESR to give more technical and defensive security. IMHO, Gabi would have done a better job of providing defensive support to KT and wouldn’t have allowed their midfield that much time on the ball as we did in the last ten minutes, and would have made that extra man advantage really count by forcing them backfoot and pressing them into mistakes. Hopefully we will see him soon…

  28. 28
    Osakamatt says:

    before the game I mentioned that
    I don’t like seeing ESR on the left.
    shockingly, MA was right and I was
    completely wrong😃
    He had a great game.
    Curious to see who starts at RB
    against Olympiacos as I think
    Cedric may actually be first choice
    now.

  29. 29
    Tapera Doma says:

    Help me out folks on the penalty decision. I get that Laca shanked the ball, but Davinson fouled right after that. Now, am I wrong in thinking that, Davinson fouled him, & the foul happened to be in the penalty box and as such it was a penalty? Or maybe to put it somewhat differently – lets say the ball was in the Arsenal half going towards our goal & then Lloris, Laca & Davinson were in the Tottenham penalty box, where Davinson proceeded to foul Laca, would a penalty be called in such a case?
    Thank you for educating me.

    TD

  30. 30
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    It took about 5 seconds from when I woke up this morning to when I thought “YES! We beat those cunts yesterday!”

    It is a good day folks. I bet Dave had a load of celebratory Guinness yesterday and that there are no hangovers in heaven.

    I had to avoid a hangover by the simpler expedient of not drinking. I’m almost regretting NOT being hungover now. I shall make the most of the fact that I appear to be able to float today!

  31. 31
    OsakaMatt says:

    It was an obvious penalty and I assume Maureen is just deflecting from a very poor performance. To be honest I thought the spuds were lucky to finish with 10 men.
    The constant fouling of Saka is really starting to piss me off as well.
    Apart from that it was a good day😁

  32. 32
    Noosa Gooner says:

    I understand that Lamela may be inbred.
    Has he ever played a game against us when he didn’t receive at least a yellow card?
    Spuds – forever in our shadow, even when it’s raining.
    UTA.

  33. 33
    TTG says:

    Welcome TD
    The oddest penalty I’ve ever seen was when the ball was in the Arsenal half and the Arsenal goalkeeoer ( a bloke called Bob Wilson) fouled the Palace striker Bobby Tambling . It was in 1970 so my recollection is hazy but the referee deemed the foul to have been committed irrespective of where play was. Let’s imagine yesterday that Sanchez’s challenge significantly injured Lacazette. Are we to then say that it was not a punishable offence because the ball had gone . He could be sent off for the foul so a penalty could be given . If a defender punches someone at a corner before the kick is taken that is a penalty ( or should be ) but the ball is not in play .
    Like GSD I enjoyed the discomfort of Jermaine Jenas on MOTD and I hoped he and Keown might role play the incident for us. Anyone who saw Keown play would know he was about the hardest defender Arsenal have ever had . I wish I could produce Match if tge Day I’d make it much more interactive !
    But to your point TD I think it was a reckless challenge and my immediate reaction was that it was a oenalty. And I’m not remotely biased!

  34. 34
    Countryman100 says:

    That was a great report TTG. Like you say we all hate this fixture, but when we win, the joy is unconfined. I think that’s three excellent performances this season, Man United, Chelsea and now this. The Croydon de Bruyne was quite brilliant. I’m liking our little Norwegian via Madrid loaner more and more.

    I see that the reason Auba was late is because he was stuck in traffic on Muswell Hill Broadway. Rookie error. Should have gone further East and come in via Hackney. Avoid Muswell Hill and Highgate on a match day.

  35. 35
    BtM says:

    @23 – Ned, I watch on Sky but listen to the Arsenal.com commentary. It runs up to 15 secs slower but, peculiarly, I find that I agree with every word spoken there. Adrian Clarke’s half-time breakdown chats are infinitely better than the sh*te served up by Redknap and co.

    Give it a try.

  36. 36
  37. 37
    North Bank Ned says:

    OM@28: Cedric probably is the first choice right-back now. Given he was signed to a four-year contract when he was crocked and had barely played a game when he was on loan, the stats or the scouting must have indicated that he had a long-term future with the club. If Bellerin is indeed off this summer, it would make sense for him to be phased out of the PL team and Cedric to play regularly. We may see Hector only in EL games from here on in.

  38. 38
    North Bank Ned says:

    btm@35: I will give that a try. I do watch Adrian Clarke’s post-match breakdowns, which are usually pretty sensible and thoughtful.

  39. 39
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Thanks Countryman for the link — great analysis.

    Agree with almost everything except for the hope of selling Martinelli to raise funds for rebuild while at the same time looking for more killer strikers … Gabi can be that sensational killer striker. He can play on the left as well as centrally, and as he showed last season he really can finish including surprisingly crafty headed goals. A teenager to score ten goals in half a season in his first year of senior football is a rare achievement. He is a far better player than Eddie, much more ready than Balogun, and in my (most likely controversial) opinion will do a better job than Laca now that Laca doesn’t need to drop deep to play the half-playmaker role. Give him a try centrally as an alternative option to Auba and see most defenses don’t know how to handle that combination of pressing, technical quality and finishing.

  40. 40
    North Bank Ned says:

    C100@36: Thanks for sharing the link. Sound analysis from Mike McDonald. Interesting thought about Ødegaard playing deeper and replacing one of the double pivots, although I would worry that we would lose some defensive protection in front of the back four.

  41. 41
    Countryman100 says:

    Since 12 months ago, Saka has continued his climb into the stratosphere, ESR has had his breakthrough but two players, Martinelli and Reiss Nelson have plunged in reputation and playing minutes. Why is this? What is Arteta seeing at Colney that we are not? We need to beware judging Gabi on the form of last season. In the few minutes he has had this season he has looked much less effective. Has the injury had something to do with it? It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

  42. 42
    Countryman100 says:

    Just watched MOTD. I could barely understand Jenas his bottom lip was quivering so much. Loved Keown’s “yeah you might be right but who gives a stuff!”

  43. 43
    North Bank Ned says:

    C100@42: Jenas’s piece on the BBC would appear to reveal a man suffering traumatic loss and the psychological scars of betrayal.

    Potentially, with the way [Spurs} had started playing, I had thought this season could be unbelievable. Then, one performance later, I am left thinking that, no, it was all a lie.

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56393306

  44. 44
    Osakamatt says:

    I wouldn’t want to sell Gabi either
    but we have to do something as he
    needs to play – I imagine a loan this
    summer is the obvious option.

  45. 45
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Personally I think the obvious option with Gabi is to play him. I agree with Doc @39

    And I’m still basking.

  46. 46
    North Bank Ned says:

    ESR and Nketiah selected by England for the U-21 Euros at the end of the month. Happy for Eddie to get some competitive games but we might be better served by ESR’s legs getting a rest. If he plays in England’s final game on Wednesday evening, he won’t have much recovery time before the Liverpool game on the Saturday.

  47. 47
    North Bank Ned says:

    And that includes getting back from Slovenia.

  48. 48
    North Bank Ned says:

    Gabi’s absence is a mystery. He isn’t playing for the U-23s and has mostly been sitting on the first team bench since coming back from his knee injury. What is it that we don’t know?

  49. 49
    Trev says:

    Here’s my attempt to explain the penalty decision if anyone is really still struggling – like the “experts” on the telly, for example –

    Foul
    Penalty area
    Penalty kick.

    Anyone still struggling ?

  50. 50
    Trev says:

    To Jenas @43 –

    It always is, old son – it always is …….

  51. 51
    North Bank Ned says:

    Trev@50: 🙂

  52. 52
    Goonersince54 says:

    Excellent summary TTG
    It’s a long time since I’ve seen Spurs play so badly in the NLD at our place.
    But that’s on Maureen.
    Much better to bask in the warm glow of an excellent all round performance, the last 10 minutes excepted.
    In a pivotal 10 day period from last Thursday to next Sunday, we are 2 from 2, still a work in progress, but like a stripper at a Gentleman’s Only Club, we are slowly revealing more and more glimpses of what we have so far only hinted at, and if we can continue on this upward journey, then as supporters we have much to look forward to.

  53. 53
    TTG says:

    I like your imagery Clive!
    Not that I’ve ever been to such places of course.
    I trust my email arrived with you?

  54. 54
    bt8 says:

    Re: OM @31, “The constant fouling of Saka is really starting to piss me off as well.”

    Best to move right along to the utter rage stage right away, BEFORE these cunts do serious damage to Saka’s feet, ankles, legs and other appertainances. 😤😡🤯

  55. 55
    North Bank Ned says:

    I can’t remember if I read it here or elsewhere but the description of the neighbours as a relegation team with good strikers seems on the money. But at least the blame does not fall on the Special Moan. If only Levy would buy him the players he wants, the players he has turn up and referees and VAR stop throwing the games for the opposition, then his true genius would be laid bare for all to see. Oh…

  56. 56
    Osakamatt says:

    I think it was in the Gunnerstown link
    Ned.

  57. 57
    North Bank Ned says:

    Thanks, OM.

    It all blends into one after a while…

  58. 58
    bt8 says:

    Jenas doesn’t seem overjoyed.
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56393306
    🤣

  59. 59
    OsakaMatt says:

    I can understand that, Jenas thinks it wasn’t a penalty and Lámela was unlucky to get two yellow cards. If you’re that much of a fucking idiot life will never be that happy.

  60. 60
    OsakaMatt says:

    Out of curiosity I checked the most fouled player list for this season.
    Saka is sixth with 52. Grealish is top with a hundred, then a big gap to
    Mane with 64. Zaha with 63, McGinn and Traore with 59, Eze with 56.

  61. 61
    Countryman100 says:

    If you want to read TTG’s devastating takedown of Lamela try this in the Online Gooner

    https://www.onlinegooner.com/articles/view/5672

  62. 62
    bt8 says:

    Garth Crooks’ bbc column is worth a read on this particular occasion but here’s the highlight:
    “ Emile Smith Rowe caused Spurs untold problems down their left-hand side along with his accomplice Kieran Tierney. Two of the youngest players on the pitch showing the greatest desire.

    Did you know? Smith Rowe created four chances for Arsenal in Sunday’s north London derby – more than all of the Spurs players combined (three). He also became the youngest player to create four or more chances in a Premier League north London derby since Cesc Fabregas created six in April 2007.”

  63. 63
    North Bank Ned says:

    C100: Thanks for the link to TTG’s piece about Lamela’s septennial ‘trademark’ and perennial fouling. Sky pundits being objective is as likely as turkeys embracing Thanksgiving.

    I was at that Fairs Cup match against Dinamo Bacau TTG mentions. A clear but cold March mid-week evening, as I recall. The Romanians were just taken apart. It was a good few days as we’d beaten Liverpool at Highbury the previous Saturday.

  64. 64
    Osakamatt says:

    thanks C100, TTG
    An enjoyable read with impeccable
    conclusions. Fortunately it’s been
    many years since I’ve listened to a
    sky pundit and fingers crossed it
    will be many more into the future.
    It would be much better if Sky told
    them before the game “if you talk
    nonsense we won’t pay you”

  65. 65
    bt8 says:

    Big matches in the promotion battle this evening for Swansea and Brentford with the table looking like this:
    P W D L GD Pts
    2. Watford 36 20 9 7 23 69
    3. Swansea 35 20 9 6 20 69
    4. Brentford 35 19 9 7 26 66

  66. 66
    bt8 says:

    Watford are playing too but I wouldn’t mind seeing them stay down.

  67. 67
    bt8 says:

    Although Watford do have a player named Zinckernagel. Always a plus.

  68. 68
    bt8 says:

    Hope nobody minds if I mention the alliterative triple represented by the names of Watford’s first half scorers: Sierralta, Sarr, Sema

    I’m still hoping they stay down though, and Swansea or Brentford go up.

  69. 69
    bt8 says:

    Swansea 1-0 down but Brentford 2-0 up

  70. 70
    bt8 says:

    Ah well. Watford pick up two points on Brentford and probably three points on Swansea. At least the latter two still have a game in hand on the Team of Deeney.

  71. 71
    bt8 says:

    More interesting than the Champions League anyway.

  72. 72
    bt8 says:

    I thought anyway but some may (or not) beg to differ.

  73. 73
    Bathgooner says:

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>