When I put my hand up to write this one, I could hardly have hoped that we would find ourselves in such a strong position by the time it rolled round. We really are flying and, despite a recent run of three 1-0 victories which haven’t been uniformly wonderful, we keep coming away with three points, which is a great habit to get into.
At some point this bubble will burst. Sorry folks, but 13 victories from 14 matches played this term is not the sort of form that lasts forever.
The question is when though?
And are Southampton currently looking like the side to draw some of the rosiness from our cheeks?
At first glance the answer appears to be negative. They have 11 points from 11 games, and in their last game, a 1-0 victory of their own against Bournemouth, they took a much needed three points for the first time since they turned Chelsea over 2-1 at the end of August.
This has eased the sort of lazy chatter about Hasenhuttl’s job that seems to buzz around any Premier League manager whose team are going through a rough patch, such is the turnover rate these days. As Stevie G finds himself the goose in this particular circle of sitting ducks, Mr Rabbit Hutch himself will be grateful that few visitors to St Mary’s arrive in such formidable form as the Mighty Arsenal.
Southampton
Apparently, they are without ex-Spud Kyle Walkers-Peters, who has a hamstring injury. The BBC also tells me that Romeo Lavia is back in training but not ready to feature in a match. Coincidentally, the same player does not feature anywhere in my little grey cells either – I’ve no idea who the bloke is. Wherefore art thou Romeo? Indeed.
They will have James Ward-Prowse and his excellent deliveries to feed off, so we will have to be disciplined in our tackling and defending of the set pieces that they will inevitably win and whip into the box. Hoping to provide rescue and recovery for a team who have played most of the season with the handbrake on will be the AAA attack of Adams, Armstrong and Aribo: Hard working players who are solid at this level, but perhaps not as fearsome as some strike forces we will play this season. If only the Saints had been successful in their pursuit of Cody Gakpo, he would be just the sort of player who could damage us. Oh! Wait. What? Never mind.
The young keeper Bazunu impressed me when I saw him play a few weeks ago, but he is still very raw at this level. Caleta-Car was signed from Marseille and made his second start in central defence last time out, and he will probably continue there, especially as Bella-Kotchap (who has been getting good reviews all season and earned a Germany call up) is out with a shoulder injury.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been playing in central midfield next to JW-P, so they will have to find a replacement as I assume he is ineligible to play against us.
The Arsenal
There is nothing much new on the injuries front, so it seems we have a full squad to choose from, although Zinchenko might be available – Arteta was typically coy on the subject. After his recent comments when asked about how much he plays Saka, I assume we can expect him to start. I also assume that Arteta will secretly consider him lazy for only playing one position on the pitch. You see the top, top players? They play centre back and right-wing in the same match and they are constantly banging on my door, asking for the raw entrails of their shredded victims to feed on. That’s the sort of hunger the gaffer wants to see at Arsenal.
I’ll take a punt on this:
Rambo
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomi
Partey, Xhaka
Saka, Ødegaard, Gabi
Jesús
I’ve got a feeling that at some point KT3 will start on the left side of defence and Tomi will get a Prem start at right back with White given a breather. And, when fit, Zinchenko will be back in the rotation too. Arteta trusts all his options in these positions, so I’m not worried about this area, but it is the only place where I’m not sure what he will do. Right now, if he changes any other personnel, it would be a surprise.
Vieira looks closest to nabbing a starting berth, but he has showed so far this season that he has work to do on his fitness and his attitude and intensity when it comes to the press, as TTG alluded to in his report of Thursday night’s win over PSV. The new lad has plenty of time to improve on these things but, coupled with his tendency to drift out of games, which is the very opposite approach taken by our perennially involved captain, the Norwegian does not have any more pressure on his place than Eddie puts on Gabriel Jesus. An able back-up, but not more than that at the moment.
The holics’ pound
As we all know, there are only tough games at this level and any team is capable of punishing a lack of focus – we got turned over at St Mary’s last year and it cost us. However, one of the most gratifying aspects of our current run is the intention and commitment we are showing in every match. We are a much more robust proposition than we have been for a long time, which was even true during a second half against Leeds when we defended doggedly despite being unable to string three passes together when we got the ball back.
So, I expect us to take another three points from a tight game against a side who will be working hard not to give us any encouragement. I am going to go with an optimistic 2-0 win, including both a clean sheet and a two goal winning margin, which our recent excellent form keeps down to a meagre 7/1 from William Hill.
It is a tough one to call though. Gabriel Jesús will probably feel that he should have a couple more goals to his name so far this season, and if he gets his shooting boots on tomorrow it could be more comfortable. That said, this could be a cagey affair and I’d be happy with another win by a single goal that would keep our momentum up and see us successfully navigate another away day fixture.
Whatever happens in the match, we will end it on top of the Premier League. We have earned that position. Now we have to keep earning it.
Enjoy the game, wherever you are.
Have a good one ‘holics.
Thanks GSD,
I’m thinking 1-0 but hoping that Jesus does indeed find it in himself to defrock some Saints and snag a couple of goals for himself.
UTA.
gsd! rabbit hutch! thank you!
as for the fine preview i’ll have to get past that with continued reading…
Cheers GSD ! Excellent preview, nice comedy touches, lots of information on players none of us, including you, have ever heard of – what’s not to love ?! 👍🏻👍🏻
A fine preview GSD. This has not been a happy ground for us in the last few years. The forecast says that it could be pouring down at 2pm tomorrow. Wonder if that might level things up. Can we do it on a wet afternoon by the Solent?
sitting in The Armoury waiting on that new arsenal fan, finally finished your fine preview, gsd, which fulfilled all its early promise.
any score for an arsenal win with a clean sheet and no injuries, please. i agree jesús needs to rise and ascend into goal scoring leadership again.
my new home shirt will have “gabigol” and “11” on the back 🙂
A very level-headed preview, GSD. This game definitely falls into the potential banana-skin category, but as you say, we have more about us now to be able to avoid such calamities.
A very balanced and insightful preview GSD! I think your team is spot on and will remain so in the league until Zinchenko recovers from injury.
Last few matches the team had shown a kind of resilience and winning know-how that are often associated with the very best. We are not in the very-best category but I see no harm in being optimistic that one day soon enough we will evolve to become one such team. Hopefully we are seeing a great team being formed in front of our eyes …
At the end of this punishing schedule until the start of the World Cup we will have a clearer idea of how far the team progressed this season. This away match I think is a crucial one to keep the momentum going.
Come on Arsenal!
Forest slipping a banana skin under ‘Pool. A warning for tomorrow.
Cheers GSD on a previewbothbexcellent and great. 😀
Another fine, well researched preview with a sensibly cautious prediction, GSD.
I think KT3 will regain his LB starting position and Tomi may regain his RB starting position as well. Otherwise the team selects itself.
I have been so repetitively scarred by Arsenal sides in good form being turned over at St Mary’s by toiling Southampton sides that I share your difficulty in predicting this one other than the observation that, given our current position and our history there, it’s a banana skin of gargantuan proportions. Any kind of win, by hook or by crook, is essential to maintaining our momentum and confidence. Just do it, Arsenal!
GSD
A top-quality preview , many thanks. A very rude reply flashed into my head when you asked about Lavia but I am above cheap and smutty responses .
Southampton have beaten us more often than I had recalled at St.Mary’s and it will be a tough game . As I watched on Thursday it was clear to me that we are now a very good team, albeit one walking on eggshells if certain players get injured . I think your team is spot-on and I will be surprised if it’s wrong in any respect .I also think your suggested score looks very feasible and it would be nice for Jesus to notch both .
Looking at Auba as I write he has not improved any on the frustrating and error-prone player we saw last year . We are so much better off with our Brazilian no 9. I think he will be smiling tomorrow
Perfect results for us today with Liverpool, Chelsea and Man Utd all dropping points. Gotta win tomorrow to make them pay and stretch that lead!
C100@12: Amen to that.
Big game tomorrow. Here’s a piece on Vieira you might have missed:
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11096/12725965/fabio-vieira-the-rebellious-wonder-kid-now-plying-his-trade-in-the-premier-league-at-arsenal
C100 at 12: there’s an elephant from Abu Dhabi in the room there.
Cheers GSD. I’m wary about this game. Deep down I fear no better than a 1-1 but I will go for a hard-fought 2-1 to the Arsenal.
Excellent preview, GSD. With Ward-Prowse they always have a threat and their forwards too as you note. I think we’ll be fine today as I just don’t see them matching our intensity. Very wet in the south with more rain forecast which means they can’t use the old lack of watering of the grass ploy to mitigate our slick passing.
On another note, safe travels back home to Scruz and Mrs S. it was a pleasure to meet you and chew the fat in person.
Nice day , All.
COYG.
Thanks GSD for a informative & witty review.
My Saints supporting / season ticket holder neighbour has a low view on their prospects this time round – their current best player (Kyle Peters-Walker) is injured and of course AMN cannot play as per loan rules. We are due a result at St Mary’s – Jesus should impart his authority over the Saints with a goal or two. I like your 2-0 prediction.
COYRRR
Cheers all.
We’ve got good results in the last 3 matches, but we could really do with a good performance today. That should take care of the result.
UTA!
Cheers for the link bt8. I had missed that, and it’s good to get a bit more of a sense of a player I don’t know well yet.
Today’s team is as per GSD’s prescient preview. Hope result follows on too!
Arsenal
1Ramsdale
4White
12Saliba
6Gabriel
18Tomiyasu
5Partey
34Xhaka
7Saka
8Ødegaard
11Martinelli
9Gabriel Jesus
Substitutes
3Tierney
14Nketiah
16Holding
17Cédric Soares
21Ferreira Vieira
23Sambi Lokonga
24Nelson
27Oliveira Alencar
30Turner
I never get the team right. I don’t know how that has happened.
I’m a bit spooked!
Zinchenko is still off games. He’s missed more games than he has played.
COYG
They might try to strongarm us.
At least, a lot of their players are called Armstrong 😜
COYG
Superb start. Great tempo. Lovely goal but should have had two more.
We need to score again because this referee is frighteningly erratic and will give them a penalty at the drop of a hat and could well wave another yellow at Saka for the temerity of having so much skill that the only way to stop him is to foul him.
Jesus needs to start scoring goals.
He’s a long way off getting bucket loads this season
Unfortunately ‘deep down’ was right. Still think we should have had two (or is that three) penalties. Second halves a problem though.
A distinct lack of steam towards the end of that game. We looked tired in leg and mind, and we never really adjusted to their switch to a back five.
The yellow for Saka was plain poor refereeing, as was allowing Caleta-Car to manhandle Jesus all game with impunity.
A very disappointing result after a dynamic, high energy start with an excellent goal and several more gilt edged chances that should have seen us at least 2-3 goals up at HT. As in the Leeds game the drop off in energy, attacking ideas and technique in the second half was alarming and a worrying harbinger of what may happen later in the season unless we strengthen our firepower and midfield strength. The drop off in creativity and security when either Øde or Partey are out, off form or subbed is massive. Neither Vieira nor Sambi are adequate replacements this season. Perhaps, in future but if we are to finish top four this season we will need to upgrade those backups.
And THAT referee??? I’m astonished that he didn’t take the opportunity to give a pen and a red card when Gabriel’s head collided with a Southampton head and a red when Jesús’ head got in the way of that thug’s nod.
I have got no idea how a penalty wasn’t given by the ref for the first one. I’ve even less idea how VAR didn’t rectify his clear and obvious error. I just don’t understand.
There were 2 more that looked like penalties to me when they happened, but my TV coverage did not show a replay of either, so it’s hard to say.
Definitely an unimpressive performance from the ref. If he had done his job we would probably have won the game.
However, we did not make the most of plenty of chances, and in the second half we lost discipline with our passing. And completely failed to track the runner for their goal. We were half a second behind the play for the last 30 mins, with lots of tired looking players.
Eddie and KT3 are not a strong left side together, so I don’t like that substitution. Jesus needs to get scoring again.
A point away at Southampton is not a disaster, and we are top of the league, so that’s all good.
We’ve just got to make sure we get back to winning ways straight away. And I hope Edu has his eyes on the transfer window, as we are short of a midfielder and a wide forward.
Anyway, UTA!
31, 32, 33…fully agree!
30 too to be fair, don’t want Ned to feel left out.
Indeed you don’t, Ollie. 🙂
Just to ease our disappointment at today’s draw, that lot up the road do their best to cheer as up, as they do so often. The important thing now is how we respond to today’s bump in the road.
Yep. If it weren’t for Abu Dhabi, this weekend’s result were pretty good overall even with a frustrating draw.
Big few weeks before the World Cup now.
Makes me feel better listening to that.
I’ve seen some criticism of Jesus for not scoring enough goals. Ideally we’d like to see him getting more but he has been a great leader of the attack this season.Today a totally inadequate referee failed to give him adequate protection and his movement was brilliant
TTG@40: Well said. Caleta-Car could have used grappling hooks to restrain Jesus today and still not gotten a peep out of the referee.
That all said, we should have scored more than one in the first half; not for the first time, we failed to turn dominance into goals and paid the price in the second half.
>>>>>>>