It has been more than 12 years since Arsène Wenger had publicly raised certain concerns about the financial mechanics of squad building of our opponent this weekend. A lot has happened in the world of football since then, but his questions have remained unanswered. And true to the profound capacity of the human race to become complacently well adjusted to any new reality, we all seem to have become inured to a kind of unfairness that should strike as deeply antagonistic to what is considered to be the inviolable spirit of all sporting competitions.
Against such a backdrop of heavily tilted landscape, this young Arsenal team’s assured march – characterized by a joyful élan that carries within itself the promises of a memorable future – into the center stage is all the more impressive. Since the start of the new year, Arsenal’s Premier League results have been nearly as eye catching as the performances: 5-0 (h), 1-2 (a), 3-1 (h), 0-6 (a), 0-5 (a), 4-1 (h), 0-6 (a), 2-1 (h) – eight consecutive victories, with a positive goal difference of 29 (33-4). In the four away games the goal difference is 18 (19-1).
Statisticians – or Ned’s monks, if they feel like spending a minute or two away from their scholarly pursuits in the lesser pleasures of remembrance – will be able to confirm or refute my claim, but I feel that no team in PL history has ever gone through an eight game streak quite like that. I won’t say in the history of English football, for I have learnt over the years (again, thanks often to those aforementioned monks and their flawless memories) that however outrageous a piece of footballing statistics might appear, English football in its rich history has already seen everything. :–)
Historically unmatched or not, these results have propelled Arsenal to the top of the premier league table, with ten games to go, helping them to recover from their Christmas time malaise, and maybe equally importantly have inculcated a degree of self-belief and confidence that are as important an ingredient for success as the quality of football in this final stretch of the seasonal marathon. Last season, around these days of early Spring Arsenal’s title challenge started to collapse as an injury depleted, inexperienced squad could no longer keep up with the physical and emotional rigors, while a more generously lubricated machine sprinted expectedly away to the finish line.
Manchester City, contrary to what some football commentators have been saying, I find is no less of a team compared to last season. There have been some changes in their squad, but the overall quality, depth, variety are as strong as ever, and if anything there is just a bit more nous about when and how to time the season defining performances. The fact that both Arsenal and Liverpool are fighting with them in such a tight race to the top says a lot more about those two teams’ unique strengths – different though those are from each other’s – and I think whatever the league table may end up looking like at the end of the season, Arteta’s Arsenal is on an upward trajectory and is on a journey that we fans find it a privilege to be part of.
Our recent results against City in the league have been wretched to say the least, especially since Guardiola took over. Arteta – since he left Pep’s coaching team to return to his beloved club – has not kept it a secret how much he considers the level of City as the bar his young squad must aspire to, calling the current City even ‘best of all times’. Somewhere in that mixture of true admiration and hyperbole meant as inspiration to the team, there is also a detectable hint of his fiercely competitive spirit. One of his most admirable qualities – at least to this scribe – is his relentless pursuit of excellence, and not settling for being second best to any one. And, however respectful he might be to his friend and mentor, one suspects that defeating the most decorated manager in football history to the league championship will bring him an extra measure of satisfaction.
Arsenal has already beaten City twice this season already – at the curtain raiser of Community Shield in August, albeit on penalties, and then in a fiercely competitive 1-0 home win in the league in October – and a victory away at City this Sunday will bring us our first league double against them since the 2007-08 season, when a solitary Fabregas goal gave us a 1-0 home win in August, and later in February Eduardo and Adebayor combined for a 1-3 win away. Our last away win at City came in the January of the 2014/15 season, when a Santi Cazorla masterclass earned us a memorable 2-0 victory with Giroud adding to Santi’s early goal scored from penalty. Arteta, the new club captain for the season, was absent from the matchday squad due to the injuries which plagued his last couple of seasons at Arsenal.
It appears that we have been able to avoid any injury scares in the last international break – and let us hope it remains so for the rest of the season. However, it is not clear if any of the three injury-enforced absentees from their respective national teams – Saka, Martinelli, and Gabriel – are fit enough to play this weekend. Mikel, as is his wont, gave nothing away in his pre-match interview. All three are, when fully fit, guaranteed starters in a match of this importance, and one suspects not all of them will start this match on the bench. Before the international break Martinelli’s injury was likely the most severe one, and his position is also likely the one that can be most effectively compensated by either Jesùs or Trossard.
Zinchenko and Kiwior – our two first choice left backs – both must have returned energized from the internationals by their respective nation’s successful qualification play-off campaigns to participate in this summer’s Euros. Whereas Kiwior played each minute of Poland’s two matches, the Ukrainian captain was substituted after 76 minutes in their first match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, whereas he didn’t even appear until the 64th minute against Iceland in the second match – Ukraine winning both by 2-1 after conceding the first goal. The fact that in a match of that importance Zinchenko was not considered fit enough to start, indicates that he will likely not be risked by Arteta this weekend, especially given Kiwior’s good form for both club and country, and given the packed schedule ahead.
Another key decision for Arteta about the starting eleven would be whether to play Rice – joining over the international break the ranks of great Arsenal luminaries who have also captained the English national team – in a deeper #6 role, or start Jorginho there and play Rice as the left sided #8, a position where he has really started to flourish on both sides of the game. Jorginho’s technical savvy and ability to control the tempo may be a great asset in an away match of this importance.
Kai Havertz carried his superb goalscoring form for Arsenal to his national team, and I think his clever hybrid positioning, physicality and his rediscovered calmness in front of goal makes him a more natural starter in the center of the forward line in this match. Especially so if Martinelli is not fit enough to start, with Jesùs bringing more of the full-throttle relentlessness on the left. If Tomiyasu and White are both fit and ready, Ben is likely to start on the right, and the versatile Tomi can be relied upon to sub any of the four defensive roles later in the game if necessary or, if we are winning comfortably, even to offer an extra presence to see out the match.
My predicted starting line-up:
Raya
White – Saliba – Gabriel – Kiwior
Ødegaard – Jorginho – Rice
Saka – Havertz – Jesùs
This does feel like one of those season defining matches that brings with it the weight of expectations as much as anxieties of imponderables. However, pragmatically speaking, whatever the result of this match, we will still be very well placed in the league table, with nine more games to go. A win will of course be fantastic, but a draw would be a very good result as well. A loss on the scoreline may feel unrecoverable, especially immediately after the match when easy narratives of foregone conclusions are bandied about liberally in the punditry saturated media, but I think as long as the team plays to its true potential and learns from the experience, this is a match from which we can only grow forward.
Enjoy the game everyone!
Come on Arsenal!
Thanks Dr F, an excellent preview of a very big game. I agree with you that a draw would be fine (giving us 4 points out of 6 against both Liverpoo & 115ty this season) and to me it is cheatchester who have the more pressure this time. I also feel more confident this season than last, and will go for a classic 3-2 to The Arsenal.
Your side looks about right, though it’s hard to tell with the injuries. If fit Gabi M will start I believe, but we have Leo and Gabi J if not and I am happy with either of them.
A masterfully thought out and executed preview Dr. F., lifting my expectations even higher than their already sky-high levels. Speaking of masterfully, MA8 is presently fine tuning just such a game plan. Can’t wait to see what he has come up with tactically. COYG
Nice one Dr F
This is lovely. When I lived just off Blackstock Road in the early 80s my local was the Bank of Friendship, a very Irish pub where collecting boxes would come round “for the bhoys”. The area was very Irish and so was the Arsenal team.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41363890.html
Excellent, Dr F. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Your team strikes me as about right. My only question is whether Jorginho will be held back to close out the game. I am not sure he has 90 minutes in his legs for what will be a high-intensity game.
You are right about history. The Arsenal team went through an eight-game winning streak in January and February 1932, Cup and league, scoring 33 and conceding four. They then extended the streak by one game with a 1-0 away win. I’d be more than happy for history to repeat itself on Sunday.
City’s record 18-game winning streak in 2017-18 contained an eight-game run of PL wins in which they scored 33 and conceded five, while the Red Mancs had a 31-9 eight-game PL winning streak at the end of the 1999-2000 season.
Perfect preview for this big game, Dr F. I think your predicted starting eleven is spot on as Martinelli’s deep cut on the dorsum of the foot allegedly extending as far as bone with associated bone bruising/damage will probably restrict him to a late cameo, if that – unless the horse placenta works wonders! Jesùs probably gets the nod over Trossard as his starting replacement with the latter a very good option from the bench. I too cannot predict the final scoreline but I sincerely hope that our players do themselves and their ambitions justice. A win would be orgasmic.
Nice link, C100. Those pictures of skinny young men wearing 70’s fashions and shoulder length locks brought a few memories back and a tear to my eye. Thanks for posting.
And a subs bench of Ramsdale Partey Tomi Martinelli Eddie ESR Zinch Viera Tross. Reiss Nelson maybe for Eddie.
That’s quite the bench.
@6 with Timber to come it’s going to be tough to make the bench. Anyway, just my tuppenceworth – Eddie before Reiss as he is more likely to score. Great squad building whichever way you look at it. And we got several at very reasonable prices initially to keep us legal, however it’s going to be tough to keep them all and follow the rules.
Been watching a few of the teams on our schedule this evening and I can report that Chavski, Villa and Spuds are all crap. Glad we didn’t sign Tielemans. Or Sterling back in the day. Or that half season turd Madison come to that.
Wolves play some nice football but fortunately still can’t score. Luton made me laugh as they put the wind up the marshdwellers but they are very limited,
So 15 certain points there anyway, or so this 2nd bottle of wine has convinced me anyway.
My sober son thinks the Villa game will be tough.
Villa at home! They’ll get the same treatment as the Geordies. Maddison isn’t so much half a season as half a game.
This time tomorrow we’ll be reading all about our 2 nil victory.
Bayern losing 2 nil at home to Dortmund.
Cheers up Harry Kane
oh what can it mean
to a slack jawed wanker
With no trophies to be seen
Superb preview Dr.F setting the game upperfectly. Many thanks ( and thanks toC100 I enjoyed that article and sent it to a few Irish friends ).
I would be happy ( at this distance ) with a draw . They start favourites but we have learnt to play them and if we control KDB we could get something from the game.
I think Arteta will move heaven and earth to play Martinelli because he causes them such problems but he may not be fit enough and Jesus will be gagging to play .
I hope we play to our very best levels and Brighton cause problems for Liverpool .
A nervy day awaits.
Happy Easter Holics!
Thanks everyone for the kind words!
Thanks Ned for the clarifications about the stats, and confirming that our 8 game run this year is indeed a rare one in its scale of dominance.
Let’s hope the team continues with that level of performance and application tomorrow. A win would be magnificent.
Thanks Dr F for a most enjoyable read at a crazy time of the night due to more hip interrupted sleep – my own hip, I should add. Matron !
I do think Jorginho will start. His controlling experience has been really impressive in some of our biggest games. And I really hope Martinelli is fit to start – and tear €ity’s depleted right side a new one.
Whatever the result we have done brilliantly to be in this position – and there will still be nine games to go. I do think we can get a draw from this one and absolutely everything will be crossed for a superb, belief inducing win. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Cheers Doctor.
Let’s win this!
Thanks Doc,
I’d settle for a draw but I’m feeling a 2-0 win, Havertz and Jesus the scorers.
UTA.
And that’s Jesus from a cross, Noosa.
(Ideally Timber would provide it, but I guess he’s not ready to get involved yet).
Cheers Dr F for a fine review – you have covered all the salient points to a T. When you have 2 outstanding teams playing each other any result is feasible. What’s different this year is we go there with confidence that we can match them and get a result on merit.
It will be a very tight match with a bounce of the ball or bad call from the officials possibly being the deciding factor.
I think your team is the right call Dr F. Both teams may missing a player or 2 but those coming in will also be top quality. Let’s just win…..but a bad result will not put us out of the title race! Keep the faith.
COYRRR
Whilst my primary hope is that the team do themselves justice and that every man puts in a great performance today, I do think we need to win this game if we are going to have a decent chance of lifting the Premiership trophy at the end of this season.
GO WIN GUNNERS!
MC115MBD
Manchester bound!
UTA
I think this game of chess will be a checkmate for the Arsenal. Three wins from three vs the 115ers will do nicely. Your team looks good Dr F but I wonder if we might be treated to a surprise Partey? Wherever you’re watching. Enjoy. Will there be a pub open in rain soaked Tangier during Ramadan? I suspect the odds are not great. May well be Jeremy Aliadiere on .com for me.
BtM, a surprise Partey would be, well, a huge surprise.
He and Rice together against $ity at the Emirates were majestic. But after such a long absence and no match practice ? I can’t honestly see it, but maybe as a sub if Jorginho tires, or we need to expand our play a bit. A terrific player but hard to believe he’s ready for this particular one.
C100@19: May the wind be at your heels! Return with tales of epic deeds and glorious victory.
This is an excellent analysis of how the 115ers targeted and looted Arsenal to get to where they are now (£). We have every reason to despise them.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/03/31/manchester-city-hunted-arsenal-off-pitch-world-domination/
Cheers Dr. F. Excellent and very enjoyable read. I fully agree with your team selection and we will be able to select from host of quality players if we need to adjusting the needs. I hope Jesus and later on Martinelli can gives the egde we need.
Surely we have a great chance to get the result this time. Coming on the back of the eight wins in the PL and beating Porto and going through gives us belief.
COYG
Cheers Doc!
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Jesus, Havertz
Subs: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Vieira, Partey, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Trossard, Nketiah
Nailed the team Dr F 👏👏
Come on you Gunners!!
Now nail the win, Gunners.
Beat the cheating 115ers.
Up in the Hods at the Etihad. Not a classic so far.
I felt Anfield ’89 vibes in that first half. Hoping and praying for the same outcome. Dig deep Gunners and keep up the vocals Countrymen et al.
Great picture Countryman. Arsenal fans sounding loud and clear on my telly
Half time without a goal. COYG
A hard won point but Arteta showed his tactical chops. Klopp must be the happiest camper of the three managers.
A very hard won point! City fans were leaving at 85 minutes!
I liked reading this:
“Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in both of their league meetings with Manchester City this season, making them just the fourth side to shut out a Pep Guardiola side in two league matches in the same season, after Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014-15, Manchester United in 2020-21, and Crystal Palace in 2021-22.”
-from the bbc
Our club has developed so much in the last twelve months. They looked Citeh in the eye and didn’t blink. I thought Anthony Taylor refereed a very tricky game very well. Citeh will of course not agree
That was a very mature performance by the Arsenal today and a well deserved point. It’s been 57 home matches since the 115ers failed to score which gives a measure of our boys’ achievement today. A draw was our minimal requirement. Delivered! Nine games to go. There’ll be several more twists. Just win the next game. On to Luton.
Tough points ground out at Anfield and Ethihad, all to play for
Super-solid point. Two wins and one draw v 115ers this season. Tide’s turned and time’s running out on their old lags. Future looks bright. Tomi and TP5 returning for the final nine is a very big deal.
I’m happy with the point but even happier with the way we won the point. The focus, discipline and maturity were top drawer.
Odegaard and Saliba spoke afterwards along the lines of “if we couldn’t win, we made sure not to lose”.
I reckon we learned a lot from Porto away, and we are properly equipped to challenge on two fronts for the rest of the season. I couldn’t ask for more.
UTA!
Despite the lack of scintillating, attacking football I strangely enjoyed that.
I haven’t seen a €ity team having to give up and pass backwards so many times, since the last time they played us. We were brilliantly organised and simply refused to get drawn out of shape.
The return of Tomiyasu and Partey is a huge plus. Just love Partey’s calm and forward,
vertical passing.
Manager and team have made terrific progress in the last twelve months
It’s coming …..
Congratulations to The Arsenal Women’s Team too on their cup win. Beating Chavski in a final is always good. Good to hear that Frida Maanum seems to be ok after collapsing during the game, fingers crossed for her.
Well done to the women’s team. First trophy of the season!
Best wishes to Frida Maanum too.
Partey is still not fully match fit but today he looked like he was playing some good stuff. Given he has patches where his standard is no better than average and he hasn’t been fit for ages, it was really good to see him looking calm, effective and his passing was good. We need that until the end of season.
I bet George Graham loved that performance. I was explaining my admiration for his teams to countryman junior as we were driving back down the M6.
Home at 10.25. Not a bad journey at all. A pint of the black stuff has been poured to lubricate my throat.
C100, exactly ! That was like the best of George today !
Lots of admiration from the gentlemen of the press tonight.
A year ago this dogged plan B would have failed for Arsenal
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/04945926-fc94-43c7-8846-0920beb53828?shareToken=3db69fbe812afcf2f18a11f96dd99988
Did Haaland play today ? Or was he stuck in Gabriel’s back pocket ?
City fans chanting “you nearly won the league”. Let me school you lads, we have won the league many more times than you have in your entire history.
I believe I have said many times before that City fans are the most charmless nerks on the circuit. However we do come back with “where were you when you were shit? “
Good to hear you had a fine day C100.
It was always going to be a tense match and sitting at my brother-in-law’s in Gloucestershire I was kicking every ball. But you’d expect that for a game of that importance against a side of Citeh’s quality and experience . I expect to see Partey start on Wednesday and I suspect Saka may be rested or benched . We might see Tomi starting as well .
That was a very mature performance today . Adding three top players , seeing Citeh hammered out of existence by their guilty verdicts and with Liverpool regrouping after Klopp we will be the best team next season. But we might well be the best this season too
Well in for the half-ton, C100. And always good to pass the lore down from father to son.
>>>>>>>