Much of grown-up life is spent in a state of perpetual perplexity. Being bewildered by the things done to us and the things we choose to do, the freedom – a freedom that is our essential condition, a freedom that was bestowed upon us without our approval, so to speak — of having to give our life shape and meaning at every waking moment makes us, now and then, run away into the sweet certainty of unchoice, into the comfort of rituals. Rituals built on myths ancient and modern, myths necessary to keep us in just enough harmony.
The annual football calendar with its comforting cadence, its pleasing predictability is a modern ritual, a ritual that also fulfills our deep need for battles and heroes, our thirst for relatable myths. Being thrown into the world with our eyes mostly closed by the blindingly ferocious light of life, we find in football – just as we find in other passions of love, art, music, literature, science, pursuit of knowledge — a reliable pair of eyewear to look at the world without becoming completely blind.
And deep inside we realize how so very existentially crucial this passion is, how strongly it binds us to our fellow beings and how much we need that bond, and we find within us a surprising indefatigability to fight for that ninety minute of rituals, however unfavorable the surrounding conditions might be.
Arsenal prepares for the first premier league match of the 2021 calendar year with the limitations of the pandemic-enforced isolations and absences. Just because this is not a fate uniquely suffered by our club – all teams living through personnel uncertainties while doing their best to keep the ritualistic certainties going — makes it no less strange.
Manager Mikel and a few other members of his coaching team are self-isolating. While Sambi, Mari & it seems Ainsley Maitland-Niles too are all back from their own quarantine periods, the right back incorporated of Tomiyasu, Cedric and Chambers are all still unavailable. Among four of our AFCON participating expected-to-be-absent players only Aubameyang has left to join his Gabonese teammates (and one suspects he wasn’t available for selection just yet anyway), whereas Partey, Elneny and Pépé have all remained back one is given to understand until January 3rd and hence allowing them to be available for the New Year’s Day lunchtime home game. Even though only one of them is likely to start, having two experienced players – each with their specific qualities — on the bench in a match against the best team in the league has its benefits.
Our opponents are flying high and based on the current league standings and the recent performances of other title competitors, it appears that they are on their way to retain the premier league title. Our recent record against Manchester City, especially in the league, has been horrendous, with last five results being 0-5, 0-1, 0-1, 0-3, 0-3. In between Mikel – in his debut season and on the way to our record setting 14th FA Cup – had of course guided Arsenal to a famous semifinal victory against his mentor-and-friend Pep, a counterattacking 2-0 in an empty Wembley in July 2020.
Our last two league victories against Manchester City came consecutively in the calendar year of 2015 but spanning two different seasons. A Santi Cazorla masterclass saw us winning 2-0 (a penalty by Santi, and a typical Giroud header) away in January 2015, and in December of the same year we had beaten them at home 2-1, Theo and Olivier (again) on the scoresheet with YaYa threatening to ruin the day by a late goal. In that December match our forward line was Theo, Giroud and Joel Campbell(!) – with Rambo and Mesut on their midfield roles — and their front three were David Silva, De Bruyne and Aguero.
If Arsenal’s recent record against City is mostly very gloomy, we have some reason for optimism looking at our home record on January 1st. We are unbeaten in our last 11 home matches on the New Year’s Day, winning 9 and drawing two, a record that goes all the way back to a time before premier league in 1985. Our last league loss on January 1st was in 2015, away at Southampton.
Our recent mini-run in the league – winning the last five with keeping a clean sheet in the last four of them – included some enjoyable attacking play, and admirable defensive solidity. We scored a few lovely goals, showcasing the individual abilities of our young talents as well as demonstrating a growing attacking chemistry within the team. That level of individual performances and team cohesiveness would be the minimum requirement if we are to get something out of this game, and then we would need some exceptional individual moments both defensively and in the attacking third.
While Mikel will be kicking every ball and shouting at the television from the confines of his living room (I fear for the sofa), his assistant the Dutchman Albert Stuivenberg will be in charge on the sidelines. In his career as an assistant coach, he seems to have always played the role of the calmer foil to the easily animated big personalities like Van Gaal or Mikel. Whenever things go wrong and Mikel wildly gesticulates, his inscrutable expression gives nothing away. It would surely be unnatural for this team to not hear the passionate polyglot directions from the sideline all throughout the match.
I think tomorrow we will see a spirited performance by the boys in the famous red-and-white, and if the team starts well, the growing connection they are forming with the Arsenal faithful will create that positive feedback loop that can inspire a team to overcome superior oppositions.
I think we will start with the same eleven as the last match. We would surely miss Tomiyasu down the right, and probably this is the only area where Mikel and his team may want to make some changes, for instance pushing White back in his familiar central defensive position and bringing Ainsley in as a right back. But I think that is unlikely.
Ramsdale
White – Holding – Gabriel – Tierney
Partey – Xhaka
Saka – Ødegaard– Martinelli
Lacazette
I think most Arsenal fans would be happy with a draw and a point. A continuation of the winning streak – however unlikely that might be — will help us put some more distance from the chasing pack for the fourth position, and as importantly would give us a genuine confidence boost for the remainder of the season. I am hoping for that rare league win against City, it has been a while!
Happy New Year everyone! Wishing you all a healthy, joyful and prosperous 2022!
My favorite moment in this Boxing Day away fixture against Norwich came just before the half-time around 44th minute, when despite their dominance on the ball and being in complete control of the game Arsenal was winning by a slender 1-0 lead. And entirely hapless even though the Canaries were, they had by then decided on the cunning strategy of kicking their opposition out of the game, and in the process hoping to find a slice of fortune, if not a moment of footballing inspiration, to get something out of the game. Given that one of Arsenal’s veritable leaders is particularly gifted at walking straight into any trap of red card provocations, and given how many times in recent years we had allowed struggling teams to come back against us from unlikelier positions, I felt another goal before the half-time would be the best way to nip that possibility in the bud.
Gabriel Martinelli – who has now formed a habit of responding to losing possession, anywhere on the pitch, with a serial duelist’s sense of personal honor – dropping down all the way into the right defensive midfielder position won the ball back, and immediately fed it to Martin Ødegaard. The Norwegian has lately been using his left foot with the self-assuredness of a philharmonic conductor waving his baton, and in one single turn and move he passed the ball, with the characteristically precise weight and spin, onto Kieran Tierney’s path. Tierney’s first touch may have moved the ball just a bit further forward than what he had hoped for, but still he had enough time and composure to place a clinically precise side-foot finish on the inside of the far post into the net. Since our super Scot had joined Arsenal, he has shown glimpses of his striking abilities with a few well taken goals and some fierce drives onto the posts, and without having to go full Roberto Carlos on us I hope he would take more such attempts in the coming days and years. Especially if he celebrates like that, connecting so directly and wholeheartedly with the ever-spirited traveling faithful.
Norwich City 0 – Arsenal 2 (Saka 6’, Tierney 44’)
The two-goal lead going into the break was the minimum Arsenal deserved after completely outplaying Norwich with a pleasing authority. Mikel started mostly an unchanged team from our last Premier League victory against Leeds, the only exception being Tomiyasu’s Covid-enforced absence. It seemed his other immediate replacement options were all unavailable for the same reason: Cedric, Chambers, Maitland-Niles. (We live in such perplexing times that strange coincidences no longer stir our abilities to be moved). Holding came into his place, slotting in Benjamin White’s right-sided central defensive role while White himself shifting towards the right back. Tomiyasu has been one of our most consistent performers this season and even when we as a team are not playing well, he has provided a reassuring security and control on the right side of the pitch.
Ramsdale
White – Holding – Gabriel – Tierney
Partey – Xhaka
Saka – Ødegaard – Martinelli
Lacazette
Sambi and Mari were back on the bench following the end of their quarantine periods. On the bench too were Eddie Nketiah, Pépé, Patino (all goal-scorers in our last match in the League Cup) and our highest goal scorer for this season, one Emile Smith-Rowe, who nowadays seems to need only 10-odd minutes of sub appearance to score his customary Premier League goal.
Our bright and purposeful start was very quickly rewarded when Martinelli chasing after a ball forced Norwich central defender Kabak into an ill-judged pass that was snapped up by Tierney. Arsenal moved the ball rapidly forward through interchanges between him, Laca and Gabi, who promptly passed the ball to Ødegaard, who had taken a central position. Martin fed it to Saka inside the penalty box. Within a few seconds Arsenal had moved the ball from left-midfield position to the right side of the opposition penalty box. Saka hesitated just the right amount of time, the defense had no clue whether to close him down or look after the movements of Laca and Gabi, and Saka took full opportunity of that uncertainty with a precisely placed shot between the defenders’ legs. Gunn in Norwich goal didn’t see the ball until the last moment and his reaction was too late to stop conceding.
Norwich City 0 – Arsenal 1 (Saka 6’)
In between these two goals we played some enjoyable football. Partey seemed to have sped up his forward passing and was much less inconsistent on the ball and looked more like the player we hope he would eventually be for Arsenal on a consistent basis. Gabi and Saka terrorized the full backs, Laca nicely knitted the movements together, and even Granit looked for the forward pass with an unusual frequency.
But my favorite performance was by Ødegaard in that half. As the story goes, he could have joined us when he was a teenage sensation before he eventually went to Madrid, and I myself had always wanted Arsenal to get him on a permanent move this season among all the attacking midfield options we were being linked with in the summer, even though his short spell on loan last season was somewhat inconsistent. I love the intelligence of his positioning, his wonderful understanding of the half-spaces, the skills on the ball and the subtlety of his passing that is reminiscent of another left footed player who too had joined Arsenal from Madrid, added to that a solid defensive awareness and praiseworthy work rate off the ball and I think we have a player who can become one of the best in that position. He has lately been producing goals and assists, and the first half performance by him in this match was simply outstanding.
Our most worrying moment in the first half came when Xhaka, in an inimitably Xhaka-like fashion, nearly manufactured a sending off for himself. Thankfully Arsenal players came to rescue him from his own petulance. Norwich was very poor on the ball, so the Xhaka-Partey partnership was not particularly tested, but I thought I saw a few glimpses of clarity in their interchanges and intent.
The second half continued that theme of Arsenal dominance. Martinelli started to torment the right side of the Norwich defense incessantly, had a goal from a deflected shot ruled out because of offside, and even though Norwich enjoyed a bit more possession in the Arsenal half and got a few corners, it felt like only a matter of time before Arsenal would get a third. Which Bukayo Saka delivered on the 66th minute. Following a period of patient build-up play through the midfield and then the Norwich right side, Lacazette found Saka on the edge of the box. Recognizing the tentativeness in the Norwich defense Saka quickly maneuvered himself into a position from which he curled in a cultured finish from his favorite left foot. Saka – already precociously intelligent on and off the ball to complement his superlative technical skills – has this season started to demonstrate an ability to quickly assess the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition defense and vary his approach accordingly. His attempts used to be more instinctive in and around the box, but now he seems to be thinking a few seconds ahead all the time and constantly looking for the most efficient option.
Norwich City 0 – Arsenal 3 (Saka 6’, Tierney 44’, Saka 66’)
Elneny replaced Partey around 75th minute and soon after Pépé came on for Saka. Ignoring the travelling supporters’ musical plea of “Charlie Patino” Mikel brought on super-sub Emile Smith-Rowe – but jokes aside, I think Mikel deserves credit in how he has been handling Emile’s return, keeping him fresh for the latter period, though the brilliant form of Martinelli & Ødegaard definitely have helped – for Gabi with less than ten minutes of regular time to go. ESR was involved in a flowing move immediately after entering the field, and with a delightful reverse pass into the penalty box set up Lacazette, who was then clattered for an Arsenal penalty. Bucking our recent trend, Laca made no mistake from the spot.
Norwich City 0 – Arsenal 4 (Saka 6’, Tierney 44’, Saka 66’, Lacazette 84’)
In the injury time Arsenal managed to score once more, as Emile inevitably found the net following some good work by Martin and Pépé on our right side, smartly finishing from Pépé’s deflected goal bound shot.
Norwich City 0 – Arsenal 5 (Saka 6’, Tierney 44’, Saka 66’, Lacazette 84’, ESR 91’)
This was Arsenal’s 4th consecutive win in Premier League, scoring 14 and conceding only once in that time period, playing energetic, enjoyable football without jettisoning the basics of defensive solidity. There is a pleasing degree of cohesiveness and unity of purpose in the on-field demeanor of the players, and we head into the new year – as of the time of writing this review the home match against Wolves has been postponed, so our next match would be on the New Year’s Day, against the champions and league leaders Manchester City – with a renewed sense of optimism about the squad. Before the season ends there will of course be a few jitters along the way, especially given how young most of these players are. But the planned evolution of the squad is more tangible now to us the supporters, and the clarity of purpose in the football we play more relatable.
We are delighted to offer a double post for Christmas. It begins with Trev’s excellent preview of our forthcoming match with the Canaries followed by some observations from the one and only Bob Wilson. This is followed by Bob’s discussion of Christmas at the Arsenal during his time at the club. We conclude by offering an opportunity to make a Christmas donation to the Willow Foundation, a charity that does superb work providing special days for young adults with serious diseases. It’s Christmas, please be generous! Just click on the picture of Santa Claus at the end of the blog to link to the Willow Giving Page.
David Faber, 1957 – 2019
The team at Goonerholics Forever would like to take this opportunity to remember David Faber, the Goonerholic, who sadly passed before his time on December 25th 2019. Dave’s Goonerholic blog brought us all together and his love of the Arsenal, warmth and humanity remain a daily inspiration to us all. All men are dust but some men are gold dust. We miss you, Guvna.
Delia’s Goose…
Yes, we play Norwich City away from home on Boxing Day but first and foremost this is a time to remember the founder of the original Goonerholic blog, our great friend David Faber. Christmas Day will mark the second anniversary of his sadly premature passing. He is missed as much today as he was then – even more-so when each round of the writing schedule comes around and volunteers are asked to step forwards! How he managed to produce such consistent quality, single handed, for so many years is even more of a wonder now than it was then. That consistency, warmth and even-handedness won him a huge community of both readers and real, grateful friends who will be stopping to think of him and his family over the festive period.
For many years, I used to go to Norwich every September for the Eastern Region Ski Instructors coaching weekend which was held at the Norwich artificial ski slope. From the top of the slope you could see the Coleman’s mustard estate, and hear the crowd noise rise from Norwich’s home ground, Carrow Road – well, you could back in the day when Norwich used to score goals occasionally. Our newly rejuvenated squad will be as keen as Coleman’s mustard to give them a good stuffing on Boxing Day.
And talking of stuffing, an important part of the festive season is always the special cuisine on offer. Norwich City FC is, of course, co-owned by a chef, the famous Delia Smith, and she has reportedly concocted this Christmas dinner menu for the club:
Starter
“Delia’s Let’s Be ‘Avin’It”- a rather undercooked mixture that promises much but usually fails to satisfy despite being drenched in copious amounts of dry white whine.
Main
Roasted canary, old mashed Spuds and a selection of the new, trendy but nonetheless second rate, wonky vegetables.
Dessert
Pukki Pudding – a late replacement on this festive menu for the “Lampard Special” – a mixture of fatty pudding, a nutty topping and a wide sloppy base which the chef just could not ultimately quite put together.
Wine
A strange white – more a mixture of insipid green and yellow hue – can be a little over forceful to the taste, with occasional lingering bitterness.
Tea, coffee – to be served in mugs as no-one can remember seeing a cup anywhere in the club since 1985.
There is a vegetarian alternative main course of St Stephen’s Pizza which will be served just as the good King Wenceslas liked it – Deep pan, crisp and even.
The Teams
While the Arsenal have risen to the dizzy and, for this season at least, somewhat unexpected heights of fourth and a Champions League place, Norwich are rooted to the bottom of the league table. They have won just 2 games out of 17 played this season, scoring just 8 times and conceding 34, giving them a miserable goal difference of -26. Whilst we have been climbing the table, it is our away form that needs to improve. We have already lost 5 times on the road this season, recently at Old Trafford and Goodison Park, where on each occasion we took the lead but then conceded both the front foot and the match.
We have a horrible habit of trying to restore some confidence to teams enduring poor runs of results, so no repeats this time please, Arsenal – a committed performance and a win has to be the order of the day, even though Norwich have earned two draws in their last two league outings under new manager Dean Smith. The Dean must be allowed no prayer in this one ( come on now, it’s Christmas 😏).
Norwich do have some injury concerns ahead of this one. Firstly, Milot Rashica who has been injured since their relegation six pointer with Newcastle at the end of November, and then Norwegian Mathias Normann, their best player so far, who has been out recently due to a recurring pelvic problem. Both reportedly have a good chance of returning on Boxing Day. Grant Hanley, their Scottish international centre back and captain has been injured along with their other central defenders Andrew Omobamidele, Christoph Zimmerman and Ozan Kabak – however, all of them apart from Zimmerman have some chance of being fit to face us. We’ll see. They also have some COVID and other illness concerns but they, frankly, are anyone’s guess.
The Arsenal, meanwhile, have a doubt over Tomiyasu. While not serious, he has played a lot of games and might be given a chance to return to full fitness by sitting this one out. Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari and Sambi Lakonga are all still isolating with COVID-19 and will not be available. The only other concerns are Sead Kolasinac – out until the New Year and probably long beyond 😏 – and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who one imagines might well remain on the naughty step until the African Cup of Nations at least. With Gabriel Martinelli on fire and Eddie Nketiah very keen to play, if not yet ready to start, that is much less of a problem than might have been envisaged. There may also be a wish to protect Ben White who suffered some kind of muscle “ tightening” against Leeds.
Who will start ? My guess is:
Ramsdale
Cédric, White (Holding), Gabriel, Tierney
Partey, Xhaka
Saka, Ødegaard, Smith-Rowe
Lacazette.
I’ve included Xhaka only because everyone always does, although I would love to see Ødegaard there as a play maker, which would allow ESR to move into the centre and Martinelli to start wide left. The front half of the team would then be:
Partey, Ødegaard
Saka, ESR, Martinelli
Lacazette.
Breaking News
It has been revealed that the Premier League stepped in to prevent Norwich’s latest proposed sponsorship deal with pet food firm ‘Spillers’. A Premier League spokesman said it would be fraudulent to have Norwich players with “Winnalot” on their shirts. 😂
And Delia Smith offered to send the Norwich squad on an all expenses paid holiday to Florida, but they said they’d rather go to Blackpool so they could see what it’s like to ride in an open-top bus. 😆
And finally, two Norwich fans were walking along the road. One of them picked up a mirror, looked in it and said, “Hey, I know that bloke!”The second one took the mirror, looked into it and said, “Of course you do, you idiot – it’s me!” 🤪
The Holic Pound
Wherever you look, we are about 2/5 on to win this one, with Norwich around 7/1 against. Martinelli can be had at 5/1 as first goal scorer. Arsenal wins of 3-0, 4-0 and 5-0 can be had at 21/2, 20/1 and 53/1 respectively. Remember, as they now say, when the fun stops, stop !
Other bits
This one kicks off at 15.00 UK time, on Sunday 26th December. There is no TV coverage – audio available on Arsenal dot com.
The referee is confirmed as Graham Scott. His Christmas little helper on VAR will be Lee Mason, a lovely fella who I’m sure will be out to help us as much as he possibly can.
And please remember – Enjoy the game ‘Holics, and I know you’ll be thinking of the great man who lent us all his moniker. To Dave ! 🍺🥃
A Conversation with Bob Wilson
GHF – Bob, how do feel the Arsenal side is developing this season?
Bob –Having just basked in the win and performance against West Ham I remain mildly optimistic about the development of the team. Really good signings and all youngsters plus an intensity in recent games which was certainly the case versus the Hammers who are an excellent team these days. More and more I see a squad in age and talent that reminds me of ours 50 years ago. A really good mixture of senior players and hugely talented youngsters especially Saka, Smith Rowe and Martinelli.
GHF – Do you think they will be negatively affected by the fallout from the Aubameyang situation? As someone who played under a legendary captain, I guess you would see the captaincy as a key issue for a team like ours given its relative inexperience?
Bob – I cannot envisage anything negative following the Aubameyang incident. Rather the opposite with players knowing exactly where they stand with misdemeanours.
GHF – Personally I would have Tierney leading the squad. Fine player, passionate and never happy with anything less than a win.
GHF – What impact do you think Ramsdale has had on the side? Do you see him as the Arsenal keeper for a long time into the future?
Bob – Aaron Ramsdale has been magnificent so far. An immediate impact on the team in front of him, some extraordinary saves, that unusual gem for a keeper, of presence. I like his visual encouraging as long as it’s not too over the top, i.e., screaming and shouting.
GHF – We play Norwich on Boxing Day (Covid permitting). Do you have any memories of playing at Carrow Road?
Bob – Carrow Road is always a dangerous venue. Terrific loyal fans helping a Club that traditionally struggles to buy players that make the difference.
I can never remember personally getting a relatively easy win at Carrow Rd. Norwich are usually up against it. Hence, they are ‘dangerous’.
GHF – How do you think we will fare against Norwich?
Bob – Player for player, potential v potential we will be ‘ favourites’ to win . But the sort of application of the first half against Spurs or the West Ham performance will be needed
GHF – Would you expect Mikel to try to strengthen the team in the next transfer window?
Bob –I like to think that Arsenal would always try to strengthen the team if a ‘special’ talent becomes available.
GHF – Are you optimistic that we can qualify for the Champions League this season?
Bob –I’m not overly optimistic that we will finish in the top 4. Three big spender clubs are more or less nailed on for top 3 as usual. That is Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool.
So, as it stands, Arsenal or Man Utd or West Ham or, dare I suggest it, that other North London club have to grab fourth spot!
Arsenal at Christmas
26th December 1968. Arsenal centre forward David Court scoring with a flying header past Manchester United goalkeeper Alex Stepney, at Highbury. From Jeff Lewis at Pinterest.
GHF – Christmas football is a massive part of the football calendar in this country and always seems to have been so.
I wonder if you could give us some insights into what Christmas was like for players when you were playing and coaching.
How did the players feel about having to play when the rest of the country is indulging itself?
Bob – Quite simply, it was your job and a very special sort of job. Privileged to be playing for Arsenal on any day of the week or year – “Even if your wife was giving birth!” says Megs!
GHF – What was a typical Christmas programme when you were playing – when did you train and how many games did you play over the festive period?
Bob – Up to New Year’s Day there was always a minimum 3 games in 10 days, which always included Boxing Day. Training remained every day, but on Christmas Day we were expected to keep up our running regime, even if we weren’t together as a squad.
GHF – Did the Christmas games feel different or was it very much business as usual when you started the match?
Bob – The lead up to the games could feel different but once we were on the team bus it was business as usual, thinking about who we were playing, going into match mode all pretty serious.
GHF – It must have been very disruptive for the players’ families with you so heavily occupied over the Christmas period. How much time were you able to spend with your family?
Bob – I don’t ever remember not having Christmas morning at home with the family but we were all under orders, regarding our food intake and especially alcohol. If we were playing away on Boxing Day, we would have left home by lunchtime and headed for an overnight hotel.
GHF – Are there any particularly memorable Christmas games that you remember? I can recall a very enjoyable 3-0 victory over Manchester United with Charlton, Best and all, at Highbury on Boxing Day in 1968, I think.
Bob – Definitely Boxing Day 1968 at Highbury. The mighty Manchester United, Best Charlton etc. A really comprehensive win and special performance for our amazing fans. N.B., I think after this win the lads made up for their lack of alcohol on Christmas Day!!
GHF – Did the Arsenal put on any special Christmas events for the playing staff? Are there any memorable moments you can share?
Bob – It was never within the packed Christmas programme of games. There was an Arsenal Supporters Dinner usually at the beginning of December where the AFC Player of the Year Award was presented.
I also remember a club Christmas even in which, as goalkeeping coach, I was asked to give a first welcome to Arsene where I used my schoolboy French to wish him ‘Joyeux Noel’. I’m not sure he was too impressed.
GHF – Did the host club provide any special Christmas cheer for visiting teams or was it business as usual?
Bob – Definitely not!
GHF – Arsenal used to make a point of visiting local hospitals at Christmas. I imagine that was something the players enjoyed but which could be very poignant too?
Bob – Yes, poignant is definitely the correct word. Nobody enjoyed seeing families facing difficult moments especially at Christmas.
GHF – Have you any amusing memories of Christmas matches or training during your career?
Bob – One Christmas morning and following orders, I was running on the pavement near home in my Arsenal tracksuit, badge, initials, all clearly visible. A car on the road beside me slowed down, the driver wound down his window and shouted ‘Ok mate, what else did you get for Christmas?’
GHF – Has the attitude to Christmas matches changed as foreign players who haven’t been used to this tradition have come into our game? Do you think it is still an important part of our football culture?
Bob – I honestly don’t know how much things have changed in recent times, except that the Christmas fixture list remains as important as ever for players and fans alike.
GHF – Many thanks, Bob!
Bob – I hope you have a good Christmas and thank you and all Goonerholics for supporting Willow!
GHF – Bob, everyone at Goonerholics Forever wishes you and your family a very happy Christmas and let us hope 2022 is a very successful one for Arsenal Football Club. We are making donations to Willow through our Giving Page.
Bob – Megs and I and all at Willow wish all of you a very happy Christmas together with enormous thanks for your continuing support of our charity, enabling us to provide more Special Days for Seriously Ill Young Adults, between the ages of 16 and 40.
A Small Request
Thank you for reading the Goonerholics Forever Christmas double blog post featuring a conversation with Bob Wilson. We hope you have found it enjoyable and informative. The GF team are extremely grateful to Bob for generously sharing his time, his memories of Arsenal Christmas past and his thoughts on the current team.
We also hope that, imbued with Christmas spirit, you will help the Willow Foundation to continue providing special days for seriously ill young adults. Just click on the image below of Santa Claus at Arsenal to visit our Willow Foundation Giving Page. Thank you for your generosity. Every little helps.
A comprehensive win on a great night for Arsenal saw us prevail 5-1 over a spirited and enterprising Sunderland side. Eddie Nketiah made a very big statement with a predator’s hat-trick but the biggest cheer of the night came just before the end when Charlie Patino slid home our fifth goal. Arsenal’s history is studded with great stars called Charlie – Buchan, George, Nicholas and now, Patino? I was greatly impressed with Cédric, Ødegaard and Pépé whose immediate opponent, Hume had a case of twisted blood. If Nketiah wanted to strengthen his hand in contract negotiations he has done so emphatically. We are into another semi-final and as pre-Christmas entertainment it was almost perfect.
On a cold, dank night Mikel Arteta chose to make a number of changes to personnel from the Leeds game. Balogun and Nketiah came in upfront and ESR and Ødegaard played in attacking midfield roles looking to play between the lines. The defence was completely altered with Ben White the only survivor from Elland Road.
It meant a change of shape with only one holding midfielder – and that was Mo Elneny! But the team settled quickly and played some enterprising, attacking football. Embleton almost put through his own net under pressure from Tavares on 10 but the first was only 6 minutes further away. A good out-swinging corner was met by Holding’s header. Birch saved but Nketiah poked in the rebound with his knee inside the six-yard box.
Arsenal 1 Sunderland 0 – Nketiah, 16
We then saw Balogun in a couple of promising attacking situations which also illustrated his inexperience. One reverse pass by ESR should have been converted but the second goal was not long delayed. The much-maligned Cédric was combining well with Pépé and cut the ball back to him inside the area. Pépé’s shot was slightly deflected past Birch and we assumed that we had attained a comfortable lead.
Arsenal 2 Sunderland 0 – Pepe, 26
Sunderland with Pritchard, an ex- Marshdweller, particularly prominent had already looked lively going forward exploiting the fact that we only had one holding midfielder. On 30 minutes, they broke through the centre and Broadhead dinked a good finish over Leno to halve the deficit.
Arsenal 2 Sunderland 1 – Broadhead, 30
Sunderland were looking very effective going forward although Broadhead had to be taken off with what looked like a hamstring injury. Arsenal retaliated with a fine left -foot volley from ESR but the interval came with Sunderland well in the game.
Half-time: Arsenal 2 Sunderland 1
Sunderland moved to a back four at the start of the second half.
The first moment of significance in the half came when Tavares skipped down the left and whipped in a fine low cross which Nketiah darted in to touch past the Sunderland keeper. Two goals both in the six-yard box. Eddie the predator!
Arsenal 3 Sunderland 1 – Nketiah, 50
Embleton came charging back with a curling left-footed drive that struck the outside of the right-hand post. A super effort! Balogun had just been booked and he was then hooked (see what I did there?) for Granit Xhaka to provide a more conventional shape.
Then a great moment! Odegaard played a superb ball into Pépé who nutmegged his full-back Hume and laid the ball across for Eddie to complete his hat-trick from seven yards with a brilliant flick. Something for Mikel to ponder with the Aubameyang situation unresolved.
Arsenal 4 Sunderland 1 – Nketiah (hat-trick), 58
Lee Johnson would probably not have wanted his team to try to take on Arsenal in an open, very stretched game but his team showed considerable offensive quality. Their problem was coping with the movement and quality of Arsenal’s front men.
Pépé was enjoying himself tying Hume in knots and he nutmegged him again before finding Ødegaard who fired straight at Birch. Arsenal started to turn on the fancy tricks with Ødegaard underlining his creativity and flair with some delightful passing vision. Tavares whipped a great cross over and Nketiah’s great anticipation and movement was not matched by his finish. I was really starting to wonder if Eddie might be the answer to the big questions facing Arteta! We decided to show no mercy and brought on Martinelli for Ødegaard who was quite superb and Gabriel for Ben White. If Sunderland wanted a respite they weren’t going to get one.
“Would we see Charlie Patino?” was the question on most Arsenal fans’ lips. That was superseded by whether Bailey-Wright might have seen more than yellow for an agricultural challenge on Martinelli who thankfully seemed ok. Then on 79 minutes, Patino gave the game an exciting patina (see what I…….ok don’t bother!). He replaced the excellent ESR. Martinelli was in the wars once more when he clashed heads with a Sunderland man. Again, both seemed ok after treatment.
We looked as if we’d earned a penalty on 84 minutes when Nketiah was brought down. It would have been a harsh award and the referee looked much more capable than the idiots who controlled (?) the match at White Hart Lane on Sunday. Talk about being damned with faint praise!
Arsenal’s ability to attack with width using both full-backs who were excellent saw them dominate the latter stages.
And then we had the most delightful moment of the night when Pépé set up Charlie Patino for a crisp and hugely popular finish.
Arsenal 5 Sunderland 1 – Patino, 90 +1
This means Charlie has a goal every eleven minutes of his first -team career! It was the last significant moment of a very enjoyable night. One sensed even the Sunderland fans had a great evening.
Assuming the threat of a Covid-19 postponement does not rear its ugly head prior to kickoff … few fixtures can figure to be more fun than a festive home cup tie against lower league foes. Unless Arsenal *uck it up of course. We don’t often get to play League One teams so that novelty in itself should infuse a shot of adrenaline into the occasion. But Sunderland’s traveling supporters will most likely shout themselves silly even prior to kickoff, so the home fans will be needed to voice their support loudly and proudly as indeed they have done increasingly so far this season, especially in this competition where the crowd tends to be especially young and enthusiastic.
Arsenal reached the last eight by beating West Bromwich Albion, AFC Wimbledon and Leeds United, and in the process scoring an impressive 11 goals without conceding any. The players will try to match or better their previous performances in this run, despite the unfortunate circumstance that goal difference in this competition does not also count in the Premier League table.
The Opposition
As of last February Sunderland’s new regime is under the direction of chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, a member of the star-studded French aristocratic family of that surname (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis-Dreyfus#Surname). In his few months in charge KLD’s wad of cash has not yet managed to propel the Black Cats skyward in the football pyramid as their history seems to demand, but the Louis-Dreyfus wealth seems to have instilled renewed hope at the long foundering club.
Sunderland won two F.A. Cups (1937 and 1973), and six First Division titles prior to the second world war. Unfortunately for the Wearside gents, their mastery has been on the wane ever since, and their last serious shot at silverware came eight years ago when they lost the League Cup final to Manchester City. They were most recently relegated from the Premier League in 2016-17, their last of 10 consecutive top flight seasons. The next year they were relegated again to League One where the Black Cats have finished 5th, 8th, and 4th so far, and twice failed to win promotion through the playoffs.
Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Ipswich helped Sunderland remain in third spot in the league after 22 matches played, so they will have promotion on their minds; but they do not have another league fixture until Monday away at Doncaster so should have all their attention focused on going to the races against the Gunners. Sunderland reached the quarter-final round by defeating Blackpool, Wigan and Queen’s Park Rangers. I don’t know anything about the current Sunderland side but minimal research revealed that 25 year-old Scotsman Ross Stewart has led their attack with 10 goals. Manager Lee Johnson has promised that his side will offer a “blood and guts” performance so Arsenal might do well to conjure the mindset needed to play away at Burnley.
Arsenal XI
Recent reports suggest that Pablo Mari and Sambi Lokonga may miss the game due to Covid issues, and Mikel Arteta is expected to give a few of his regulars a breather considering fixture congestion. Of course he will keep a few other regulars in the team to maintain continuity, and hopefully to assure that the quality of the team is good enough to advance.
Against Leeds in the previous round in late October, Calum Chambers, who had not kicked a competitive ball (in anger or otherwise) for nearly two months, and has been nearly invisible ever since, headed the match winner with his first touch as a substitute, and Eddie Nketiah made sure of the win by intercepting a back pass and tapping home. Will Arteta reward Calum and Eddie by starting them against the Black Cats? It’s possible if not likely, so I am randomly saying Eddie will start but Calum remain on the bench. In the last round Mikel Arteta retained only two starters from the side he picked to start the previous league game, so it’s a bit unpredictable really. I do expect him to pick a strong eleven with a blend of regular starters and regular benchwarmers, such as:
Leno
Cedric Holding Gabriel Tierney
AMN Chaka
Saka Odegaard Pepe
Nketiah
The ‘holics pound
Ladbrokes is offering a measly 2/11 odds on an Arsenal win so their experts are pretty optimistic about the Gunners’ chances. If you want to make it a bit more sporting bet you might consider laying down some of your hard earned cash on Calum Chambers coming off the bench to score the winner for the second straight round, but I’m not sure it would be the wisest bet you ever made. If I were actually a betting man I might put a tentative fiver on 4-1 to the Arsenal, so there’s the tip you’ve been scouring this article to find.
This will probably be the last of our relatively easy passes into the later rounds so you will be excused if you let go after the game (as you sip your malts) with a round of “We’re gonna win the Cup!” Not to expect anyone to jeopardize their dignity, of course. Enjoy, ‘holics.
