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2-0 Again & No Raya of Hope for Hapless Villans

Aug 25th, 2024 by

Arsenal managers past and present – the right one won today, not the one on the right! 

The Arsenal started the first of a run of potentially tricky fixtures this weekend with a trip to Villa Park to face the only Premier League team to beat us in 2024. As I have given the result away in the headline, I won’t indulge in any ‘could we, would we, shenanigans’ and will move straight to the celebratory Yes, Yes, Yes!! We rolled them over with a controlled performance and, though straw-clutching Villa fans may point to their few chances as a sign that they were in the same league (they really weren’t), a thoroughly deserved three points nestles firmly in the old points bank. 

1st half

The big book of adjectives has been well-thumbed in several other reports of the first-half – dull, uneventful, cagey being the most popular. However, my own preference is for professional, and I suspect Mikel will have been quietly satisfied with the way we came to a Champions League side’s ground, dominated them for 50 minutes, silenced the crowd, and allowed only one real sniff at goal in 45 minutes.  To be honest it was a large sniff, and I certainly inhaled as Watkins managed to side-foot an easy chance wide midway through the first half. Was it a foul on Gabriel before the chance? Regardless, that miss apart, a passive Villa side provided little threat, and a couple of showy Rogers runs aside, lacked the skill or creativity to worry a solid Arsenal rearguard strengthened defensively with the inclusion of Timber in place of Zinchenko. Obviously, a goal for our dominance would have been the preferred icing but we spurned the half-chances and opportunities that did come our way and thus it was goalless at the half-time oranges. 

2nd half

No changes at half-time and no change in the pattern for about the first 10 minutes of the half until a wide-open Onana was allowed to get in a deflected shot from the edge of the area – I will let Mikel take it from there “I thought it was a goal because I saw the reaction of the defensive line, there was none! The ball goes on to the crossbar and we were all watching the ball. I was going ‘oh no please` I see the striker in that position (it was Watkins three yards out for the rebound) and normally it is a goal but David’s reaction was unbelievable”. My own thoughts exactly Mikel. The boss was smiling charmingly as he said this, however, I doubt he will be quite so charming when he talks to the defence about the sin of ball-watching later. The game changed a little at that point and Villa finally remembered they were at home and had what I thought was their best period of the game for the next 10 minutes. 

However, shortly after the hour the baton of fate was to twirl once more, and this time it pointed squarely at Leo Trossard. Emery made two substitutions taking off Watkins and McGinn (somewhat oddly I thought, but fortunately I no longer need to care about his subs) and Mikel made the one that counted, taking off Gabi Martinelli and bringing on Leo. Moments later, Konsa drifted a big chance at the far post wide with a cross shot that turned out to be neither. We immediately went down the other end, Øde dinked a ball into space behind the full-back and Saka, quicker of thought and foot than Digne, just got to it and crossed, via Rogers (I think), the ball came for Leo to slot home a calm and accomplished finish with what I believe my Japanese commentator claimed was his first touch. 

Aston Villa 0 The Arsenal 1

The Arsenal faithful were in fine voice, Leo had scored again!  The team also seemed more fired up. We resumed normal service and controlled the game well to prevent any fight back, then struck again to kill it off with about 15 minutes to go. Leo was once more to the fore, bursting down the left, he crossed to Bukayo at the far post, our Starboy waited until the opportune moment and precisely cut the ball back to Thomas just on the edge of the area. It was a finely struck shot from TP5 around the defender to the near post and though Emi got down in time it seems his left hand is not quite as useful as that of David Raya. I was pleased for Partey as he had had a challenging afternoon looking after Rogers, but it’s all about end product and here he produced it from a DM position.  

Aston Villa 0 The Arsenal 2

And that, more or less, was all she wrote. Øde blasted one over the bar that he should in truth have slotted home but we never looked in any danger of letting it slip. We were treated to the immaculate timing of a Saliba special as he took the ball perfectly off the toe of Ramsey just as the hapless fool thought he was going to get a shot in. Another treat was William’s nimble feet on the left wing as he danced aside and caused two Villa players to run into each other. Riccardo Calafiori came on for Timber and had to be dragged away from a confrontation with panto villain Emi, Reiss Nelson came on to give our No 7 an additional seven minutes rest, the stadium half-emptied and Oliver blew his whistle for the final time. On we go to a top of the table clash with Brighton next, the only fly in our ointment is a potential injury to Jesus – fingers crossed for him and that we get Merino done and dusted this week. Mikel did mention that we were a little short up front………………….but I think I will leave that speculation to others. 

There were many positives to take from the game apart from the always welcome three points. Firstly, another clean sheet, and in what looked on paper a tricky away game, was great.  Secondly, the finish by Leo, who must be pushing hard for a starting place next week. Thirdly, the performance of Timber; he was a solid defensive presence, he didn’t do anything particularly flashy, he just did his job. Exactly what was required in the circumstances. Fourthly, we gave the ball away less than last week, obviously we can get better but it was progress.  Last, and by no means least, our Player of the Match, David Raya stepped up again when it counted. Well done sir. 

I should say that volunteering to write this match report was my first act of faith in the team this season, I never doubted we would in Mr Benjamin White’s words “put it right”. Talking of Benny Blanco by the way, I thought Oliver did well to keep it calm when the dastardly McGinn deliberately kicked the ball at William, and was then accidentally hit by a ball kicked in his direction by Benny. And on that note, I will finish a report that was a real pleasure to write. 

Posted in Match Report | 151 Drinks »

Two Scores to Settle in Game 2

Aug 23rd, 2024 by

And so to Villa Park for Saturday’s early ebening game (17:30 kick-off) against Unai Emery’s Villans.

Villa celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. Yet, our first trip to Villa Park, then Aston Park, was a mere 120 years ago, on Boxing Day, 1904, during our first season in the old First Division. I had expected to turn up a cup encounter in Victorian times, but no. 

Although we were the first southern side to play in the First Division, none of our side that day was born south of Liverpool, and eight were of the Scottish persuasion. The press billed the encounter as the match of the day. Despite bitter cold, it attracted a full house of 40,000, three times the average attendance at a Division One game that season. 

Previewing the match, the Morning Leader observed that ‘there is a dash of romance, a precocity of youth, about the Arsenal which cannot fail to magnetise the people’. Thus, it ever was.

Yet, having beaten Villa 1-0 at the Manor Ground, Plumstead, in early October, there was to be no festive cheer in Brum. We were 1-0 down within ten minutes. ‘Following an exciting scrimmage in front of goal [Charlie] Satterthwaite equalised with a pretty screw shot’, The Sportsman reported, but after that, we were indebted to Jimmy Ashcroft, arguably the first in the line of our truly distinguished goalkeepers, for keeping the final score down to 3-1. 

Our defence, which had conceded just 13 goals in its previous 16 games, was missing its lynchpin, centre-half Percy Sands, rested for the following day’s game in Nottingham and the one the day after in Sheffield. We played five league games between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve; workload? Pah!

A final historical note: like the home of our opponents last week (the one Molly knew!), Villa’s was built on what had been the grounds of a large house that had become a Victorian amusement park. Aston Park was an oddly ovaloid venue to accommodate a steeply banked cement cycling track that ran through the terraces behind each goal. The track lasted until the redevelopment of the ground as Villa Park after the First World War to the designs of Archibald Leitch, whose work arguably reached its apogee with Highbury.

The opposition

Unai Emery, formerly of this parish, has got Villa back into Europe and, this season, the Champions League, having finished fourth in the PL last term. CL football may come to weigh on their PL performances, but that will not be a factor this early in the season.

UEFA’s financial rules, and the PL’s, have influenced Villa’s summer transfer business. The club sold a couple of youngsters that Emery would have preferred to keep — Tim Iroegbunam to Everton and Omari Kellyman to Chelsea. Nonetheless, so far, Villa has spent 30 million euros more than it has reaped from sales. 

The headline departures were Moussa Diaby to Al-Ittihad and Douglas Luiz to Juventus for a combined 111.5 million euros. Those sales funded the arrivals of the burly midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton and combative Dutch left-back Ian Maatsen from Chelsea for a combined 103.85 million euros. 

Far less expensively, Jaden Philogene has been re-signed from Hull and will compete with Leon Bailey for the right-wing berth. Sam Iling-Junior has arrived from Juventus and will do the same with the similarly aged and just as promising Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey on the left. Philogene, Illing-Junior, Rogers and Ramsey are all in their early 20s, which indicates Villa’s intent to lower the average age of a side that was the seventh oldest in the league last season. Yet the Basque’s bargain buy may be 30-year-old Ross Barkley, picked up from relegated Luton Town for 5.9 million euros.

In their 2-1 opening-weekend win at West Ham last Saturday, Villa looked like a team rebuilding and yet to settle in their new faces. Nonetheless, we can expect to see the familiar one of Emilio Martinez between the sticks, fresh from signing a new long-term contract. Defender Tyrone Mings remains a long-term injury absentee, and another of our old boys, Calum Chambers, has joined Cardiff on a free. So, a back four of Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa and either Lucas Digne or new boy Maatsen is likely. Maatsen’s arrival blocked the path of another of our alums, Lino Sousa; the 19-year-old has been sent on loan to Bristol Rovers.

Villa lined up in a 4-2-3-1 against the Hammers with Onana and Youri Tielemans as a double pivot behind Bailey, skipper John McGinn and Rogers. Last season, Emery tended to go with a compressed 4-4-1-1 at home to counter teams that like to invert a full-back to create a box of four to make an overload in midfield. I expect him to do the same again or even use a 4-1-4-1 to provide further insurance against Mikel Arteta’s inventiveness. 

Emery has plenty of midfield options off the bench in Barkley, Ramsey, Philogene, Enzo Barrenechea and Emi Buendia, the Argentine international who missed last season with injury, but Boubacar Kamara remains a long-term injury absentee.

Ollie Watkins provides the firepower up front for a side that likes to break on the counter. The 20-year-old Colombia striker Jhon Duran is his understudy, with Cameron Archer sold to Southampton. Now that Chelsea has dashed Emery’s hopes of bringing in Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid and, to rub it in, has offered Villa Raheem Sterling, there are reports that another of our old boys, Donyell Malen, is in Emery’s sights.

The Arsenal

Emery has lost only one of the seven games he has managed against us for Villa, Villareal and PSG. That was our 4-2 win at Villa Park two seasons ago when we scored two in added time (the first a Martinez og, you may remember). His head-to-head record against Arteta is Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 1.

Our 2-0 win against Wolves last weekend was more run-of-the-mill than rousing but resulted in a clean sheet and three points. With no fresh reports of injuries — Toni and KT3 remain off games, and Vieira is iffy (in so many ways) — the only change from last week’s starting XI may be at left-back. 

Last season, Bailey stretched Zinchenko in both games, and two of Villa’s three goals came from that side. I had pencilled in Jurrien Timber for Zinchenko, but in his pre-match press conference, Arteta threw some doubt on the Dutchman’s readiness to start. Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Jacob Kiwior are possible alternatives, but more likely from the bench. Calafiori may also be needed elsewhere if Declan Rice’s cramps return. Thus:

Raya

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko

Partey, Ødegaard, Rice

Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

It seems ridiculous to say this in only the second week of the season, but every game is a must-win from here on in. Villa did the double over us last season. We failed to score in either game, despite an xG of 3.2, and the April defeat at the Ems did for our title bid. 

Saturday’s will be a tough battle: Villa are a good team with a top coach. It may come down to who wins the tactical battle in midfield, which could turn on Arteta working out how to stop Villa’s two tight blocks of four stifling Martin Ødegaard’s creativity as they did last season. Putting the ball in their net would help, too. 

There are scores to be settled, demons to be vanquished and, most importantly, three points to be secured. Predictions of this being a high-scoring game are off the mark, methinks; 1-0 to the Arsenal has a reassuring ring.

Enjoy the game ‘holics, near and far.

Posted in Match Preview | 54 Drinks »

All Roads Lead to Number 14

Aug 18th, 2024 by

It’s so good to be back.

Ok, so this was my third visit to the Emirates in the last ten days but the Emirates Cup, despite all its glory and prestige, is no match for the big kick-off itself. Since mid-May I have been sat on a park bench twiddling my thumbs eagerly awaiting the resumption of proper club football. I thoroughly enjoyed the Euros, but nothing beats the buzz of watching The Arsenal up close and personal.

I made sure I got to the ground around 90 minutes early as I decided to attend the pre match party in block 25. During the week the famous Ashburton Army had announced on their socials that the concourse outside B25 was the place to be to grease up for kick off so that is where I headed. Pints were thrown (that seems to have become the fashion in recent years (can’t say I’m a fan) and a jolly old sing song was enjoyed by all. The usual renditions of “Allez Allez” and “we’ve got super Mik Arteta” did the rounds as well as a couple of chants I had not heard of previously. I suppose this is the place in which many new chants are conceived and I’m sure they’ll catch on swiftly. 

Somehow, I managed to damage my sunglasses in the melee which meant I essentially had to watch the entire game with one eye which I suppose means we probably played twice as well as I thought. First up, Pedro Neto-less Wolves were in town. Zinchenko was handed a start after a solid pre-season, whilst Calafiori and Timber were on the bench. Partey partnered Rice in midfield and Havertz was given the nod up front. Could the German continue his fine form from the second half of last season? 

Why, yes, he could. Following a low-key start from both sides, the deadlock was broken on 25 mins. Saka found space on the right and swung in a pin-point cross towards the six-yard box. Jose Sa came and didn’t get there as Kai rose highest to nod home to get The Arsenal up and running in 24/25. A lovely cross and a lovely header. The way in which the goal came about reminded me of Özil and Giroud a little. 

Wolves came close to levelling up on the half hour as Hwang swung in a cross from the right and new signing, Larsen saw his header well saved by David Raya. It was an impressive stop because Raya had already taken a step one way and very quickly had to adjust his feet to push his body in the opposite direction. 

We strolled through to half time without much fuss. The second half began in a similar vein as Arsenal appeared to be playing at a similar tempo to the first half of last season. We did what we needed to do and nothing more. It did leave us encountering a couple of hairy moments though, particularly when Saliba uncharacteristically gave the ball away on the edge of the box but thankfully, Cunha fired a tame effort straight at Raya. Meanwhile Ødegaard saw his long-range drive well saved by Sa and Partey fired a yard or so wide. 

We really needed a second goal to kill the game off and on 74 mins we found it and, in some style. Havertz fed Saka on the right who jinked inside, hesitated as the ‘keeper and defender geared up for a far post shot, but Saka fooled most in the stadium when he opted for a thumping near-post drive. He followed this up with a celebrational shrug in front of the North Bank as if to say, “well what did you think I was going to do? Miss? Nah”, as his adoring fans applauded his genius. He really is quite good this Saka fella. He might just have a decent future in this old game.

From that point onwards, Arsenal were incredibly comfortable. Timber came on for the final 20 minutes meaning our new Italian would have to wait a little while longer for his competitive Arsenal debut. But it’s always good to see Timber on the pitch. Given his injury a year ago he is essentially LANS for this defence. Adding Timber and Calafiori to what is already the league’s least porous defence is a very enticing prospect. There was one more chance for Wolves as Sarabia’s volleyed effort from the edge of the area was again well saved by Raya as The Arsenal kicked off their campaign with a ‘run of the mill’ win. 

There were one or two hairy moments but in the main Arsenal were quite comfortable and never really looked like conceding at any point. In an attacking sense we were still a little rusty in some respects but that’s nothing that can’t be re-oiled with more minutes in the next couple of games. We have Villa away next week and coming away with three points will be some task but the players will be a lot sharper following a very physical 90 mins.

 You will probably have noticed I’ve deigned not to mention Mosquera’s assaults on Havertz and Jesus, both of which somehow went unpunished, and that is because I am sick and tired of talking about these referees’ incompetencies which often overshadow the actual football and that’s what we are all here for. I think my silence echoes the sentiments of many of us here. I will be visiting Supersavers later to fix my sunglasses and I expect to see Jarred Gillet there getting his eyes checked. If not, I may have to arrange an appointment for him.

All in all, a good day’s work and it was great to bask in the N5 atmosphere once again as The Arsenal start as we mean to go on for the next nine months. 

Always forwards…..

Posted in Match Report | 85 Drinks »

Depleted Wolves Facing Paw Return At Emirates

Aug 16th, 2024 by

I must admit that at the end of last season I was really looking forward to a complete summer break from football after the exhausting tension and ultimate disappointment of once again finishing second to Manchester C137y. Yes, C115y have become C137y due to the addition of no less than 22 charges of kicking off late in Premier League games over the last two seasons. Quite what advantage they hoped to gain by delaying kick offs by a minute or so in games that could easily have 7-8 minutes of time added on, is anybody’s guess, but inveterate cheats will, you know, cheat, I guess.


There was much to look forward to – Wimbledon, The Open golf, test cricket, the Olympics and last, and very definitely least, The Euros in Germany where we would most likely see some of our best players run pointlessly into the ground by the meta-negative Gareth Southgate.

To deal with the last mentioned first, the Euros actually made me angry, watching poor Bukayo Saka trying to mesh with the head down and hopeless Kyle Walker and a variety of right sided midfielders from Mainoo to Gallagher. Before moving his best attacker of the last two years to left back (!) Gareth Southgate explained his and Saka’s plight – “they were missing Kalvin Phillips”! Declan Rice was our other elite player effortlessly made to look average by Southgate, as he was repeatedly left with no passing options in Southgate’s hotch-potch team formation. How the pair of them must have longed to return to the demanding but carefully planned and constructed methods of Mikel Arteta. 

The golf in the howling wind and driving rain of Troon was entertaining – they cover it so well on TV – but frustrating as Rory McIlroy once again faded from contention after a promising start; the tennis was ultimately sad as the quite brilliant career of Andy Murray ground to it’s inevitable end under the weight of two hip surgeries and a very recent operation to remove a cyst from his spine; but then there was the cricket! The cricket saved the day with a quite magnificent test series against the West Indies. If you missed it, you missed out!


However, we are here again because the football’s back!
First of all, huge thanks to TTG for his superb series of close-season articles which are now to be reproduced in The Gooner. If you’ve missed them so far, they are worth tracking back for.  Here’s the link to Part 1.

Our season opens against Wolves, those big, dangerous, grey things with lots of sharp, cutting teeth. However, the ones we are playing are black and gold and may not be quite so dangerous as they have just lost one of their sharpest teeth – called Pedro Neto – to a group of apparent madmen in West London who have also, as I write this, just extended the remaining 7 years of Cole Palmer’s contract, to an incredible 9 years. I’m not sure anyone honestly understands what Todd Boehly and Clearlake are up to over there but it will hopefully result in their bankruptcy and disappearance in due course.


Wolves Transfer Business 
Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs confirmed on Sunday that 24-year-old forward Pedro Neto had completed a £54m move to Chelsea. The transfer is a record sale for Wolves, beating the £47m they earned from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal for Ruben Neves in 2023. Neto, reported in some places as of interest to Arsenal, joined Wolves from Lazio in 2019, and scored 14 goals in 135 appearances. Not exactly prolific for a player who seemed to have an excellent reputation among fans, definitely has great pace but who also has a big injury record to go with it. Wolves have also sold Max Kilman to West Ham for £47.5m, given away Bolla and loaned out Bueno – if they mean anything to you?


So far, in return for the £100m or so of income, they have signed Rodrigo Gomes from Braga, Pedro Lima from Italy and Tommy Doyle aged 22 from Man C137y. They have also taken Jorgen Strand Larsen on loan, a striker from Celta de Vigo. In total, their outgoings are £33m so possibly more action to come from them.


Arsenal Transfer Business
So far (Friday am) we have made only one signing for the first team squad – Riccardo Califiori, the Italian defender from Bologna., and one young goalkeeper from Ajax who has been brought in as one to develop for the future. Mikel Merino of Real Sociedad reportedly edges closer to the entrance at Shenley, while Eddie Nketiah edges closer to the exit. Both remain speculation as yet though. I do wonder if Fabio Vieira is under instruction to keep a bag packed too, whether that is with the idea of getting him somewhere on loan, where he can play more and build up his resilience, or in readiness for a straight sale. To me he doesn’t have the strength for Premier League football and plays so few other minutes, you wonder how he justifies a place in the squad, especially with the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri who looked very comfortable in pre-season.


What do we know for sure about Wolves ? 
Well, Wolves fans are known as the Dingles who, for the unfamiliar like me, are characters from the TV soap opera “Emmerdale”, which is strange because the TV series is set in the Yorkshire Dales rather than the West Midlands home of the football club. They seem to have acquired the nickname unsurprisingly from their Midlands neighbours – particularly Villa and West Brom – because, like the TV characters, they are stupid, have few morals, a plethora of wives, even more kids and grim accents. But do not be mistaken. Despite the heavy accents, Wolverhampton is only sometimes (don’t ask, please) officially considered part of the Black Country. That distinction belongs to the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Tipton. The region takes its name from the many local iron working foundries and shallow, 30ft thick coal seams.

The club was founded in 1877 as St. Luke’s F.C. by John Baynton and John Brodie, two pupils of St Luke’s Church School in Blakenhall, who had been presented with a football by their headmaster Harry Barcroft. The area eventually became known as the City of Wolverhampton which over the years was often shortened to Wolves, so having an actual Wolf as their team badge and “Wolves” becoming their official nickname was an obvious progression.

The club’s famous colours, black and gold, are unique in the English League and originate from the motto of the city, ‘Out of Darkness Cometh Light’. Black represents the darkness of the industrial area and gold represents the light – “After darkness (black) always comes light (gold).” The colours were changed in 1954 from the original, darker, old gold to plain gold as the club wanted a brighter shirt colour when playing under their famous floodlights – Wolves having been one of the first clubs in Britain to install floodlights in their stadium, also in the 1953 / 54 season.

The only thing I couldn’t remember at this point of writing was the name of their stadium. I eventually gave in and rang Molly, a friend of mine in the Midlands, to see if she could help me out and, luckily – Molly knew !That iconic Molineux Stadium is named after Benjamin Molineux, a successful local businessman. He initially developed the land on which the stadium stands as a pleasure park in the 18th century. The football club bought the ground in 1923 and soon afterwards began work on their new main stand.

The teams
Trying to guess at teams after pre-season and with the transfer window still open can be a fools errand – as I discovered last season when I entered the Predictathon far too early. BUT by kick off on Saturday it will be TOO LATE ! – see the attached note at the end of this piece which will direct you to joining instructions.


If I had to guess I would go with – 

Raya;

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko;

Odegaard, Rice, Havertz;

Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.


Whatever the starting elevens on Saturday, the final league placings of last season are means for encouragement as we hunt the first win of the new season: 

2nd – Arsenal P38 W28 D5 L5 GF91 GA29 Pts 89 GD62

14th – Wolves P38 W13 D7 L18 GF50 GA65 Pts 46 GD-15


The Holic Pound
The average price for an Arsenal win is 1/5, the draw is 73/10 and a Wolves win is 17/1 against. Individual bets for first goal scorer can be found for Havertz at 9/2, Jesus at 19/4 or Saka at 11/2.


Rule changes for this season 
1 – From the start of this season the number of substitutes allowed to warm up at the same time has gone up from 3 to 5. This is because 5 subs may be brought on at once. 

2 – The Multiball system in use will require 15 balls. If a ball goes out of play and is not easily retrievable, a ball “assistant” may place a spare ball on a vacant cone. They are not allowed to pass the ball to a player (I kid you not!) other than an assistant behind the goal at the end where the ball goes out, who may pass the ball to the goalkeeper. Thank heavens for whoever makes this nonsense up!

3 – Match officials will only start adding time for goal celebrations once they exceed 30 seconds. This is to reduce the amount of time to be added on.
We will also see the introduction of semi-automatic (?) offsides with VAR – and at the Euros there was massive controversy when a player was adjudged to have handled by some football version of cricket’s Ultra Edge. That is beset with so many obvious anomalies I’m not even wasting cyber ink on it here. 

4 – There is, however, a new directive to penalise forwards for obstructing goalkeepers especially at set pieces. Hopefully they will also crack down on defenders wrapping both arms around attackers and stopping them from moving. There didn’t appear to be anything about fiddling with the Velcro on the keeper’s gloves, so Benny should be in the clear there.

5 – There are also changes to the handball rule. Again! Something to do with arm positioning, intent, and amount of deflection from other body parts to arm / hand in determining intent. No room for controversy there then!

Hope that saves you all from in-match bewilderment.

Match officials 
Referee: Jarred Gillett, Fourth official: Gavin Ward, VAR: Paul Tierney, Assistant VAR: Natalie AspinallKick off is at 15.00 UK time.

There is no UK TV coverage.
Enjoy the game. This could just be the year we do it ! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Reminders from our Holics Ropey League supremo, Osaka Matt, and Predictathon Svengali, North Bank Ned that time is now seriously running out to partake in next season’s premier competitions:

  • HolicsRopeyLeague – Last Call for Premier League Managers!
    A final call for the HolicsRopeyLeague annual fantasy management challenge! 

It’s completely free  for a whole season’s fun and everyone is welcome as always


Just two simple rules as below………….
1) At least one Arsenal player in your squad every week

2) No Spu*s players allowed at any time.

  • Predictathon entries must be received by 7pm this evening UK time to enter this top competition.

It’s Friday 16th August. It’s THE DAY! GHF Predictathon 2024-25 deadline day.

Sharpen your wits and your pencils, fellas and get your form in by 7pm tonight. One hour before the Manure v Fulham game kicks off. (Come on Fulham!) A donation of at least £25 to Willow is mandatory. As TTG observed in the Drinks, the folks at Willow are delighted to be supported by GHF, so be as generous as your situation permits.

Entry form here. Details by clicking the ‘GHF Contests’ tab at the top of this page.

Have fun!

Posted in Match Preview | 72 Drinks »

Another Walk in the Park at The Emirates

Aug 12th, 2024 by

A glorious summer day provided the background to our final pre-season friendly. The Emirates was packed with young families mostly, it seemed to me, taking advantage of the fact that tickets were both easily available and relatively affordable. My tickets were about £30 for sitting more or less at the front of the West Upper bang on half way. 

The team which started was pretty much the strongest available, given the unavailability of Tomiyasu and Timber. And we started at a high pace, pressing very aggressively. It was noticeable that much more came down our right with the reintroduction of Saka who was very lively from the off. Partey was patrolling the midfield with Rice pushed forward as he was against Leverkusen. Lyon struggled to get out as we pushed them back and they looked a bit stunned by the pace. Martinelli looked good as he forced the pace down the left, nicely balancing the threat of Saka on the other side. A succession of corners in the first 5 minutes or so asked questions of the Lyon defence and it looked as though the set piece coach had a busy summer designing new set plays. In the 9th minute all that hard work paid off. A fantastic corner from Rice was hit to the middle of the Lyon goal, Saliba had run around the back of the keeper and got into a position 5 yards from goal to head in pretty much unchallenged. And, as against Leverkusen, we cut through the defence pretty much straight from the kick off and only a better though ball to Martinelli prevented us from having a very good chance for a second.

Zinchenko and Ødegaard were both in good form, playing some delightful passes but a mixture of slightly overhitting and Martinelli being a little rusty kept Lyon in it. With a week to go to the big kick off, we were beginning to look good. 

The good corners kept coming with another Rice delivery from the left on 15 minutes curled in to the near post, causing no little chaos in the Lyon defence. Partey was owning the midfield, his press-resistance enabling him to make correct decisions under pressure, destroying the press and freeing up both Ødegaard and Zinchenko to make more of those smart forward passes. And it was one of those smart through balls to Martinelli resulting ultimately in a corner which led to our second. Another excellent Rice corner delivery from the left, this time to the back post found Gabriel who nodded in from 3 feet. In fairness, the goalkeeper flapped like a seal at feeding time at the aquarium which definitely helped, but again Jover has to be praised for doing his homework. 

A minute or so later it was Havertz who provided a fantastic through ball to Martinelli who ran from the half way line but couldn’t quire get away from his defender. 

That was pretty much that for the first half. Except for a piece of magic from Ødegaard on the half way line who employed a touch I can only describe as being reminiscent of Bergkamp on Dabizas at Newcastle to take the ball past his midfield marker. Nothing came of it, but it was absolutely inspired. Its at about 32 minutes on the game replay on the dotcom. 

In the interests of brevity, I will largely skate over the second half, in which Arsenal noticeably reduced the pace, eventually making a raft of substitutions, including Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, both of whom continued to impress. The only other thing of note was the introduction of Calafiori. He looked awesome. Big, strong, fast, skilful.  He started playing at left back and then moved to left sided centre half when Gabriel was taken off. He looked as though he could probably play anywhere from keeper to centre forward. I am really looking forward to watching him this season. 

All in all, a very pleasant day spent watching The Arsenal under the sun.  What’s not to like. I only wish I could go to the game next week. What kind of people have christenings during the football season? When I come to power, I will outlaw them. The christenings, not the relatives. 

A word from our Holics Ropey League supremo, Osaka Matt, as time is running out to partake in one of next season’s premier competitions:

HolicsRopeyLeague – Last Call for Premier League Managers!


A final call for the HolicsRopeyLeague annual fantasy management challenge! 

It’s completely free  for a whole season’s fun and everyone is welcome as always


Just two simple rules as below………….
1) At least one Arsenal player in your squad every week

2) No Spu*s players allowed at any time.

Also, a reminder from Ned that your Predictathon entry must be received by Friday evening UK time to enter the other premier competition.

Monday today, Tuesday tomorrow, then Wednesday, then Thursday, then GHF Predictathon 2024-25 deadline day.

Sharpen your wits and your pencils, fellas and get your form in on time. A donation of at least £25 to Willow is mandatory. As TTG observed in the last Drinks, the folks at Willow are delighted to be supported by GHF, so be as generous as your situation permits.

Entry form here.

Posted in Match Report | 56 Drinks »

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