{"id":10834,"date":"2025-02-21T09:40:49","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T09:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=10834"},"modified":"2025-02-25T23:37:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T23:37:30","slug":"one-game-at-a-time-gunners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=10834","title":{"rendered":"One Game at a Time, Gunners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The season has reached a critical juncture where the league leaders face a trio of challenging games in short order in which they might just drop a few points. It is vital that we now keep up the pressure on Slot and his team. West Ham\u2019s visit on Saturday therefore represents yet another \u2018must win game\u2019 for the Arsenal to narrow the gap to 5 points after Villa took two points off Liverpool in a well-earned draw at Villa Park. It’s really quite simple: we just have to keep doing our own job and, by hook or by crook, beat every team in front of us as the fixtures wind down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our visitors claim to have been founded in 1895 as \u2018Thames Ironworks\u2019 only to be disbanded in 1900. Another club was refounded as West Ham United later that year subsequently joining the Football League in 1919. The Boleyn Ground was that club\u2019s home from 1904 until 2016 when it received a gift from London Mayor in the award of tenancy of the former Olympic Stadium at a peppercorn rent with the ratepayers funding conversion costs to a ‘football stadium’. That move was expected to give the club a huge competitive boost but the ground is apparently a soulless place to watch football where the stadium\u2019s original design features leave most fans far too far from the action. In addition the stands frequently appear to be filled with toxicity – though that may simply be the culture of the natives. There were certainly clear delusions of grandeur after that move but fan expectations have not yet been met and, frankly, seem unlikely ever to be met. Another as yet unfulfilled dream was that the club would be sold to a Chinese investor and their current pornographer owners would ride into the sunset with their saddle bags stuffed with gold. Dream on, barrow boys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although West Ham have never actually been anything other than London\u2019s fourth largest club, they have indeed won five major honours over the years. They won the FA Cup in 1963, 1975 and 1980, the European Cup Winners Cup in 1965 (under Ron Greenwood, with an exciting young team which included three stalwarts-to-be of England\u2019s World Cup winners in 1966), and most recently the Europa Conference League in 2023 (lifted by a certain Mr D. Rice) prompting, for a season, the preposterous chant of \u2018Champions of Europe\u2019! Delusions of grandeur in the boardroom as well as on the terraces were probably responsible for their failure to offer a contract extension in 2024 to David Moyes, who had twice saved them from relegation, took them to three consecutive European tournaments, for the first time in their history, including reaching the Europa League semi-final in 2021-22 then lifting that Europa Conference League trophy in 2022-23. Their beef was apparently that the quality of football they were playing had regressed which was probably not unrelated to the sale of key players, including a certain Mr D Rice. Moyes was replaced by the underwhelming Julian Lopetegui in May last year but his team lost 9 of 20 Premier League games leading to his replacement on 8 January by Graham Potter with the club sitting in 14th place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least West Ham can proudly claim to be one of only eight clubs never to have been relegated below the second tier of English football (the certificate is in the post). However, they have spent only 67 of 99 seasons in the top flight and their highest ever league position is third place on a single occasion: 1985-86. Although, when they visit the Grove, their fans sing, \u201cWe hate Tottnumb more than you,\u201d their traditional rival is Millwall FC due to their common origins as neighbouring Thames ironworks teams and the Hammers’ frequent sojourns in the second tier. Those matches have a certain spiciness on the pitch, on the terracing and even in the streets. It\u2019s not a fixture which the Met anticipate with glee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Potter\u2019s appointment, West Ham have played a series of matches more reminiscent of the old Southern League than the globe conquering Premiership. After being knocked out of the FA Cup by Villa the day after his appointment, the \u2018new manager bounce\u2019 kicked in briefly when they beat Fulham 3-2 at the Council Stadium following which they have lost 0-2 at home to Palace, drawn away to Villa, lost away to Chelsea and lost at home to Brentford. They now sit 16th but are 10 points clear of the relegation zone though two places below Everton whose fortunes have been transformed by none other than David Moyes. While points-wise they are, at present, well clear of the relegation scrap, continuation of their current form will see them slip inexorably towards it. We can therefore expect them to scrap desperately for a point on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potter\u2019s preferred playing style may best be characterised as \u2018fluid possession-based football\u2019. At Brighton, he constantly changed team formation and personnel, occasionally playing 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 but most frequently using a back three and selecting players capable of changing roles within games. In possession he likes his forward(s) to drift wide to support an advancing wing back, creating space for central midfielders or the other wing back to run into attacking areas and take advantage of diagonal cut-backs from the wide men. Potter\u2019s regular 3-4-2-1 employs two \u201910\u2019s\u2019 supporting a lone striker, creating a four man midfield box to overload the opposition’s three man midfield. Meanwhile, Potter’s wide centre backs are encouraged to get forward regularly to support the wingback on their side – an attribute that you will recognise Benjamin White has successfully brought to his Arsenal game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out of possession, Potter\u2019s wing backs and wide midfielders press their direct opponents aggressively out wide while his preferred double pivot hold their zonal positions to screen the defence and the two 10\u2019s move wide to prevent in-field passes.  Their aim is to force the opponent into wide areas, away from their goal, also creating space for a breakout if they can regain possession. When the opposition has extended periods of possession Potter\u2019s teams fall back into a 5-2-3 or 5-4-1 using a combination of low and mid blocks. In terms of defensive actions, Potter\u2019s Brighton were the fourth most aggressive team for pressing, duelling, tackling and interceptions in his final season there, primarily due to the workrate of his two pivots and two \u201910\u2019s\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undoubtedly, in the 6 weeks he has been in charge Potter will have begun to induct his new squad into his preferred strategies. Whether he adapts his tactics to a squad that was built for Lopetugi\u2019s 4-2-3-1 system or finds players ready to adopt his methods remains to be seen. However, he has inherited an efficient double pivot in Alvarez and Soucek though they are less technically-gifted or creative than his erstwhile Brighton pairs. However., Wan-Bissaka, Kudus, Ferguson and Bowen are certainly the kind of players who would fit his mould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paqueta is a doubt following an ankle injury in training which means Brighton loanee Ferguson may make his first start. Summerville is out with a hamstring injury and Coufal is also expected to miss this match. Strikers Fullkrug and Antonio are long term absentees. The following starting XI is predicted by several sources: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kidman, Emerson;  Alvarez, Ward-Prowse; Bowen, Kudus, Solar; Ferguson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest news from the Arsenal camp seems to be all about successful surgical procedures. In the past week or so, Tomiyasu, Havertz and Nelson have gone under the knife and will not play again this season with the Japanese defender unlikely to be fit again until the end of the YEAR! More encouragingly, John Cross has reported in the Mirror that Mikel Arteta is targeting Fulham\u2019s visit on 1 April for the return of both Martinelli and Saka – make of that what you will, given the date selected! However with Jes\u00f9s in the early phase of rehab post ACL surgery, we will face the Hammers without our four first choice attackers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank the Lord (DB10 – no conversions here) that our Hale End graduates have stepped up to the plate so brilliantly and Mikel Merino has emulated Kai Havertz, at least initially, (hopefully to be continued indefinitely) in transforming himself from a toiling midfielder into a deadly finisher – truly a caterpillar to butterfly scale mutation. We need those three players to reproduce their Lesta form against West Ham and thereafter. I have to give special flowers to the Hale End lads. Without MLS\u2019s toe poke deflection, I doubt whether we would have taken all 3 points at Lesta and Nwaneri\u2019s match long endeavours should have been rewarded with more than that beautiful assist and two strikes on the woodwork. Frankly, without the emergence of those two lads we would not be breathing down the Scousers\u2019 necks. Hopefully further rewards will be forthcoming. Benjamin White has been training with the first team since Dubai, was on the bench at Lesta and can also be expected to be available on Saturday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are few questions about our starting XI. Will White start, giving Timber a well earned rest or will he join the game from the bench after 60 minutes? I suspect the latter. Will MLS retain the left back slot after several outstanding performances or will Calafiori claim the starting position? I suspect the former. After 70 minutes of unrewarding toil by Sterling prompting the consensus that the man was willing but that \u2018his legs had gone\u2019, we saw the value of a big, technically-gifted player driving into the middle of the opposition box. Will Merino start in the attack or, as Mikel Arteta implied had been his strategy against Lesta, will Sterling join Trossard and Nwaneri in driving at and tiring out the opposition’s defenders to create, as the game draws late, the space for our Big Brawny Basque Bomber to finish the job? Personally, I would start Merino up front from the off and bring Sterling on at 60-70 minutes to allow one of the starting forwards to put their feet up for half an hour, but Mikel knows better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, my starting XI is as follows (Mikel will likely have other ideas):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raya<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, MLS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00d8degaard, Partey, Rice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have won 74 out of 152 matches against West Ham (lost 41), scored at least 5 in each of our last two games against them and are unbeaten in 15 games, whilst West Ham haven\u2019t kept a clean sheet in 2025. We should be optimistic that, even bereft of four top attackers, we will score goals and should win this game. If we dominate possession, as I expect, control the ball, maintain defensive solidity and regularly get the ball to Nwaneri, Dave\u2019s favourite 2-0 scoreline seems a likely outcome. Thus the Holic Pound is going on this scoreline which is offered at 5\/1 at SkyBet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The match kicks off at 3pm and is therefore not being televised live in the UK. Overseas viewers have a number of live broadcast options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we are going to hunt Liverpool down, we need to win this game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy the game, \u2018Holics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ONE. GAME. AT. A. TIME.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The season has reached a critical juncture where the league leaders face a trio of challenging games in short order in which they might just drop a few points. It is vital that we now keep up the pressure on Slot and his team. West Ham\u2019s visit on Saturday therefore represents yet another \u2018must win […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10834"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10834"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10834\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10848,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10834\/revisions\/10848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}