{"id":14297,"date":"2026-09-07T15:16:29","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T14:16:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=14297"},"modified":"2026-09-09T23:55:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T22:55:40","slug":"a-double-blue-for-the-gunners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=14297","title":{"rendered":"A Double Blue for the Gunners?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
  1. Chelsea \u2013 Customary 3 points banked<\/li>
  2. Napoli \u2013 ? Winning start in the Champions League<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Ezri Konsa showing Morgan Rogers what\u2019s what on his home debut. Courtesy of Arsenal.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Welcome one and all to the GHF two-in-one September Special \u2013 today\u2019s double header will cover the Chelsea match report and Napoli preview due to the fortunately ineffable constraints innate to this particular space-time continuum. I hope you will enjoy this one-time special offering as I am sure the football calendar will soon be rearranged to better fit the needs of supporters and player health and safety as promised by FIFA, UEFA and the Tooth Fairy. Once Santa Claus is onboard (and drops his quite ridiculous demand for a second Christmas every June) we should be ready to rock. Enough of that for now and on to a report of the jolly good jingling we gave Chelsea yesterday ho ho ho. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Part One: The Arsenal vs Chelsea<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our South London neighbours rolled up this Sunday, all freshly painted and newly minted with the fruits of their possibly nefarious doings (I couldn\u2019t possibly say) in the transfer market and Alonso, the next one along in their managerial meat market. Fortunately, as I am sure you know by now, they stuck firmly to recent tradition despite the new old faces and handed over the three points despite our generous gift of a goal start. The Arsenal had lined up pretty much as expected, Konsa making his debut in place of the injured Mosquera was the only change. What happened next? As the late David Coleman used to say so mellifluously. I liked Coleman apropos of nothing whatsoever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To give what must be a fairly quick run through as we\u2019ve miles to go – the game kicked off, the referee gave Chelsea a generous free-kick after Konsa won the ball, it was floated in, we lost a header at the back post, got it half-away and it dropped nicely for a fairly open Rogers to slot home from the edge of the area. Mikel was less than happy about the goal after the game (or at the time I imagine) but like the rest of us he was very happy with our response. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For the next 25 minutes we went at Chelsea hard, it was a full-on, furiously-paced London derby performance, chances came and went, Martinez took a Gabriel boot to the face (accidently it must be said, but Dennis forgive me I may have smiled), tackles were snapped into, and the central truth of the game emerged. As I know you can handle this truth I will share it freely \u2013 we are the better side. We equalized, Calafiori quickest in a goalmouth scramble, VAR correctly chalked it off for a Konsa offside, we persisted and played, it must be said, some really great attacking stuff. In time the equaliser arrived, Kai Havertz once again showing Chelsea the error of their selling ways. I believe I know a song about it. Kai had picked up the ball on the right-hand side of the box, cut across the box and reversed his shot into the bottom right corner. Was Martinez slow and lumbering as is his wont these days? Sure, but it was a very well-placed shot through the centre back\u2019s legs and credit to Kai for me. We took a breather for a couple of minutes after the equalizer, let Chelsea get back into our half and even have a shot or two, but dominance was soon resumed and a lead at half-time would not have been unfair on the run of play, though journalistic integrity forces me to mention Neto did hit the post right on the stroke of half-time though Raya had it covered I thought. A lead wasn\u2019t be to be but shortly after the break we did go ahead and with a goal that was easier on the eye than Le Havre in a 19th<\/sup> century morning mist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Chelsea had started the second half quite passively and after watching us pass the ball around pleasantly for a while they seemed to be lulled into a false sense of security as Tzolis picked up the ball on the left touchline played a sharp pass into the area, Kai pulled his foot away at the last second to discombobulate Fofana and Odegaard ran onto the nicely weighted ball and smashed it home \u2013 very similar to our goal in Community Shield in fact though Ode didn\u2019t bother with the dummy (that was you Fofana) this time. We saw out the game well after that, could have scored again, and I was never particularly concerned about Chelsea equalizing though Raya had to be quick to palm an Estevao shot over the bar late on. Subs were made, the crowd gave Rogers some helpful advice on which club he should have joined, Welbz came on to what sounded like a generous hand, and some huffing and puffing was done and so were Chelsea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Quick Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We were very, very good for the first half-hour, having rewatched the game this morning I hadn\u2019t appreciated at the time quite how good. If any team wants to get something at our place this season it will have to be earned the very hard way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And, of course, what we have, we hold hasn\u2019t changed either. Absolutely no discernible sign of any loss in desire to my eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our bench is just a thing of wonder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Martin Odegaard is back. Our captain was excellent again this week, however if I had to I think I would give Kai the man of the match plaudits this time. Tzolis was much better than last week, Raya his usual assured self. Everyone was fine, though some understandably tired or still have a little rust to shake off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    People can have their own opinions of course but I do not believe Chelsea are title contenders despite their European free schedule. To be fair they are not a bad collection of players but I thought as Konsa said after the game we should have had three or four. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As the game ended the Chelsea contingent were pleasingly sad-faced but if it is any consolation I can say I think they are better than the Spuds. London, however, is red. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Enough of the glorious past, on now to the next game for our merry crew and it is another test to start a rum run of four away games, Sunderland and Brighton in the league sandwich Ipswich in the Carabao, but first up it is Champions League time!  Our first opponents will be the home of my favourite childhood ice cream, Neapolitan* and also Napoli football club. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Part Two: Napoli vs The Arsenal <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yes, the opening salvoes of our Champions League campaign will be fired in the sun-scorched Italian south this Wednesday with a tricky trip to Napoli, last season\u2019s runner-up in that much painted old madam Serie A (eh? Ed). Our record against Napoli in Europe is played four, won three, lost one, bland enough on the surface though that sole defeat was in fact enough on the night for us to scrape through a Champions League Group of Death with Borussia Dortmund, Marseille and Napoli by the barest of margins on goal difference as we saw out an old-fashioned nailbiter with 10 men. The man sent off that night? Our very own captain leading by example, Mikel Arteta! It was only in 2013 and, as I am slightly over 20 years old, I remember it well, actually a ridiculous second yellow just after Higuain (have we signed him yet?) put Napoli ahead. We went to Napoli again in 2019 for the second leg of a Europa League quarter-final, nicked a 1-0 to The Arsenal and a 3-0 aggregate win under Unai Emery. Not a one remains of either side from that night as far as I can see.  I certainly hope several of tonight\u2019s team will still be with us seven years from now, but as I haven\u2019t the time or space etc etc I will get on with trying to predict just who will play tonight. I \u2018ve always thought the first game in the CL to be very important in setting the tone, as we did so well in Bilbao last year, and more pertinently I think Mikel may have a similar opinion \u2013 for that Bilbao game the Boss picked a team showing just one change from the league game the weekend prior. Will he do that again? I am guessing he will go in the same general direction this time – strong team, couple of changes, slightly defensive, and chosen to dig out a result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

    Konsa Mosquera Gabriel Hincapie<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Zubimendi Ode Merino<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Saka Havertz Tzolis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Opposition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Neapolitans, managed this season by Massimiliano Allegri, possibly best known to us for his successful years at Juve, will come into the game (with an extra day\u2019s rest) fresh from throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against Inter Milan this weekend. It was another disappointment for the Partenopei** to endure after getting rolled over 2-1 at home by Como the week before. Let\u2019s hope disappointment comes in threes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They have many players known to us of old. Kevin de Bruyne, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Benoit Badashile, and Rasmus Hojlund. McTominay, a local hero by all accounts ever since Napoli won the Scudetto in the 24\/25 season, is out for minor heart surgery, Hojlund has started well this season with a couple of well-taken goals, but de Bruyne sticking it to us one last time would be my biggest worry I suppose. Napoli have generally started 4-3-3 this season but Allegri is an old Champions League hand and may have a trick or two in store. Regardless of who or how they play we know it will be an intimidating atmosphere and we will need to stand up and be counted to get a result \u2013 fortunately that is one thing we do very well indeed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Score<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I will bring this long read to a quick and merciful end by predicting a 1-0 to The Arsenal. I think we have enough in defence for a clean sheet and an attack well capable of nicking a goal \u2013 time for a set-piece goal perhaps\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Enjoy the game one and all wherever you may be, and let\u2019s look forward to the PL champions continuing their imperious start to the 26\/27 season. COYGs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    *sadly, I have to report it isn\u2019t in fact the home of Neapolitan ice-cream, which was first reported in Prussia and then adapted into its current three flavours for the American market according to my investigations. No one knows for certain but it seems our ancestors simply made up the name in the 19th<\/sup> century – shocking stuff but they were fast and loose with The Truth in them days kids!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    **for the more historically curious amongst us, it seems Neapolitans are known as Partenopei after the name of original city built on the site by Greek settlers nearly three millenium ago. That city was known as Parthenope, in honour of a shapely Siren who took the waters locally I believe, and then when Naples was constructed nearby a few hundred years later it was known as Neopolis (Napoli these days) or New City. The new city is now about 2,500 years old. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Chelsea \u2013 Customary 3 points banked Napoli \u2013 ? Winning start in the Champions League Welcome one and all to the GHF two-in-one September Special \u2013 today\u2019s double header will cover the Chelsea match report and Napoli preview due to the fortunately ineffable constraints innate to this particular space-time continuum. I hope you will enjoy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[34],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14297"}],"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\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14297"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14302,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14297\/revisions\/14302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}