{"id":3341,"date":"2021-05-12T09:05:24","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T08:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=3341"},"modified":"2021-05-13T00:02:31","modified_gmt":"2021-05-12T23:02:31","slug":"down-south-we-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=3341","title":{"rendered":"Down South We Go"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Hello again everyone and welcome to a quick preview of our antepenultimate game of the season – a trip, as the image above suggests, to a bus stop in Fulham. Fresh from two wins in a row against Newcastle and West Brom we now face a step up in class \u2013 or of course a step down depending on how you interpret class \u2013 against a Chelsea side which I must, through gritted teeth, say have done ok since Tuchel arrived to replace the pleasingly mediocre Lumpard. Having mentioned Tuchel, I suppose at this early point in the preview I should acknowledge that some of my fellow Gooners will no doubt see parallels there with our own current situation, however, to me the fundamental difference of our not being willing to spend 200 million quid or whatever it was in a summer makes the comparison meaningless. Without going into tedious detail, I am, for myself, perfectly happy to give Mikel and our youngsters another season to develop without the distractions of second-rate European midweek games and see where we stand at the end of next season. Disagree? One of the very best things about this bar is that you are free to do so in the comments below and I sincerely hope we always remain a broad church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back then, to tonight\u2019s game and when asked what he wants from the final three games of the season MA said \u201cI think it is the pride in the shirt that we wear, and that we want to win\u201d<\/em>. That I think is a sentiment that we can all agree on and one I hope to see fully demonstrated by whatever XI is selected. We have already beaten Chelsea once this season, a 3-1 win in December that promised briefly to turn our league form around and so another win tonight would give us a first double over them since the 2003\/04 season \u2013 far too long. Talking of too long, it also now nearly 10 years since we won at the bus stop a 5-3 win of happy memory in which a certain Mikel Arteta got an assist for Van Persie to put the cherry on top in the final minute.  Though it would almost certainly be largely meaningless in terms of our league position, a win in a London derby is always welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

I will deal briefly with Chelsea as we all know who they, what they are and who they represent \u2013 in my opinion an odious ownership, a largely shameless and shameful support, and the exploitative values of a sad-faced cutthroat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will pick a team with one eye on other games I expect but will also want to win tonight. It will be up to us to put whatever dent we can into their confidence going forwards. Given the probability of an unfamiliar line-up it is quite possible there will be a few goals in the game tonight even though Chelsea have been accumulating clean sheets at home over the last couple of months \u2013 who then are the men to get them for The Arsenal?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Line Up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As has been the case recently it is again very difficult to know who will start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do know Luiz is definitely out and that fitness doubts surround Xhaka, ESR, Auba and Mari as far as I am aware at this stage. I believe Auba was just rested for WBA and I expect to see his return for this one. Short of an injury update from the club your guess is as good as mine for the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For what it\u2019s worth I\u2019m expecting a few changes for this one and an XI something like to the team below\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leno<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chambers – Holding – Gabriel – Tierney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas – Elneny<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saka – Odegaard – Pepe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auba<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fairly experienced side in other words and with a midfield designed to offer added protection in defence rather than attack. It is not the XI I would pick at this stage of the season and if Xhaka is fit it will not be the one that MA picks either. With that proviso I think it is fairly close, and also that we will attempt to hit their still suspect defence on the counter using Pepe, Auba and Saka\u2019s pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Holic Pound<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having grown up in South London I have always enjoyed beating Chelsea and few things would give me greater pleasure than nailing the score with the Holic Pound this time. Tempting as it is go with a 10th<\/sup> anniversary 5-3 to The Arsenal, that score does not grow on trees and in the circumstances I will go even further back for a Kanuuuu inspired 3-2 win for the good guys at the highly lucrative odds of 66-1.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wish all of us all the best for the game and will finish with COYGs!!!!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE CONVERSATION: EPISODE TWO<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

And again…the second part of the conversation, and the second part of our Double Celebration<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GHF.com are pleased to release this, especially considering the Arsenal events of these past couple weeks. Lift your spirits<\/strong> by watching the second episode of two video conversations with Bob Wilson and Pat Rice about Arsenal’s 1970-71 Double year, on the 50th Anniversary of our FA Cup win over Liverpool at Wembley. Remember to donate to Willow<\/a>, or bid on the GHF.com Auction<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click on the image below (or on the Youtube link below that) to watch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Episode Two: Double Glory — The 1971 FA Cup Run”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Or, watch here: “Episode Two: Double Glory — The 1971 FA Cup Run<\/strong><\/a>“<\/strong> (on Youtube). This is especially helpful if you’re having any loading issues with the link to the one the site is serving above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us know what you think in the “drinks” section below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE AUCTION<\/strong>: NOW ACCEPTING BIDS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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We are also pleased to remind you that our auction of signed 1970-71 Double memorabilia is now open for bids!<\/strong> For full information, please visit The Double\/Willow Auction<\/a> tab above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just a taste…the lots offered are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lot 1<\/span><\/strong>: A 1971 Cup Final replica shirt signed by Bob Wilson, Pat Rice, Frank McLintock, George Graham & Charlie George.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lot 2<\/span><\/strong>: A 1971 Cup Final programme signed by Bob Wilson, Pat Rice, Frank McLintock, George Graham & Charlie George.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lot 3<\/span><\/strong>: A second 1971 Cup Final programme signed by Bob Wilson, Pat Rice, Frank McLintock, George Graham & Charlie George.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lot 4<\/span><\/strong>: Bob Wilson’s autobiography, ‘Behind the Network’ signed by Bob Wilson & Ars\u00e8ne Wenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All proceeds from the auction go to the Willow Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hello again everyone and welcome to a quick preview of our antepenultimate game of the season – a trip, as the image above suggests, to a bus stop in Fulham. Fresh from two wins in a row against Newcastle and West Brom we now face a step up in class \u2013 or of course a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"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\/3341"}],"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=3341"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3355,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3341\/revisions\/3355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}