Arsenal FC 2023-24: Passion, Energy, Clarity

[Dutch 4465]

6 minutes ago, Ted Lange said:

 

[Ted Lange 16085]

On 3/12/2024 at 4:08 PM, Ted Lange said:

Don’t disagree with that.  I’m also mesmerized by how on point perfect nearly every Jorginho pass is.  It’s uncanny 

 

[The Maestro 750]

On 2/29/2024 at 3:03 PM, The Maestro said:

Wolves have been hot, shocked if they don’t beat Coventry.  

Haji Wright. Eating 🐦‍⬛ 

Edited March 16 by The Maestro

[Buzzrock 14918]

Sup Fulham

[Buzzrock 14918]

When is the Chelsea make up?

[Dutch 4465]

Hopefully this is just precautionary. We outta lock everyone up in London Colney.  No International break this spring.

Edited March 18 by Dutch

[Dutch 4465]

3 hours ago, Buzzrock said:

When is the Chelsea make up?

Still unscheduled. Likely they'll cram it in Tue/Wed Apr 23/24 or Tue/Wed May 14/15.  Those are the only weeks where we currently aren't playing every three days. 

In April, we'd have A Wolves (major banana peel game), H Chelsea, A Spurs (NLD). In April, we'd have A manUre, H Chelsea, H Everton.

It'll be hard either way.

EDIT: The other option is if we don't advance in the CL, it could be midweek between Spurs and Bournemouth, or midweek between Bouremouth and manUre.

Edited March 18 by Dutch

[Dutch 4465]

With Gabi XL now carrying an injury, Tomi perma-injured, and Benny Blanco playing through one, Timber returning would be massive.  Any minutes would be vital.

[Buzzrock 14918]

Still unscheduled. Likely they'll cram it in Tue/Wed Apr 23/24 or Tue/Wed May 14/15.  Those are the only weeks where we currently aren't playing every three days. 
In April, we'd have A Wolves (major banana peel game), H Chelsea, A Spurs (NLD). In April, we'd have A manUre, H Chelsea, H Everton.
It'll be hard either way.
EDIT: The other option is if we don't advance in the CL, it could be midweek between Spurs and Bournemouth, or midweek between Bouremouth and manUre.

Messy

[Dutch 4465]

Chelsea match officially set for Tue Apr 23. Spurs match will move up to the 27th if we advance in the CL and get a semi on he 30th.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/wolves-tottenham-and-chelsea-fixtures-rearranged

[shadow_operative 15932]

 

lol

[Dutch 4465]

2 hours ago, shadow_operative said:

 

lol

Szczesny has always been #OneOfUs

 

[Dutch 4465]

Another Hale End lad staying home. 

[Dutch 4465]

[Dutch 4465]

Won't be surprised if Stones and Walker play for City. Won't be surprised if our guys play. Won't be surprised if none of them play.

That said... missing Gabi XL would be a huge loss; his partnership with Saliba and presence has been massive for us all year. I'd imagine we'd move Kiwior to CB and Tomi/Zinny to LB if he can't go.

[Ted Lange 16085]

 

[Ted Lange 16085]

Not feeling great about this match.   I’d be more than happy with a draw here. 

[Ted Lange 16085]

Nervy start. 

[Ted Lange 16085]

Dammit Jesus, gotta do better there.   

[Ted Lange 16085]

Early thoughts, Arsenal might have a 5% chance of getting points out of this. Brutal 

[Surly Bevo 24908]

They look very tentative out there.

[Ted Lange 16085]

75/25 possession.  Not great. 

[Ted Lange 16085]

The F is going on with Raya’s slipping. 

[Dutch 4465]

We were blown away in the 1H las year, and City haven't been good in the 2H of late. Maybe Arteta's plan was to soak up the initial City rush, keep the crowd out of it, go in to halftime at nil-nil, and then turn up the heat? 

[Ted Lange 16085]

Odegard has been a non factor so far 

[Dutch 4465]

Nil-nil at the break. I'll take it. 

[Ted Lange 16085]

Definitely take that score line.  

[Ted Lange 16085]

At this point just pray it stays that way until around 83 minutes and Arsenal hit City on a counter.   Feels like a potential Trossard match. 

[Ted Lange 16085]

 

[Dutch 4465]

4 minutes ago, Ted Lange said:

At this point just pray it stays that way until around 83 minutes and Arsenal hit City on a counter.   Feels like a potential Trossard match. 

Yup. For the first time in a long while, I think we have overall a deeper bench.  Trossard, Tomi, Zinny, Martinelli (maybe for ~ 10 mins), Eddie running at tired defenders... 

Edited March 31 by Dutch

[The Maestro 750]

COYG!!  Let’s take this

[Dutch 4465]

Nearly.... come on Arsenal

[Dutch 4465]

Partey on... eeeeh IDK.... He hasn't exactly looked great in his appearences so far.  Hopefully we get "1h of last year Partey."

[Ted Lange 16085]

This is tough to watch. 

[Dutch 4465]

I don't think this will end nil-nil; they'll be a moment of brilliance that decides it. I pray its from a player wearing red and white.

[Dutch 4465]

14 minutes ago, Dutch said:

I don't think this will end nil-nil; they'll be a moment of brilliance that decides it. I pray its from a player wearing red and white.

Or not. 

Draw isn't a bad result. A loss would have been very damaging, a win potentially very uplifting.  Maybe Arteta should have applied more pressure in the 2H; subs were all positive, though.  The near-miss Jesus chance (if only his leg had been a few inches longer) in front of an open goal was the best of the match for either side and a massive missed opportunity.

Gotta hope Liverpool drop points now.

[beer 3220]

18 minutes ago, Dutch said:

I don't think this will end nil-nil; they'll be a moment of brilliance that decides it. I pray its from a player wearing red and white.

Uh

[Ted Lange 16085]

1 point is a W. 

[Dutch 4465]

Defensively, though, that was a masterclass.  Benny Blanco, Gabi XL (MOTM), Rolls Royce, and Kiwior/Tomi all put in 10/10 shifts.

[Bullneck 19084]

I'm OK with the draw (which is good, since there ain't no changing that!)

A win would be great but a loss would probably have been the end of the year.  9 games and a lot of football left to play.  

Edited March 31 by Bullneck

[The Maestro 750]

Professional showing.   Win would have been spectacular but holding them at home is no small task

[Firemans4Horn 18048]

8 minutes ago, Dutch said:

Gotta hope Liverpool drop points now.

We have a fairly tough run in (not as tough as y’all’s). I think the only team with a decent chance to win out is City. 

[Dutch 4465]

2 minutes ago, Firemans4Horn said:

We have a fairly tough run in (not as tough as y’all’s). I think the only team with a decent chance to win out is City. 

What each of us have left:

Liverpool: Sheff Utd (H), Man Utd (A), Crystal Palace (H), Fulham (A), Everton (A), West Ham (A), Spurs (H), Aston Villa (A), Wolves (H)

Arsenal: Luton (H), Brighton (A), Aston Villa (H), Wolves (A), Chelsea (H), Spurs (A), Bournemouth (H), Man Utd (A), Everton (H)

Man City: Aston Villa (H), Crystal Palace (A), Luton Town (H), Brighton (A), Nottm Forest (A), Wolves (H), Fulham (A), West Ham (H)

Our run-in is probably more difficult: manure and spurs away, Chelsea (who play up to their competition) midweek before the NLD.  Then again all three clubs will likely be playing every three days through the end of April. 

Agree re City. After Villa, they have the easiest fixture list; hard to imagine them dropping many (if any) points after Villa. 

[Buzzrock 14918]

Couldn’t get through the door. Luckily there is more than one pub in Manhattan.

I’ll take the draw. I don’t love it but I’ll take it. Time to show our quality.

[Ted Lange 16085]

[Ted Lange 16085]

 

[Ted Lange 16085]

Reminder, last time Arsenal played Luton.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 3 by Ted Lange

[Dutch 4465]

We got those extra 30 seconds because Luton were booked for time-wasting in extra time. Lulz.  

Hopefully today isn't as stressful. In the 11 matches since the winter break, we've allowed five goals.  Of those five, one which as in garbage time while up 4-nil on Sandcastle and another in with the final kick of the football v Porto due to Martinelli's brain fart clearance.

[Dutch 4465]

If someone had told me in August we'd take eight points off of City and Liverpool, I'd have said no way. But here we are. Liverpool are the favorites at this point; we have to win out (hard away matches left mixed with a few banana peel home matches) and hope they slip once.  Drop any points and then they have to slip twice (unlikely). I still have a fear that we're going to badly regret dropping five points to Fullham (we're top right now on GD if we don't concede to 10-man Fullham.)

But still. The 4th quarter has started. Everyone is holding four fingers aloft. We've given ourselves a chance.

Lets. Fucking. Go.

Edited April 3 by Dutch

[Ted Lange 16085]