1st May 2006. Late afternoon kick-off. Sunderland v Arsenal. Sunderland already relegated. Arsenal 0-3 up in the first half and coasting. Game won so both teams going through the motions for the second half. Bit-part player for Sunderland, Ben Smith takes the field as a late substitute for Sunderland. In the last few minutes, Diaby has the ball wide near the halfway line as the game peters out. Shit-kicker Smith launches a two-footed assault from behind, breaking and dislocating Diaby’s ankle and rupturing his ligaments. Shit-kicker Smith got booked by Dermot Gallagher though nobody could believe how he wasn't sent off. Diaby leaves the field on a stretcher. He didn’t play again for 10 months and never really regained full or reliable fitness. He showed flashes of excellence over the next few years but he was never the same player again – ever.

The league's refs as well as a few managers like Pulis and Allardyce felt it was okay to do to Arsenal players what they wouldn't do to others.
That's the long and short of it.

...add Eduardo to the list.

A belated happy birthday to the Feb. 25 birthday boy.

Unconfirmed report from Stamford Bridge that the Chelsea goalkeeper has put on his kit and is sleeping out in the goal area overnight. Won't bother to wait for the team sheet tomorrow, he has made his decision already - he will play.

http://dailycannon.com/2019/02/steven-g ... r-rangers/
Steven Gerrard says Arsenal academy graduate Glen Kamara was a bargain for Rangers

I guess a draw is a good result in the Chelsea v Tottenham derby. Although, if one has to win, I'd prefer...cough...spit... Tottenham (need some water to wash out my mouth) due to 4th place ramifications.

The sad fact as well is this is now the biggest derby in London. I think this may now eclipse the NLD for at least the younger football fans in London and split, I'm guessing in older supporters.

Poch charged after his rant at Mike Dean, if the FA get their ar$e in gear this should mean a touchline van for the NLD.
I’d would be handy if Chelsea and spurs kick lumps out of each other tonight, a draw and red cards and injuries would be most pleasing

Is it a fact, sad or not? I would say Arsenal v Tottenham has more history to it for a longer period than Chelsea v Tottenham. I would also say that because of local geography, Arsenal v Tottenham has an even keener rivalry than Chelsea v Tottenham.

In deciding what is a city's biggest derby, I'm not sure the current quality or standing of the clubs should or even can be the only consideration. Look at it this way. In some of the years when Rangers were outside the top tier of the Scottish league system after being relegated some tiers down for financial irregularities, the Scottish Premier League's Glasgow derby would have been Celtic v Partick Thistle. But it's simply ridiculous to claim Celtic v Partick temporarily became Glasgow's biggest derby. There is far more tradition, rivalry and history to the Old Firm (Rangers v Celtic) game.

I accept the Glasgow example is surely more extreme than the London one. But for me London's biggest derby is still Arsenal v Tottenham, not Chelsea v Tottenham.

19Leno
5Papastathopoulos
6Koscielny
18Monreal
25Jenkinson
29Guendouzi
11Torreira
31Kolasinac
7Mkhitaryan
10Özil
14Aubameyang

Substitutes
1Cech
4Elneny
8Ramsey
9Lacazette
17Iwobi
20Mustafi
22D Suárez

5 defenders againest a depleted Bournemouth at home.

This *%^@ sometimes just doesn’t make sense.

Acres of space for Özil who strolls through and chips the keeper 1-0

Lovely move, Özil to Mkhitaryan 2-0.

And we let them straight back into it, sloppy passing at the back, Guendouzi gets caught in possession 2-1.

Another individual mistake leading to a goal. We lead the top 6 in this stat by a mile and have done for years

Half time 2-1, both sides look dangerous going forward so although we've had the bulk of the play the game is not won yet by any means.

Any side looks dangerous against us, even one that had had ten men sent off.

Excellent start to the second half - Kos 3-1

Kos in amongst the goals again. 3rd since he came back from injury. So important for CB to chip in with goals. Mustafiand Sokratis have a few this season as well.

Mkhitaryan playing well in the past few games. Earlier in the season I bemoaned his lack of goals and assists but he’s starting to rack up some numbers now. If we can get him back to the player Man U thought they signed and the one we hoped we could renew we could be in business

Strong, driving run by motm Mkhitarayan who then releases Aubameyang for 4-1.

4-1 Aubameyang

Awful lunging foul by Daniels on Torreira should have been a red not a yellow - Lacazette punishes it with the free kick drilled into the corner 5-1.

Unfortunately Man U 2 up as well and Chelsea now 1 up on the Totts.

Nasty moment for Kos looked bad, but thankfully he's back up. 88 mins take him off we should be able to hold out

Tremendous comedy defending from the Totts.

Looks like Spurs are joining the race for the top 4 rather than the title race, hopefully if we can pull off a win then they really will be in a battle, they have their new stadium to pay for so an exit from the CL could really damage them, shame that would be..

I'd put money on a draw, somehow Spurs have not drawn a game all season (yet).

Özil must play at Wembley Emery he has to on that big pitch.

You can’t deny our improvement in the few games

Only saw the second half but our movement was really good and players put in a great performance.

Then turned over to watch Chelsea. At least any bad defensive play will not be highlighted in our game after the total lack of talking between defender & keeper in the Spurs game.

Going to be a much tougher game v spurs but we are nicely in form and have lots of players confident and scoring goals.
Really not sure what my 11 would be v spurs.
If Kos knock keeps him out it should be Sokratis and mustafi.
Not sure who plays right back
Kolasinac will probably play left back
2 from Xhaka/torreira/Guendouzi in the middle
Özil or ramsey?
Mkhitaryan surely must start
Who starts up front? Does Iwobi play or do we play both strikers?

We took spurs apart in the first half even though we went in 2-1 down - that was with Iwobi and Mkhitaryan. Then we bought on ramsey and Lacazette and took them apart in the second half as well.

Great time to play them. Would love to get a first bug away win for Emery

Apparently we are 11 points better off that the same stage last season.

With this group of players we should never return to the 5 at the back. Our strength is going forward, get those players on the pitch

Convincing win with some players coming back to their true form. Now onward to Spurs. Hit them where it hurts. Make them suffer 3 losses in a row. Believe!

I said a few weeks back that spurs were jamming some very lucky late wins they didn’t deserve with a series of late goals having played poorly - it is frustrating to see when you are trying to catch them, but that can’t of luck just doesn’t hold out for very long. Nice to see their poor performances properly rewarded v Burnley and Chelsea.

We must play 4 at the back and we must not go in to our shell and let them dictate the game. I’d target trippier with Aubameyang wide on the left, or a Kolasinac/Iwobi duo running at him. He’s had a terrible season and can be exploited.

A very enjoyable night out at the Emirates, aside from the comedy goal we away which briefly threatened to let Bournemouth back in. Thankfully Bournemouth's defence is even worse than ours!
Keep the same back 4 for Tottenham. Jenks was outstanding and deserves to keep his place. He's a natural right back, not someone shoehorned in there, and he's quick. Kos/Sok seem to work well together. Keep Monreal as right back and start with Kolasinac further up. He is a weapon going forward and gives the side natural balance with his left foot. Xhaka for Guendozi probably, the lad has played a lot of matches recently. And Lacazette up front with Özil and Mkhitaryan. I've not been Mkhitaryan's biggest fan but he was excellent last night.

All the pressure is on Tottenham. In less than a week they've gone from title contenders to trying to nail down top 4, and they will know that if we win we are only a point behind them, something that wouldn't have seemed possible a few days ago. We should have a right go at them. Attack is our best form of defence.

Monreal as left back even...

When picking a starting 11 it certainly helps and gives the fans more hope when you have something like 15 players all in decent form.

Aubameyang and Lacazette both scoring goals. Mkhitaryan getting the best outputs all season, Özil back playing well, Kolasinac in good form, Iwobi has been decent as well. And behind that the 3 in central mid are all playing well.

Right now, I'd take a draw. As well as draws for Man Utd and Chelsea but that may be asking for too much.
We are still in it (for CL places) but I'm not confident.

For those in Oz I believe the game is live on SBS tonight.

https://arseblog.news/2019/03/ramsey-in ... m=facebook

Özil and Aubameyang on bench.

I find Emery's team selection today utterly bizarre.

To leave out Aubameyang, Torreira and Özil in one go seems crazy.

19Leno
20Mustafi
5Papastathopoulos
6Koscielny
18Monreal
29Guendouzi
34Xhaka
7Mkhitaryan
8Ramsey
17Iwobi
9Lacazette

Substitutes
1Cech
10Özil
11Torreira
14Aubameyang
15Maitland-Niles
22D Suárez
31Kolasinac

I hope he knows what he's doing...............