Clemence and Shilton I definitely know about. Maybe a bit hyperbolic to say he was the best for a few years with those iconic keepers around at the same time.

Feels like we have to change something for this game. Our natural game is good enough for virtually everyone in the league, for the top teams we need our best 11 and our natural game, for City away that might not even be enough. And without a couple of key parts of our best 11 our natural game is hard to find.

I don’t think this is a game to go toe to toe with City on. I think we need to sit deeper, bring in Jorginho alongside Partey and play much more on the counter attack.

If Ake is out then Saka is a huge weapon down our right against maybe Laporte. Ake has defended Saka as good as anyone I’ve seen over the last 2 years.

I really hope it's just mind games.
We need as close to full strength as possible to have any chance tomorrow.
If he is out then has to start trossard or jorginho.
But not Viera!!!

Even a draw is massive tomorrow.
Means if city were to win their games in hand we would only be a point behind.
Still be up for grabs.
I don't think we are capable of sitting back and defending. We have to go for it.

Harry Belafonte, singer, actor, and civil rights activist dies at 96

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-26/ ... /102265522

FA Youth Cup Final live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLE40ZJ49uE

Anyone else’s YouTube of that stuttering? Bit frustrating. Also the game, blistering start, 1-0 up. Pegged back, then defensive error, going in at HT 3-1 down.

Mirroring the 1st team. Lots of possession, the better side but sloppy and careless defending ruthlessly punished.

Arsenal 4-1 down in a game they have largely dominated.

Has the City game already started ?

We lose or even draw we are essentially out. City hasn't lost any game in any competition since about mid February. Last league draw in February. Only other dropped points were CL games 2nd leg when the first leg was sewn up and they played the bench 2nd leg. They are also winning decisively. No last minute gasps for a goal. They are locking up games early. It's treble form moreso than league or double form. If we lose, I want City to win the treble for 2 reasons. First, winning it will somewhat mitigate the criticism we will face for losing the lead. The season narrative will be unstoppable City moreso than Arsenal choked. Second, it will piss off Man Utd.

If we win, which I am hoping for, it will put my stomach in knots because it prolongs what could be a disappointment. We will still have to negotiate beating Chelsea, Newcastle and a Brighton side that pushed Man Utd to a penalty shoot out. So, it may be a matter of a great, historic win and renewed hopes only to be dashed elsewhere. Us winning a huge match tonight obviously doesn't mean we will win the rest of the games.

If City wins and gets a scoring result at Real Madrid on the 9th next month, they will win the treble. If its 0-0, its dicey. I am guessing RM won't be able to contend with a Haaland that has great players around him. My guess is RM won't be able to both contain Haaland while not letting the likes of DeBruyne and others score.

Try the FA Player next time it was very clear no problems at all apart from our performance.

The FA Youth Cup Final was a weird game. Looking at the score you'd think we got absolutely mullered and yet we appeared to have more of the possession, had the better passing moves and missed some really good chances, albeit we played with Nwaneri as a kind of false 9 which didn't really work.

West Ham's finishing was absolutely fantastic, ruthless and clinical, but our defending was hopeless.

Which brings me to a question, how much work do we actually do on ensuring our players have mastered the basics of defending, like marking a man, tracking runners, attacking the ball, denying space and time etc? On last nights evidence very little.

We had a back four who were all good on the ball but as a defensive unit they were terrible. Not just the defence either, the midfielders hardly covered themselves in glory either from a defensive point of view.

There is no doubt we have some really good skilful technical players who can pass and dribble etc but last night showed clearly that technique alone is not enough.

tell me when its over

5 mins gone

Will we sit back tonight and play on the break or will we try to dominate from the off.

Both strategies unlikely to work.

Too true
I suspect the latter. We really aren't good at sitting back and playing on the break, although with our players we should be.

This squad plays best playing aggressive with team defense everyone recovering if the ball is lost. It's what has worked so I don't think they will sit back. Plus we have to win.

Grealish and Mahrez could have a field day.

I would worry a lot if Holding and Vieira starts the game

https://theanalyst.com/eu/2023/04/guide ... e-wasting/

Interesting article on time wasting.

"Gavin Bazunu took an average of 43.7 seconds before taking each of his 18 goal kicks at the Emirates. Add that together and Southampton were able to burn 13 minutes and 6 seconds of time while taking goal kicks" 13 minutes! that's 14% of the game just waiting for one of the GK's to restart play, how can a gk waste that amount of time and not get booked?

The article notes Ramsdale took an average of 57 seconds per goal kick away to Liverpool, so we're capable of doing it its just that we don't often need to and more often come up against it.

Holding will definitely start whats the other option

I will fall off my chair if he starts vieira

My ex gf said she wishes I was Bazunu

Anyway, I think its up to the referee's discretion to book them right and not something in the rule book on time?

In our last 22 matches away to both Southampton and Everton we've only won 5. Awful record against such mediocre teams

Agreed, not starting Holding now just throws up too many square pegs in round holes situations.

I can't see Vieira starting after his last performance. You'd think it would have to be Jorginho for the security on the ball.

Big area to upgrade in the summer. To be honest if someone was willing to give us £60m for Vieira and Lokonga combined it might not be the worst shout right now to move them on and put that money towards Declan Rice

I doubt we would get half the fee back we paid for vieira right now.

Also to be honest may as well consider selling Emile Smith Rowe. If he doesn’t fit the system and isn’t going to play anyway. I wouldn’t be the slightest bit shocked if he was sold. Tierney too. Our outgoings this summer will be interesting

Some teams are like that. I think Chelsea have a better record than us vs Man Utd when they host and this is even pre invincible I think. Pre big Roman money.

Also, Newcastle have done badly at Soton and in London.

At Nice airport awaiting the 6.30 pm flight to Heathrow
Feeling no pain after a highly agreeable lunch in Le Chèvre D’or in Eze just outside Nice
A flight of wines to accompany lunch has well and truly taken the edge of my pre match nerves
I’m staying at an airport hotel tonight before flying to Philadelphia tomorrow morning
I’ ll try and get a link somewhere otherwise it’s five live in the hotel room
Come on you reds give it your all

Whatever happens tonight.....win, lose or draw.....I just hope that we do ourselves justice and are not frozen in the headlights by the pressure and the weight of expectation.

A win tonight given the pressure, the situation and the quality of the team we are facing would be amongst the greates results in Arsenal's history.

Whatever happens tonight I’m proud of our young team who are just getting started, they have given me and many of our fans so many great moments this year.

I couldn’t care about the result we blew it at West Ham and I think we will drop points in other fixtures so regardless no matter what happens star boy and our new era can be proud of what we did here.

COYG

Xhaka starts. Only change

Thanks. Yes I’d pay for a subscription if they could guarantee our performance. Or at least underwrite it!!

I agree with you. And remember the elephant in the room is probably coming second to a team owned by a nation AND with 125+ charges of financial misconduct against it.

Me too even if it is free

Walker starts for them as Pep has always done up against Martinelli I think. Might be Akanji at left back as I can’t think Pep would play Bernardo there again.

Mahrez on the bench and probably Bernardo in the wide right position to maybe counter Zinchenko coming in field

Last time I prayed was May 26th 1989.

At 7.50 tonight I shall say a little prayer.

City 1-0

its just a massive hoof downfield that Haaland can hold off Holding and hold it up, lay off the de bruyne who smacks it in from 25 yards. We pressed high but it wasn't beating the press through good play it was a hopeful punt and 2 amazing pieces of play from two top class players

Calmness needed here.

Cut open