Agreed. The passing was ridiculously easy. Each time our players were able to turn and run in the opponents half. Very few if any Prem teams would allow that today.

Neither did I in the spirit of what you wrote...oh well. lol

Rich said he was pleased United lost at Leicester then implied the longer OGS stays in post the worse it’ll be for them. While I agree yesterday’s result won’t be enough to get him the sack, it’s obvious that, added to other poor results, will together contribute to him eventually losing his job.

And what makes you hypocritical American is calling other people a troll. You had to get involved, didn’t you? Even though you lack the courage to include my post in the quote.

This series of games before the next international break is where Arteta will need to demonstrate progress. Three home games and Leicester away. 10 points will be par for course I would have thought.

The games that follow up to New Year have some difficult games.

In the last couple of weeks, Man United have played two of those same fixtures - at home to Villa and away to Leicester - and lost them both. Three wins and a draw would be nice, but 'par for the course' probably makes it sound a fraction easier than it is.

If we are to be in with a shout of Europa League next season I think we must win these games at home. Every team has some period of really poor play and drops points. We will have some hard games after this period. I need to see some real consistent improvement and now is the time to deliver. Spurs was one step forward and Brighton one back after less than convincing performances against Norwich and Burnley. Tactically I will watch with a lot of interest.

It will be 3am for me when Arsenal kicks off against Palace today. Hope the team play fast and furious football to keep me awake.

I'm hoping my feed shows the crowd reaction when Vieira enters the grounds. The only time I can think of when he appeared after he left was our fantastic run to the final in the CL. Didn't Pires (of all people) pick his pocket that set up a goal? He was at Juve I think.

Other than that has Vieira been as part of the opposition?

...and I wouldn't be suprised if Henry, Pires or any other invincible is in attendance.

Moyes is continuing a bang up job at West Ham. He's continued the great form from last season. Always liked him. Felt badly for his stint at Man Utd even though I was happy to see them implode. I wish it had been someone else.

He might get another bite at a big club apple if he keeps punching above his weight class.

Two wins in our two home games puts us in the top 4. Others will have games in hand but it would be a significant marker and turnaround.

Of course last year we only took 1 point from these next two fixtures so we need to play well

George Graham interview in fourfourtwo this month, spotted an interesting quote as Graham describes the system of his back 4. He said he did sessions where he would have Seaman, the back 4 and a holding mid and they would be up against the youth team, the youth team always had the ball and the back 4 just had to move as a unit. They weren’t allowed to go in to their own box because that was Seaman’s area. The offsides flowed.
Graham also said “we always played in an arc, so the two centre halves would be organising the offside all the time, when we had the ball Dixon would make a run and then the back 4 became a back 3….”

So Graham was doing this before Pep and before Arteta

I've heard it wasn't just the alcoholism that did Clough in but football had progressed past him and he didn't change enough it all.

Bung scandal aside, could the same criticism be made of Graham?

The palace forums seem to think they can nick a point without much of a problem, even nick a win if the planets align. I get the feeling they are a bit too exuberant about their present form.

Anyway, Palace and Villa will both be tough to beat. I can see winning one and drawing one. Two draws wouldn't raise an eyebrow on me either.

Wonder what post this was about? A reaction to 536370 perhaps? What other possibility is there? Because if it was 536370, it proves you must read my posts, so haven’t blocked me, after all. Having said that, you came close to revealing that a while back with your ‘next post’ reaction to one of my replies to Pod (or is it Pode)? Sure, you didn’t actually quote that post, like you haven’t today. But in both cases, it’s hard to see what else you could have been reacting to and I suspect you realised that as you edited the one a while back.

Don't know why you bother Bernard.

AG is so far up his own backside, he meets himself on the way out.

£90m for Ox, Iwobi and Willock has been really good business for Arsenal. Young and homegrown always sells well in the premier league.

Colin Powell, military leader and first Black US secretary of state, dies after complications from Covid-19

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/18/poli ... index.html

With the sole exception of the Iraq war lie (and it was a doozy), he's one of the rare Republicans with some sense of honor and decency. He redeemed himself to some extent post Bush years. He supported Obama over McCain (after he choose that looney Sarah Palin), and he supported Hillary over Trump. This cost him his place in the party. His 'Powell Doctrine' (never fight a war that doesn't have popular support , it has to be winnable and an exit strategy) still has some lingering sentiment.

One of the few Republicans I liked because he had some integrity.

Hadn't realized it was that much. I recall being surprised at how much we got for Ox and Iwobi at the time but I forgot about it.

We got short changed on Mustafi.

No zaha for Palace.
Arsenal back in the 4-1-4-1 formation with Emile Smith Rowe and Ødegaard as the two central no.8’s

Ir's 4-2-3-1 formation according to BBC sport website. Unless it's been changed.

I think with Zaha out it will be tough for Palace to get more than a draw. They may even park the bus.

Toon fans want Bruce out. But I think it would be fair to see how he does with all the new money coming in. Give him a season (or two) with a big transfer budget. I think eventually they'd get rid of him but at least let him give it a go with the money that is now available.

The pundit said we are one of the youngest sides in the league. I hadn't realized our average age was that young.

Aubameyang! 1-0

Aubameyang sharp finishers goal

Lovely one-two between Tomiyasu and Pépé, Pépé curls his trademark shot to the far corner, gk makes a good save but Aubameyang volley in the rebound from a very tight angle - made the finish look a lot easier than it was.

Wonderful to get the early goal

Pépé fancies it.

Great play with him and tommy

Fantastic goal not withstanding, but what have they put in Aubameyang’s tea tonight?

He seems very enthusiastic and energized, much more than I’ve seen for some time.

Nice to see we are a goal up. Aubameyang!

Aubameyang and Pépé both working hard off the ball to make defensive contributions winning the ball back

Emile Smith Rowe shoots at the gk from 25 yards, should have really played in Pépé who was in a very good position.

When we get the ball back off them around half way and get players like Saka and Emile Smith Rowe running at them in central areas we look threatening

Nice to see plenty of hard work off the ball. Just occasionally Tomiyasu getting exposed a little on our right.

Great example there of Ben whites passing range helping us transition the play much quicker. Those 2 look the strongest defensive partnership we have had for some time.

Not much of the ball for us in the last 15 minutes, we seem content to let Palace have it comfortably in their own half.

Agreed.

Yes, and the occasional half chance coming their way.

That’s a yellow any day of the week.