Tuesday 3 January 2023 Ashburton Grove USA TV: USA 2:45pm ET And now for something completely different... Happy New Year's! Bring on the Geordies! Up the Arse!
Projection models are starting to show Arsenal as the favorites to win the league after this weekend. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/premier-league/ Premier League Simulation - 2023-01-01 pic.twitter.com/A7bmVcvEwa— Cannon Stats (@CannonStats) January 1, 2023
True. The season will truly take shape these next few weeks. The good news is Arsenal's schedule isn't flooded across the whole month, so hopefully they can give each match their full effort. Will be very anxious to hear (since I can't watch) how the left backs do against Almiron. The good news is I feel confident Arsenal can score at least 2 against the Magpies, even without Jesus. C'mon you Gunners!
Our home form is insane. If there was ever a game where we should stamp our authority and credibility to winning the league, this game is it. A big win here would be huge.
If any our several players who are sitting on 4 yellow cards pick up a 5th today, I don’t suppose they could serve their suspension with the Oxford FA cup match?
Not for a 5th yellow. A red card sending off vs. Newcastle, would result in a player being suspended 1 game, and that suspension would be served in the next FA sanctioned match on the calendar, which would be the Oxford match.
Yes I just heard GunnerBlog answer my question by saying that a 1-game suspension arising from a 5th yellow, under current rules, would have to be served in the EPL (not another FA competition)... that had been my hunch, thus the idea of gaming the system today with an intentional booking would not be possible. But what he didn't say and what you have interestingly clarified is that a straight-red suspension could indeed be served in any FA competition. That's an interesting distinction they make between yellow accumulation and straight-reds. In any case, and FWIW both James & Andrew agreed that the likelihood is very high that one of our 3 key players who sit on 4 yellows (Saliba, Gabriel, Saka) will pick up a 5th in the next 3 EPL games, before the threshold is raised from 5 to 10 cards. I don't disagree with them, but I sure hope that only one of these three guys picks up another booking in any of the next 3 matches, so we're only without one of them at a time.
Tough game vs supposedly the best defense in the PL whereas we've looked shaky at the back. Good thing is that we are still in good form and it's at home. Let's get the 3pts!
Newcastle have given up more than 1 goal only twice this season: At Liverpool (2-1) and home to Citeh (3-3). But a glance at their results also suggests the better scoring teams in the league are the ones at least scoring. This will likely be a classic case of who controls the middle of the pitch. If Guimares and Co. can have their way with counterattacks then Newcastle will hope to mimic their result at Tottenham. If they get stifled, however, and their chances to push forward get choked out then they can look enigmatic or lost as in that second half vs Citeh or their strong of draws in/around Sept. The good news is Eddie Howe lacks the personnel or the temperament to try a Burnley-like approach of just outright bullying opposing ball handlers. This means Arsenal should still have ample opportunity to play their game. Newcastle have rarely trailed this season. Let's see if Arsenal can change that tune and force them to panic.
Happy New Year to all. Hope everyone is safe and sound. Arteta Ball is moving along swiftly, IMO he's exceeded expectations and I am at peace with whatever the season brings. At no point did I expect the Kroenke's to back him or Edu to fix up and get players that fit. All in all I am filled with optimism. I always felt Arteta would be a winning manager, just not here. He has proven me wrong, and whatever happens I am okay with it understanding that he is ahead of schedule. With that said, I hope I'm also wrong on what I said before the last sentence.
Eddie Howe has done a good job with them, I never really rated him but he deserves credit. Guess the old US Adage "It ain't the X's and O's, it's the Jimmie's and Joe's" holds true
Our pitch is one of the very best at holding up to rain. But it was teaming before. Less so now. Haven't noticed too much slipping, etc.
27' Callum Wilson picks up a yellow for a dangerous studs up challenge against Saliba. Who's up and looks fine.