An unexpected win tinged with unexpected loss of Bellerin. About 4 years ago we stunned them when no one expected us to. That first goal buildup between Santi and Ozil was brilliant. Diving DiMaria, Alexis, Coq-blocking. Good ole' days. So yeah, 2:55 pm on Friday on ESPN+. At home, all guns blazing. Let's get a win!
Anybody know what the argument was about regarding the ticket allotment to ManUre? Why would stands be safe for our fans but not theirs? (I'm making an assumption that Arsenal fans normally occupy the stands in question). Anyway, I couldn't find an article that explained the issue to an American.
Come on @Romfordray you're on a 1-match roll... keep it going!! This match is intriguing. Just as big a challenge as last weekend, or perhaps bigger, in that Chelsea seem on the decline lately, whereas United have clearly been on the rise. I'm less into the FA Cup this year, given the priority of qualifying for UCL, which could possibly come via UEL. Sure, sweeping aside ManUre would be nice. BUT my main concerns are not losing any more players to injury, or perhaps more likely to red-card suspension.
Crikey this is a lively thread. 10 years ago (or maybe 15) a cup-tie thread with United would have 10X more posts the night before the match, I reckon. Anyway I heard something on Totally Football tonight that resonated... This could be considered the Ozil-vs-Sanchez match, or... The Whoa-How-The-Mighty-Have-Fallen-in-Just-One-Year cup tie You only have to go back 2 years or so to see these 2 guys regularly creating electric, sometimes telepathic combination plays, and for at least one of them practically carrying our team at times. Now they're complete shells of their former selves, for different reasons I suppose. But who, honestly, would've predicted such a dramatic parallel fall from grace? Maybe they both will play tomorrow. And if they do, maybe they'll both have something to prove to their current manager, and their fans, both the current and previous sets.
Transfer news (or lack thereof) has commanded some attention and the Friday game time is an odd one. Didn't realize until this morning the match was today instead of the weekend. I'm hopeful but not blindly confident. Depends on the lineups, and part of me is unsure about how aggressively Arsenal should chase this trophy. For this year I'd rather they win the Europa League. Also, yours truly has been downing store-brand Mucinex of late in an effort to keep my lungs inside my body, so my focus has been away from the board.
Avoid a replay at all costs. Cech AMN Sokratis Koscielny Kolasinac Torreira Xhaka Ramsey Iwobi Auba Laca Bench: Leno, Mustafi, Monreal, Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Guendouzi, Ozil
The good news is that United's back line seems there for the taking: Young, Bailly, Lindelof, & Shaw. The bad news is Arsenal's doesn't read much better.
Very similar lineup to our last win over Chelsea, except for Cech/AMN/Iwobi in for Leno/Hector/Guen. I think we might stick with a diamond and I guess Iwobi would be at the top of that. I like that we're sticking with a back 4. I just pray that AMN & Kola are up for their wide players.
Sanchez gets to start for the Devils, so that soap opera gets some attention. Given their front 3 the Gunners defense might struggle merely because the strikers will be mostly out of position. And Pogba, as well.
Sokratis comes down hard & awkwardly on his left leg. He's a tough mother, but it looks like he may have to come off. Just what we need!
Have we actually sold him yet? Meanwhile Sokratis showing all the signs of a guy who knows he's about to miss a bunch of games. But nevermind, look who we have coming to our rescue... Supermustafi! Oy.
Well, at least the transfer window is still open so Arsenal can go acquire some new... Yeah, who am I kidding.
And a classic move by Sanchez to make it 1-0. That's why I always liked him in our shirt. I wonder if he would've fit better with Emery ball than Ozil, who obviously hasn't. Oh what a difference a year makes.
I don’t like our play so far, the same ball down the left, the same slips, and then never crossing the ball for the player waiting in the box. Its predictable and uneffective