Happy Indigenous Peoples Day Everyone, Welcome all to the week of the MID-BLOCK (TM and imposing ominous background music here). Fulham's mid-block (and Palace's) have caused Arsenal rather significant headaches the last couple of season, with the draw and loss to Fulham two seasons ago costing Arsenal the title. What would Arsenal do to address a multi-season weakness? Enter Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, and Victor Gyokeres. Much has been made of Arsenal's summer signings and how they add depth to the squad. But that's not all they do: each of them makes contributions that are specifically tailored to beating a mid-block. Zubimendi sprays passes from deep. Madueke dribbles and embarrasses defenders 1v1. Eze does Eze things. Gyokeres does . . . something, I'm sure. This week, with games against the mid-blocks of Palace, Atletico, and Crystal Palace, feels like rather important test of how much Arsenal have really improved: the near misses of the last few seasons have been in part because Arsenal couldn't score against the less good teams that had disciplined defenses, especially disciplined mid-blocks that Arsenal simply couldn't progress through after the departure of Granit Xhaka. We'll know much more about Arsenal after this week of games. Location: the weird indie hotel on the banks of the Thames Time: 1730 GMT/1230 EDT/1130 CDT Moving pictures: NBC
Wow, quite the opening missive... what possessed you? Good point about whether we've improved anything in our breaking down well-organized blockers. I'm just barely cautiously optimistic in that regard. Also, you mention Madueke as if you expect him to be available, but sadly we're probably missing him for another month or more. Unless some "miracle" happened that I'm unaware of. p.s. On some recent pod they pointed out that this Kroenke vs Khan matchup is not only the battle of the impressive mustaches, but that since the Rams are playing the Jaguars at Wembley the following day, we are likely to be graced with a very rare Stan sighting at a proper football game at the Cottage. Not sure if I care really, but it is indeed an oddity.
LOL Just felt like I'd mailed in the opening posts and the board deserved a better one, so it was worth taking that time over an interlull.
I would've been more worried about this game last season. Injuries notwithstanding we should win this one. 1 or 2 nil depending on who is available and if Arteta keeps the hands off the handbrake at least up to making sure we score. And I hope I'm not jinxing us. Iwobi still has flashes of his former self at times. Not sure what happened to Emile Smith-Rowe. They bought him to be their Odegaard. He was their record signing when he was first bought.
Fulham have scored in 9 out of 10 matches so far this year. I'm not sure how confident you can be that we'll keep a clean sheet on Saturday. p.s. But that doesn't concern me a ton, as long as we win and don't let in more than 1 or 2 goals.
Fulham will score one, but we will score 3. Gyokeres will get a goal and an assist. Eze and Calafiori will get the other goals. If we want to win the league we simply can't be dropping points to Fulham especially since theres a real chance Pool drop points.
3 goals against in 7, all 3 coming from clubs far better than Fulham (I'm going to say Newcastle is better than Bournemouth despite the table for the pedants). . Those stats aren't a guarantee of a clean sheet, but it is definitely a good enough stat to think clean sheet.
I pulled the trigger on a Saka7 home shirt after the West Ham win. Partially to keep the interlull interesting while I track its arrival thru customs. Not sure the Indigenous people's / Chris Columbus holiday helped much, but I'm optimistic. From JFK airport to ATL, GA today. Interesting, because I live between those two locations.
Good thing about the timing of our game is assuming we win, now the pressure is on LFC to win and maybe...just maybe if its late and and they aren't winning they over commit and get punished for it.
Pool is going to batter United, thats their bunny on their home ground, especially Salah. If United beat Pool then Pool aren't winning the league.
Unlikely they win. But why are pundits, rivals saying Man Utd might win? A draw is plenty. Won't happen in all likelihood but one can dream.
City currently top of the league making easy work of Everton, so today is a must win. City getting absolutely carried by Haaland and they will drop points eventually but we must keep our winning run going.
Just back from a little “good trouble“ Shifting my focus to a more positive thing… the Arsenal. COYG!!!!