Onward and upward to the next congested fixture. The Arsenal will host Bournemouth on Sunday, 9:00am ET on CNBC in the US of A. I'm pretty sure that's still a news station, so expect Trump to tweet about the fake news airing some foreign nation's sporting event instead of covering his finest hour. Baron can fill him in and Martin Atkinson will be the referee. A quick glance at the table shows Bournemouth level on points with Spuds and Chelsea, so I'm sure we'll setup not to lose this one. I expect a change or two from the squad at Old Trafford, but nothing major. With the international break coming, I don't expect Tierney or Hector to feature prominently in this one. Come on you Gunners!!!!!
That's 6:00 am for all of us here on the West Coast, COYF'n'G!!! I'm sure Eddie Howe's boys will be charged up and set to knock us off, so we had better not have a letdown, as this is our third match in 7 days, I'm a little worried about us suffering fatigue late on in this tilt.
We should beat or be favored against any club at home expect Man City and Pool. But right now in the PL were playing so poor we can be beaten by any team in the PL at home which is a scary thing. I don't understand Emery team selection they are so timid, uncreative and conservative. I expect the same lineup with one or two changes.
Here's another nice video from AFC, showing today's practice. Includes a really long segment of a mini-scrimage/drill. Check out the moves & goal at around 3:45... by Mavropanos of all people!! I'd almost written him off. Not that we'll see him on Sunday, but he sure looked at ease and in form. What was that Mark Twain said about exaggerated rumors? https://player.arsenal.com/video/graft-goes-behind-scenes-arsenal-training-centre As for the game, I just pray that Emery gradually moves away from his instinctive conservatism and instructs the boys to go all out like we did against Forest & Liege. There's no reason we can't have some fun like that in the league... against Bournemouth at home... right?
Actually, it was Chambers at RB vs. yanited. Both Hector and AMN played Thursday, so I expect it to be Chambers again.
Correct. There is NO way Hector starts this. He's not 100% yet. Tierney is closer to 100% so he's more possible to start in theory. But honestly I think the 3 injury returnees were played in the cup so that they could wait a few more weeks before their league comeback. p.s. Just caught up with today's results. A win tomorrow for us puts us into 3rd. Shhh...
I don't think it makes very much difference at this point. I expect we will but either way we have the third best squad in England (by some distance imo) and no hope of catching the top two. What happens today won't cement us into third place (or fourth) or stop us from getting there. That said, the big picture is getting clearer all the time. The problem is Emery, especially his inability to make his ideas clear to the squad. As a consequence the players are going to do what they think they are good at, or what they think will preserver their careers as best as possible. There's no hope of teamwork or mutual understanding among the players, or at least we haven't seen it yet. We've played seven games in the League so far and have three wins: Burnley, Newcastle and Villa, and all of them by only one goal. And this is with the best squad we've had in over ten years. At this point I'd be genuinely shocked if Emery is Arsenal manager at this time next year.
I agree with your analysis of the squad, but if Arsenal finish 3rd this season, I fully expect Emery to be re-signed. They'll probably give him a raise too. I don't believe anybody in a leadership position at the club believes we have to win trophies to be a success. Fans want to win. This club wants to make money. To make money, they just need Champions League football again.
Thus game is begging Arsenal to take it by the throat. Players are finding space but Arsenal's passing has struggled. Chambers gamely holding his own as right back.
So far that's true. But hopefully they'll wise up. And stop worrying about embarrassing the head ref.
Kolasinac is up for this one today! As long as he doesn't pick up careless yellows I'm all in on the way he's playing.
Chambers tries the spectacular volley. His foot position was probably just 1-2" off, from rivaling RVP's strike at Charlton.
Thoughts on 1st half: - Saka is a bright talent and I'm glad he's getting PT, buy I think he needs to work on his overlaps and team defending. Arsenal's attack could be even more potent today if that left side was doing more to change the shape of Bournemouth's D. - Central alley of the pitch is where Arsenal needs to change the game. Attacking lines have been very flat, with few incisive runs. Team is using their width but the assault is pretty 1 dimensional. - Defense has looked poised, albeit uncontested. Can tell they're wanting to push up and support the attack.
This is the kind of match and opponent where the likes of 'Pool would put this team to the sword. Arsenal need to learn how to not play down to their opponent but instead start to show their class.
50' and Wilson weaves through 3 defenders to send a slow roller across the goal line. Arsenal risking their lead with slack defending to start the 2nd.