By Bulldog Drummond
It is hard to say who has the tougher game this afternoon – Tottenham having to play again at Wembley against Burnley, or Arsenal away to a much hyped Liverpool!
With regards Tottenham, Untold’s research into what happens to clubs when they move grounds seems on the basis of the first match (and I know it was only one game) to be valid, both in terms of Tottenham, and indeed over a longer period for West Ham United, who apparently have made the most successful ground change ever, according to Karren Brady. Mind you, if West Ham gets relegated their rent goes down, so they probably won’t mind. Tottenham on the other have are spending rather a lot at the moment.
But as for us, what we will have is the first chance to see the Lacazette / Alexis combination, with Giroud of course as the backup (unless Mr Wenger puts Lacazette on one wing, Alexis on the other and Giroud in the middle).
Although as Wenger reminded everyone at his press conference, it can take until Christmas for a new player to become fully integrated. He added that Lacazette, “is a bit surprised by the intensity of it all in training and in games. He will get there because he is brave and he is intelligent. The intelligence of his runs and the quality of his technique is very good. Overall I don’t worry for him…. I feel every week he is getting better and stronger….”
On Lacazette and Alexis together he added, “Their cooperation looks promising. The two are good goalscorers, the two are good finishers, the two are good passers, the two have good assists – that means they can find each other. All the ingredients are there.
“The team needs to adapt to him. You think sometimes: ‘Where is he?’ But when you look and watch the game again, you see he made a good pass here or his team-mates haven’t found him.
“You have many types of strikers and he is the one who is more of a combination player than a finisher. He is a player who when you look at his numbers, his assist numbers are good as well. He is not an absolutely obsessed, selfish striker. The quantity of his finishing compared to the rest of Europe is a bit below. But the quality of his finishing is top. He is a guy who doesn’t shoot a lot, but when he shoots he finishes.
“I haven’t spoken too much to him since he arrived because I am busy everywhere. I observe him a little bit. He doesn’t only speak to the French guys, he speaks to everybody, especially the young players. He is always with them. He looks a naturally friendly guy.”
We of course also have Laurent Koscielny in the team again which should help once more, and in fact as the injury list has shown, we have everyone who might have expected to play, available, except Santi Cazorla. Two others who are not prime contenders (Joel Campbell and Calum Chambers) are also technically unavailable. Mind you it was over a month ago that the Telegraph told us that the deal had been struck for Chambers to go to Palace. Odd that this didn’t happen.
Our team might, or might not, look like this
Lacazette
Alexis Ozil
Xhaka Ramsey
Bellerin The Ox
Kolasinac Koscielny Mustafi
Cech
There is no beach at Liverpool of course but if there were, we might find the following lurking thereupon…
Ospina, Monreal, Holding, Mertesacker, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Coquelin, Wilshere, Walcott, Iwobi, Nelson, Welbeck, Giroud.
Now that makes 13 and even I have managed to work out we are only allowed seven so I might whittle this down to…
Ospina, Monreal, Elneny, Coquelin, Walcott, Iwobi, Giroud
but most likely I shall be proven wrong.
As for what happens, for once I find myself agreeing with Mark Lawrenson who said, “The problem for the Gunners is that every time they lose you are waiting for the ‘Wenger out’ to start.”
One thing to note however is that Premier League Arsenal / Liverpool games have given us 17 Premier League goals in the 90th minute or later – which is more than any other fixture, so it is probably best not to leave the TV in order to put the kettle on, too early.
The BBC’s “super computer” has given us 1-1 as the most likely draw.
Liverpool v Arsenal
- Liverpool’s! recent runs of form and their difficulties with maintaining a good season
- Liverpool! v Arsenal. Obviously we don’t stand a chance, but still… Absolute Power is established.
- Liverpool v Arsenal Sunday 27 August 2017 – The Match Officials
I wonder what Ms Brady’s criteria are? Presumably not results, atmosphere, crowd safety or the quality of the football on offer.
Atkinson is in charge so…
4:2 for Liverpool with a red card for Kolašinac after he makes similar tackle on Salah like Cahill did on Alexis three years ago and got only a yellow.
Mane to score a brace, Firmino and Salah to score other two for Liverpool. Lacazette and Giroud to score for us.
Apparently, Atkinson won’t be in charge as Craig Pawson is about to replace him.
A bit odd, right?
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal @FT +.
Scorers: Alexis & Lacazette.
Wouldn’t it be good for TV viewing if retractable sunshade roofings are installed in the Premier League clubs football playing ground Stadia? For, my viewing of the live moving pictures of the PL match between Chelsea and Everton on my TV screen currently playing at the Stanford Bridge football playing pitch is sun lighted and therefore not good for viewing on TV. I read sometimes last year in the media that this retractable sunshade roofing will be installed at the Emirates Stadium by the Citroen company in France to serve the dual purpose of shading the sun and preventing the rain and snow from falling on the pitch and the stands before the start of this season’s football campaign. But why hadn’t this retractable sunshade roofing been installed at the Emirates Stadium? Oga(Master) Tony, do you have any credible information regarding any installation of retractable sunshade roofing at the Emirates Stadium?.
Commentator on tv saying that Lacazette might not start, if true, and Arsenal lose, hell will break loose and media will love every bit of it. Let hope it’s just a rumour.
So far I am not seeing news that Atkinson was replaced, but still looking. I did see a note that Iwobi is apparently injured. I gather the Nigerian National Team leaked this.
COYG!
Starting 11.
Cech
Holding, Kos, Monreal
Ramsey, Xhaka
Bellerin, Ozil, Alexis, Ox
Welbeck
Big, big call. No lacazette or The tank in starting 11.
From Guardian:
> Arsenal (a desperately unoriginal 3-4-2-1): Cech; Kolding, Koscielny, Monreal; Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Ozil, Sanchez; Welbeck. Subs: Ospina, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Coquelin, Walcott, Lacazette Giroud.
I think that second player is Holding, not Kolding.
COYG!
Surely AW has a plan to destroy Liverpool? 🙂
There is no option but to craft a magnificent performance from the team. 🙂
I know if we perform, we will win this game. 🙂
para
now ur talking
I am not comfortable with these Le Prof’s starts for this our Liverpool game today as he has benched his two top summer signings of Kolasinac and Lacazette and starts Welbeck to lead the line for Arsenal and also benched Mustafi for Holding to start at the left side of the Arsenal back three defense-line. And he has preferred to start the Ox ahead of Kolasinac at wingback. Well, he’s the Arsenal manager. I am just a diehard Arsenal supporter.
Ref changed????……
If yes…must be to put Untold on a back foot….and mess up the referee preview.. ?
Rambos 300 game for us. Giroud one short of 100 goals…..so 2 goals guaranteed for us….?
Come ooooooonnnnn uuuuuuuuuu ggggguuuunnnnneeeeerrrrrrssss.
I can only think that AW is going for experience players, plus pace and physically.
Come on Arsenal!!!!!
On a lark, I decided to check if the game is on TV here. Nope, it’s the damn spuds.
COYG!
Updates please.. attending my nephew’s wedding.
Only one down so far, although it could have been 3.
no way was Welbeck’s yellow deserved…the follow through hit him.
Is Xahaka ozil in the team? We are getting smashed.
This is getting embarassing! Never thought I’d ever agree with Neville but based on this performance who would want to buy any of our players? Ozil is becoming a pedestrian and Ramsey isn’t even watching the game!
Think we had more possession against Barcelona!
I’d take off Sanchez and put on Lacazette.
This ref does not like Welbeck. Gives a very soft foul in the ‘Pool box…two guys off balance.
Looking a bit better. COYG!!!!
Cr@P! What a goal for Sane.
We looked better in that 5:1 defeat.
@ Arsenal 13 – You’re better off at the wedding mate. This is bad!
It’s like the entire team have given up. No wonder all our ‘B’ players can’t find a club and our ‘A’ players want to leave.
2 shots and nothing on target.
Embarrassing pathetic gutless take your pick . Boss they are letting you down get rid of the dross and quick please
At the moment we are third best. Even the referee is better than we are and he’s his usual sh te self
Why on earth are we starting one of the best right backs in Europe on the left and have the best left back in the Germal league last year on the bench? Is Oxlade-Chamberlain worth that much disruption?
Wellbeck has many good points but I despair whenever he gets a goal scoring opportunity
I can’t see us as we are currently organised finishing anywhere near the top four in the league. We are currently worse than last year
It hurts hearing Thierry talking the way he does. Thing is he’s absolutely right! All so predictable.
Have to agree Andrew. Unless we go bonkers in the transfer market this week we can forget the Champions league next season.
@Hannibal
I wouldn’t absolve manager for this one. He left Kolašinac and Lacazette on the bench to give Ox another 90 minutes. If there is still a 35 million offer for Ox on the table, Arsene should take it. This kid doesn’t look like he cares about Arsenal at all.
I like Danny and he has shown a lot of passion in the first half, fighting for the Arsenal shirt like he’s been born close to Highbury but he was poor in the first half.
The Spuds have dropped us down the table and I feel the Toffees will also. We are in serious trouble.
This is bad. Need some divine intervention.
para
am getting on ur wavelength.
something is very wrong.
OK, let’s not talk rubbish now. Has anyone watched Everton lately? They are extremely boring side with 384 new players and no real class.
Never thought I’d ever be happy about LeCoq replacing a fit Ramsey but….
Hopefully the boss has told the players that if they want a new club their game! I’d take any sign of passion from the team right now.
True Everton do look boring but hey they have more points than we do!
5th Gen Gooner. Henry’s opening comments about stagnation and this all being sadly predictable were but unfortunately about the players.
The scousers have a real dodgy keeper and yet we’ve not had one shot on target! COYG lets get in this game!!!!
Frickin ref got that well wrong!
Take off Monreal for Sead. Monreal has been caught too many times.
Game over
The Prof said you can’t lose more than 5 games and win the league. Well we’re 40% there already and only 3 games in!
Why wait so long for change?
Dear Arsenal
Why do you make it so hard to support you? Why do you make it so easy for pundits to ridicule you?
Team spirit is gone.
It’s simple the players are not playing for this manager anymore. They have no faith in his gameplan. Everyone can see the weaknesses except Wenger this season is going to get worse, the pillars of this club are starting to crack.
Can’t wait for the Menace Nitram Pat etc bullshit excuses
3 games into the season and our season is over?
Thought we’d come out better in the second half. Silly me. Yes Wenger must shoulder the blame for choosing the players, tactics and motivation but you have to question the players desire. It’s like they’re only interested in their pay-cheques.
Playing the way they have I reckon we might have a sniff at the League cup. Seriously Gouresh do you see the team suddenly turning a corner in the next few games? We’re awful!
We should cash in on Sanchez and Ozil (if anyone actually wants him) and bring in Nelson and buy Lemar.
5th gen gooner.,it was sarcastic remark. Our season is over. Playing like this we have no chance. Players don’t look interested anymore.
Liverpool’s goalkeeper is having a stinker and yet we’ve not tested him once! Ridiculous!
5th Gen Gooner – Yeah, I’m sure no team would want the player with the single highest chances created, for the past 5 seasons, in all of the top leagues in Europe.
Sorry Gouresh, just feeling a little peeved right now. Tomorrow at work… you know the drill. How can I defend this dross?
Why play Monreal against a attack with so much pace?
Haven’t read about any offers for Ozil. Do you know something I don’t Jammy J? I guess he could always take up method acting as the invisible man?
Wow, left 3 played standing.
3 points and -4 GD God we’re on a roll!
At least we’re above Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Brighton in the league. Forget keeping any of our wantaways now.
I wouldn’t mind but I don’t think Liverpool are that good
Sanchez laughing again. Embarassing.
This is embarrassing, worst performance I’ve seen.
Well I guess we won’t be watching footy on TV or listening to the radio about footy this evening.
I feel sorry for those who will have to face work mates this week.
Have to agree, we’re making the scousers look good.
Liverpool look like a proper football team today.
We look like a bunch of players randomly picked for the starting eleven. Not a single one of them – bar Čech – comes out of this game with any credit at all and the manager should take his part of the blame as well.
I thought the return of Koz and Sanchez was the start of our ascent. Crikey we actually look worse!!! No attempts on target!
I can’t see any way forward for Wenger unless he spends big – as if!
Well, not much to say really, i’ve somehow said it all already i think.
Have to say I hope the board are aggressively looking for a manager that can finish what Arsene started.
God I’m not looking forward to tomorrow at work. It’s okay when you have an argument but there is none. We were simply rubbish and half the team just don’t want to be there and the manager doesn’t have a clue how to move forward. I know talent has an inflated price and morally we shouldn’t entertain it but it is what it is. Spend big or slip further down the league.
This was an unprepared team against a fighting team.
This was a team that’s been hardly coached vs a heavy metal coach.
The last 3 games have been simply awful. 8 goals shipped in 3 games, haven’t scored in 2. I’ll just shut up now.
Well, the Scousers will be happy. And the people that love to slate Arsene Wenger and Arsenal in general will also be happy.
Me…I can’t affect anything so I will just not read ‘commentary’ about this until our next match.
Cheers
At least spurs are cheering us up.
If things continue the way they are then we’re are the new Southampton. Mid-Upper table selling our best players.
EVery one our players would get into premier side,today they were pathetic ,Wenger cannot be blamed for on field performance these players
must take the blame for a game of utter lack of effort or skill.Bellerin had the worst game wearing a Arsenal shirt. The up side things cannot get any worts I hope?
Guys I love Wenger but I have to admit my faith has been tested for way too long. These performances are becoming more and more regular and Arsene doesn’t seem to be concerned. Well I am and I just want to know that the club are working on it. Am I Naive?
Well 2 from 3 isn’t bad. But the one that lost is really sad. Froome & Lewis do well but Arsenal were destroyed by Liverpool. The Official change was probably a good thing. He booked many, some wrongly but then he had a whole stadium of assistants. The pace of Liverpool & the dozy defence that does not seem to have learned a thing from pre season deserved the result.
Sorry three parts pi—sad drowning my sorrows.
Walter please don’t waste your time doing a match report I think we are all depressed enough
It’s obvious that something is wrong with Arsenal right now. Not only the suicidal team selection and tactics, but the boys seem to have no passion at all. I’m not sure their bodies are in agreement with their spirit.
It was not even a contest. zero shots on target for Liverpool’s 3rd keeper.
What’s wrong for a coach to stand up and call back his defenders straying away too deep into the opponent’s half.
I don’t envy Arsene Wenger at all.
The upside is that Tony & Co will be back tomorrow to tell us all the non-Wenger reasons for this loss, and tell us how you can be cheerful or depressed, and then inform us all how AW is the best in the world.
Sorry, I can’t be positive right now.
There are no positives. We need a change and I doubt anyone can find an argument to the contrary. he team as it stands is only a cup side at best.
It’s time for that 20+ games unbeaten run to start.
arsene
u f…ed the 1st half.
I still believe ur better than klop but buckle up.
Horrible night ……. f..k
kwzariel
27/08/2017 at 6:37 pm
arsene
u f…ed the 1st half.
I still believe ur better than klop but buckle up.
Horrible night ……. f..k