Then coming on from the bench during the game we had Gabriel for Lewis-Skelly, Havertz for Rice, Kacurri for Calafiori, Martinelli for Saka, Kabia for Sterling. Left on the bench were goalkeeper Alexi Rojas, Gabriel, Maldini Kacurri, Saliba, Ayden Heaven, and Partey.
So we can probably look forward to a similar mixed array of known and unknown faces
According to Premier League Injuries Odegard is still a few days away from playing again, Saliba could come back in having served his suspension (possibly to help solidify a young back line, although that’s my view not the web site’s), Tomiyasu is now fit but not ready to play, Calafiori is reported as having more tests, Timber might have a chance of playing, Gabriel is an unknown, and Tierney is still a few weeks away.
Or, to put it briefly, no one really knows what sort of team will be put out tomorrow.
In the previous round of the league cup there were over 59,000 in Arsenal stadium, Preston’s ground is somewhat smaller but according to their website they still have tickets on sale until 5pm today although the 5000 or so Arsenal allocation has long since sold out.
And incidentally looking at their website it is interesting to see that they have an Invincibles Pavillion – which took me by surprise for a moment until I remembered that yes they were the original Invincibles, going through the whole of 1888/89 season without defeat – although they did only play 22 games.
In the PNE invincible season they scored 74 and conceded 15. In Arsenal’s unbeaten season, Arsenal scored 73 (so just one short of PNE) and conceded 26.
Which then sent me scurrying off to see just how often Arsenal had played Preston across the years..
It is actually 81 times in all with Arsenal winning 36 and losing 26 But they were mostly in the Old Days: the last league game between the two was 30 August 1960. In that season Arsenal played Preston at home one week and then away the next, winning the first and losing the second.
Since then there have been three matches – a 2-4 away win for Arsenal in the FA Cup in January 1999, and then rather curiously after such a long spell without games, another match in 1999, a 2-1 home win to Arsenal in the League Cup.
The very last game between the two was on 8 January 2017, a 1-2 away win. in the FA Cup. But Preston are now a Championship club sitting 16th out of 24 clubs in that league (although only a couple of points above the relegation positions).
Here is their record for the season compared with Arsenal
| 16 |
Preston North End |
12 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
13 |
17 |
-4 |
14 |
| 3 |
Arsenal |
9 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
17 |
10 |
7 |
18 |
We can as usual also have a look at the home and away games separately
| 10 |
Preston North End home |
6 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
11 |
| 7 |
Arsenal away |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
If there is anything to give Preston hope, other than Arsenal putting out a very young team, it is that their home record (although in the Championship) is better than Arsenal’s away form (in the Premier League of course). They have an average of 1.83 points per game at home, and Arsenal have 1.75 average points per game away.
More later.
.
I remember the 4-2 win in 1999 – listening to commentary on radio. It was notable that Preston NE were actually 2-0 up in the first half.
I seem to recall that we played a number of junior players, although I think that Robert Pires was in the team. (not sure whether as a starter or a substitute). Also, Fabian Caballero played and scored for Arsenal. He later played in Scotland and sadly died recently at a very young age.
@ John L
Well remembered, we were 2-0 down in that game. Although if, like me, your memory does play the occasional trick on you, Robert Pires didn’t join Arsenal until 2000 🙂
If you fancy some more details here’s a link:
https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/match/overview/1077857-preston_north_end-arsenal
On another note, I saw the following regarding Man Shitty and found it quite good. Here’s a link of the article:
https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/man-city-ffp-fight-could-break-up-the-premier-league-as-city-inflame-tensions-further/ar-AA1t4Y47?ocid=widgetonlockscreenwin10&cvid=684ec1cf4a8f4fdb8f7ba23f79590421&ei=16
Mikey, thank you.
My mistake: not Pires, but Petit. (5 letters beginning with P and French international)
In fact, our team had more senior players than I remembered. Also I had forgotten that Motes was PNE manager.
Here’s a thought if the Prem is broken up. A new league is created with money surely coming from abroad. Would a game be played in the country of the sponsor?
Seeing how La Liga plays the cup final in Saudi Arabia and a game in USA as the next plan.