By Tony Attwood
“While questions have been asked of Arsenal’s attacking intent, there can be no complaints about their home form so far this season.” So says one of the Arsenal knocking papers as it launches its start of today’s game’s preview. But really that is a bit misleading, since after all Arsenal’s record is played seven, won six and lost one, and the only club to do better is Manchester Cheating-but-not-punished. So as ever we wait to see what (if anything) the legal dudes have to say about the Mancs.
But while meandering around the internet looking for something to say about today’s opposition I did come across a list of Everton anniversaries, and I must congratulate whoever built such a site because they really do seem to have worked on their history. Here is the anniversary list for Everton on this day and tomorrow.
Oct 24 1928 – our first appearance in the Charity Shield sees us beat Blackburn 2-1 at Old Trafford.
Oct 24 1962 – our first match in Europe – a 1-0 home win over Dunfermline in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the forerunner of the UEFA Cup.
Oct 25 1919 – our 1,000th competitive match is a 3-0 home win against Blackburn in the old Division 1.
Oct 25 1958 – Johnny Carey’s first match as manager – a 1-1 draw away at Blackpool.
I thought that really impressive – but it reminded me that AISA, the Arsenal Independent Supporters Association – has indeed done it. And so here are today’s anniversaries. I ought to quote them more often…
24 October 1936: The East Stand, Highbury, is opened
24 October 2010: scoring three against Man C – the video
25 October 1969: Sammy Nelson made his debut
25 October 2016: the Ox has fun with the Villa defence
Anyway back to today – what of the team?
Raya;
White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori;
Rice, Lewis-Skelly;
Madueke, Odegaard, Eze;
Havertz
Raya;
Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori;
Odegaard, Guimaraes. Rice
Saka Havertz, Madueke
Now of course we all know that Saka can’t play, so I guess they must have rushed their prediction out early, or they didn’t look at the damage listings from the last game. Or they know something we don’t know.
But Yahoo Sports seem to know a trifle more about what’s what and suggest
Raya
Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori
Guimarães, Rice, Ødegaard
Madueke, Havertz, Eze
which I guess looks a bit closer to the mark. So I think I will stop there, and hope we all have a jolly time. A shame no one can put it on TV, but there will be highlights tonight on Match of the Day.
Previsouly on this site
Tony, thank you for your data profile of today’s match both now and your earlier report. Sorry this is most of my post from earlier with some slight tweaks.
You had expertly shown in your earlier post today our past meeting with Everton well, that favours Arsenals on history results.
We love playing Everton. Arsenal have got this one if just going on past meetings in its history of results.
I know you already know the following stats but just for other readers, I also look at the Manager stats and Ref stats as well as the team, which also fares well for today’s Arsenals match.
Moyes has lost 30, drawn 11, won only 6 games against Arsenal in his career.
Moyes against Arteta is 8 lost, 3 draws and only 2 wins.
Arsenals record with today’s referee is good. Although he has never officiated a match between Arsenal and Everton. Arsenal have won all 3 games against other teams that Tony Harrington has officiated.
However he has officiated just one game for Everton where Everton had won that day.
He has no history of red cards or penalties against or for either team.
On current form, selected teams ability, history of teams meeting, managers meeting, and referee past stats. It heavily favours Arsenals to get a good result.
This is all pending today’s tactics of both sides, and any lack in concentration or defensive mistakes.
Everton is more defense than attack although they are capable of 2 or 3 shots on target per game, with their danger man and their top scorer being Thierno Barry who is capable of a couple of shots on target.
Yahoo seems to have picked our best 11 (if not including young Max), but who knows with Arteta keeping his rotation method.
All being an error free game Arsenal should be able to break down Everton’s tight defence and be to much quality for them and take all 3pts today. IMO.
It was broadcast on USA network here in the States. Arsenal were dominant except for a patch here and there. and back to the old set piece scoring. Good to see. Konsa and Gabriel are becoming an imposing pair at centre back. And they both scored! Odegaard on his game again. One concern is that White doesn’t seem to have the pace to keep up with opposing wingers or full backs. He still looks good going forward and hit a nice cross for the assist on Big Gabi’s headed goal. An all around good performance. I suppose they could have scored a couple more, but job done. Three points, the clean sheet and level with the cheaters from City on points. Enjoyable day!
OT,
seeing the Palmer incident(s), I just got confirmation of all I ever thought about the guy. He may have some talents, but his behaviour was just totally despicable. I do not care for Sp*rs, I have no idea what the Sp*rs player did to him, but coming back 5 or more meters and kneeing him is just nothing but assault. The more so the guy is sitting and the head is in the way.
And this and other incidents over the past few weeks where referees have totally divergent interpretations of the law shows how totally out of hand the management of PGMOL personnel (referees) has become. And I include VAR in this lot.
Dowman getting a foul when the Everton player is pretty much trying to rip his arm off is another example.
They do what they want, there is no ‘common doctrine’. Each referee is apliyng his own rules, how he feels it, and each VAR does the same.
No consistency, no logic.
PGMOL is totally inept at managing, training, educating, controlling the referees. A total incompetence on display week after week, replay after replay. And this pretty much on Mondovision.
Chris
I was also convinced that Erling Haaland’s goal should have been disallowed for at least one foul (the arm pull and/or climbing all over Victor Lindelöf) at Villa Park
I have always thought that the main reason Haaland scores so many goals is because he gets away with pushing, pulling and elbowing defenders in his wake…
It would seem the erstwhile PGMOL now Proref is the remaining part of the Manky Filth operation . Why on earth isn’t someone in authority investigating them.
It’s known they went to Saudi to officiate at matches there they were paid to do so , because apparently they’re professionals, who paid them and would that be a conflict of interests would be my initial questions . Surely this diseased organisation like Manky Filth needs to be cut out , otherwise they will continue and it will only benefit those I suspect are their paymasters.
LeMmy – thanks for reminding me it is ProRef – after years of writing PGMO I can’t get out the habit.
But the problem is, ProRef is owned by the Premier League. If they had a mind to, they could sort the issue out themselves.
LeMmy,
and after we know how the Cheaters coocked the books one can wonder if those refs got extra payements out of any books?????
‘ PoorRef ‘ seems more apt !