By Bulldog Drummond
We have currently rushed up to equal third in the Physioroom injury chart with no fewer than six players out, or not quite in. Here’s the list… (The headings as always are Untold’s; physioroom is much more serious about these things).
| Who? | What? | When back? | What’s the latest? | Doubtness |
| Monreal | Tight Hamstring | Oct 25 | Slight Doubt | |
| Kolasinac | Tight Hamstring | Oct 25 | Slight Doubt | |
| Sokratis | Ankle Injury | Oct 25 | Slight Doubt | |
| Cech | Hamstring | Oct 28 | “Not yet training with the group but getting close” | Slight Doubt |
| Mavropanos | Groin Strain | Nov 11 | “Expected to return to full training in November.” | No |
| Koscielny | Achilles | Nov 11 | “I want to come back when I am fully ready, and I can focus 100% on the game. Trust me, I can’t wait to be back” | No |
Some reports have Maitland-Niles as still injured but as can be seen he is not on the list above. the BBC says M-N is not travelling and have Sokratis as doubtful.
We have played Sporting twice in the past, which has led some media to state that Arsenal have never beaten Sporting away. The BBC go one better and note we have never beaten a Portuguese club away from home. It is apparently three draws and three defeats – the three defeats being the last three.
But moving away from the location to the actual team we are about to play, here is the completely, full and total, detailed review of every single one of our games against Sporting.
| Date | Match | Res | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Oct 1969 | Sporting Lisboa v Arsenal | D | 0-0 | Fairs Cup |
| 26 Nov 1969 | Arsenal v Sporting Lisboa | W | 3-0 | Fairs Cup |
So we went through 3-0 on the adding up rule.
Here’s what the Express website makes of it. “Arsenal have now notched up 10 consecutive victories across all competitions but their squad depth will be severely tested with a tricky away trip against Sporting.
“Emery has several injury issues to contend with as four first-team stars are doubtful and a further three players definitely sidelined, while his side are also back in action on Sunday against Crystal Palace.”
So that takes us up to seven injuries, although the subsequent note includes “Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Carl Jenkinson” as “long-term absentees”. Hmmm.
But we do have a squad, and although Untold always seems to be at loggerheads with some commentators, I go with the view that Elneny is a good solid player who can play well as defensive midfield and always gives everything for the game. Matteo Guendouzi we all know about and I’m never worried with him being in the team.
True the use of the phrase “wafer-thin” to describe our squad, which was the norm from 2012 onwards, is not seen so often, but that era of using that phrase always made me think, “hell, if we can come 2nd, 3rd and 4th with a wafer thin squad, just think of what we could do with a real team.”
So, who might we see tonight? I would imagine Danny Welbeck is due for a game, and it would be great to see some more Emile Smith-Rowe. But if not tonight then we do have the league cup game next Wednesday (we shall be there of course) so I guess he will play then.
Looking further afield, I am told that Mr Emery has only lost one group stage game in the Europa ever – although I am not sure what that game was. The figures presented however show him winning 11 and drawing eight.
And here’s a jolly snipped from the BBC: “six different players have scored for Arsenal in the Europa League this season, more than any other side – Aubameyang, Ozil, Matteo Guendouzi, Emile Smith-Rowe, Sokratis and Danny Welbeck.”
Now I wonder what the word “different” is doing in that sentence. What would it mean if “different” were not there? Absolutely the same. And the opposite: “Six identical players have scored…” Ah we are back in the world of identical twins. Our very best wishes to Mrs Ramsey. Tony has identical twins in his family so he knows all about it.
More anon.
- Does Ozil fail to live up to his potential when playing against top teams? We take a look.
- Sporting v Arsenal. The crazy world of “all you need to know” and where 4th certainly ain’t a trophy
- This Thursday Arsenal play the Donald Trump of European football.
So that’s where I was on the 26th of November 1969. Watching Arsenal win. I seem to remember Geoff Barnett saving a penalty in the away leg.
Then we beat Dinamo Bacau 7-1 then Ajax took a towsing then Anderlecht in the final.
Glorious Gunners.
No hinderer in history that hinders in games winning run can hinder Arsenal from beating Sporting CP in the Europa League Cup match between the duo club sides at Jose Alvalade Stadium tonight. For, Arsenal are more than set and ready to claim an 11th consecutive win in all competitions this season in this match unfailingly. Therefore, no Jupiter of a team winning run stopper that be, not even Sporting CP will stop Arsenal from continuing in their winning run mode. Because the Gunners will not agree to see Arsenal stopped in their winning run. For, they will jealously defends Arsenal winning run from being breached by Sporting CP tonight even if doing this will cost them the last drop of their blood to see Arsenal through with a win in the match, the Gunners will undoubtedly do this sacrifice for Arsenal to win the match.
UEFA has a page up on this game (2 hours to start, about), and their prose says that we have never played Sporting.
Somehow, I suspect the “Arsenal Reporter” (Andy Brassell) is probably just another ManU or Liverpool dork. Looks like I am partially wrong. He works for many medja companies, including TalkShite and The Guardian. He is apparently a Wimbledon fan, who contributes to a spuds website and also to “Arsenal Fan TV”.
So, I think he will be bashing away at Arsenal all game.