Up the Arse! Goons Thread

[glenferry23]

Bang. Havertz. That was gloriously done.

No surprise it’s come via Martinelli. He’s putting on a clinic this evening.

Thrilled for Havertz. He plays every minute, every match. Work rate is phenomenal and deserves the goals to his name as a reflection of his efforts. Tireless.

2-0, and now see it through properly.

 

[windyhill]

Nice Kai.

 

[glenferry23]

Odegaard! Holy shit he needed that.

3-0. That’s much much better and reflective of this performance. Comprehensive from Arsenal.

 

[charcoalchicken]

Would really like to see more instinctive shots, Odegaard and Havertz etc can pull the trigger earlier. We sometimes get into that rut of too many extra touches around the box, blocked or defended from there.

Yeah we seem to make scoring really hard work lately

It opened up in the end there after a lovely cross from martinelli for Havertz goal but yeah you just can’t help but think they should be more clinical, especially when they are dominant like they were this morning

 

[tigs2010]

A game and 7 goals clear of 9th with a game to go.

I assume top 8 get a round off and 9-24 all have to play extra games.

 

[glenferry23]

Yeah we seem to make scoring really hard work lately

It opened up in the end there after a lovely cross from martinelli for Havertz goal but yeah you just can’t help but think they should be more clinical, especially when they are dominant like they were this morning

Yes I do feel at times so much needs to go right, almost perfect choreography for Arsenal to score. Every now and then though we break the shackles and it starts raining goals again. I welcome the sight of taking more shots around the box, one or two less touches can make all the difference (it can also be a confidence thing).

Hoping that goal unleashes Odegaard now in the next few weeks. His goals have dried up this season however if he get going again, that’s absolutely massive for Arsenal.

 

[glenferry23]

A game and 7 goals clear of 9th with a game to go.

I assume top 8 get a round off and 9-24 all have to play extra games.

Yep that’s right, a draw next week against Girona seals top 8 and earns two games off in the next round. That’s massive for Arsenal as along with the 4th FA Cup weekend, a small gap opens in the fixtures and the club can squeeze in a short getaway to Dubai to refresh.

Which is a very welcome change from 7 games in 20 days this January. And 4 more crucial matches upcoming before then. The injuries are never a good thing, however to come at this time with so much football, that can be so costly for the season’s chances.

Yet, somehow, Arsenal find themselves only behind Liverpool and Barcelona across the respective league and European tables. That’s phenomenal really. And a testament to the resilience of the club and manager. There’s still a shit load to play for here.

If we strengthen in January (I reckon they’re going hard for Sesko behind the scenes), and somehow remain “in the room” for the league come March/April, you just never know. As unlikely as it is, that has to be the mentality.

I’ve seen Arsenal teams roll over and fold when shit gets hard. I’ve seen players who look like they don’t give a shit, and collecting a healthy paycheque along the way. The exact opposite can be said of this current team.

They’re running on fumes, giving it everything. Rice, Havertz, Odegaard, Martinelli, Gabriel, Timber etc etc are doing this every 3 days with little respite. The effort is there, absolutely. Now their willingness to get it done needs continued support from the fans and leaders of the club to help get them that little bit extra that makes all the difference.

Havertz being brought off to rapturous applause from the Emirates was fantastic to see. These guys are giving it all they’ve got and somehow if we can just navigate these next two weeks, with potentially strengthening in attack coupled with the returns of White, Saliba, Calafiori and Saka come April, you just never know what is possible.

 

[dirty2]

A game and 7 goals clear of 9th with a game to go.

I assume top 8 get a round off and 9-24 all have to play extra games.

Top 8 get the next round off.. which with our schedule and injuries is an absolute must.

 

[glenferry23]

 

[Cruyff14]

3-0 win is much needed. Great for Havertz and Martin to get in on the goals too.

 

[dirty2]

How did sterling play? Need him to find some sort of form.

 

[glenferry23]

How did sterling play? Need him to find some sort of form.

It was more so serviceable than anything else, a couple of half moments really. He wasn’t shit. He wasn’t magnificent. Didn’t look out of place in the system, at the same time it’s also a bit sad to see a once great footballer look like a shadow of his former self.

Overall though, against opposition like this (with all due respect to Zagreb), I see it as a win in terms of taking 60 minutes off the load of Trossard. Who along with Kai and Martinelli, we absolutely need to preserve them given the gruelling schedule. Trossard will surely return for Wolves on the weekend and I imagine Nwaneri will be back ahead in the queue for minutes thereafter.