Good Old "1Nil" Classic in Lisbon & Palace Preview

11 straight wins and the Emery’s Gooner train continues to chug on. Not time to get overly excited so hold your horses, keep your feet on the ground lets remain grounded in our expectations. This Arsenal team is doing fairly well in light of the progressive transition phase it is going through currently but credit to gunners and the coach for job done so far.

Image Credit: Arsenal..com

Sporting Lisbon was always going to the most difficult game for Arsenal in this group and coming from Portugal with all three points is definitely good, when its by the classic 0-1 to the Arsenal with Welbeck getting the solitory goal (his 5^th of the season), you love it even more. Cable subscriptions shenanigans ensured I didn’t get to watch the match live but extended highlights showed the game didn’t have the smooth style of play we have been experiencing from the gunners in recent weeks, more ebb than flow. The gunners did dominate the game, a whole lot if might add, more goal attempts, shots on target (Lisbon barely had any) and overall possession. Still overall play was more attritionary than sublime. All that being said, 3 points in the bag, a clean sheet, Top of the group, I will take that…Next stop please! The gunners still need start games switched on in full flow and Emery knows this.

          Next stop is a trip to Selhurst partk for a date with Crystal Palace. The eagles currently have their nickers in a twist sort of so maybe this is a good time to play them. Sitting in 15^th position on the EPL log, their general form is not good (PL9 W2 D1 L6) and with both wins coming on the road for the Eagle’s it may be safe to say their home form is abject. If I add the fact that they haven’t scored at Selhurst park this season, you might be tempted to say Roy Hodgson’s side are a walk over this Sunday, how I wish football was played on paper just like that. Yes the odds look stacked against palace getting anything out of this game but, the gunners in times past have been known to slip up at the least expected time so watch the potential banana skin here. All that said, I can feel that renewed hunger coming back to the Arsenal team, as epitomised by the demand from the manager. I expect them to approach the game with professionalism without taking their opponents for granted. The manager says.

 “my first goal is to improve our competitiveness. We are focussed on Sunday”  

If you ask me, I would say those two statements tell a lot about the way we need to approach the game. Let’s hope the boyz get the message and do the talking on the field of play, by nullifying the threat of Zaha and Townsend first and foremost as most of palaces attacking play goes through them.

Image Credit: TheUKguardian

Anyway, my thoughts be, Can we get the win to make it 12 straight, with a clean another sheet on board too? I guess another 90+ minutes will tell, that’s it from us over here, remember to hit the subscribe button so you get our posts as they drop while you can also follow us on Facebook by Clicking Here. Special mention to Welbeck for doing the biz when called upon, 3^rd choice striker yet goal per minutes ratio is on the up, long may he stay fit to continue. Do enjoy the game wherever you are….Ciaooo

5 Star Gunners To 10/10 & Lisbon Preview

 Wow what else can one say but look out the window admire the horizon and feel the caress of the gentle sunshine its raining outside…..loll. Nope we aren’t title contenders so get off that crack you are smoking and head back down to reality, Yes we won 10/10 straight, are only 2 points off the table toppers Man City (which is quite telling) after 9 games but, I repeat we are not title contenders yet. Arsenal sure can-do things to you as a fan shaa, Joy or frustration or both, Painful pleasure weak and delicate strength, such is the paradox that is Arsenal football club. Okay enough of the reminisce, even though it no doubt feels good to be a gunner right now meeeiiiinnn!! I mean after back to back stellar performances with 8 goals scored, 2 conceded and most of all a double R display of footballing artistry, who won’t be? I know the sooner we get down to earth and continue with the hard work Emery is trying to instil, the better but lets just take a moment to savour the display against Leicester City.

Özil must have been possessed by the captain’s arm band, or how else do you explain his larger than life virtuoso display that literally blew away the foxes? We all know how talented he is or how good he can be, we just don’t see it often enough, which is such a shame in itself considering the audacity of his abilities. Its hard not to go on and keep talking about the last two games against Fulham which was good, while the Leicester city match was great, that’s besides the first 20-25 minutes of course. That said and all, lets look at the not so good. I’m sorry but I always have something to cavil about, this wont be different. Two things, I wonder why Arsenal can’t seem to keep clean sheets like the good old days, I mean its all nice to score a quiver full of goals but give me an old fashioned 2 nil to the gunners over a 3-1 or a 1 nil over a 2-1 to the Arsenal, I will gladly take the clean sheet scores ahead of the cricket score line. My other issue is the fact that it takes a bit to get the cannon ball loaded as once again seen against Leicester, Arsenal was all at sea for the most part of the first half. I am sure a better team would have punished our sloppy play more. Lets dial back the a few games past, against Everton, Watford and now Leicester, the turnovers in dangerous areas early in the games have been quite worrisome. I want to believe its something Emery sees (as he is BIG on detail video reviews). It is important the gunners cut this down to the barest minimum. We might get away with it against bottom fodder opposition but against the top teams, I need not say more. Hopefully the coach works that sloppiness out of the teams play. Before go to the preview, Hats of to Ramsey for the goal against Fulham, the build up was beautiful, the finish…sublime. Özil gets an extra special mention too for that performance against Leicester, Jeeeez do that more often Please. Torreira....just quietly awesome

Its back to Thursday night football with the gunners facing the first game of the double header against the team I believe on paper remains the true test in our group. We travel to the estadio Alvalade, home of Sporting Lisbon for third group game in the Europa league. It’s the game of the group as it pitches the group leaders against each other. You get the feeling that whichever team can dominate this double header tie, will likely top the group. Sporting lisbon may not be one of the European club heavyweights currently but they used to be and  are next in line behind Porto in Portugal, they have a rich history and cant be underestimated. Its even telling that how well they have turned the season around considering the kind of tumultuous summer they had with players being threatened sacked coaches and all that. This brings us to Emery’s comments ahead of the game, he thinks Sporting Lisbon is a very decent side and must not be underestimated but he reiterates his own hunger for more.

 “When you win this competition, you go to the champions league for the next year and for us at Arsenal, I am telling every player, the supporters and the club- it is very important because it is one title and also a way to go to champions league. We are here to play to win”

I sure hope the boyz get his message, one can only ask for a repeat of the recent second half performances the gunners have been putting in just start a little earlier. Team news has Monreal, Sokratis and the usual suspects of Kolasinac, Maitiland Niles, Koscielny all out with an injury of sorts. I would expect Cech may not make it too as he is only just back in full training. Holding and Mustafi to continue at center back, Litchsteiner may complete a back three or be part of a back four. In the middle, I would expect El Neny, Emile smith, Mikhi to join the fray while Welbeck should be back in the attack. Özil and the likes of Lacazette, Ramsey would likely start from the bench. Anyway, my thoughts be …..Can we get the win with a clean sheet on board too? I guess another 90+ minutes will tell, that’s it from us over here, remember to hit the subscribe button so you get our posts as they drop while you can also follow us on Facebook Here. Do enjoy the game wherever you are….Ciaooo