Back to Back Away Wins and Europa League Time.

Hey goonerholics and footy fans alike, hows the weather on your side of the planet? Full of smiles like mine I guess….loll. OK lets do a quickie right away (pun intended…. winks) Things seem to be changing at Arsenal, Ivan is off to spin the Italians some spaghetti in toma sauce at Milan, while we made it 3 wins in a row and a consecutive win away for the first time in the premier league In the gunners 20 tries me thinks. Emery is already that good mate, jokes apart, that’s a telling stat for Arsenal and Arsene’s last season at the helm but its okay, we have to start rebuilding from somewhere.

So much for the good, the bad is that we were so poor for long stretches of the first half against Newcastle, it’s a miracle Arsenal managed to go into the 2^nd half with no deficit. No thanks to Newcastle whom for all their industry in ensuring they high pressed the gunners they just lacked the cutting edge in the final third. Had there had been more cutting edge in their approach around the Arsenal box, I don’t think we would be talking about another 3 points for the gunners. Another sorry sight is the lack of clean sheets so far after five games, I don’t know if its too early to be concerned but I am asking wont there to be games the gunners need to win by a lone goal? If there are, it means the team still has a lot to do. The play improved significantly in the second half with arsenal showing a bit more urgency in the ball movement around the Newcastle box. The pressure paid off with two quick goals, Özil’s was a marker for his 200^th arsenal appearance, not a bad day at the office for the much-maligned creator general. It’s a tussle between him and Ramsey for the coveted central midfield position as both don’t like to play wide, for now Emery seems to favour Ramsey in the centre with Özil hugging the right flanks. That’s a matter for another day, the win came with the blemish of another goal conceded, yet to keep a clean sheet this season….so soo sooo not good. That being said, a win is a win, 3 points in the bag to make it 3 wins in a row, nothing spectacular still lots of work to do to get the Emery philosophy through, but we would take it.

Now lets quickly talk about the Europa League. I know we dont like to talk about the less glamorous european club competition but i ask people would you mind winning the trophy? Well, i dont.  The Gunners kick of their campaign with a visit from Ukrainian club FC Vorskla. Not much is known about them which means they aren’t a powerhouse outta Ukraine and that could also be a potential Banana skin waiting for Arsenal if they go into the game all cocky. Footy gods have a way of punishing the favorites, look at Man City against Lyon and you get my drift. Emery has a good track record in this competition with 3 consecutive wins, that’s being matched recently only by Zidane in the champions league. The key players for Vorskla are left wingers Rebenok and Kobakhidze. A lot of play is channelled through those two. Team selection poses Bernd Leno to start as well as Litchsteiner, I am sure Emery will rotate some more players in but those two are penned down which is good. Lets see Leno in competitive action. The gunners will need to put the game to rest quickly by being clinical up front, will Auba get a central striker role? That’s to be seen. Whatever team starts I hope they crack off ith a win plus a clean sheet to boot.

       I guess that’s it from us over here, remember to hit the subscribe button so you get our posts as the drop while you can also follow us on Facebook Here,  do enjoy the game wherever you are…..Ciaooo