Thank You & Shoutout to the Team
First, I really want to give a BIG shout-out to the Anaijagunner gunner team for hitting that 100th blogpost milestone. Little beginnings they say, we’ve got some great things coming from this space, locked cannon style loaded... just keep it locked, football. Thank you to everyone who has stopped by to spare a moment to read or comment, or engage in one shape or form. We are super grateful, please keep the support coming—like, retweet, share, comment. Let’s make this a vibrant community. Also, we have a lil something planned to commemorate our 100th blogpost, a giveaw..... THANK YOU!!
Review of Recent Arsenal Performances
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| Image Credit: Skysports |
Now, onto what this channel is about—Football! The EPL is back with a bang, the internationals are over, and boy oh boy, we can’t wait to watch Arsenal. Speaking of the lads, we have to shout out to our gunner lads, who, most of them, put in a great show on their international outings this past weekend.
An all-round star-studded performance by the boiz on national duty. Unfortunately, VG and Sweden continued their barren form as he recorded zero GA on national duty. He really needs to rediscover his scoring boots. This brings me right back to the EPL. After dispatching the hammers to finally bury those demons that saw them come to the Emirates and pick up points in the past 2 seasons, we walked away with a solid 2-0 win. The scoreline flattered them, though. Nuno's men tried to nullify us, but our quality shone through, and the game was handled with accomplished aplomb. No frills, well-controlled, and professional: Get the job done, 3 points, and out. The Hammers had zero shots at Raya in goal. Says a whole lot about how Arsenal shields their goalie.
It was with that confidence we sought to resume normal service after the international break with another London derby, this time a trip to the Cottagers at Fulham. This was another potential banana skin, with the Cottagers playing much better than their current 15th position on the #EPL log deceptively suggests. But cue Arsenal to go there and turn things around in the league.
What I liked was the way the Arsenal team shut down Fulham. Sure, Harry Wilson had some speculative pops and Muniz was kind of a nuisance. Fulham played okay, even if they never had a shot on target. They put in a shift to make sure we got denied space or time on the ball. It took our usual set-piece Ole ole to bail us out again. Saka with the corner, BIG Gabby with the near-post flicker, and Trossard kneeing it home for the famous 1-0 to the Arsenal. Our opponents must be super tired of letting one in via our set-piece. Me? I’m taking all wins—beautiful or set-piece—as long as it brings us the long-awaited trophies, I don’t mind.
Before we jump to the next one, I want to say big ups to VG for his industry. His barren spell will end soon (Touch wood). I know many rival fans are waiting to label him a flop, but you can see he’s beginning to get into those positions regularly. Maybe once Kai is back and we can rotate him out, it would give him some much-needed rest and fire at the same time. Honorable mention to our fantastic wingbacks in Cala and Timber. Timber has upped his attacking guile while still remaining uncompromising on the defensive side. Calafiori, what a sweet goal, rightfully chalked off for offside. I don’t know what kind of left-back Cala is, but my word, he’s stepped it up a couple of notches and it’s enough to keep MLS out of the team.
On the penalty—unpopular opinion, but that for me wasn’t a pen. I’d hate for that to be given against Arsenal, no biases here, just saying it as is. The most important thing, I guess, is we beat Fulham regardless, and that makes it 3 U-turn results from last season:
Arsenal has won back 8 points this season from the same fixtures compared to last season. Long may that turnaround continue, taking it game by game. Overall, I would say the team is moving steadily after the initial meltdown post Liverpool loss and City draw. Arteta has shown he can be flexible if need be without giving too much change on the defensive side. If you add the other rival results over the weekend, Liverpool lost again but to ManU, who saw that coming? Spurs losing to Villa, but City won, though, you can't get everything you want, I guess. Haaland can't seem to stop scoring, already on 15 GA in just 10games. Again, things can quickly change in this league. Weeks ago, City had been written off as title contenders, while Liverpool more or less had been nailed on by the bookmakers for the title after they signed Isak for 130M quid. I guess we all don't know $###t, so let's just stay focused as Fans, quietly go about our biz, taking it one game at a time. Palace is up next in the league, and we all know Oliver Glasner has is team ticking nicely. It would not be a cake walk, but it's definitely doable, turn a D into a W, +2 (touchwood), but before that, it's a tough cracker in the Champions League on Tuesday.
UCL Preview: Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid
Now to the UCL, where the Gunners welcome Atletico Madrid in what has to be the toughest test we’ve faced so far in the Champions League. Diego Simeone’s boiz put in a great comeback against Liverpool and almost ran the Scousers close to a draw, but Liverpool found a way as they so often do. Their La Liga form shows 4W 4D, putting them in 4th place, while in the opening two games in the UCL, 1W 1D. More importantly, against us, the red half of Madrid seems to have gotten the rub of the green, dumping us out of the Europa League Semis in Wenger's last season, with Mikel Arteta being the coach for one of those losses. I’m sure Mikel would have that at the back of his mind for some sort of payback—maybe it’s just me wishing. Anyway, Diego Simeone usually has a drilled team, so do Arsenal. Maybe this will be a battle of attrition, who can bore the other with defending to death?
While Arsenal may have a good record against Spanish opposition, Los Rojiblancos team is definitely a cut above the rest so far. I won't be surprised if this turns out to be a boring draw or another famous 1-0 to the Arsenal. I am not taking Athletico for granted in any way; they have loads of fire power in Julian Alvarez, who is a great finisher with 10GA already this season, and the timeless Griezman. I just think we shade it slightly with our efficient attack and the stoic solidity at the back. Atletico hasn't been as impregnable as they were a couple of seasons ago, even with Oblak in top form. I fancy Gyokeres to break his Champions League duck in this game (Don't Jinx it now). A little bit of rotation would be for this game, not because I am taking Atletico Madrid with levity, but simply out of necessity. Calafiori to me must be in the amber to red zone right now, with the amount of minutes he has played, I'd definitely bring on MLS for him, and maybe Mosquera for Timber, maybe. I'd start Saka and Ethan with Eze on the left. Marcos Lloriente at RB likes to bomb forward, as we saw against Liverpool. For Eze, it might be a good thing as he needs to take more control, Fulham game passed him by even though he was playing as the 10, let's try him on the left again and also give Nwanneri some much needed game time, yes I know its against a tough side in Athletico Madrid but I would give him the chance, should do his confidence a world of good. My team sheet would be this, with a strong bench of: White, Hincapie, Trossard, Martinelli, Keppa, Riccardo.
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| #ARSATM |
