To me, it genuinely feels as though the dust has barely settled on the last North London Derby in May, but here we are, traveling to the Emirates to take on our beloved neighbours this Saturday for the weekend’s early-kick off (12.30 PM BST KO).
Indeed, that encounter over 4 months ago saw us take a huge step towards securing Champions League football at the expense of our hosts, yet we find ourselves behind the Gunners after 7 games. Admittedly, Arsenal have improved since the back end of last season, and Arteta has them playing some great stuff, but I think they’ve had the “easiest” start to the season out of everyone in the top 6 – Palace (A), Leicester (H), Bournemouth (A), Fulham (H), Villa (H), United (A), and Brentford (A).
Although I’m of the school of thought that dictates there’s no “easy” game in the Premiership, every game you’d expect a top-four team to win, they’ve won, and the one match many doubted they would win (United away), they lost. Although on the balance of the 7 games they’ve played so far it’s difficult to argue that they don’t deserve to be where they presently are, I don’t think they’ll be up there for much longer.
Although this is technically a “top-of-the-table” clash, it’s worth pointing out that it is not even October yet, making it too early to jump to conclusions in calling this a “title decider” or even a “top four” decider. As much as I’d love to beat Arsenal and would hate to lose on Saturday, this is a match fraught with peril – Arsenal always turn up for this one at the Emirates, and it won’t be easy given our dreadful record at their place over the years.
Indeed, our solitary league win since they moved there in 2006 in November 2010, the iconic 3-2 triumph where we snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Moreover, the away team tends to lose this win, with the last away victory in the league being Arsenal’s 1-0 victory at WHL in March 2014.
There are some injury worries for Arsenal, with Kieran Tierney, Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomisayu all having to withdraw from their respective national teams’ squads with various injury problems of their own. Emil SMith-Rowe, Reiss Nelson, Mohamed Elneny are likely to be out, with Oleksander Zinchenko a doubt too.
Up until yesterday, we had a clean bill of health in terms of internationals, but news has come this morning that Dejan Kulusevski has picked up a hamstring injury while playing for Sweden, making him a doubt for the weekend. Hugo Lloris is also doubtful with a thigh injury he picked up before the international break. We currently await Conte’s quotes on the state of those guys along with the rest of the squad, including Lucas Moura, who has been out since August with a calf injury, and Ben Davies, who picked up a knee injury against Sporting Lisbon a few weeks back.
The derby thread is here folks – discuss away!
Conte won’t win anything with spurs.
The sending off was unfortunate and incorrect but the game was already lost. We are very poor down the right flank anyway. Emerson cannot cross a ball and looks clumsy.
The stats show we were totally outplayed all over the pitch.
Our midfield is lacking in drive and creativity. We have no one in reserve and our bench is dismal.
Conte will not change his style…he knows nothing else. Also he has creative players in the club for us to control the midfield. There is always this gap between defence and attack.
We have a top forward 3 but they have to feed off scraps and mistakes.
Still talk of Conte returning to Italy. Shan’t day I will be sad because we are so boring.
Must be a long time since Arsenal looked a more skilful and exciting, free flowing team than ours.
Shocking decision for the red card.
Overall arsenal the better stats also they have improved on last season and with new signings unlike ours.
As per my post on page 1… arsenal were more motivated to win. We were just not up for the win and error by loris and unmarked goal scorers with a stupid red card 2nd half did us for 3 points. Our counter attacking / final passing of the ball was not quite what was needed. At least HK10 varied his penalty shot from keepers right side, so he can keep them guessing and continue adding to his golden boot total this season.
Conte will need to adjust his formation in games, more work on training ground and during games. Now onto germany tuesday CL game, COYS
TK I liked your post on the tomorrow and today 🙂 ..
block 108,
I assume you liked it before I wrote it, which is what caused me to write it.
Somehow yesterday will be a match that I would like to forget. In the non existing present I’m off to the yesterday of next Tuesday. We can continue our habit of reporting on Monday the result for the match on Tuesday.
If only football would obey the laws of physics. Maybe it would if the drivers on the M1 would obey the laws of the road. Or if the trains in England would run at all.
If only I could forget the match I’m waiting to be played yesterday. Ah yesterday, when our troubles will fade away.
On a more traditional view of time: yesterday’s performance was atrocious–best forgotten if only it could be. I truly hate to hand an opportunity to the evil empire to gloat and gloating they are.
To Conte and the rest of the pathetic lot that showed up at the Emirates yesterday: Stop it. It’s beneath you to mistreat us like that. If you’re going to show up at all, be prepared to play football. You do remember what that is, don’t you? round ball? feet and heads knocking a call about? put it forward and in a net? don’t do stupid things?
it’s fairly fundamental. how could you have forgotten so easily?
Can’t be changed with Conte in charge. One track mind. Defend and hope for the best.