Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal, 18:00 GMT (29/12, Amazon Prime)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brighton only played yesterday so there can be no nonsense about tiredness or anything like that for this one.

Our record against Brighton is terrible, lost home and away to them last season. :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

A 6 pointer against Brighton. Never thought I’d say that.

0-2.

[Letters]

Amazon Prime :popcorn:

[GP]

Will watch this one on my TV.

[Bumble]

think we will go on a run of decent results. unless we concede first and the old guard return then we are doomed

[Letters]

Will watch this one on my TV.

Alright, granddad.

Everyone knows that the best viewing experience is on a small screen with tinny speakers.

[selassie]

I hope Arteta doesn't start messing around with the team bringing back wasters like Willian, i swear if Willian comes back into the team it will be an absolute joke.

Same XI as the other day, though I'd probably bring in Auba for Martinelli who probably needs a rest now.

[I am invisible]

No Willians. Bum.

[I am invisible]

No idea who we’ll pick, but I hope we at least stick with the same shape.

If ESR is rested, who else who’s not Willian can play in that 10 spot? If Martinelli is rested who else offers that energy and goal threat from wide attack? Need to replace their energy and positivity as much as their technical ability. Cant have any players wandering around hiding and looking to their team mates for answers.

Is Mari good for another game so soon? Thought he was looking tired towards the end of the Chelsea game.

[Mac76]

No idea who we’ll pick, but I hope we at least stick with the same shape.

If ESR is rested, who else who’s not Willian can play in that 10 spot? If Martinelli is rested who else offers that energy and goal threat from wide attack? Need to replace their energy and positivity as much as their technical ability. Cant have any players wandering around hiding and looking to their team mates for answers.

Is Mari good for another game so soon? Thought he was looking tired towards the end of the Chelsea game.

i'd rather see Saka moved infield and Pepe brought back in - or Nelson if he's still alive - than bring Willian back

[Mac76]

oh and 3-0 Maupay hatter

[I am invisible]

i'd rather see Saka moved infield and Pepe brought back in - or Nelson if he's still alive - than bring Willian back

Yeah, Saka does feel like the best swap for ESR in the middle, if it comes to it. Of course he's also probably the best swap for Martinelli down the left and the best man to play down the right, but having someone in the middle who can link the left and right sides of the team feels more important. We've got a real gem with that kid!

Wondering how Balogun would get on if we asked him to play either left or right? Pepe or Nelson can do the job on a technical level, as can Willock through the centre if we want to keep Saka wide, but none of those three have really blown me away, tbh. They're good when everyone else is good, but I don't think any of them have it in them to really take control of a game when we need someone to step up - not in the same way that Saka, Martinelli and ESR can. Not sure which camp Balogun sits in yet, but we need hunger and attitude as much as we need technical ability right now.

[Marc Overmars]

Balogun should be getting the chances Eddie is.

With the 2 goals he’s scored in the Europa, he’s already shown he could be a more polished finisher than Eddie ever will be. I’ve never seen Eddie open his body up and manoeuvre defenders away when taking shots. He’s only about tap ins and picking up scraps in the box. Way too limited.

Also the fact Balogun is considering leaving to further his career if he can’t get chances with us suggests he’s a pretty hungry kid.

[I am invisible]

Yeah, I agree - early days, but he already looks a far more complete, far more modern #9. If he plays with the same hunger as Saka, Martinelli and ESR then I’d even say he should be getting the chances that Nelson and Pepe are getting, even if that sometimes means playing left or right. Good players with elite mentalities just get on with it.

Obviously anyone else in the squad should be getting the chances Willian is getting - even Kolasinac offers more in the final third!

[selassie]

Balogun should be getting the chances Eddie is.

With the 2 goals he’s scored in the Europa, he’s already shown he could be a more polished finisher than Eddie ever will be. I’ve never seen Eddie open his body up and manoeuvre defenders away when taking shots. He’s only about tap ins and picking up scraps in the box. Way too limited.

Also the fact Balogun is considering leaving to further his career if he can’t get chances with us suggests he’s a pretty hungry kid.

The fact that Liverpool are chasing him hard should tell us all we need to know. This kid has the potential to be a serious talent IMO, resigning him on and giving him chances is the least we should be doing. We have absolutely no excuses to lose this kid, we are in a complete mess and that position is up for grabs, this kid could save us some serious money if he's given a chance IMO.

[I am invisible]

Luiz and Willian are still "ill", apparently :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

Luiz and Willian are still "ill", apparently :lol:

Shame :coffee:

[I am invisible]

Shame :coffee:

Yeah, rest up lads - take all the time you need to "get well". ALL the time.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brighton: Sanchez, Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Burn, Bernardo, Bissouma, Gross, Propper, Mac Allister, Jahanbakhsh.
Subs: Steele, White, Connolly, Maupay, Trossard, Welbeck, March, Zeqiri, Molumby.

Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Pablo Mari, Tierney, Xhaka, Elneny, Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Aubameyang.
Subs: Runarsson, Mustafi, Cedric, Maitland-Niles, Ceballos, Willock, Pepe, Nketiah, Lacazette.

[I am invisible]

Fuckin' A!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Steve Wilson and Jim Beglin are the commentators.

[Marc Overmars]

Brighton’s only home win this year is against us. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Auba cross but the deflection makes it easy for Sanchez.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Elneny boots it out of play for some reason.

[Mac76]

terrible corner from saka

[Mac76]

why is Bellerin marking Burn, he's about two feet shorter than him

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not been good thus far. :lol:

Leno injecting some fun. :bow:

[Marc Overmars]

This is a contender for worst 24 mins of football ever seen.

[Mac76]

i do think it works better with Laca up front, he's a constant threat to defenders, but Auba just drifts around aimlessly

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saka. :bow:

[Mac76]

bad pass from bellerin to ESR, gave him no chance

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka puts the free kick over.

[Mac76]

Xhaka puts the free kick over.

i knew him scoring in that last game would come back to haunt us, he'll be hogging them all now

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good defending ESR.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Elneny has been piss poor.

[Marc Overmars]

They’re all over us. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good save from Leno to deny Jahanbakhsh.

[Mac76]

Elneny has been piss poor.

very

[Globalgunner]

We are really stinking up the joint

Xhaka-El Neny could possibly be the worst midfield combo in pro football

Leno working overtime to keep Brighton out

[Letters]

STOP HITTING THE FIRST MAN WITH THE CORNERS YOU PRICKS!!

[Mac76]

another shit corner from saka

[Globalgunner]

STOP HITTING THE FIRST MAN WITH THE CORNERS YOU PRICKS!!

Worse it took 2 Arsenal players to deliver that putrid corner kick

[Marc Overmars]

We are really stinking up the joint

Xhaka-El Neny could possibly be the worst midfield combo in pro football



Doesn’t really get less dynamic than that.

[Letters]

Leno working overtime to keep Brighton out
Not sure that’s true.
He’s only made one (admittedly good) save.
But we are offering nothing up front and making mistakes at the back which is giving them chances

[Mac76]

Elneny is completely ignoring our right hand side, jsut gives it to Mari or Xhaka every time

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 HT.

Utter bollocks.

[Letters]

0-0 HT. Offering nothing

[Marc Overmars]

That was absolutely shit.

[I am invisible]

Well that was shite.

[Mac76]

we were more lively again but as others say our midfield is slow and shite - he shoudl take off Xhaka for Ceballos or AMN at HT

[Gooner23]

Central midfield utter garbage against a well drilled team. Pedestrian.

[Globalgunner]

Doesn’t really get less dynamic than that.

It's like having 2 Buffalo in your dance troupe

HT. Dare I say it. Maybe we were lucky against the Russians. Twas a pithy penalty that got the ball rolling for us.

[Marc Overmars]

It's like having 2 Buffalo in your dance troupe

HT. Dare I say it. Maybe we were lucky against the Russians. Twas a pithy penalty that got the ball rolling for us.

A penalty and a worldie freekick. Didn’t change anything about the notion of this team being utterly useless in open play.

[I am invisible]

Brighton’s 6 pairs of fresh legs maybe making a difference - our guys look half a yard slower to everything. Reactions sluggish, central midfield absolutely static, nobody attacking space...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great clip of Xhaka opting for a sideways pass rather than trying to find Auba with the run he made. :lol:

[Mac76]

on the bright side, we go up to 14th if all the other scores remain the same... :popcorn:

[I am invisible]

There was one moment where one of our boys (maybe Martinelli?) played a beautifully-cushioned lay off from the right, just begging for someone to run onto it at full speed, and not one player moved - made him look like a right mug...

[Marc Overmars]

on the bright side, we go up to 14th if all the other scores remain the same... :popcorn:

Exciting times.

[Globalgunner]

From my point of view, the main issue with this team is that we have no playmaker. No creativity from the centre. A ball carrier that can take the ball more than 10 metres to the opposition. All we can do is pass and badly at that.

[I am invisible]

Pepe, save us!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a save to deny Auba.

Great move though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Auba shot side netting.

[Mac76]

What a save to deny Auba.

Great move though.

great move, thought he'd score then

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Martinelli just puts it over.

ESR. :bow:

[Mac76]

Martinelli just puts it over.

ESR. :bow:

damn, great effort

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Auba, WTF? :haha:

Martinelli doing good stuff again.

[Marc Overmars]

Auba is crap.

[Mac76]

auba :doh:

[Marc Overmars]

Looking much better this half.

[Globalgunner]

LOL at Holding trying to play football in the middle of the park

[Mac76]

another shit corner from saka

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dunk booked, run at him!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saka should've poked it back earlier.

[Marc Overmars]

Saka should have released that quickly. :doh:

[Mac76]

Saka should have released that quickly. :doh:

yes definitely

[Marc Overmars]

Surely AMN deserves a go in midfield? Can’t be worse than Xhaka and Elneny.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Propper shot, Leno saves it, even though it was going off target.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jahanbakhsh booked. Scrote.

Martinelli off, Lacazette on.

Elneny still on. :lol:

[Letters]

LACA!

Pretty much his first touch.

Great work from Saka.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

LACAZETTE!!

Oh Saka you star.

[Marc Overmars]

Lacashite!!

All from Saka’s running. :bow:

[Letters]

What a finish!
Come on, boys.

[Mac76]

Laca!!!!!

Saka!!!

[Letters]

All came from Saka with some direct running.
Who'd a thunk that would work?!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Propper off, March on.

Maupay on for someone too.

[Letters]

Laca!!!!!

Saka!!!

We really need to sign an alpaca.

[Mac76]

got to say i thought Laca would fluff that but he took it well

is he back?!

[Globalgunner]

Laca and Saka:cloud9:

[Mac76]

uh-oh Maupay and Wally March on

[Marc Overmars]

got to say i thought Laca would fluff that but he took it well

is he back?!

Was he ever here?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bellerin our centre forward. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jahanbakhsh off, Trossard on.

[Marc Overmars]

Saka down :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saka is back from the dead, thank fuck.

[Mac76]

we should sub Saka after a knock like that

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saka off, Ceballos on.

Noooo. :(

[Marc Overmars]

Auba is a bum now.

[Mac76]

we should sub Saka after a knock like that

me :)

[Letters]

Great move, ruined by a horrible cross from Auba.

[Mac76]

Auba is a bum now.

yeah that was awful

[McNamara That Ghost...]

ESR knew he was backheeling it to a pub player.

[Globalgunner]

Saka off, Ceballos on.

Noooo. :(

Ceballos is near useless. No wonder Zidane wants to see the back of him. About as useful as sand in your gear oil.

[Letters]

Auba is a bum now.

He is, and this is kind, not having a good season.
But he's got a better than 1 goal in 2 appearances scoring rate throughout his career and got 22 league goals in each of the last 2 seasons in, let's face it, a not very good Arsenal side. I can't believe he's suddenly become a poor player. He's not getting the service this season and maybe his head has gone a bit.

[Marc Overmars]

Bellerin runs through and not a single white shirt anywhere near him. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AMN is on. :bow:

[Letters]

This is what we are reduced to :lol:
Trying to keep it in the corner to hang on to a lead against Brighton.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Five added minutes.

[Letters]

Bellerin runs through and not a single white shirt anywhere near him. :haha:

Pretty pathetic. Great work by Bellerin and no-one went to help him. Could have wrapped up the win but they're so nervy and desperate they're just trying not to concede.

[Mac76]

5 mins ET :faint:

[Mac76]

i hate all that mucking around by the corner flag - really anti-football

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That was a corner?

[Letters]

1-0 FT

2 in a row! :faint:

[Marc Overmars]

We are staying up!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal, FT.

We've won back to back games. :faint:

[Letters]

That was a corner?

Flicked back off Auba.

[Letters]

We are staying up!

:lol:

Relegation 6 pointers! :bow:

[Mac76]

YES!

two wins in a row - :faint:

[Letters]

Up to 13th place :haha:

[GP]

up to 13th :bow:

[Mac76]

9 points off the bottom three :bow:

[I am invisible]

Much better 2nd half - still looked really leggy out there, and lacked a lot of quality, but 100% improvement in effort and willingness.

Get the feeling we’re going to have to rotate hard for West Brom - some of our boys looks like they were wading through mud at times...

[Xhaka Can’t]

We are Premier League! We are Premier League!

[LDG]

We’re coming for you....