Spurs vs The Arsenal. 12/05/22. 19:45. 4th Place Cup Final.

[Marc Overmars]

Getting this one in early as it’s the biggest NLD in many years.

Win and it’s done. :pray:

Come on you Gunners!!!

[KSE Comedy Club]

Huge, huge game!

I really hope the players can stay strong and pull off the win for this.

'All or nothing' would be fantastic and the best one yet if we manage to finish 4th by beating the spuds :d
(or 3rd if Chelsea keep fucking up :pray:)

[Letters]

We'll lose and lose well.

[Mac76]

3-0 K**t hatter

[Niall_Quinn]

There's no club more qualified to blow such a huge advantage. I have absolute confidence in them.

[selassie]

Getting this one in early as it’s the biggest NLD in many years.

Win and it’s done. :pray:

Come on you Gunners!!!

Yeah this is a big one. I am quietly confident, don’t ask me why and I know on their day those lot can be very good but I actually have a really good feeling about Thursday.

[Letters]

Yeah this is a big one. I am quietly confident, don’t ask me why and I know on their day those lot can be very good but I actually have a really good feeling about Thursday.
Quietly confident we can get a point, don’t think we have any chance of winning there.
Even back in the day we rarely won there.

[selassie]

Quietly confident we can get a point, don’t think we have any chance of winning there.
Even back in the day we rarely won there.

Aye, I’m thinking a point too, which at this stage in the season would be huge. Would leave us only needing 1 win from our final 2 games.

Im under no illusion it’s going to be a hostile and tense atmosphere and our boys are really going to need to be on it, but I think Arteta and the coaches will prepare them for this. For a lot of them it’s going to be arguably their biggest club game of their careers so far.

[IBK]

Who are our big game players? I'm going for Saka; Eddie; Tommy and ESR in particular to thrive on the occasion...

[Niall_Quinn]

I'm not up with all the new players. Who is Tommy?

[selassie]

Who are our big game players? I'm going for Saka; Eddie; Tommy and ESR in particular to thrive on the occasion...

Yeah I would pretty much go with this. Maybe Martinelli if he starts ahead of ESR.

[IBK]

Yeah I would pretty much go with this. Maybe Martinelli if he starts ahead of ESR.

Yeah this is a bit of a tough one. Martinelli can terrorise with his running (and tracks back better too), but I back ESR rather than him to put the ball in the back of the net when we do get a sniff at goal.

[Mac76]

don't forget the defence, which is just as - if not more - important

if White's back we could maybe play him at RB and Tommy at LB with Gabriel and Holding in the middle

or maybe a back five with Saka at LB and Tommy back at RB and White, Holding and Gabs at CB

i really don't want both Cedric and Xhaka on the pitch agsinst spuds, there's too much that coud go wrong - you just know spuds will be all over Xhaka from the first minute

[Marc Overmars]

The game will probably just hinge on how well we deal with Kane. If we let him drop in and start doing his thing we could struggle. I hope Ben White is back because he’s decent at shutting that sort of stuff down. They will also put Son on Cedric/Tavares, so we’ll need a lot of tracking back there to help out.

If we win it would probably be the best result of Arteta’s tenure so far. Given the circumstances this is difficultly level 10/10.

[Letters]

We won't win, we're not at that level where we can go to teams like this and beat them. We did beat Chelsea of course but they've been wobbling a bit, have the FA Cup Final to consider and were fairly well clear of us (although they aren't now of course). Point is best we can hope for I reckon, I think we're capable of getting that.

[Mac76]

We won't win, we're not at that level where we can go to teams like this and beat them. We did beat Chelsea of course but they've been wobbling a bit, have the FA Cup Final to consider and were fairly well clear of us (although they aren't now of course). Point is best we can hope for I reckon, I think we're capable of getting that.

this

[Letters]

I have decided that I do hope we win though.

Come on, boys :scarf:
(Very important comma, that)

[Marc Overmars]

Sounds like White and Saka could be out.

[Mac76]

All that kicking had to catch up with Saka some time

Not good timing though

[I am invisible]

don't forget the defence, which is just as - if not more - important

if White's back we could maybe play him at RB and Tommy at LB with Gabriel and Holding in the middle

or maybe a back five with Saka at LB and Tommy back at RB and White, Holding and Gabs at CB

i really don't want both Cedric and Xhaka on the pitch agsinst spuds, there's too much that coud go wrong - you just know spuds will be all over Xhaka from the first minute
:good:

Who we pick in defence will likely dictate who we pick further forward, so I’m with you - I think this will be the biggest decision we make.

Ideally I’d want to keep Tomi on Son on the right, but as there’s no other available LB option I trust for this one I’d probably go Tomi, Gabriel, Holding, White across the back with Mo camped in front of them.

That pretty much means no fullbacks bombing forward though - not a problem on the right, as Ødegaard tends to drift into that right half-space allowing Saka to stay wide, but on the left it might mean sticking with Martinelli who is more likely to stay wide?

Which brings me to my big gamble of the night… do we stick with Xhaka as a 6-8, or do we chuck Smith Rowe in as a left-sided Ødegaard?

I’m really tempted to go with Smith Rowe, and make the game plan really simple: Tomi, Gabriel, Holding, White, Mo - you guys stay back; Smith Rowe, Ødegaard, Martinelli, Eddie, Saka - you guys run riot and blitz them on the counter. Remember, we don’t need to do shit in this game - we don’t even need a draw - so we can completely dictate this one.

[I am invisible]

All that kicking had to catch up with Saka some time

Not good timing though

Let's wait and see - might be legit, but it also wouldn't be the first time a manager has tried to confuse a rival's planning before a big game.

[Marc Overmars]

Spuds will probably dominate proceedings tbh as they need the win more than we do, but I’d say we also need to play like we can’t afford to lose, that’s when we tend to be at our best. I just hope we go for it like we did against Chelsea and United, if we opt for some kind of containment job like Arteta has tried in big games before, I can’t see it ending well.

Main thing though is to not give them any respect, they’re not worthy of it. It’s one thing being a bit sheepish against City and Liverpool but this is definitely a game where we shouldn’t be afraid to have a go.

[IBK]

Let's wait and see - might be legit, but it also wouldn't be the first time a manager has tried to confuse a rival's planning before a big game.

That's what I thought/hoped.

[I am invisible]

Spuds will probably dominate proceedings tbh as they need the win more than we do, but I’d say we also need to play like we can’t afford to lose, that’s when we tend to be at our best. I just hope we go for it like we did against Chelsea and United, if we opt for some kind of containment job like Arteta has tried in big games before, I can’t see it ending well.

Main thing though is to not give them any respect, they’re not worthy of it. It’s one thing being a bit sheepish against City and Liverpool but this is definitely a game where we shouldn’t be afraid to have a go.

Yeah I don't want to see just containment - I want to see control. We go for the win, but we do it by being smart and having a plan. City and Liverpool both utterly dominated their games against spurs and laid siege to their goal for 90 minutes, and it nearly ended in disaster for both of them. We're certainly not better than City or Liverpool at dominating games and laying siege to opponents so I don't think relentless attack is the way to go here - it feels like we'd be playing right into their hands.

As always, the key to winning usually comes down to the simple math of forcing the other team to do less of what they're good at and more of what they're bad at. We all know what they're good at - sitting deep and trying to get opponents to stretch themselves so they can hit them on lightning-fast counters. And we all know what they're bad at - breaking down low blocks, unpicking locks, control from midfield and having to defend wide open spaces. All we really need to do is force them into a Mexican stand-off: they sit deep, we sit deep. They're the ones who desperately need the win so they'll have to blink first, and as soon as they do then they'll be forced into doing all the things they're bad at. We just need to be patient and hold our nerve.

[IBK]

Yeah I don't want to see just containment - I want to see control. We go for the win, but we do it by being smart and having a plan. City and Liverpool both utterly dominated their games against spurs and laid siege to their goal for 90 minutes, and it nearly ended in disaster for both of them. We're certainly not better than City or Liverpool at dominating games and laying siege to opponents so I don't think relentless attack is the way to go here - it feels like we'd be playing right into their hands.

As always, the key to winning usually comes down to the simple math of forcing the other team to do less of what they're good at and more of what they're bad at. We all know what they're good at - sitting deep and trying to get opponents to stretch themselves so they can hit them on lightning-fast counters. And we all know what they're bad at - breaking down low blocks, unpicking locks, control from midfield and having to defend wide open spaces. All we really need to do is force them into a Mexican stand-off: they sit deep, we sit deep. They're the ones who desperately need the win so they'll have to blink first, and as soon as they do then they'll be forced into doing all the things they're bad at. We just need to be patient and hold our nerve.

I hope you've emailed the manager with this. :gp:

BTW I'm nervous as hell already and have been all week!

[Letters]

I second that :gp:
Good analysis :good:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Good analysis, however...

When we are up for a game, we really aren't that bad a team, let's not show Spuds too much respect as they aren't that good a team either.

[I am invisible]

I hope you've emailed the manager with this. :gp:

BTW I'm nervous as hell already and have been all week!

I feel physically sick, although I guess it's still better than the usual nothing that I feel at this stage of the season.

Arrgh!!! F--king Kane and Son! It really is just those two. The rest of that team is utter trash and I really do resent having to feel this much anxiety over two players.

[Marc Overmars]

Yes unfortunately Kane and Son are exceptional, Spuds don't even have to play well to win games if them 2 are on it.

[Letters]

Yes unfortunately Kane and Son are exceptional, Spuds don't even have to play well to win games if them 2 are on it.

It's amazing to me how often they've bolloxed it up this season given they have those two up front. It's why I've always favoured them for top 4.

[Mac76]

Yes unfortunately Kane and Son are exceptional, Spuds don't even have to play well to win games if them 2 are on it.

i do think a back five could be the way to go just to make sure we can keep those two in check when we need to

if it's a back four then i'd prefer Tomi back at RB where he can try to contain Son, i don't think Cedric's good enough to stop him

[selassie]

Spuds will probably dominate proceedings tbh as they need the win more than we do, but I’d say we also need to play like we can’t afford to lose, that’s when we tend to be at our best. I just hope we go for it like we did against Chelsea and United, if we opt for some kind of containment job like Arteta has tried in big games before, I can’t see it ending well.

Main thing though is to not give them any respect, they’re not worthy of it. It’s one thing being a bit sheepish against City and Liverpool but this is definitely a game where we shouldn’t be afraid to have a go.

Aye. We are going to need to put in a very streetwise performance tonight, everyone is going to need to be on it and we are going to need to defend very well and take any opportunities that come our way.

One area where we can get a foothold on the game is in Midfield with the trio of Elneny, Xhaka and Odegaard. If we can dominate in this area then I am sure we will create plenty of chances on the counter.

Spurs are a decent team, but one area I think they are weak in is Midfield.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Aye. We are going to need to put in a very streetwise performance tonight, everyone is going to need to be on it and we are going to need to defend very well and take any opportunities that come our way.

One area where we can get a foothold on the game is in Midfield with the trio of Elneny, Xhaka and Odegaard. If we can dominate in this area then I am sure we will create plenty of chances on the counter.

Spurs are a decent team, but one area I think they are weak in is Midfield.

Let's just hope that we've learned how to counter attack now then....

[WMUG]

:sick:

[Letters]

Let's just hope that we've learned how to counter attack now then....

I actually thought in our home game against them we did that well. Against West Ham too we moved the ball forward well with pace, we just lack a ruthless striker.

[KSE Comedy Club]

I actually thought in our home game against them we did that well. Against West Ham too we moved the ball forward well with pace, we just lack a ruthless striker.

It does seem to be quite hit & miss.

We can do it on our day as we have seen in the past, but often we seem to lack conviction in the final third and the attack breaks down.

I have my fingers and toes crossed for this tonight.

(fuck knows how I will walk and open doors, etc :rolleyes:)

[selassie]

Let's just hope that we've learned how to counter attack now then....

Oh ye of little faith :d

[WMUG]

:sick:

:sick: :sick: :sick:

[Marc Overmars]

I’ve had a meltdown and think we’re going to get tanked.

[Gooner23]

:sick: :sick: :sick:

Agreed. Have to beat these tossers.

[LDG]

Just gonna get drunk and hope to fuck I’m dancing rather than sleeping in the shed

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It'll be fine.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spuds: Lloris, Royal, Sanchez, Dier, Davies, Sessegnon, Bentancur, Agent Hojbjerg, Kulusevski, Son, Kane.
Subs: Gollini, Rodon, White, Winks, Craig, Devine, Lucas, Berwijn, Scarlett.

Arsenal: Ramsdale, Cedric, Gabriel, Holding, Tomiyasu, Xhaka, Elneny, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Subs: Leno, Tavares, Swanson, White, Lokonga, Patino, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Lacazette.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sky's programme starts at 7pm

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Theo has grey in his beard. :blink:

[Marc Overmars]

It'll be fine.

Promise?

[Letters]

I’ve had a meltdown and think we’re going to get tanked.
:lol: I doubt that. Although if there’s going to be a winner I reckon it will be them :sick:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Promise?

I promise.

[Mac76]

most likely - a draw, or spuds win by the odd goal

next likely - we lose by several goals

least likely - we win

still.. COYG :lol:

[Letters]

I hope we win, I’ve decided

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dare Dream Do, WTF?

[Mac76]

Cedric v Son = we've lost

[Marc Overmars]

I hope this is dull as shit. Don’t think my heart could take the typical rollercoaster these games can be.

[Mac76]

Dare Dream Do, WTF?

Dare, Dream, Do Nothing

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

St. Totteringham's Day can return.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dive from Nketiah. :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

Seeing a lot of the ball early on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Odegaard shot deflects but easy for Lloris.

[Mac76]

Nketiah isn't chasing them down, come on Eddie

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Keep a lid on it Gabriel.

[Mac76]

that spuds no 21 is a total c***

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saka scuffer.

[Mac76]

Son :haha:

[Mac76]

Nketiah :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Agent Hojbjerg at it again.

[Mac76]

Son pretending to be hurt

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Holding giving Son a good kicking. :bow:

[Marc Overmars]

Holding trying to take out Son. :bow:

Should probably be careful though. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Son. :haha:

[Mac76]

Holding :clap:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good move.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Davies booked.

Run at him!

[Mac76]

good booking

[Mac76]

Xhaka fucking up again

[Mac76]

and again

[Marc Overmars]

Penalty to Spurs

Cedric is an idiot

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Penalty to Tottenham.

[Mac76]

i can't see a pel at all there

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 Kane.

[Mac76]

game over - well done Cedric

[Marc Overmars]

:rose:

[Marc Overmars]

Started well enough then just a bit of carelessness fucks it all up.

[Mac76]

they really can just sit back now and then get us on the counter

[Marc Overmars]

Holding booked :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yellow for Holding.

[Mac76]

Holding booked - this is going well

[Marc Overmars]

Tomi did well to block Kane’s shot there. Was probably heading in.

[Mac76]

Cedric sets up a spuds move

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tomiyasu. :bow:

[Mac76]

Cedric and Xhaka need to go in the summer

[Mac76]

Cedric and Xhaka need to go in the summer

:gp:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dumb attempt from Xhaka.

[Marc Overmars]

Spurs are comfortable.

[Marc Overmars]

Holding sent off for a second yellow.

What the fuck is he doing?

What a way to fuck this up.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Holding sent off. Oh FFS.

[Marc Overmars]

Turning this off now me thinks.

[Mac76]

ok now this really is as bad as it gets :ilt:

[GP]

Son is a diving cunt

[selassie]

Stitched up by the ref

[dazthegooner]

Think Tierney is now showing how bad a ref he really is.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 Kane.

[Marc Overmars]

Let’s just hope these idiots regain their minds for Newcastle.

[Munchies]

fucking bollocks

turned it off

Son is a prick

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good save from Lloris to deny Nketiah.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Odegaard scuffer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 HT. :sick:

[Marc Overmars]

Can’t really blame inexperience here either.

Cedric and Holding have been around long enough. Absolute joke.

[selassie]

Turning this off now me thinks.

I switched it off. Felt the ref ruined the game TBH, both decisions were highly questionable.

[Letters]

Well. That’s saved me watching the second half then.

[Marc Overmars]

I switched it off. Felt the ref ruined the game TBH, both decisions were highly questionable.

Penalty was iffy but if you do that you’re giving the ref a decision to make.

No issues with the second yellow though. He twats him in the face while deliberately blocking him. Holding was too worked up from the start and made himself an easy target. If you’re going to be aggressive at least be cunning with it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It was not fine.

3-0 Son.

[Marc Overmars]

Newcastle are on the beach, right?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Son just dropped the Ashes.

[Letters]

It was not fine.

3-0 Son.

But…but…you promised! :crying:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Martinelli off, ESR on for his four. :bow:

[Letters]

We'll lose and lose well.

I will now retire this attempt at jinxing results.

[Letters]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXZFbGJxSlk

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

I will now retire from Wordle.

:gp:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Son off, Bergwijn on.

Kulusevski off, Lucas Moura on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nketiah off, Lacazette on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gabriel. :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tavares on to keep it tight.

[LDG]

Cunt of a ref

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka gets a yellow. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-0 FT.

[Xhaka Can’t]

There’s a good chance we lose out.

[Marc Overmars]

Absolute non-event. Really pathetic lack of composure and failure to handle the occasion.

At least the task is clear now, win the next 2 games. Fuck knows if we’ll do it or not.

[Mac76]

Gave up after the sending off

That was the one thing we couldn't afford to happen, even a 1-0 would have been bearable but that really is the nightmare result

Eddie Howe will be really up for Sunday

[Mac76]

Xhaka gets a yellow. :lol:

In other bresking news, i hear the Pope is Catholic

[LDG]

Ref changed that. Holding did too. But that was never a pen.


Bent ref who bowed under the noise

[selassie]

Gave up after the sending off

That was the one thing we couldn't afford to happen, even a 1-0 would have been bearable but that really is the nightmare result

Eddie Howe will be really up for Sunday

Don't think we are going to make it. We are dropping like flies and Newcastle even with a fit squad is a tough away game. I'm mentally prepared for Europa football next season.

[LDG]

Seriously, Balding Rob Holding aside, was that a pen???

[selassie]

Seriously, Balding Rob Holding aside, was that a pen???

Never a pen, the ref was an absolute wanker in that first half, he single handedly ruined the game.

[LDG]

Never a pen, the ref was an absolute wanker in that first half, he single handedly ruined the game.

Exactly. So lets not get on this like we fucked it all up ourselves.

That said Balding Holding made the ignorant decision to try and play Son, when all he needed to do was stop him running in behind…being arse close was weird to say the least.

Who told him to do that?

The only other criticism Inhave tonight, is if you’re chasing the game (even at 3-0), you don’t take Martinelli (you’re something out of nothing) off. You have to replace the redundant with something different. Odegaard was played oug of the game, he should have gone off, not Martinelli.

Other than that. Cheer ref, you twat, you’re the wielder of millions of pounds. Aren’t you great. Wanker, wanker, wanker.

[Letters]

There’s a good chance we lose out.

I haven’t been able to call it for ages, it’s been swinging back and forth.
It’s in our hands but we are quite the butterfingers. Spurs certainly have it in them to fall flat on their stupid faces at the weekend. If we match their result or better then I reckon we’ll do it. If not then I think it’s gone.

[Globalgunner]

PL refs reputation for being shifty cunts by and large is well deserved. Spuds for being diving twats is absolute gospel.

Arsenal are going to be fitted up in the next 2 games unless we make sure by winning them both. Time for Saint Arteta to earn his halo.

[dazthegooner]

The standards of refereeing in this country is terrible how many will be officiating at the World cup? Probably none and the standard in world football isn't that high either so it shows you how bad ours are.