Newcastle v The Arsenal, 7 May 4.30pm

[Mac76]

Might as well get this started

3-0 Isak hatter

Arteta should def. play Tierney in this one, Zin's drifting around and hospital passes will be disastrous against a team like Newcastle

[Marc Overmars]

I think we’re in for a rough day but hopefully there’s a little bit left in the tank.

[Letters]

Meh. It honestly doesn’t matter any more.
City are going to win every game they need to.
It would be nice to make them work for it but we are finishing 2nd whatever we do.

[Mac76]

Again, it's not about City, there is no 'title race', for me it's about Arteta showing over these last few games that he is capable of changing teams and tactics more than he's done previously, as we will need to do so more next season, plus he needs to give minutes to players like Tierney and Nelson, who we really should be looking to hang on to

Assuming Gabriel is out, i'd maybe go for this:

Ram
White
Holding
Kiwior
Tierney
Jorg
Xhaka (I'd say Partey but he's been dreadful lately)
Odegaard
Nelson
Trossard
Martinelli

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Again, it's not about City, there is no 'title race', for me it's about Arteta showing over these last few games that he is capable of changing teams and tactics more than he's done previously, as we will need to do so more next season, plus he needs to give minutes to players like Tierney and Nelson, who we really should be looking to hang on to

Assuming Gabriel is out, i'd maybe go for this:

Ram
White
Holding
Kiwior
Tierney
Jorg
Xhaka (I'd say Partey but he's been dreadful lately)
Odegaard
Nelson
Trossard
Martinelli

A fit Partey needs to play today.

Lets not allow rightful criticism to get the best of our judgement. It would be madness not to play our strongest side against a team in form, especially when there is no tactical advantage to doing so

If we're not going to get the 3 points lets know we weren't the ones who handicapped ourselves from the get go.

[Mac76]

For this game, I think this IS our strongest side

Fine put Partey back in, but Tierney will provide better defensive cover than Zin and something different going forward, Trossard and Nelson have the right game to take on Newcastle, Saka is tired and Jesus disappears from the CF position where we need him

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

For this game, I think this IS our strongest side

Fine put Partey back in, but Tierney will provide better defensive cover than Zin and something different going forward, Trossard and Nelson have the right game to take on Newcastle, Saka is tired and Jesus disappears from the CF position where we need him

Don't have much of an issue with what you suggested, especially Jesus being benched as I am not sure he really adds much to this team anymore since he's terrible at actually converting chances and being in the box.

However, I would also start Saka, again giving him 45 mins to redeem himself and no more if he continues being poor. Would love a front three of Martinelli, Trossard and Saka.... whatever happens I think Trossard should start somewhere in the front 3.

The pressure isn't on us, so hopefully that should help this lily livered bunch get a result.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Only one change from Tuesday Martinelli in for Trossard

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, Willock; Murphy Isak, Wilson.
Subs: Dubravka, Dummett, Gordon, Saint-Maximin, Lewis, Targett, Manquillo, Almiron, Anderson.

Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus.
Subs: Turner, Tierney, Holding, Partey, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Trossard, Nketiah.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I would have played Partey today after dropping him Tuesday but Captain Black doesn’t like changing things too much

[Mac76]

Let's hope Gabriel's properly fit and they're not rushing him back

Good to see Jorg starting again but such a shame not to see other players given a chance

Short of wearing a blue rosette Arteta's about as conservative as it gets

[Marc Overmars]

Why do they have to get Gallas in to represent us? I suppose he does embody the bottle job narrative.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[Marc Overmars]

Great, Neville on commentary as well to stick the knife in.

[Marc Overmars]

Murphy hits the post after the first counter. :lol:

:rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Murphy hits the post!

[Mac76]

Xhaka creating a Newcastle opportunity already

[Mac76]

Ram timewasting :haha:

[Marc Overmars]

Newcastle penalty :haha:

Kiwior handball

[Marc Overmars]

VAR should overturn that?

Bit harsh

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That's not a pel.

[Marc Overmars]

Not given.

Doesn’t bode well anyway. Only a matter of time if this carries on. Can’t deal with their pressing.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Overturned, sensibly.

Kiwior did really well to get his arm out of dodge tbf.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Until we upgrade on players like Xhaka we will be vulnerable to the press

[Marc Overmars]

ODEGAARD!!!

What a hit! Bit like the Spurs strike.

[Marc Overmars]

Hopefully shuts them Geordies up for now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

ODEGAARD!!!! COME ON!!!!

[Mac76]

great shot

[Niall_Quinn]

That right there is a big difference to previous years. I was saying to myself after the penalty was rightfully overturned, go on now and score and take the wind right out of their sails. And they have. No way would that have happened in previous years.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Let’s see if we can add what we’ve been missing all season. The counter attack

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well done Martinelli.

[Mac76]

Zinchenko is predictably awful so far

[Marc Overmars]

Martinelli through but hits it straight at Pope

[Marc Overmars]

Looks like we’ve settled after their 100mph start.

[Marc Overmars]

Saka with a one on one now and hits it at Pope :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gotta get the second.

[Marc Overmars]

Willock shot saved

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ramsdale saves from Willock!

[Niall_Quinn]

White's ponderous, scared play is a real impediment to forward progress.

[Marc Overmars]

Get your shot away Martinelli FFS

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Chaos. :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

I don’t think today is the day to be playing out from the back incessantly.

[Marc Overmars]

Odegaard should have released that for Martinelli earlier.

Wasting some key moments here.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Weird shot from Martinelli.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Why is Jesus calming Joelinton down?

[Mac76]

It's about time a Newcastle player was booked, they're getting rough out there

[Niall_Quinn]

Great stuff by Xhaka. Himself and Jorghino have bossed it.

[Marc Overmars]

Barcodes rattled.

Don’t get involved lads.

[Marc Overmars]

Pope saves from Odegaard

Should be 0-2

[Marc Overmars]

HT 0-1

Played really well. Brilliant response to that fast start.

Can’t help the feel the wasted chances will now cost us.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 HT. Pope keeping them in it.

[Marc Overmars]

Jorginho has been very, very good.

[Niall_Quinn]

A goal right at the end there would have been perfection.

But what a scrote-fest in extra time. EXACTLY what was required. Xhaka and Jesus relentlessly took the piss and pissed off the opponent and the crowd. Newcastle have been systematically hustled out of their game. A very mature first half performance against a competent and dangerous opponent.

Shame there's not a better option than White.

Why hasn't Jorghino been playing all season?

[Mac76]

A good effort, not the Newcastle walkover I was expectingA good effort, not the Newcastle walkover I was expecting although they came very close early on, but worrying we haven't taken most of our chances, also Xhaka is working his way up to another red and needs to calm down

Zin and Jesus should be subbed for Tiernery and Trossard at HT

meanwhile our stupid short corner routines are driving me around the bend

[Mac76]

Why hasn't Jorghino been playing all season?

because we only got him in January :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Even the next half chance we get, it has to be taken.

[Niall_Quinn]

What the hell Gallas? Years in the country and he can barely speak the language?

[Niall_Quinn]

because we only got him in January :haha:

Yeah, and I haven't been following along this season. Which is why I asked the question. Thanks for being you.

[Marc Overmars]

Get Saka off and bring Trossard on

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

A difficult game, as expected and thankfully a moment of brilliance is the only thing that keeps us ahead, since we've bottled all the easy chances.

One thing I am a bit certain of is if Newcastle get back into this game with a goal...its all over for us.

So we need to score another goal and not drop off for a bit...which if you ask me is subs.

However we are winning and I don't expect Arteta to be able to think clearly...as usual.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Get Saka off and bring Trossard on

Trossard and Partey should come on as early as possible IMO.

[Marc Overmars]

Trossard and Partey should come on as early as possible IMO.

Not Partey. He probably would have been swallowed up by their press

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Oh and Zin is not needed in this game, seeing as we are already leading.... Tierney should be in ASAP.

I really hope we won't be making excuses today.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Not Partey. He probably would have been swallowed up by their press

Could not disagree with you more

[Niall_Quinn]

Trossard and Partey should come on as early as possible IMO.

Partey? Why? Who in the middle in that first half didn't pull their weight and don't offer significantly more that Partey?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Isak hits the post!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Holy shit Ramsdale, what a save.

[Niall_Quinn]

Great save. But, tbf, what an incredible miss.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Martinelli hits the bar!

[Niall_Quinn]

Really nice attempt by Martinelli. So good when you have a player who will go for it.

[Marc Overmars]

Very good game.

Could be any result here. :sick:

[Niall_Quinn]

White is very irritating.

[Niall_Quinn]

Jorghino looks to be injured.

[Marc Overmars]

Brilliant tackle from Xhaka there. Looked like a certain goal

[Mac76]

great block by Xhaka

[Marc Overmars]

Zinchenko off, Tierney on :faint:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Zinchenko off, Tierney on.

[Mac76]

Zinchenko off, Tierney on :faint:

about effing time too

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Murphy off, Almiron on.

[Niall_Quinn]

Think it should have been 2 reds cards for Newcastle in the last minute.

[Mac76]

They've still got Saint-Maximin to bring on when they want...

[Marc Overmars]

Come on Arsenal. Keep battling.

[Marc Overmars]

OWN GOAL!!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-2 OG!!!!!

[Marc Overmars]

Can we keep a 2 goal lead away from home now? :unsure:

[Niall_Quinn]

All Martinelli. You have to give it a go to get a result.

Now the next test begins.

[Mac76]

Get in!!! now keep the lead Arsenal

[Niall_Quinn]

Wow, a yellow for Newcastle. They should have had 10 by now, in a usual match, but I quite like this ref and his willingness to let the game go.

[Mac76]

The ref's booked someone :faint:

[Marc Overmars]

Wish Martinelli would get his shots away earlier.

[Niall_Quinn]

Oh God, why would you make those subs when everything is under control? You watch the midfield degrade with these two. Though Xhaka and Jorghino are still there I suppose. Guess there's some sort of thought behind this. Hopefully.

[Niall_Quinn]

Fortunately Newcastle have also now subbed their best 3 players.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Embarrassing from Anderson.

[Niall_Quinn]

Should be a booking for an outrageous dive like that.

[Niall_Quinn]

Like it or hate it (and I hate it), this is how you win the big games. Definite signs this squad is finally learning to play the game that Utd and City have been playing for a long long time.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Decent effort from Cher.

[Niall_Quinn]

Don't get the 5 subs and handing the initiative over when we were in complete control. Bit weird. Is this a thing now, what with the stupid amount of subs allowed? Also, doesn't making all those subs just spin the game out longer? Makes no sense to me.

[Niall_Quinn]

Nice. A bit of push and shove to waste more time. Nice.

[Marc Overmars]

FT 0-2

What a result! Fought so well for that.

Why couldn’t we beat West Ham and Southampton? :(

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Newcastle 0-2 Arsenall, FT!

Woohoo! :bow:

[GP]

Great result and performance. Saudi cunts can get fucked.

[Niall_Quinn]

That's how it's done. Can't criticise that performance. Jorginho player of the match. Xhaka man of the match.

[Letters]

Holy shit that’s a good result.
City will win the title but at least we are making them work for it.

[Letters]

Great result and performance. Saudi cunts can get fucked.

:gp:

[Mac76]

Never thought we'd win that but the lads showed real guts and spirit

Jorginho was brilliant and Tierney was immense when he came on - even Xhaka was good

[Letters]

FT 0-2

What a result! Fought so well for that.

Why couldn’t we beat West Ham and Southampton? :(

Any normal side are going to slip here and there.
Except City, what they’re doing isn’t normal and we all know how they’ve “achieved” it.
It’s the head to heads we need to sort out, we have to stop shitting our pants every time we play them. If we’d drawn those games we’d have been champions.

[Niall_Quinn]

Get the 90 points and force the gypos to earn it.

[Marc Overmars]

Get the 90 points and force the gypos to earn it.

Yep that’s the main thing.

Do our bit and hope for a miracle.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Get the 90 points and force the gypos to earn it.

100% agree

[HCZ_Reborn]

A good result, arguably our best away result all season given what a beast Newcastle are

Give credit to Arteta as well I have to say, made the right subs…hooked Zinchenko. Took off Jorginho when he was spent.

Xhaka after a shaky start put in a real shift today too

[Marc Overmars]

We need a miracle now but this result and performance will raise some eyebrows. Bodes well for next season, sprinkle some CL quality signings on this squad and we’ll be challenging again for sure.