Newcastle v Arsenal. 2nd November. 12:30

[Marc Overmars]

An early kick off up north, used to be the stuff of dread. :sick:

The start of a huge week, one where we could be dead and buried as far as the title goes if we don’t pick up maximum points here and at Chelsea.

Barcodes are a bit hit and miss so I fancy us to get the job done here. It won’t be pretty though, I’ll go for a pub 0-1 win.

[HCZ_Reborn]

This game is a year to the day from the controversial winner they got against us last season

That was Saturday November 4th, this will be Saturday November 2nd. Only difference is this is a lunchtime game and last year it was an evening kick off

Games at St James Park are rarely ever goal fests. We’ve scored 23 goals in our last 20 games there in the league, they’ve scored 15 against us.

An average of 1.9 goals a game in this fixture

[Mac76]

3-0 Isak hatter

[Letters]

I hope we win, tbh

[Mac76]

Assuming White and Timber are fit:

Raya
White Saliba Gabriel Timber
Rice Merino (or I could live with Partey Rice)
Saka Kai Leo Martinelli

No messing please, a positive approach and 0-2 up at HT, 0-3 on 60 and then bring on Nwaneri for the fourth

Job done

[HCZ_Reborn]

I would start Nwaneri. Trossard has been poor for a while and doesn’t deserve to be starting games, it’s not that the effort isn’t there…arguably id say he’s trying too hard


Rice at 6, Partey on at 8. Merino only to come on to give us fresh legs if we are leading

[Mac76]

He won't start Nwaneri and tbh I'm not sure I would, we know Newcastle can be pretty rough, aided and abetted by the refs ofc, so I'd rather he came on when they were tiring and couldn't keep up with him

[HCZ_Reborn]

I don’t think he will either, but I think we need to go at them from the start, get the goals and then bring on the stodgier players like Merino to shore things up, I don’t think they are going to be that ambitious going forward so the problem we will have is opening them up

[Mac76]

Sounds like White won't be fit to start, so it's either Timber at RB (where he's a bit better IMO) and MLS or Kiwior at LB, or it's Partey at RB and Timber at LB

[HCZ_Reborn]

Partey at right back?, I’d hoped that idea would have been strangled in its crib last year

It absolutely has a detrimental effect on us going forward

Because it also encourages Arteta to play Rice at 8

So I hope that this news about White is premature

[HCZ_Reborn]

Partey confirmed at Right Back :crying::banghead::ilt:

[Mac76]

Partey confirmed at Right Back :crying::banghead::ilt:

You call me stubborn but you keep going on about this, but he had a very good game there against Liverpool last weekend vs Diaz and Gakpo, I'm not fussed

That's more or less the best side we can put out atm, let's hope it does the job

[HCZ_Reborn]

You call me stubborn but you keep going on about this, but he had a very good game there against Liverpool last weekend vs Diaz and Gakpo, I'm not fussed

That's more or less the best side we can put out atm, let's hope it does the job

That’s not really the point

The point is, what we miss in midfield by not having him there. Arteta will eventually accept that Rice is not a number 8 just as he had to accept Havertz isn’t a midfielder but I fear too many painful performances until he accepts this


Partey is ok defensively, it’s just that going forward he’s not confident enough to support the attack in a way he would be playing centrally. And I just think Merino is poor


If White can be on the Bench, he can start IMO

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Newcastle: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock, Gordon, Isak, Joelinton.
Subs: Dubravka, Tonali, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Almiron, Kelly, A Murphy, Miley.

Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Merino, Rice, Martinelli, Trossard, Saka, Havertz.
Subs: Neto, White, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Sterling, Jesus.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

My feeling is if we go hard at the beginning we could hammer them.

But probably harder to do that with this line-up.

I think Nwaneri should be starting - I just don't want Trossard being the one creating things really, would rather he was on the end of things

[HCZ_Reborn]

My feeling is if we go hard at the beginning we could hammer them.

But probably harder to do that with this line-up.

I think Nwaneri should be starting - I just don't want Trossard being the one creating things really, would rather he was on the end of things

Agreed and I think if Partey had started in midfield with White at RB, we could have punished them early on and then maybe taken White off and hold onto what we had. This is the kind of team that will struggle to build up a head of steam and end up having to over commit. Last Sunday means we have to win here

[Mac76]

White's not fit enough to start i don't think

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trossard sends a shot way wide.

[Mac76]

awful from Trossard

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 Isak. Fuck.

[HCZ_Reborn]

1-0 Newcastle. Isaak

I think that’s game over

[Mac76]

1-0 Newcastle. Isaak

I think that’s game over

yeah only 75 minutes to go, we've no chance :rolleyes:

[Mac76]

1-0 Newcastle. Isaak

I think that’s game over

actually i see, it's one of your predictions which you're making to increase our chances :good:

[Marc Overmars]

Us. :rose:

[HCZ_Reborn]

yeah only 75 minutes to go, we've no chance :rolleyes:

We don’t have a great record of getting back into games where we go behind

And to say not great is an understatement

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rice's delivery so far. :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

We have definitely regressed from last season. Sadly.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Schar does well to get it away.

[Mac76]

We have definitely regressed from last season. Sadly.

we're really missing Odegaard in this game - I think Nwaneri needs to come on at HT for Trossard and Kai goes to 9

[dazthegooner]

Don't think Trossard should start any match better as an impact sub when players are tired.

[Mac76]

Play-acting from Guimeraes, he wasn't touched

[dazthegooner]

Play-acting from Guimeraes, he wasn't touched

And not even the way he likes either:handbags:

[Mac76]

Longstaff rightly booked

[Mac76]

Actually it was Schaar kicking the ball away :faint:

[Mac76]

stupid throw from Timber, we need to keep the ball

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 HT. God that was awful.

So lifeless.

[Mac76]

poor first half, as i say above we need Nwaneri to come for Trossard and Kai at 9

[Marc Overmars]

The beginning of the end as far as our title aspirations go.

[Mac76]

The beginning of the end as far as our title aspirations go.

those aspirations are already gone IMO, Citeh will be Citeh and that's that

We need to go for a cup

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Beating the Barcodes cup pls.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Missed the first 15 mins but from what I've seen it's all the things Arteta refused to solve coming to haunt us.

Firstly he should have trusted his instinct and gotten us a proper winger to play Martinelli's position.

Trossard can't make the most basic of passes and should never have deputised for Odegaard for so long.

They are ensuring our only real threat, which the whole world knows is Saka, is triple teamed at all times and thus leaving the lesser players to do whatever they want.

Like I said, the naivety to think all you had to do before the season commenced was to inject your defence with steroids to compete with Citeh (who have never really been that great at defending either) just keeps haunting us and now all one can do is pray for a miracle..and hope we are still in a position to rescue our season when the January window opens.....really really stupid.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No changes is fucking mad.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Willock shoots, Raya saves.

[Mac76]

No changes is fucking mad.

I agree it's somewhat disappointing - I was going to say 'surprising' but this is Arteta we're talking about

[Mac76]

Saka kicks Longstaff where it hurts :good:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Missed the first 15 mins but from what I've seen it's all the things Arteta refused to solve coming to haunt us.

Firstly he should have trusted his instinct and gotten us a proper winger to play Martinelli's position.

Trossard can't make the most basic of passes and should never have deputised for Odegaard for so long.

They are ensuring our only real threat, which the whole world knows is Saka, is triple teamed at all times and thus leaving the lesser players to do whatever they want.

Like I said, the naivety to think all you had to do before the season commenced was to inject your defence with steroids to compete with Citeh (who have never really been that great at defending either) just keeps haunting us and now all one can do is pray for a miracle..and hope we are still in a position to rescue our season when the January window opens.....really really stupid.

Despite what you say I still rate Martinelli highly, but he’s getting zero support from Timber or Merino. I agree with you that Our attack is based on moments, and that Arteta is basically relying on our defence remaining solid and keeping teams out and relying on players to get a break through from a half chance or a set piece.

It was always abundantly clear to me anyway that summer transfer window was going to be a slim one because of how much money we’d spent over the previous few years and how little we had recouped in player sales, and fee amortisation will only get you so far.

[Mac76]

Newcastle know if they keep Martinelli and Saka swamped that's our main threat, it's worked so far

Kai is so wasted when he's not at CF

[Mac76]

Nwaneri coming on :good:

...and Zinchenko :ilt:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Merino off, Nwaneri on.

Martinelli off, Zinchenko on.

[Mac76]

Newcastle just need to attack our left flank now and we've no chance

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not far off from Rice, deflected behind.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Willock off, Tonali on.

[Mac76]

Is Tonali deaf?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Zinchenko's body just died.

[Mac76]

Zin gives the ball away - what a surprise

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trossard off, White on.

Timber off, Jesus on.

[Mac76]

Saka probably needs to come off too after that Newcastle player 'accidentally' studded his achilles

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I actually think he should have brought on Sterling instead of Jesus.

And to think my current opinion of Sterling he's 30% the player he was before.

This is really pathetic.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

We are going to need a moment of brilliance or a huge mistake from Newcastle to get anything.

Maybe a penalty???

[Mac76]

Zin is just absolutely fucking dreadful

sell sell sell

[HCZ_Reborn]

1-0 Newcastle. Isaak

I think that’s game over

Gosh it’s almost like this turned out to be a solid prediction

[Mac76]

that's surely a foul by Gordon ?

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

that's surely a foul by Gordon ?

Barged into the player without touching the ball.

Yup a penalty.

[Mac76]

Livramento's had the game of his life

[Mac76]

Rice :(

That was the moment

[Mac76]

We've given Pope so many easy takes today

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 FT. Absolute shitshow.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Congratulations City, turns out Rodri is not a big loss for you, if your only challenger is utterly pathetic

[Mac76]

Newcastle deserved that

we've got 1 point from the last 9

League cup or nothing IMO

[Marc Overmars]

Absolutely shit.

The wheels have well and truly come off.

[Mac76]

your only challenger

Ha, some obvious bait there ;)

let's just see

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Beaten by a superior and far better team on the day.

Arteta's inability to control his impulse for "control" has probably cost us this season.

We need to take the cup competitions seriously and see what we make of it.

BTW, I am still certain Citeh won't win the league this season which will only make this more painful come April.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Ha, some obvious bait there ;)

let's just see

No it wasn’t bait at all. I think today’s result should prove that, we are in diabolical form and that was the only reason they didn’t get their arse handed to them against us.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Oh and Rice was shit throughout the whole match, but I think I'll get more into the waste he has become in another thread.

[Mac76]

No it wasn’t bait at all. I think today’s result should prove that, we are in diabolical form and that was the only reason they didn’t get their arse handed to them against us.

but you know perfectly well that by calling us their only challenger, you're ruling out Liverpool

all I'm saying is, yes it will most likely be Citeh but let's just see

[HCZ_Reborn]

Beaten by a superior and far better team on the day.

Arteta's inability to control his impulse for "control" has probably cost us this season.

We need to take the cup competitions seriously and see what we make of it.

BTW, I am still certain Citeh won't win the league this season which will only make this more painful come April.


Superior and far better team ? :lol:

Have a day off, preferably more than that

They were terrible, just helped by us being blunter than a butter knife

[HCZ_Reborn]

but you know perfectly well that by calling us their only challenger, you're ruling out Liverpool

all I'm saying is, yes it will most likely be Citeh but let's just see

That’s not bait though, the fact that you see it as such says more about you

[Mac76]

They were terrible, just helped by us being blunter than a butter knife

don't be riciculous, Newcastle played very well, completey blunted our threat down the flanks (which was the only threat we had), kept control and played the game they wanted to play

[Mac76]

That’s not bait though, the fact that you see it as such says more about you

no, no, it really doesn't ;)

[Marc Overmars]

Missed the window of opportunity that was open for the past 2 seasons.

Now we will be remembered like Poch’s Spurs were. Good but ultimately a failure.

[HCZ_Reborn]

no, no, it really doesn't ;)

It really does. I rule them out as title contenders I’ve been clear on this matter

That you think that’s an attempt to get a rise out of you, absolutely says more about you

To clarify, it isn’t.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Line up was a mess, no changes at HT was a disaster

Arteta really fucked this one up.

I hope Odegaard is back soon because the normality with the line up can be established.

[HCZ_Reborn]

don't be riciculous, Newcastle played very well, completey blunted our threat down the flanks (which was the only threat we had), kept control and played the game they wanted to play

You said the same about Liverpool playing well for a draw and it wasn’t true and it’s not true now

Newcastle defended a lead from the 12th minute, they made a few tackles and defended, that’s no different than how Forest contained us season before last. It says nothing about them and everything about how predictable we are.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

don't be riciculous, Newcastle played very well, completey blunted our threat down the flanks (which was the only threat we had), kept control and played the game they wanted to play

Don't bother, he's clearly having one of his mini episodes again.

Of all the points we've dropped, this was the one that was kind of predictable and IMO 100% deserved..... and I'll also say I'm not ashamed to lose to a talented team that plays with passion and guile like the way they did today.

The problem is if we'd not dropped all the other points we had to less deserving teams with average performances, we'd still have a lot to play for.

Well, I'm still hoping for some miracles, or maybe a brain transplant for the manager.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Don't bother, he's clearly having one of his mini episodes again.

Of all the points we've dropped, this was the one that was kind of predictable and IMO 100% deserved..... and I'll also say I'm not ashamed to lose to a talented team that plays with passion and guile like the way they did today.

The problem is if we'd not dropped all the other points we had to less deserving teams with average performances, we'd still have a lot to play for.

Well, I'm still hoping for some miracles, or maybe a brain transplant for the manager.

We got defeated because we were poor, it’s as simple as that…we had one shot on target for the whole game

Newcastle did as you might expect to protect their lead, but we were utterly blunt…not blunted….blunt.

[Mac76]

Missed the window of opportunity that was open for the past 2 seasons.

Now we will be remembered like Poch’s Spurs were. Good but ultimately a failure.

The Board need to be tough tihs season - if we're not going forward they have to be talking to another manager.

another season of failure and our players' agents will be making a lot of phone calls

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Line up was a mess, no changes at HT was a disaster

Arteta really fucked this one up.

I hope Odegaard is back soon because the normality with the line up can be established.

Still don't think Odegaard being back will be enough to fundamentally change the way this team plays or approaches games.

I'm not saying it won't help, as he's clearly one of our best players...but in a game where we go 1 nil down to a team as resolute as Newcastle, would Odegaard really have changed it that much? I mean if Saka is totally marked out and Havertz is in their pocket, who would he unleash?

I think the problem came with the supporting acts, they were all toothless and Trossard, the only other real threat in this team, is going though some identity crisis!

We really need more outlets and more threatening players.

[Mac76]

You said the same about Liverpool playing well for a draw and it wasn’t true and it’s not true now

Newcastle defended a lead from the 12th minute, they made a few tackles and defended, that’s no different than how Forest contained us season before last. It says nothing about them and everything about how predictable we are.

You don't seem to attribute any credit to anything except attacking and scoring goals - you don't understand the importance of going toe-to-toe with the other team and cancelling out their threat which is the other side of the coin

there's more than one way to win a game - we did similar against Spuds - that was a good well-deserved win and so was this for Newcastle today

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Still don't think Odegaard being back will be enough to fundamentally change the way this team plays or approaches games.

I'm not saying it won't help, as he's clearly one of our best players...but in a game where we go 1 nil down to a team as resolute as Newcastle, would Odegaard really have changed it that much? I mean if Saka is totally marked out and Havertz is in their pocket, who would he unleash?

I think the problem came with the supporting acts, they were all toothless and Trossard, the only other real threat in this team, is going though some identity crisis!

We really need more outlets and more threatening players.

My feeling though is that it stops so much being pulled out.

Havertz won't need to be going out to the right which helps nobody. Trossard can stay on offensive positions should he come on. The midfield will connect with the attack.

[Mac76]

Still don't think Odegaard being back will be enough to fundamentally change the way this team plays or approaches games.

I'm not saying it won't help, as he's clearly one of our best players...but in a game where we go 1 nil down to a team as resolute as Newcastle, would Odegaard really have changed it that much? I mean if Saka is totally marked out and Havertz is in their pocket, who would he unleash?

I think the problem came with the supporting acts, they were all toothless and Trossard, the only other real threat in this team, is going though some identity crisis!

We really need more outlets and more threatening players.

I think we massively missed Odegaard today, I've never seen it looking so obvious, his energy and press, plus those line-breaking balls was what we needed, also as Maccy says we're not using Kai right in Ode's absence

If Ode isn't back than Nwaneri HAS to start vs Inter and/or Chelsea

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

We got defeated because we were poor, it’s as simple as that…we had one shot on target for the whole game

Newcastle did as you might expect to protect their lead, but we were utterly blunt…not blunted….blunt.

So why is it difficult for you to give them props for ensuring we played "poorly"?

Or are you and Arteta the only ones who think we have the divine right to take a lead and suffocate games....and then be congratulated for doing so......I always suspected you have more in common with him than you think you do ;)

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I think we massively missed Odegaard today, I've never seen it looking so obvious, his energy and press, plus those line-breaking balls was what we needed, also as Maccy says we're not using Kai right in Ode's absence

If Ode isn't back than Nwaneri HAS to start vs Inter and/or Chelsea

In the absence of real options, Nwaneri should have been starting games about 4 games ago....I'm pretty certain against Inter our brilliant manager will go back to his Havertz/Trossard thingy....Italians are usually tactically astute but I just hope they don't have players able to shackle Saka.

We are pretty much a one man team now.

[HCZ_Reborn]

We clearly need a target man striker, and I think a wide player as Jesus and Sterling are embarassing

But for me the main problem is how we set up. I think Timber is a decent player but he’s neither good enough on the ball to play this ridiculous inverted full back role or got the pace to overlap with Martinelli.

Merino has been a complete and utter waste of money, basically Xhaka with slightly better defensive instincts

I also just don’t understand why Arteta insists on playing Rice in the more advanced midfield role, hes not quick enough, he’s not a good enough passer of the ball or technically good enough. Partey is both physically stronger and more technically accomplished player yet he drops back to number 6 where he’s no where near as good at reading danger as Rice is, or worse still right back which means that Saka has to drop deeper to start attacks

Havertz is a decent player and so is Martinelli, but they aren’t the kind of players who can feed off scraps…Havertz arguably is better at holding up the ball and making space for others


But the ball is not getting quickly enough to our front four. Trossard is completely off the boil at the moment and for his own sake needs benching. We have a hungry young player in Nwaneri who wants to prove himself, but Arteta won’t start him and thinks it’s better to stodge up midfield than have a quick and mobile team that can pass quickly and stretch teams

Today on top of all that, our decision making was slow and we gave Newcastle every opportunity to make interceptions.

[Marc Overmars]

It is worse than it was this time last season and that was considered stale too.

We are going backwards and if we don’t beat Chelsea we’re looking at a top 4 battle. Big game at Inter too which I’m sure Arteta will do his best to stink out.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I also just don’t understand why Arteta insists on playing Rice in the more advanced midfield role, hes not quick enough, he’s not a good enough passer of the ball or technically good enough. Partey is both physically stronger and more technically accomplished player yet he drops back to number 6 where he’s no where near as good at reading danger as Rice is............


This in particular is so so evident.

You really need to question the ability of any coach if this needs explaining to him, especially when we are behind in a game and struggling to create anything.

[Niall_Quinn]

If you are going to play Partey behind Saka you might as well leave Saka on the bench and play with 9.

If you are then going to play Merino on the same pitch as Partey and pretend Rice is a creative midfielder then you might as well leave Martinelli, Trossard and Havertz on the bench and play with 5.

Why is Merino here when we have Rice? For cover? Smart move, but why are they BOTH on the pitch?

Why is Partey still at this club? Whenever that guy gets the ball the whole energy of the game gets sucked away, he's the most negative player in the league.

Where does Havertz play these days? He's our only threat in the box, beyond set pieces, so why is he always half a pitch away from the box?

The last sequence of line-ups show fear, a desire to avoid losing rather than an urgency to win. There are kids on the bench who could do a basic job at least so deadweight like Partey and filler like Merino could be sidelined. It's hard to believe a clun the size of Arsenal doesn't have the resources to avoid having to play Partey at full back.

Well, the title went a while ago (admittedly thanks to the officials), so why the fear? What's the difference between finishing second and finishing tenth, apart from the money? And the joke is, if you don't accept second and don't care if you end up tenth provided you give it a proper try - it's your best chance of finishing first. If we'd have gone out and steamrollers mediocre opposition like Liverpool and this very ordinary geordie lot, which was entirely achievable, rather than turtling up and begging, please don't hurt me - but still lost anyway, we'd be hardly worse ff than we are now. Or much better off had we won such winnable matches.