The Arsenal v Crystal Palace Emirates Stadium - League Cup, 7.30pm Weds 18 December 2024

[Mac76]

0-3 Eddie hatter


Seriously though this needs to be a game where we heavily rotate and give younger players and subs a good run out

Neto

Nicholls Heaven Kiwior MLS

Jorg Merino

Sterling Nwaneri Trossard

Jesus

[The Wengerbabies]

Must win

[HCZ_Reborn]

Must win

Maybe this is the wrong attitude but I couldn’t give a tuppeny fuck about the league cup. I’m at the point where I don’t really care about the fa cup (we’ve got more than enough of them). The important thing (to the exclusion of everything else I’d argue) is the league. That’s why I was so fucking furious with Arteta after the Fulham game, and I’m still seething now at the golden opportunity he’s letting slip through his fingers.


Don’t get me wrong I want Arsenal to win every game, but if we go out tonight I won’t lose any sleep over it

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Arteta currently seems to be effusive about the cups, even having the nerve to correct journalists and insist the "Charity Shield" counts as titles he has won :lol:

For someone who loves to setup his team not to lose you would think we'd have more than one real cup to show for his marvellous system.

Anyway, I want us to win everything, though the League and the CL are the the crown jewels.

He needs to put out a team that can win, which is the only way he can try and deflect that he is slowly killing our hopes and making us wait for another season for the things we really want.

[Mac76]

I do think even a League Cup win woild be a really good boost for players and fans alike, Moan U fans didn't complain when they won it

But while I know he won't play the team I've outlined above it should be in that direction, we need to rotate players and give Nwaneri and others a start, that and wanting to win the game aren't mutually exclusive

[The Wengerbabies]

Maybe this is the wrong attitude but I couldn’t give a tuppeny fuck about the league cup. I’m at the point where I don’t really care about the fa cup (we’ve got more than enough of them). The important thing (to the exclusion of everything else I’d argue) is the league. That’s why I was so fucking furious with Arteta after the Fulham game, and I’m still seething now at the golden opportunity he’s letting slip through his fingers.


Don’t get me wrong I want Arsenal to win every game, but if we go out tonight I won’t lose any sleep over it

That too

[HCZ_Reborn]

I do think even a League Cup win woild be a really good boost for players and fans alike, Moan U fans didn't complain when they won it

But while I know he won't play the team I've outlined above it should be in that direction, we need to rotate players and give Nwaneri and others a start, that and wanting to win the game aren't mutually exclusive

I doubt the defence will be the same as your suggested one, although I think probably Kiwior and Lewis-Skelly will start, as for the rest…actually that wouldn’t surprise me at all if that is who he does pick

[dazthegooner]

Team to play Crystal Palace: Raya, Partey, Kiwior, Timber, Tierney, Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Jesus, Sterling, Trossard

[Letters]

Maybe this is the wrong attitude but I couldn’t give a tuppeny fuck about the league cup.
I think it is the wrong attitude, but I agree about the league cup.
Not about the FA which has lost some of its status but it’s still a major trophy

[Mac76]

I doubt the defence will be the same as your suggested one, although I think probably Kiwior and Lewis-Skelly will start, as for the rest…actually that wouldn’t surprise me at all if that is who he does pick

I'd forgotten about Tierney actuallly or I'dhave had him there too, the line up's not that far off what I said actually :good:

[Marc Overmars]

The cups mean nothing if you are so uncompetitive in the 2 competitions that matter the most, Ten Hag is evidence of that.

However considering we’ve won fuck all for years I wouldn’t be turning my nose up at silverware and this is probably our best shot as it stands.

Plus as a fan these are the things you remember. Not challenging and getting really close.

[dazthegooner]

Watching the build up to the match and it's been covered by the 'Who's who' of football.

[Mac76]

Meanwhile that's pretty much Palace's normal starting 11, so they're gping for it, be an interesting test, really hope we win well, it might teach Arteta something

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I forgot Tierney had a long throw on him.

If they weren't calling us Stoke before...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 Mateta.

Disaster from Kiwior.

[dazthegooner]

Well he said he wants to leave doing somwthing about it even though unconventional.

[Niall_Quinn]

Partey is a fucking horrific player. Has to be the most plodding, boring, negative player in all world football. And Merino is little better by the look of it so far. These two need to wake the fuck up.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Everyone is drunk.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Partey is so lucky there.

Stumbled like an old man.

[Niall_Quinn]

If they can find a way to pass backwards they'll go to any length. It's ridiculous. And what's with the standing around for half an hour on every throw-in and free kick? Did they have somewhere else to be tonight?

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Its beginning to physically hurt watching Jesus play....might need Arteta to let me no in advance so I can just skip the game.

[Niall_Quinn]

Don't think that was a great effort at all. Ideal for the keeper. At least it was on target I suppose.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Don't think that was a great effort at all. Ideal for the keeper. At least it was on target I suppose.

Not sure what more he could have done.

Thats the best direct free kick anyone has taken in this club this whole season .

[Niall_Quinn]

It's almost as if playing the ball towards the opposition goal gives you a better chance of scoring.

[Niall_Quinn]

Not sure what more he fould have done.

Thats the best direct free kick anyone has taken in this club this whole season .

True. But not in a good way. Should have let the kid take it.

[Niall_Quinn]

We've had red cards for less than that.

[Niall_Quinn]

Fucking hell. Partey! How?

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Fucking hell. Partey! How?

Even without Havertz playing, some players can't get rid of the silly programming.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wow. Total lack of composure.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Partey has had a mare.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Its beginning to physically hurt watching Jesus play....might need Arteta to let me no in advance so I can just skip the game.

Scratch what I said ealier, it seems its Trossard who wants to give me a heart attack

[Marc Overmars]

This season is approaching car crash territory.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 HT.

Appalling. :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Way, way too slow by Merino.

HT 0-1

Absolute borefest.

[Mac76]

Ok, so Kiwior should have done better with the goal and Partey and Trossard with very poor cross/shots, but really it's once again the organisation and tactics that's got us playing so S_L_O_W_L_Y it's painful, makes it so easy for Palace most of the time

At least Tierney is showing the difference a proper LB can make, overlapping well and linking with the attackers, let's hope Arteta notices

[Niall_Quinn]

Second-hand Sterling.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

JESUS!!!

Holy shit.

[Niall_Quinn]

Finally. Direct play by Odegard and a proper finish by Jesus. 1-1

The difference between Partey and Odegard is immeasurable.

[Niall_Quinn]

Jesus has started to play in the opposition box facing their goal. Works better.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

JESUS again!

WTF?

[Niall_Quinn]

2-1 Jesus

Smart goal. Forward, forward, forward, shot, goal. Pure rocket science.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Think that goal gets scrubbed if VAR is in operation

[McNamara That Ghost...]

JESUS!!!

Hat-trick, WTF?!

[Niall_Quinn]

Jesus hattrick.

Odegard has come on and owned this matched.

[Marc Overmars]

Fucking hell Jesus. About time, hopefully the start of something decent in the league now too.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sky Sports calling it Jesus reborn

Surely should be Resurrected

[Niall_Quinn]

You have to wonder is it just as important Partey and Sterling AREN'T on the pitch? It's like the pause button has been released.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Seems I made a bad decision to skip most of this half.... finally, Jesus does save!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-2 Nketiah. :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Typical. Eddie gets one back.

[Niall_Quinn]

Crap defending, like Saliba couldn't be bothered.

[Marc Overmars]

FFS is that his first goal for them?

[HCZ_Reborn]

3-2 Nketiah. :lol:

Is that Edward’s first goal for Palace?

[Niall_Quinn]

Skelly booked for being fouled. 5 mins extra time.

[Niall_Quinn]

Is that Edward’s first goal for Palace?

Second.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal 3-2 Palace, FT.

:lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

FT 3-2

Some good goals but mostly a shitfest.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Second.

Oh so it is

Also scored in the league cup at QPR

[Marc Overmars]

FT!

On we go. Performance in the first half was atrocious but we came back well. Well done to Jesus for the hattrick and hopefully that’s the start of a long overdue purple patch for him.

Palace will probably fancy it on the weekend against us now after what they saw today.

[Mac76]

You have to wonder is it just as important Partey and Sterling AREN'T on the pitch? It's like the pause button has been released.

Sterling was very good in the second half

[Mac76]

FT!

On we go. Performance in the first half was atrocious but we came back well. Well done to Jesus for the hattrick and hopefully that’s the start of a long overdue purple patch for him.

Palace will probably fancy it on the weekend against us now after what they saw today.

That's the beauty of not starting with our first team today, they'll have to contend with something different at the weekend

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal
Liverpool
Barcodes
Spuds or Man Utd.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Interesting little stat to end the evening with

In the 25 games in all competitions last season we’d won 16 draw 5 and lost 4

This season we’ve won 15 drawn 7 and lost 3


We scored 51 goals in both seasons, conceded 23 last season and 20 this season

[Niall_Quinn]

Sterling was very good in the second half

After he was subbed.

[WMUG]

Excellent.

Just need United to beat Spurs so we can get them in the semi and I can go to the away leg.

Liverpool would also do, but I went there in 2022 so not as interesting.

[Mac76]

I simply want Man Ure to beat Spuds because they're Spuds, any other reason is irrelevant

[Letters]

I simply want Man Ure to beat Spuds because they're Spuds, any other reason is irrelevant

:gp:

[HCZ_Reborn]

I simply want Man Ure to beat Spuds because they're Spuds, any other reason is irrelevant

Fair enough really. Especially as it’s the league cup and therefore whoever wins has no direct bearing on us unlike a league encounter. I also would rather be drawn with United than Spurs.

I don’t want Spurs to lose a game if them losing impacts negatively on us, for example I wanted them to get a result against City the midweek game before the end of last season, I wanted them to beat Chelsea (also helps that I detest Chelsea) and I want them to beat Liverpool on Sunday.

When it comes to United, I tend to favour United in their matches with Spurs…because I don’t see United as a threat to us. Therefore it’s all good fun if they beat Spurs

[KSE Comedy Club]

2-1 Jesus

Smart goal. Forward, forward, forward, shot, goal. Pure rocket science.

:lol:

[KSE Comedy Club]

That's the beauty of not starting with our first team today, they'll have to contend with something different at the weekend

Yep, slow passing back and forth between the midfield and defenders, retaining maximum possession and then doing sod all with it :good:

They will be bored into submission

[KSE Comedy Club]

Interesting little stat to end the evening with

In the 25 games in all competitions last season we’d won 16 draw 5 and lost 4

This season we’ve won 15 drawn 7 and lost 3


We scored 51 goals in both seasons, conceded 23 last season and 20 this season

That is surprising considering the downturn in our performances recently.

[HCZ_Reborn]

That is surprising considering the downturn in our performances recently.

I have said more than once that I don’t think people seem to remember that the first half of last season wasn’t that great at all. The highlight was undoubtedly beating City at the Emirates, but literally everything we are complaining about now are exactly what we were complaining about a year ago (I think the only difference is that we are exploiting set pieces better now).

The second half of the season wasn’t attributable to the goalscoring runs players like Havertz and Trossard went on.


But yeah overall I don’t think we are significantly worse than we were between August and December 2023. The disappointment lies in that we have been unable to replicate the league form we had between January and May of this year

[Mac76]

Yep, slow passing back and forth between the midfield and defenders, retaining maximum possession and then doing sod all with it :good:

They will be bored into submission

Exactly :lol:

Funnily enough, taking as an example the goal which MLS initiated the other week (against Monaco I think), suddenly passing forward instead of (as usual) passing back, I could almost believe our strategy is to bore the opposition a bit and then unexpectedly pounce by actually attacking...

[Mac76]

I have said more than once that I don’t think people seem to remember that the first half of last season wasn’t that great at all. The highlight was undoubtedly beating City at the Emirates, but literally everything we are complaining about now are exactly what we were complaining about a year ago (I think the only difference is that we are exploiting set pieces better now).

The second half of the season wasn’t attributable to the goalscoring runs players like Havertz and Trossard went on.


But yeah overall I don’t think we are significantly worse than we were between August and December 2023. The disappointment lies in that we have been unable to replicate the league form we had between January and May of this year

I'm not arguing with that but I do think injuries, fatigue and ridiculous cards really do have to be taken into account this season, but perhaps only in that they've exposed fundamemtal weaknesses when because of those things, every sinfle point is now vital but we're still dropping way too many

[HCZ_Reborn]

I'm not arguing with that but I do think injuries, fatigue and ridiculous cards really do have to be taken into account this season, but perhaps only in that they've exposed fundamemtal weaknesses when because of those things, every sinfle point is now vital but we're still dropping way too many

I don’t disagree with that either. I won’t lie, in the back of my mind I’m hoping that we can do another second half of the season thing this season. That I think would win us the title, as I simply don’t think Liverpool or Chelsea are capable of the kind of run City went on. But it’s a big ask, and would almost certainly require recalibration of the way we play (and going into the transfer market for a striker)

Frankly last night was a very clear indicator of how we suffer bereft of key players, there wouldn’t have been that turnaround without Saka and Odegaard being brought on

[HCZ_Reborn]

Also if we remain unbeaten against Palace and Ipswich, we will have the fewest defeats both in the league and overall for 20 years

[IBK]

I don’t disagree with that either. I won’t lie, in the back of my mind I’m hoping that we can do another second half of the season thing this season. That I think would win us the title, as I simply don’t think Liverpool or Chelsea are capable of the kind of run City went on. But it’s a big ask, and would almost certainly require recalibration of the way we play (and going into the transfer market for a striker)

Frankly last night was a very clear indicator of how we suffer bereft of key players, there wouldn’t have been that turnaround without Saka and Odegaard being brought on

It was also an indication of how important it is for us to score. This was a cup game so Palace had to try to win it once we equalised. Also, arguably they scored too early - so simply shutting up shop for 90 odd minutes (including stoppage time) was always going to be a hard ask. Once we scored they needed to come onto us, and we are far more effective in these situations - see also a number of CL games where we have scored more freely. In the league, many teams will regard a no score draw as a good result, so we have to try to unlock increasingly more well organised low blocks - something we are struggling to do. When the opposition scores first we are really up against it.

[HCZ_Reborn]

It was also an indication of how important it is for us to score. This was a cup game so Palace had to try to win it once we equalised. Also, arguably they scored too early - so simply shutting up shop for 90 odd minutes (including stoppage time) was always going to be a hard ask. Once we scored they needed to come onto us, and we are far more effective in these situations - see also a number of CL games where we have scored more freely. In the league, many teams will regard a no score draw as a good result, so we have to try to unlock increasingly more well organised low blocks - something we are struggling to do. When the opposition scores first we are really up against it.

I don’t necessarily buy into the idea that Teams are imperilled by scoring too early against us

Newcastle scored against us in the 11th minute and never looked like relinquishing the lead.

In recent years Villa have beaten us at Villa Park, scoring in 90 seconds and holding on, and scoring in the 7th minute and holding on.

In Europe, the game at Inter was over as soon as they were awarded that dodgy pel


The fact if we concede the first goal (especially away from home) no matter what the competition…our record at coming back and getting a result is horrible. Then again that’s been a disturbing trend with us for years, it long predates Arteta even.