Yep, tomorrow's game is absolutely huge for a number of reasons. I think if we lose tomorrow it could have a damaging long term mental effect on the team, we lose and I don't even think the players will believe we can win the title this season, this early on too. We've been awful this season and we are due a big performance in a big game, it really is time for the likes of Ozil, Ramsey & Co. to earn their corn because we simply cannot have any excuses, I hope they treat it like a Cup Final.
Presuming that was from Van Gaal I think that it was a mistake in his English rather than him actually suggesting his cast iron belief he will beat us. By 'when' I suspect he means 'IF'...which is a quirk/mistake they often make/interchange on the continent when speaking English.
I don't know about long term effects if we lose. I don't even know about the long term effects on a victory. The two FA Cup wins should have been a springboard for success and we've recently beaten all the big teams whether it be FA Cup (Man Utd) , Community Shield (Chelsea) and League (City) . We even have players that have beaten Bayern and Dortmund. I really don't know what it will take for this team to get their shit together. So I'm not putting too much weight on the significance of this game. If we win and go joint top, fantastic. Next job is to maintain.
I'm more so looking for a big performance from Ozil. If that guy doesn't turn up today.....Theo is talking about building around him and we have to an extent. We have Cazorla next to him, someone that can provide a pass to him and even assist him with a goal and we have runners across the front line with pace. This is the game. He has to turn up. It's now or never.
All the players need to treat this like a cup final after last week's game. If it's another jellyback, soft and weak performance, heads need to roll. The senior players I'm looking at. Merts, Cech and Monreal need to show leadership. Guide Gabriel and Bellerin if they're out of position or lack focus. Talk to them and talk during set pieces. No disorganised chaos like we've seen previously. Van Gaal will exploit that weakness.
Not too long to go. We can do this.
Wenger with a sly dig at Chewsea, "this is the first massive game at the top of the table for us"![]()
1 win in 13 against this lot in the league
Please do 'em today Arsenal![]()
Would you happily take a cheated win today?
I would tbf.
Man United: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Carrick, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Rooney, Memphis, Martial.
Subs: Romero, Jones, McNair, Schneiderlin, Valenca, Fellaini, Wilson.