This feels like a very strange preview to write. While I would never want The Arsenal to lose any game they play, I did at first feel slightly conflicted about this one. My ambivalence, if that is even the right word – and it takes absolutely hours to get one these days – was mostly corrected when we were removed from the FA Cup by North Surrey at the first hurdle.
The problem is that in this season of a crazy number of major injuries, barmy refereeing decisions, red cards, suspensions and illness, we just haven’t had the squad available to take on four competitions. However, at effectively half time in a semi-final I guess we just have to go for this one. I can’t for one half second imagine Mikel Arteta not being 100% up for winning this, albeit from a disappointing start point of 0-2 down.
It’s been the hardest of seasons but to look on the plus side these things have, even if of necessity, provided the opportunity for the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Miles Lewis-Skelly to graduate from the academy into serious first team consideration. MLS’ eventual position is likely to be in midfield where he has played throughout his development – although he now seems to be first choice at left back – and Arteta has said that he thinks Nwaneri has the qualities required to be a striker. And who could argue with that after his super strikes against Girona and Man City in the last week.
When a club is in the middle of an injury crisis, one of two things tends to happen. Either your form and ultimately your season collapses or you fight your way through it, forced to bring squad players into the team, and emerge eventually with a better and more experienced squad. There has been a fair bit of criticism since the transfer window “slammed” shut about our failure to sign a striker. The loan market was closed to us as we already have our allowance of two loanees from the summer window, and that is really where the opportunity was lost. There is no point buying an average player now – probably for a way above average price – if it is not going to strengthen the squad in the long run and it is hard to find players as good as, or better than, we already have – especially in January.
Imagine what it would have cost to sign players as good as Miles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri in those problem positions in this transfer window if we’d had to try to prise them away from a Bayern Munich or Barcelona. It’s tremendous credit to the job that Per Mertesacker has done with our re-jigged academy since he took over, and it’s always the best feeling watching one – or two ! – of your own succeed.
With all the problems faced so far this season we still sit second in the Premier League and not nearly as cut adrift of Liverpool as some experts have been suggesting all season, and finished third in the Champions League table with a guaranteed place in the last 16.
Great Comebacks
As we’re all well aware, we begin this semi-final second leg two goals down after an oddly subdued performance at the Emirates. I thought for inspiration before this game I’d revisit some brilliant Arsenal comebacks we’ve seen under Mikel Arteta.
From 0-2 down at the Bus Stop in Fulham to a Palmer penalty – surprise, surprise – and a Mudryk accidental cross/lob, Rice and Trossard both scored to secure a 2-2 draw.
At the Emirates against Man Utd – strangely in a Newcastle style away kit – Rashford gave United the lead before Arsenal came back to win 3-1 with goals from Odegaard, Rice and Jesus. Peter Drury commmentated, “they dreamt it up, dreamt it up more and won in style. Rice Rice baby and the angel Gabriel won it right at the end !” Again at the Emirates, Marcus Rashford – the man who can’t really be bothered to play football but just always scores against The Arsenal – gave United the lead. Eddie Nketiah equalised before Saka appeared to have completed the comeback with a glorious left footed curler from distance to make it 2-1. However, Lisandro Martinez then flung himself at a header to force an equaliser, only for Nketiah to put the final touch to an Odegaard shot to win at the death again.
And finally, it had to be Tottenham. In what Drury described as “a maelstrom of mutual antipathy” Thomas Partey put the Gunners ahead only for the inevitable Harry Kane penalty to draw level. Gabi Jesus and Granit Xhaka then sank the Spuds to send us to the top of the league. So not all comebacks from a 0-2 deficit but they all demonstrate the never say die spirit instilled in this club and this team, whoever plays, by Mikel Arteta. If you fancy a look at the action, here’s the link – (it’s great !)
Arsenal CRAZY Comebacks Under Mikel Arteta – Peter Drury Best Commentaries! – YouTube
Can we do it again ?
Against Newcastle in recent seasons we have often looked the better team while they have had Joelinton, Guimaraes and Burn particularly knock us about with a friendly referee and VAR in reserve just in case their strong arm, low block failed. They should be better than that and they do indeed in Alexander Isak have one of the top strikers in the world, well supported by wingers Murphy and Gordon. After our lacklustre performance in the first leg our players will surely be motivated to put that right in a very testing but doable second leg whichever tactics Newcastle adopt. It has emerged on Monday that Joelinton is a doubt for them with a knee injury that forced him off after an hour against Fulham at the weekend. Another player who always worries me is Harvey Barnes but he will also be continuing his spell on the sidelines.
We won’t have Bukayo Saka to score us a wonder goal this time but we do have his very special looking 17 year old understudy, Ethan Nwaneri. At this stage he is, of course, exactly that – a special looking prospect and not a player on which to heap reliance and expectation. You wouldn’t have thought so though watching his first start in the Champions League last week against Girona, when he fired in a “Saka curler” with his left foot from the edge of the area. And then for good measure he repeated the feat on Sunday against Man City. Same distance, same curve, same power, same accuracy to score what was probably the goal of the game.
And while we’re talking about our special youngsters, let’s remember that in that same Champions League game against Girona, the relatively “experienced” 18 year old, Miles Lewis-Skelly ended the night holding the Man of The Match trophy. He popped up with a goal of strength and quality against Man City too – a massive bonus in addition to his defensive abilities.
It remains to be seen whether they will start, or feature at all against Newcastle, or their playing time will be managed. These are two precious youngsters and while we would all love to see them play, they have to be protected against stress injuries at this stage of their hopefully long careers. What is known is that the Arsenal will continue to miss Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu although he is reportedly nearing a return, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka as mentioned above.
Newcastle lost for the second home match running against Fulham at the weekend and they will have a decision to make. Do they come out to attack with their 2-0 lead or try to sit on it and hand Arsenal the initiative. They might be nervy after two straight defeats and if we can score first it would put a very different complexion on the game.
I hope the travelling Gooners sing up if there is sufficient oxygen to sustain them in the lower stratosphere of St James Park, support well and should we actually win, don’t lose their heads, or whatever the current favoured punishment of their owners is for over celebrating in Newcastle.
The Toon hordes will doubtless be displaying acres of bare, tattooed, unfettered flesh on another freezing cold evening – I’ve seen those Geordie lasses queuing for the clubs on a Friday night. One of them went into a local hairdresser and asked for a perm. She looked surprised when the girl serving her began to recite “I wandered lonely as a cloud ……..”
The referee is Simon Hooper. What I hope not to see is VAR John Brooks thieving from us on behalf of the Magpies. Kick off 20.00 UK – TV coverage on Sky Sports.
i’ll go back and read trev’s no-doubt funny and fine preview in a moment, but to the mø gauntness observed by her nelliness in the previous drinks: btm@66, i’ve wondered about martin’s health and weight a while; it’s been pretty obvious since he came back from injury. but given his performances over the last few games i’d have to believe he is as well as can be, and that his gauntness is a result of rigorous training and losing the baby fat of youth…
I had wondered too but his energy against City was right back to prime Odegaard levels. On that basis I assume he’s ok – certainly hope so for his and his new family’s sake.
PS – I would encourage you to stick with the video – at least until the Brentford bit near the end. It is a bit lengthy but there are some great moments and crowd eruptions in there.
Thanks Trev for the informative, entertaining and inspiring preview. Even reading it in my U.S. midwestern (but native Californian) voice that perm made me chuckle. 😃
We have reasin to be optimistic so COYG let’s turn the tables.
Great preview Trev. Funny and it sets up the game well
I’m very relaxed about this game as you were in January . I don’t get very excited by the League Cup. The Spuds are going crazy about the chances of winning this trophy. I haven’t thought about it . Newcastle have had our number and we haven’t scored in four of our last six against them but if we score first, Newcastle , another club who never wins trophies , will be very jittery . I’d love to see them rocking but we have much bigger fish to fry than this
But I wish CER and 21CG a memorable trip
Nice one, Trev. For a moment at the end there, I thought you were going to make a highly inappropriate joke about displaying acres of bare, tattooed, unfettered flesh, then I realised you had. Fog on the brain. Or fog on the Tyne. Or something.
Entertaining preview Trev, thank you! And thank you for the collection of comebacks.
I quite like your optimism, Gabbi Martinelli seems to be in the same mood in his pre-match interview, talking about three, four or five goals.
In Mikel’s first season as a player with us we had one of my favorite Arsenal comebacks of all times, 0-2 down at home to Spuds, only to thrash them 5-2, it could have been even more at the end.
But over home and away ties, the CL group stage 5-1 dismantling of Inter away at San Siro in the Invincible season in a must-win match after losing to them at home is one of the most memorable away performance by an Arsenal team. A 5–1 will do nicely tomorrow. 🙂
I think Mikel will start the same team as the weekend, given that there will be a nice little break after this. Despite being a semi-final this is a relatively low-pressure match, and if the team starts at their dominating and confident best, score an early goal, it can be an enjoyable day for Arsenal supporters.
I was there for that game against the Spuds, Dr F. From memory Bacary Sagna thumped in the first goal, grabbed the ball and ran back to the spot with it as if to say “right, enough is enough. Now stop effing about and get this game won !” Which we did.
Amusing stuff thanks Trev, and some very good points about the recent transfer window and our resilience this season.
Personally, I think MLS had had a few big games recently and I would use this one to give him a rest and start Calafiori. I’d also start Nwaneri but otherwise I think it will be the same XI as the weekend.
Be great if we have Ben and Tomi back for more depth after our winter break.
I forgot to add best of luck with the Op Trev 🤞
@75 in the last drinks
Just wanted to mention this was a fine post, thanks Dr.F.
Your point that the 24-25 season isn’t coming back and we
need to consider the workload of our forwards is well made.
I just read some nonsense by the PL’s Chief Football Tony Scholes that was so annoying, misleading and just plain wrong that I nearly combusted spontaneously.
However to summarize for you – our referees and VAR officials are getting much better and are widely respected around the world. They have made only 13 major mistakes in the PL this season. Yay.
Superb preview Trev. Sunday was such an explosion of energy and motion that I now really fancy us for tonight. What the hell, as others above say, it’s relatively speaking a free hit byway, as the Carabao Cup is the least important competition in the league. An early goal for us and it could well be back on. I expect that Nice Eddie to instruct his team to fall over, time waste etc and generally follow the precepts which, as we know because the media tell us so , so it must be true, we invented against Manchester City on 22nd September 2024. That performance 2 or 3 seasons ago at the Emirates from Newcastle never happened.
The serious raising of the pace at which we moved the ball on Sunday as noticeable and augurs well for tonight. Nice Eddie will be bound to try to force us into Horseshoe Football and catch us on the break. As City found on Sunday, hat is some challenge when we moved the ball so quickly and accurately. I fancy the same team to start as Sunday, with the only change potentially being the Italian Stallion for 49, 49 Lewis-Skelly.
21CG and I are making our last preparations for the trip up norf as Ι write, although this time we’re flying rather than taking the coach. The thought of another 7 hour each-way marathon and getting home at 5.30 am was too much to bear.
The match report will probably be late morning tomorrow on account of the fact that the nights beer in the Bigg Market is expected to take its toll.
I saw the same this morning, Matt. I managed to ignore it in the basis that these days nobody believes a word they see or hear on the BBC. Oh how are the mighty fallen.
Have a great trip CER!
Just pin the picture of Michael Oliver in Newcastle top on the dressing room wall and we should win this 3 nil. Turning this one around would be hilarious.
Just leaving for the bus to Zurich so no time to ramble. Great preview Trev – you give just cause for optimism. Good luck with the op, Trev and CER and 21CG, I wish you a safe and successful trip.
I’m firmly in the “Don’t waste resources on a 3rd choice, 2nd rate ‘warm body’ and don’t overpay for a 29yo 2nd choice”. We may be.gambling in fitness but we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past and can focus on the summer arrivals to take the next step forward.
COYG
Cheers Trev. Very enjoyable preview, and nice to be reminded of some comeback wins.
As others have said, it feels like something of a free hit for us. First goal is huge. I suspect whoever scores first tonight will go on to win the tie. There is still a chance we could play Spurs in a cup final, and that is a tantalising prospect. It’s been ages since we won the League Cup and I quite fancy it, not least because the final is played so early that once its out of the way it leaves you free to focus on PL and CL, taking with you the boost of already having lifted a trophy.
I won’t be too upset if we don’t turn it around, that first game – where we couldn’t score from a hatfull of chances and they scored 2 from not much – has made it a tough ask (although I thought we were very unlucky in that game, the general narrative was about horseshoe football and us lacking a striker, which wasn’t how i saw it)
There is a chance though to ‘go full gas’ take the handbrake off and play with freedom. If things come together then we could get a special result, and that sets match up perfectly for me – lots to play for but not too much disappointment if we don’t make it. Given every other game we play for the rest of the season will feel like a ‘must win’ I’m planning to enjoy the hell out of this one, and I think the players will give it a real go. I hope it’s an exciting game, not just a typical Newcastle game.
UTA!
An interesting week. Prior to 4.30PM on Sunday I was completely of the mind that for 3 points against the 115ers I’d be happy to concede to a defeat against the bare belly boys (one lad up there called Jimmy had five of them apparently). However, such was dynamic quality, total team energy and commitment to the outcome of Sunday’s game that I’ve been left wanting more – but I won’t be overly disappointed if things don’t go our way.
We don’t need three goals. Two and some decent penalties (Martin, Ethan and MLS to take the first three please) will get the job done as long as they don’t score. In that regard, stemming any flow to Izak will be important and Timber and Calafiori will need to do a number on Gordon to ensure that happens.
Enjoyed the read, Trev, best of everything for the Op. Enjoy the game, Holics.
Trev
I’ve not wished you well for your op. This problem has really affected your quality of life so I hope the op does the trick and you have greater mobility and less pain going forward . Let’s hope Arsenal provide some pain relief tonight
Many thanks for the kind words, fellas – and for the good wishes re upcoming operation.
It hasn’t been fun – almost 2 years now since first x-rays, and things were pretty bad then having waited to avoid Covid in hospitals etc. I’ve really missed the chance to get to the stadium or even to meet up with some of the other fine folks in here. Just hope we’re still this good when I’m fit as I’ve had a habit of being there through all our difficult periods and then missing all the good times. Maybe there’s a lesson to be learnt 🤷♂️
Safe trip tonight to CER and 21CG – don’t forget the oxygen tanks !
Cheers Trev, thanks for a great preview as normal.
I’m fairly relaxed for this match – normally a 2-0 reverse in the home leg means the away away fixture is a forlorn hope but this team has recovered its mojo and will give the bar codes a good run for their money. Score first and it’s game on!
Hope CER & 21CG have a great time – the beer will flow whatever the result.
Also best wishes to Trev for the upcoming operation.
It’s a big semi over 2 legs, & it’s ooming up. UTA!
Going for it!
Raya
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly
Partey, Rice, Odegaard
Trossard, Martinelli
Havertz
Bench: Setford, Calafiori, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Sterling.
Just need another four-goal second half, and we’ll be fine.
5 now. Raya you burke.
It’s grim up north. We rest and move on.
That was as unenjoyable evening as one can imagine embellished by the most biased commentary I can remember ( I’m talking Sky Sports UK )
You saw the character of our players like Rice , Gabriel , MLS and Partey but it was a night ( in fact it was a tie) when we were never going to score.
But it’s only the Mickey Mouse Cup and the Spuds won’t get past this lot even if they survive tomorrow.
Onwards and upwards !
Some of our play was as poor tonight as it was excellent on Sunday. A post City hangover. In both games Arsenal hit the post when a ball two inches to the left would have put us one nil up and onward to victory. Thin margins but if you don’t take your chances…….Isak will.
A bad day at the office, but I have to say, “am I bothered?” Not really.
Onward to matters of much greater importance.
When we don’t get control of games, we just don’t play well or look good. Also, playing against Newcastle’s low block is like banging your head on a brick wall, which, in many ways, it is.
To your point about TV commentators, TTG, it would be refreshing if they would offer something more perceptive about the difficulty of playing through a low block for any team rather than endlessly reiterating banalities about ‘Arsenal are out of ideas’ and ‘Arsenal need a goalscorer’. On the US broadcast, the commentator said he couldn’t understand why Schär was so high up the pitch when he dispossed Rice for their second goal even though Schär had been pressing Rice in the transitions all game. Don’t they watch what is going on?
It wasn’t shown here so I saved myself a miserable early alarm call and based on all reports I won’t be seeking out the lowlights later.
Let’s enjoy our break and hope for tough games all round for everyone else.
The Sky commentator made a thoroughly unenjoyable game screen smashingly annoying.
To the point that when Calafiori came on and began to attack with the ball he (commentator) made some sort of snuffled chuckle much to say “as if !” He clearly hadn’t seen either of his two very good goals – not bad for a left back who hasn’t played much. Still at least he was joined by Gary Neville as the voice of reason ! 😱🤮
Disappointing night but a bridge too far. I dislike this Newcastle side very much. Guimares is their leader and they niggle, timewaste and outright foul the oppostion whilst simultaneously faking injury and exaggerating every contact on them. It’s a horrible combination of spite and petulance that is completely unnecessary as they have good players.
That said, it’s up to us to deal with them and we didn’t do that very well. They played with a lot of energy, got their tactics right and took their chances. Their crowd were well up for it, after they’d all taken a couple of games off in the league getting ready for this one, and the atmosphere they created sounded pretty incredible even on TV.
They deserved to the win the tie. I hope Pool best Spuds later though, as Toon vs Spuds is a final with no decent outcome.
Gunnerblog in the Athletic points out that in 2022 Isak had a £75m release clause but that Newcastle were able to negotiate a deal for £63m, after a season when Isak had scored 6 league goals.
I absolutely understand why we didn’t pay the money (I dunno if an outlay like that would’ve prevented us spending 100m on Rice, but if so, we made the right choice in my view) as it was a gamble, but Newcastle were looking to flex some financial muscle and could’ve dealt easier with a move that didn’t quite work out.
James (McNicholas, who I’ve never met but who I’ve read, listened to and watched for so many years I’m gonna go ahead and first name him (if that seems a bit informal then just pretend he is Alexander-Arnold and I’m every muppet on TV with a punditry or commentary gig)) further points out that we will once again be shopping in the same category – around £50m for a young player who’s got pedigree and who we hope is gonna take off in the way that Isak has. If we think Sesko is the guy, then we’ve gotta pay the money, get it done and hope we’re right.
I can’t see Newcastle letting Isak go for less than £135m (maybe £150m+?), if we negotiate well and the player wants to move. Which I don’t think is gonna happen. Lots of fans seem to want us to sign him but I can’t see it happening, and if we could get Sesko, Zubimendi and Williams (or maybe Semenyo) for similar money to Isak, then I’d much rather accept we missed the boat with him and try to catch the next big up and comer.
Anyway, Isak was excellent last night. Best forward we’ve played in a long time. Arteta has thinking to do before we play this lot at home in the league, as they’ve been effective against us the last few games.
trent
verb
to refer to someone by their first name without having any acquaintance with them or the support of social convention
“The chief executive was surprised upon hearing that the delivery drivers had been trenting him at the front desk.”
I had high hopes until the disallowed goal. I thought wrongly that we could threaten them to the point they lose confidence and the crowd go quiet. Not to be and Martinelli injury is a real concern. I have no interest in who wins the final. Need to recharge for 10 days and hope White and Saka return soon. Our squad has been poorly constructed to the point we are so ineffective when trying to get back into games.
>>>>>>>