Morning all.
So going into Christmas, we sit in third place within the Premier League desk, 6 factors behind Liverpool who even have a sport in hand. I don’t assume we are able to learn an excessive amount of into their efficiency and win yesterday, as a result of it got here towards a crew so patently absurd I believe there’s an excellent case to be made that they need to be wound up and put out of existence altogether.
Look, there’s no query Liverpool are superb, and have some incredible attacking expertise, however if you’re taking part in towards a again 4 and a goalkeeper who wouldn’t be capable of maintain a clear sheet towards a crew made up complete of Steve – a one-legged septuagenarian with a club-foot who’s coping with a depraved case of terminal shingles and a dose of the inexperienced apple splatters – then you’ll be able to’t go overboard. Actually, it was so ridiculous to look at yesterday. Liverpool might have had ten towards the trumpet twats.
The Mugsmashers are using the crest of a wave proper now, they usually’re going to be robust to catch however there’s nonetheless a protracted solution to go they usually gained’t be taking part in a bunch of disorganised halfwits each week, so let’s simply do our stuff and see what occurs. Elsewhere, Chelsea dropped factors as Everton Dyched them with a 0-0. I didn’t see the highlights but, however 25% possession and 30 tackles sounds just about like how they received a degree from us. I assume Chelsea want a brand new striker now too.
Anyway, for extra on yesterday’s Premier League motion, be a part of us over on Patreon a bit later after we’ll have an episode of The 30 for you, rounding up all of the video games and clearly laughing on the groups who must be laughed at.
As for us, we’ll watch for an replace on Bukayo Saka after his damage on Saturday. Even when the crutches have been extra about warning than the severity of the damage, the very fact he wanted them in any respect doesn’t augur nicely. A light hamstring pressure is usually round three weeks, however this does look a bit extra severe, and it’s not his first one this season in order that’s an additional fear. It’s compounded by the very fact Raheem Sterling, who’s the back-up choice (or one in all them not less than), additionally picked up an damage this week, so we’ll have to attend and see how forthcoming Mikel Arteta is on each these guys when he meets the press a bit later this afternoon.
It does look as if Saka goes to overlook a very good chunk of January not less than, which suggests dealing with out him for some tough away video games (Brentford and Brighton), cup ties towards Man Utd and Newcastle, and probably a North London derby and the go to of Aston Villa. Suffice to say, the timing will not be nice.
The broader dialog about what we do in his absence is an attention-grabbing one too. First, it’s about how we address the gamers we’ve got. Gabriel Martinelli did nicely there at Selhurst Park, however how a lot can we get out of him, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz as our solely ahead choices as we face 10 video games between December twenty seventh and January twenty eighth? It’s lots to ask, and maybe it would imply the supervisor giving Ethan Nwaneri some minutes in additional superior positions to offer a bit extra depth. He spoke about him taking part in as a ‘9’ in some unspecified time in the future in his future, however possibly a while as a Saka different is likely to be on the playing cards.
Then individuals will take into consideration the January window and what we would do there. I can’t say I’m significantly assured proper now, particularly after the replace James gave within the new Arsecast Additional yesterday, but it surely is likely to be a case that circumstances pressure our hand. If Saka goes to be out for an extended interval, and with Sterling’s contribution to this point this season a fear anyway, we might haven’t any alternative however to try to deliver ahead one thing we’ve got deliberate for the summer time. With two gamers already in on mortgage, we’re on the restrict for loans so the one choice is to purchase.
The opposite side of that’s do you compromise on a participant you’re not utterly bought on as a result of circumstances dictate? The query of January availability and price is a part of the dialogue too, however whereas it’s positively extra sophisticated and tough, it’s not not possible to make an efficient signing on this window both. Let’s see how this all performs out, and what we’re keen to do if we have to.
Saka is our best attacking participant by a long way, and if there’s one participant who can come up clutch in a decent sport, it’s prone to be him. So whereas his absence can be keenly felt due to his stature within the facet and all the things else, that’s one other consideration for Mikel Arteta and people at govt stage after we go into this hectic interval within the subsequent few weeks. Does this Saka damage deliver to the fore some considerations about our squad constructing that exist even when he’s match?
Proper, I’ll depart it there for now. For some further studying, Jon Spurling writes about George Eastham right here. If you happen to haven’t had an opportunity to pay attention already, the Arsecast Additional is under. Get pleasure from!
