It’s Mother’s Day in America, a very special day. One that holds more poignancy when you’ve lost someone, then some more if you are partnered with one to raise two children who terrorise your every waking minute with pure joy. If you have a mother and you haven’t called her, read the rest of this blog first, then jump on a call. Life is short, and it all loses a bit of shine when you don’t have a mum to share it with.
Was that start too heavy? Have I ruined your morning? I’m not sorry. You’ve already felt pain this weekend if you’re a regular reader here because I gassed up Keith Andrews and Brentford all week and they failed you.
But you know what, that pang of upset you feel… it’s greed. Gluttony of the highest order. Arsenal are top of the league. We can win it all on our own because we have total control… and you’re crying because the footballing gods didn’t let us have it early.
Shape up. There’s work to be done. By work, I mean there’s a game to be watched. It’s Arsenal vs West Ham.
But, can we just have a little moan? Since Rodri called out PGMOL, City seems to be getting lot of good decisions. Bernado lashed out, no card. Man City seems to be the only team in the league that has players who are permitted to just wipe out players with body checks. Then there’s the clear late penalty shout that VAR took 5 seconds to review, before passing… City scoring shortly after. It is incredible how few controversial moments City find themselves in… think back, how many major PGMOL-fueled dramas have they had over the past 5 years? Almost none.
Back to Arsenal…
Arteta’s monsters are on the rampage at the moment, against West Ham, who are fighting for their lives, and having a tough time of it right now.
On paper, this game couldn’t be more perfect. Beat a team in the relegation places, having conceded 61 goals this season, at their place… and probably win the league.
‘Fighting for their lives’ has a lot of work to do if it’s going to topple a team that have found a more free-flowing style of football, and have course corrected the nightmare April we had.
Arsenal have their starboy back in form, possibly in contention for at least 75 minutes. We have our captain back. Both our 9s will be available. There are only two players out… Timber and Merino.
The only wrinkle in the game’s outcome is the recovery.
West Ham have had 8 days since they were put to the sword by Brentford.
Arsenal have had 5 days since they smacked up Atlético at home in the Champions League semi final.
My view on the 5 days is that’s quite a lot by the standards of Arsenal, and if Arteta hasn’t lost his mind with crazy training sessions, we should be pretty fresh.
Also… we’re fighting for the Premier League title. Does fatigue even matter with three games to go? I hope not.
I would like to step on West Ham like we did against Fulham, but right now, as I sit behind my keyboard, I do not care how we play as long as we exit with a win.
We have more power and pace. Confidence is brimming. West Ham are one of the worst teams in the league defending set pieces. Their fans are pretty negative and they’ll be nervous as you like. Arsenal need to crush the spirit of their players and empty that stadium early.
Win is the only option. It’s the only way to think. Don’t allow this Premier League season to get back up off the floor. We have to own the storyline and put our foot on the neck of West Ham and slash at the vital arteries like a velociraptor in a hotel kitchen.
The game is going to be interesting, it’ll be a deep block that’ll look to find Summerville and Bowen on the break. They’ll maybe hope Mavropanos can add to his three set-piece goals. But mostly, this will be Nuno bedding in to strangle the life out of the game. He’ll be hoping to get to half time without too much blood loss, then he’ll pray we get nervous and open up like City did.
On the team, my gut says…
Hincapie to start because Ricky needs a rest…
Mosquera might get the start to preserve Benny Blanco, who has played a lot of minutes of late.
Myles is on a run right now, could he get more minutes against West Ham? Why not, right? It’ll be Zubi against PSG for sure. Get him fresh.
Declan has to start.
Martin Odegaard has been good against West Ham, at The London Stadium, in the past, he’ll probably start.
Would love to see Eze on the left, but would be fine with Martinelli.
Saka on the right.
Kai should probably start to take minutes off the legs of KING GYOKERES. Also think Kai is more suited to scuzzy deep blocks.
We have a good bench to choose from if we’re struggling, my only ask is this: Saka off for Dowman. Can’t be watching any more of the Madueke stuff.
Don’t really have much more than that today… the job is clear, win, and make the rest of the Premier League a little bit easier.
COME ON ARSENAL.
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