26 Comments

Banana skin game today. Usually it isn't hard to get pumped up for a derby but I hope our boys aren't too emotionally spent after a long, long season.

Chavs have superb players across the pitch. They are a young team, not too different than us couple of years ago. Young, top talents usually struggle with consistency but they always have a monster game in them.

I hope we, as the team ahead in our progression compared to them, are aware Chavs will be a tough game. They are literally Jekyll and Hyde - since February they've lost their home game to Wolves, drew with Brentford, Burnley, Sheffield and Man City, while they also won vs Palace, Newcastle, Manure and Everton. You don't know what you're getting with them but fair to say they do better versus stronger opponents, also seen in the first game between them and Arsenal at the Bridge.

Again, their last loss in the PL was against Wolves about 80 days ago. Since then 8 games undefeated. We cannot underestimate them.

Yesterday, Arteta was right to say: "I think [Chelsea] deserve to be much higher in the league, when you look at what they have done, what they have produced in games". According to xPTS, Arsenal should be 1st, and we are, but Chavs are currently 9th when xPTS has them sitting 5th in the table. They will be even stronger next season but today we need a win.

One way or another, we have to win today.

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They are well organised team. Unlike Manchester United they do have an identity and do look like a team. That wasn't true in the past but Pochetino has done a good job tactically. Technically strong, good pace and if they had a better striker than the one with two left feet, Jackson, they'd have beaten Man City. It will be tough but we are starting to become a very good team that is hard to beat. Shame we only had a short break after the weekend game and another short break before Sundays trip to the Spuds, especially after the Champions League exertions, because that makes games like this more challenging than they would normally be.

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We played Chelsea at home with 5 go last season. 3-1 to us. Hope that’s a good omen!

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I thought Conte left Inter in the gutter after he won them their first title in 10 years. It was also their first trophy in 10 years and first time even finishing in top 3 in 10 years.

After him, they’ve won 2 Italian Cups, 2 Supercups, played in the final of the CL last season. In Serie A they’ve finished 2nd, 3rd and last night celebrated winning the Scudetto again.

So long for “Conte destroys teams long term even if he delivers short moments of success” or whatever Pedro was saying back when. He’s a top manager who has succeeded with many clubs in different leagues and is a proven winner. In a short 2 year plan, he drastically improves clubs. His spud spell was to be expected. That team negated any winnertivity he had.

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Conte, are you nuts?

"After him, they’ve won 2 Italian Cups, 2 Supercups, played in the final of the CL last season. In Serie A they’ve finished 2nd, 3rd and last night celebrated winning the Scudetto again"

How on earth has that got anything to do with Conte? Roberto Mancini who won them 7 trophies compared with Conte's single. 1. It is Simone Inzaghi who deserves credit, nothing whatsoever to do with Conte. Don't forget he was sacked for somehow finishing 5th with that doped Chelsea squad. Thank god we dodged that bullet because Conte threw Spuds under a bus, a double decker one too!

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Have to say I really don't like this Substack. I loved the blog thought it was probably the best formatted one out there. Interesting to see the likes and dislikes it just goes to show how many rival fans troll the blog. It just shows what a threat we are these days under Arteta.

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For some weird reason, Substack wouldn't approve my previous moniker...an abbreviation of my name.

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Don't worry about the 'handle'-- that's a Substack ID. Edit your full name to your initials or whatever you like without restrictions.

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@Pedro , from last thread

Ah, if you can't move the comments section to the bottom, then nvm.

As for the posts, please leave them in chronological order as this is what most of us are used to with your previous website.

I have noticed that we can change whether we want to see posts in chronological order or most recent anyway

So, it doesn't really matter if you change the order of the posts on your side or not.

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I think if we are to see Jurrien at all at the end of this season, it will have been an incredible recovery.

There is a side of me who thinks that he shouldn't be playing until the start of the pre-season next year, but the fact that he played for the U21 and done well, seems to point to the opposite.

I suspect if we do see him, it won't be as a starter, but maybe for the last 20 mins just to get him to start reconnecting with his teammates.

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Im back after some sort of substack ban

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No i’im 6th !

Who are the 25% in the poll voting we will lose ? Pull yourself together!

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The LeGrove comment section has always been trolled by rival fans. It's really not a new thing. Back in the day we had Bamford, today we have Tom, Vickinz, Paulino, & the 'current' worst of the lot, Guns of Hackney - please add any I missed Mark!

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San Sebastián - here are some of my thoughts.

RP7 ( booted off ) hated Xhaka to the point of almost threat level. GD4 ( probably booted off ) mad mix of calling people out continually for racism, whilst indulging in his own bigotry. Tony was completely off his head bless him. He pretended to be his own son and then posted under that pretend figure. Luteo is plain unpleasant at times and trolls usually around unpleasant topics that touch on illegality.

Tom I think just suffers from an attachment to something which is not quite there. In this case I mean Arsenal. He’s just very random and admits he’s a sports fan first. So when he tries to take on Arsenal supporters it just sounds a bit autobot . The soul is missing I think. One day he may just peel back to the Chicago Besrs and his Arsenal phase will be over.

GOH - bizarre figure. So much energy wasted from him. I feel he genuinely gets hurt at times when it is thrown back at him. Something deep seated from within like a painful wound. He leads the way in how not to support a club.

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Mark. I remember Tony and his fake son! Wasn't he on a load of pills or something due to being on the spectrum. Up there with Bamford pretending he was his mate Dariano!! Luteo hits the abuse button when he's forgotten to take his meds. The one thing online platforms do is make you aware that some people are just very odd & many are unpleasant characters. Tom rarely even talks about football he's what I would call an 'agitator' who enjoys riling people. As for Guns, clearly needs sectioning!. I suppose Pedro will be losing many of these with his paywall.

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Yep you are likely right on that.

I suspect I will end up paying for the package as I tend to listen to the Pods.

The forum causes so much arbitrary chatter. Some find it impossible to apologise or even row back on things. So things are pursued to the extreme. Often it’s just better to say I am wrong or I have changed my opinion. Much like me and Raya 😂

I know I’m definitely not right all the time

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Have you replaced Nigel Tufnel with San Sebastian, Marky Mark?

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Err no… Are you missing your buddies or something?

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None of us are right all the time, Mark, even our wives! I find the agenda types highlight the inability for some people to be mature enough to admit they got it wrong. It's a great blog but if Arsenal drop points all the trolls come out screaming 'Arteta Out'. Big 3 points tonight to keep the pressure up.

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My thoughts exactly!

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Looks like I’m third

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Pedro

Why "Ade Akinbiyi"? I don't think I like that humor

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