Morning all.
So going into Christmas, we sit in third place within the Premier League desk, 6 factors behind Liverpool who even have a recreation in hand. I don’t suppose we will learn an excessive amount of into their efficiency and win yesterday, as a result of it got here towards a group so patently absurd I feel 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 whenever you’re enjoying towards a again 4 and a goalkeeper who wouldn’t have the ability to maintain a clear sheet towards a group 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 may’t go overboard. Actually, it was so ridiculous to observe yesterday. Liverpool may have had ten towards the trumpet twats.
The Mugsmashers are driving the crest of a wave proper now, and so they’re going to be powerful to catch however there’s nonetheless a protracted approach to go and so they gained’t be enjoying 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 bought a degree from us. I suppose Chelsea want a brand new striker now too.
Anyway, for extra on yesterday’s Premier League motion, be part of us over on Patreon a bit later once we’ll have an episode of The 30 for you, rounding up all of the video games and clearly laughing on the groups who have to 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 actual fact he wanted them in any respect doesn’t augur nicely. A gentle 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 actual fact Raheem Sterling, who’s the back-up possibility (or certainly one of 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 great chunk of January not less than, which suggests dealing with out him for some troublesome 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 shouldn’t 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 enjoying as a ‘9’ sooner or later in his future, however perhaps a while as a Saka different is likely to be on the playing cards.
Then folks will take into consideration the January window and what we would do there. I can’t say I’m notably assured proper now, particularly after the replace James gave within the new Arsecast Additional yesterday, nevertheless it is likely to be a case that circumstances drive 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 don’t have any alternative however to try to carry 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 there solely possibility is to purchase.
The opposite facet of that’s do you compromise on a participant you’re not utterly offered 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 troublesome, it’s not unimaginable to make an efficient signing on this window both. Let’s see how this all performs out, and what we’re prepared to do if we have to.
Saka is our best attacking participant by a ways, and if there’s one participant who can come up clutch in a good recreation, it’s prone to be him. So whereas his absence can be keenly felt due to his stature within the facet and every little thing else, that’s one other consideration for Mikel Arteta and people at government stage once we go into this hectic interval within the subsequent few weeks. Does this Saka damage carry to the fore some considerations about our squad constructing that exist even when he’s match?
Proper, I’ll go away it there for now. For some additional studying, Jon Spurling writes about George Eastham right here. When you haven’t had an opportunity to hear already, the Arsecast Additional is beneath. Take pleasure in!
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