MONSTER DAY FOR ARSENAL
You ever hear that song by LCD Soundsystem about New York? Loving the place but it’s bringing the writer down? That’s living in the Midwest of America. Many benefits, no doubt. I live in a very cute blue house that is old and historic… but man, this place fucks you and your finances. My latest slap by whoever Mother Nature has looking after this weather system was an ice waterfall from my roof that moved the gutters out enough for the heat to warm water into my bathroom via a cracked brick. The ice waterfall also hit a set of wooden stairs that leave my back door, creating a glacier that proceeded to split the construction into two. I also have a perfectly crafted ice rink around my car parking space, so transporting kids to school is a danger to my existence.
But you know what happened yesterday? The sunshine gods lit up the neighborhood and scored my house with +1 above freezing to alleviate the hell of the past 3 weeks.
A cardinal also flew into my garden, which they say means someone who is dead is coming to say hi… who could that have been? Hopefully one of my dead friends or family who was a MASSIVE Gooner warning me this weekend is going to be f*cking ace.
No, that last bit wasn’t too far. If you died and had some cosmic powers to impact football results, are you trying to tell me you wouldn’t meddle to bring some joy to your mates living a miserable existence on this terrible journey to our first Premier League title in 400 years?
Ok, we’re in agreement. Re-sub to the newsletter and stop being so sensitive.
Arsenal have the chance to go 9 points clear over Man City. Then they play Liverpool on Sunday. Scary times for them. Liverpool are fresh, they have to catch a United team that are looking imperious, and Slot has a total must-win game.
City, on the other hand, are in a little bit of trouble. Everyone knows Pep G is going, he can’t stop talking, and it’s clearly because he’s rattled right now. I don’t know whether his chat affects players at the level of City, but it can’t be helpful to be working for a manager who would rather be done for the season.
… and let me tell you this for free. If City lose to Liverpool, I would bet a couple of chickens on Fulham taking something from them the following Wednesday.
Perfect weekends rarely happen to Arsenal, but this season does seem more blessed than most, so who knows what could happen? Remember, chasing is tough. One slip and it’s over. Walking that tightrope ain’t for everyone, and I’m yet to be convinced that this Man City bears much resemblance to some of the great teams of the past.
We know that Sunderland are going to bring some filth tomorrow. They’ll sit deep and hit us on the break. No Granit, which is a bonus. But this will be a slag of an afternoon.
Saka won’t be available, but I’m not sure we need him to get this over the line. I’m interested to see whether Gyokeres, Player of the Month, gets a run out against a defence that’ll eat him alive. Paul Merson, my spirit animal, had it right when he said Arsenal players don’t trust him. My push would be to play Kai Havertz. He can offer more physically and way more to the team from a tactical perspective. But we’ll see how that plays out, Arteta doubling down on a player we can all see is wrong, but undeniably does enough as a dedicated meat sack up front to have us as league leaders.
Ok, it’s Friday night. Music is Fred Again.. while I write. Book is Lonesome Dove. Game is KCDC2. Bourbon is Russell’s Reserve. Hope you are doing something way more fun. As a heads up, I’ll be giving you a hot take on the Super Bowl on Sunday, just a heads up for the Americans who think after previous humiliatingly bad takes, I’ll just give up.
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