We are set for one of our biggest games of every season tomorrow when Tottenham come to Arsenal, and with our home record against them we should feel no fear of losing. In the last NLD, back in Fenruary, we lost by just the odd goal, and top-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is looking for revenge for the fans and would also love to get on the scoresheet.
“All players want to play in these types of games,” he said. “We’re playing at home and we have to give a win to our supporters.
“Just when you come on to the pitch and you feel the atmosphere [you know how big it is]. It’s great stuff. It’s like when I played for Dortmund or Saint Etienne before, we had great derbies also and I feel the same now. It’s a lot of excitement and I think these are good games.
“When you play a derby and you score, it’s really special. As I said before, in the past I’ve played some derbies and I’ve had the chance to score and it was a great feeling. The last derby at Wembley was a bad day for us but we have to change it and win this one.”
I am a great believer that in local derbies it is the power of the home crowd that lifts the players to superhuman efforts, which is why we have only lost at home to Spurs twice in the last 25 years. The players want to do it for the fans, and the fans are urging the players to try their hardest.
Come on you Gunners! Mash those Spuds!
Admin
Just a thought that some may have missed but is obvious: SPUDS GROW UNDERGROUND, in the dark and dirty ground. Among the beetles, worms and other filth. They are best eaten (s)mashed or roasted!
Smashed or roasted, ha! ha! ho!, nice play on words mate!
How Aubameyang would love to score, seeing as the spuds snubbed him!
As Admin said come on Arsenal mash those spuds!!! And make our day, week, month, year!!!
We need this to be the first league game that we show up and mean to go in at half time leading. These are the games that the first goal can be so crucial, so none of that, ah we’ll be ok sure we have a good second half record going for us. This is the first London derby against this lot that I feel we have something to prove to them. All the other ones I felt we are the top dog here and we have bigger things to be thinking about than wee Totts. We need to do the business and thank them for keeping the seat warm, they can now go back down to that drudge and reacquaint themselves with mediocrity. Which by the way, (mediocrity) is what many Arsenal fans used to describe our FA cup wins and our guaranteed CL promotions. So in many an eye, Totts have done half the job that Arsene done when at his worst, so maybe they already see you lot as close to being mediocre.
B.O.T. what a telling last three sentences.
Even in our “mediocrity” we still won trophies, played in the CL and finished in the top four, while beating the spuds on a regular basis.
Now it’s Unai’s turn to win it with the fans 100% behind him.
I just hope the referee handles the game properly and doesn’t witness things only he can see.
I’ll be amazed if Torrerio isn’t booked and the same goes for Xhaka, while Dyer and Alli will get away with murder.
If I’m wrong, I’ll be the first to eat humble pie.
Just have this strange feeling that we will turn it on tomorrow from the very first minute and run out worthy winners….hope I’m right!!!
Ken, I may be out of step with some on here, including you, over Mike Dean. To me he is a tough ref who shows neither fear not favour to ANY team and had the Prem league backed him, not to mention his fellow refs too and most fans as well, the sport itself might have applauded instead of unfairly criticising him as you have also done. By now our sport might have been rid of the regular wrestling that goes on in all pen areas for every corner and wide free kick. But all those good folk, shamefully, did not, preferring instead to fool themselves and pretend he is biased. Reality is not given to all. Pity! ONE HONEST, TOUGH AND DETERMINED REF CANNOT DO IT ALL BY HIMSELF!
Jon, once Riley and his fellow referees allow the media and fans to question their decisions, that’s when I’ll believe there is no reason to be suspicious of them.
Riley has recently stated that his association has got 94% of their decisions correct (source Untold Arsenal).
Yet we are not allowed to question or debate with them after a game.
Rugby has got it right, when you can hear the refereee telling players why a decision has been made.
Managers and players are not allowed to question any decision made and if they do, are fined by the FA…why?
You surely remember the Chelsea game when Gabriel was sent off and Costa was not?
Due to the intense criticism, the FA reviewed the game, Gabriel’s red card was recinded and Costa was fined and got a three match suspension.
We lost three points and yet not one word of explanation or apology was forthcoming from either Riley or Dein.
Then there was the ending of our unbeaten 49 game run, refereed in such a inexplicable way by Riley, that it is still talked about today.
I was a qualified referee in my younger days and know just how difficult it is to officiate, but I always explained my decisions if asked by players.
Dein loves to be the centre of attention and I have no doubt he will be tomorrow…mark my words.
Ken, I do not dissent from your comments, even Dean “being the centre of attention” but they do not address the point I made at all. To be clear , I agree most of our refs are sub standard and have often said so BUT I do NOT believe they are cheats, which is the logical conclusion from your several posts, over a period now, about refs. I am also disappointed in Kenny Rolfe, a man for whom I have much time and respect and our fellow “oldie,” who often writes that we are victims of biased refs. My inate love for the truth and acceptance of the fact that refs are human and make mistakes BUT are not “bent” makes me stick up for their honesty, though not their competence. IMO our best ref by a distance is Michael Oliver. But STILL the regular wrestling goes on , unchecked, as there is not the will to tackle it, apart from the honest and single minded Dean, who disgracefully lacked support from fellow refs and the authorities,WHICH WAS MY POINT. I have no love for Mike Riley, just as you don’t either, BUT I do not think him a cheat. A little arrogant certainly, but NOT a cheat. To call any professional person a cheat is a serious charge and should never be done without explicit evidence. FANS OF ALL CLUBS SAY THIS SORT OF REFS ARE AGAINST US NONSENSE. I am shortly going to submit an article on here precisely about the widespread bias and self dishonesty of fans, in general. Arsenal is not different in this respect. We who are older and thinkers should surely have the ability to separate our reasoned thinking from our natural bias when drawing conclusions. So would you in your reffing days have been hapy to be thought a cheat? I suspect not and rightly so. Don’t you agree? End of lesson. Now for a drink!
Sue the spuds didn’t snubbed him they just couldn’t afford his money,you can’t pay 60 million for a player and put him on the bench
Well that’s what I read Leno
Sue you are right; he was recommended by Tim Sherwood after watching him play as a winger for Gabon against Brazil in 2011. Aubameyang was at the time contracted to AC Milan, but on loan to St Etienne in France.
He was then bought by Borussia Dortmund for a reported transfer fee of €13 million 2 years later in 2013. This is a lot less than the £60 million quoted by LENOhappy. Aubameyang would have been played as a winger and not on the bench at Tottenham in
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Seriously am just surprise how people think they are just going to come to emirate and take all the 3 points,we have the two best strikers in premier league even man city don’t,as long as our world class no10 can create real chances,we are going to win
Who do you want at No.10??
Sam, Ozil must play after being man of the match in the corresponding game last season. If Emery doesn’t play Ozil (rovided fit) in this game he should be sold.
I would like us to play 3-4-3 with Lacazette, Aubameyang and Ozil up front, with Ozil being able to slot into the No 10 role behind the two strikers up front in attack.
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For once, I actually feel confident going into a big game. I really think we can think we can win. Despite their awful form, and problems with Mourinho, I am more worried about the Utd game. We never do well at Old Trafford, and Mourinho seems to have a hoodoo over us. Hopefully it was just Wenger, and not Arsenal!
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I don’t feel confident against Spuds (just being honest). I will feel more confident against United. Spurs are much better than United
I do have belief in Arsenal and Emery. That’s a big thing. Last season I didn’t have belief in our Manager. This season is different. I believe Emery will put out the best 11 for this match tomorrow and make the right substitutions
Do we have a chance at winning? Sure
But because of Spuds quality, a draw would be acceptable