December Schedule

BrunelGooner

BrunelGooner

Well-Known Member
Jan 6, 2015
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Thursday 13th December - Qarabag (H) (EL)
Sunday 16th December - Southampton (A)
Wednesday 19th December - Tottenham (H) (LC)
Saturday 22nd December- Burnley (H)
Wednesday 26th December - Brighton (A)
Saturday 29th December - Liverpool (A)

These are the games we've got coming up over the Christmas period.

Qarabag is a dead rubber where Emery will probably field a team identical to the Vorskla away game.

Southampton will be tricky. Their first home game under a new manager who will be keen to impress the fanbase and they are also fighting for their lives. Holding, Mustafi and Sokratis are all unavailable for this game either through suspension or injury. Our record at St. Mary's isn't amazing.

Spurs in the League Cup follows 3 days later. To be honest, as much as I want us to win against those ****ers, this is probably one of those games where I wouldn't be overly gutted if we got knocked out. I don't care for the League Cup and our priorities lie beyond this measly competition. Plus, we've beaten Spurs in the game that truly matters, so if they beat us in a meaningless cup game, I wouldn't lose much sleep over it.

Burnley then follows after that and, to be honest, they've not been good this season. They'll be looking to defend deep and put crosses into the box, as per usual, but we should be winning this.

Brighton away on Boxing Day. Tricky game. We lost there last season and they are capable of causing us plenty of problems. Fast wingers, a hard-working centre forward and a solid defence.

Liverpool away 3 days after that. They're looking very good this season, far better than any Liverpool side I've seen in the last 10-12 years. Will be very tricky to get something from this game.

What do you guys think? What are you expecting from this run of fixtures?
 
We should make the most of it in the league and rack up points till we go meet Liverpool.

Since Emery is so tactically fluent and versatile,maybe he can work a bit of magic in the home knockout tie by mixing the first and second string.
 
At this stage 8 points -2 wins, 2 draws- would do me. Qarabag, as you say is pointless but beating Spuds is always nice - and winning trophies can be habit forming.
 
winifred122 said:
At this stage 8 points -2 wins, 2 draws- would do me. Qarabag, as you say is pointless but beating Spuds is always nice - and winning trophies can be habit forming.
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From the league fixtures, I think we need to be targeting 3 wins and a draw. Will be very hard to achieve though, so I'd be happy with 2 wins and 2 draws.

Beating Spurs in the LC will be a bonus, but if we don't, I don't really care that much. The main one to beat them in was the league and we've done just that. I'll expect both sides to field fairly weakened XIs for the 19th, as both managers will be looking at the bigger picture beyond the ferocious rivalry.
 
Something never changes - Arsenal and injuries! Hard to predict this Arsenal side, which Arsenal will we see? The one that turned up against Wolves, one against Palace, or Spurs. Don't even know which I prefer, one which destroys Spurs or the one that struggles to break down the lesser teams. So really we just have to take each game as it comes. We might go to Liverpool and do a number on them and go away to Brighton and struggle! If top 4 is to be secured we need to turn teams like Brighton, Southampton over - We cannot afford to let Spurs/Chelsea get further away!
 
Prioritize the league games.

I'm suprised by Liverpool. TBH I didnt think they would maintain last Seasons form and if anything they have improved.
 
TheBear said:
Didnt watch the game today.

How did Koscielny get on?
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Didn't have much to do tbh. But good that he came through unscathed and will probs start on Sunday.

Monreal got some time today too, so it's great to have those two back just when we need them <ok>
 
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PISKIE said:
Didn't have much to do tbh. But good that he came through unscathed and will probs start on Sunday.

Monreal got some time today too, so it's great to have those two back just when we need them <ok>
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Summing up the match last night, I would say the kids and Koscielny had a good time, Sokratis and Laca were solid, Ozil cruised and Elneny and Jenkinson failed to take the opportunity to impress.
 
winifred122 said:
Summing up the match last night, I would say the kids and Koscielny had a good time, Sokratis and Laca were solid, Ozil cruised and Elneny and Jenkinson failed to take the opportunity to impress.
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Fans on Twitter seemed to be very unhappy with Elneny's performance.

You would have thought he would make more of an effort to try and get in the side. I like the lad but I cant see him lasting at Arsenal much longer. Particularly with AMN coming through and Guendouzi making such a strong early impact.
 
TheBear said:
Fans on Twitter seemed to be very unhappy with Elneny's performance.

You would have thought he would make more of an effort to try and get in the side. I like the lad but I cant see him lasting at Arsenal much longer. Particularly with AMN coming through and Guendouzi making such a strong early impact.
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He didnt have a great game against awful opposition , I'm afraid to say. Usually, I try not to criticise, but it was a missed opportunity for him
 
Qarabag had 1 shot all game, zero on target.

They were dreadful. Koscielny was barely tested. Great to see him back, but Southampton will be a much bigger test, so I really hope he is ready.
 
No match thread again - letting us down guys.

Burnley actually played pretty well.

Beautiful assist by Ozil.

MOTM was between Kolasinac and Aubameyang. Auba is soo good these days a couple of games without scoring is considered a draught. Back on it today with two goals.
 
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