Righting the ship Arsenal

Arsenal seemed to be on the ropes prior this weekend’s match. Losses to Villa and Bayern within the last week ended the Gunners’ Champions League run and dented their Premiership title hopes. But they left Wolverhampton on Saturday with a much-needed win.

While only one match, it’s the first step in righting the ship Arsenal. The course that lies before them, is daunting with Chelsea Tuesday and a North London Derby on Sunday against a well-rested Spurs side.

We’ll need Arsenal to dig deep if they are going to hold onto the top spot. Sure, we’ll need City to drop points, but the focus has to be on navigating the rocky seas ahead.

Weekday matches are always a tough ask for working folks but we’ve been getting great crowds. Hope to see you there.

Cheers!

Mark

The show must go on

Well, that week sucked. A loss at Villa severely dents Arsenal’s title hopes and then the Gunners are unceremoniously knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich.

Reaction ran the gamut, with a few short-sighted calls for the manager’s head, while most Gooners tried to keep perspective in the face of these dire defeats.

I’m not here to tell anyone how to feel, but I’m the latter. Under Arteta, we are in the ascendancy and perhaps victims of our own success. The team is still developing and clearly lacks a few final pieces of the puzzle.

There’s still a lot of football to be had and the show must go on. A glimmer of hope remains, Arsenal can lift the Premiership trophy. They must keep winning and hope City drop points. I’m keeping faith with the club until the end.

We’ve been getting some tremendous crowds at Maggie’s. Last Wednesday was no exception, the placed was packed with Gooners. Tomorrow’s match is an absurdly congenial 11:30am. Practically unheard of for U.S. start times.

So no excuses. No wavering. Just unconditional love for the Arsenal. See you all at the pub!

Best,

Mark

Jetzt geht’s um die Wurst

Jetzt geht’s um die Wurst translates to Now it goes around the sausage, a German expression which has come to mean there are higher stakes now, or all or nothing. All or Nothing is coincidentally, the name of the Arsenal TV series on Prime.

Sunday’s match against Villa was to put it mildly, a debacle. The Gunners squandered a gilt-edge chance to retain the top spot, following an earlier Liverpool defeat. The Premiership is not completely out of reach, but there are definitely higher stakes now in our Champions League journey.

Arsenal head to Munich for the quarter-final second leg, hoping to do the business after a first leg draw at the Emirates. Thankfully the away goals rule no longer exists. If the teams are level at the end, we’ll see extra time and penalties (if necessary).

Here’s hoping the lads rebound from Sunday’s stumble and fall. See you all at the pub!

Best,

Mark

Bring on the Villains

In point of fact, Arsenal’s opponent, Aston Villa are called The Villans. But no doubt, Unai Emery’s side would love to play the villains in Arsenal’s bid to win the title. The Birmingham side is currently battling the tiny Totts for a top four spot, in hopes of securing Champions League football next season.

Then there’s the small matter of Emery’s brief, unsuccessful tenure as Arsenal’s manager, prior to the glorious second coming of Mikel Arteta. What better way to stick it to your former employer than notching a win, which Villa did when the sides met in December.

This will be the Gunners’ fourth of eight matches this month as their jam-packed April continues. So far, Arteta and company have managed the load ably, but Sunday will offer another stern test of their steel.

The camaraderie and general vibes at Maggie’s has been great for the recent matches. We even got a mention during another Premier League match on NBC Sports.

Hope to see you all at the pub Sunday!

Best,

Mark

Mama said knock you out

These are heady times to be an Arsenal supporter. We beat Brighton this weekend to go top of the table, and remain there by virtue of Liverpool’s draw.

We don’t get much time to savor the moment, because of an impending quarter-final Champions League clash against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. The German side has knocked us out of this competition on four separate occasions in the past two decades.

This time feels different, and I’m liking our chances. Bayern are still a formidable side but there’s more steel to Arsenal and this knockout stage does not feel insurmountable.

We’ve been getting some good crowds at Maggie’s, even during the week. I’ll be there and hope you will too!

See you all at the pub!

Best,

Mark

Taking care of business

Following a stressful, goalless draw at Man City, who knew what Arsenal would turn up, just two days later, against a far less formidable Luton Town.

Arteta fielded an adjusted line-up and it felt like this squad had some real depth for the first time in awhile. Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson all started, while Saka was given the night off, and Rice and Martinelli, both subbed in later. The duo of Smith Rowe and Martin Ødegaard eventually overpowered the beleaguered Luton.

Next up on on the Gunners absurdly crowded April dance card is Brighton. Arsenal beat them back in December at the Emirates, but the Seagulls are always tougher at home. Liverpool are back in first with a win over Sheffield yesterday, so if Arsenal are to keep pace, they must take care of business.

Last weekend, Maggie’s was insanely packed. Possibly the largest crowd we’ve ever had. Here’s hoping we see some of you again tomorrow!

See you all at the pub!

Best,

Mark

Here comes the flood

Sunday at Maggie’s was intense. Possibly more Gooners inside and outside the pub than ever before. The match was a gritty, grind it out draw, which under normal circumstances Gooners would be elated to come away with. But in a title race, where every point counts, it felt like a missed opportunity.

Now’s it’s April and here comes the flood. 8 matches this month, 9 if Arsenal manage to get past FC Bayern München in their Champions League quarter-final match-up. Everything to play for in the home stretch!

Beginning with today’s match against Luton Town. Kickoff is 11:30am.

Hope to see you all at the pub! Repeatedly in April!

Best,

Mark

Don’t bang the drum

As I obsess about Sunday’s match against Man City, the lyrics to the song, Don’t Bang the Drum by The Waterboys, popped into my head:

Well here we are in a special place
What are you gonna do here?
Now we stand in a special place
What will you do here?
What show of soul are we gonna get from you?
It could be deliverance, or history
Under these skies so blue

The narrator then expresses concern their subject will simply jump around, make a lot of noise, and bang the drum, like monkeys do. But he finishes by pleading, imploring, challenging them repeatedly, don’t bang the drum.

Sunday’s match against City is as big as they come. Despite numerous matches to follow, this one feels like it is for all the marble. The surrounding hype and hyperbole actually feels appropriate.

We need Arsenal to make a show of soul, give us deliverance, make history. Don’t bang the drum.

Regulars at Maggie’s know this match is particularly important to us, as we have to contend infrequently with a small contingent of Man City fans at the pub. They don’t often show up in large numbers, but rest assured they will be out in force for this one. The Patrick Dunphy memorial framed dollar bill hangs in the balance.

See you all at the pub!

Best,

Mark

The long and short of it

Arsenal sit top of the table as we endure another intolerable break in play due to FA Cup matches and needless international play giving Gooners plenty of time to cogitate about the road ahead.

The Gunners have just 10 league matches to play in the two or so months left of Premier League competition. Then there’s the small matter of a Champions League trophy which is just 5 positive results away.

Fitness-wise, Arsenal have some questions. Gabriel Martinelli remains our biggest worry as we’ve definitely missed his pace recently. Thomas Partey made a couple of brief substitution appearances against Sheffield and Brentford, so we should expect to see more of him soon. Anyone’s guess as to whether we’ll see Jurrien Timber this season.

By far our newest, most troubling concerns are that one of the other Gabriels (he of the sturdy defensive type) and Bukayo Saka, both withdrew from international duty with only vague news on the exact nature of the injuries.

Yet, I’m cautiously optimistic about our chances in the long run. Our next match is 3/31 against Man City, which it’s safe to say, is one of the most important matches of Arsenal’s season. We’ll look forward to seeing everyone there.

Best,

Mark

The revenge of Arsenal?

Arsenal sit top of the table by virtue of goal differential which is a great way to start the week. But there’s a small matter of payback to be meted out to FC Porto in the Champions League tomorrow.

The first leg was a lackluster, foul rampant affair with the home side throwing themselves earthward with the slightest breeze. Arsenal were far from sharp and got punished in stoppage time for carelessly giving away the ball, as Porto snatched a winner.

Now it’s up to the Gunners to exact their revenge. Arsenal weren’t their sharpest over the weekend but still managed to get the result. But the rabid crowd at the Emirates will be clamoring for Arsenal to batter the Portuguese side.

I know weekday games are a tough ask, but I look forward to seeing some of you at Maggie’s tomorrow. Note: because of the time change, the match is at 1pm, an hour later that previously posted.

Best,

Mark