Good morning.

First up, congrats to Arsenal Girls who demolished Hacken 4-0 final evening within the second leg of the Champions League qualifier. Having misplaced the primary leg 1-0, there was some actual strain going into this one, however the group got here up with the products and go into the draw which takes place at midday at this time. You’ll be able to see the objectives within the match report, and browse Jonas Eidevall’s response over on Arseblog Information.

Right now, Mikel Arteta will meet the press forward of our recreation towards Leicester tomorrow, and I actually hope there aren’t extra questions in regards to the ‘darkish arts’. As I stated earlier within the week, we should always take it as a form of praise that persons are making such a fuss out of it, but it surely’s all very boring now. Certain, make it your speaking level after an enormous recreation with Man Metropolis so you possibly can wring each click on out of it together with your engagement-bait protection, however can we come again all the way down to earth now please?

Each group does it, each supervisor does it, each participant does it. Making an attempt to gaslight individuals into considering that is one thing distinctive to Arsenal is each tedious and patronising. Everybody is aware of higher. There have been plenty of individuals in glass homes this week throwing plenty of stones. The absurdity of some ex-pros sticking the knife into our second half show on Sunday when you think about a number of the stuff they acquired as much as of their taking part in days is off the charts.

I really suppose it’s one thing Mikel Arteta will quietly take pleasure in as a approach of additional fostering an ‘us towards them’ mentality inside his squad. He’s a person who retains receipts, as we all know. Ivan Toney’s ‘good kick about with the boys’ Tweet festered with him till we subsequent performed Brentford, at which level he used as motivation for his group. I’m positive there are numerous different examples which have by no means been made public, and this might properly be one in every of them.

He would possibly fear about how these things being relentlessly regurgitated within the media means we play underneath a form of highlight which isn’t all the time useful, however these things tends to fade away as soon as there’s one thing else for them to get their enamel into. Additionally, it’s onerous to not suppose quite a lot of that is linked to the schedule. Three actually powerful away video games in per week, and by the top of the final one we had been digging in with 10 males towards one in every of most troublesome sides to play towards in world soccer, attempting to carry them out with all the things we had left within the tank. Each group would have carried out precisely the identical as we did.

I think the supervisor might be hoping {that a} comparatively kinder schedule within the weeks forward will enable us to simply play video games, rating objectives, and take factors, with out all of the fuss. Which is to take nothing without any consideration, however some intervals of the season are harder than others, and we’ve come by way of a very difficult one. We’ve got three dwelling video games earlier than the following Interlull, two within the Premier League (Leicester and Southampton) and one within the Champions League (PSG). Domestically, at the very least, it’s a must to suppose these are very winnable fixtures, and whereas PSG will definitely be a problem, that dwelling benefit might be crucial on an enormous European evening.

I’m additionally positive {that a} matter of dialog on the coaching floor this week might be about self-discipline. I don’t have to say once more how ridiculous I believe it’s that Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard have been despatched off and suspended for one thing as trivial as ‘delaying the restart’, however Arteta might be ensuring his gamers perceive they’ll’t give referees even a sniff of an opportunity to do what they appear to like doing most – making themselves the centre of consideration. To this point this season there have been 263 yellow playing cards and 6 purple playing cards within the opening 5 video games. I don’t know the way that stacks up towards final season, or earlier seasons, but it surely looks like quite a bit, and all we will management is what we do – which is a message I believe Arteta might be eager to impress upon his gamers.

For some additional studying this morning, Tim’s column takes a take a look at how Arteta would possibly tweak issues now that the three powerful away video games are carried out. There’s a brand new Arsecast for you under, chatting in regards to the Bolton win in case you haven’t had an opportunity to hear already, and you may be a part of us a bit later on Patreon as we look forward to Leicester tomorrow.

Bye for now.