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“You have made the fan of Ram happy David Hopkins says, referring to the 2-1 win over Arsenal just before they were crowned champions in 1989. “As a footnote, Derby actually did a double on the Gunners that season. I was behind the goal when Phil Gee won with a proper screamer.”
That Phil Gee Target is a Belter. It’s on my (very) long list of goals if I ever tackle a sports history website.
It’s a huge blow for Arsenal, exacerbated by an injury to Takahiro Tomiyasu, which means they can’t move Ben White at right-back.
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Arsenal could go seven points clear tonight, which is a bit hard to reconcile with the mood after last weekend’s draw at West Ham. The precedent of 1988–89 should provide little comfort to Arsenal fans: a young, vibrant side led the table for much of the season, before being slowly, ruthlessly, reeled from the heart by the serial champions. Earlier
And then came one of the biggest turning points in football history, the kind that no one on this planet saw coming. None other than George Graham.
Two changes for Arsenal from the West Ham game. oleksandr zinchenko returns at left back in place of Kieran Tierney, and Fabio Vieira Unhealthy granite is meant for peeping.
Ruben Seles made three changes to the Southampton team that lost at Crystal Palace last weekend. Romain Peraud, mohammed alonousi And adam armstrong Ainsley is in for Maitland-Niles, who is ineligible against his parent club Kamaldin Suleiman and Joe Erribo.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3) Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Party; Odegaard, Vieira; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Subs: Turner, Tierney, Kevork, Walters, Smith Rowe, Jorginho, Nketiah, Trossard, Nelson.
Southampton (4-2-3-1) Bajunu; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Peraud; Ward-Prowse, Lavia; Walcott, Alcaraz, Elyounassi; A Armstrong.
Subs: McCarthy, Aribo, Lianco, Caleta-Carr, S Armstrong, Sulaiman, Diallo, Orsik, Onuachu.
punch Simon Hooper.
Updated at 14.19 EDT
Losing a superstar to an ACL injury can be considered unfortunate. Football’s suggestion to lose three, no matter Arsenal, does some urgent research.
look outside!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Arsenal v Southampton in the Emirates. After a disastrous run of two games without a single win, Arsenal will be hoping for a good tune-up battle ahead of next Wednesday’s potential title clash in Manchester.
I hate to say this is a must win game for Arsenal, because Derby and Wimbledon in May 1989 Should have won and see how it happened, but it sure did feels that way. Arsenal need a strong win to change the mood ahead of the club’s biggest game in 17 years. If they fail to win tonight, the noise and/or fatalism could be intolerable.
Southampton should be an easy mark although you can never be absolutely sure in this league of ours. He has taken three of the top five finishes this season, including a 1–1 draw against Arsenal in the return game at St Mary’s. But they are four points from safety as time runs out, and odds of 12/1 in a two-horse race tell a story. If Southampton is going to make a big getaway, this would be the perfect time – and place – to start.
launch 8 p.m.
Updated at 13.58 EDT