THE KEY message for Arsenal today is a simple one: Don’t be beaten!
If Mikel Arteta’s boys win against Manchester City, they will be Prem title favourites in many people’s books.
But after three points at Tottenham and a point against Atalanta, a draw would make it a great week.
I know some people say the Gunners not going for the jugular at the Etihad last season cost them the title as they fell two points short.
But I still feel it was the defeat by Aston Villa a couple of weeks later that really did the damage.
No one would be complaining about that draw at City had they put away their first-half chances against Villa.
If Arsenal lose, a five-point gap will open up, though that’s not impossible to close — there will be plenty of time.
But this is a massive game.
It’s a huge blow for Arsenal to lose Martin Odegaard. He unlocks doors and can play killer passes.
It looks like Kevin De Bruyne is out, too, but City have more strength in depth. Whoever comes in will be a world-class player — I’m not so sure Arsenal will cope as well in the absence of the brilliant Norwegian.
Let’s face it, KDB was missing for half of last season yet City still ended up as champions!
Inter Milan did a good job against them in the Champions League this week — they were hard to break down.
Maybe Arteta will try to do the same and hit City on the break.
Arsenal’s defence looks strong, especially centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. But it’s a bit early to compare them to Tony Adams, Steve Bould and other great Arsenal defenders of the past. They haven’t won a league title.
And not forgetting Martin Keown as well, George Graham had great options.
Adams was an unbelievable leader and talker. They don’t make ’em like him and John Terry any more. Two of the great talkers and leaders.
Haaland is a machine and scoring goals for fun again — but there was a bit of edge between him and Gabriel last time. That could kick off again.
I first saw Tony play, aged 14, at West Ham’s training ground.
He bossed his team-mates around all the time: “Come in here, push in there.”
I thought, “Who’s this kid?”. He was such a captain, such a leader.
I’d put Terry in the same category, a real warrior centre-half who led his team to major trophies.
The question today is, can the two Arsenal centre-backs cope with Erling Haaland, like they did last season?
Haaland is a machine and scoring goals for fun again — but there was a bit of edge between him and Gabriel last time. That could kick off again.
Regardless, it would be good to see a better game than last time, which was a bit of a bore — ending 0-0.
Let’s hope it lives up to its star billing — even though I’m predicting a 1-1 draw. But Arteta would be delighted with that.
RAYA REMINDED ME OF JAMO
DAVID RAYA’S double save against Atalanta was brilliant.
It was key in that Champions League clash on Thursday and Arsenal have a star in Raya.
Many say Gordon Banks denying Pele’s header at the 1970 World Cup is the greatest stop of all time but for me it is David James for my Portsmouth at Preston in the FA Cup fifth round in 2008.
Jamo pulled off a miracle save to stop a penalty and made two other key saves before we won 1-0 with a late goal before going on to win the famous old trophy.
CLOUGHIE MY HAIRO
IT’S hard to believe it’s 20 years since Brian Clough died.
He was just amazing. To win two European Cups with Forest is beyond belief.
You could sit and listen to stories about Cloughie all night — and I heard a new one the other night from my old mate Kevin Bond.
Cloughie came in for Kevin when he was at Manchester City and the clubs agreed a fee.
Kevin drove to Nottingham to do the deal, only to be told by the secretary: “Mr Clough is in his office, he’ll be out shortly.”
Kev sat outside for a good hour before Cloughie appeared and barked: “First thing you need to do, young man, is get your bloody hair cut.”
And then he walked off.
Two hours later, Kevin was still there waiting, but Clough never returned.
So Kevin drove back to Manchester and that was that!
ROD COULD STRIKE OUT
RODRI says players are close to going on strike.
But that would be a disastrous move as it’d send an awful message to fans who pay their wages.
Stars should be talking to clubs, who could cut back on pre-season tours for a start.
But it’s all about money as flying off to the USA, Australia and China is the worst preparation for a season.
We’d go to Devon to play the likes of Plymouth, Exeter and Torquay so — make no mistake — it’s clubs putting the strain on the players.
