“North London Forever!”

• TOT at ARS

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The game itself kicks in about 90 minutes, but before we get to that–yesterday’s results in the Premier League were quite interesting as Man City, Liverpool, and Top4 Sunderland all lost. If Arsenal win today, they will enjoy a six point advantage in the standings.

The Top 7 in the PL right now:

1. Arsenal
2. Chelsea
3. Man City
4. Crystal Palace
5. Brighton
6. Sunderland
7. Bournemouth

Wild times in the Premier League. Arsenal just needs to win by at least one or three and move on to the next one. Easier said than done.

–A little scratchy in the throat after the late night with Washington in the oblong game last night. Hot drink to my left is soothing but not the nerves. The nerves in this game are real. It’s North London Derby Day! This is a fun game for a neutral and an intense game for fans of both teams. Tottenham will come in without much to lose.

“You can’t trust a man who has nothing to lose.” Or a football team with nothing to lose. A man or a team with nothing to lose should be considered dangerous. Dangerous leads to desperation. Desperation can lead to catastrophic results. Whether it be for a fictional crime family on TV or a visiting team on the football pitch, the lessons are the same.

After having a good start to the season, Tottenham are near desperate at this point to win again and Arsenal are the pristine league leaders. Spurs are begging for “alms for the poor” with a raggedy coat and a tin cup and the Gunners are feasting mightily. It’s one side flying high and the other feeling the weight of their wings.

Arsenal 3 or 4 to 1 is not out of the question and neither is a Spurs win. This is the NLD. If you know what will happen, then good for you lad because I don’t. Not in the slightest. I know what should happen and what I want to happen, but I have no idea what will happen in this one.

We’ll just have to wait and see. Lineups will be up shortly. Be back in a bit.

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It’s 36 and foggy here in Utah and 46 and cloudy in North London. A hot drink would suit ya for both conditions.

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ARSENAL XI

• GK Raya
• RB Timber
• CB Saliba
• CB Hicapie
• LB Calafiori
• CM Zubimendi
• CM Rice
• CM Eze
• RW Saka
• ST Merino
• LW Trossard

Looks like a winning starting eleven if you ask me. The 23 year old Hincapie is in for the injured Gabriel. He’ll need to keep his cool in a game like this.

Let’s score at least three and see what happens.

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Five minutes until the game kicks. COYG!

Michael Oliver is the referee. My days…Keep it fair ref. The teams are on the field as the pregame pageantries conclude. This is the 71st meeting between the two historic England clubs.

“It’s chilly day in England’s capital…The scene is beautifully set,” says the Peacock Commentator.

“NORTH LONDON FOREVER” being sung with the shouts of 50,000 in unison with scarves raised and badges proudly displayed. GAME ON…

–Arsenal in the home red and white and Tottenham in their home white and navy. Early chance for Declan on a clever pass from Eze. Early corner kick. Energy is high.

–Trossard down in the 11th minute…Madueke up and warming on the sideline. If he appears, this will be his first game back after being injured over a month. Trossard up and limping after the knee on shin contact. 0-0. Spurs midfield and forwards have a combined one-touch so far this game. It’s all Arsenal so far.

–18th minute. Saka went for goal on a free kick 22 yards out on the right side. Only a yard too high and out for a goal kick. Both teams exerting 100% for each ball. A couple of shins will be sore by now from the extra knocks. Thomas Frank will be pleased with the aggressive start from his side. The Gunners are paying for every ball won with a knock.

It’s the North London Derby. It’s going to get chippy….It already is. Calafiori getting in on the physicality by clattering into a Spurs defender. Ref says, “Play on.” It’s that kind of game.

–30th minute. Tottenham midfield looks lost. Declan Rice is dominating. Certainly, one of the best games I’ve seen him play this season and that’s saying something. He’s been strong as always.

–YELLOW CARD TOT Bentacour. Saka absolutely schooled two Spurs players and was away on goal when the visiting player pulled him back. Easy yellow card. Same free kick opportunity for Saka.

–Great shot! Great Save! The shot had venom and curl, and Keeper did well to parry it to safety. 34th Minute 0-0. It’s all Arsenal.

Saka limping just a bit. Hincapie has looked strong so far. Declan and Zubimendi are everywhere and winning every ball.

• Trossard GOAL!!! Merino with the superb pass and the Belgian finished it with the left foot after controlling the pass with the right. It was a perfect pivot as cool as you’d like. No panic, only purpose from the Left Winger. It’s 1-0 ARS in the NLD.

Let’s get another. The Emirates is demanding it. Arsenal threating again. What a goal!! A much-deserved goal…Saka down holding his left leg. Spurs are nicking him every chance they can.

• GOAL!!! Eze!!!! 2-0. 40th minute. The Gunners are ripping this team apart. I love having Eze on this team. A rocket to the left corner. Impossible to save.

We boast a wealth of elite players, and the former Crystal Palace captain is certainly part of the riches that spoil this team. The best Arenal team since I’ve been a fan. The Emirates rise in full voice. It’s all Arsenal and there is more to come. Spurs look ragged.

–It’s halftime. It’s 2-0. It’s all Arsenal. I love it. Bury them.

So far, Raya has looked good standing in the goal but hasn’t been needed for anything. The back four have been as brilliant as any back four has played for us this season with Hincapie fitting right in where Gabriel should be. Rice and Zubimendi are bossing the midfield. Eze running the show from the 10. Trossard making the runs and taking players on and Merino filling the role up top well. BUT, SAKA is the best player on the pitch.

The Arsenal Star Boy on the right has been brilliant. Truly brilliant. Spurs defenders are grabbing him, kicking him and doing everything they can to stop him but he’s relentless. AND–brilliant.

It’s been an amazing half for us! Look out Premier League. This team is just about as good as any I’ve ever seen.

“And it’s Arsenal/ Arsenal F.C./ We’re by far the greatest team/ The world has ever seen!” Sing with me lads and ladies. Sing loud and proud. We are Arsenal F.C. Come on you Gunners!!

SECOND HALF

• 46th Minute GOAL Eze!! As easy as you’d want it to be. Smooth, saucy, sexy. Eze and the Goal! It’s 3-0. It’s Eze. It’s easy.

He finishes with the left and right and sports a wry smile. He’s the Arsenal number 10 and is only going up. He just needed time to find his rhythm with his new team.. Spurs certainly have no way back at this point.

• Goal Spurs. Richarlison from midfield chips Raya who was miles away from goal. It’s 3-1 out of nowhere. 55th minute.

Raya was asleep 40 yards from goal and the Brazilian finished the goal calmly on a perfect strike that travelled half the length of the pitch before nestling into the back of the net. Rock steady lads.

–“Spurs showing a bit of personality…not accepting defeat.”- In-game Analyst

–We need to think about changes very soon. Bayern Munich come to town in three days and we will need this lineup to win. Thankfully, the Gunners have a bit of breathing room in Champions League at the moment and can afford to lose or draw, but that doesn’t mean that is what I want or expect.

That said, this is the team that may be needed to close out this current game. The youth on the bench has loads of talent but will be vulnerable in a game like this where both cleverness and graft are needed.

–Merino down holding his head..Christian Romero Yellow Card. He’ll miss the next match due to accruing too many yellow cards throughout the season. 70th minute. “Merino far from happy.”

–74th minute “A real lack of focus from Arsenal at the moment.” AND I’m on pins and needles now. TOT looking hungry for a second. If this goes to 3-2, I’ll be more than stressed. Same 11 on the field

• 76th Minute and it’s FOUR!! 4-1 ARS. Eze with a hat trick. When the chips seemed down #10 took the game over. Trossard set him up on the right foot and he drilled it into the right corner.

Back to relaxed. Back to confident. Big sigh of relief

–Trossard off for Madueke. 78th.

–EZE nearly a fourth! Just nicked away by the Keeper.

–Eze makes history: 1st hat trick in NLD since 1973. He looks perfect in red and white.

Credit Spurs for testing us for a bit. They won’t appreciate the moral victory, but I truly felt we were vulnerable for about ten minutes.

–I’d like to see about three subs at this point. Saka, Saliba, and Eze off would be my preference. 83rd minute.

• Yellow Card Declan Rice and TOT Pedro Porro. North London Derby type of stuff. Rock steady.

–SUBS 86th minute: Nwaneri on for Merino. Mosquera on for Hincapie.

-Arsenal with 26 touches inside the box of Tottenham. Spurs with only 4. Their goal came from out near White Hart Lane. Thankfully for them, Raya was on a break having a snootful at the pub. It’s 4-1. It’s back to easy. Chippy and easy.

–The Arsenal fans are singing with Glee with every pass completed. Joy all around to be shared.

–SUB Calafiori off, Lewis-Skelly on. Great game for the Italian.

“It just feels like the ball has been a magnet to the one wearing red in this game.”

–FINAL 4-1. What a game!

Eze led the Gunners, but each player was elite. Trossard, Timber, Eze, Saka, and Rice were the Stars. Eze is a Gunner for Life. Eze is real. Real as a donut. Arsenal are six points clear and the sky is the limit. What a game. What a team. What a start to the season.

–I mean, we have six, 6 key players injured right now, and we still have this sort of squad talent and are winning games. The players look full of joy and purpose. This team is full of life, full of ability and belief. Right now, there is not a team in Europe that would want to play this team in a ‘win or go home’ game.

The Gunners, at least for the time being are THE class of the Premier League and one of the brightest shining teams in all of Europe.

–It’s Bayern next. I’ll be back for it.

“I’m grateful..I’m grateful to God…I prayed for this…This was my prayer today–That’s called faith man.”- Eberechi Eze after the game

Until then,

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.