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ARSENAL STARTING XI

• GK Raya
• RB Timber
• CB Saliba
• CB Mosquera
• LB Lewis-Skelly
• CM Zubimendi
• CM Rice
• CM Eze
• RW Saka
• ST Merino
• LW Trossard

Looks like a solid enough lineup to me as we are set to face off against former Gunners Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry. Kane was a youth in the Arsenal once upon a time and Gnabry was on the squad as a late teen. Both are dangerous on the attack for Bayern. We need to score in this game because we are most likely going to concede. Kane versus 21 year old Mosquera might be the vulnerability.

I’ll take ARSENAL to hold serve at home and win 3-2. COYG!

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The game kicks in about fifty minutes on this Thanksgiving week.

Luis Diaz is notably missing this game and the two following due to a red card in the most recent match.

Kane is in great form at the moment, and Arsenal is yet to concede a goal in Champions League. Something has to give.

The Emirates is loud and proud; the rain is starting to drizzle. It’s nighttime midweek football in North London. I’m here for it.

The 17 year old Lennart Karl is starting his 6th game for Bayern. He’s quite the upcoming star and says he idolizes Lionel Messi. We’ll see what kind of chops he has during a game of this magnitude.

GAME ON…

–20th Minute. Bayern has a corner. Bayern Winger Michael Olise is dominating Lewis-Skelly at the moment. We are showing definite vulnerability on the left side. Trossard tracking back to help defend. 0-0. Both teams have had moments but zero shots close to goal.

• GOAL!! 22nd Minute. It’s Timber from a corner off Saka’s perfect boot. Manuel Neuer flailed for a phantom foul call and Timber drilled it home with his head. 1-0 ARS

–23rd Minute. Yellow Card Upamecano with a hard message sending tackle on the young Mosquera.

• Goal. Bayern. 32nd Minute. It’s the young star Karl with his 4th goal of the season. Skelly and Mosquera were both vulnerable. Skelly on Gnabry cross and Mosquera on the finish. Both players left far too much space to the opposition. Three elite touches broke us down from midfield. It was beautiful but it was against. us. 1-1.

–37th Minute. Trossard off and Madueke on. The Belgian appears to have a calf or a quad injury.

–43rd Minute. Yellow Card Bayern. Laimer for dragging down Saka who was away on the break.

HALF. 1-1.

Even game, even result. The Laimer Yellow Card could help free up Saka.

SECOND HALF

–68th Minute. Saka and Skelly off. Martinelli and Calafiori on.

• GOAL! 2-1 ARS. It’s Madueke off a Calafiori cross. Madueke taps it in with confidence from the right hand side of the box. COYG!

It’s been lively, it’s been even, it’s been chaotic, it’s been wild, it’s been–fun. It’s easier to say now that there is a lead, but this game has been nothing if not entertaining. I expect more goals.

• GOAL!!!! MARTINELLI!!! Eze released him with a smooth lofted pass. Manuel Neuer was at midfield and helplessly watched on as the Brazilian sprinted past him all by himself on goal. Beautiful pass by Eze, beautiful run by Martinelli, Befuddled was Neuer. Sat on his bum and watched the game. It’s 3-1 ARS. It’s nothing if not entertaining.

Manuel Neuer was a legend when he was at his best. I was a fan of his way back in his Shalke 04 days, but he has been miles off his best in this one. To Arsenals benefit.

–80th Minute Merino Yellow Card

–80th minute SUBS White and Odegaard on. Eze and Timber Off.

Odegaard back for the first time since being out injured October the 4th.

–81st minute. Bayern makes three subs. Karl off. The 17 year old looked outstanding at times. Full of confidence and ability. During his best moments, he reminded me of the Spaniard Iniesta.

–“Harry what’s the score? Harry what’s the score?” Singing around the Emirates at the former Tottenham Hotspur standout.

Merino has put in quite a shift tonight. I like him any time he’s up top. He knows how to track back and set up teammates. Tonight, he has been all over and impacted many things. Zubimendi and Rice are the same. Arsenal doing their best to clamp this game shut. 88th Minute. 3-1 ARS.

–Liverpool losing 4-1 at home to PSV.

The next Arsenal Champions League game has them travelling to Brugge to take on the Belgian side in December. That will be a fun game for “live thoughts.” Maybe I’ll watch “En Brugge” before then as Source material. It’s a slow crawl to the finish. Neither team threatening. Arsenal in control. 91st minute

–Raya had a sleepy game. The goal was unsavable. Timber was elite. Saliba and Mosquera did enough. Skelly survived Olise. Calafiori came on and did great things. Zubimendi and Rice held down the midfield. Eze looked brilliant and held up to the physicality. Saka was the best man on the pitch. Merino worked hard. Martinelli and Madueke didn’t miss their moments. This entire team stood tall today and BEAT Bayern Munich.

3-1 to the Arsenal! I said 3-2 but 3-1 is far better!

What a season this has been for us Gooners. Let’s ride this positivity straight into Stanford Bridge and beat Chelsea on Sunday.

See you there!

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.