North London is red.

Since 2010, my allegiance has been to the Gunners of Arsenal. I was an English Premier League virgin and felt the need to pick a team. Arsenal played Blackpool that very weekend and dominated. They looked like the greatest team ever assembled. Back then, it was Robin van Persie, Cesc, Samir Nasri, Alex Song, and Wojech Szczesny. Andrei Arshavin, I can hear the Emirates now “He’s five foot four, he’s five foot four. We’ve got Arshavin, fuck Adebayor!” Oh, the passion that comes in full voice of a premier league stadium. Any of them. On tv that is…never actually been to a game oversees. Saw Chelsea play the MLS all stars in Philly back in 2012. David Beckam ran the wing just below my front row seat. Amazing memory. Learn to appreciate the sidetracks.

Who else was on that team? Theo, Vermalen, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, the big dane Bendtner, Czech magician Rosicky and the list could go on…I fell in love with all of these players for different reason throughout the years, and few left a bad taste in my mouth as they left. All is forgiven now.

But in 2024, August 28, 2024, the runners up from the 2023/2024 season are looking more steady than last year. Martinelli, Trossard, and Saka on the wing. Odegaard and Havertz somewhere in between. Declan Rice holds things steady, and Saliba in the rear. David Raya is in goal and Gabrial is lurking near. Timber damn sure better be at left back and Zinchenko better been sitting on a sack. Apparently, this has become the rhyming portion. I try not to filter myself. If I type it. I keep it. Enjoy.

Ben White, Thomas Partey, Gabby Jesus (when healthy) and Jorginho all play critical roles at different times. Newcomers Calafiori and Mikel Merino look to be strong stable additions to an already strong, stable, and randomly tall Arsenal side. (Average height is 6’ 2”) Mikel Arteta, our fearless Spanish leader is keen, confident, full of passion, and desire. Sometimes, I disagree with his tactics, but I try to sit back and trust his expertise. Except when he starts Zinchenko at left back. He’s not a left back. Not a good one anyways. I try not to blame the fiery Ukrainian because he plays hard and his passion is obvious, but he is out of position at left back. Absolute, stone cold, defensive liability at left back. Now that Timber is healthy, hopefully those days are behind us. Timber is a dog. Speed, power, instincts, positioning, IQ, he’s got it all.

I have a better read on Arsenal and the premier league in general than I do college football or the NFL right now. I truly enjoy watching a soccer match. Especially, a high caliber European or south American one. The free flowing game is a beautiful thing to watch. Not every game of course. Just like any sport, sometimes there are great games and sometimes there are absolute stinkers but watching two well coached talented teams knock the ball around for 90 minutes is a fantastic viewing experience. Hopefully, this Saturday at 7:30AM est it’ll be a great game and an Arsenal win as they take on Brighton. I’ll be awake at 4:00am MST to catch the pregame talks and lineup announcements while my dog drags my half sleeping ass around the neighborhood block. Old girl still has her morning energy. Maybe listen to a few minutes of the confidently quippy Mark Goldbridge before settling into my bar top stool with my double americano hand ready to root on the gunners.

Two massive games upcoming after this early blue bird game against the Seagulls. Dirty rotten Tottenham (in good fun) and Manchester City both away. Those are stresses for a different day and a different week, but the stage is set for a tough month of games.

I can’t predict the future. I don’t know what injuries may take place or any other type of setback that may happen, so I won’t be silly and guarantee a trophy this year. But I will guarantee this—As long as David Raya is in goal, Ben White and Timber are the fullbacks, Saliba and Gabriel are in the center, Declan, Partey, Odegaard in midfield, and Saka, Trossard, and Havertz on the attack, this team will compete, contend for every ball, complete a high rate of passes, and concede very few goals. This starting 11 and 3-4 subs on the bench are the most complete Arsenal team since I think my first year of being a fan. If there is a group that can climb that mountaintop and plant their flag as premier league champions, its this one.

I’m realistic. I don’t want to be, but let’s face it, Man City are still the same exact same precision quality premier team of the premier league. Pep is winner. Liverpool is talented, Chelsea has more than a handful of potential stars, Manchester United is performing poor for their standards but vintage quality (which they have) always counts for something in big games. Tottenham will be a challenge, Newcastle away is always tough. And someone is bound to ‘nick ya when ya aint lookin’ (Lee Judges accent) such as Forest away or Brentford if Toney gets a random hat trick. Point is games will be lost sometimes. I know that, you know that, Arteta knows that…I don’t think anyone has told Pep, but maybe even he knows Man City is allowed to lose sometimes. Even though, they rarely do. It’s a hard thing to do, win a championship. Well, for anyone but Man City, at least recently that is.

Wrapping this up now. Almost midnight in my freezing cold basement. Long premier league season is in store. Concludes in May. I’ll be watching every Arsenal premier league game this season and maybe will post some thoughts here. Until then, COYG!

North London is Red

Whit. W