No Arsenal today

Morning all, I hope you had a lovely day yesterday whatever you got up to.

It’s going to be a very quiet one today, because the fixture list means we don’t play until Thursday (today is Tuesday in case you’ve lost track). I went back to have a look, and the last time we didn’t play on December 26th was in 2017. That game was against another London club after our previous game was a draw against Liverpool.

Back then it was a 3-3 at the Emirates against the Mugsmashers, before we beat Crystal Palace 3-2 at Selhurst Park thanks to two goals from Alexis Sanchez and one from Shkodran Mustafi. Mustafi (31) is currently ‘without club’, Sanchez (35) has scored twice for Inter Milan this season – both in the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta doesn’t meet the press until tomorrow afternoon, so we’ll know a bit more about any injuries or potential comebacks for our game against West Ham. So, given the time of year, I’m going to leave it there for now. We will have a preview podcast for you on Patreon at some point tomorrow afternoon.

For now, there are probably still some biscuits or chocolates that need to be eaten, so I don’t want to keep you from that. And, of course, there is football on today. In the games I care about, let’s have a solid win for Nottingham Forest over Newcastle, a confident Burnley taking a point at home against Liverpool, and mayhem later at Old Trafford when Emi Martinez baits Antony in an act of ultra-violence that sparks a 22 man brawl and sees Unai Emery kick Erik Ten Hag in the nuts. The Christmas gift we can all enjoy.

Till tomorrow.