A frustrating way to finish 2022, but that shouldn’t take away from the overall picture and a year that has completely transformed our football club and put us right back where we belong.

I thought we had more than enough chances to win the game on Saturday and were at no point in any real danger of losing the game. An off day in front of goal, like the ones at home against Palace and Bournemouth earlier in the season costing us the win. If that is our ‘off-day’ then I will probably take that. We aren’t losing games or conceding goals. You could see the frustration of the players towards the end who no doubt also thought this was two points dropped.

With City, Spurs and Liverpool also dropping points around us over the last few days it hasn’t done too much damage going into this evening. Unfortunately, the one team that didn’t drop points were our opponents tonight, Arsenal. They again looked impressive in a rather entertaining 4-2 win over Brighton. After Jesus’ injury at the world cup it was going to be interesting to see how they coped without him but seem to have carried on where they left off with Nketiah and Saka in particular looking a real threat every time they get the ball. ‘Odegaard seems to be the one making them tick in the middle and how we cope with him tonight will I think dictate how the game ultimately goes. Arenal don’t’ concede many but Brighton were unlucky not to get a third towards the end and they can be got at. Not that I need to tell you this mind, as we all saw this in action at St James’ Park in April, when we completely dominated them in every department ‘ will this still be on their mind?

Make no mistake, this is a massive game tonight, and we will need everyone to be on top form. We have an absolutely rotten record at the Emirates, losing our last 11 games here (often going large periods without the ball’) and have to go back to an Andy Carrol looping header in 2010 for the last time we came away with three points. I’d even go as far to say it is the first time since then we’ve arrived with a real chance of getting something. Having gone the festive period without conceding we now comfortably have the best defence in the league (having conceded three fewer than Arsenal), have players with Champions League experience and a manger who won’t be fazed by the task ahead this evening or come here trying to do anything other than play football and get on the front foot. I think Wilson should come back into the side but again unlikely to see any more changes again to what is clearly the managers strongest side.

On the actual away day itself ‘ it’s a rather short trip from where I now reside in South London, so have a . I detest the stadium itself; I find a lot of the newer ones soulless and not a massive fan of hoe the way the away end is set up in the corner. There are a lot of cracking pubs around that part of the world but unfortunately, they are unsurprisingly filled with gooners (usually moaning, always insufferable’). The Dolphin just across the road from Kings Cross will have a collection of London based toon fans drinking before and after the game for those lucky enough to catch a rare train down or failing that the pubs around Angel Tube station (upper street) are a decent shout with plenty of choice and then a 20/25 mins walk up to the ground. And should be devoid of too many of the opposition fans.

This is by far our toughest test so far this season and I think we have a genuine chance of getting something from this game ‘ most likely a draw but a win wouldn’t be as shocking as some will paint it post-match should it happen. I think all the pressure is on Arsenal who go into a 6 week period of tough games that will define their season, and won’t want to have that momentum disrupted against a top four rival, which we very much are. I’d love to see us get at them from the off and score an early goal, but whatever happens lets just enjoy the ride and being involved in these massive games again’

HOWAY!!

Sean Orrick