Arsenal Women vs. Chelsea Women:

If you consider yourself a Gooner, you cannot afford to miss this massive WSL London derby at 12.30 on Sunday. That game has a lot on the line. No team heading into that match will want to lose because a loss could cost either club a league title shot. With the WSL title race being so tight, 3 points can deprive us a league title win.

Arsenal will be hoping that they do not lose to Chelsea, as they did not lose already this season to the other two title challengers, Manchester City, whom they defeated 1-0, and Manchester United, whom they drew 2-2.

So, what is Arsenal’s plan against Chelsea? In his pre-game press conference, Arsenal’s women’s boss, Jonas Eidevall, stated that he and his team will only focus on putting on a solid performance on Sunday. He believes that if they improve their performance, play good football, and work effectively as a team, getting the win will be simple.

Eidevall said: “Always, what you need to focus on in a football match is the performance. The performance will sort of equal into the result, but our full focus needs to be on the performance. It can never be on what it would mean to win or what it would not mean to win.

Man City could have signed Declan Rice in the summer, but they didn’t, as Arsenal outbid them. Rice has turned out to be a fantastic signing for Arsenal; he might well end up being their best signing yet during Mikel Arteta’s reign. It is worth noting that he didn’t need time to adjust, and he didn’t struggle to provide what Arsenal’s midfield needed. He single-handedly elevated Arsenal’s midfield to world-class status.

Arteta bought him to add stability to his engine room, and he bought him to put an end to their defensive troubles in his midfield when Thomas Partey is unavailable. That said, other than as a No. 6, the ex-Hammer has also played as a box-to-box midfielder as well as a defensive midfielder. He has also scored goals, including a critical goal against Manchester United that helped Arsenal win 3-1, and he was the hero of the day on Tuesday night, scoring in the 7th minute of injury time to help Arsenal overcome Luton 4-3.

I have been going through different reviews of Rice’s impact at Arsenal, and journalist James McNicholus’ comments on Arsenal’s No. 41 have piqued my interest. While reminiscing about Rice’s influence at Arsenal, he boldly claims that Rice is the reason Arsenal is competing for the PL crown with Manchester City.

In addition to the journalist, former Premier League coach Sam Allardyce weighed in on Rice at Arsenal. He hinted at how well placed Arsenal are to fight for the title, saying on the No Tippy Tappy podcast, “They have one man who will make a huge difference in Declan Rice. A massive, massive player, so they are better prepared, and then it’s strength and depth in squad, they still have a lot of youngsters who make a contribution to their squad.”

Declan Rice has been a true game-changer for Arsenal. We can’t help but be impressed by him every time we see him in Arsenal’s colours. Without disrespect to West Ham, he simply needed a greater platform (no disrespect to West Ham) to show what a quality midfielder he is.

Arsenal have had a fantastic week, with their lead at the top of the league table becoming stronger with each win and their main title challengers dropping points.

The goal for December should have been to keep winning, and after two games, they’ve done just that, and they can make it three in a row versus Villa.

If the wins keep coming, Arsenal will be in the strongest position to go and claim the Premier League title. Nonetheless, two factors may imperil this. These two things are David Raya’s continuous errors and their reliance on last-minute goals.

Raya almost cost Arsenal three points against Luton Town, a team they should have comfortably beaten. He gave up two silly goals that he should have avoided. His mistakes against Luton are only a few of the many that the Spaniard makes. With the Bees, he appeared to be the real deal — a goalkeeper in command of his territory — but watching him at Arsenal, he appears unstable and a weak link in Arsenal’s formidable defense.

It would be intriguing to see if Arteta sticks with Raya in goal against Villa. But if he does, I feel it will be his last opportunity to prove his case. That said, Arsenal almost won the league with Ramsdale in goal, and Arteta may need to consider playing him if his summer signing continues to struggle.

Arsenal need to beat Aston Villa today to regain the top spot from Liverpool and this is the team that Mikel Arteta has selected to achieve that.

𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎

One change from last time out – Zinchenko replaces Kiwior

Let's do this, Gunners pic.twitter.com/gsjtXFGBj2

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 9, 2023

COYG!

Michelle Maxwell

Follow JustArsenal’s Gooner Women on Just Gooner Women on Twitter for regular updates on the Arsenal Womens Team!

Do you want to read more about the Arsenal Women’s Team? Click here….

The post Let’s all make some noise for Arsenal Women at Emirates – Are you going to be singing, Gooners? appeared first on Just Arsenal News.

Aston Villa downed a second top Premier League club in four days as they defeated Arsenal this evening.

It was a game Arsenal knew would be tough after seeing Villa defeat Manchester City to win 14 consecutive home matches.

The question on everyone’s mind before the game was, will Arsenal allow them to make it 15?

Unai Emery’s men were good value for money and fought hard as they chased down every ball and flew into tackles at the slightest invite.

It was a performance that Arsenal struggled against even though the scoreline was just 1-0.

Piers Morgan has responded to Arsenal’s loss to Aston Villa in the Premier League this evening, emphasising the team’s need for a striker after witnessing Villa claim all three points.

As one of Arsenal’s most prominent fans and an English TV host, Morgan expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s performance in the game. Despite being aware of the formidable challenge Villa posed, Arsenal struggled to provide effective responses.

The Gunners possessed the ball for a considerable duration of the match, but Villa’s physical play proved challenging to overcome. Arsenal failed to capitalise on the few chances they created, ultimately resulting in their defeat. Morgan’s commentary underscores the urgency for Arsenal to address their striking options to enhance their overall performance.

Morgan was frustrated by the outcome of the game and tweeted:

“Arsenal were done in by VAR (as usual), but we were bullied off the ball all game, and we still desperately need a proper striker.”

Arsenal correspondent Charles Watts has bemoaned the chances the Gunners missed in their loss to Aston Villa this evening.

They were not effective enough in a game that required them to take every half-chance they got because of how stingy the opponents were.

Unai Emery has drilled Villa to become one of the hardest clubs to face in the Premier League and they showed Arsenal who they have become.

John McGuin’s early goal made the difference, but the Gunners had plenty of time on their hands to score. They created some chances but never took them.

In the end, Villa won, though were fortunate to do so, but Arsenal must do better. After the fixture, Watts tweeted:

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard maintains that his team did not deserve to lose to Aston Villa this evening. Despite falling victim to Villa’s impressive home form, Odegaard believes the Gunners outplayed their opponents in a closely contested game.

While Villa was physically present throughout the match, they did not create many clear-cut chances. Arsenal, on the other hand, had numerous opportunities but failed to capitalise, leading to their second defeat of the season.

Despite the outcome, Odegaard remains convinced that Arsenal was the superior team in the game and did not deserve to lose.

The midfielder said, as quoted by the BBC:

“In front of the goal we had enough chances to win the game. I felt they didn’t create anything apart from the goal. It happens sometimes.

December is upon us! And what can be more festive than a snowball fight between Aberdeen fans and Helsinki’s goalkeeper in the Europa Conference League?

Luke is back in the studio and joins Marcus, Vish and Jim to hear an update from Head Foreman Steve McManaman on the Anfield stadium extension, ponder on just how many Newcastle United players Erik Ten Hag will embrace after defeat this weekend, and discuss whether Angeball can stand up to Pep’s Man City.

Plus, can Vish keep his lineal belt after last week’s controversy? Listen to find out!

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We’re finally back in the warm, comforting arms of our benign Premier League overlords. And do you know what that means? Protest planes.

Pete, Vish, Andy and Jim discuss how Everton fans should make their protest heard, what it would be like to have your head in Jurgen Klopp’s armpit, and unconfirmed reports that Erling Haaland has a Viking longboat on its way to Liverpool full of special super fish. Plus, can Horsham default their way to the FA Cup final? Up the Lard Army!

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Been wondering what you’re missing out on over on the Football Ramble Patreon? Well, here’s a taste…

Every single Wednesday, we serve up our Friends of the Ramble with ‘Ramble Uncut’ – an extended edition of the show where we let you in behind the curtain for our unfiltered ramblings about football, life, and Alan Pardew’s presumably sickening taste in interior design.

Today, you’ll hear some of our favourite moments so far this season - from Pete’s latest baffling investment, to the time Andy was chased by a horse off the pitch at Plough Lane, and (drum roll, please) our updated takes on the Premier League’s hardest manager.

For more, head to patreon.com/footballramble! You’ll get weekly editions of Ramble Uncut and ad-free shows from the Ramble, On The Continent AND Upfront for just $5 per month. Don’t miss it!

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We witnessed one of the greatest ever Premier League goals on Sunday, but there are more urgent matters to attend to on today’s show. Like… is Sean Dyche actually bald?

Marcus, Vish, Jim and Pete guide you through a chaotic Premier League weekend! We argue that Lewis Miley looks like a stretched out Furby, Steve Bull should be given an unlimited number of dogs by Wolverhampton City Council, and why Pete should definitely be allowed to launch a new German techno club in Motherwell. Come join us! On the podcast of course, not the nightclub.

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Newcastle were on the end of a stinking decision last night. Predictably, Pete seems the least outraged by the whole incident - but Marcus and Vish are angry about it, particularly because it robbed Nick Pope of his clean sheet bonus. Maybe not quite as angry as the Newcastle fan that had to turn on his Christmas lights to cheer himself up, mind...

Elsewhere, we ask if Man City fans would be happier if they gave every team a head start and Pete’s penned a power ballad for a very sad Gary O’Neil! Poor Gary.

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Welcome to hell? Lads, I’ve already been in it.

Those were the thoughts of a philosophical Vithushan Ehantharajah on tonight’s Ramble Reacts after Manchester United failed to beat the Hall of Fame of Your Favourite Players You Don’t Really Pay Attention To.

Vish and Marcus reflect on a dramatic and chaotic Champions League night in Istanbul, mainly thanks to the slippery hands of one man: André Onana. Plus, Mikel Arteta takes the handbrake off and leaves us thinking Arsenal are going to win the whole thing, while Sergio Ramos wins the lottery!

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Some of our favourite moments from last month on the show!

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England completed a statement 8-1 aggregate victory over North Macedonia. Marcus and Jim are on hand to send that message to the rest of Europe. They also remind us that there are no rebounds in a penalty shootout.

Once that’s out of the way, the lads discuss if these two poor performances will have any effect on England going forward and whether Rico Lewis can make the squad for the Euros. Plus, would Harry Kane go to Oktoberfest by himself?

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Is İlkay Gündoğan turning into the German Roy Keane? Can anyone stop Jim from turning into the God of Football? And will Kevin Keegan EVER stop hosting industry conferences? A listener has a fresh update for us...

Marcus, Jim, Andy and Vish are here to look back on the final round of Euro 2024 qualifiers, where Wales fell short of automatic qualification and now face the play-offs. We wonder whether people potentially have unreasonable expectations for this current Wales squad.

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Is there a feeling in England that supporters of English clubs from other countries “aren’t true fans”? What Premier League rule change would you like to implement? What’s the best stadium atmosphere you have experienced live?

Marcus, Luke, Jim and Vish are back answering your questions on today’s Mailbag, feat. some wonderfully heartwarming stories about how Premier League fan culture is thriving around the world. It really is great to see - just please DO NOT think about traveling to watch your team play at their stadium. Okay?

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Mikel Arteta will be expected to field his strongest available Arsenal lineup today at Brentford in order to ensure that they leave G-Tech Stadium with all three points. A win could help Arsenal in the title chase because either Manchester City or Liverpool (or both if they draw) could drop points when they meet at the Etihad.

That said, Aaron Ramsdale is a sure starter versus Brentford. David Raya is unable to play against his parent club, Brentford, due to Premier League rules. After not appearing in the Premier League since the September international break and only appearing twice in the Carabao Cup, the Englishman now has a chance to play in the league.

And as per Adrian Clarke, Aaron Ramsdale’s rare start could give him a chance to reclaim his starting spot in the Arsenal lineup. Clarke stated on the Hand Brake Off podcast, “I think it’s unlikely, but it’s not impossible.

“Just think I have to pull a blinder here and be exceptional. He must perform admirably in this match. If he performs well, it could work in his favor.

“I’ve seen careers turn before on one game; we all have, where players have an unbelievable game and the manager changes their mind on them. It can happen, and a lot of people will be hoping it happens this weekend with Aaron Ramsdale against Brentford.”