The Return of Absolute AFC

It’s been nearly 10 years since the final post of Absolute Arsenal, but if there’s ever been a season to justify bringing the blog back – it is certainly this one.

What’s changed since then? I got married, had a daughter and now work in football (soccer) here in New York City. I’m working to start the first professional football team in the history of Queens, NY – the most diverse place on the planet – so technically watching the beautiful game is now considered “work”. Ha.

At the time of writing, Arsenal are roughly 1 hour from kick off against Newcastle in what is sure to be a crucial match given 1) the fact Newcastle sit 3rd in the table and 2) we have an opportunity to go 10 points clear of Manchester City in 1st place in the table. Newcastle are the top defense in the league at the moment, having allowed the fewest goals against in the Prem. There’s no doubt they are going to be a huge threat in the years to come thanks to their recent ownership change, so to see what Eddie Howe has already done is likely only scratching the surface.

I expect Arsenal to continue with the same lineup from the weekend victory against Brighton. Perhaps Tierney could come back in for Zinchenko depending on how Arteta plans to manage his fitness. There’s no doubt Zinchenko is his preference given the role the left back plays in the system, but it’s understandable if he doesn’t think 2 matches in quick succession is something he is ready for. Not to mention Tierney isn’t exactly a downgrade, so either way I’m not worried. The other element to look out for is if there’s a place on the bench for Emile Smith Rowe, who has been pictured back in training. A 20 minute cameo would be a huge boost, as there’s no doubt our attacking depth is not where it needs to be currently. The winter World Cup in Qatar was a huge worry regarding the team’s momentum from the first portion of the season, but it seems like those fears have been alleviated quickly from a form perspective. As for how any longer term muscular injuries come into play, we’ll certainly see in the weeks and months to come.

If rumors are true, it seems there’s a chance we could further alleviate the depth conundrum with the transfer of Mykhailo Mudryk. Arsenal have reportedly gone in with a fresh bid to Shakhtar, which the Ukranian club are seriously considering. Language like that sure sounds like the deal is getting close, but we all now that can change at any time. Not to mention their public demands of Antony and Grealish money, so let’s see what happens. If updates come from anybody except Ornstein, Fabrizio and Watts I’m highly skeptical.

That’s all I have for today. It’s great to be back. If you aren’t already, please make sure you are following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for all the latest updates. The goal is to couple the blogs with the occasional podcast, but let’s walk before we run. Here’s to 3 points later today. COYG!