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One of THEEEEE BIGGEST games of the season, has arrived. The honest, versus the cheats. The potential champions, versus the former champions.

This game needs no hype, but it’ll be hyped anyway.

Nobody is giving us a hope in hell to win this game, but I genuinely believe we’re going to beat them. No draw, no loss… a WIN!!

I’ve felt this way for a number of weeks, and it’s based on the fact that we’ve been superb this season, and Mancheatster City just aren’t that good. Yes, I know they beat us in the Carabao Cup… but I’m talking about league form, and The Arsenal are top of the league for a reason.

I refuse to dismiss how good we’ve been this season, because of the last couple of weeks.

We really are at war my Arsenal soldiers… and we’re fighting the mainstream football media, all of social media, the football pundits, and SOME, of our own fans.

We’re in the trenches, and only we can get ourselves out… and we most certainly, WILL!!

The starting line-up was Raya in goal, Hincapie at left-back, Gabriel and Saliba central, and Mosquera at right-back.

In midfield it was Rice, Odegaard, and Zubimendi… and up front it was… Eze on the left, Havertz through the middle, and Madueke on the right.

The game started at a frantic pace, with both teams eager to stamp their authority on the game early-on.

The Arsenal looked sharp, the passing was crisp, and the movement was excellent. THIS was what we’d been missing from our games, in recent weeks.

I was filled with optimism, and brimming with confidence. The Gunners had once again found their ammunition, and were not shy about using it.

Mancheatster City were never going to go quietly, and they began to impose themselves. In the 16^th minute, some quick footwork from Cherki dazzled our defence, and his tidy finish… put City 1-0 up. BOOOOOOOOOOO!!! (I threw up in my mouth a little bit)

Our response was swift, and true… as just 2 minutes later, in the 18^th minute… Kai Havertz equalised, after charging down an attempted clearance from Donnarumma. It was a howler from the City goalkeeper… and it was wonderful to witness! (HAHAHA)
The scoreline now 1-1. Game on!

Though it was set up nicely for an end-to-end, goalmouth action in abundance, type of conclusion to the first half… it calmly ended 1-1.

The second half graced us with its presence, and all I could think was… This is a huge 45 minutes in our season, in the title race… and a huge 45 minutes for my mood, and my heartrate.

The infamous, impunity wielding, ignoble… City, flew out of the traps… and Hincapie had to make an incredible block, to keep out a shot from Semenyo, and Haaland hit the post not long after that. My nerves were wondering why I’d subject myself to such astronomical stress levels.

I had no answer for my nerves, apart from… I just LOVE my team. My nerves rolled their eyes, once again took their place, on edge.

Havertz had a chance to put us 2-1 up, after he was clean through on goal… but his shot was too close to the keeper. (Unfortunately!!)

Eze had a great effort from the edge of the box, around the 60^th minute… that hit the inside of the post, and somehow stayed out. The cheaters, seemed to be prospering. (115 reasons, why this is unfair)

In the 65^th minute Doku cut in from the left, and squared it to O’Reilly… who helped it on, into the path of Haaland. After a slight deflection, Haaland finished the move emphatically. 2-1 to City.

Did I mention that the cheaters were prospering?!

Gabriel hit the post after the City goal, but ultimately… We had once again been punished, after not taking our chances. An all too familiar story, for The Arsenal.

The match ended 2-1 to City, but it could’ve quite easily of gone the other way. The defeat hurt. It rocked me to the core of my soul, because of how significant the win is for them, and how close it puts them to us, in the table.

There’s now only 3 points separating us, and them… and we shouldn’t of allowed it to get to this. Slip-ups against lesser teams, has cost us.

That being said, It was good performance from us today… and we should be heading into our home game against Newcastle, feeling confident.

We simply HAVE TO bounce back, and assume City will win ALL of their remaining games… and ensure we do the same!!

I STILL believe we’ll win the league!! We will NOT undo all our hard work this season, and go out with a whimper.

There’s no midweek game, so we need to rest well, and recover. Ready to face The Magpies, with no new injuries. (Hopefully)

Now that Odegaard is back, should Eze continue out on the left?

If Calafiori is fit to face Newcastle, would you play him over Hincapie?

Why do you think we’ve had so many major injuries this season? Workload? The way we play? Training Methods? Or, just incredibly unlucky?

Let me know in the comments as usual. COYG!!

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