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Photo from Freepik.
Morning all.
I used to love Christmas Eve as a child growing up. The excitement of Father Christmas popping down the chimney sometime overnight, the smell of mince pies cooking and knowing that behind a locked dining room door was a tin of Quality Street and many other treats which we didn’t have throughout the rest of the year. Christmas Carols and songs played throughout the day before the television was switched on and then at some stage during the evening, we’d have a sandwich filled the warm gammon our mum had cooked. Such happy memories of so long ago.
Fast forward to now and I still love the Christmas songs and Carols, just as I love Christmas itself, all be it a very different version to my childhood days. Funny enough, I no longer expect Father Christmas to come tumbling down the chimney but only because we have a wood burner. Lol
Football doesn’t stop for Christmas though, although this year, with Arsenal not playing until the 27th, perhaps the players will have Christmas Day off unlike those who have a Boxing Day fixture. What a stupid time of day 8-15pm is though for Arsenal to be playing Ipswich. I doubt much thought was given to the away fans when deciding on the kickoff time.
Mikel Arteta held his pre match press conference yesterday and with it came bad news:
**On Bukayo Saka:**
> It’s not looking good. He’s going to be out for many weeks. I cannot be too specific because I don’t know, but it will be many weeks. Yes it’s a huge (blow) one. Obviously he’s a big player for us. You just have to see the impact that he has on the team, but it’s going to be a really good exercise for all of us to think about ways to overcome another challenge, because we’ve already had a lot in the season.
Bukayo Saka is one of the last players we Arsenal fans want to see injured. Don’t want any players to be injured of course but Saka is such a key component in this Arsenal team. He scores goals, he creates goals and his corners are wicked. This is when Raheem Sterling should be ready to step up and into the team. However, he’s injured too and will be out for a while.
Gabriel Martinelli seems the most likely to play on the right although there are options available to Mikel Arteta too. Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri are another two or as Arteta mentioned in his press conference, Kai Havertz or Leandro Trossard too. Personally, I think we’ll see the first three on that list sharing the role until Saka returns.
Anyway, with Liverpool thrashing our noisy neighbours on Sunday, we need a win just so we don’t lose further ground on them. Chelsea drawing with Everton on the same day means the gap between us and them is now just two points. Hopefully, Fulham will nick another point or three off of Chelsea on Boxing Day.
Anyway, it’s Christmas Eve, whatever your plans are, have a great day and stay safe.
Catch up in the comments.