Last May, we went to Anfield on Mother’s Day and gave them a Guard of Honor. This was immediately after our loss in the CL semi-final to PSG. Liverpool scored twice early (20′ and 21′). We came back in the second half with goals from Martinelli and Merino. Merino would be sent off later, but we hung on to secure a point.
Transfers
Ebere Eze ws confirmed as a Gunner at the opening of the Leeds match last week. He will wear #10.
Jakub Kiwior is likely to leave to FC Porto, and he may be replaced by Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie.
Tournaments
The Carabao Cup (Carling Cup, League Cup) draw for round 3 (where Arsenal enters) was held on Wednesday. Arsenal’s first match will be away against 3rd-tier Port Vale, some midweek day around September 24. (We will face City,Vale,Newcastle in order.)
The League phase draw for UEFA Champions League was held Thursday. In the league phase, every team gets 4 home and 4 away matches with two opponents from each of 4 pots, and cannot be drawn against teams from the same domestic league. Our 8 league phase matches will be:
- Away at Athletic Bilbao (585 miles) on 9/16 (between Forest at home and City at home)
- Home for Olympiacos on 10/1 (between Newcastle away and West Ham at home)
- Home for Atletico Madrid on 10/21 (between Fulham away and Palace at home)
- Away for Slavia Praha (640 miles) on 11/4 (between Burnley away [250 miles] and Sunderland away [280 miles])
- Home for Bayern Munich on 11/26 (between Tottenham at home and Chelsea away). This is the day before Thanksgiving, so everyone should be able to get out of work early!
- Away at Club Brugge (145 miles) on 12/10 (between away at Villa and Wolves at home)
- Away at Inter Milan (600 miles) on 1/20 (between away at Forest and ManU at home)
- Home for Kairat Almaty on 1/28 (between ManU at home and Leeds away)
[The third tournament we are in, the FA Cup, will have its third round draw in December, and our first match will be in January.]
Breakfast Party in two weeks
There is an international break next weekend, but then the home fixture against Nottingham Forest kicks off at 7:30 on Saturday the 13th of September. We are putting together a breakfast party at many of our official bars, so look for an email, or keep an eye on our socials.
Lehigh Valley Gooners
Lehigh Valley Gooners are a provisional chapter of Arsenal Philadelphia. We STRONGLY encourage all supporters in the Bethlehem/Allentown area to gather with this passionate and growing group of fans to watch matches with their fellow Gooners. Your attendance can help this new group achieve official status! They meet at F&A Grog House, 117 E 3rd St, Bethlehem, PA 18015.