beautifulgroan
@beautifulgroan.bsky.social
Arsenal, former blogger, Dad of three, lover of dogs, politics addict and oligarch/tech bro disliker.
Plenty of chance to rotate against Palace next week. We might not be fussed about making our fixtures even more intense, but Palace might want to go out even more with European playoffs adding to their headaches.
Who wants it less?
Who wants it less?
December 19, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Plenty of chance to rotate against Palace next week. We might not be fussed about making our fixtures even more intense, but Palace might want to go out even more with European playoffs adding to their headaches.
Who wants it less?
Who wants it less?
Sky have to make a three minute highlight video out of this. Might have to be at 2x speed.
December 15, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Sky have to make a three minute highlight video out of this. Might have to be at 2x speed.
Only the bottom four clubs have conceded more goals that United and Bournemouth now.
And you can really see why.
And you can really see why.
December 15, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Only the bottom four clubs have conceded more goals that United and Bournemouth now.
And you can really see why.
And you can really see why.
If anyone wonders what evil looks like, it's this.
Pure unadulterated evil.
Pure unadulterated evil.
Q: A number of Republicans have denounced your statement on Rob Reiner. Do you stand by it?
TRUMP: Well, I wasn't a fan of his at all. He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned.
TRUMP: Well, I wasn't a fan of his at all. He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned.
December 15, 2025 at 9:42 PM
If anyone wonders what evil looks like, it's this.
Pure unadulterated evil.
Pure unadulterated evil.
This is either promising or foreboding depending on your outlook.
Of our next six fixtures, we won none of the equivalent games last season. There's some tricky games in there but plenty of winnables.
Fitness is going to be the big factor.
Of our next six fixtures, we won none of the equivalent games last season. There's some tricky games in there but plenty of winnables.
Fitness is going to be the big factor.
Some scope for Arsenal to improve their position in the next six games:
3 AVL A (-3)
3 WOL H (-)
1 EVE A
1 BHA H
1 AVL H
0 BOU A
1 LIV H
1 NFO A
3 AVL A (-3)
3 WOL H (-)
1 EVE A
1 BHA H
1 AVL H
0 BOU A
1 LIV H
1 NFO A
December 14, 2025 at 4:36 PM
This is either promising or foreboding depending on your outlook.
Of our next six fixtures, we won none of the equivalent games last season. There's some tricky games in there but plenty of winnables.
Fitness is going to be the big factor.
Of our next six fixtures, we won none of the equivalent games last season. There's some tricky games in there but plenty of winnables.
Fitness is going to be the big factor.
So, last night's performance was absolutely appalling.
But - we needed to get through it. That was the last in a long line of games without breaks and everyone still seems to forget that our long injury list means the same players are player over and over and/or being rushed back.
Week off now.
But - we needed to get through it. That was the last in a long line of games without breaks and everyone still seems to forget that our long injury list means the same players are player over and over and/or being rushed back.
Week off now.
December 14, 2025 at 10:37 AM
So, last night's performance was absolutely appalling.
But - we needed to get through it. That was the last in a long line of games without breaks and everyone still seems to forget that our long injury list means the same players are player over and over and/or being rushed back.
Week off now.
But - we needed to get through it. That was the last in a long line of games without breaks and everyone still seems to forget that our long injury list means the same players are player over and over and/or being rushed back.
Week off now.
The mid-half breaks in the World Cup are going to make the BBC v ITV coverage gap ever wider...
December 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
The mid-half breaks in the World Cup are going to make the BBC v ITV coverage gap ever wider...
Reposted by beautifulgroan
So ... four quarters 🤔
News: Every 2026 World Cup match will feature two "hydration breaks," no matter the weather.
Each half will pause for exactly three minutes midway through.
It's a player welfare measure. It also has sporting & commercial implications.
More @theathleticfc.bsky.social:
Each half will pause for exactly three minutes midway through.
It's a player welfare measure. It also has sporting & commercial implications.
More @theathleticfc.bsky.social:
2026 World Cup to feature three-minute hydration breaks in every half throughout tournament
Every game will pause for three minutes in the middle of each half, which will essentially split the match into quarters.
www.nytimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:47 PM
So ... four quarters 🤔
This is a great visualisation of a few things - for Arsenal the fact that so many tough away trips are already done.
Villa and Chelsea have tough games to come - and Villa especially are in the 'Newcastle at home' bracket of being very good in big games but without consistency elsewhere.
Villa and Chelsea have tough games to come - and Villa especially are in the 'Newcastle at home' bracket of being very good in big games but without consistency elsewhere.
Big Eight Head to Heads:
11 pts Arsenal (played 7 Home 2 Away 5)
10 pts Villa (pld 5 H3 A2)
9 pts Liverpool (pld 6 H3 A3)
7 pts Man City (pld 6 H3 A3)
7 pts Chelsea (pld 4 H2 A2)
7 pts Man Utd (pld 5 H2 A3)
5 Newcastle (pld 5 H4 A1)
5 Spurs (pld 6 H3 A3)
Arsenal have had the harder fixture list.
11 pts Arsenal (played 7 Home 2 Away 5)
10 pts Villa (pld 5 H3 A2)
9 pts Liverpool (pld 6 H3 A3)
7 pts Man City (pld 6 H3 A3)
7 pts Chelsea (pld 4 H2 A2)
7 pts Man Utd (pld 5 H2 A3)
5 Newcastle (pld 5 H4 A1)
5 Spurs (pld 6 H3 A3)
Arsenal have had the harder fixture list.
December 7, 2025 at 11:59 AM
This is a great visualisation of a few things - for Arsenal the fact that so many tough away trips are already done.
Villa and Chelsea have tough games to come - and Villa especially are in the 'Newcastle at home' bracket of being very good in big games but without consistency elsewhere.
Villa and Chelsea have tough games to come - and Villa especially are in the 'Newcastle at home' bracket of being very good in big games but without consistency elsewhere.
Oh wow, those Salah comments. On the one hand, he's been benched after playing badly - a manager has to change things.
On the other hand, Liverpool's form makes Slot vulnerable and maybe the dressing room is proverbially turning.
Interesting week ahead.
On the other hand, Liverpool's form makes Slot vulnerable and maybe the dressing room is proverbially turning.
Interesting week ahead.
December 6, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Oh wow, those Salah comments. On the one hand, he's been benched after playing badly - a manager has to change things.
On the other hand, Liverpool's form makes Slot vulnerable and maybe the dressing room is proverbially turning.
Interesting week ahead.
On the other hand, Liverpool's form makes Slot vulnerable and maybe the dressing room is proverbially turning.
Interesting week ahead.
I'm really torn on what Arteta should do midweek in Brugge (I know what he will do - 2 or 3 changes only).
On the one hand, we can qualify in that match and be able to rotate later.
On the other hand, our last CL match is at home to Kairat.
Now that we've lost momentum though, time to rest some?
On the one hand, we can qualify in that match and be able to rotate later.
On the other hand, our last CL match is at home to Kairat.
Now that we've lost momentum though, time to rest some?
December 6, 2025 at 6:51 PM
I'm really torn on what Arteta should do midweek in Brugge (I know what he will do - 2 or 3 changes only).
On the one hand, we can qualify in that match and be able to rotate later.
On the other hand, our last CL match is at home to Kairat.
Now that we've lost momentum though, time to rest some?
On the one hand, we can qualify in that match and be able to rotate later.
On the other hand, our last CL match is at home to Kairat.
Now that we've lost momentum though, time to rest some?
Next weekend City are at Palace, Newcastle are at Sunderland, Spurs are at Forest and Villa are at West Ham.
Meanwhile, we're home to Wolves.
That's a weekend that we want to make up for this one.
Meanwhile, we're home to Wolves.
That's a weekend that we want to make up for this one.
December 6, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Next weekend City are at Palace, Newcastle are at Sunderland, Spurs are at Forest and Villa are at West Ham.
Meanwhile, we're home to Wolves.
That's a weekend that we want to make up for this one.
Meanwhile, we're home to Wolves.
That's a weekend that we want to make up for this one.
Dislike every scoreline today. If Chelsea get a late winner against Bournemouth, the weekend might be worth writing off.
December 6, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Dislike every scoreline today. If Chelsea get a late winner against Bournemouth, the weekend might be worth writing off.
Qualify from the CL group midweek and smash Wolves next week and we'll feel very different.
December 6, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Qualify from the CL group midweek and smash Wolves next week and we'll feel very different.
We need our spine back. That xG against us is unheard of.
Regroup.
Regroup.
December 6, 2025 at 2:29 PM
We need our spine back. That xG against us is unheard of.
Regroup.
Regroup.
That one hurts but the schedule and injuries were always going to catch up with us at some point, and Villa are very good at raising themselves for the big games.
Bruges away, then Wolves at home, then a full week off until Everton give us a chance to rest some legs. They need it.
Bruges away, then Wolves at home, then a full week off until Everton give us a chance to rest some legs. They need it.
December 6, 2025 at 2:27 PM
That one hurts but the schedule and injuries were always going to catch up with us at some point, and Villa are very good at raising themselves for the big games.
Bruges away, then Wolves at home, then a full week off until Everton give us a chance to rest some legs. They need it.
Bruges away, then Wolves at home, then a full week off until Everton give us a chance to rest some legs. They need it.
A draw would be fine. Villa beat a lot of people here and never seem to lose here. With our injuries and obvious exhaustion I'd take it and would've done at the start.
A win would be amazing, but a point with Wolves at home next in the league? Fine.
A win would be amazing, but a point with Wolves at home next in the league? Fine.
December 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
A draw would be fine. Villa beat a lot of people here and never seem to lose here. With our injuries and obvious exhaustion I'd take it and would've done at the start.
A win would be amazing, but a point with Wolves at home next in the league? Fine.
A win would be amazing, but a point with Wolves at home next in the league? Fine.
The bigger squad not only allows rotation, but as today, it allows Arteta to completely change things much earlier if it isn't working.
The lack of options in the second half of last season meant our threat was very samey. Not like that anymore.
The lack of options in the second half of last season meant our threat was very samey. Not like that anymore.
December 6, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The bigger squad not only allows rotation, but as today, it allows Arteta to completely change things much earlier if it isn't working.
The lack of options in the second half of last season meant our threat was very samey. Not like that anymore.
The lack of options in the second half of last season meant our threat was very samey. Not like that anymore.
One thing that I haven't seen discussed around the World Cup corruption, sucking up and sycophancy...
If you're playing the USA, how convinced will you be that the ref won't lean a little away from you? It's at the core of football that on thr pitch it's a fair battle, but...
If you're playing the USA, how convinced will you be that the ref won't lean a little away from you? It's at the core of football that on thr pitch it's a fair battle, but...
December 6, 2025 at 10:20 AM
One thing that I haven't seen discussed around the World Cup corruption, sucking up and sycophancy...
If you're playing the USA, how convinced will you be that the ref won't lean a little away from you? It's at the core of football that on thr pitch it's a fair battle, but...
If you're playing the USA, how convinced will you be that the ref won't lean a little away from you? It's at the core of football that on thr pitch it's a fair battle, but...
You'd think Wayne Gretsky would've learned how to pronounce the countries in the pot he's responsible for.
But he hasn't.
But he hasn't.
December 5, 2025 at 7:01 PM
You'd think Wayne Gretsky would've learned how to pronounce the countries in the pot he's responsible for.
But he hasn't.
But he hasn't.
France, Senegal, Norway is shaping up to be THAT group.
December 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
France, Senegal, Norway is shaping up to be THAT group.
Croatia is not the country England wanted from pot 2. Ouch.
December 5, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Croatia is not the country England wanted from pot 2. Ouch.
England being in Group L means we have to wait about six weeks before they start their campaign...
December 5, 2025 at 6:32 PM
England being in Group L means we have to wait about six weeks before they start their campaign...
I've seen school productions more professional than this.
December 5, 2025 at 6:20 PM
I've seen school productions more professional than this.