A rare start and an even rarer headed goal ensured Mo Elneny enjoyed his trip to Oxford United on Monday.
Following the 3-0 win, the Egypt international says Arsenal are full of confidence heading into Sunday’s north London derby.
The Gunners haven’t tasted league success on Sp*rs’ territory since 2014 – on that occasion, a Tomas Rosicky strike secured a 1-0 win – and are still coming to terms with a disastrous 3-0 defeat in May that all but killed off the club’s Champions League ambitions.
“I’m happy to score and to help my team to win the game. For me it’s special because this club means a lot to me and to score for this club is something really, really good,” Elneny told Arsenal.com.
“We knew that Oxford was very important for us to win because we have a derby in the next game, and we go there with the confidence to win away from home and we’re into the next round.
“We know it’s a special game for all of us in the derby, and we go there full of confidence and we’ll go for three points.”
Emile Smith Rowe, who featured for the first time since September, is similarly fired up for the trip up the Seven Sisters Road.
“We are going to train really hard and we will use the energy, how we felt last year, going into the game,” he told the Evening Standard.
“I think it would be massive for us [to get a result at Tottenham]. I think it couldn’t come at a better time.
“We are feeling really good at the moment. All the boys know what it means to play in these kind of games.”
It certainly feels like a massive weekend in the Premier League with the eight sides currently at the top of the table pairing off against each other in some form.
Manchester City travel to Manchester United in the early game on Saturday, Liverpool travel to Brighton and Newcastle take on high-flying Fulham at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Strap yourself in.
Got to live Mo’s humility. I think and feel we will beat the scum. We are at a different level and class. Just need to abound a red card. North London forever.
I will leave it to you guys to translate the auto correct. Answers on a postcard please. 🤓
Funny that “hope that the captain of the scum gets sent off and the wanker in their dugout goes completely ballistic, also earning himself” auto corrected to “abound”
A cruller, two sugar pucks, a large coffee with cream, a raspberry jelly doughnut, orange drink, a box of five-holes.
I could never work out what they were saying in that scene in Wayne’s World 2. That’s a 30 year mystery solved for me. Leads me to wonder what the hell a box of five holes is.
They’re the leftover bits after making ring doughnuts 🤪
It normally goes to the home side but it would be a massive statement if we can go there and win on Sunday
See, I read the headline and thought the article was about Kane’s receding hairline…
He could use one of your four hats Johnny
We just hope that the Ref is on alert in regard to the divie cunt
Which one!?
I’m expecting an Arsenal red card. Spurs penalty from a dive and a win for us nonetheless
I’m not betting against this prediction.
Really really hope we can do it on Sunday, would be a big confirmation that we have a chance this season. Even better if a Hale End lad can score the winner, Eddie, Bukayo or ESR off the bench.
It would be a great marker to throw down for sure, but either way I’m not letting it color the rest of the season. Enough pressure on the match already, and as a derby it’s a wild-card.
Massive games coming up, COYG
Really looking forward to this. Will be my first visit to their new stadium having dodged a bullet last season picking up Covid so missing the tie. Wish we had Jesus, but I have faith in Eddie. COYG!
Eddie knows much better than Jesus what this one means, he’ll take us home
Mo really loves this club, it was good to see him happy and smiling as a late sub showing true commitment and the right attitude, and even better to see the joy when he scored that goal. He’s never going to be a starter in the big games when everyone’s fit but he’s a huge team player.
Meanwhile Chelsea…
Sack race.
Fat Frank v Potter.
Place your bets now.
Our poor recent record at Sp*rs, including that very bad loss last May, suggests that anything more than a point there will be a bonus. However, should City win their derby – not certain as Utd are finding some form – the pressure will certainly be increased on us so we’ll have to see how the manager and players cope in that atmosphere. Given the example of the Newcastle game, it doesn’t bode very well for the Sp*rs encounter but, hopefully, we’ll keep as cool as possible.
I would extend his contract. Great squad player, doesn’t make a fuss. Stays fit and is ready to play when called on. Reliably consistent, unremarkable player. Add the fact that he’s a great influence in the squad and he’s not on high wages. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mo around the club in a coaching role after his playing days are over.
Youre probably right. He’s currently doing his UEFA coaching badge alongside Xhaka
Is it just me thinking we should expect to win against the spuds ? We ARE better than them so let’s not worry mentally about that lot posing any real threat as It’s them who need to be worried !!! Btw Has Kane had devil horns sawed off his massive forehead ? Asking for my wife who is totally convinced he’s related to Hellboy ?
It’s a derby – all that stuff goes out of the window. It’s a cliche but it’s true. Spurs will be seriously up for it. Hoping for a win but no way am I thinking this is a slam dunk.
Played in many know that feeling well but there’s a stronger mentality about this team compared to last season ! Take the want to win attitude into the game and that lot are second best ! I just hope it’s reffed strongly and the “kick Saka” brigade get stopped before they get started !
I worry about the refereeing. It is getting worse and I don’t expect any favours. We need to keep those diving cunts out of our box. Let’s put them to the sword!
I’m hoping it will be Oliver. He’s done some things we don’t like, but he is the referee least likely to be influenced by a home crowd and he is the most consistent from early in the match to the end. There’s also Anthony Taylor, who is willing to give yellows for diving, which might be very useful against Spurs.
It’s Craig Pawson
Oh, fuck.
Suffice to say I will be supporting arsenal, brighton and fulham – hoping for a bore draw between man oil and ManUre
I wouldn’t say no to an entertaining 3-3/4-4 with multiple cards and minor injuries either.
Of course I don’t wish long term injury upon anyone, but short term, minor ones is fair in my opinion.
Red cards in that match would be a bonus.
The white shit will get their customary penalty. In fact we may as well just start the game with a penalty to get it out of the way.
If Kane falls over in the box can someone please stand his head? accidentally of course or just kick it, claiming they thought it was a deflated football.
Just do a Vardy-roundhouse-kick like the one Mustafi received if anyone remembers that one? Although being Arsenal we’d most likely get a straight red…