Rain and different stuff

Morning.

It’s day 143 of the rains. Though barely a month of the brand new 12 months has handed, it has been raining in Eire for nearly 17 weeks in 2026. No less than that’s the way it feels. I can’t bear in mind the final time the solar got here out. 50 shades of gray is now not some form of smutty e book, however the actuality during which we exist. If this retains up, there might be new shades  that even a flowery paint store hasn’t provide you with but. Not your Dulux or Crown or any of that nonsense, however the ones who name themselves one thing like ‘Garter and Farthing’ or one thing like that.

“If sir is trying to discover a paint for his sitting room that matches the sky outdoors, might I recommend ‘Profound Stone’, ‘Incessant Ash’, or ‘Furious charcoal’? Maybe when you’re feeling actually daring, you would possibly take into account a brand new vary, impressed by the Irish winter of 2026, ‘Dublin Lead’, or a brand new favorite ‘Murderous Obsidian’.”

I’m wanting ahead to some fool YouTube channel from some twat who helps one other twat workforce discovering a strategy to make this Mikel Arteta’s fault as a result of Arsenal rating too many targets from set-pieces or one thing. I settle for there’s nothing I can do in regards to the climate, past upping sticks and shifting to a different nation the place it’s not as crap, however that looks like an terrible lot of problem.

I’ve moved home sufficient in my life, and I’ve sworn by no means to do it once more until I win a billion kilos and will pay any person to do all of it for me. Like all of it. I simply want to show up on the new gaff and it’s all able to my precise specs. Nonetheless, there’s as a lot likelihood of that taking place as Marc Guehi enjoying within the Carabao Cup remaining. So, I’ll endure the rains and sooner or later it has to cease. It has to cease, proper? Proper?!

Later at present, we’ll hear from Mikel Arteta forward of our recreation in opposition to Sunderland tomorrow. There was no signal of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard or Jurrien Timber in coaching yesterday, so we’ll await no matter form of replace he’s minded to offer us with regards these three, however suffice to say we’ve choices for all of them ought to they not be concerned.

I’m gonna guess that one of many questions he’s requested at present is about Liam Rosenior’s response to the Arsenal warm-up the opposite evening. The Chelsea head coach was ‘caught’ on digital camera expressing his displeasure at what he thought of some encroachment into their half of the pitch, and subsequently defined his pondering in a press convention. I imply, that is full storm in a teacup stuff (oh god, it’s even raining within the crockery now!), however within the absence of something apart from Arsenal being excellent, I’m positive this may come up. Particularly as, if anybody has ever watched a warm-up, they’ll be aware that midway isn’t some form of Berlin wall checkpoint, and that gamers/coaches on either side ceaselessly function both facet with out anybody making a giant deal out of it.

In case you have been an individual maybe a bit predisposed to cynicism, you would possibly have a look at the actual fact Rosenior knew the cameras have been there and, reasonably than ask a member of his personal employees to have a quiet phrase, or just ignore it, he did it such a means that it will turn into a really public factor. Am I that form of particular person? Possibly the rain is driving me to it, however he does seem to be the form of man who would grasp a large portrait of himself in his bathroom (though not a portrait of his first contact the opposite evening), and cite Brendan Rogers as an inspiration. If it does come up, anticipate Arteta to play it with a really straight bat as all the time, and we’ll carry you all of the precise tales on Arseblog Information later.

For a bit of additional studying this morning, right here’s Tim on the ‘anxiousness’ of this season, and the title race. I’ve to say, some of the attention-grabbing elements of all of it’s the truth that it wasn’t way back that that is precisely what we wished. In case you bemoan an absence of high quality or an absence of ambition that sees your workforce fall under the excessive requirements you anticipate, then the stresses that we’re experiencing now are a direct consequence of being good once more. Isn’t it higher to have one thing to play for than not?

I feel it’s. You’ll be able to’t have good with out evil. There is no such thing as a mild with out darkness. There is no such thing as a dry with out moist. There is no such thing as a sunshine with out rain. That’s a lie. There is no such thing as a sunshine. There may be solely rain. Infinite, unending, continuous, depressing rain. Rain rain rain rain rain.

Argh.

I’m off to color my kitchen ‘Demonic Slate‘. Be a part of us later for a Sunderland preview podcast on Patreon, for now, have an incredible Friday!