It goes without saying that today’s game against Liverpool is huge, arguably the biggest game of the season.

Win and we are well and truly in this title race. Lose and that is probably it for this season.

Our performances (and results) against Liverpool have highlighted the improvement we have made under Mikel Arteta.

I used to dread the games against the Scousers. We had won just once in 19 games across all competitions before we beat them 3-2 last season. Then we had that performance against Anfield where, had we held out for the win, I think we would have won the title.

It was an unusual feeling to be walking out of Anfield disappointed with a draw, but that showed how high Arteta had risen the bar of expectation.

This season our performance at Anfield showed that last season was not a fluke, that we were title challengers once more and the improvement Arsenal had shown in 2022/23 had remained.

Then we had the defeat a month ago in the FA Cup. The 2-0 loss certainly was not reflective of the game, one which we should have won by 3 or 4.

So I go in to today confident. This is not the Liverpool side the swatted us away year after year for nearly a decade. We have closed that gap. We now need to back up that good performance in the FA Cup with the 3 points.

My only concern about today is the officiating and VAR. The conspiracy theorist in me is saying that the Premier League will give favourable decisions to Liverpool to try ensure that there is a Jurgen Klopp story at the end of the season. We saw how they can manipulate results in through their decision making in the Chelsea game.

I think both teams are quite well matched, with the only place where Liverpool outshine us is in their forward line options.

The difference in striking power between the two clubs is simply down to investment. Liverpools forward options has cost them £225million over the last 7-years. Our 6 forward options cost just £71m – less than a single Darwin Nunez

It highlights the importance in Champions League football. That extra finance has allowed Liverpool to have lots of strength in depth upfront, whilst our lack of Champions League football over the last 7-years means we are a bit paper thin up top.

Of course, everything will change if we keep in the Champions League.

This year we can expect our revenue to increase by around £100m. If we make top 4 again, next year will be the same. That increase in revenue will allow us to continue investing in the squad, continue making improvements.

4:30pm Sunday is not the best kick off time. In fact it is probably my second least favourite (after Monday night games). But I will be down the pub early, and ready to back the lads come the start.

Sing loud. Sing proud. Up The Arsenal.

Keenos

Now when Arsenal were going to Finland (in 2013) to play a game for the first time in history, it bought up memories of 17-year-old boys visit to London 1970.

The young boy in question was quite a talented midfield player, being part of the Finnish Youth team that took part in the UEFA  championships 1969 in Scotland. Then he was given the opportunity to train with Arsenal in December  1970 – which was unbelievable at that time. He was probably the first and to date the only Finnish player  to train with Arsenal at Highbury.  

So, he arrived at Highbury and Mr. Bertie Mee took him to train at the indoor pitch with the reserves  including a certain Charlie George. He still clearly remembers how he played at the same side as Charlie –  even scoring some goals.

Unfortunately the happy training ended as he broke his leg when running down to help the defence, breaking his leg in two different places and ended up in hospital for 1 month. 

He was very well taken care of by the nice nurses in the hospital and was also visited by many Arsenal first  team players:

The boy was able to  fly home to Finland at the end of January 1971, to start his rehabilitation. He was encouraged by both Mr.  Bertie Mee, Mr. Steve Burtenshaw and was even given encouragement by the whole team. 

Back home he followed the Arsenal team’s progress, which of course was superb. In a letter 31^st March,  1971 Steve wrote “how exited everyone is playing Stoke in a replay after drawing 2-2 in last Saturdays semi-final”. The team was magnificent beating Spurs at the lane and then fighting back in the cupfinal to  beat Liverpool with that exquisite strike by Charlie. Yeaah – Arsenal won the double!  

The boy was able to continue playing in the Finnish league during the 70’s but due to more bad luck with  injuries – breaking the other leg in 1972 and again 1978 – and could not break into any national team  anymore. He did his A-badges and coached in the Finnish first division and third division before ending the  active football life concentration on family and work. He had two more surgeries later on which left him  with 5 screws in his left leg, which is no problem – he can walk and talk….  

Now, the ‘boy’ is 60 (at the time of writing) and he has been an Arsenal supporter for 42 years and will remain so until the end! 

When living in Australia, on the way back home, he made a stopover in London 1990, threw the bags into the Paddington hotel and to took his son with him and went straight on to Highbury. Now there were 2 Arsenal supporters in the same family. When working around Africa, during 20 years, he has taken the  Gunners with him to 15 different countries – supporting and arguing with other team’s supporters  wherever he goes.  

I wish we can win something again – and I’m sure we will when having our magnificent legacy and the  wisdom of our management especially Mr. Wenger. My other wish is to meet our Captain Frank McLintock  and hopefully even Mr. Wenger someday. If not – then no worries – I will be there on the terrace in  Helsinki 10^th August!  

Jan-Henrik Janér – the boy.